The World After the Bad Ending

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Nia Cynthia, the associate professor of the Jerion Academy’s Magic Arts, is coming.

This was completely unexpected news.

For good reason—among the games I’ve played, Nia Cynthia has never once been an associate professor.

“Why is that?”

What influenced the decision to summon Nia to the Jerion Academy?

I couldn’t quite grasp the reason.

“Nia Cynthia is on the side of the 1st Prince.”

The only reason the 1st Prince has been eyeing the Jerion Academy is one: when Lucas performs remarkably.

“Hanon Irey was initially sent to lure Lucas out.”

But Hanon didn’t transfer here.

To be precise, I, pretending to be Hanon, transferred.

At that point, the 1st Prince shifted his attention away from the Jerion Academy.

The 1st Prince isn’t someone who prioritizes the future.

He wants to stay close to those currently dominating the political scene.

He had no interest in fledglings who might just enter the political arena after ten years.

So, he willingly handed over the future talents of the Jerion Academy to the 3rd Princess, Iris Haishirion.

Because he was confident that if he could recruit the current political figures, the Emperor’s throne would be his.

“Lucas is dead.”

Currently, there’s no Lucas to draw the attention of the present-focused 1st Prince.

In such circumstances, how is it that Nia—who would have become the 1st Prince’s closest aide—comes to the academy?

Things weren’t adding up.

“Damn this world.”

I sighed as I walked down the corridor.

It was already hard enough to steer a world facing a bad ending, but now problems were rolling in from outside the Jerion Academy too.

“Has something changed with the 1st Prince?”

I had no immediate guesses.

So, I was on my way to find out.

A familiar door came into view.

It was the door to the student council room.

Knock knock—

After two knocks, I slowly opened the door.

It was a courtesy for the people inside.

Creak—

Upon opening the door, I saw a girl holding a feather pen, illuminated by sunlight filtering down behind her.

Nestled between her long, silver hair that shone beautifully in the sun, her ocean-like blue eyes looked at me.

At first glance, she might seem cold, but as soon as she saw me, she slowly smiled, and that impression vanished.

“Well, well, who’s this? Aren’t you the underclassman who performed at the 1st floor Magung recently?”

Nikita spoke as if she were praising me.

As she said, the news of Hanon’s team’s achievements had spread among the students.

The incident with the Forest Keeper demon could have resulted in many casualties.

But we, having foreseen the danger and managed to stop it without any fatalities, received a promise from the academy for a separate reward.

Moreover, a serious investigation regarding the Magung transformation had begun.

Soon, there would be various countermeasures concerning the Magung transformation, so I was glad about that.

“Is it just Nikita-senpai?”

But our team wasn’t the only one that shone.

The Nikita team, composed of 3rd years, made it to the 6th floor of the Magung.

As for the 3rd years now, the maximum achievement in the Magung was reaching the 5th floor.

Nikita’s team set a new record as soon as they became 3rd years.

This meant that among the 3rd years, it’s fair to say that the Nikita team stands at the top.

However, Nikita smiled bitterly at my praise.

“Considering the original standards, it’s just an average speed. Not all that impressive. Our generation doesn’t have many talents.”

As she said, the talent pool for 3rd years wasn’t that great.

Just looking at last year’s graduates, they reached the 6th floor by their 2nd year.

And in their 3rd year, they didn’t just reach the 7th floor but attained the remarkable feat of reaching the 8th floor.

In contrast, the current 3rd years have just reached the 6th floor.

Perhaps that’s why the current 3rd years have earned the nickname of the weakest generation, despite the bitterness.

“Besides, it seems other underclassmen have also reached the 5th floor in this Magung. They’ll catch up to us soon.”

As Nikita said, there were already teams among the 2nd years that had reached the 5th floor.

Given that it seems certain they will reach the 6th floor in the next Magung, the achievements of Nikita’s team will soon be overtaken.

“The talent pool of the 2nd year is on another level.”

The 2nd year includes the protagonist Lucas.

They call the 2nd year the generation of golden flames.

The last princess, Iris Haishirion.

The lazy genius, Ban.

The genius magician with a predestined star, Sharine.

Saint, SirMiel of Eden.

Just looking at this, the talent pool seems unbelievable.

There are still many with great talents, and some yet to awaken their potential.

“Of course, it’s the protagonist’s generation.”

The protagonist is the focal point driving the game’s narrative.

It’s only natural that talents would be concentrated in the generation being led by such protagonists.

Thus, the 2nd and 3rd years ended up looking like contrasting entities.

The reason they don’t get along too well is largely due to this.

“What does it matter to others?”

But for me, that was totally fine.

“Nikita-senpai, a new record has been set for you. So, it’s only right to congratulate you.”

A new record has been established.

After the efforts made by her, a new achievement emerged.

Nothing could be more important than that.

Nikita’s eyes widened slightly.

And soon, her eyes relaxed, and a smile appeared on her face.

“You really have a way with words, underclassman.”

It’s a compliment I often hear only from Nikita.

“It’s said that other friends claim I speak nonsense.”

“That’s odd. By my standards, you only use pretty words. Why don’t you try using them on the others too, just like you do with me?”

“No, this is exclusive to you, Nikita-senpai.”

“…Should I be pleased about that?”

Nikita made a subtle expression.

I had learned this not long ago from Sharine.

However, it unfortunately didn’t seem to have much effect.

“By the way, there’s one thing I want to ask you, senpai.”

I walked towards Nikita.

While doing so, I casually took care of some of the tasks she was handling.

“What is it?”

“I heard that Nia Cynthia is coming as an associate professor of Magic Arts this time.”

As I grabbed the feather pen in front of me, I started my work.

“I thought it might be good to greet her as a junior indebted to Nikita-senpai.”

“Stop it.”

And a cold voice came from Nikita’s lips.

My gaze, which had been on the paper, shifted toward her.

Then Nikita covered her mouth with her hand as our eyes met.

She seemed surprised that she could produce such a voice.

“Ah, um, I didn’t mean that.”

Nikita waved her hands in a flustered manner, trying to smooth things over.

But I had already figured out why she reacted that way a moment ago.

Nikita really idolizes Nia Cynthia.

For her, Nia is both a role model and a wonderful older brother.

However, behind the idolization and admiration lies jealousy as well.

The Countess Cynthia comes from a magical family.

Nikita was born without any magical talent from that very family.

Her evaluations from those around her are that she is a pretty doll for political marriage.

People tend to feel regret over what they lack.

Nikita also once wished to be born with magical talents, and she had times of yearning for it.

Nikita is not a flawless superhuman.

No matter how great an older brother she has, somewhere deep in her heart, jealousy lurks.

She simply has matured enough to never let it show.

However, for the first time, that jealousy surfaced.

And it surfaced in my direction.

I am someone who infinitely praises Nikita.

When I meet Nikita, complimenting her ten times a day is just basic etiquette.

I am the only one who offers positive affirmations no matter what she does.

This is something she never experienced as a child.

Nikita has grown accustomed to a life of underappreciation rather than praise.

At first, she was flustered by my compliments, unsure of what to do, but recently she began to enjoy them and even subtly hints for more praise.

And that’s incredibly cute.

Somewhere along the line, my compliments have deeply woven into Nikita’s life.

Now that she has tasted it once, Nikita can’t let go of the praise.

In that situation, Nia Cynthia appeared.

Nia Cynthia can be seen as the ultimate upgrade of Nikita in every way.

Having lived a life being compared to Nia, Nikita couldn’t possess what Nia has, and Nia has everything that Nikita does not.

I expressed my desire to join the student council because I admired Nikita.

Now how would it affect her if I suddenly met Nia Cynthia, the superior version of Nikita?

For a moment, Nikita imagined such a scenario.

Imagining that I would be taken away by Nia Cynthia.

In her childhood, I, who filled the void of praise she couldn’t attain, would be taken from her.

For Nikita, it felt like her cherished toy was being snatched away.

“Nikita-senpai, I won’t go anywhere. The one I admire is only you, Nikita-senpai.”

So, I resolved to clarify it for Nikita.

Nia Cynthia was never even in my consideration.

The one I admire is only Nikita.

Upon realizing this, the flustered Nikita slowly lifted her head.

Then, with my words, as if she had just discovered something, her eyes widened.

Whoosh!

And then Nikita disappeared.

To be precise, Nikita had ducked under the desk.

From the look of it, she seemed to have comprehended what the words she let slip meant only now.

As I rolled my chair and approached Nikita’s desk.

“Wait, don’t come here.”

Nikita yelled from beneath the desk, covering her face with her hands.

She resembled a hamster hiding in a mouse hole.

I sat comfortably in Nikita’s chair.

“Hah, junior, you can go home now!”

“No way. Since you doubted me, I need to clear it up today! The only one for me is Nikita-senpai!”

“Junior, at times like this, your perceptiveness annoys me! But why are you so clueless now?!”

“I’m putting aside my perceptiveness for now to reveal my true feelings to dispel your doubts!”

“Isn’t there a lack of consideration for me in that!”

Nikita made a sound as if she were crying from beneath the desk.

Is this what sadistic pleasure feels like?

I learned something new.

Even so, noticing that Nikita was nearing her limit, I planned to stop.

“Umm, what’s going on here?”

A new voice suddenly rang out.

Thunk!

Nikita abruptly tried to spring up but bumped her head against the desk.

As she cupped her head and swallowed, I turned my head.

There stood a handsome man with long, silver hair, the same color as Nikita’s.

And I knew exactly who he was.

Nia Cynthia.

The person I had just been talking about walked into the student council room.

“Oh, brother.”

Nikita hurriedly scrambled out from the desk and bowed her head.

Seeing that, Nia smiled softly.

“Nikita, could you explain the situation?”