Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin Chapter 59 59: The Hidden Floor (11)

"You bastard… what the hell are you doing?"

The rough words flew at right from the start, but I didn't have the luxury to worry about that right now. I tried to force the brightest smile I could manage, but in this ominous atmosphere, it only ca out looking awkward.

"Hahaha… h-hello, Lady Ha Yurin. Maybe we could start with a slightly more civilized conversa—"

KWA—AAANG!

Of course.

No questions asked—an air shock technique ca flying straight at .

I barely managed to absorb part of the shockwave with my sword before hurriedly spreading my wings and trying to retreat backward.

"After turning my palace into that, where do you think you're going?!"

Yurin leapt in front of in an instant. Her ferocious montum was like a wild beast—my body instinctively shrank back. She already looked furious thanks to , but now the rage was palpable.

Her fist shot toward . I swung Baekya to block it.

The mont fist and blade collided, a violent resonance traveled through the sword and into my body. My entire fra vibrated.

…Did I really just clash with a fist?

"You're dead!"

She focused shinsu into her legs and launched herself toward like a projectile. The speed was absurd—she was in my face in the blink of an eye.

Knowing that attacking back would only make things worse, I deliberately maintained a defensive stance—

But then… why wasn't she attacking even though she was right in front of ?

The answer ca imdiately.

"I'm truly sorry, so could you please calm do—"

I'd been so focused on her fists that I completely missed her legs.

Yurin feinted a punch—and in that opening, wrapped both legs tightly around my waist.

This feels… bad.

"W–wait, hold o—WHOA!"

With her legs locked around , Yurin shot straight up into the air, then dove vertically toward the ground.

I struggled desperately to break free, but damn it—what kind of strength is this?!

"HRAAAH!"

Just before hitting the ground, she spun once mid-fall and, using terrifying leg strength, hurled downward.

I slamd into the ground at monstrous speed, not even having ti to spread my wings.

BOOM—!

"Ghk—!"

SHUAAAK—

Ha Yurin–Style Martial Arts (?) Raging Screw Punch

Before I could even get up, Yurin's fist ca crashing down. A vortex of shinsu spiraled around her arm as it aid straight for my solar plexus.

I barely managed to block it with the flat of Baekya's blade.

The problem?

I was still embedded in the ground.

The rotating shinsu amplified the force, driving even deeper into the earth.

Thud.

Yurin sat down on top of .

"Don't know who you are, but you were prepared for this, right?"

"No, if we think about it logically—!"

THUD— THUD— BANG!

Sadly, my desperate protest went unheard.

All that echoed through the area were the sounds of relentless blows… and the occasional scream.

Ah… is that a river over there…?

.....

The Palace of Red and Black — partially collapsed

"...…"

Hoaquin.

No—what used to be Hoaquin.

Still alive… for now.

"…I didn't hit your face since it's decent-looking. Be grateful."

For a split second, I almost jumped up to argue.

You beat until I coughed blood and my eyes rolled back, and you want gratitude?!

…Yeah. That would've gotten killed.

Honestly, it was lucky my body was still regenerating—I physically couldn't move.

"…Hoaquin. Are you okay?"

Even Maschenny looked flustered as she watched my mangled body slowly regenerate.

No.

I am absolutely not okay.

After beating senseless and finally cooling off, Yurin was now talking with Eduan and Hon in the palace's audience chamber.

I shot a resentful glare at Arie Hon's data.

He wasn't looking at —

—but I know you're deliberately avoiding eye contact, Family Head.

"Hm. Yurin… sorry we ca without notice."

"Like hell that matters. You're not in a position to apologize after throwing the first punch."

"Huh? I held back because it's been a while. You want to really wreck things?"

"Think I can't?"

Grrrr—

Hon tried to diate, while Eduan and Yurin bared their teeth like they were ready to kill each other.

Then why did you both abandon earlier?

That thought made even more bitter.

"Tch. Whatever. What's that?"

Yurin pointed at .

I'd recovered enough to slowly stand, giving a casual nod.

"I was… looking forward to eting you, Lady Ha Yurin. Na's Hoaquin. Not an Arie."

Hon visibly reacted to that.

That was intentional.

"Anyone can tell you're Hon's kid. And now you're saying you're not Arie? What kind of bullshit is that?"

"I was removed from the family registry earlier."

"Cough—! Th–that is… truly my fault…"

Still holding a grudge, I gave a half-hearted reply and turned toward Maschenny instead.

See? You can only rely on allies.

"…Anyway. Nice to et you, Yurin. It's been a long ti."

"What are you doing here?"

Eduan answered while grumbling.

"We ca to see you. Be grateful—we went out of our way."

Tch. You fire shinsu blasts the mont we arrive—

Yurin ground her teeth, but Eduan didn't seem to care at all.

Eventually, Yurin sighed in resignation.

"…Stay for a bit, then get lost. Don't expect comfortable rooms—Hon's son stabbed my palace with a sword, so plenty of it's collapsed."

"Haha, understandable."

Hon replied calmly.

Yurin stood from her throne and turned away. Before leaving, she spoke briefly to the twin girls beside her.

The twins approached us and bowed.

"We are the twin daughters of our mother, Ha Yurin. We will guide you to your quarters."

Twins…

That ant they were likely Yurin's only children—born of Ari Han and Ha Yurin.

The Ha Family sect ford around them. I'd heard they didn't get along and fought often… but they seed fine now.

Guess the Hell Train's data includes quite a few heavyweights.

Anyway, the twins led us to the guest rooms.

Along the way, Hon spoke to .

"My son—"

"Who are you?"

"...…."

Hon looked completely stunned.

Probably the first child who'd ever treated him like that.

Not good enough for .

The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I felt.

At least give a warning next ti.

"…Pfft."

A laugh slipped out.

Hon stared quietly at Eduan, who turned his head away awkwardly.

Then Eduan slung an arm over my shoulder and laughed.

"Hahaha! Hoaquin, that's just how Hon is. Acts all clean, but he's the dirtiest bastard of us all. Sa on the outside too, right?"

Eduan…

"You're not any different, Lord Eduan."

"...…"

You ditched too.

I walked ahead to Maschenny, ignoring the looks behind , joking around with her as we entered the guest room.

My body was mostly healed, but everything still ached.

I'll sleep well tonight.

....

That night, beneath a moonlit sky

Ha Yurin sat on the palace rooftop.

Because the sky itself was crimson, even the moon glowed red like a blood moon—but its beauty remained unchanged.

Drinking straight from the bottle while staring at the moon, Yurin sighed.

"…I don't have your kind of alcohol."

"Doesn't matter. I only drink wine anyway."

Eduan was sitting beside her now, sohow having procured a bottle of wine.

After draining it, he wiped his mouth.

Yurin tilted her head.

"With a face like that, how did you end up with such a shitty personality?"

"Ha. You're one to talk. And my personality's fine—my outside self's the problem."

"Pfft. Have so sha."

"...…"

Eduan was about to turn away when Yurin spoke again.

"So. Why are you really here?"

After a brief pause, Eduan answered.

"…To persuade you."

"Persuade to what?"

"Not to disappear."

"…."

Silence fell.

Yurin shrugged.

"That mirror? Why shouldn't I disappear? Aren't you tired of people constantly barging in here? I find it annoying. If you hadn't co today, I would've gone through it."

She took another drink.

"You know as well as I do—we rule the Tower now. We're no longer so laughing adventurer party climbing together. As the Ten Family Heads, it's only natural to grow distant from the Tower's people."

Eduan smiled bitterly.

"…Aside from Arlene and V, who vanished long ago, has anyone else gone through the mirror? Hon and I were asleep for a long ti."

"Tperie went first. Then Bloodmadder. The others are preparing."

"I see. Then we should hurry."

Eduan stood.

Yurin glared at him.

"How many tis do I have to say it? Everyone's sick of the humans clinging to them. And—"

"Yurin."

His voice cut her off, heavier than before.

"We are not the Ten Family Heads. That's the outside us. We're still the rookies who laughed and climbed the Tower together. Why care what the outside versions beca?"

"…Even so, why should we stay here?"

Eduan smiled faintly.

"There are many reasons. You t one today."

"That guy?"

Yurin clenched her fist, glaring.

"He feels like us, sure—but so what?"

Eduan avoided her gaze, looking at the red moon.

"Curiosity. Mystery. Fun. The things I feel from him—and the things I felt traveling with him. Words you haven't heard in a long ti, right?"

"…Adventure."

"Exactly. I'm adventuring with him. And I plan to et the others who remain. Watching his path reminds of us, before reaching the Hell Train. And after he leaves… ssing around with the leftover data sounds fun too."

"Just because of that one guy?"

Yurin raised her voice.

Eduan sighed, exasperated.

"Still don't get it?"

"What?"

"It might not stop with just one."

"…."

"Hoaquin appeared before us out of nowhere. Can you guarantee it won't happen again? One day, soone else might arrive here—soone who feels like us."

Eduan smiled.

"I'm looking forward to that."

Yurin snorted.

"You'd gamble on sothing that uncertain?"

"Of course. That's what an adventure is."

"…."

Bathed in crimson moonlight, Yurin stared at him for a long mont—then smiled softly.

"…Yeah. That's adventure. So—who do you think it'll be?"

"No idea. Maybe the child of one of our comrades. Like Hoaquin."

Clink.

Yurin's cup and Eduan's wine glass t.

That night, Ha Yurin threw away the mirror Zahard had given her.