The World After the Bad Ending
Chapter 232

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Chapter 232

Karan, the assistant instructor with whom I share nothing but bad blood, was glaring at me with an intensely displeased expression.

The reason was simple.

I had just provoked him, and quite thoroughly at that.

Karan’s teeth ground together audibly.

"You little brat, say that again."

"I said, stop babbling useless nonsense and get on with the entrance exam."

I repeated politely.

As I repeated myself, Karan's face twisted in disbelief.

He may not realize it, but I don’t particularly like him.

He's a wannabe lackey of Vega, who graciously arranged this assistant instructor position for me.

From the moment he insulted her intentions and started spouting off nonsense, I couldn’t see him in any favorable light.

“Thought you’d mellowed out a little.”

That’s why I took care of things myself.

“Seems like your right hand needs to be useless before you start behaving.”

At the mention of his right hand, Karan flinched reflexively.

That was a side effect of me shattering it in the past while posing as Vikamon.

And just like that, a wave of rage swept over his face.

“Who the hell told the students about that, huh?”

Apparently, the incident hadn’t spread beyond the assistant instructor's office because Karan had kept it under wraps.

It makes sense—not much good would come from the professors or students knowing about what happened there.

So while I understand the reasoning, it still reeks of bad intentions.

“Was it that bastard?”

Karan sneered as he spoke.

“Vikamon? The guy who thought he was hot shit 'cause of his face and ended up dead?”

Even went as far as disrespecting the dead.

Completely deranged.

The other assistant instructors seemed to share that sentiment, as their expressions turned grim.

‘Unexpected.’

I thought he’d lose control and throw a spell by now.

But Karan only sneered without making any aggressive move.

‘Is it because of who’s backing me?’

Behind me stand Duke of Whitewood and the Blue Tower Master.

Not to mention I have a friendly relationship with Iris, who is soon to face the emperor.

He must be all bark, no bite.

He still looks down on me for being a student, but I don’t sense him crossing any lines.

‘I thought he was the type to act on impulse.’

Maybe he didn’t get through life as an assistant instructor on pure luck.

I may have picked the wrong fight.

Just as I was thinking it’d be best to wrap this up quickly, a chilling presence suddenly crept up behind me.

My gaze slowly turned back.

There stood a girl with flowing, snow-white hair.

I knew her name well.

Xenia Niflheim.

My younger sister.

She was standing at a distance from the students, so I hadn’t expected her to hear any of this.

Or maybe she had been watching us from the start.

“What did you just say?”

Xenia's venomous voice echoed quietly.

Karan turned with a face that said, ‘Now what?’

And then, he recognized her.

I’ve made a name for myself too, but Xenia’s on a whole different level.

She’s the heir to the esteemed Niflheim Count family, a noble magical household of great repute in the empire.

And in front of her, he had insulted her elder brother, Vikamon.

As someone from Niflheim, that was unforgivable.

“Go on, say it again.”

“Uh, uh…”

Karan’s face was filled with panic.

The students who had been buzzing with excitement for the entrance exam now turned their attention toward us.

With Xenia stepping in, it was only natural for all eyes to focus on her.

“Vikamon saved lives in the Demon Dungeon and died a heroic death.”

A murderous aura surged from Xenia.

“To insult my brother is to insult the Niflheim Count family itself.”

“H-He was expelled from the Niflheim family, though!”

Karan hurriedly tried to backpedal.

“So what?”

Xenia’s gaze grew even colder and more murderous.

Karan's face turned paler by the second.

“If I, as the heir to the Niflheim family, say I feel insulted—what are you going to do about it?”

Karan shut his mouth.

Xenia indeed had that kind of authority.

He had no right to argue.

“What house are you from?”

Xenia asked, and Karan went mute, like a man who realized he was about to step into a trap he couldn’t escape.

But his silence only irritated Xenia more.

“Would you care to answer on his behalf?”

Pressed by Xenia’s overwhelming presence, another assistant instructor flinched.

He knew that naming Karan’s house could bring trouble—but staying silent would earn the wrath of someone far worse.

“He’s from the Sirel Count family.”

Before the assistant could speak, I answered for him, sparing him the consequences.

Xenia glanced at me with slightly softened eyes, then turned her glare back to Karan.

“The Sirel Count family… To think someone from such a noble house would act so disgracefully. I’m deeply disappointed. I’ll be informing the Sirel family directly about this offense. I’ll also report it to the headmaster, so please do your best to keep out of my sight from now on.”

“Y-You can’t—!”

He tried to protest, but Xenia’s eyes grew even more merciless.

Her expression said, “Speak another word and you’ll lose your head.”

Karan could only shut his mouth.

His face was filled with resentment, clearly thinking this whole situation was unfair.

But to Xenia, that only made him more contemptible.

She exchanged a brief glance with me before walking away.

With her proud steps, even the students and instructors were left staring in awe.

I had a feeling she’d earn a new nickname today.

Her fierce demeanor and icy presence were like that of an ice goddess.

Clap!

In the silence that followed, I clapped my hands.

“Well then, shall we proceed with the entrance exam?”

Now that things were handled, it was time to work.

Everyone looked at me like I was some kind of lunatic.

Bonus.

* * *

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While Karan sat slumped in his chair in a daze, the entrance exam resumed.

Thanks to the earlier commotion caused by him, we were behind schedule.

So I was assigned to help administer the test as well.

The students who faced me all looked bewildered.

“Y-You want me to cast magic on the examiner?”

“Yes. Go all out. It’s an exam—of course you should.”

I had already observed how the other assistant instructors were evaluating the tests.

I knew exactly what the standards for passing were.

But the student hesitated, unsure of what to do.

As I quietly watched him, I spoke.

“There are demons and apostles in the Demon Dungeon that mimic human form. Some even wear human skin.”

I calmly raised the grading sheet with the student’s name on it.

“If you hesitate in there, you die. If you think it's impossible, pack your things and leave now.”

I meant it.

This would be better for the student in the long run.

He flinched, then finally made up his mind with a determined expression.

“I-I’ll cast it!”

He began chanting his spell.

And the moment he completed it, a massive ball of flame flew toward me.

He certainly seems worthy of having passed the first round of the Zerion Academy entrance exam.

But I simply reached out and crushed the incoming fireball with my bare hand.

Black smoke rose from my clenched fist.

I lightly shook my hand, and the smoke quickly dissipated.

“Wh-what the...?”

The student stared at me wide-eyed in a daze.

He must have genuinely cast it with all his might, and yet seeing it blocked so effortlessly left him stunned.

“Your output is a bit lacking. You fail.”

“Ah, uh, y-yes.”

Even though he failed, he looked completely bewildered.

He was probably seriously questioning whether a human could crush a fireball with their bare hand.

The exam continued despite the students’ confusion.

Some used lightning magic, others ice magic.

Each time, I either took the spells head-on or shattered them.

Every student who faced me ended up wearing a vacant expression.

Some even began to question whether they deserved to be called mages.

I hoped they wouldn’t lose heart.

After all, this body of mine can withstand even Sharin’s magic.

The reality was that average students just couldn’t help it.

Of course, there were students who passed the test brilliantly.

“Um, what’s your name, assistant?”

One of the successful examinees asked for my name.

“Oh, I’m not an assistant. Just a third-year helping out with the exam.”

So I corrected him.

He stared at me with an even more shocked expression.

“My name is Hannon Irey.”

“Ah.”

Once I said my name, he seemed to accept everything at once.

It looked like Hannon’s name had spread farther than I thought.

As that convinced student left, the next examinee stepped up.

“Senior, did you come here just to crush the spirit of prospective students?”

That voice was familiar.

When I looked up, I saw a face I had last seen on Christmas.

I almost called out her name but instead smiled slowly.

“I learned this method of asserting seniority from another upperclassman.”

“Must’ve been a terrifying senior.”

“No. She was incredibly cute and someone I deeply respect.”

Under her veil, strands of brown hair peeked out.

It wasn’t a familiar face, but it bore a familiar smile.

Her name was Nikita Cynthia.

She now went by the name Sekita.

Vikamon’s first love, and the person who made me decide to twist the original scenario.

“Did you like that senior?”

What a sly question.

“Yes. She’s the one I like most.”

So I answered her head-on.

Nikita couldn’t hide the wide smile that spread across her face.

“You’re a wicked senior. Toying with a junior’s heart so easily.”

“This is just payback for the heart you toyed with first.”

“I welcome that kind of revenge. Keep it coming.”

With those words, Nikita drew a staff from her waist.

It was of high quality—likely prepared by Nia.

“This is a test, so I’ll give it my all.”

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing how much you’ve grown.”

“My growth will exceed your expectations—be ready.”

As Nikita lightly swung her staff, the magic around it began to surge.

The air suddenly grew cold.

And I knew what this power was.

“You might get hurt, senior.”

No way.

Nikita’s magic grew closer to completion.

My eyes widened in response.

The surrounding eyes began turning our way.

Everyone here was a mage.

They were starting to realize what kind of magic Nikita was casting.

Students stared with open mouths.

Among them was even Xenia.

The overwhelming roar of mana shook the entire training ground.

When I realized the nature of Nikita’s spell...

I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.

Because from the tip of Nikita’s staff, a massive dragon of ice let out a deafening roar.

The enormous ice dragon filled the entire training ground.

Both students and assistants froze in place at the sight.

Ice Dragon Magic.

A new ancient dragon magic user had been born.

“I poured all my love into this. Take it.”

At her teasing words, I readied my stance.

“Bring it on.”

It was proof of how brilliantly she had grown—and a sign of the talent I had helped her unleash.

I was ready to face it with all I had.

As Nikita’s staff moved, the gigantic ice dragon surged forward to strike.

And with that, the entrance exam had to be temporarily suspended—due to an unprecedented level of impact.

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