Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin Chapter 90 90: 100F (2)

As the reigning Lord, Molic nodded, and at once the scribes hurriedly began writing everything down. After confirming it, he struck the floor three tis with his halberd. In the silent stillness, only the three echoes spread through the chamber.

"Then, beginning one hundred years from now, the upper limit of the Selection Exam regulations will be adjusted from the 20th Floor to the 30th Floor… Let us move on to the next agenda item."

Although the Tower was ruled in practice by the Three Lords, they took turns holding office every thousand years. As such, the proceedings were handled solely by Molik, the Lord currently in office, while the other two—Joochun and Flux also known Magician—rely observed.

At Molic's gesture, the Vice Minister of the Zahard Royal Administration projected a new screen at the center of the chamber.

"The next item concerns the incident on the 96th Floor. According to our records, approximately one week ago the weather conditions on the 96th Floor beca abnormal, and there were significant losses to residential areas and natural terrain. And…"

The Vice Minister hesitated, glancing repeatedly toward the seating area where the Arie Family Rulers were gathered, before continuing.

"According to the report submitted to the Royal Family by the 96th Floor Ruler, the incident was caused by a single Regular. At present, however, the Administration is questioning the credibility of this claim. We request a more detailed and factual explanation."

At his words, the expressions of the Arie Family Rulers hardened instantly. The pressure radiating from them forced the Vice Minister to unconsciously take a step back.

"Vice Minister. Are you implying that the Arie Family is lying?"

"Enough."

"..."

The killing intent that looked ready to draw blades and take the Vice Minister's head was instantly suppressed by Molic's single word.

"I understand both sides' positions. In situations like this, it is best to hear directly from the party involved. Ruler of the 96th Floor, please speak."

At Molic's words, the 96th Floor Ruler, Arie Schmitt, rose from his seat. He looked down coldly at the Vice Minister, irritation plain in his eyes, and spoke.

"It is exactly as reported to the Royal Family. One of our family's Regulars caused a rather large incident. I attempted to intervene, but the Administrator did not grant permission to interfere with a Regular. As a result, I could only observe—and that is why the damage beca so extensive."

The Vice Minister challenged him.

"Are you saying a Regular destroyed an entire district? Does that make sense?"

"Hah. Why—does the Zahard Royal Family lack such talent? If you're jealous, you should just say so."

"What insolence—!"

"Several of your Royal Extermination Unit mbers snuck onto my Floor. If you don't trust , go ask your own precious executioners. That will be all."

With that, Schmitt dropped back into his seat. The Vice Minister's face flushed red, but he could say nothing further. Grinding his teeth, he forced the eting onward.

"...Then we will conclude the matter of the 96th Floor here. Next agenda item—the Hell Train incident on the 44th Floor. The Ruler of the 44th Floor, Khun—"

The Vice Minister continued through various agenda items concerning different Floors, and finally, Lord Molic One P.GR himself led a discussion on large-scale reforms of the Tower. With that, the first day of the Rulers' Council ca to an end.

—

After the first day concluded, at the banquet hall.

The Arie Family Rulers mingled among themselves or spoke with Rulers from allied families.

"Schmitt, care for a drink?"

"Hah… Thanks, Dickel. No—actually, no thanks. This is all your fault anyway. Did you see the way that administration bastard was glaring at earlier? The nerve of him."

Arie Rom Dickel, the 99th Floor Ruler, handed Schmitt a bottle. Schmitt downed it straight from the bottle while venting his complaints. Dickel listened with his usual good-natured smile, smoothly indulging the rant, until Schmitt finally gave up and handed him a bottle in return with a sigh.

"Still, the looks on the other families' faces were worth it. When they heard our family's Regular did all that alone, their expressions froze. Watching them desperately try to deny it was almost cute."

Arie Hoaquin's rampage.

Though it had been suppressed in less than a day, the damage inflicted on the 96th Floor during that brief ti was absurd.

Part of the testing grounds had been destroyed. Residential areas near him had suffered severe damage. The 96th Floor's weather system malfunctioned. The land cracked, mountains collapsed, and more.

"Dickel. I crossed swords with that kid a few tis—and even though I held back, he blocked my attacks. Does that make any sense?"

"…That is surprising."

Even Dickel was taken aback. There had never been precedent for a Regular stronger than Rankers—let alone one capable of clashing with a Ruler-class High Ranker.

Not now, perhaps—but later, this will cause a real uproar.

That child he had thought of rely as a lucky charm bringing wealth and influence… who could have imagined he possessed such potential?

Even the title of the Arie direct line's greatest prodigy felt inadequate now. The boy was clearly looking far beyond that.

"Haha… I should have treated him better."

At Dickel's mutter, Schmitt tilted his head.

"Hm? What was that?"

"Can you imagine what that boy will beco once he becos a Ranker—and enough ti passes?"

Schmitt opened his mouth to answer, then quickly shut it.

"…I can't imagine it either. Honestly, at this rate, he'll at least beco a branch head or a Ruler. At most—"

"Lord Dickel. Lord Schmitt. There you are."

A woman suddenly approached, cutting Schmitt off.

"The Acting Family Head is summoning you. Please co."

Why would the Acting Head suddenly—?

Though puzzled, neither could disobey such a summons.

And it seed they were not the only ones called.

"…All the Arie Family Rulers are here."

"Indeed. What business does the Acting Head have…?"

Pulled from the banquet into a quiet building, the Arie Family Rulers all wore bewildered expressions. Each had been guided there by the sa woman—the Acting Head's secretary—yet none knew the reason.

"So, everyone is here."

The Acting Family Head, attending this Council as Arie Hon's proxy, entered and looked around the room. He raised a lighthouse and projected a screen.

"From this mont, I will relay the command given to us by our omnipotent father—the greatest sword of Arie."

"...!"

At those words, all the Rulers dropped to one knee in unison, bowing as they listened.

"Children who bear the sword of Arie—especially those who manage the floating fortresses—I speak to you now."

At the first line, Dickel and the others who managed Arie floating fortresses flinched, then lowered their heads again and listened intently.

"All floating fortress administrators are to bring their fortresses to the 100th Floor. The ti has co to gather once more."

"...!"

Joy spread across the faces of the fortress administrators.

Originally, the Arie floating fortresses on each Floor—including the main one on the 99th—were all parts of the 100th Floor main house. They had only been separated for administrative purposes.

Now, at last, they were being recalled.

The mont had co for the scattered main house to beco whole again.

"Until a new Sword of Arie is chosen, my words shall stand."

"Loyalty!"

At the final line, all Arie bowed again in unison.

The Acting Head looked over them and added one final instruction.

"As ordered by the Family Head, from this mont onward all floating fortresses return to the main house. Pay no mind to the Rulers' Council. That is all."

With that, he withdrew.

As Arie Rulers hurriedly began moving, Dickel and Schmitt looked at each other.

"It's going to get busy."

"Indeed."

Recalling all the floating fortresses ant more than maintaining territory—it was a clear signal of consolidation and renewed expansion.

If the Arie Family moved, the Khun and Ha Families would move as well.

"The 100th Floor, huh… Since you're a fortress administrator too, I suppose we'll be seeing each other often."

"Seems so. And the Sword of Arie… If the Family Head ntioned it himself, it won't be long."

The Sword of Arie—the blade second only to the Family Head himself, untouchable and unsurpassable.

The most honored and powerful position an Arie could attain beneath the Family Head.

The timing of its selection was entirely at the Family Head's discretion, but today's ntion suggested only a few hundred years remained.

Short, perhaps, for a generational shift—but still…

"Who do you think it'll be this ti? Will he continue, or will soone new challenge?"

At Schmitt's curious question, Dickel fell silent in thought.

In their youth, both he and Schmitt had aid for that seat—but eventually acknowledged the wall they could not surpass and stepped aside. Most of the Arie's strongest had done the sa.

"Honestly, I don't see anyone in our generation who could beat him. We'll have to leave it to the next one…"

"…I just thought of soone."

"So did I."

Both n had the sa na in mind.

—

Two weeks had passed since the victory in the faction war against Zahard's Princesses on the 97th Floor.

My goal before had been Anna. Now that I'd recovered her—and learned she might still be alive—my goal had changed.

I needed to et Arie Hon on the 100th Floor.

Ideally, I wanted to et Po Bidau Gustang, known for his dical expertise, but with no way to reach him directly, Arie Hon would have to do.

There was only one way to et him: participate in the special test he offered Regulars on the 100th Floor.

The test varied, they said—but for so reason, I had a strong feeling it would be "survive for ten minutes."

Could I last ten minutes?

Since the rampage ended, my overall abilities had increased exponentially, but…

Only after dumping it into my mouth did the pain ease a little. I collapsed fully onto the bed and took slow, deep breaths.

"Hoaquin."

"W–WHAT?!"

"…Why are you jumping like that?"

Damn it—did she notice?

No, she didn't, right? She couldn't have.

Maschenny suddenly walking into my room startled the hell out of .

Well… I guess it is my fault for not locking the door.

"Haha… I was just, uh… lost in thought for a mont."

The pain hadn't completely faded, so I paused mid-sentence to take a breath, forcing my face to stay neutral while it threatened to twist in agony.

She looked at steadily.

I couldn't tell if it was suspicion in her eyes—or just her usual cool gaze.

"So, what's up, Maschenny?"

"Cook for later."

…Right. Yeah. People shouldn't skip als.

Whether Maschenny can't cook or just chooses not to, I don't know—but whenever we weren't eating out, I was always the one cooking.

She'd occasionally help if I asked, like adjusting the seasoning.

Honestly, for a Zahard Princess with that kind of authority, the fact that she even helped at all was impressive.

At first, she'd refused even when I asked her to sprinkle salt.

"Alright. Let's have so ho-cooked food for once."

We usually ate at the hotel's luxury restaurant or famous spots on whatever Floor we were on, so cooking was really rare.

"Then I'll call the front desk and have them bring so ingredients."

Just as I was about to call, sothing from the news I'd left playing earlier caught my attention.

When I looked at the TV, Maschenny followed my gaze.

—Yes, about a week ago, the Rulers' Council—held roughly once every hundred years—was convened.

"Hm?"

The words slipped into my ears.

Oh right. The Rulers' Council was about a week ago.

The Rulers I was close to must've attended too.

I was honestly curious what kind of things happened when the Tower's top powers gathered like that.

—During the council, it beca a hot topic that the Arie Family abruptly left as a group. Reports indicate that all Arie floating fortresses across the Floors are currently moving upward.

"Ah… right. The 100th Floor. They said everyone was heading there."

From what I'd heard, by Hon's order, the floating fortresses scattered across the Floors were returning to the main house on the 100th Floor.

When I first entered the Tower, our fortress was on the 100th.

Not long after, it moved down to the 99th Floor under the excuse of family administration.

Looks like it's finally going back.

Since the news was interesting, Maschenny and I both forgot about calling the front desk and sat down on the sofa, watching quietly.

—At this council, the restrictions on the Selection Exam—previously applied from the 20th Floor—were revised to begin from the 30th Floor. Other topics included the Hell Train disappearance on the 44th Floor, and the so-called '96th Floor Terror Incident.'

"Ugh…"

The 96th Floor "terror" incident.

I really had no excuse for that rampage.

It was embarrassing.

Maschenny had been fine, yet I was the one who caused all that damage…

For all those reasons, that incident was quickly centing itself as my personal black history.

And Maschenny, who knew that perfectly well, teased every ti it ca up.

"Oh my, a terror incident? How dreadful. Whoever could've done such a thing—"

"..."

—Despite the scale of the 96th Floor terror incident discussed at the council, no detailed information has been confird yet.

For so reason, the anchor's words made my chest twinge.

Sorry. That was .

—While it could be dismissed as a natural disaster, nurous witnesses claim to have seen a humanoid figure within the storm…

Maschenny, who'd been quietly listening, spoke up.

"Looks like the Royal Family and your family decided to bury it."

"Yeah… seems like it."

As she said, that must've been the decision.

Revealing to the public that a single Regular caused all that would create way too many complications.

As I was lost in thought, the anchor kept piling on.

—The identity of this heinous 'terrorist' remains unknown due to the silence of all involved parties.

"Heh. 'Heinous terrorist,'" Maschenny chuckled, clearly enjoying herself.

I reached for the remote—

"Yah!"

"Nice try."

Before I could grab it, she snatched it away, clearly seeing it coming.

—Neither the terrorist's identity nor their motive has been revealed.

Maschenny curled her lips into a sly smile.

"A motive, huh… Mr. Terrorist Hoaquin, why did you ravage the 96th Floor?"

I had nothing to say.

In a tiny, sulky voice, I barely answered.

"I… thought you were dead…"

Maschenny had only suffered minor burns thanks to Asensio.

The one who actually hurt her…

"…was our Mr. Terrorist Hoaquin himself. Ahh, it really stung back then. Honestly, looking back, I don't know how I managed to hug you in that state."

"Cough, cough!"

I turned my head away, fake-coughing as hard as I could to avoid her teasing gaze—but my ears had no such escape.

Then the clueless anchor delivered the finishing blow.

—If any viewers have information regarding the terrorist, please contact us.

With that, the anchor bowed and the broadcast ended.

On the black screen appeared the words:

"WANTED: Information on the Terrorist (Reward Offered)"

Maschenny finally burst out laughing and poked my pale cheek repeatedly.

"Hahaha! And here the terrorist is, right next to . I wonder how much the reward would be?"

Aaaah—my fragile ntal state.

Glass ntal. Absolute glass ntal.

Should I just shatter it?

No—breaking your ntal state is bad.

Anyway—

Only after my cheeks turned noticeably red did she finally stop teasing .

Though she was still holding back laughter.

Yep. Black history successfully created.

It's a sha this blanket belongs to the hotel, not .

I could've kicked it to shreds.

…Actually, I'm rich. Maybe I will kick it.

And "rampage"? Now that I think about it, it sounds like so edgy teenage phase.

Black shinsu too—what the hell was that?

The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I got. I scrubbed my face dry, and Maschenny smiled softly.

"Well… still, thanks for worrying about ."

My head snapped toward her.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really. So hurry up and cook. I'm hungry."

Just like that, I recovered instantly and walked toward the kitchen, feeling much better.

What should I make for dinner?

Steak to go with wine, maybe?

As Hoaquin headed into the kitchen and heated a pan, Maschenny quietly approached his drawer.

The one he'd hurriedly opened and shut earlier.

She carefully pulled it open without making a sound.

Inside was a single container.

"...…."

—Painkillers

The mont she saw the label, Maschenny's expression darkened sharply.

"He just downed those like candy…"

What was that heart condition really caused by?

She switched her Pocket to stealth mode and sent a ssage.

—Find the best doctor you can. No—better than whatever you think your limit is.

—Understood.

After sending the ssage, she switched the Pocket back to non-stealth mode and let out a quiet sigh.