I followed Art, our footsteps echoing across the polished marble floor. He walked with a leisurely pace, every step seemingly calculated, his sharp gaze constantly surveying the surroundings as if searching for something—or someone. I trailed slightly behind, mind buzzing with the weight of the encounter that lay ahead.
I was about to meet the heroines. The major ones. And, of course, her—Amelia Everhart. My supposed fiancée. The same one who, in every route of the game, would betray me without fail, making me the renowned cuck, ending up in Leon's harem no matter what choices were made.
'How should I act around them?'
Should I keep my distance—remain cold and aloof? Or should I blend in, slide into their little group like I belonged?
The answer came swiftly, a singular, irrefutable thought pushing away the rest.
The End of the World.
Yes, that was the ultimate outcome of the game. The so-called "bad ending" disguised as a twist finale. Leon, the protagonist, despite obtaining every heroine and achieving rank ★★★★★★★★ strength, still lost to the final boss. A cosmic entity—a shifting, multidimensional eldritch horror that eradicated everything it touched. He couldn't win. No one could.
Back when I was just a player, I thought it was a bold move by the developers. Subversive. Unique. The kind of ending that sticks with you. The kind of defeat that lingers like a bitter aftertaste. I even enjoyed it—because it wasn't a happy ending.
But now that I'm inside this world, living it?
That ending cannot stand.
I've been given a second chance. A life with Mia. A future to protect. I can't afford to sit back and let the game run its course.
Leon didn't lose because he was weak. No—he lost because he fought alone. That's how he was programmed. In every route, despite gathering allies, he always carried the burden by himself. A solo martyr. Noble, sure. But foolish.
But this world? This wasn't a game anymore.
And who better to change him than those closest to him? His future wives. His childhood friends. And his best friend—the "antagonist."
Yes, I had realized it now. The lore never told us. The devs never revealed it. But we were all connected from the very beginning. Cassius. Leon. Amelia. Lilith. Celeste. Freya. Evelyn. Zyon. All of us.
A group of childhood friends.
And me—Cassius—was also a part of the group.
That's why I couldn't just walk away. I had to embed myself in this circle, earn their trust, strengthen our bonds. Whether by charm, manipulation, or sheer persistence, I had to steer them toward unity. Toward survival.
Art continued his dramatic stroll, stopping every now and then to greet nobles, shake hands, flash his signature smile, or wink at some noblewoman, causing predictable blushes.
'Guy's got the whole palace in his pocket,' I thought dryly. 'Then again, he is the crown prince... for now.'
In the original game timeline, even that title gets taken away from him. Leon doesn't just steal the spotlight—he steals the throne. And Art? He fades into the background.
But here and now, Art was still Art. Loud. Proud. And impossibly slow.
"Can you walk any slower?" I finally asked. Finally realising how Mia felt.
He grinned over his shoulder. "My dear Cassius, one must savor the moment when going to meet old flames and future headaches."
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, we reached a tall, ornate door—dark gold in color with elegant carvings tracing strange symbols along its frame.
Art gave a mock bow and gestured. "This way, Mister Handsome."
I raised my fist slightly.
He laughed, arms up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! No more flirting."
I pushed open the door with one hand. Art's brows rose slightly, impressed by the ease with which I moved it. Then he started clapping like an idiot. I ignored him and stepped inside.
The room was vast and elegant—white marble walls inlaid with faint silver patterns, golden lighting fixtures, and a long dining table with twelve luxurious seats.
'But there were only 7 people here—including us two. Odd.'
I scanned the room. The air practically hummed with presence.
Evelyn Nightshade stood alone by a high window, swirling a glass of red wine. Petite, raven-haired, with intense green eyes—she was the cold beauty of the group. Always composed. Always distant. Her family, the Nightshades, were famed across Alaris for their perfumes—unmatched in quality and refinement.
To the side, a small trio laughed among themselves.
Lilith Von Schreiner: Short, bold, a walking firework with her flaming red hair and golden eyes. A flirt by nature but easy to fluster when the tables turned. Her family, loyal and fierce, trained the greatest soldiers in the kingdom.
Celeste Fontaine: Gentle in appearance, with soft brunette hair and wise hazel eyes, she radiated innocence. But beneath that delicate exterior was a calculating mind. A master strategist. A fox among wolves. Her family rivaled mine in political influence.
Freya Winterbane: Golden-haired and violet-eyed, a soothing presence. The mother of the group, always ready with a kind word or warm touch. The Winterbanes hailed from the frozen north, and their fashion exports clothed half the empire.
Then there were the final two.
Standing near the back, deep in conversation—or rather, one trying to coax the other—were Amelia Everhart and Zyon Gilance.
Amelia: platinum hair like starlight, crimson eyes that softened when she smiled. The jewel of the Everharts. Kind to a fault, impossibly empathetic. The kind of girl who'd sit beside the loner during lunch just to keep them company. She was the heroine that everyone fell for—both in-game and in-universe.
And Zyon Gilance: My favorite character. The anomaly. Tall, dark-haired, similar eyes as sharp as daggers. The only one who couldn't harness mana conventionally.
But in exchange, his body used mana at the quantum level—enhancing his physical power to absurd levels. He couldn't throw a fireball—but he could throw a mountain. In every route, even Leon couldn't beat him. The only being to ever defeat Zyon... was the final boss.
And now I was walking into a room filled with future heroes, traitors, lovers, and one unbeatable monster.
All of them had history with Cassius.
'Now, waiting for you. Our dear protagonist.'