Seeing the sudden change in my appearance and behavior, the others began to worry.
"Hey... Han Seoyun... Stop messing around, okay?"
"I'm not messing around... Sister...?"
Horrified by the nonsense that had suddenly come out of my mouth, I covered it with both hands. Lee Jihye backed away after hearing me. I trembled from head to toe, trying to settle the mortification churning inside me.
Sister...? What? ■■ Sister!??!
"Seoyun, do you have any idea why you're acting like this?"
Jung Heewon approached me and asked.
"I do have a theory..."
I glanced at my Character Window.
[Synchronization Rate: 15%]
The Synchronization Rate had suddenly shot up. It seemed my earlier guess had been right. Whichever of the two had the higher Synchronization Rate apparently determined my disposition.
[The constellation, ‘Savior of the Corrupted,’ is enjoying this situation.]
[The constellation, ‘Scribe of Heaven,’ tries to take a picture.]
[The constellation, ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos,’ stops her.]
[The constellation, ‘Scribe of Heaven,’ looks dejected.]
Jung Heewon fell into deep thought as she studied me, then turned toward the walking encyclopedia watching me gravely from a corner.
"Dokja, isn't there anything you can do about this?"
Dumbfounded by her question, I couldn't help speaking up.
"...Is it really that strange for me to be polite and use formal speech...?"
"It just feels wrong, I guess...? You're so different from the Seoyun we normally know..."
As I let out a long, heavy sigh, Kim Dokja finally spoke. I looked at him expectantly, but...
"Sorry, but there's nothing I can do right now."
"I thought so..."
I'd expected as much, but I still couldn't help feeling disappointed. Kim Dokja had come over before I knew it and gently patted my back.
"For now, don't let it get you down too much. Let's collect our rewards first."
The others nodded at that. Each of them came by to pat me on the back once before dispersing. Left alone, I began to think. First of all, I absolutely refused to choose anything related to angels. After ending up like this, why the hell would I ■■... Wait, even this is getting censored...?
[The Fable, ■■■ ■■■■ ■■, smiles awkwardly and apologizes.]
"...It's fine. I'm the one who chose it, so don't feel too bad."
[The Fable, ■■■ ■■■■ ■■, is moved.]
[The Fable, ■■■ ■■ ■■, mutters that this is fucking ridiculous.]
Over there, Lee Jihye tried and failed to pull out the hammer again, while Kim Dokja was putting on some clothes. Jung Heewon apparently liked her sword, because she kept swinging it around.
"I should hurry up and choose mine too..."
Yoo Joonghyuk had already given me plenty of weapons, so none of those were particularly appealing. Should I look for armor or an accessory? Or perhaps something I could use to store all my weapons...
"Oh, there it is."
[Hermiond's Beaded Bag—Replica] — A-rank Accessory
If I remembered correctly... When I brought the weapons I was carrying close to it, they were sucked inside and stored away.
I knew it! All those years of doing nothing but surfing the internet in my hospital room weren't wasted!
Since it was a replica, there seemed to be a limit to how many weapons it could hold... but it was still better than nothing!
.....
Hit by a sudden wave of existential emptiness, Han Seoyun sagged.
---
There wasn't much to the sixth floor. It was a mystery film, but Kim Dokja carried us through it, so we cleared it easily.
Hmm... I didn't get a skill because I didn't really contribute anything, though...
We quickly finished the sixth floor and climbed to the seventh.
"All the posters here are torn up too."
"Sister, you do realize that's a cliché, right?"
No sooner had I said it than one of the posters began to glow. Bathed in that familiar blue light, we were drawn into another movie.
Rooooar!
The sea?
Before I could even process the sight of the ocean again, our lives were already in danger.
"Everyone, get down!!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The instant I heard the gunshots, I pulled out my shield and deflected the bullets. Fortunately, beside me, Kim Dokja knocked aside the bullets flying toward the kid and Jung Heewon.
"Pull the ship back!"
The nearby soldiers were frantically preparing the cannons. The winds of war swept across the deck, the whirlpools of Uldolmok raged around us, and the drums of a naval battle approached from the distance.
...We're ■ucked.
I gave a hollow laugh at the three hundred and thirty enemy ships blackening the sea. According to what I'd checked beforehand, we had exactly one ship. Judging by how Kim Dokja was rushing around in the distance, Admiral Yi Sun-sin didn't seem to be here either.
Come to think of it... Lee Jihye's sp— Lee Jihye's sponsor is the ‘Maritime War God.’ There's a good chance they're a constellation connected to the sea.
In that case, what we needed now was... Just as I finished thinking and opened my mouth—
"Lee Jihye!"
Kim Dokja spotted Lee Jihye first and hurried over to her. Once I confirmed that, I pulled a sword and shield from the beaded bag.
[The Stigma, [Bible] Lv. 2, has been activated.]
I did not believe in Sister Kim Dokja.
It wasn't as though he'd ever done anything particularly kind for me, so why would I? However...
I believe in Sister Lee Jihye.
I believed in the Lee Jihye who had chosen to keep moving forward despite bearing the weight of her guilt. I believed in the Lee Jihye who mourned her friend's death. I believed in the Lee Jihye who had shed tears and decided to move on.
"If I die... the angels will guide me."
[The constellation, ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos,’ agrees.]
Therefore...
[John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."]
"I will protect her, even if it means my death."
Amen.
[The Fable, ■■■ ■■■■ ■■, opens a path for you.]
I cut down the Japanese soldiers beginning to board our ship and infiltrated an enemy vessel.
---
Lee Jihye was afraid. She was sickened and terrified. Her entire body trembled. She couldn't hear anything.
Not Kim Dokja's words, nor her sponsor's messages.
She didn't want to hear any of it. She had thought she'd made up her mind after confiding in Han Seoyun and receiving comfort, but the girl was still wounded.
Bori... I'm sorry... Bori...
Tears streamed down her face as she recalled her memories of Bori. Bori, the only one who had approached her when everyone else kept their distance because of her intimidating appearance. Bori, who had played with her and watched movies with her.
Bori, whom she had ultimately strangled to death.
She continued trembling, barely registering Kim Dokja's words.
Then she saw wings.
Pure-white wings spread wide and flew toward the Japanese ships.
Han Seoyun...
As she watched those pure-white wings, more memories returned.
How Han Seoyun had saved her from Pildu's gang. How Han Seoyun had snapped her back to her senses amid the flood of countless monsters. How they had been assigned the same Green Zone and slept there together.
How Han Seoyun had listened to her story and offered clumsy but unmistakable comfort.
They hadn't even known each other for a week, yet far more had happened between them than she had realized.
Because until her final moment, she wanted you to live.
Right. She still didn't want to die. There were so many things she wanted to try. And...
...I guess I have to admit it.
She rose to her feet. Kim Dokja looked relieved, and messages from her sponsor came flying in.
She drew her sword, her gaze fixed upon those pure-white wings.
Consider yourself honored, Han Seoyun.
It might only be a fleeting emotion. It might be a momentary feeling born from the comfort she'd received.
Your girlish looks are a drawback, though.
It might simply be the rush of heightened emotions. It could even be an arrhythmia.
She closed her eyes and pictured Han Seoyun's face. Her heart began to race.
Yes, that was enough excuses. Lee Jihye raised her head and looked at the angel flying toward yet another ship.
...I think I like you.
The girl who no longer grieved hoped to move forward while loving someone.
---
Block, slash, block, break through, block, slash.
I pushed forward, cutting down more enemies than I could count. The instant I captured one ship, I moved on to the next.
[The skill, [Wings] Lv. 1, has been activated.]
I instinctively understood how to use it the moment it activated. Spreading my wings, I flew toward the next ship. I didn't retreat. I didn't tire. I simply moved forward.
[The Bible verse prevents you from becoming fatigued.]
[The Bible verse temporarily grants you [Resolve (Hero)].]
[You will move forward.]
After destroying three ships, I spread my wings to head for the next one. At that moment...
Sensing the brilliantly blazing spirit of a girl behind me, I flew back to our ship. The instant I landed, Jung Heewon came running over in alarm.
"Han Seoyun! What were you thinking, charging out there alone?"
"I'm sorry... Sister..."
As Jung Heewon lectured me—though I let it go in one ear and out the other—I looked at Lee Jihye.
[......I still have.]
Lee Jihye gripped the hilt of her sword and gazed out across the sea. The enemy was vast, and we had no allies. She silently drew her sword against the world.
[Twelve ships remaining.]
Blood-red fighting spirit split away from the tip of her blade. The world trembled. Columns of water erupted throughout the surrounding waters, and twelve ships emerged from the sea.
[If I can avenge this injustice.]
The startled enemy ships sounded their drums. Cannonballs flew toward the fleet, but they had no effect.
[I shall die here without regret.]
"Fire!!"
Lee Jihye had hoped to move forward, and her sponsor, the ‘Maritime War God’—no, Yi Sun-sin—answered that hope. With only twelve ships, they overwhelmed the enemy fleet. Jung Heewon, Kim Dokja, Lee Gilyoung, and I couldn't tear our eyes away from the spectacle.
"...Can any of you Demon Kings do something like that?"
[The lower-ranking Demon Kings fall silent.]
[Several Demon Kings claim that while they cannot summon ships, they can do other things.]
[The constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire,’ complains that you never ask the angels.]
"Well... I can't use the angels' power."
[The constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire,’ says you can simply form a sponsor contract.]
"Uh... Will I get another chance to do that?"
[The constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire,’ says there are usually about two rounds.]
"I'll give it serious consideration."
[The angels of the nebula, Eden, nod.]
I stared blankly at the spectacle again. It took less than an hour for Lee Jihye's ships to sink the last enemy vessel.
[The Theater Master is satisfied with the altered ending.]
[You have reached the fourth [Ending Credit].]
[Cast: Kim Dokja, Jung Heewon, Lee Jihye, Lee Gilyoung, Han Seoyun]
[Each cast member has received 500 coins as an appearance fee!]
I skimmed over the familiar messages and approached Lee Jihye.
"Good wor...?"
I had been about to congratulate her.
"...?"
The instant Lee Jihye's eyes met mine, her face turned bright red. Then, looking flustered for some reason, she averted her gaze and hastily backed away several steps.
"Uh... Huh?"
Had I done something wrong?
"What's wrong with her?"
I genuinely couldn't understand. Was she feeling unwell?
Just as I tilted my head, blue light flashed around us once more and swallowed my vision.
Along with the sensation of my body floating into the air, my consciousness slowly faded away.
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