As time passed, reactions to the ending poured in like a flood.

    I leisurely read each of the responses in the cabin, savoring the moment.

    In my previous life, I had seen similar comments.

    Back then, people criticized, asking, “Are you even human? How could you kill them?”

    Of course, even then, it was half a joke.

    It wasn’t like I killed someone out of nowhere; I had laid enough foreshadowing and clues, just as I did now.

    In fact, the death of a supporting character, no matter how beloved, pales compared to the protagonist.

    For me, the most unbearable scenario is losing the heroine to someone else.

    That alone stirs an emotion bordering on disgust, so I refuse to even bring it up.

    I remember the time during the freshman welcoming party when Jackson spouted ridiculous nonsense in front of me.

    I was genuinely angry then.

    Anyway, I was enjoying the reactions pouring in from the imperial palace when Mari approached me with a suggestion.

    “Instead of just sitting here, how about taking a look around the palace?”

    I was reading the newspaper and chuckling when she came closer and made her proposal.

    I looked at her as soon as I heard it.

    Maybe because she had been staying indoors, she was lightly dressed, and judging by her expression, she seemed eager to go outside.

    “Take a look around?”

    “Yeah. We probably won’t be able to meet His Majesty today anyway.

    At the earliest, it’ll be around dinner.

    So, why not walk around until then?

    I even know all the locations in the palace.”

    Indeed, as she said, we had just finished lunch.

    Rina, who visited our room earlier, also hinted that we’d have to wait a bit longer.

    While I could continue reading the newspaper or writing more chapters, staying still in such a grand palace felt off.

    Moreover, unlike the academy, the chances of a demon worshiper attacking here are close to zero.

    This is the residence of the imperial family, after all—there’s no way even a single ant could infiltrate.

    Unless, of course, it’s a highly trained warlock like the demon worshiper Ariel absorbed.

    ‘If there were any real danger, Kate would’ve contacted me directly.’

    With no warnings from the gods, it seemed unlikely that wandering the palace would lead to any major incidents.

    After considering this, I nodded.

    It wouldn’t hurt to explore the palace—it’s not every day I get the chance to look around such a grand place.

    “Did you let Rina know? She might come looking for us.”

    “Don’t worry. I already informed the butler, and we’ll be back before dinner.”

    “Alright then.”

    I closed the newspaper and got up from my seat.

    Seeing this, Mari smiled brightly and turned around.

    Since her current outfit was too casual, she would probably change into a dress.

    After all, the palace is full of nobles, and there are many eyes watching.

    I had no choice but to dress neatly as well.

    Honestly, I’d prefer to go out in a simple shirt, but Mari would definitely scold me for it.

    “Isn’t Adelia coming with us?”

    “I’ll stay here and rest. I need to keep an eye on the manuscript, too.”

    “Alright. Just don’t read it secretly, okay?”

    “... ...”

    Why isn’t she answering?

    And why is she avoiding my gaze?

    When Adelia didn’t respond, I raised one eyebrow.

    Looking flustered, she cleared her throat awkwardly and finally opened her mouth.

    “I absolutely won’t read it.”

    Just in case, I put Adelia’s manuscript out of her reach and hid it somewhere she couldn’t find, even by sound.

    “Shall we go then? Where do you want to start?”

    “I don’t know anything about the palace. Are there any famous spots?”

    “There are plenty.

    Especially the ballroom where the social gatherings are held—it’s known to be the most extravagant in the world.”

    ‘Social gatherings, huh...’

    Mari’s mention of social gatherings reminded me of the freshman welcoming party.

    I met quite a few people back then, and I also got to see a different side of Mari.

    Now, her hair flows down freely, but back then, she tied it into a ponytail, revealing her fair neck.

    She also wore a backless dress, which made her vibe completely different.

    She already stands out with her looks, but she stood out even more that day.

    ‘I did drink quite a bit that night.’

    Normally, I don’t drink much because of my childish palate, but I remember overindulging that time because the alcohol was sweeter than bitter.

    Mari was also the one who woke me up from my nap in the chair.

    “Are we even allowed to go there?”

    “The garden is open to everyone, so it’s fine.

    The ballroom, on the other hand, requires prior permission to enter.”

    Not a bad idea.

    It sounds like a perfect place for a quiet date.

    The academy is nice, but strolling in a peaceful garden sounds better than dealing with noise.

    “Alright, let’s go there.”

    “Hehe, alright.”

    When I agreed, Mari giggled again.

    I couldn’t help but feel curious about her laughter.

    “Why are you laughing?”

    “It’s nothing.

    I just think it’ll be fun.”

    “What do you mean?”

    In response to my question, Mari laughed again and said, “It’s just something.”

    ★★★

    While Isaac and Mari were enjoying a rare date, the outside world was in chaos.

    The shocking and horrifying ending left no room for hope, with only endless torment unfolding in the story.

    The emotions the readers felt were so overwhelmingly negative that they were beyond words.

    “Where is Lord Zenon?”

    “Please! Just say one word to confirm that Jin doesn’t die! Please, I beg you!”

    “This is just too much! Can’t you make it a bit happier?”

    The reaction was so extreme that readers gathered in front of the publishing house to protest fiercely, even though it had been less than two weeks since Volume 29 was released.

    There had been protests in front of the publishing house before, especially during hiatuses or major incidents, but those were due to external factors.

    This time, the issue was internal, entirely directed at Zenon—no, Isaac.

    The same readers who once protested to protect Zenon were now determined to find him and hold him accountable.

    “Hahaha! Matthew, look at this! Isn’t it amusing?”

    “I don’t see what’s so amusing.”

    “There will be even more people soon, yet this man has said nothing at all. Hahaha!”

    Watching the scene through the window, Musk appeared half out of his mind.

    The protests outside the publishing house were already overwhelming, but Isaac had remained completely silent.

    Musk had even sent letters asking for details about the ending in advance, but there was no reply.

    Apparently, Isaac had anticipated this and fled to the imperial palace.

    Musk was on the verge of losing his mind.

    “Isn’t the mansion a mess too?”

    “Yes. Protestors have also gathered in front of the mansion, though it’s quieter than here to avoid causing trouble.”

    Indeed, protestors had gathered in front of the Michelle family mansion as well.

    However, they weren’t as loud or aggressive as those at the publishing house, likely because of the mansion’s strict security.

    If anything happened, it would be nearly impossible to control the situation.

    For now, they had no choice but to wait quietly for the readers’ anger to subside.

    The best solution would be to release Volume 30 of The Chronicles of Zenon and hope its content brings hope.

    ‘If Jin really dies...’

    It would be catastrophic.

    Musk mentally prepared for the worst-case scenario.

    First, the subscriber count would drop dramatically, like a receding tide.

    All readers who supported the Jin-Lily couple would leave.

    That alone would be a severe blow to the publishing house, which relied heavily on Zenon.

    The reason they were still hiring staff was to manage the growing subscriber base.

    In other words, losing readers could lead to excess manpower.

    This had to be prevented at all costs.

    Somehow, Jin had to be revived and given a happy ending to heal the readers’ wounds.

    ‘Reviving him won’t be enough.

    The story needs to show their happy lives to fully mend the readers’ hearts.’

    If Jin dies, the emotional damage to readers would be unimaginable.

    Simply bringing him back wouldn’t be enough to completely heal them.

    After organizing his thoughts, Musk let out a long sigh and spoke to Matthew in a weary voice.

    “Matthew.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    “Make sure we have plenty of spare windows ready.”

    “Excuse me... what?”

    Matthew looked confused by the bizarre order.

    Musk chuckled silently and, with a hollow voice, said,

    “Because soon, all the windows will be shattered.”