The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 55



54 – Contract Relationship

While Barkov was experiencing the pain of heartbreak.

Hania pushed me away.

Hania and I were face to face.

If it were Hania’s original face, it would be different.

But Hania now had Hanon’s appearance, so I quickly backed away.

I had no interest in being close to a man’s face.

“……I wondered why Lady Iris suddenly called me, and the timing is just perfect.”

Hania sighed with a troubled expression.

It seemed that Iris was the one who sent Hania here.

I was grateful to Iris.

I almost had to deal with a corpse today.

“Hania, Professor Barkov has been your stalker all this time, right?”

When I asked, Hania glanced at me.

“Yes. And he was quite persistent.”

A professor with a powerful family background.

Professor Barkov, backed by these two things, was a difficult opponent for Hania to deal with.

“I was waiting for him to make a mistake. His timing is really terrible.”

Hania shook her head with a thoroughly disgusted look.

“More importantly, it seems like we’re now in a relationship. What are you going to do about that?”

Recently, I was rejected even before confessing.

Now, I ended up in a relationship before confessing.

My life is truly dynamic.

“……Professor Barkov may look like that, but he’s unnecessarily persistent.”

“So, if he finds out we’re not actually dating, he’ll immediately revert to being a stalker.”

“Yes, that’s likely.”

I understood the situation.

Having been attacked by Barkov’s confession myself,

I could empathize with how terrible it was to be chased by a stalker like him.

“How long do you think it will take for Professor Barkov to understand and give up?”

“……Maybe a few months.”

“Then, let’s just date casually for a few months.”

Hania’s eyes widened.

“After all, it’s already spilled water. Might as well make use of it.”

“……You don’t actually want to date me?”

I said seriously.

“It’s a joke.”

It seemed like a joke to lighten the mood.

“Things turned out this way, but I’m sorry for getting you involved.”

Hania apologized more honestly than I expected.

She was just prickly because of the group event with Iris.

Her nature wasn’t that bad.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

It’s all Barkov’s fault.

I don’t think Hania has anything to apologize for.

“Hanon Airei, you’re a better person than I thought.

Is it because you have a bit of Iris’s blood in you?”

“My high evaluation of you just dropped.”

“I’m curious how far it will drop. But wouldn’t it be troublesome for you if rumors spread that we’re dating?”

“Do you think adding one more rumor to my reputation will make it worse?”

Hania thought for a moment and understood.

I’m the one called the lightning b*stard.

If people hear I’m dating Hania, they’ll just feel sorry for her.

It wouldn’t affect me much, now or then.

“We’ve spent too much time. Let’s go back to our teams.”

“Right.”

Hania turned and said to me.

“Please take care of Iris.”

The corners of my mouth lifted.

“Sure, leave it to me.”

“Ha, really, who do you think I would entrust Iris to?”

What does he expect me to do?

Hania laughed shortly as if it were a joke and left for her team.

It seemed that this incident had left a good impression on Hania.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to get close to the second-in-command of the martial arts department.’

One person I don’t get along with is enough, and that’s Isabel.

As I came out of the forest, I saw people gathered around Iris.

Iris was standing with her arms crossed, and when our eyes met, she reacted.

“Hania.”

“I’m back.”

As I stood next to Iris, she looked around and lowered her body to me.

“How did it go?”

“Hanon came and resolved it well.”

Iris briefly sighed in relief.

Then, her red eyes glinted eerily.

“……We’ll have to cut him off soon.”

……She must mean from the assistant professor position, right?

A chill ran down my spine, and I shivered.

“Hey, Hania.”

At that moment, a familiar voice called out to me.

I turned my gaze, knowing the owner of the voice.

Short brown hair and rings dangling from his hand.

Seeing this, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disdain.

Second-year magic department second-in-command.

Dorara Korazin.

He, who was the rear guard of Iris’s team, was there.

“Earlier, that b*stard Hanon was coming out of the forest. Were you with him?”

“Yes, so what?”

As I answered, Dorara’s face twisted in a scowl.

His teeth ground together.

“Hania, let me warn you in advance, don’t hang out with that b*stard.

He’s not someone you should associate with.”

Dorara had a big fallout with me recently.

His teeth ground together, perhaps holding a grudge from that incident.

“Hahaha, looks like you got quite a beating, just as the rumors said!”

Then, a big man standing behind Dorara laughed.

Dark skin and thick lips.

A man clutching a Bible tightly in his thick hands.

Second in the Department of Theology.

Joachim.

His thick muscles, visible through his clothes, seemed far removed from theology.

Of course, it made sense.

He was a battle priest.

‘Is he really a year younger than me when he’s a Vicar?’

Joachim’s face bore no difference from that of a veteran mercenary who had seen it all.

Even the professors would bow their heads unconsciously when they saw Joachim.

He was naturally gifted in appearance.

“Uuuh, it’s bad to speak ill of others.”

Then, a face peeked out from behind Joachim’s back.

Unlike the large Joachim, this one was infinitely small.

She wore a robe pulled down over her head, her gray bangs covering her eyes completely.

She looked infinitely fragile, but if you knew the truth, it was a different story.

Top of the Special Department.

A curse sorcerer.

Valencia Caze.

This was Iris’s team.

‘Even looking again, she gathered quite the formidable bunch.’

If I hadn’t brought out cheats like Saint or Sharin.

Iris had assembled the best team she could.

And at the center of all these members was Iris herself.

“You don’t know! If you knew how much of a lunatic that b*stard is, you’d take back what you just said.”

Dora, just imagining that time, had a seizure as if it was unbearable.

Soon, his face looked like it was about to foam at the mouth.

“Until recently, he couldn’t leave Sharin alone, and now it’s Hanon. Truly, Dora’s brother is consistent.”

“That guy is much worse than Sharin, that woman!”

For the first time, he was rated higher than Sharin.

He felt like he could be a little proud.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Meanwhile, Iris turned her head slightly and covered her mouth.

Seeing Dora cursing in front of him without knowing anything.

It seemed hard to manage his expression.

“Iris, this is not the time to laugh.”

I poked Iris’s arm.

Then Iris briefly raised the corners of her mouth as if to apologize.

It was a devilish smile that enchanted people.

“Tsk, if I had dealt with him properly, he would have been a bloody mess. I was just careless at first.”

Dora started grumbling.

At that time, he seemed to have completely forgotten that he had been knocked out by me.

‘Then.’

I’ll have to remind him when I get the chance.

I quietly clenched my fist without anyone noticing.

“Team Iris.”

At that moment, it seemed that all the third-year students had finally entered, and Team Iris was called.

Even if they were second in the team competition.

In terms of overall performance, Team Iris was ahead of everyone.

As Iris followed the call and moved forward.

Dora, who had been grumbling until a moment ago, and the other two people, all shut their mouths.

Instead, they walked confidently as if to support her side.

As Iris moved forward, admiring glances flowed from among the children.

As they walked alongside her.

Unfamiliar gazes converged on me.

The stares are heavy.

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Admiration, jealousy, longing, resignation.

Various complex emotions dripped from the children’s eyes.

Now I understand why the Iris team always walked with such confidence.

They needed to be strong, if only to shake off the children’s gazes.

And this was directly tied to their confidence.

The supreme confidence that they could do anything.

‘This is the strongest team in existence, Iris.’

The aura emanating from the leading Iris was something no one could dare to approach.

“Iris team.”

Professor Beganon, worn out by fatigue, glanced over everyone.

“Come back safely.”

No long words were needed.

What the strongest team needed was faith, not advice.

Soon, the Iris team entered the labyrinth.

The unique, uncomfortable sensation of the labyrinth brushed over my body.

After a moment, I slowly lifted my head.

“Today, it’s the Iron Dust Desert.”

First floor of the labyrinth.

Iron Dust Desert.

A desolate iron desert unfolded before my eyes.

As I smacked my lips, a subtle taste of iron filled my mouth.

It meant that iron dust was mixed in the air.

At that moment, wind rose around us.

The iron dust that had been seeping into our clothes and bronchial tubes was all blown away by the wind.

“From the Gray Forest to the Iron Dust Desert. I wish the seniors had tidied up a bit before they left.”

It was Dorara’s magic, holding a staff in her hand.

“Ugh, the seniors are in a hurry to go down even a little bit.”

The curse master, Valencia, spoke while holding her bangs.

And her words were the truth.

Rumble!

Beneath the iron sand desert.

A great tremor began to be felt.

Boom!

Soon, piercing through the iron sand, a giant serpent with a massive body emerged.

The creature, adorned with steel blades all over its body, looked dangerous at a glance.

A beast controlled by the apostle.

One that failed to become a dragon.

Clang-

Before anyone knew it, Iris had drawn her sword.

The seniors seemed to have concluded that it would be a waste of time to deal with one who failed to become a dragon, so they decided to avoid it.

But for the strongest royal, such things didn’t matter.

“Team Iris.”

With Iris’s call, a red aura emanated from her sword.

The aura, reminiscent of a rose, was beautiful enough to capture everyone’s attention.

Iris moved through the iron sand.

Her majestic steps were like those of a giant.

“It’s a hunt for a giant beast.”

The team leader called out.

“Yes.”

And so, everyone followed.