The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 57



56 – The Dragon Maiden of Disaster (2)

Kaang! Kang!

Dorara’s magic activated with a rough noise.

The target of the magic was the ice wall.

“Huff, huff, what on earth is this made of? Why isn’t my magic working at all?”

Dorara swung her staff wildly, panting heavily.

Iris’s team was currently trapped on the fourth floor.

It was because of the ice wall right in front of them.

The ice wall didn’t even crack under Dorara’s attack.

It didn’t even think of collapsing.

Of course.

Lower magic cannot defeat higher magic.

That ice wall was created by Nikita using the magic of an ancient dragon.

Dorara’s magic couldn’t do anything about it.

‘It’s not just Dorara’s magic.’

Even Sharin’s magic couldn’t break through that.

“Damn it.”

Dorara spat out a curse, clenching her teeth.

Her hands trembled.

Even on the way here, he kept using his magic.

He kept pouring out his magic, trying to create an exit somehow.

His magic had reached its limit.

“Dorara, that’s enough.”

At Iris’s words, Dorara collapsed.

He knew well that he could no longer break through this ice wall with his own magic.

‘In the first place, this ice wall can’t be dealt with except by the flames of determination.’

That’s why I joined Iris’s team.

Unlike Lucas, who could arrive safely when in danger.

I had no way to deal with that ice wall.

But I couldn’t say that, so I kept quiet.

It was better to face reality directly to understand it.

“This is really, very troublesome.”

“Could it be because of the transformation of the magic palace that happened last time?”

Joachim and Valencia also showed signs of anxiety.

Until the ice wall is resolved, we cannot return to the surface.

Food is limited.

Naturally, anxiety was bound to creep in.

“Dorara, with the remaining magic, first cast a spell to raise body temperature.”

So I decided to assign tasks before everyone fell deeper into anxiety.

“Valencia, if it’s a curse, you can cast it on the entire ice wall, right? Use it to engrave a rescue request.

Joachim, please bless Iris and me.

We will search for a safe place to stay for the time being.”

As I quickly conveyed my words, everyone came to their senses and started moving.

Thanks to everyone understanding that my instructions were the best we could do right now.

“You ended up doing my job.”

“No. It’s because Iris is here that everyone is only this anxious.”

Iris is the third princess.

She is practically the most important person in the empire.

If they knew she was in danger, the empire would muster all its strength to break through the magic palace.

Knowing this fact allowed everyone to have the mindset that they could return.

“Let’s go. It will be a long time.”

Nikita does not appear overnight.

She continues to wait for the right moment on the 4th floor of this labyrinth.

‘When everyone’s food runs out, and they no longer have the strength to fight due to the cold.’

That is the moment when Nikita bares the dragon’s teeth.

After Iris and I received Joachim’s blessing.

We immediately set out to search for a safe zone.

The 4th floor is the starting point of the middle section of the labyrinth.

So, unlike the previous floors, the apostles and beasts become much rougher and more cunning.

There are many things to be mindful of, and it is physically demanding.

But even in such a place, there are safe zones.

‘Since the Flame Butterfly edition is a dot RPG game, there is basically a place where you can check your character.’

Safety zone.

It refers to a place where apostles and beasts do not cunningly approach.

I remember all the safe zones in the labyrinth.

As it is a necessary condition to proceed with the game smoothly.

I can’t forget it even if I try.

“Let’s set up a safe zone here.”

“What? This is a barren field.”

However, the safety zone does not appear as a safe zone to others.

As Dorara said, this place is a barren field.

Only broken ice sculptures are scattered on the snow-covered ground.

There was nothing that could be considered a cover.

“You can have your back against the wall, and since it’s a barren field, you can secure your view no matter where someone comes from.”

“But this way, it will be easy to become a target…”

When Valencia slightly opposed, I shook my head.

“The apostles have different sensory organs from us anyway.

They don’t recognize us by sight or hearing, so even if we hide in a visually hidden place, we will eventually be discovered.

So, a place with a narrow view is disadvantageous for us.”

There is nothing more dangerous than not knowing where the enemy is approaching from.

“Indeed, you are right. Besides, if I set up a holy barrier, it won’t be as dangerous even in an open field.”

Joachim supported my opinion.

“Let’s do as Hania says.”

With Iris’s final agreement, there were no more objections.

We quickly set up a temporary shelter.

Joachim set up the holy barrier, and Dorara cast a warmth spell on it.

Thus, a somewhat livable shelter was completed.

The open snowfield was quieter than expected.

As a safety zone, not even a trace of the enemy or beasts was visible.

Thanks to that, the team members were all stabilized.

Having come a long way to the third floor of the demon palace.

Iris’s team quickly went into rest.

We tacitly agreed to solve the ice wall problem after resting.

“Iris, you should rest too.”

“Yes, I suppose I should.”

Iris sat down next to me and placed her sword nearby.

Then she quietly gazed at the snowfield.

“Hania.”

“Yes, Iris.”

“What kind of existence is the third princess?”

It was an unexpected question.

Iris, who usually doesn’t say such things.

She must have been accumulating stress from not being able to sleep since entering the demon palace.

In such a situation, someone even targeted her life.

It wasn’t strange for her to become momentarily cynical about life.

“A noble existence.”

“Noble, huh.”

“And she seems to be having a hard time.”

Iris turned to look at me, surprised by my unexpected words.

Everyone around Iris envies and admires her life.

The strongest royal family, one of the next emperors, with a decadent beauty.

Iris possesses everything that others would envy.

She never shows her struggles to others.

That’s why, in the eyes of others, Iris is a near-perfect person.

For someone like her, hearing that she looks troubled must have been unexpected.

But this is my sincere feeling.

From the moment she was born, Iris has never had an easy life.

“In this world, I’ve realized that nothing is ever truly easy.

So, I think Iris, you must have your own hardships too.”

“Hardships…”

Iris quietly pondered my words and then rested her chin on her knees.

“…Would it be strange if I said I envy Hania instead?”

After thinking for a long time, Iris asked me.

The Iris I know is Hannon Aire.

She and I share many similar conditions, but Hannon is in a completely different position.

Seeing this, Iris must have had many thoughts.

“Everyone envies a life they haven’t lived.”

That’s how people are.

They envy and long for what they don’t have.

“But my life wouldn’t be that interesting to you, Iris.”

Unless you were the real Hannon.

Because I am Vicar.

Not knowing this, Iris let out a short laugh.

“Yes, that’s right. Everyone is like that.”

With those words, Iris fell silent and quietly closed her eyes.

Even if she couldn’t sleep, she distanced herself from consciousness to relieve her fatigue.

I quietly stayed by her side.

Iris Hyserion, who would one day become the final boss.

She was also someone who envied another’s life.

＊ ＊ ＊

Whooosh-

Following the blowing wind, snowflakes scattered.

Beneath the snowflakes, the Iris team moved swiftly.

“Not even a single apostle or beast in sight today either.”

Joachim said with a troubled expression.

It had already been four days since they were isolated on the fourth floor of the demon palace.

No matter how much they wandered around the fourth floor, all they saw were frozen artworks.

There were no apostles or beasts to be seen at all.

However, during this time, we were able to confirm one thing.

“Damn it, the exit to the fifth floor is also blocked.”

Dorara lowered his staff in frustration.

In front of him was an ice wall with only a few traces of wind slashes left.

Just like the ice wall at the entrance.

A similarly huge ice wall was erected at the exit.

We were unmistakably isolated on the fourth floor.

“Uh, isn’t it getting colder than the first day?”

From noble mtl dot com

Despite Dorara’s warmth magic, Valencia shivered as if she was cold.

As she said, over the past few days, the temperature on the fourth floor continued to drop.

Thanks to this, Dorara had to use his warmth magic more frequently.

“…At this rate, my magic power will run out first.”

Dorara swallowed his saliva, trembling with his staff.

Due to the continuously dropping temperature, the snow-covered ground froze solid like ice.

This made it difficult to move around.

In the end, we spent more time resting in the safety zone to avoid losing warmth unnecessarily.

After four days of searching with nothing to gain.

Everyone showed signs of exhaustion.

“Will the food be okay?”

Valencia checked the remaining food with a troubled face.

The food we brought was slowly running out.

“……Oh God, why do you bestow such trials upon us?”

Joachim quietly prayed, seeking God.

With no other options, he sought something to lean on.

“Damn it, I’d rather keep blasting that ice wall with magic!”

Dorara screamed, refusing to die like this.

But without his warmth magic, we would freeze to death in an instant.

Using power where it is useless is not a good choice.

In the end, Dorara sat back down, persuaded by everyone.

“……Hania.”

Iris quietly called out to me.

It had been over a week since she stayed up all night.

Iris was in the worst condition among us.

“Yes, Lady Iris.”

“You have a way out.”

Iris asked quietly, so no one else could hear.

If there is, there is.

I wouldn’t be doing this without a safety measure.

“……If it gets dangerous, take everyone and leave.”

Before I could answer, Iris said so.

She meant she would rather die alone.

“Lady Iris.”

I tidied Iris’s disheveled hair.

“I would never leave you behind, Lady Iris.”

Hearing my words, Iris faintly smiled.

Whether it was Hania or I who spoke, Iris wouldn’t have known.

Time flows again.

By the time another week had passed.

The cold could no longer be stopped by Dorara’s magic.

In the end, unable to endure, Dorara tried his magic on the ice wall a few times, but…

This ended in failure, with Dorara being the first to collapse.

Valencia cast a curse on herself, falling into a state of hibernation.

She said it was better than consuming more food.

She offered to cast it on anyone who wanted it, but everyone refused, so she chose it alone.

Joachim’s prayers gradually decreased in frequency.

It was as if he had realized something in this situation.

He sat up straight, closed his eyes quietly, and fell into deep thought.

So no one spoke to Joachim, allowing him to concentrate.

Iris.

‘Finally fell asleep.’

Though tormented by nightmares.

In the end, it was more painful to stay awake, so she leaned on me and fell asleep.

I could hear her ragged breathing.

She frowned occasionally, but showed no signs of waking up.

Her body had reached its limit.

Step-

And at that moment.

Step-

Finally, the long-awaited footsteps began to be heard.

My head slowly lifted.

Between my frozen eyelashes.

I saw a person walking through the dark space.

In her hand, she held a long sword that dragged on the ground.

The cold emanating from the sword was the coldest I had ever felt.

White breath flowed from her mouth.

Her silver hair fluttered, revealing two white horns on her forehead.

The most dangerous magic in the world, sealed in the Cynthia Marquis family of the magic clan.

It was the trace of dragon magic.

Under the horns, her eyes, reminiscent of two lizards, shone blue.

As she moved, the cold around her grew even more intense.

The Dragon Lady of Disaster

Nikita Cynthia

The boss of Act 3 finally revealed herself.

I laid Iris down gently, careful not to wake her, and slowly stood up.

The frozen shards of snow around me fell away.

“You’ve come.”

Nikita’s gaze met mine.

It seemed she thought everyone would have lost their strength by now.

“Nikita-senpai.”

So, I decided to welcome her alone.

“A junior’s punch might sting a little.”

It’s time to wake up today.