Judging from my experiences thus far.
The black lightning or red eyes that kept suddenly popping out of nowhere whenever I was clearing an episode that had even the slightest chance of leading to a destruction ending might be related to destruction.
‘Is it some kind of compulsion that tries to drag everything toward destruction no matter what, as long as even the smallest trigger is given?’
It was only a conjecture, but it was a fairly plausible hypothesis.
If so, it would explain why, in the game, the world had rushed toward destruction for reasons that felt abrupt or somewhat unconvincing.
‘In my past life, I just wrote it off as “it’s only a game” and moved on….’
What a sunfish-like world.
Grumbling inwardly, I decided to shift my thoughts.
This wasn’t the time to be complaining.
First, we had to deal with the director, who had been reborn as a monster.
Having lost his identity as a human and become something no longer human, he was now a target to be eliminated.
Not arrested.
Kiaaaak!
The director, glaring at us without hiding the hostility in his eyes, took flight.
Flapping his three pairs of white wings, he passed through the hole-riddled ceiling and put the night sky at his back.
I called Lisa.
“Lisa.”
“I understand.”
Even without me spelling it out, Lisa quickly grasped my intent and created a subspace.
We changed the battlefield.
Having moved to the ground through the subspace, we took combat stances and fixed our eyes on the night sky.
Just then, the director raised his hand above his head.
────!!
Magic circles that seemed to designate us as targets appeared in the night sky.
When the director—when that thing—lowered his hand, bombardment began to fall.
“Arin, can you analyze it?”
“Hmph, this much is a piece of cake.”
“Lisa, the defense…”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
“Gyeonu, Gyeonu! I’ll help too!”
There was no need to be afraid of the bombardment.
Min Arin and Lisa, having received my instructions, immediately moved to respond.
With her yellow eyes gleaming, Min Arin manifested her Gift, instantly analyzed the bombardment’s formula, and interfered with it.
As a result, the bombardment lost momentum and either vanished before touching the ground or fell off course.
And for the blasts she couldn’t handle in time—
Whoooosh!
Lisa and Seong Dasom blocked them.
The two of them cast protective magic and created a dome-shaped barrier.
On top of that, Nam Yuri used alchemy to erect stone towers that would take the bombardment in our stead.
‘With our skills, responding to this won’t be a problem. Even so, aerial combat is really annoying….’
To clear this more comfortably.
We needed to drag that thing down to the ground.
Having made my decision, I opened my mouth.
“Haneul, can you join forces with Eunsol and make that thing fall—”
“…”
Somehow, Yeon Haneul’s condition was strange.
As if she were deep in thought, her mind seemed to be elsewhere.
I couldn’t help but be flustered as I watched her stare blankly up at that thing.
‘What’s wrong with her?’
It was then that Yeon Haneul suddenly stepped forward and began walking ahead.
I tried to grab her, practically defenseless as she was.
“What are you trying to do right now…”
“It’s okay. Leave it to me.”
“…”
At Yeon Haneul’s tone, filled with certainty.
I couldn’t stop her.
‘…Yeah, I’ll trust her. Even if I’m uneasy, she’s my childhood friend. I have to trust her.’
However, so that I could respond to any danger Yeon Haneul might face at any moment.
I decided to keep watching her without letting my attention stray elsewhere.
* * *
Whether angels or demons.
The reason their magic was evaluated as superior to human magic lay precisely in the presence or absence of wings.
As part of the body, wings naturally led to the expansion of mana circuits, and furthermore served as a foundation for creating virtual mana circuits.
Therefore, unlike humans, those who possessed wings had no choice but to be more excellent at handling magic.
Then…
‘What about me, a beastkin?’
What about beastkin—humans who, under the influence of mana, were born with animal ears and tails?
Using angels and demons as a reference, perhaps they too could not only expand their mana circuits through their ears and tails, but also create virtual mana circuits.
‘My tail is too short, so that won’t work, but if it’s my ears, maybe….’
It might be possible.
When Yeon Haneul first heard about the Wing Project, that thought had suddenly occurred to her.
And that thought occupied her mind, plunging her into curiosity.
All throughout the operation until now.
Thanks to that, she was able to observe the magic of the director, who had transformed into a monster, and gain enlightenment.
‘Amazing. I wondered how he was making virtual circuits using wings, but he connects the circuits from the tips of the wings like that. Densely, following the shape of the wings….’
Yeon Haneul pricked up her rabbit ears.
At this very moment, for some reason, she felt as if she could do it.
And so.
“It’s okay. Leave it to me.”
With the realm of enlightenment before her eyes.
Filled with an inexplicable certainty, Yeon Haneul focused her consciousness on her rabbit ears.
‘As expected… my prediction was right.’
There were mana circuits in her ears as well.
Having never recognized them until now, and recognizing them for the first time, Yeon Haneul felt proud.
Then.
‘Using my ears as the framework, I’ll manifest virtual circuits in the shape of wings.’
Without hurrying, calmly.
Yeon Haneul manifested the mana inside her body and began creating virtual mana circuits.
In the process, she crossed a wall.
A new fifth ring was added to the four rings settled around Yeon Haneul’s heart.
[Your body has broken through its limits.]
[Magic power has increased by 1.]
[You have obtained a skill.]
[5th Tier Magic Mastery Lv 1]
[5th Tier Dark Elemental Magic…]
* * *
They said signs had been discovered that inhumane human experiments had been carried out at an orphanage sponsored by the Gwangmyeong Holy Family.
Apparently, children had been imprisoned beneath the Special Gifted Education Center.
With wings sprouting from their backs.
“The Wing Project, is it. To think they were still clinging to that long-cherished wish. Foolish, how foolish.”
The leader of the Demon Society, Tacheon.
Once a member of the Gwangmyeong Holy Family, there was no way he would not know about the Wing Project.
Having obtained the intelligence, he easily grasped the circumstances and clicked his tongue.
“The vessel of one’s existence is fixed…. Just as a pig remains a pig even if it loses weight, no matter how hard humans strive, in the end, they cannot escape being human. At best, they might become pseudo-angels. Inferior compared to true angels.”
The limits of the Wing Project were exceedingly clear.
They might become outstanding among humans, but in terms of the rank of their existence, nothing would truly change.
That was why Tacheon had been disappointed in his family and chosen to walk his own path.
“It is useless to me, who seeks to become a god. However… I am curious.”
According to additional intelligence that came in.
An explosion had occurred at the orphanage facility, and a monster reminiscent of an angel had appeared in the sky above.
Now that the situation had become known to this extent, the Wing Project could only be said to have ended in failure.
The downfall of the Gwangmyeong Holy Family was confirmed.
“Woohyang must be very sad.”
Kkulkkeul.
There was nothing quite as entertaining as watching a fire from across the river.
To observe the situation personally, Tacheon carried out spatial movement.
Concealing his presence and floating in the night sky, he looked over the scene.
“Tsk, to think the result of the Wing Project is merely that…. At that rate, it cannot even be called a pseudo-angel.”
It was nothing but disappointing.
Still, it would serve as amusement.
As it happened, the students he had been keeping an eye on were also present, struggling to resolve the situation.
“Those children again…. How curious. How did they know to jump into this scene….”
Tacheon decided to peek at the students’ abilities.
Then, just then, one student caught his eye.
“Hooh.”
A female student with rabbit ears and a tail.
She, presumed to be the bunny, Yeon Haneul, was using her own ears as a framework to create enormous wings.
Tacheon was purely impressed.
“I see…. If angels have wings, then beastkin have ears and tails…. To think she would come up with the idea of using those to create virtual wings. Impressive.”
It was quite ironic.
Because there, right before his eyes, was an existence that denied the efforts of the Gwangmyeong Holy Family and yet perfectly suited the purpose of the Wing Project.
Yeon Haneul, with enormous wings spread wide above her head.
Looking down at her beneath the night sky, Tacheon let out a laugh mixed with various emotions.
“Even so, unlike theory, it could not have been easy to realize it. That must mean her skill is that good. And…”
There was likely also the influence of the monster that young one had taken as her base.
For instance, perhaps it had possessed abilities specialized in magic or flight.
Tacheon speculated.
“Come to think of it, I heard that in some country, a rabbit’s ears are considered wings, and rabbits are treated as birds. Looking at her like that, I can understand why.”
Truly.
The young one of the Divine Sword Dao Clan as well, and that young one too.
And the other young ones as well.
“I want them all.”
Tacheon split his mouth into a long grin.
* * *
Her rabbit ears had become enormous wings.
My friends and I couldn’t help but be startled by Yeon Haneul’s transformation.
It seemed she had gained some sort of enlightenment from the Wing Project.
‘Wouldn’t her head be heavy like that….’
Putting aside that random concern.
I brought up messages in my vision to examine Yeon Haneul’s condition.
‘Virtual Circuit? Bunny Wings? What kind of skills are these? They weren’t in the game…. No, more importantly… she’s become 5th tier.’
The realm said to be proof of mastery in magic was the 5th tier.
Yeon Haneul had reached that realm in just one year after ascending to the 4th tier.
‘At Haneul’s current growth rate, I thought she’d reach it next year at the earliest…. I thought even that was fast, but to think she’d achieve it even sooner….’
She was my childhood friend, but she was incredible.
I was proud of her, and I respected her.
After confirming Yeon Haneul’s growth, I clicked my tongue in amazement.
At that moment, she cast magic.
A 5th tier dark elemental spell that crushed targets within a designated range with gravity.
However, the magic Yeon Haneul activated boasted power beyond an ordinary 5th tier spell.
It might have been weaker than in the game, but she dragged down an episode boss from the night sky.
Kiaaaak!
Without even a chance to properly resist.
Unable to overcome the gravity, that thing crashed down and was pressed into the ground while sprawled out like a starfish.
No matter how much it thrashed, it was useless.
The more it did, the more strongly the gravity tried to drive it down.
‘…It’s impressive it hasn’t burst.’
It felt as if I were watching someone crush a flying insect.
To that extent, there was no dignity befitting an episode boss in the creature flailing on the ground.
It was then that Yeon Haneul turned around.
Meeting my eyes, she smiled brightly.
“I did what I said I would. Is this enough? Or should I do more?”
“…No, you did well.”
As if it hadn’t been difficult at all.
Yeon Haneul pricked the rabbit ears that served as the frame for the enormous wings.
Then the wings flapped as well.
‘No, are they fluttering?’
That was how it looked to me.
The wings were cute, and Yeon Haneul was cute too.
So was the innocent way she rubbed the ground with the heel of her shoe, wearing an expression as if asking me to praise her.
Kiaaaak!
‘Look at her smiling. She’s pretty….’
Had the gravity grown even stronger?
That thing, writhing like an insect in the ground, screamed more irritatingly than before.
My ears stung.
Interrupted while I had been admiring Yeon Haneul, I furrowed my brow.
I turned my head toward it.
“You’re just crying noisily…. Are you asking us to kill you quickly?”
Kiiik….
The thing, its face pressed against the ground, looked up at me.
Fear filled its eyes.
I trampled on its back.
“Thanks to you, this’ll go nice and easy. Haneul, how long can you hold it down?”
“Mm… just indefinitely?”
“Really? Nice. Still, just in case… let’s make sure it’s perfect. Shall we start by tearing off its wings so it can’t fly into the sky and escape?”
“That sounds good. I was thinking those wings were unsightly anyway. Ah, of course, I’m not talking about Junior Haneul’s wings. Those are very pretty.”
“Gyeonu, Gyeonu! If you’re going to pull off its wings, can I pull one too!? I’m good at this kind of thing! I’m super confident!”
Me, Yeon Haneul, Seong Dasom, Nam Yuri, Eun Suhyeok, Kang Hanbyeol, Lisa, Park Sagun, Go Eunbi, Min Arin, Cha Eunsol, Yu Gaeul, Ham Minju, and Oh Junsik.
Fourteen to one.
Surrounding that thing and looking down at it, all of us raised the corners of our mouths.
“If this was how it was going to turn out, didn’t I have no need to come along?”
“You’re right…. Still, as a token of thanks, I’ll give you the right to pull off a wing.”
“Gyeonu, if this goes well, don’t you think we might be able to make an artifact using the wings as materials? I hope they remain even after this thing vanishes….”
And so, after I, Oh Junsik, Kang Hanbyeol, Nam Yuri, Seong Dasom, and Eun Suhyeok each tore off one of its wings.
We kept stabbing it with the weapons in our hands.
Until it met its end and vanished….
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss