Chapter 51: Chapter 51

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Bad Ending: Ancient Dragon

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Bad Ending. The Ancient Dragon.

The Summer Magic Palace.

Nikita, having mastered the Ancient Dragon's magic, kills the Third Imperial Princess Iris with her own hands in the Magic Palace.

It was then that an unexpected situation unfolded.

The power of the Demon Lord, residing within Iris, reached out to Nikita and consumed her.

Nikita's hatred for the world and the Demon Lord's temptation.

As the two intertwined, Nikita ultimately fell into the Demon Lord's grasp.

The Ancient Dragon's magic and the Demon Lord's power.

Wielding these two powers, Nikita utterly annihilated the world.

That was the Bad Ending: The Ancient Dragon.

"Lucas, junior, I... I wanted to live freely. A life where I could do what I wanted, and marry the one I loved."

Nikita's tear-soaked cry from the Bad Ending of the 'Flame Butterfly' arc resurfaced in my mind.

"I hated my life, bound by the Cynthia family, so much that I was willing to throw it away so easily."

Nikita Cynthia, born without a shred of magical talent into the Marquisate of Cynthia, renowned for its magical prowess.

She had lived her entire life shackled by her family, her future entirely dictated by them.

The Cynthias didn't even allow her to wield a sword properly.

Instead, they merely used her as a convenient pawn for an arranged marriage.

The name of a Marquis in the Empire held such immense weight.

This was not modern society.

No matter how much a daughter strove, she could not escape the family's shackles.

Her elder brother, Nia, was the only escape route that could change Nikita's life.

"This... this must be the sin of carelessly relying on my brother, Nia. I should have forged my own path in life. When he died, I despaired not for his death, but for my own life, which would never change."

Nikita shed frozen tears, a byproduct of the Ancient Dragon's magic.

After witnessing that scene, I played the 'Flame Butterfly' arc countless times, hoping to change Nikita's fate.

However, there was no way to save Nikita in the 'Flame Butterfly' arc.

More precisely, even if there was a way, Lucas at that time couldn't achieve it.

A colossal destiny.

Nikita was clearly a mortal destined to die there.

"Everything in the world has a limit to what it can accept."

Sharin's advice came to mind.

To break such a colossal destiny, one had to be just as reckless.

So, I waited and waited.

A single move that would allow Nikita to escape the Cynthias and live freely.

And the only move that could pull her out of the colossal inevitability of the main storyline.

My gaze fell upon the current Nikita.

I no longer sensed the kind demeanor she once possessed.

Consumed by rage and vengeance, she was now nothing more than a vengeful spirit.

"Nikita, senior, you look very pale. Are you alright?"

"Hm? I'm fine. You don't have to worry."

Nikita said, her face brighter than it had been recently.

Flames blazed.

The flames burned, leaving not even a speck of themselves behind.

Her eyes no longer held any lingering attachment to the world.

"Junior."

"Yes, Nikita, senior."

"This Summer Magic Palace... you're going too, of course, junior?"

"I suppose so."

Unless you're in the first-year special class.

All second-years participate, except for those in poor condition.

"Then, at this Magic Palace, don't go too deep."

Nikita said, then turned her body.

"It's a senior's advice."

Nikita left like that.

As I quietly watched her retreating back, I realized my fists had clenched without me noticing.

＊＊＊

After that, I diligently assisted with student council duties.

After preparing everything so the students could enjoy themselves comfortably with the Magic Palace Trials just around the corner...

...I noticed students, their stomachs full, slowly heading off to rest.

And among them...

...there were still some eating.

'Nikita.'

Fortunately, she was talking with the professors.

She wouldn't have time to pay attention to this side.

I quietly moved my steps.

Soon, I stood beside the person who was still eating.

Beside her, a mountain of plates was piled up.

Yet, she continued to eat, as if she still had plenty of room in her stomach.

Even the big, strong boys had given up.

Her appetite was incredible.

"Third Imperial Princess."

Standing by her side, I quietly called out that name.

Amidst her jet-black hair, ruby-like eyes turned toward me.

Her eyes, filled with decadent charm, held a question.

It was as if she hadn't expected me to approach her side.

"I haven't had my meal yet. Would it be alright if I ate beside you?"

Eating alongside royalty was not something easily permitted.

However, this was Jerion Academy.

A place that, in its own way, pursued equality.

Above all, Iris was not the type of person to care about such things.

"You may."

True to Iris's nature, she didn't particularly object.

Instead, she shifted slightly, making room for me.

"It seems you have something to say."

I had barely ever conversed with Iris.

To be precise, I had judged it too early to get involved with Iris.

The colossal currents surrounding her.

If I were to meddle now, I'd be torn to shreds.

So, even if I were to join her someday...

...I had avoided her until now.

But now, with the Bad Ending: The Ancient Dragon looming before me...

...I couldn't avoid her forever.

Coincidentally, I had also made a strong impression in the team battle.

I decided to convey my wishes to her.

"For this Magic Palace Tournament, would you consider adding me to your team?"

In the original story, Lucas reached Iris's team in time when she was in danger.

However, with Lucas absent now...

...no other student could reach Iris's location.

Then there was only one way.

To be by Iris's side from the very beginning.

Iris, who had just bitten into a piece of meat, fixed her gaze on me.

She was intelligent.

She would surely know that this wasn't just a casual remark.

"That's problematic."

Precisely why she wasn't easily swayed.

"However, if you explain the situation clearly, I might cooperate."

Though interested, she wouldn't help without reason.

Her caution was typical of her.

"There is someone targeting the Third Imperial Princess in the Magic Palace."

Iris stopped her moving spoon.

Targeting a member of the Imperial family was the gravest of crimes under Imperial law.

Not only would the perpetrator's family be annihilated...

...but everything related to that family could be overturned.

Three generations would be eradicated.

That phrase was the most fitting punishment.

"So, it seems you wish to prevent that."

"Yes, I will absolutely prevent it."

Iris began moving her spoon again.

What I had just said carried a certain degree of risk for me as well.

Even though I knew someone was targeting the Princess, I hadn't conveyed it directly, but instead spoke in a roundabout way.

I felt tense.

If Iris got upset, my life would be forfeit too.

This was reality.

There were no retries like in a game.

"Alright. That's not difficult."

At that moment, Iris replied more readily than I expected.

"But if the person involved is connected to you, they'll recognize you."

"It's alright. I have a plan for that. Could you exclude one of the Third Imperial Princess's usual team members and transfer them to my team?"

"An exchange, then."

I followed Iris's lead and took a bite of meat.

Perhaps due to my tension, it tasted bland.

"That's fine. I'll do that for you."

Only when her permission was granted did my tension finally ease.

It was a relief that Iris was more generous than I had imagined.

'No, wait. More precisely...'

What truly resided in her eyes was likely interest.

Iris was observing me carefully.

Starting from the fact that I was her cousin.

I had even defeated Iris's team in the group battle and claimed first place.

From Iris's perspective, I must be a very peculiar individual.

And *I* was the one who proposed to her first.

Naturally, this would spark additional interest.

'She probably wouldn't even consider the possibility of being assassinated in the first place.'

That confidence.

She wasn't called the strongest Imperial family member in history for nothing.

But even she couldn't handle Nikita, who had become the Dragon Maiden of Disaster.

'Originally, Lucas was supposed to be the one to stop her, but...'

This time, I had to fulfill that role.

"But you know..."

At that moment, Iris abruptly brought up another topic.

"On our side, there's only one member with a similar physique to yours."

Since I was joining Iris's team...

...Iris's team would also need a substitute disguised as me to join my team.

In my case, I had the Bandage of Concealment, so anyone would do, but...

...that wasn't the case for them.

"If there's only one..."

Ah.

I realized who it was.

"We don't want to arouse suspicion, so the day before..."

Iris curved a captivating smile on her lips.

"You two can switch rooms as well."

Suddenly, my vision went dark.

＊＊＊

What exactly *was* life?

What was I doing all this for?

Harboring such thoughts, I walked down a corridor.

Long, bothersome hair fluttered at the nape of my neck.

My original black hair was gone, replaced by light peach-colored hair that streamed behind me.

Perhaps because of the unfamiliar physique...

...my way of walking still felt unnatural.

More precisely, the wider hips and heavier upper body, compared to my original self, were uncomfortable.

I wondered how anyone could fight well with a body like this.

'Damn it.'

Muttering a curse inwardly, I slowly turned my head.

Reflected in the window was an exceedingly beautiful woman.

Her eyes, somewhat reminiscent of a fox, and the corners of her lips, slightly upturned.

Her crimson lips held a charm that could sway any man's heart.

The problem was that this face, right now, was *mine*.

I briefly covered my forehead and sighed.

The identity of this current appearance was...

Combat Arts Second-Ranker

Hania Rapidia.

The daughter of the Imperial Grand Knight Commander.

She, who always assisted Iris, was in another sense, an idol to men.

Along with her outstanding beauty, she knew well how to melt people's hearts.

Thus, after just a few conversations with her, most men would be captivated by her.

The problem was, this wasn't limited to men.

Even women were weak to beautiful appearances.

She knew very well how to win people over, even other women.

'She's certainly resourceful.'

She actively used the weapons she possessed.

And clearly leveraged them to her advantage.

Hania was also a woman I personally found intimidating.

This type of person was strangely unsettling.

More than anything...

"To be separated from Lady Iris... How will I, Hania, endure this?"

I knew who she truly loved.

In the distance, I saw someone wiping away tears beside Iris.

Instead of her original peach-colored hair, she now had short, black hair.

Her eyes were also different from their original color.

Ruby-red eyes, just like Iris's, gleamed as they caught the light filtering through the window.

Hanon Irei.

There stood Hania, in Hanon's form.

Among Iris's team, the one with a physique most similar to mine...

...was none other than Hania, a woman.

It felt incredibly awkward to see *that* appearance behaving like that toward Iris.

"You're here."

Iris spotted me and smiled faintly.

It was clear she was smiling at my awkward demeanor.

"...Yes, I am."

"Hania doesn't speak like that."

"Is that so?"

I didn't have the confidence to even imitate her speech patterns.

I'd have to keep my mouth shut as much as possible until we reached the Magic Palace.

"Hanon Irei."

At that moment, Hania turned toward me and called out the name.

The eyes that had just been gazing at Iris with affection were gone.

Instead, her cold, chilling gaze was directed at me.

"For today, assist Lady Iris properly. If, by any chance, you cause any trouble for Lady Iris..."

Hania said no more.

She merely smiled sweetly, letting me interpret the rest myself.

"Hania, don't be so harsh."

"Yes, yes, if Lady Iris says so!"

But the moment Iris spoke, the menacing atmosphere vanished instantly.

Hania truly adored Iris.

So, she would do anything Iris asked.

It was probably only because Hanon was Iris's cousin, sharing the same bloodline, that she let it slide.

'If she knew I wasn't Hanon, but Vicamon...'

Hania would have stopped me, even if it meant her death.

I must absolutely not let this be discovered.

I firmly resolved.

"Please take care of my role too."

"Hmph, you just focus on doing your own part properly."

Perhaps it was because I had defeated Iris's team in the group battle...

...but she seemed to find me quite displeasing.

She finished her cold remarks, exchanged a fervent farewell with Iris, and departed.

She choked back tears at the thought of having to leave Iris's side until the very end.

But as it was Iris's request, there was nothing she could do.

"Alright, let's go."

At that moment, Iris turned and walked away.

"...Are we really going?"

"Hania doesn't use that kind of tone. Come on."

She once again requested I correct my speech.

Damn it.

"Are we truly going?"

"That's a little better."

Iris said, the corners of her lips curving upward.

"Yes, we're really going."

Disappointment settled on my face.

For today.

I had to live in the girls' dormitory.