Bad Endings Lurk Everywhere in the Destruction Game

In the Destruction game, bad endings were truly hidden everywhere. Now that I'd entered the academy, it was as good as the gates of hell swinging open.

The one silver lining was that achievements notified me whenever I'd successfully blocked a bad ending. Plus, it was laid out like a game UI, even alerting me if I'd missed anything.

"Looks like I can't let those two out of my sight."

Ideally, I shouldn't just stick them together—I needed to be right there with them, the three of us inseparable. If I left just the two and one slipped away, who knew what bad ending we'd trigger.

Most of the Destruction's bad endings ended with the world doomed, but some had one of the protagonists dying. So, if I could help it, I absolutely didn't want either of the two I was already close to kicking the bucket.

That meant blocking not just world-ending catastrophes, but any endings where one of them died. Starting now, it was time for Bad Ending Defense. Well, truth be told, it had already been forced into motion.

"By the way, Theo, did you get the class assignment sheet?"

As we waited for the weapons to finish forging, chatting about this and that, Iris brought up the class assignments.

"Yeah, I did. Class A."

In the academy, Class A was reserved for the top talents. There was a Class S above it, but that was for fourth-years only—the graduating class. For us first-years, A was the pinnacle.

"I'm in Class A too! We can spend time together at school now!"

I just smiled at Iris's excited declaration. Right, as one of the protagonists, you had to be in A. In Destruction, both leads were elite from the start.

"I'm in Class A too, Theo. Not thrilled about sharing it with Iris, but oh well. I'll endure it since you're there?"

Estelle's words, delivered with that infuriating lilt, irked me enough to flick her forehead lightly.

"Hey, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that's no way to talk to a friend, Estelle."

"Ow, ugh... Got it, sorry."

"Hehe, serves you right!"

"Iris, you shouldn't gloat when your friend's getting scolded."

"Eek... S-sorry..."

I gave them both a light scolding, but I didn't expect it to magically improve their relationship. No, it wasn't that it wouldn't get better—they were always like this. In the game, Lina von Maria, who usually played middleman, would chide them like I just did, but Iris and Estelle never tired of bickering.

God knows how those two ended up falling for each other, but whatever. Probably something cliché like, "You're the first to treat me this way."

"The sword's ready first. Come check it out?"

As we were deep in conversation, the shopkeeper called us over—the sword was done.

"I'll just go check it—"

"I wanna see!"

"Theo wielding a sword? I have to see it...!"

Their fervent reactions made it impossible to go alone, so we all headed to the back lot together.

"With a sparring partner here, it'd be easier to test the sword's performance. How about Her Highness the Crown Princess steps in? You can borrow any sword from our shop."

I knew Iris had been itching for a sword duel with me. Estelle was magic-focused, but Iris was a solid swordswoman. The shopkeeper must've picked up on it and suggested a spar.

But... I was strong, sure, but rubbing up against a protagonist? That might be pushing it.

"Oh, can I? Theo, are you... okay with that...?"

Iris immediately checked with me. After a moment's thought, I agreed. Win or lose, I'd go easy on her anyway. It'd be great experience for me, so no reason to refuse.

"It's my first real spar since Duncan, so I'm pretty nervous."

Plus, Duncan was a master who could jump into real combat anytime—he always held back with me. A serious duel might be too much, so I quietly asked Iris,

"Go easy on me? It's my first proper duel."

"Hmm, not sure. If I do, I might end up a total wreck."

"Come on, no way."

At this point in the game, Iris had mastered Aura and outshone anyone in the Imperial Knights. She and Estelle enrolled for the peace treaty between nations, not to learn. Sparring someone like that and expecting her to go easy? Even if I was decently strong, that was absurd.

"Anyway, please!"

With the duel set, the shopkeeper handed me the sword.

"What's this made of?"

It wasn't iron or regular ore—super light, gripped perfectly, razor-sharp. High-quality; one swing would slice through decent wood like butter.

"You know white ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠carbonite? That's what we used."

"White carbonite?!"

White carbonite was one of Destruction's unique minerals—insanely expensive. Light yet easy to sharpen, with great elasticity that resists breaking, it was top-tier for swords.

"Yeah. The chairman provided it, said to use it anytime for the right student. No need to worry."

I never dreamed I'd get a white carbonite sword this early. In the game, Iris wielded one much later, after buying or forging it from dungeon loot during advanced training—not from the academy shop.

"A white carbonite sword. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠This is exciting."

Iris's eyes changed. Normally calm, now they burned with duel-hunger. Yeah, makes sense—the game always described her eagerly sparring others.

"I'm jealous. Once my staff's done, spar with me too, Theo."

"Why are you two so desperate to beat me?"

"Hey, it's not about beating you—it's to learn a thing or two."

I sighed at Estelle's sincere smile.

"No matter how strong I am, that's just among commoners. I can't beat you two."

I ruffled her hair lightly, then took position in the lot with sword in hand. Time to duel.

"Let's do this!"

"No matter how strong I am, that's just among commoners. I can't beat you two."

Estelle stared intently at Theo as he ruffled her hair and headed off to duel Iris, lost in thought.

Why do you think that? You're way stronger.

During that pre-exam "magic duel"—more like her just sparring him—she still shuddered recalling the ice spell he'd hit her with. It was natural to think he didn't know his own power.

Of course, at that level back then, I might've won a real duel.

It wasn't a proper duel, and she hadn't seen him as strong yet. But the issue? It wasn't years or even months ago—just weeks.

How does he get stronger like this? If he'd had holy power talent from birth, he'd be called a saint for sure.

Unfortunately, holy power was innate, and Theo wasn't born with it.

A relief, I suppose.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be the Saintess.

Or a shame?

She'd never loved the role much, leaving her feelings tangled. Pointlessly imagining impossibilities, though.

Anyway, his swordsmanship's probably a cut above Iris's too.

She wasn't dueling herself, hadn't seen ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Iris up close, but knew enough to gauge her level. Theo might've grown more, but people didn't level up that fast normally—he was the anomaly.

My heart's racing.

Whatever the outcome, watching Theo and seeing him grow up close was thrilling beyond words.