About twenty hours ago, in a large, dim underground of the headquarters of the Phantasmal Guild.
Leon, Mira, so of their classmates, and several S Rank Guild mbers that were affiliated with the Guild Master of the Phantasmal Guild, Draxian or Leon's and Mira's father were standing in an empty spacious underground.
For so reason, their father, Draxian, suggested that they should find a proper place before accessing the Tower of Growth.
Apart from the S Rank precautionary guides and guards, similar to Raya and Yara on Rumia's side, Leon, Mira, and the others had no idea about the intent of the Guild Master.
'It's a precaution in case sothing goes wrong.'
Draxian thought, seeing the gradual disappearance of his son and daughter, along with the others.
***
Presently, Leon, staring at the wall of miniature stars, making him feel like he was on a spacecraft and looking by the large window, complained upon hearing the Administrator's words, as well as the System's ssages regarding the will of the Tower.
Monts before the Tower expelled him from the Area of Fealty, the Administrator gladly answer the confusion that was painted on his face.
["The Area of Fealty is for soone who has an undying loyalty to oneself to be stronger... To seek what is in store for their future."]
Before Leon could say anything, the Administrator quickly continued:
["But, you, as a player, only have a short-term goal. Have you ever questioned yourself what do you plan on doing next if you already toppled the people you desperately wanted to surpass?"]
Leon didn't answer, more like he couldn't as his mouth trembled, hearing the Administrator's harsh, but real words. He rembered his past efforts these past few months to surpass Jiho, then Rumia, until Samantha, but he never thought of what he should do next after he accomplished such a goal — which was also unlikely to happen.
["If you think you will survive what is in store for humanity in the future with that attitude and mindset of yours, you are a fool."]
Gritting his teeth, Leon shouted based on emotions, neglecting the importance of the intellect.
"What do you know, huh?!
"I want to be strong for my family! Nothing else!"
The Administrator fell silent, but inwardly, he seed to think that Leon was too unreasonable and contradictory. All he replied, disregarding the grumbling of Leon, was...
["Your father loves both of you."]
Without waiting for Leon to process the last words of the Administrator, Leon was expelled from the Tower.
[You are now exiting the Tower of Growth!]
***
Almost at the sa ti, the Administrator's words resounded in Mira's ears, monts before she was expelled from the Tower of Growth.
["You will accomplish nothing by following your brother's footsteps."]
Listening intently while her heart was beating fast, the Administrator continued:
["What's next if you beco as strong as your brother or if you beco stronger than him? It's a fool's mindset."]
["There's nothing wrong in carving your own path, but don't worry, your father loves you both."]
Seemingly carving the words of the Administrator in her heart and mind, Mira, with tears and empty eyes dissipated from the Tower.
[You are now exiting the Tower of Growth!]
***
Leon and Mira were the last ones to exit the Area of Fealty, glancing around, a minute or two before the psychological cue took effect, he saw his younger sister's dejected face, as well as so others.
"I-I failed..."
Whispering like an emotionally dead person, Draxian and the others who were waiting for them heard Mira's dejected tone.
"S-sorry father... I don't know... I-I just answered truthfully, b-but the Tower seed to think that so of them are lies."
Mira glanced beside her, towards her older brother. Her eyes widened at the realization that both of them failed.
At this mont, only Draxian, their father, knew of the effects of the Failure Penalty. His deep blue eyes seed to beco an empty bottomless sea, looking at his son and daughter.
"Tyrion, and you... Go out first, while the others remain here."
Leon and Mira's two classmates sohow passed the Area of Fealty. They obeyed Draxian's order, leaving the seemingly secret underground empty facility without questions.
As of now, there were only Draxian, Leon, Mira, and several S Ranks who also passed personal, torturous trials of the Tower.
"F-father..."
At Mira's words, her blue eyes seed to lose their luster — one of the physical signs of being under the Tower's psychological cue. She didn't manage to say anything as she quickly lunged towards one of the S Rank players who passed the Tower.
The S Rank player was confused, and the confusion grew stronger as Leon, who also lost the luster of his eyes, started to attack another S Rank player.
Before they could reflexively, easily dodge the attacks, their movents turned sluggish, no, they couldn't move.
They glanced at the Guild Master, seeing his deep blue eyes turn to gold — it was the Dragon Lord's Eye (SSS ), which he gained from making a Star Contract with the Lord of the Black Dragon.
"If you two want to leave, don't speak anything about what's happening here."
Draxian authoritatively spoke, looking at the remaining S Ranks who didn't get attacked by Leon and Mira. They nodded their heads in submission and were clearly experienced and knowledgeable about the dirty side of the guild.
Since Leon and Mira wouldn't be able to quickly kill the two S Ranks, Draxian, with no hesitation, weakened them.
Summoning, not taken out from his Dinsional Inventory, two dark spears in his hand, Draxian threw them on each chest of the two S Ranks, causing them to be fatally wounded.
After so ti, holding the sword in his hand, Leon finished the job by stabbing his target. It was the sa in Mira's case.
With that, they were freed from the psychological cue of the Tower and had stolen the Growth Rate of the successful conquerors of the Tower they had killed with their own hands.
***
Waking up from her stupor, Mira looked at the bloody ss that was in front of her.
"Kyaaa-!"
She couldn't help but reflexively scream, glancing around to find comfort, she saw her father, who then nodded at her.
"F-father, w-what happened?"
Scrutinizing the surroundings, Mira also saw Leon, sitting on the ground, covered in blood.
Draxian then spoke with his deep voice. He explained to them the Failure Penalty and its consequences.
"F-father! T-this is wrong! I-I"
"Mira! I would not let the two of you die in any way!"
Draxian's shout cut off Mira's words. Leon, who heard their father's words, recalled the last words of the Administrator before he was expelled from the Tower.
Subconsciously biting his lower lip as blood leaked from it, Leon couldn't express his thoughts.
He was pissed, helpless, and seed to feel anger toward the existence of Jiho and the others.
'If they aren't here... I wouldn't have failed by worrying about them!'
"You two, clean up the bodies and fabricate a report. Tell their families they failed the Tower and started to rampage, so we have no choice but to eliminate them."
The two S Ranks nodded their heads before leaving without questioning the Guild Master's decision.
"Mira, Leon, always rember that I will help the two of you to be stronger, so you two can inherit the guild in the future."
'Future...'
'Future...'
Almost at the sa ti, though with the stark contrast in personality, thought of the sa thing as they rembered the Administrator's words, which sounded like a warning.
***
'I can't believe she's too straightforward in her request.'
Russell inwardly thought, rembering Azalea's request for help by telling her everything in the Tower of Growth.
'Well, at least it's not free.'
Even though Azalea had the capability to freely gather information, regarding the Tower of Growth, with her status as the mysterious leader of Thorn of Rose, she seed to trust Russell more than information brokers.
Russell was paid a hundred million Obel for the information. Though it was unnecessary since he could give it for free, he tested Azalea if she was willing to pay. It could only an that Azalea was trusting Russell to a great extent since she didn't feel doubtful when she heard his demand.
'I'm quite surprised. It's probably because of the previous information regarding the Four Seeds of Direction...'
He thought, glancing around. At this mont, Russell, with his Chaos Companions, were on the Obelisk Cafeteria One.
There was also Obelisk Military personnel, eating different delicacies, due to the information that so students had yet to exit the Tower.
"Oppa, I'll check up on Estelle later. Want to co with ?"
Freya cut off her older brother's little reverie.
"Oi oi, before that, Russell, send and Ary to... you know where."
Alie interjected while Ary remained silent.
"Speaking of Estelle, where is she?"
Alie added, genuinely curious.
Freya replied telepathically but her ssage was sent to each of them.
Before they could say anything, Freya continued:
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