The World After the Bad Ending

Chapter 64




On the Summer Sea

Me and Hania.

And there were Isabel, Mina, and Sharine facing us.

Isabel was looking at me with a dazed expression for some reason.

Sharine was squinting slightly more than usual as she stared at me.

“Oh my, hello everyone.”

Hania smiled as if she had just realized everyone was there, pulling my hand even tighter.

Don’t do that.

I feel like other things are going to touch.

At that moment, Mina let out a surprised sound.

“Hania, when did you two become so close?”

Even so, it’s surprising that she wouldn’t tease her boyfriend even with a girlfriend right in front of her.

“You’re really bold, aren’t you?” Mina remarked sweetly.

My eyes met Hania’s.

“Oh, during Magung, right?”

“Yeah, that’s when I confessed.”

With each of my statements, Isabel’s eyes shook violently.

I was slowly beginning to feel something strange too.

“Hanoin.”

At that time, Sharine called out to me.

She was staring at me intently.

“Sharine, why did you call?”

“Don’t you know?”

What could I not know?

Still, Sharine only continued to watch me quietly.

“Oh, ha, ha.”

Mina awkwardly laughed, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

Then, Hania, who was holding my hand, subtly urged me to leave.

For some reason, I found it hard to stay in this awkward atmosphere.

“Well then, I’m off.”

“Have fun, everyone!”

Hania and I quickly exited the scene.

After the three of them looked away.

Hania naturally let go of my hand.

“Didn’t we leave our things behind? What are you all doing?”

“I just saw a familiar face and exchanged a few words.”

“I thought you were enjoying being surrounded by girls with that grin.”

I didn’t particularly have a grin on my face, did I?

As I quietly fiddled with my lips, Hania looked at me with an unpleasant expression.

“Are you… jealous?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

You can be quite fierce.

“If you’re being so friendly with other girls, I’m just a little annoyed that I have to pretend to be jealous.”

“Isn’t not needing to act like that a win-win?”

“If we’re going to pretend, we should do it properly. I’ll make sure all the annoying guys chase after me.”

To do that, she was planning to seriously act like a girl in love.

What a frightening determination.

If it was Hania’s determination, I felt like she could achieve anything.

“By the way, about the two from earlier…”

Just then, Iris waved at us from a distance.

“Hania! Hanon!”

At that moment, Iris, sitting under the parasol, beckoned us over.

“Yes, Iris-sama!”

Hania threw away the expression she had just made and instantly wore a bright smile as she ran to Iris.

“Since we’re here, let’s go to the sea too.”

“Of course!”

I fumbled to drop off my stuff.

I couldn’t shake off the thought of Isabel’s abandoned puppy-like expression as I followed the two.

* * *

On the surface of the sea.

I was leisurely floating on a tube.

In the distance, I could see Iris and Hania playing and splashing water.

They had been long-time friends since childhood.

So, they played well even without me joining.

Thanks to that, I was savoring some long-awaited peace.

‘I wonder what the others are doing during their break.’

For starters, Seron said he was going back to his family home.

“Lightning sweet potato, don’t be sad just because I’m not there, alright?”

I hoped he wouldn’t return at all.

The same went for Card, who decided to go back too.

His family home was probably quite a distance away.

Knowing Card’s family background, I pictured him struggling quite a bit.

“Wang Non, having a girlfriend makes you a traitor. But as your senior, I’ll specially buy you some bed sheets for you and your girlfriend.”

I hoped he’d just vanish too.

Why do I get so annoyed just thinking of those two?

I sincerely hoped some chaos would erupt at their family homes.

At that moment.

I felt something tickling my foot.

A foot was touching mine.

Curious, I looked down and saw a pure white face.

“Hanon, hello.”

There was Sharine, floating in the water, just lifting her hand.

When did she get here?

“Let’s talk a bit.”

With that, Sharine sank back into the water.

“Oh.”

At that instant, Sharine’s hand suddenly popped up from below the tube.

Before I could react, her hand tugged at me sharply.

Splash!

Without a chance to prepare, I fell off my tube and plopped into the water.

As I hurried to the surface, I realized my hand was caught against something.

At the same time, I was complete breathless.

This was an air barrier!

The air barrier in the water was a spell cast by Sharine.

Her hair, shimmering in the reflected water, was incredibly beautiful.

“Sharine?”

“Let’s chat.”

Suddenly talking like that.

If she came all this way, it must be something important.

“What is it? If it’s about buying bread, I’m not doing it.”

“Do you think I’m some bread ghost?”

Wasn’t I mistaken?

“Can I ask you one thing first? Are you really dating Hania?”

Is this a precondition to know beforehand?

I had shared many secrets with Sharine over time.

Since she’d been helping me, it felt wrong to hide this from her.

“No, that’s not the case. Hania is just going through some difficulties, and I’m just helping her out.”

As I revealed my cooperation, Sharine’s eyes softened slightly.

That was something she didn’t even realize she was doing.

“Then let’s get to the main topic about Bel.”

My expression instantly changed.

Sharine was Isabel’s close friend.

Therefore, she was the most sensitive to Isabel’s changes.

Although it had improved quite significantly recently.

Isabel had a history of trying to take her own life after losing Lucas.

She still hadn’t completely overcome her trauma about Lucas.

So her mind could tilt back to that direction at any moment.

“Tell me.”

As I showed a listening posture, Sharine glanced at the surface of the water.

It seemed she was watching Isabel over there.

“Recently, Isabel’s behavior has been a bit strange.”

“Strange how?”

“Should I say she seems dazed? She can’t focus well.”

“Not you too?”

The air bubbles were starting to dwindle.

If I played around too much, I might drown.

“When did this start?”

As I changed the subject, Sharine wrapped her arms around herself with the hand holding her wand.

“Um, the thing is…”

Sharine hesitated for a moment.

I sensed a significant pause.

“What’s taking so long?”

Pushing her a bit in my annoyance, Sharine glanced at me.

“It seems it started after Hanon and Hania started dating.”

My eyes blinked in surprise.

Then my head tilted.

Why?

What reason could there be for Isabel becoming dazed after I started dating Hania?

Nothing came to mind.

“…I’ve thought of a bit of a theory.”

This time, Sharine had an answer.

She’s sharp-minded.

She might actually know what’s going on.

“Isabel might like Hanon.”

I heard a barking sound.

I stared at Sharine silently.

But her eyes showed sincerity.

“…Do you think that makes any sense?”

“Still, that reaction is typical when a girl gets a boyfriend she likes.”

“Think about it logically. I’ve said some pretty harsh things to Isabel multiple times. Why would she like someone like me? That guy’s a serious creep!”

“That’s not sincere.”

I was momentarily speechless.

Why are all the observant people around me?

It’s a problem that everyone is so smart.

“Isabel’s not an idiot. She must sense a bit of why Hanon is acting like that.”

Was my scratching insufficient?

As I became disheartened, Sharine offered another response.

“There should be at least some kind of trigger. Above all.”

From what I saw, Isabel’s expression was far from resembling love.

How can I put it.

There were various complex emotions that I couldn’t easily define.

“Let’s find out this time.”

“If we are to find out, how do you suggest we proceed?”

Is there some magic that lets us peek into someone’s heart?

“Just ask her directly.”

I blinked.

When I pointed at Sharine, she shook her head.

Then when I pointed at myself, she nodded.

“…Wouldn’t it be better for you to ask about love?”

“Do you think Isabel would talk about love with me?”

I don’t think so.

If it were Sharine, she might blankly make a slip somewhere during the conversation.

“And if the party doesn’t even realize it, it’s better to ask directly. That way, we can see the reaction and verify.”

I sighed deeply.

No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t feel that was the case.

But then again, there was no suitable resolution.

If there was something wrong with Isabel, I had to find out as well.

‘Isabel’s awakening episode wouldn’t be that far off.’

Until then, I had to keep a close watch on Isabel’s mental state.

“Understood.”

Even so, there should be an opportunity to inquire about her strange behaviors.

“So how will you ask?”

“I’ll create the setting.”

Sharine’s eyes gleamed suspiciously.

“It’ll be a late-night event where no matter what, the stories will flow smoothly.”

I felt an unnecessary sense of unease begin to form.

* * *

Summer nights evoke emotions in people.

The distant sound of ocean waves.

The chirping of insects from the bushes.

The sweat trickling down between my clothes.

Summer has a definite power to stir people’s hearts.

In such a bewitching summer night.

I found myself in the same room as two of the most beautiful girls at school.

Iris, who played all day, was sprawled peacefully on the bed of our accommodation.

Wearing light clothing due to the summer, her skin was almost visible.

Hania sat beside her, fanning her to keep her cool.

Despite the air conditioning magic in the room, Hania was sincerely devoted.

“Iris-sama, don’t you think it might be better to book another room since I’m also a guy?”

Upon saying that to Iris, who was lounging in such light clothing, she glanced at me.

“I sleep better when Hanon is beside me.”

“Hanon, just listen quietly to Iris-sama’s words.”

Are they planning to sleep cuddled together again today?

I wish they would consider how the person in need of holding on feels.

I could feel myself drifting off due to Iris’s rose fragrance wafting around me.

‘I’d better resolve this quickly.’

At this rate, I could see Iris reaching out to me for a cuddle even after returning to the dorm.

But thanks to this situation, I realized one thing.

‘I can be sure of what feelings are being excluded by the veil.’

Iris was one of the most beautiful girls in the Empire.

Even though I had embraced her multiple times, my heart remained incredibly still.

Whether a girl hugged me or not, I felt no different feelings arise.

To put it precisely, my sexual feelings were completely excluded at this moment.

‘Indeed, what I lost to the veil was love, just like with Lucas.’

Perhaps the reason Iris freely hugs me to sleep is that I don’t show her even a hint of sexual interest.

Iris, whose senses are incredibly sharp.

If I had any inkling of that feeling, she would have certainly picked up on it.

‘Perhaps it’s because it felt like I didn’t know my own feelings from the beginning.’

I didn’t feel sad about the loss of a single emotion.

In fact, it helped me to view everything objectively regardless of the situation.

‘Thus, this means…’

In effect, I was in a constant state of sage time.

‘Wait, isn’t this potentially dangerous?’

While I felt fine about this moment right now.

The wear and tear of emotions would definitely be impacting me somewhere.

‘Perhaps this too is the effect of the veil.’

The diminishing of emotions felt like something trivial and natural.

If I truly accepted that this was dangerous, it definitely would be.

‘Love isn’t limited to other people.’

Love includes things that range from animals to my most cherished hobbies and interests.

And furthermore.

‘Myself.’

I looked down at my hands.

Recently, in the loss of loving emotions, I had become less considerate of myself.

Of course, I acted that way because I was in danger, but there was undoubtedly a trend of abusing myself behind it.

…Realizing that, it might be more dangerous than I thought.

When I am completely devoid of love, capable of not loving even myself.

What choice would I make?

“Hanon?”

Iris leaned closer, calling out my name.

Seeing me lost in deep thought, she displayed a hint of curiosity.

“Are you okay? Are you tired?”

“I’m fine.”

“You wouldn’t be tired when Iris-sama hugs you so warmly. Your energy would actually be increasing.”

Hania, with an air of jealousy, pouted.

She never hid her jealousy when it came to Iris.

I shook my head, brushing off those thoughts.

Anyway, thanks to that, even though I was in the same room as Iris and Hania.

Nothing was going to happen.

‘On the contrary, right now…’

I was worried about the late-night event that Sharine mentioned.

She was quite the unpredictable one.

I feared what on earth she would do.

Looking outside, I noticed the sky had darkened considerably.

The summer night breeze tapped against the window.

Knock, knock—

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

“I’ll go.”

Rather than letting Hania put down her fan, I stood up instead.

As I opened the door, lo and behold, there stood Sharine.

The issue was the unexpected smell wafting from her.

Without thinking, I pinched my nose.

“Sharine, you…”

That was the smell of alcohol.

I closed the door and stepped outside.

“Is that what the late-night event was about?”

“Anything can come out if you drink it.”

Unlike in reality, in the world of the Burning Butterfly, it’s perfectly fine for those over 15 to drink.

Thus, it wasn’t strange for Sharine to be drinking.

“I doubt Isabel would be drinking.”

“Mina coaxed her.”

For some reason, it felt like Mina was the source of all bad influences.

“And Isabel, too, was continually swept away.”

Given the opportunity for a break, she seemed to have relied on the power of alcohol.

“Although she seemed to be doing quite well recently.”

“Yes, thanks to Hanon.”

It felt rewarding for my efforts.

“Isabel still hasn’t escaped from Lucas’s shadow.”

Sharine bore a troubled expression.

Lucas had been a friend to Sharine too.

While perhaps not as close as to Isabel.

Her death had shocked her as well.

“Isabel idolized Lucas. He was someone who seemed capable of doing anything.”

When the person she idolized returned as a cold corpse.

The shock must have been indescribable.

“Perhaps Isabel sees Lucas in Hanon.”

“I don’t really think I resemble Lucas much.”

“Except for the feeling of being capable of anything.”

Sharine’s lips curved up.

That smile reminded me of all the outrageous things I had done.

“I’ve never seen someone as unpredictable as Hanon.”

I, too, was desperate enough to use any means necessary, hence that reputation.

“Thus, it wouldn’t be strange for Isabel to compare Hanon to Lucas.”

Sharine seemed to be unusually loquacious today.

Shortly after, I noticed her ears were slightly flushed.

‘This girl.’

She must be a bit tipsy.

She had mysteriously become chatty.

And her face looked fine, so I hadn’t noticed.

‘Well, how could Sharine enjoy a drink while encouraging Isabel to drink?’

Now I realized just how much Sharine cared for Isabel.

Sharine wished for Isabel to no longer suffer and live a life true to herself.

That’s why she asked me to evoke Isabel’s anger when we first met.

And today, she drank together with Isabel to draw out her true feelings.

“Sharine.”

Sharine’s gaze briefly connected with mine.

“Isabel is blessed to have a friend like you.”

Sharine probably felt she hadn’t been supportive enough for Isabel after Lucas’s loss.

Perhaps that was a pain she held inside.

Hearing my words, Sharine let out a voice that seemed to carry her feelings.

That laugh was possibly the clearest I had seen from her so far.

“Hanon, I…”

Sharine covered her mouth.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

So that was her last desperate struggle before throwing up.



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