The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 73



72 – The Dignity of the Main Heroine

The reason I appeared as Vickerman was simple.

First, I shouldn’t participate in the boycott disguised as a member of the academy.

This was the biggest obstacle.

Disguising as an existing character was enough with Hanon.

Given the problems that arose with Hanon before.

I couldn’t take the risk of disguising as another character anymore.

So, I had to choose someone who knew the circumstances of Jerion Academy but wasn’t a student.

Anyway, Vickerman was a person of no particular importance other than his appearance.

Moreover, he had no deep relationships, so the rumor of Vickerman’s appearance wouldn’t have much impact now.

He was a man expelled from Jerion Academy and even from his family.

In the academy, filled with nobles who value status and skill, there are very few who would take an interest in Bickerman.

It’s a sad story, but Bickerman was that insignificant of a person.

Secondly, the Hannon I originally disguised as is part of the student council.

Hannon needs a reason to remain in the student council in the future.

He could be inserted as a spy, but there are only two boycotters.

Unless the scale grows larger, the role of a spy is too worthless right now.

Thirdly, Bickerman has a justifiable reason to be part of the boycott.

Bickerman is not an out-of-the-blue character that the boycotters wouldn’t understand.

Bickerman was expelled from Jerion Academy.

Naturally, he is not ignorant of the internal affairs of the academy and also holds a grudge against it.

Moreover, it is understandable that he would sneak into Jerion Academy out of anger over Nikita’s death.

Above all, there is no risk in disguising as another character.

So, in my personal judgment, I thought he was the best card to use.

And that led to an entirely unexpected result.

Third floor of the abandoned building.

Inside the chemistry lab.

I was frozen, facing Isabel.

Isabel’s eyes quietly scanned Ailing and Rosamin.

The two were also frozen at Isabel’s appearance.

Isabel’s eyes turned back to me.

The moment our eyes met, I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“Isabel Luna, it’s been a while.”

“Oh, yes, no, it has.”

Isabel answered with a subtle look.

Damn.

That reaction means she knows I’m Hannon.

‘No, wait. Originally, I’m Bickerman, so does this mean I’ve deceived her too?’

Before the situation got more complicated, I leaned forward.

Then, taking advantage of the moment when everyone was stiff, I grabbed Isabel’s wrist and pulled her outside.

“Ah, wait, you.”

Isabel protested as she was dragged out by me, but I didn’t care.

Taking her with me, I entered another empty classroom and finally let go of Isabel.

As soon as I released her, Isabel wrapped her hand around the wrist I had grabbed.

Did I pull too hard?

But there was no time to feel sorry for that.

“Isabel, why did you come all the way here?”

When I asked the question, Isabel’s shoulders flinched.

Of course, there was no reason for Isabel to come to an abandoned building.

Isabel, who was hesitating, slowly avoided my gaze.

As expected, she knows that I am Hanon.

I decided to stop maintaining Bickerman’s tone.

“…Did you follow me?”

“N-no, it’s just that you were going to a strange place. I followed you to monitor you, thinking you might do something strange again!”

I made a dumbfounded face.

So.

Isabel was stalking me?

I never thought I’d have a stalker in my life.

After Associate Professor Barkov, a new stalker has appeared.

My head throbs.

It seems Isabel is watching me more than I thought.

‘At this rate.’

The probability of Isabel watching me, no matter what I do, was high.

“I never thought you’d do something so sneaky.”

“S-sneaky? I just!”

Isabel herself couldn’t continue speaking, as if she felt guilty.

But soon, she squinted her eyes as if something had come to mind.

“And who did something sneaky? The student council? You’re the student council yourself.”

Isabel shouted confidently, saying she had a valid reason to monitor me.

The stalker is brazen.

What an unfair world.

“Moreover, in that state.”

Isabel stared at my face with a look filled with various thoughts.

Bicamon has a history of tormenting Lucas in the past.

Even though he repented in the end, he would not be a welcome figure to Isabel.

Isabel then expressed her doubt.

“More importantly, how do you know that person…?”

“I think I have enough reasons to dislike the student council.”

I cut her off before she could question further.

Isabel hesitated.

She also knew well that I was close to Nikita.

Nikita, whom I followed, had died.

It was only natural for me to be angry at everything.

Isabel does not know that I saved Nikita.

The only one who roughly senses this is Iris.

Isabel’s eyes shook violently.

I read the emotions in her eyes.

Isabel had also lost someone precious, just like me.

She knew that pain better than anyone.

“That…”

Isabel threw her emotions into Lucas’s death and gave up on life.

The only target of resentment when Lucas died was the apostle.

She could not hold a grudge against anyone else.

But in my case, it was different.

The direction of my anger was clearly defined.

Isabel’s eyes slowly began to widen.

“…You, did you approach Iris with that intention?”

Isabel misunderstood something.

‘Ah.’

And I realized Isabel’s misunderstanding.

Even with Nikita’s death, I was extremely detached.

This was partly because I was busy preparing for the upcoming scenario.

Knowing that Nikita was alive from the start, no particular emotions were revealed.

But this was very strange in Isabel’s eyes.

A close friend, blinded by revenge, attacked the princess and self-destructed.

There should have been at least some emotional change.

However, what I did afterward was even more incomprehensible to Isabel.

Right after Nikita’s death, I became lovers with Hania.

From noble mtl dot com

Even if it was a contractual relationship.

It would have seemed even more bizarre to be by Iris’s side, who played a major role in Nikita’s rampage.

‘Isabel was concerned about my relationship with Hania.’

It wasn’t just psychological factors, but also this.

And now.

Isabel’s doubts were finally resolved.

The reason I approached Hania and stayed by Iris’s side.

It was concluded that it was for Nikita’s revenge.

“……That’s a misdirected anger.”

Isabel looked at me with the will to stop me.

Her eyes shone brilliantly with a crimson hue.

Despite the dark night, Isabel made a sunflower field bloom around her.

A firm will to stop a rival from going down the wrong path.

It was a main heroine-like aspect.

And I was the rival who had to use this appropriately.

It wasn’t intentional, but the justification was created.

Isabel might not doubt my motives.

That alone was enough of an advantage for me.

“What do you mean by misdirected anger?”

From now on, I will become a vengeful ghost to repay Nikita’s grudge.

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

“Isabel, if Lucas were killed by someone, would you just understand and accept it?”

Isabel’s eyes widened.

But she couldn’t say anything right away.

She knew better than anyone the pain of losing a loved one.

“I won’t do it.”

Rage surged in my eyes.

Even if it was fake, it flared up fiercely.

“No, I can’t.”

Fortunately, I had been acting for a while, so I was confident.

Long ago, due to facial paralysis from an injury, I had practiced facial expressions day and night to loosen my stiffening face.

When it comes to acting with facial muscles, no one can match me.

Isabel’s lips quivered.

She seemed to have a lot to say, but she couldn’t speak recklessly.

There was nothing that could stop me now.

“So don’t interfere.”

“No.”

The flame of determination that does not succumb to injustice.

A similar flame of determination lingered in Isabel’s heart.

She was also someone who had once been ignited by Lucas’s flame.

“I will stop you. I won’t just watch you go down that path.”

Isabel stared straight at me.

“With what right? Isn’t this actually good for you? That annoying guy is falling on his own.”

“If it were Lucas.”

She shouted vigorously, clenching her fists tightly.

“He would have done the same.”

One semester ago.

The dead eyes that had felt no strength now burned with vitality.

Those eyes held a mysterious power that gave strength to those who saw them.

Inside Isabel’s body.

Signs of awakening finally began to stir.

Someday, the main heroine who would thrust her sword at the villain alongside Lucas.

The dignity of the main heroine she originally possessed began to sprout.

‘Yes, Isabel.’

You always had the potential to replace Lucas.

That means, you also have the power to drive the scenario forward.

‘The protagonist of this scenario.’

It will surely be Isabel.

Then the trial of the scenario.

‘It will be me.’

The student council boycott incident was originally Lucas and his group’s role to stop.

Unintentionally caught up in the boycott incident, they face off against the boycott group in the scenario.

And Isabel is one of those in Lucas’s group.

The cogs of the scenario began to interlock once again.

“And.”

Isabel’s words did not stop.

“I also don’t want you to fall and disappear like that.”

In the end, Isabel’s earnestness was conveyed.

Isabel sees me overlapping with Lucas.

And she wanted me to continue being her goal and rival.

As much as she relies on me.

Isabel never wanted me to collapse.

‘If it’s this.’

Isabel would try to solve it on her own without telling anyone.

If she told others about this, I would immediately fall.

Luckily, a safety device was obtained.

“Alright, then.”

I turned back into Hanon and turned around.

“Do as you please.”

The groundwork is laid with this.

All that’s left is to proceed with the scenario.

‘As a trial.’

I carry out the scenario.