Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

Red light flared from his black eyes.

Though he looked ordinary, the flow of shinsu around him was anything but. There was no overt killing intent—yet every step he took felt like it was tightening a noose around Maschenny's throat.

Ordinarily, sensing power at this level would have led one to think top-tier High Ranker at most.

But Maschenny was different.

From childhood, she had grown up poring over ancient records and war chronicles, dreaming of the return of the blood-soaked golden age when the Tower itself had been drenched in carnage. Because of that—

She knew exactly who this man was.

Ha Jinsung.

A monster whose name appeared even in ancient texts.

A man who had single-handedly wiped out an entire branch of the Ha Family.

Standing face-to-face with a figure she'd only ever seen in books filled her with exhilaration—but even more than that, alarm bells were screaming in her mind, warning of mortal danger.

Ha Jinsung stopped advancing, having closed only part of the distance.

With an emotionless gaze, he surveyed Maschenny—and then the castle itself.

"A Khun Family princess living on a floor like this…"

Click.

He pulled out a new cigarette and flicked open his lighter.

"So you're Khun Maschenny Zahard."

Facing someone like him on this stage was far too much, far too soon.

He was doing nothing—merely staring—yet the pressure alone made Maschenny feel dizzy. Still, showing weakness now would be stupidity itself. She forced herself to maintain a relaxed posture and replied lightly.

"Yes. But smoking indoors is rude, you know."

"Hah. Bold."

Despite his words, the lighter never ignited. He slipped it—and the cigarette case—back into his pocket and looked at her again.

"I came because I heard an Arie Regular was living here. Where is he now?"

His tone carried an unshakable confidence, as if he already knew the relationship between her and Hoaquin.

So this was it.

Maschenny answered calmly.

"I don't know."

"…You don't?"

In that instant, the atmosphere shifted.

"..."

Without realizing it, Maschenny swallowed.

The pressure weighing on her intensified, pinning her down completely.

This—this was his true power.

The sheer force of his presence immobilized her without him lifting a finger. It was awe-inspiring… and terrifying.

Were all ancient monsters like this?

Even so, her fighting spirit flared—but she wasn't reckless.

"I don't know."

"Let's be honest, Princess. Where's the Regular?"

This was his final question.

Even then, Maschenny's expression didn't change.

To be honest, she was starting to get annoyed.

I really don't know. Typical Ha—thick-headed.

"I don't know. He's somewhere in the Inner Tower."

She wasn't lying.

She truly had no idea where Hoaquin was or what he was doing at that moment.

She'd only told him to buy a bed and some daily necessities—so what was taking him so long?

Ha Jinsung let out a low sigh.

"Haa… fine. Then I'll just—"

SHOOOO—!

A blinding white streak suddenly tore through the air toward the castle.

In the blink of an eye, the white light rushed straight at Ha Jinsung.

....

The moment I felt something wrong, I moved.

Wings spread wide, I shot toward the castle at full speed.

The closer I got, the more clearly I felt it—the intruder's overwhelming power.

But hesitation never crossed my mind.

My body streaked through the air like a white meteor, trailing light.

And then I saw them.

Maschenny—and a middle-aged man I didn't recognize.

Who the hell is that?

Damn it—why is she standing right in front of him?!

"Maschenny!!"

I charged the man without slowing.

For some reason, despite clearly sensing my attack, he didn't move.

He didn't even turn around.

Then there was only one thing to do.

I drew Baekya with everything I had—

BOOM!

In a flash, he swung his arm backward.

I barely managed to block it.

That speed—monstrous.

All I could do was catch the blow on Baekya's blade, and even then, the impact sent me flying straight into the wall.

The shockwave from his swing blasted a massive hole through the castle behind him.

"Ugh—"

As I struggled to steady myself, our eyes finally met.

…Ha Jinsung?

You've got to be kidding me.

The instant he took a single step forward, I widened the distance, forming a shinsu blade and swinging it down.

Outside the castle, a colossal shinsu sword took shape and cleaved straight toward him.

SHRAAAK—!

KUUUUNG—!

The gigantic blade split the castle clean in two, obliterating the space where Ha Jinsung had stood.

I hadn't expected to hurt him.

He hadn't even tried to dodge.

Still, it bought me time—just enough to get back on my feet and move in front of Maschenny.

"Maschenny, stay behind me."

Telling her to run would've been pointless—she'd never do it.

As shattered debris collapsed and dust filled the air, Ha Jinsung casually waved a hand, dispersing it, and stepped back into view.

"Heh… I came just to see you, but you're even more of a monster in person."

Facing the boy, Ha Jinsung paused in thought.

A child with enough latent power to trigger his instincts.

Normally, he would've offered him a Slayer position.

But there was a problem—

This boy clearly hated FUG.

And because of that…

It was as if he could see it.

A memory of himself—long ago—trying, even if only for a moment, to protect her, just like that boy now standing before him.

The hand he had been about to raise slowly lowered.

Of all times… why now, of all times, do these memories resurface?

With a bitter smile, he raised both hands in surrender, his tone suddenly light.

"...Forget it. It hasn't even been that long since I retired. Besides, I only came to see you anyway. Let's part ways here."

I'd rather not draw the Administrator's attention, either.

As Ha Jinsung casually glanced up at the ceiling, thunder rumbled—almost as if issuing him a warning.

Accepting it without protest, he turned his back on us and disappeared the way he had come.

A sudden visit.

And an equally sudden departure.

"Take care, kids," his voice echoed faintly. "And… sorry about wrecking the castle."

....

"Maschenny! Are you okay?!"

I spun around and grabbed her shoulders, frantically checking her condition.

She looked slightly startled by my reaction, but otherwise unconcerned.

"Are you really okay? You're not hurt anywhere, right?"

Anxiety crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Please… don't tell me she's hurt…

Judging by her flustered yet annoyed expression, thankfully, she seemed fine.

"Yes, I'm fine. So can you let go now?"

"You're really okay, right?"

"…Haah. Yes. Now seriously—!"

Thump—

"...Huh?"

"Thank goodness."

Thank goodness you're safe.

If something had happened to you too, I—

I don't want to lose anyone else.

Not anymore.

Especially not because of me.

Ha Jinsung had come here because of me.

Because I wasn't here, Maschenny had been forced to face him alone.

If something had gone wrong—

I didn't even want to think about it.

"…I'm sorry. This happened because of me—"

"Hoaquin," Maschenny cut in, pulling away slightly. "I told you. Stop blaming yourself."

"But—"

She turned and started walking away.

"Enough. Just follow me."

"…Where to?"

She pulled something out and pressed a button. In the distance, a floating ship let out a signal tone.

A key?

"To my Inner Tower," she said flatly. "Look at this place. It's wrecked. We need somewhere new to stay."

Whoooosh—

Right on cue, a cold wind swept through.

With a massive hole blown through the wall, the freezing air rushed in unchecked, kicking up settled dust that assaulted our lungs.

I felt a slight resistance at the words Inner Tower, but with the castle destroyed, there was no point clinging to life in the Outer Tower anymore.

From a safety standpoint alone, the Inner Tower—under an Administrator's rule—was far better.

Even if it wasn't Ha Jinsung next time, someone else could show up.

"…Hey, Maschenny."

"What."

"When are you going to start climbing again?"

I remembered handing out piles of points to kids back when I gave up climbing, back in the middle area.

They were poor kids, so I didn't regret it…

but maybe I should've saved some for myself.

Who knew I'd end up like this?

A direct descendant of the Ten Families with no money—what kind of tragic Arie joke was that?

It hadn't even been a full hundred years since I'd last visited the Inner Tower's entertainment district.

And yet—

"Wasn't a hundred years supposed to be a short time in the Tower…?"

Trends had completely changed.

New fashion.

New food.

New everything.

Everything was unfamiliar—yet instead of feeling out of place, I felt an overwhelming urge to buy it all.

The problem was…

This was an upper-class district.

And the prices were insane.

"Maschenny, doesn't that drink look amazing? I feel like one sip would quench a hundred years of thirst…"

"Maschenny, if I bought that outfit, I could wear it forever. Easily a thousand years…"

"…Sleep on the street."

"Aaaah, I'm kidding! I'm kidding!"