The World After the Bad Ending

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Iris’s team is the strongest.

Proving that statement, Iris’s team stormed through the floors like a tempest.

Currently, the location where Iris’s team arrived is the 3rd floor of Magung, the Weeping Sky.

Above the dark clouds, two enormous eyes shed tears as they remained gently closed.

This turned into rain, drenching the ground below.

‘That’s a Seraph, isn’t it?’

The true Seraph of the Weeping Sky.

A Seraph that will be born when the Weeping Sky undergoes a transformation later on.

‘I need to deal with that eventually.’

But not right now.

Let’s just move on.

“Looks like the 3rd years are almost catching up.”

In the rain pouring from above, the Magic Arts Deputy Dorara, who was trailing behind, lets out a chuckle.

Perhaps due to his self-esteem being shattered by Sharine.

He seemed to enjoy showing off like that.

However, his skills were certain.

It just wasn’t a good match for me, and I had a complete grasp of all of Dorara’s bad habits and weaknesses.

His ambitions were fierce, fitting for a Magic Arts Deputy.

“Ugh, I’ve been stuck here for days already, it’s driving me crazy.”

At that, the Curse Sorcerer Valentina, who had been clinging to Joachim’s back, made a groaning sound.

The Magung has time and space distorted within it.

This distortion worsens the further down you go.

The time on the 1st floor isn’t much different from the outside.

But from the 2nd floor, the time changes completely.

Based on one day outside,

The 2nd floor equals three days.

The 3rd floor equals seven days.

The 4th floor equals fifteen days.

So, spending a long time in the lower floors of Magung doesn’t change the time difference that much outside.

That being the case, according to Magung, we had already spent several days.

On the 3rd floor, we spent three days.

“It’s more surprising that a Curse Sorcerer dislikes dreary places.”

“Ugh, please don’t hold any stereotypes about Curse Sorcerers.”

Dorara retorted, and Valentina groaned again.

Watching those two, I looked down at my hands.

Having come down to the 3rd floor of Magung, I was surprisingly not fatigued.

It was the body of Bickamon, a physical idiot.

Plus, I had already endured Aisha’s hellish training, so it made sense.

‘The real problem is…’

It was in a completely different place.

‘Pretending to be Hania is tougher than I thought.’

I just need to lay out what I know sufficiently.

Even if I’m talking to students, it’s limited since we are all in the same academy.

Above all, Hania is somewhat of a supporting character.

I have a lot of knowledge about her.

So, acting as Hania was fine.

What I felt was a different issue.

Looking at the sword in my hand, I quietly clicked my tongue.

Hania possesses the skills of the Martial Arts Deputy.

Of course, her skills are far superior to the ordinary Martial Arts kids.

She wields a long sword.

Her technique was so precise that even a lazy genius would recognize it.

Hania achieved this through talent and relentless effort.

The problem here is that I had never used a sword before.

Could a guy who has spent his life using his fists swing a sword properly?

‘Well, the training I’ve done prevents the sword from wobbling, but…’

Maybe it was because I was used to fighting with the edge of my hand day in and day out.

I couldn’t gauge the reach.

The sword’s cutting power varies based on the angle at which it is swung.

I often made mistakes because I couldn’t properly comprehend that.

So, halfway through, I gave up and swung it like a blunt weapon.

‘Ugh, I’m never touching a sword again.’

Indeed, it’s better to rely on my hands than on tools.

“Hania, are you feeling unwell lately?”

At that moment, Valentina asked me.

Thanks to the bandages of the veil, I looked just like Hania.

Yet, they were my fellow comrades who had fought alongside me.

To their eyes, I must have looked awkward.

“Mmm, your movements are more violent than usual, and you seem somewhat restrained.”

Even though my bangs covered my eyes, could anyone really see that?

“Hmm, indeed, I’ve felt different for the past few days as well.”

Joachim agreed.

The gaze of my teammates naturally shifted towards me.

Iris also glanced at me.

From here, Iris couldn’t help me either.

I didn’t want to raise unnecessary suspicions before Nikita attacked.

What if Nikita held back her attack just because Iris’s team seemed different?

That would cause trouble later on.

“About that…”

So, I had to figure out how to navigate through this.

Luckily, I had gone through something that could seriously affect my condition before I entered Magung.

“……I was confessed to by Professor Barcob before entering Magung.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, God.”

A deep sigh escaped Valentina and Joachim’s lips.

Everyone was aware of how dreadful Barcob was.

“W-well, you should rest a bit and take it easy.”

Even the guy with a terrible personality like Dorara looked at me with pity.

Seeing them, I forced a smile.

Compassion flickered in everyone’s eyes.

Even that worthless Barcob has his days of usefulness.

Not that I’m grateful for it.

“Let’s keep going.”

Seeing me escape from the crisis, Iris resumed walking.

I could see the smile rising on her lips, but I didn’t point it out.

“Looks like we’re nearing the end of the 3rd floor.”

We had dealt with a total of three Seraphs on the 3rd floor.

We had already lost count of the monsters.

It’s moments like this that make me realize how strong Iris’s team really is.

The battle cleric Joachim held a book in his left hand while he turned enemies into paste with just one hand.

Yet, even during this, he would immediately heal the team if they got hurt.

The Curse Sorcerer specializing in debuffs, Valentina, activated curses the moment enemies appeared.

She had about ten thousand curses she could deploy.

With the numerous curses raging like a storm, the enemies became helpless in an instant.

Iris and Dorara were needless to say.

‘They truly are a monstrous group.’

With Hania added into the mix, it couldn’t be more perfect.

Still, Iris’s team could not overcome Nikita, the Disaster Dragon Maiden.

To defeat her, Lucas, who possessed the flames of will, was essential.

‘Especially on the 4th floor.’

It could very well be seen as an environment designed solely for the Disaster Dragon Maiden.

“Let’s head down.”

Iris took the lead, and the team members began to descend.

I wondered about placing the 3rd Princess in front.

But if Iris were in trouble, none of them could handle it.

In the entirely dark space, only the white staircase continued downward, endlessly.

The steps were nothing but platforms.

At first glance, they seemed dizzyingly high.

“Hehe, I think we’ll set a new record this time.”

“We need to speed down. We’ve already been embarrassed as a group.”

I could hear Joachim and Dorara chattering behind.

With this pace, we were certainly fast.

‘If only Nikita weren’t here, we could have reached the 6th floor.’

It seemed likely that in the next Magung, we would be the first 2nd years to reach the 7th floor.

Of course, Iris had her own reasons for not being able to go much deeper into Magung.

“Hania.”

At that moment, Iris called for me.

There were deep dark circles under her eyes.

Since entering Magung, she had hardly slept at all.

Although she originally had insomnia,

It was influenced by the evil presence looming throughout Magung.

The power of the evil presence was imprinted in her body.

It reacted with the evil presence in Magung, causing her nightmares to intensify.

Thus, Iris was particularly weak in Magung.

Unless we were maximizing our clear speed.

As time passed, Iris’s vigor declined dramatically.

‘But if Lucas, who possesses the flames of will, is here…’

We could chase away the nightmares from Magung.

That’s why, during our 1st year,

Iris had hired Lucas as a team member for the Magung flick.

Of course, at that time, the flames of will had yet to take strong form.

So, we didn’t yield great results and didn’t take Lucas along for the next Magung.

‘And Lucas died there.’

For Iris, it was a story of many regrets in various ways.

‘Right now, I cannot solve Iris’s nightmare.’

So, Iris continued to deteriorate day by day.

“Yes, Lady Iris.”

As I approached Iris, she gestured to me.

“It’s almost time.”

Nikita was the first team to enter this Magung.

Thus, she was already prepared at the 4th floor, waiting.

‘Once Iris’s team steps in, they won’t be able to provide support to the 4th floor.’

This was a preemptive measure, predicting Iris’s team even to surpass the 3rd years.

“I must prepare.”

Iris nodded.

Her figure dispersed first.

I immediately followed suit.

Thud!

Soon, my surroundings began to shift.

An unsettling feeling, which I couldn’t quite place, brushed over my body.

This was proof that we had stepped into the 4th floor of Magung.

A cold chill ran through my entire body.

Swish—

As the sound of snow being stepped on echoed beneath my feet, I slowly raised my head.

Above the pure white snow.

Ice frog lilies and water caltrops were covering the snow.

In this place, which felt inexplicably dark, there were ice sculptures showcased here and there.

Breath mist emerged from my mouth due to the temperature difference.

Magung, 4th floor.

Ice Garden.

The temperature had plummeted to a chilling level.

However, the real problem starts from now.

“Everyone, get down!”

As I yelled, I surged forward to shield Iris.

SHHRRRR!

Just then, I heard something behind us and something fell from the ceiling.

CRASHHH!

Immediately, an enormous ice wall crashed down behind us.

“Whoa!”

“Kyah!”

Joachim leapt forward, carrying Valentina and Dorara with him.

Thanks to that, the three of them weren’t crushed by the ice wall.

“W-what is happening?”

Dorara looked back with a bewildered expression.

There, an absurdly thick ice wall rose along with the swirling snow mist.

The passage connecting the 3rd and 4th floors of Magung.

It was completely blocked off by the wall of ice.

A look of confusion washed over everyone’s faces.

This was a problem we hadn’t anticipated at all.

Except for me and Iris.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

Beyond the ice garden’s passage.

I felt an ominous chill extending into this place.

‘It has begun.’

To avenge my brother’s death.

The Disaster Dragon Maiden.

Nikita Cynthia had begun to move.