A day after the incident at TWB Mall, Andress and the six members of his team were hospitalized. Their injuries were severe—broken bones, internal wounds, and some of them had come dangerously close to death.
Fortunately, the knights from the guild arrived just in time to save them all.
Now, they were being treated in the same hospital room, creating an awkward silence between the rows of beds.
Suddenly, that silence was broken.
"ANDRESS, WE'RE SORRY!"
Three members bowed in unison, apologizing. Only Winie, Brian, and Frisa remained quiet.
Winie and Brian had opposed the idea of fighting from the very beginning, while Frisa... well, apologizing wasn't something she did often.
Andress pretended to be confused. "Why are you apologizing?"
But deep down, he thought, 'Finally. Took you long enough. Now apologize properly.'
Saman, who sat closest to him, answered on behalf of the others. "We should've listened to you back then. We were too arrogant, too sure of ourselves… thinking we could take on a B-rank monster."
Andress gave a slight nod. "I understand. I forgive you. Besides, your intention was to save civilians, so there's no need to feel guilty."
That was a lie. Inside, Andress felt completely satisfied. He was still annoyed that they ignored him, so seeing them finally admit their mistake… felt pretty great.
Then, his eyes shifted to Frisa. That girl's arrogance had always irritated him from the start.
"I get why Winie and Brian didn't apologize—they agreed with me from the beginning."
"But what about you, Frisa?" Andress asked.
Frisa turned her face away. She was unusually quiet for someone typically so outspoken. After a long pause, she finally whispered—barely audible.
"S… Sorry, Andress… I was wrong," she muttered.
Andress froze. He hadn't expected Frisa to actually apologize.
'What… She really said sorry? I thought she'd yell, "Shut up, idiot!" like in the novel…'
'Maybe it's because I'm not Leonil… so her reaction changed? Hmm… interesting.'
Andress finally replied calmly.
"Don't make the same mistake again. I'm your leader. If you die, the blame still falls on me."
"U-understood," Frisa said softly. The others nodded as well.
In his heart, Andress knew one thing for sure—after what happened, his team would start taking him more seriously.
And even though his life had nearly ended, at least something good came out of the whole incident.
Not long after, the door swung open. Leonil, Raon, Tengli, and Teacher Selena entered the room with serious expressions.
They had come to visit Andress and his team.
"How are you feeling?" Tengli asked as he approached.
"I'm fine," Andress replied curtly.
"That's a relief. We were all worried when we heard you were hospitalized."
"I see. Thanks for coming."
Selena then stepped to the side of Andress's bed. "Can you still walk?" she asked.
"It still hurts a little, but I can manage a slow walk. Why do you ask?"
Selena's expression turned very serious. "I want to speak with you in private—somewhere quiet."
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Andress and Selena, their curiosity piqued.
"Sure, let's talk outside," Andress said. He slowly got out of bed and followed Selena out of the room.
The moment the door closed, quiet murmurs filled the hospital room.
"Teacher Selena looked really serious," Leonil commented.
"You're right… Now I'm curious. What could she possibly want to talk about that badly?" Tengli added.
Raon paused for a moment in thought, then spoke up.
"This is just a guess, but I think Andress might be getting scolded. As the team leader, he's technically responsible for everything that happened."
Frisa lowered her head. Raon's words hit her hard, reviving the guilt she had been trying to suppress.
"If someone's to blame… it should be me," she muttered.
"I was the first one to choose to stay behind. So all of this… it's my fault."
Ariel shook her head. "No, Frisa. It's not your fault."
"From the start, Andress gave us two options. He never forced us to leave TWB Mall. It was a group decision."
Suddenly, Winie spoke up—something she rarely did.
"I don't completely agree with you. I think Andress actually wanted us to run away from the mall."
"He explained the danger in such detail because he wanted to scare us into leaving."
Saman turned toward her. "If that's true, then why did he give us the option to stay and fight?"
"Because he knew you'd refuse if he just told you to run," Winie replied.
"Think about it… If Andress had ordered us to abandon the civilians back then, would you have followed him without question?"
Everyone fell silent. Not one of them could confidently say yes.
"You're right…" Ariel said. "If he'd told us to run, I probably would've refused."
"That's why Frisa clearly holds the most responsibility for what happened," Winie said firmly.
Leonil, who had been quietly listening the whole time, finally spoke up.
"Let's not keep arguing. What's done is done—there's no point in playing the blame game."
"You're all one team. Don't start turning against each other."
"And if you really want to argue, now's not the time."
The tension died down, but one thing was clear: something had changed. They had all started seeing Andress in a different light.
...
Andress and Selena walked slowly toward the hospital garden. They sat on a long bench beneath a large tree, surrounded by a gentle breeze and the faint sound of birdsong.
Without any small talk, Selena got straight to the point.
"Tell me everything that happened yesterday, in detail. I want to know how things got so bad that all of you ended up in the hospital."
Andress began recounting the events—from when he first took action, to the team's decision to fight. Selena listened without interruption, paying close attention to every detail.
Once he finished, Selena finally spoke.
"First question. Why did you ignore my orders to prioritize saving civilians?"
"And why did you go to TWB Mall instead?" she asked.
The atmosphere was tense, but Andress answered calmly. "There's only one reason: my team was in danger."
"So, you're saying the lives of your four teammates were more important than the thousands of civilians you could've saved?"
Andress was quiet for a moment, then looked her in the eyes.
"Yes. To me, their lives were far more important."
Selena raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Why would you say that?"
Andress's gaze sharpened. "Because without knights, there's no one left to save anyone. If the number of knights drops, the number of casualties rises."
"So by saving them, I'm actually saving more lives in the long run."
"And it's not like I saved just anyone—Frisa is the second-best student in the entire academy."
Selena fell silent. His answer made her stop and think. 'I never thought about it from that angle… if the number of knights drops, the death toll rises.'
Andress was thinking too. 'Of course, that was a lie. I honestly don't care about the civilians.'
Selena looked at Andress again, this time more relaxed.
"If your goal really was to save more people, did you ever plan to rescue the civilians after reuniting with your team?"
Andress nodded. "That was my plan from the start. With my full team, the chances of saving people were much higher."
Selena gave a small smile. "Now I understand why you disobeyed my orders. Turns out, your intentions were greater than I thought."
But her smile quickly faded, replaced by a more serious expression.
"One more question. Why did you choose to fight the monster head-on?"
"You've always prioritized team safety during training. You could've just hidden in the movie theater."
Andress responded, "Hiding wasn't an option. Sooner or later, the monster would've sensed people inside."
"If that happened, the battle would've broken out inside the theater—and that would've been way more dangerous for the civilians."
"So I chose to strike first, to drag the fight outside."
Selena smiled again, this time more genuinely.
'Just as I thought… Andress isn't an ordinary student. His way of thinking is more advanced than some official knights. I'm proud to be his homeroom teacher.'
Now it was Andress's turn to ask a question—though of course, it was just part of his manipulation.
"If I may ask… do you think I made the wrong choice?"
Selena shook her head. "No. Every decision you made was the right one. You were just unlucky to face a monster that strong."
"If yesterday's portal had been C-rank or lower, you all would've been fine."
"I see. That's a relief. I thought I made the wrong call, since my decision got my team so badly hurt," Andress said with a smile—yet another lie.
'But honestly… this whole incident turned out to be a blessing. My team will definitely start listening to me now.'
'Especially Frisa.'
— — —
One week later
The government moved swiftly. Damaged buildings were repaired, thousands of victims were treated, and efforts were made to calm public unrest.
Still, the impact lingered. The world remained shaken, as this was the first time a portal had appeared so suddenly—without any prior signs.
Normally, before a portal fractures, there are warning signs: aura distortion, magical vibrations, or even mini-portals.
But last week's event offered no warning. The portal burst open instantly, and monsters began pouring out.
...
In the President's Office
"Mr. President, here's the casualty report from last week's incident."
A staff member handed a document to President Turin.
Reported numbers: 40,000 dead, 20,000 injured.
'That's lower than I expected. With a B-rank portal, it could've easily reached over a hundred thousand.'
[President Turin – 48 years old]
President of the nation of Nurisia, home to over 480 million people. He's held office for eight years and is a key figure in the Bad End story.
If Turin dies, the world's future turns far darker.
"Do you know why the death toll was relatively low?" Turin asked.
"According to the report, students from the NFS Academy played a major role. They saved a large number of civilians before the military arrived."
Turin nodded. "Good. It's a blessing this happened near the academy. If not… the outcome could've been far worse."
...
At the emergency meeting of the Knight Association
That day, the ten leaders of Nurisia's top guilds gathered at the Knight Association headquarters. The agenda: the portal fracture incident and its long-term consequences.
"This is a serious matter," said the Association Chairman as he stood at the front of the room.
"For the first time in forty years, a portal fractured without any early signs."
[Ranli – 40 years old]
Ranli (male) is the Chairman of the Knight Association of Nurisia. He has served in this role for fifteen years.
In Bad End, Ranli is a prominent figure with major influence over the stability of the knight world.
One of the guild leaders raised her hand.
"My troops reported something strange… a new type of monster came through the portal. Far stronger than a typical B-rank creature."
The chairman's brows furrowed. "How strong, exactly?"
"They were on par with A-rank monsters," the woman replied.
[Mulandari – 35 years old]
Mulandari is the leader of the Red Sky Guild. In Bad End, she's known for her ambition and her interest in recruiting Leonil—an effort that ultimately succeeds, making him one of her closest colleagues.
"That's strange…" muttered another guild leader.
"Why would A-rank monsters appear from a B-rank portal?"
Ranli looked around the room. "That's exactly why I called you all here today. I don't think this is just a random incident."
"Something may have changed within the portal system… and we need to find out what it is."
...
At the academy garden
"I heard Leonil saved thousands of people, right?"
"He's amazing. Like a real knight already."
"He's not just strong, he's also handsome and kind. Gosh, I wish he were my boyfriend…"
"Keep dreaming. Like Leonil would ever date someone like you."
Andress sat alone on a bench, trying to enjoy the afternoon breeze. But the constant chatter around him was all about Leonil—grating on his ears.
'No matter where I go, all anyone talks about is Leonil. Annoying.'
His face remained blank, but his eyes clearly showed irritation.
'Idiots… They have no idea Leonil is the reason this country's going to fall.'
Someone approached. The noise around him suddenly quieted.
"Hey." Leonil appeared with a friendly smile.
Andress glanced at him. "What do you want?" His tone was cold.
"Why so hostile?" Leonil chuckled.
"Because I want to sit alone, and now you're bothering me."
Instead of leaving, Leonil casually sat beside him—as if they were close friends. In truth, they'd only spoken three times: once in the weapon room, once in the dorm, and once in the hospital.
"I heard from Zelen that you saved a lot of people at TWB Mall. That's impressive," Leonil said, patting Andress on the shoulder.
Andress immediately brushed his hand off, visibly uncomfortable. "It's true, but not nearly as many as you. Maybe around five hundred."
"Only five hundred? That's not a small number."
"Compared to your tens of thousands, it definitely is."
They both went quiet, and the atmosphere grew awkward. Leonil, usually cheerful, now looked more serious as he studied Andress.
"Seems like you're not into small talk," he finally said.
Andress didn't respond—just stared at him.
Leonil's smile faded. His eyes sharpened with purpose.
"I'll get straight to the point."
"Do you know something about the monsters that showed up that day? Zelen said you might."
Andress thought to himself, 'So that's why he came. No wonder he's been acting serious.'
He took a breath, then answered, "Yeah. I know a thing or two about them."
Leonil leaned in slightly, curiosity brimming. "Please, tell me everything you know."
"They weren't ordinary monsters. They were demon soldiers. Unlike normal monsters that rely on instinct, demon soldiers are conscious and intelligent. That's why they're stronger."
Leonil's eyes widened. "Demons…? I've never heard of them."
"That's expected. They've never appeared openly before. What happened last week… was their first appearance."
Andress stood up from the bench. The conversation was getting too risky to continue.
"Oh right, Leonil. Aren't you meeting the President and the Chairman soon?"
Leonil stood as well. "Yeah. They're giving me an award for what I did."
"In that case… I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Tell them to revise the portal classification system."
"From now on, each portal will release monsters one tier stronger than its official level."
Leonil frowned. "You mean… you want them to raise the portal ranks by one level?"
"Yes. And don't mention where you got this information. Just say you overheard it from someone mysterious."
Leonil looked doubtful. "But… where did you get all this from?"
Andress paused, then said, "I'll tell you when I trust you more."
Leonil said nothing. He simply watched as Andress walked away, leaving him alone in the now quieter garden.
'Somehow… it feels like Andress knows a lot more than he's letting on.'
'He doesn't trust me yet. So I'll wait.'
— — —
A few hours later
Leonil had been invited to a private meeting in President Turin's office. Inside, Knight Association Chairman Ranli was already present.
"So, what did you want to tell us, Leonil?" President Turin asked.
"I'd like to talk about the portal system," Leonil replied firmly.
Ranli and Turin exchanged glances. The seriousness in Leonil's tone instantly put them on alert.
"Explain what you mean in detail," Ranli said.
Leonil stood straight. "As you know, last week's portal was officially classified as B-rank. But in reality, some of the monsters that appeared were as strong as A-rank. That doesn't make sense."
"So, what's your point?" President Turin asked.
"I'd like you to consider raising the difficulty level of all portals—by one rank above the current standard."
Both of their expressions shifted. They'd been serious before, but now they looked even more cautious.
"That's a big proposal, Leonil. We need a solid reason," Ranli said.
"In the future, each time a portal appears, there's a strong chance the monsters coming out will be one level stronger than expected."
President Turin narrowed his eyes. "Where is this information coming from?"
Leonil didn't hesitate. "I'm sorry, Mr. President. The source is confidential."
"Confidential?" Turin's voice rose slightly. "What are you hiding from us?"
"I'm not hiding anything. It's just… the person who told me doesn't want their identity revealed."
Ranli and Turin exchanged uncertain glances. Neither of them looked convinced.
"If the source isn't clear, we can't just alter a national system based on a hunch," Ranli said. "We need data and evidence—not assumptions."
Leonil clenched his jaw. He'd expected this, but he wasn't ready to give up.
"Then please allow me to suggest this: conduct a full investigation for the next month. Analyze all portal activity and the monsters emerging from them."
"If my theory proves correct, change the system. If not… consider it a false lead."
Ranli paused, then gave a small nod.
'Even if the theory sounds wild, what's the harm in testing it? Better to be cautious than regretful.'
He offered a faint smile. "Very well, Leonil. I accept your proposal. We'll begin a full-scale investigation for the next month."
President Turin nodded in agreement. "If the Chairman is on board, then I am too. Better to be safe than sorry."
Leonil bowed respectfully. "Thank you. I truly appreciate your trust."
After leaving the room, Leonil walked down the corridor with a lighter step—but his thoughts remained heavy.
'About the demons… I'll hold off for now. If Andress's information turns out to be true, that's when I'll reveal everything to the government.'
...
A few hours later – 9 PM
The national television broadcasted a breaking news segment. On screen, Chairman Ranli of the Knight Association stood before the camera.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Ranli, Chairman of the Knight Association of Nurisia."
"I'm here to deliver an important announcement."
"Following last week's portal incident, we've received numerous reports from knights that the monsters emerging from a B-rank portal possessed A-rank strength."
"As a result, we've decided to treat this as a national hypothesis and implement a trial policy."
"For the next month, we will deploy knight teams with strength one rank above the portal classification—without exception."
"This research will not be conducted by Nurisia alone, but in cooperation with knight associations from various countries around the world."
"We ask for your support and cooperation."
"Thank you."
The broadcast ended. The screen returned to the news anchor.
Andress sat quietly in his room, staring at the TV with a calm expression. But his eyes couldn't hide the satisfaction growing inside him.
'Perfect. Leonil managed to convince them. The portal system is finally changing… and it's happening faster than it should have.'
In the Bad End storyline, the portal system change was supposed to happen a year later. But now, because of his interference, it would only take a month.
'I don't know how Leonil managed to convince them… but I've got to admit, he's good at that.'
Andress leaned back in his chair.
'One major problem has been taken care of. Now, I just need to focus on one thing…'
'I need to become as strong as Leonil.'
— — —
The next day
Andress's team was training in the team's practice room. Sweat poured down, and the sounds of clashing weapons and magic echoed repeatedly.
Suddenly, a small portal opened in the corner of the room—and Andress stepped out of it.
Frisa stopped her training and called out immediately, "Andress! Where are you going?"
Andress turned briefly. His face was expressionless. "I have something important to do outside the school. I need to leave right away."
Frisa narrowed her eyes, her tone irritated. "It's training time. You can't just leave whenever you want!"
Andress sighed and gave her a tired look. 'Right, Frisa hates it when someone skips practice. How annoying.'
"I'm not going out to mess around," Andress replied.
"I'm going to train too—just in a different place. So relax, and don't worry."
Frisa turned away. "Who said I'm worried? Fine, go!"
After Andress left the room, the others gathered around Frisa.
"Where's Andress going?" Saman asked.
"He said he's going to train by himself somewhere," Frisa replied lazily.
"Again? He always goes off alone. He's the team leader but always disappears," Ariel commented.
"M-maybe Andress really is busy with something…" Brian offered.
Then Saman suddenly changed the topic.
"By the way… didn't Andress choose the sword when we first entered the academy?"
"Yeah, why?" Ariel asked.
"I'm just curious. I've never actually seen him use it."
"He did use it during the battle at TWB Mall. You were all unconscious, so you didn't get to see it," Frisa said.
Everyone stared at Frisa, surprised and curious.
"Seriously? How was it? Was he any good?" Ariel asked.
Frisa gave a small nod. "It might sound exaggerated, but I think Andress's fighting style isn't too different from Leonil's. The only difference is their stats. If their physical abilities were the same, I think Andress could go toe-to-toe with Leonil."
The room fell silent. None of them expected Frisa to say that. Now, they were all curious to see Andress wield a sword for themselves.
"Whoa, now I really want to see it," Saman said, clearly excited.
...
Meanwhile – in the academy corridor
Andress opened his system screen and looked at the map.
『Map Active』
『Nearest G-Rank Hidden Portal: 9 kilometers from current location』
'Only nine kilometers? I thought it'd be farther.'
At the moment, Andress's stats were at E-rank. For a seventeen-year-old aspiring knight, that was still pretty average.
If he wanted to catch up to Leonil's power, he'd have to train much harder—and smarter.
『Notification from Author』
『Destroy 10 Hidden Portals to obtain skill: Divine Eye. This skill is perfectly suited for you and will not disappoint.』
Andress's eyes widened slightly.
'Divine Eye? That wasn't in the Bad End novel… Is this an exclusive skill for me?'
'Interesting. I have to get it. But there's no need to rush.'
...
Twenty minutes later, Andress stood in front of a hidden portal.
'Time to level up. I can't stay weak forever.'
『You've reached a G-Rank Hidden Portal』
『Ready to enter the portal?』
Andress gripped his sword tightly, a determined look on his face.
'Let's begin.'
The portal opened, and Andress stepped slowly into the darkness.
[Portal Types]
In the world of Bad End, there are three main types of portals:
1. Normal Portal
Safe for civilians, as monsters cannot exit from inside. The portal disappears once all monsters are defeated by knights.
2. Fractured Portal
Similar to a normal portal, but monsters can break through and attack the outside world.
There's usually a few hours of delay before monsters emerge. If the portal is closed early, it won't fracture.
But last week's event was abnormal—monsters poured out the moment it appeared.
3. Hidden Portal
The most secretive type. It emits no aura, making it undetectable by knights or technology.
Can only be found by chance… or by systems like the one Andress possesses.