It's very possible they are wrapping up the story. I cannot say if it was axed or not without investigating. But if you are confused as to why he shows up and takes this route, it is pretty much spelled out when Tsukuru talked with the Goddess of Earth. Basically the Goddess of Earth said "erase all information on the magic to summon people from Japan and do not send
all of your classmates back to Japan." Tsukuru, liking this world said yes to the first part, but for the second part he basically said he wouldn't send all of them back because, 1) not all of them deserved to go back (because they were trash people) and, 2) he would only send people back that really wanted to go back. The Goddess compromised and said that as long as the magic was erased from the world, she would allow a few people to go back to Japan. The tricking and removal of the trash classmate's jobs was just a cruel revenge he could take out on them (and deserved) and perhaps the best revenge he could have taken out on them. They said they wanted to stay, so he's letting them stay... as average people.
From Chapter 31 to now has just been the journey back to the classmates while some new stuff that will take the story past that point has been cropping up.
Not getting axed neither ending, but serie is going on hiatus because the artist went on maternity leave, so latest chapter will be 48 for a while, there is a note at the end of 48 for it
And tweet by the artist in any case
https://x.com/runakina/status/1836966260350881841
Good to know.