The World After the Bad Ending

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Iris’ team was defeated, and we took first place in the team event.

This sent shockwaves through Jerion Academy.

No one expected Iris, known as the strongest, to lose.

Of course, there were opinions suggesting it was mainly due to Sharine’s presence.

However, the most frequently mentioned topic was the lightning strike that occurred when we captured the final apostle, Urese.

Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the arena.

Some questioned whether it made sense to defeat Urese with a natural phenomenon.

But those with good eyesight had a vague suspicion.

Just before the lightning struck, I had my hand reaching toward the sky.

Thanks to that, a new nickname was born for me after that day.

Lightning Kid

What a spectacular naming sense!

“Lightning Sweet Potato!”

And there was another person whose nickname had changed.

As soon as he entered the classroom, Seron raised his hand high and waved it vigorously at me.

Seron’s face was blooming with a bright smile.

I had never seen him look that happy before.

“Why are you grinning like that, you creep?”

“Hehehe.”

Even when I shot back at him like usual, Seron just couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

“Of course I’m smiling! My allowance just doubled!”

Wow, it really went up that much?

Now, I see why he’d be so happy about it.

“Then treat me today.”

“Hehehe, sure! The most adorable Seron will treat you!”

He attached a strange qualifier, but I didn’t decline since he was offering to treat me.

Gotta take care of my water servant.

“By the way, Lightning Sweet Potato, my dad wants to talk to you.”

While contemplating what to ask for today, Seron unexpectedly brought this up.

“My father? Me? Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he wants to give you some allowance since we were on the same team in the team event?”

Seron shrugged as if he had no clue.

I remembered Seron’s father who came to watch the team event.

He was the one holding a pamphlet and cheering for Seron with all his might.

It was evident he had a daughter complex.

For some reason, a sense of unease crept in.

Could it be that he misunderstood things?

“Seron, when you meet your father next time, tell him I don’t see him as a man.”

“Huh? So Lightning Sweet Potato is a girl? Should I just call you Princess Sweet Potato now?”

This fool seems completely oblivious to the situation.

“You.”

While I pondered how to give Seron a light smack on the head, a voice came from behind me.

I was surprised, not expecting someone from that side to speak first.

“Izabel.”

Izabel called me out first in class.

Naturally, the kids’ attention began to turn toward us.

Whenever Izabel and I talked, we often clashed.

They seemed tense, worried we might fight again.

But Izabel looked at me without overly revealing her emotions.

“I lost this time.”

Izabel’s eyes sparkled more fiercely than before.

“…I won’t lose next time.”

Izabel team’s time was 38 minutes and 23 seconds.

They ranked third among second-year teams.

Considering that some teams didn’t even reach the tenth apostle, it was quite an achievement.

However, Izabel showed no satisfaction whatsoever.

I was ahead of her, her rival.

I felt the bright enthusiasm captured in Izabel’s eyes.

‘Little by little, she is definitely taking steps forward.’

Someday, when she steps over the shadow of Lucas, she will smile as brightly as before.

On that day, I will no longer be needed by her.

And I look forward to that day the most.

“Why are you smiling?”

At that moment, hearing Izabel’s words, I belatedly realized I had smiled.

As I touched my lips, I found they were indeed turned upward.

Thinking about Izabel’s future, I unconsciously smiled.

Izabel looked at me with a blank look.

“Yeah, I smiled.”

I raised my lips a bit higher.

“I was mocking you. You’ll never beat me.”

So, for now, I must remain her rival.

Izabel briefly gazed at me before sighing.

“You really know how to be annoying.”

With that, she turned away.

“You’re just like yourself.”

Izabel left.

Somehow, she didn’t seem to look as upset as before.

‘Am I getting used to the provocations slowly?’

I might need to research provocations more in the future.

With that thought, I returned to the usual spot where I sat.

Usually, I can sit wherever I like.

But the martial arts club kids avoided the spot where Seron and I always sat.

It felt as if it was a designated seat.

As I sat down, I noticed something sticking out of the drawer.

I tilted my head in curiosity and pulled it out.

There was a letter.

Did someone place it here by mistake?

“What’s this? A letter?”

Seron, who came over, looked at the letter with confusion.

“I don’t know.”

Since this was always my seat, it wouldn’t be likely for someone else to mistakenly put a letter here.

Turning the letter over, I noticed a name written on it.

My face took on a strange expression.

That was because the name ‘Hanon Irey’ was written there.

This is addressed to me.

“Uh, uh, what the heck? Is it a love letter?”

Seron looked at me with a bewildered expression.

I was also flabbergasted.

I thought I’d never receive a love letter as the Lightning Kid.

“Well, Hanon’s original self isn’t bad at all.”

She certainly isn’t just any noble’s offspring.

Maybe someone fell for her after seeing her performance in the team event.

“…Why?”

And then Seron gave me a light slap on the head.

Rubbing his sore forehead, Seron urged me to check the letter.

Seeing this letter that someone might have carefully written didn’t excite me, but I was curious enough.

I opened the letter, and it asked me to come to the Sky Park during lunchtime.

Since the Sky Park is on the rooftop, it’s quite empty during lunchtime.

It was clearly an invitation to talk privately.

“What are you going to do?”

Seron asked cautiously.

“I have to go.”

I received a letter.

Whoever it was, if they’re in the martial arts club, they must have seen me reading the letter.

If I don’t go, that would be rude.

“Sigh, now I can’t hang out with Lightning Sweet Potato anymore.”

Seron muttered dejectedly.

What does that mean?

“Well, if I get a girlfriend, she’ll see me being close to a male friend and get jealous a hundred percent. I’m not up for that love triangle drama.”

I tilt my head.

What is he even talking about?

“Why would my girlfriend be jealous of you, Seron?”

“Are you stupid? If she’s my girlfriend, of course, she’d be jealous seeing me with another guy…”

Seron’s eyebrows knitted together.

Oh no, did he catch on to what I meant?

“I’m not shooting you today.”

“Yeah, she’d be jealous. Absolutely.”

Our water servant’s patience is wearing thin.

“And you don’t need to worry about that. Even if someone confesses, I’m not looking to date.”

“It’s not like I’m going to treasure someone confessing to me. Why not?”

“This isn’t the time to be dating.”

I’m sorry, but I have no room for that.

Dating is the opposite of moving forward with the scenario.

“Well, that’s convenient for me then.”

Has he gotten that comfortable with being next to me?

I’m increasingly worried about how Seron is losing his social skills.

—

After the morning classes.

I sent Seron off to have lunch with a card.

He was reluctant, but he had no one else to eat with.

In the end, after seeing us bicker back and forth, I headed toward the Sky Garden.

Honestly, I was a little curious about who had left this letter behind.

‘Could it be someone I know?’

As I pondered this, I climbed the stairs and saw the door to the Sky Garden.

As expected for lunchtime, it was very quiet beyond the door.

Creak—

With the sound of hinges clicking, the door opened.

As I peered inside, I saw a person standing far away.

For some reason, their back seemed familiar.

I was most surprised to see the person there whom I least expected.

“You’re here.”

Short, chestnut-colored hair.

A bunch of rings dangling from their hand.

Eyes that seemed to have a fierce glint.

The second-year Magic Arts Deputy.

Dorara Korajin.

In other words.

He’s a guy.

As I quietly observed him, I silently turned around.

Then, I closed the door again.

“Wait, where are you going?”

A startled Dorara rushed over and grabbed the door tightly.

Was he trying to have a power struggle with me?

I guess I should show him the results of the training Aisha put me through.

As I forcefully pushed the door shut, Dorara was pulled along with it.

Then he shouted in annoyance.

“Why are you running away?”

“Sorry, but I have no interest in guys. I get your taste, but please don’t include me in that.”

“Crazy, what nonsense are you talking about!”

Then he seemed to understand what I said, and his eyes widened.

“Hey! I like girls too! Who’s interested in someone like you!”

“Then why did you leave that cryptic letter?”

“Ugh, I intended to call you out to discuss something!”

“Why would you want to talk to me?”

Dorara and I had no intersection at all.

When I looked at him skeptically, he huffed.

“I was just waiting to tell you that from now.”

I got it.

As I swung the door open, Dorara was shoved back and rolled over.

The Magic Arts kid seemed a little annoyed about being overpowered, but he acknowledged it and brushed himself off.

“What do you want?”

My mood soured.

I really shouldn’t have come.

I just want to go eat lunch.

Dorara exhaled and then asked me.

“What’s your relationship with Sharine?”

“What do you mean by relationship?”

“I mean, you were on the same team for the team event, and I saw you with her at dinner.”

I didn’t think I’d have to conceal it from Izabel to this extent.

Did he actually find that out?

“She’s a friend.”

As I responded, I tilted my head.

“Just a friend?”

“…Why are you looking surprised?”

My relationship with Sharine felt ambiguous to call just friends.

Then again, it involved trading under certain conditions with Izabel.

Given how capricious Sharine could be,

It’s more likely she was just taking an interest in me.

So, to be honest, I can’t be sure.

“Hah, then you’re saying you’re not really friends. It’s true; no way she has friends.”

With that, a sharp remark slipped from Dorara’s lips.

He seemed displeased with Sharine.

“Forget it. Then, no reason to talk.”

“What did you call me for? Just tell me.”

This only sparked more curiosity.

As I asked Dorara why he called me, he glanced at me.

Then, the corners of his mouth slowly lifted.

His smile contained some strange malice.

“I just wanted to inform you.”

“Inform me about what?”

“About how lowborn that girl is.”

Just as expected. Dorara let out the words I had foreseen.

“Do you know? That girl’s mother used to work at a brothel. Apparently, she died of syphilis.”

Once he started talking, he seemed unable to restrain himself.

“With such a background, hiding this fact and living life while receiving all sorts of adulation.

A disgusting girl who spreads syphilis around, you better stay away from her…”

And then, Dorara took to the air.

To be precise, I stuffed my fist into his jaw.

“Cough!”

Crash!

Dorara rolled roughly on the ground.

He is a bundle of insecurities, both in the game and in reality.

Honestly, he’s just envious of Sharine’s magic skills.

So he spreads rumors to fill his self-esteem.

‘So that’s why rumors about Sharine spread in the game.’

This idiot is the one behind it.

“Are you insane? What are you doing!”

Dorara yelled, his jaw dislocated.

Looking at him, I made a fist.

“Just.”

Thud—

I released my hand.

“Considering I’ve been called for such a useless story, I thought my notoriety wasn’t such a big deal.”

My notoriety spread quite widely within Jerion Academy.

So much so that I’m called the Lightning Kid.

Given that nickname, there have indeed been those who picked fights with me.

As long as they don’t cross the line, I didn’t bother engaging.

But if they crossed it, I’d always go all out.

Still, I managed to make a name for myself, and now I’m a formal member of the student council.

So nowadays, there aren’t many who dare hassle me.

“With this, I should defeat the Magic Arts Deputy and let my reputation spread.”

Let’s have a taste of being a wizard in battle.