On the 100th floor, in a villa attached to the outer tower.
The darkness had already receded and morning had arrived, yet the rain continued to fall.
Bathed in the glow of the lights and accompanied by the rain that had been teasing her ears since the night before, Maschenny slowly opened her eyes and stirred.
"Mm…"
The first thing that ca into view was Hoaquin's abdon. She lifted her head groggily to look at him, but he was still asleep, unconscious as ever.
A familiar disappointnt settled in when she realized he still hadn't woken up. After washing up briefly, Maschenny headed down to the lower floor.
For nearly a week now, her daily routine had been a constant loop: loafing around the mansion – staring at Hoaquin – sleeping beside him – waking up – realizing Hoaquin still hadn't awakened and feeling disappointed – then loafing around the mansion again.
"Oh, Maschenny-noona, you're up. Want so breakfast?"
The first person to greet her as she ca down the stairs was Luf. Wearing an apron and busily stir-frying sothing, he offered her breakfast. When she nodded, he smiled warmly and continued cooking.
Maschenny sat down at the dining table and looked around. Outside the mansion, she could see Yura and Asensio, whom she had briefly t during the test she took with Hoaquin, bickering with each other.
Hwarang, however… was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Hwarang?"
"Hyung went to the hospital today with Albelda. Her condition is a little… no, pretty serious. Apparently because of all the experints she went through for over a hundred years… she's suffering from all kinds of symptoms."
"...…"
Maschenny's expression darkened slightly at Luf's words. Over a hundred years ago, after the ritual ended, she had briefly spent ti with Hoaquin, Albelda, and the rest of his family. It wasn't news she wanted to hear.
Even if it had been only for a short while, her mories with Albelda had been fond ones.
Ssssh—
"Alright, it's done. Noona, try not to worry too much. The workshop masters managed to save Hoaquin-hyung when he was practically on death's door—so I'm sure they'll treat Albelda soon too."
Aside from the unsettling fact that Albelda was in a strange state where it was unclear whether she was alive or dead…
Deciding not to dwell on it, Maschenny took a sip of the wine placed on the table and picked up her spoon to eat the fried rice Luf had made.
She took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, and only then rembered—back when they used to travel together, Luf had been the one in charge of cooking.
And his skills had improved dramatically since then.
Simply put, it was delicious.
"…Luf."
"Yes?"
"Between you and Hoaquin, who's the better cook?"
"…? Haha, wouldn't Hoaquin-hyung be better? My specialty is more on drinks, like coffee."
"Right?"
Maschenny puffed her chest out with an inexplicable sense of pride at the confirmation that Hoaquin was the better cook. Luf, completely unaware of the reason, was left staring at her with a puzzled expression.
After finishing her al, Maschenny moved to the living room sofa.
The TV was broadcasting the sa news as always.
"Yes, I'm standing in front of the heavily damaged Baekhwa Sword Palace. One week ago, a massive military floating ship belonging to the Arie family fired its main cannons at the palace. There have also been eyewitness accounts of blue lightning striking down and white divine beasts erupting from all directions—"
"The Arie family has responded with silence. According to information our network has uncovered so far, this incident occurred during the so-called 'Arie Hon Trial,' taken by one of the family's chosen Regulars—"
"Thanks to the protection of the Arie family's royal guard, there were zero civilian casualties. Aside from the Baekhwa Sword Palace, the City of White suffered minimal damage. This has been Na-won reporting from the scene."
As soon as the on-site report ended, a group of so-called "experts" appeared on screen, seated around a round table and engaging in hollow speculation.
From Maschenny's perspective—as one of the people directly involved—it was laughably absurd. But to those who knew nothing, it apparently looked credible enough.
The fact that the sa story had been reported nonstop for an entire week showed just how shocking the incident had been.
At first, false reports claiming the Arie family had been invaded drew public attention. Then rumors of internal conflict within the Baekhwa Sword Palace stirred curiosity. Once the palace was revealed to be partially destroyed and information began leaking through various channels, the interest of everyone living in the Tower exploded.
Maschenny sipped her wine like a morning coffee and casually browsed online articles through her Lighthouse.
"Who Was the Regular Who Took the Arie Hon Trial?"
Among the current A-rank Regulars, the strongest group known as the "Top Five A-ranks" is believed to be the most likely candidates. This group includes the infamous forr FUG butcher from the lower floors, Arie Hoaquin; Khun Maschenny Zahard, believed to have erged victorious in factional power struggles; Yeon Hwarang, who wields mysterious azure flas; and others…
(omitted) While nothing is certain, the Regular most likely to have taken the Trial at present is Arie Hoaquin…
(omitted)
Views: 978,585,751
....
"…Tch."
Maschenny clicked her tongue softly.
She had assud the Arie family would handle dia control on their own, so she hadn't paid much attention—only for things to spiral out of control.
For so reason, the Arie family seed uninterested in suppressing the press. As a result, major dia outlets sponsored by other Ten Families had begun running sensational headlines, and newspapers covering the incident were selling like wildfire.
Congratulations, Hoaquin. By the ti you wake up, you'll probably be a celebrity.
Curious, Maschenny scrolled down to the comnt section.
"Is this really a Regular? Living a totally different life from us."
"For real lol I can barely afford my exam fees this month…"
"What do you expect from the Ten Families. FUG is still the best."
"Get lost, terrorist."
"I'm still taking tests on the 30th floor. Feels like a completely different world."
"It is a different world. Good luck with your exams."
"Man, when will I ever beco an A-rank Regular…"
"What rank are you now?"
"D-rank."
"Lol idiot."
"Hey, I'm a Regular climbing the Tower with Arie family sponsorship—if things stay like this, does that an I won't get my allowance? I've got one week left until payout."
"Serves you right."
"But wasn't the one who took the trial Maschenny, not Hoaquin? There were blue lightning flashes and stuff."
"Not sure, but they say soone passed the Trial."
"If you check history books, a few people did pass it."
"What kind of reward do you even get for that…"
"Just imagining it makes happy."
"If they gave even ten percent…"
"…What a boring bunch."
Because the article focused on Regulars, the comnt section was dominated by them—and none of it held her interest.
Bored, Maschenny turned off her Lighthouse and flipped through TV channels. The war docuntary channel was airing reruns, apparently having run out of material.
Towerflix didn't seem to have any decent war movies either.
Everything felt dull.
In the end, Maschenny returned to Hoaquin's room and resud her daily routine of staring at him.
Night fell once more. She passed the ti lightly poking him, then leaned against his abdon and drifted off to sleep.
More than anything, she wished Hoaquin would wake up soon—but at tis like this, she also thought it might be fine if he slept a little longer.
After all, he truly had been through a lot lately. Even she had to admit that he needed proper rest.
.....
Chirp, chirp.
"Mm…"
Morning sunlight stread in, and Maschenny slowly woke up—just like always.
The sa routine. The sa disappointnt.
This ti, she didn't bother looking at Hoaquin. He was obviously still asleep.
When she opened her eyes, all she could see was the ceiling.
"…Huh?"
Wait.
She had fallen asleep leaning against Hoaquin's abdon—so why was she staring at the ceiling?
Her eyes snapped open as she finally realized her situation.
She was lying in the bed where Hoaquin had been, properly tucked under the blankets.
"I'm awake."
A voice spoke.
Her cheeks seed to be slightly red. Haha, it's been a while since I teased her—she's cute and it's fun. I poked her cheek a few tis and spoke teasingly.
"Haha, you were sleeping really well. I was worried you'd wake up when I moved you over. I guess my stomach was pretty comfortable?"
"Oh, seriously. I was tired from taking care of you, that's why. How long are you going to keep teasing ? Don't you get sick of it?"
"Not at all. It's fun every single ti. It feels new every ti I do it."
"Hey!!"
"Haha, alright, alright. Just kidding, just kidding. I'll stop now."
Belatedly, I rembered how I had slept using her arm as a pillow back on the Hell Train, and hurriedly stopped teasing Maschenny. Damn it. I had thought back then that if she leaned on to sleep, I'd pretend not to notice. Sorry.
"…Where are the others?"
"Hwarang and Luf went grocery shopping, and Asensio and Yura disappeared sowhere. And I heard one person left, but I don't know who it was, and I don't care."
In short, it ant that only Maschenny and I were in the house right now.
No—strictly speaking, there was one more.
A
long with Anna, the family I had been searching for so desperately.
"…What about Albelda?"
"…Now?"
"Yeah, now."
"…Follow ."
Following Maschenny, I went down the stairs, passed through the living room, and stopped in front of a room. I grabbed the doorknob with trembling hands, pulled it, and stepped inside.
As I went in further, I finally saw a young girl lying on a bed, just like I had been when I was asleep.
"Ah…"
Albelda.
Finally.
One step, two steps, three steps.
In just three steps, I reached Albelda and gently stroked her white hair.
This sensation was unmistakably real.
It wasn't a dream. It was really Albelda.
Maschenny, who was standing behind , quietly spoke.
"Yesterday, Hwarang took her to the hospital for a bit. To begin with, it's hard to tell whether she's alive or dead, but even setting that aside, her physical condition isn't good. There are too many kinds of drugs injected into her body, and too much of them, so treatnt will take ti."
"…I see."
Perhaps my reaction was calr than she expected, because Maschenny tilted her head and asked,
"…Aren't you angry?"
Of course I was angry. I was so angry that I wanted to find every single one of the bastards who did this to my family and kill them in the most painful and cruel way possible.
But—
"If I get angry all the ti, Maschenny, you'll worry. And Albelda and Anna wouldn't want that either."
Have I gotten older…?
Anyway, I can't keep getting angry and reacting violently every ti. I need to mature as well.
I learned that clearly from how the elders toyed with all this ti. If I always act emotionally, I'll just be dragged around. I need to be able to properly control myself now.
I don't want things to turn out like they did on the 96th floor again.
"There's only one left now. We just need to find Vicente. He might not have ended up like Albelda and Anna, and could've beco like the other children, but…"
I turned to Maschenny and smiled faintly.
"Still, now I can see a path toward happiness."
"…Yeah."
Maschenny lifted the corners of her mouth at my words and nodded, looking relieved.
Grrrr—
At that mont, my stomach sent a signal. I really hadn't eaten anything for almost three weeks. Two weeks in the underground prison, and one week sleeping. After not eating or drinking for three weeks, I was extrely hungry.
"Maschenny, want to eat breakfast with ?"
"Do whatever you want."
As we opened the door to head to the kitchen together, I was t with an unexpected reunion.
Standing right in front of the door was Hwarang.
He looked like he'd grown a lot compared to when I last saw him 130 years ago, but it was definitely Hwarang.
"…H-Hwarang?"
"…H-Hoaquin?!"
While Hwarang stood there flustered at the fact that I had woken up and that we were suddenly reunited, I quickly took the initiative.
"Haha… it's been a long ti, Hwarang. I really missed you."
"Hwarang-hyung, what did you just say?Hoaquin-hyung is—!"
Luf, who had co running over after being startled by Hwarang's loud voice, froze and just stared at when he saw in person.
Wow, wait a second. That's Luf, right? He really grew up. He got really handso.
"Luf, it's been a while for you too. You've gotten really handso."
"Haha… I hear that a lot… You've finally woken up."
I greeted them so lightly with words, but my emotions were far more complicated. Even though we'd talked a few tis through pocket calls, these were friends I was reuniting with after a full 130 years.
There was no way my emotions wouldn't swell.
Ah, guys. It's really good to see you again.
Just as I was about to sink into nostalgia, Hwarang suddenly bared his fangs and stepped toward with an angry look.
Damn it. I knew this was coming.
"You bastard. Was it fun disappearing without a word for 130 years?"
At Hwarang's words, spoken with a furrowed brow, I couldn't help but shrink back.
Seriously… I feel so bad toward them. Why did I even do that back then?
"Ugh, that's—"
Tap, tap—
Hwarang snorted in laughter, patted my shoulder a few tis, and looked at .
"Hoaquin, of course we know you treasure us. But sohow, you don't seem to realize that we treasure you just as much—maybe even more."
"..."
"To be honest, I don't know how much help we'll be since the gap is so big now, but for now, try leaning on us. We'll do our best to support you. If necessary, even by hitting you."
"I feel the sa way as Hwarang-hyung—except for the hitting part."
"…Haha. Man. I'm so grateful I could cry."
I wasn't actually crying, but I was just thankful to the two of them.
From the Test Floor to the Hell Train. The happiness and joy I enjoyed during that journey had only been possible because Maschenny and these two were by my side.
Looking at Hwarang and Luf made it feel like I was returning to those purely happy days… it carried a nostalgic scent.
If I'm together with them again, could I feel that happiness once more?
Well… first things first, let's eat.
"Luf, I'm starving—do you happen to have anything left?"
"Oh! Oh no, hyung must've been starving for weeks… I'm really sorry, but please wait just a little. I'll prepare a big al right away."
"No, no, I'll cook. It's fine. From the looks of it, you must've been exhausted being Maschenny's personal chef."
"Hey."
"Haha, just kidding."
Ding-dong—
"...?"
While we were happily chatting after reuniting, the doorbell rang outside.
What was that? Did soone subscribe to a newspaper? Or was it a delivery?
I had only woken up a week ago, so I had no idea what was going on… and judging by everyone's expressions, no one else seed to know either.
I told everyone to stay where they were and cautiously walked over to the front door, opening it wide.
As soon as I opened it, the person who rang the doorbell was revealed—and it was soone I never expected.
"…..?"
Because it was a stranger.
However, judging by his white hair and silver eyes, anyone could tell he was from the Arie family.
How did he even find this place?
"Um… what business do you have here? Did I get indicted again or sothing?"
"…No. Seeing as you're the only Arie among those here… you must be Arie Hoaquin."
"Yes. So what brings you all the way out to this nice place with good scenery?"
At my question, he hesitated briefly, took a breath, and answered.
.....
The mont I heard his answer, the eyes of everyone present—including mine—filled with shock.
"The family head wishes to see you. He said that if you go now, you'll be able to et him. It seems that was true."
The highest floor of the Baekwha Sword Palace, the Space of the Soul.
The owner of the Baekwha Sword Palace and the head of the Arie family, Arie Hon, was resting his chin on his arm with a bored expression.
Though he looked bored on the surface, remnants of enjoynt still lingered in his mind.
The enjoynt that had co from his child, one week ago.
"Spatial distortion…"
Hon muttered, then stood up from his throne and stretched his arm toward empty space.
Crackle—sparks flew, space rippled, and in the blink of an eye, Hon had moved to the location he desired.
It looked easy at a glance, but only Hon himself, his fellow companions, and a very small number of High Rankers could accomplish such a feat.
And yet, his child had done it.
A child who was nothing more than a Regular.
From the mont he first t the boy, he had thought he wasn't just an ordinary child. He had even felt a strange sense of nonexistence from him, so he gave him the na "Baekya," paid him so attention for a while, and then forgot about him.
And now… he had beco sothing quite interesting.
Thinking of that child—Hoaquin—Hon's lips curved up ever so slightly.
Those eyes, the talent to even use spatial distortion, the feeling—without a doubt, in every aspect, he was a being that surpassed the child nad Eurasia Enne whom he had t before.
A perfect life-form beyond even a perfect life-form.
The fact that such a being was his own child filled Hon with quiet joy. It would be good to grant a great reward to the concubine who bore that child. Co to think of it, had he ever produced another child with that concubine? Were all of that concubine's children special like Hoaquin?
He had a premonition that it would fail, but it was still a hypothesis worth testing.
It was a sha that the child was not a girl. If that child had been one of Zahard's Princesses, she would surely have beco the strongest of them.
As Hon was lost in various thoughts about his child, Hoaquin, he heard the voice of the ssenger he had sent outside the door.
"Family Head, we have brought Hoaquin."
"Very well. Let him enter."
Rumble—
The massive doors opened, and soon Hoaquin walked several steps toward Hon. He looked completely different from the sorry state he had been in during the last trial—clean, neat, and beautiful.
"I, Hoaquin, am honored to stand before my father."
Hoaquin knelt on one knee before Hon and paid his respects. Hon gestured, dismissing everyone present except Hoaquin, and even moved his shinsu to close the doors, completely sealing off the inside and outside.
Now, on the highest floor, only Hon and Hoaquin remained.
"There is no need for such formality. Now only the two of us remain."
"…The man earlier said I absolutely had to greet you like this."
He had pleaded, saying that Hoaquin might be killed if he didn't greet him properly, and Hoaquin had simply followed his words out of pity.
Perhaps there was so amusing humor in the response, because Hon let out a light laugh.
"Hahahaha! Rise and face , my son."
As instructed, I straightened the knee I had knelt on and stood up, looking at my father. The dignity of the man seated upon that lofty throne was as high as the ceiling of the Tower itself.
Even my father in his data form had radiated overwhelming divinity, but compared to the real one outside, it was nothing.
Hon gazed at quietly, then once again let out a chuckle.
"Heh. Looking at you brings back old mories."
"Which… ones?"
"The ti you failed to recognize and called a Ranker of the family. Even if I forget everything else, that alone I still rember. It was quite unforgettable."
"..."
To suddenly bring up such a dark past and attack with it…
My father laughed it off lightly and seed to move on to the main point.
"As you already know, you have splendidly passed my trial. An appropriate reward will be granted for this, so you need not worry that I intend to simply forgive your sins and be done with it. After all, were they not sins you never committed in the first place?"
"So then, is there anything you desire separately?"
At last.
At long last, the mont I had been waiting for arrived.
Just as I was about to answer imdiately, I took a breath and then explained clearly and logically what I wanted.
My father, Arie Hon, worshipped as omniscient and omnipotent.
What I wanted from him was only one thing.
Family.
"Father, you knew what the elders did to Albelda and Anna… didn't you?"
"Ah, you an the experintal subjects the elders used. Yes, I knew."
The way my father spoke so casually, treating what his children had endured as sothing utterly worthless—It was an irrational sight. I steadied my emotions and continued speaking.
"You must also know what state Albelda and Anna are in right now. I don't."
"..."
This ti, my father did not answer, but at that mont, I felt as though his eyes flickered with amusent.
I didn't know what kind of enjoynt he found in now, but I continued stating what I wanted.
"If you truly are omniscient and omnipotent, Father, I beg you to return my family to . Albelda and Anna—if those children are truly alive, if they have not died, then please wake them. My family."
"…Is that all? Nothing else?"
"There is nothing else."
"How interesting. You are particularly interesting. Even though you are my child, I cannot see even a step ahead of you, Hoaquin."
"Yes."
"Do you know what those who have passed my trial have asked for?"
"…No."
"One of those who passed my trial was once the prince of a forgotten nation in the outer tower, whose territory was being taken by our family. After passing my trial, he asked not to take his land, to cease our invasion. And so I ignored all opposition and granted his request. The swords of the Arie no longer swung at them, and all territory was returned to its original owners. That nation entered an era of peace."
"..."
"However, the people of that nation, who had once lived under our occupation, had already tasted the advanced civilization of the inner tower. They had tasted the convenience of systematized shinsu usage, the usefulness of workshop technology, and the fully reford agricultural thods of the inner tower. When we withdrew and they lost all of those benefits, they rebelled in order to taste that convenience once more. The nation was consud by the flas of civil war, and was ultimately completely destroyed by an invasion from the Khun family. I heard the prince was executed."
"Hoaquin, do you understand what I am trying to say?"
"…Vaguely. That wishes should be made carefully?"
Hon let out a faint chuckle and continued.
"To those who pass my trial, I always grant an appropriate reward. The reward I give is never sothing that becos poison to them. And together with that reward, I ask them whether they have anything else they desire."
"The wishes they speak of, however—though they may have seed flawless and perfect to them at the ti—were, by my standards, nothing more than a dangerously poisoned grail. I found it deplorable that they could not see what lay ahead."
"..."
"Hoaquin, this is not a matter of being careful with one's wish. It is a matter of whether to make a wish at all. You are correct."
"I am, within this Tower, a being that can at least be called omniscient and omnipotent. I can grant your wish, and I also vaguely know what kind of result your wish will bring."
"Among those who have passed my trial, most of those who made a wish to t destruction. Because they did not consider the future, because they were intoxicated with arrogance and power, because they were simply unlucky, because they lacked the kind of 'overwhelming' power that beings like us possess, or…"
Hon continued speaking while quietly staring into my eyes.
"Because they faced a truth they could not bear, and were destroyed by it. I will ask one last ti, Arie Hoaquin."
"Will you make a wish to ?"
After listening to Hon's long explanation, when I finally answered his question, there was not even a shred of hesitation.
"Yes."
My family and my companions are more precious to than anything else. I couldn't understand how trying to reclaim them could bring destruction… but I knew for certain that waking Anna and Albelda was a far happier path than leaving them asleep.
After hearing my answer, Hon silently looked at , then let out a faint chuckle and focused shinsu at his fingertips.
Shaaaa—
Soon, with a radiant light, Hon's pocket inventory appeared, and he reached into it and took sothing out.
Woooong—
Beep! Beep!
When Hon loosened his grip after taking it out, a small fish clad in stylish black scales naturally slid into my hand.
"…A Divine Sea Fish?"
"More precisely, it is called a 'Boatman Fish.' Take it to your family. After that, the rest will be up to that child."
"If I use this, then really—"
"Yes. You will be able to wake your family."
"…Ah, Father! By any chance, Vicente—"
"Shh—"
When he brought his index finger to his lips, I involuntarily stopped speaking mid-sentence. Hon smiled gently, as if he already knew what I was about to say.
"Have you forgotten, my son? The wish I grant is only one."
…You could have pushed it just a little more, stingy old man.
Of course, I didn't say that out loud. In the end, I suppose I couldn't entrust everything to my father.
Even so, I felt nothing but gratitude toward Hon. After all, he had given a lead to wake Anna and Albelda—sothing I hadn't even been able to find a clue for before.
"Other than your wish, is there anything else you wish to say?"
"…Not really—ah, right."
"…I picked up a few items from the armory that looked nice. Could you include those in the list of rewards as well?"
"Heh heh, your behavior is rather cute. It's not as though you're short on money."
"….."
That was because there were things there you couldn't buy even with money…
"Well, it doesn't matter. I'll add them to the reward as much as you like. Anything else?"
"…I don't think there's anything else. May I take my leave now? I'm sorry, but I ca without eating."
"Oh dear, that was my mistake. I rely thought you would have woken up by now and sent the ssenger. Go quickly, then."
I knelt one last ti to show my respect and bid farewell, then stood up and retraced the path I had co from.
The gatekeepers opened the massive doors, and just as I was about to leave the Baekwha Sword Palace—
"Ah, wait. My son."
"…Yes?"
"When do you plan to climb the Tower again?"
"…At the earliest, I'm thinking about a month from now."
Hon smiled faintly and continued.
"Citing the fact that the 'Festival of the Sword' could not proceed properly due to the recent chaos, I plan to reopen it for a single day, one month from now. If you are interested, participate and enjoy yourself to your heart's content. Even by my standards, the Festival of the Sword is quite an enjoyable celebration."
A grand festival hosted directly by the Arie family…
Should I ask Maschenny to go together? It does sound like it could be fun.
"Thank you. Then I'll be going."
"Very well. Go."
Rumble—
After bowing my head to my father, I turned around and completely left the Baekwha Sword Palace, carefully holding the hope he had given —the "Boatman Fish"—in my hand.
In the end, I hadn't obtained any clues about Vicente, but if Anna and Albelda were to awaken, perhaps I could learn sothing from them.
Anna, Albelda, please wait just a little longer.
.....
After Hoaquin left and Hon was alone once more, he tapped the armrest of his throne lightly with his finger, looking bored again.
Then, as if speaking to himself, he called out a na.
"Yure."
"…Did you call for , Family Head?"
At the sound of his voice, the Arie sword Yure appeared from sowhere and approached Hon, bowing his head.
"I will now explain the rewards that will be granted to Hoaquin. Rember my words, then send a ssenger separately and make the necessary preparations."
"Yes."
"Grant Hoaquin ownership of the 78th Floor, and bestow upon him the title of provisional branch head. Ah, do not concern yourself with the fact that the family armory will be missing a few weapons. That too is part of the reward."
At Hon's words, Yure made a slightly troubled expression.
"Father, if I may be so bold… I believe that is sowhat excessive."
"I understand your opinion well. However, trust . I see things that you cannot."
"I understand. However… the family… armory, you say?"
"That's right. Why do you ask? Is there a problem?"
"Well…"
Yure took a breath, then continued.
"About half of the items that were in the family armory are missing. Calling it 'a little' is… a bit. No—far too much…"
"...…"
At those words, even Hon was left montarily speechless.
My son… didn't you say it was just a few?
Just how much did you take?
------------------
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