Once upon a very long time ago, there lived a mage named Kim Sinhwa.
You all know the fairy tale titled Jack and the Beanstalk, right?
“So we will skip the middle part! Grow, grow tall!”
[Rapid Growth] [Enlarge] [Green Tide]
[Thicket Creation] [Army of Nature] [Grace of Nature]
[Spell Boost: Maximize]
[Spell Boost: Multi Cast]
[Spell Boost: Power Amplification]
Kwarrrrrrrrrung!!
Magic that creates forests and trees. Magic that accelerates the growth of living beings. Magic that enlarges targets.
And magic that manipulates the movement of plants activates.
“Will this magic be enough?”
“Ah, of course.”
To implement this spell, I poured in every resource available, mobilized even the other personas, and formed the largest magic circle I could possibly manifest.
An enormous quantity of mana, an absurd volume of calculations, a formula implemented by mobilizing even terrain and ley lines.
[System : Hidden trait ‘Secret Knowledge: Creation of Life’ activates. Life category spell effects are increased by 100%.]
Kwarrrrrrrrrung!!
The structure of the city changes in an instant.
With a crashing roar, paving stones burst upward in all directions. Asphalt splits and flips with cracking shrieks. Soil surges upward like mountains with thunderous explosions.
Gurururururung!!
A green dragon seems to rise from the earth, thrashing as if trying to fly into the sky. Tens of thousands of branches split with majestic force. A colossal trunk as if torn from the pages of myth. Powerful roots burrow into the ground and claim their place.
A grand growth achieved by absorbing all surrounding mana and vitality.
“W, wow— that’s really incredible p, power.”
“You have definitely surpassed being human.”
“Even if not an Abyssal entity, you seem comparable to a high order intelligence.”
A spectacle that seems to reenact the history of the gods.
Kwarrrrrrrrrung!!
All of this is from the roadside trees planted in Sejong City’s downtown.
In other words— ginkgo trees.
Chwarrrrrrrrk!
Green ginkgo leaves bloom from every branch.
“Sinhwa, trees alone do not have enough durability.”
“Do not worry. There are plenty of usable resources nearby!”
My apologies to the citizens of Sejong City, but I will borrow a few buildings.
Kwadududududuk!!
Branches twist their growth direction according to my will. Movements that may look somewhat threatening.
The ginkgo trees entangle surrounding buildings as if devouring them.
Wadududududuk!
Thus the completed support structure could not help but look quite bizarre—
“Like a giant bonsai.”
Hm, that is a rather generous evaluation.
Objectively speaking, that thing is a bit.......
“Uaaaagh! What is that! What is that thing!!”
“Evacuate! Now! Get out of here!”
People scream.
“As expected, people are somewhat startled.”
It is an unavoidable reaction.
The grotesque appearance of the completed support is one problem— but I also used magic on an excessively large scale.
Any spell with sufficiently overwhelming effect induces disorientation by its mere existence.
Contrary to Kim Sinhwa’s assumption, what people fear is not the magic.
“I, is that really a human......?”
The emotion shared by everyone looking at Kim Sinhwa.
“That is not a monster...... it is a monster.”
Not just a monster.
That is the prophesied devil who will bring ruin to this world. The apostle from another realm who will reshape this world into something different. The transcendent will we will fear the most and love the most.
A being whose purpose and behavioral pattern can never be understood by reason or science— in other words...... that is!
“A, an Abyssal entity!”
“It is an Abyssal entity!”
They should have realized the moment they saw that grotesque form.
A horrific appearance that induces madness merely by being faced.
An asymmetrical figure as if embodying insanity, discord, and chaos.
A massive skull where a head should be. Horns growing askew. Grotesque tentacles branching in all directions. And that incomprehensible figure cloaked in vivid blue lightning like a mantle.
At some point, one of those fallen into confusion shouts toward Kim Sinhwa.
“No, that person is a god!”
That cry triggers a strange ripple among the crowd.
Yes, behold that transcendent power! Behold that beautiful form!
Behold that bewitching flame that appeared to [Charm] us!
“He is a god! He is a god!”
“A god who descended to grant us true destruction! Master of magic, ruler of magic, the [Mage King]!”
“Great [Destroyer]! The great [Destroyer] who reshapes the world with the power of destruction!”
“Some misunderstanding seems to be piling up.”
The voice flowing from my mouth. Sounds amused, does it?
“Tch, it cannot be helped.”
I ran several calculations in my head, but this spell was the method that would save the most people with the least damage.
“Mm— it is environmentally friendly too? Chairman, you agree, right?”
“Krrr— krrrgh! Krrrk!”
“Ah, no need to strain yourself answering. Let us just prevent the collapse.”
Regardless of what others think, I simply do what must be done.
Kwarrrrrrrrrung!!
I moved the surreal structure woven from buildings and trees— and wrapped it around the Ilshin Hotel.
Kwajijijijijik!
There were quite violent sound effects and some localized destruction and partial collapse, but from a macroscopic perspective— the Ilshin Hotel came to a relatively gentle stop.
To what degree? Look over there.
“Hey! Masked lunatic!”
“Wizard!”
Curtain Call and Mun Seunghee’s voices ring from afar.
“Incredible. In many ways, you truly look like a god.”
“Not a god. A god tier controller.”
It is not something that can be done easily. If even a little calculation or control had slipped, the impact from the collision would have sent them plummeting or severely injured them.
‘They escaped safely. That is a relief.’
Curtain Call’s group emerges from the hotel windows, holding what looks like ropes.
There were two ropes in total. On the other one hung Baukalak, Eric, and Hyeonggeun, all returned to humanoid form. Everyone escaped. See? It works.
“In any case, now we just need to save that side—”
Kwadudududuk!
I move the tree trunk to create footholds for Curtain Call’s group to jump down......
But at the same time, dizziness floods in.
“M, mana is running low!”
“I calculated that too!”
Even so, this is an excessively large scale spell. I anticipated that mana would run short midway.
Therefore, I prepared a plan to replenish depleted mana.
Chwarrrrrrrrk!
[Vampiric Touch]
A spell activated through the massive ginkgo tree as a medium.
And— branches burrow into the hotel interior in an instant.
Kwajik! Kwaduk! Chwaaaak! Wadududuk! Ppudeuk! Chwararak!
“Jijijijik!” “Kiiieeek!” “Jiiiiiik!” “Gyaaak!”
The sounds of [Mutant Rats] filling the Ilshin Hotel being crushed.
The blood and mana stones those monsters carried are absorbed through the ginkgo tree— granting me more power.
“An efficient plan.”
“Yes, very efficient.”
I prevented the collapse and saved the people, eliminated the monsters and saved Curtain Call’s group and Mun Seunghee.
“You are doing well. You are not wrong.”
“A righteous action filled with goodwill and love.”
“......?”
Who just said that? Definitely not [Buffalo], and not [Crow]? [Fox]?
“Sinhwa! The airship is moving on its own!”
Gwooooooooo!!
The engines of the [Mobile National Assembly Vessel, Democracy of the Sky] suddenly operate at maximum output.
Its prow rotates in a completely different direction than before.
“Ah, an escape pattern.”
In truth, even if the cultists who seized the vessel are eliminated, the [Mobile National Assembly Vessel] cannot be restored.
‘Something strange seeped into the control AI.’
If I had hacking related traits I might try something, but that is not possible— and from experience the most correct choice is.......
“Smash it!”
[Gremlin’s Prank]
[Spell Boost: Multi Cast]
If I add more spells that induce mechanical malfunction and slow its speed, then at this point......
Kwaaang! Kwang!
Explosions erupt throughout the airship.
“Good. Everyone is moving exactly as intended.”
That is the work of Do Cheol and the officials of the Foreigners Administration whom I shoved into the vessel earlier.
“Now, the finale!”
[Titan’s Grip]
[Gravity Inversion]
[Great Gale]
[Spell Boost: Maximize]
The [Mobile National Assembly Vessel], having lost propulsion, is dragged helplessly by my will.
Kwadudududuk!
It crashes into the rooftop of the Ilshin Hotel, which stands tilted and entangled with the massive ginkgo tree.
Kwaaaaaang!
A precise strike. A specific section of the vessel is completely destroyed.
‘The central computer was located exactly there.’
With that destroyed, it will not fly again....... Why does the National Assembly even need flight capability?
Now to prevent secondary collapse......
[Rapid Growth]
Ppak— ppadeudududuk!!
I grow the ginkgo tree further and wrap it completely around the [Mobile National Assembly Vessel].
And silence.
The collapse has ended, and the [Mobile National Assembly Vessel] can no longer move.
“Phew— all resolved.”
Of course, Sejong City itself is a mess.......
Well, you cannot expect me to take responsibility for urban aesthetics too, right?
Everything proceeded exactly as planned.
“Now, if Mun Seunghee moves according to my intention— we can completely control matters related to Yeonam.”
“Mm— true.”
“Then everything will unfold well. If she does not listen, we can simply brainwash her.”
“Hmm....... Something bothers me.”
Whiiiiish—
I fly toward Mun Seunghee and Curtain Call’s group and speak.
“Something bothers you?”
It may be nothing, but it feels ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) extremely unsettling.
There are six possible events that could occur here.
I prevented the [Heir Slaughter Battle] by brainwashing more than half of them, and at the same time stopped the [Brain Eating Chairman].
Then I stopped the [Ilshin Hotel Collapse], the [Evil Ritual], and the [Airship Collision].
“One event did not trigger.”
Among the possible events was one where an invisible monster created by Helistic would plunge Sejong City into chaos.
‘But it does not feel like a new monster is about to appear at this point.’
Of course, it is an event canceled the moment Baek Beomjin leaves the banquet hall. The others are similar. Why did the others trigger but not this one?
“Hmm....... Was it simply omitted? Something feels off.”
A slightly earlier time.
After the Abyssal entities began acting, but before Kim Sinhwa took flight.
“Representative, are you in a good mood? You have been grinning for a while.”
“Was I caught?”
Baek Beomjin, wearing a faint smile, speaks to Geumwol.
“Did you not see how beautifully those children grew? I feel fulfilled whenever I witness such a sight. It is a shame I did not stay to watch Mun Taeik eat their brains.”
“Ugh, I already know you are a pervert, Representative. You do not need to reconfirm it like that.”
Geumwol responds curtly, but Baek Beomjin simply gazes at the night view of Sejong City passing beyond the car window with a boyish smile.
At some point, a thought occurs to him. Did he forget something?
“Ah, I made another mistake.”
“Oh— what did you mess up this time?”
“I was asked to release the test subjects around the hotel, but I forgot.”
“......You really forgot?”
Geumwol narrows one eye suspiciously.
Avoiding her gaze, Baek Beomjin looks toward the direction of Ilshin Hotel.
At that moment, distant explosions are heard.
“Hmm....... At that level, a small company like ours need not intervene. Let us go.”
“You raccoon of a Representative! If you have some scheme, share it with me too!”
“No, I truly forgot.”
The security vehicle carrying the two has already left Sejong City. Suddenly, Baek Beomjin speaks.
“Driver Choi. Slow down for a moment. Geumwol, what is that?”
“Hm? A modified vehicle. Looks like a security taxi. Probably waiting for a fixer or a criminal.”
“A security taxi? Hm....... Driver Choi, apologies, but could you pull over there briefly?”
“Understood.”
“W, Representative? What are you planning this time?”
Ignoring Geumwol’s protest, Baek Beomjin lets out a mischievous laugh and speaks slowly.
“I see talent I would like to headhunt.”
Helistic is a biotechnology company that studies the various possibilities humanity can reach in order to protect mankind from impending extinction.
