Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

"— Warning. This area is under the jurisdiction of the Arie Family. Unauthorized intruders may be shot down without notice. Warning. This area is—"

Beep.

The moment the floating fortress belonging to my family came into view, the airship began broadcasting that noisy warning as if it had been waiting for this exact moment. Annoying, so I turned it off immediately.

I'm a direct descendant of Arie. What warning?

Feeling both comforted at the thought that I was finally heading home, yet tasting the bitterness and lingering pain tucked away in the corner of my heart, I pushed the control lever forward. The airship sped up accordingly, flying toward its destination.

What had once been no larger than a dot drawn with pen was now the size of my knuckle when a transmission came in directed toward my airship. I pressed the response button, and on the screen appeared a man who seemed to be the communications officer of the floating fortress—wearing an intimidating expression as if he were facing a threat.

Hmm… a new guy?

Considering how well-connected I used to be around this fortress, the fact that I didn't recognize him meant he was either not a Ranker or someone who joined while I was away as a Regular. Just as I was staring at him through the screen, he also stared back at me.

The moment he saw my face—so unmistakably Arie-like that it could be used as a model for a "direct descendant"—he flinched for a brief moment, and the scowl on his face softened before he spoke.

"— This area is under the control of the Arie Family. State your identity."

"My name is Arie Hoaquin. A former trainee who lived and was educated here about a hundred… and several dozen years ago. I'm currently a Regular."

"...Identity confirmed. What is the purpose of your visit?"

He seemed genuinely surprised at my name, though I had no intention of looking into why. After fiddling with his headset for a moment and realizing my identity was legitimate, his demeanor changed immediately.

The Arie Family enforces strict hierarchy between direct bloodline, branch families, and outsiders; those of branch or outsider origin are required to show utmost respect to direct descendants.

I remembered how uncomfortable and strange it felt at first—having people clearly older than me speak formally and bow with perfect courtesy. A trivial memory, really; nothing special. But nostalgia doesn't need grand significance—remembering is enjoyable in itself.

After soaking in that faint sense of nostalgia, I finally answered his question.

"I just wanted to drop by. It's been a long time."

"…My apologies for asking something so obvious. Permission for approach granted. Welcome home, Arie Hoaquin."

"Yeah."

Far off in the distance, the fortress's cannons shifted their aim away from me. Unnerving, honestly. So when they said "unauthorized entrants will be shot down without warning"… they actually meant that literally.

"Auto-pilot mode. Auto-landing mode."

— Command recognized. Activating auto-pilot and auto-landing toward marked destination.

As the fortress grew larger, I released the controls and let the automatic system take over. It was a recently installed feature—while at it, I upgraded Maschenny's airship with voice recognition as well.

Manually inputting a navigation route for auto-pilot is annoying. Voice command is so much easier. Even Maschenny—who handles airships like a disaster—would manage just fine with it.

Though now that I think about it… why did she call earlier? She dialed me, then immediately hung up.

While tilting my head thinking about her, a massive shadow slowly enveloped the airship—the floating fortress loomed directly overhead.

Lifting my eyes, I saw the sky fortress—an architectural blend of medieval elegance and futuristic machinery—finally within reach.

Rumble—!

The colossal gate began to open. The airship glided in, landing in a space reminiscent of a runway. Once the gate closed again, I disembarked and took a slow look around.

Familiar construction style. Familiar scenery. Familiar smell.

"Heee—"

A long breath in, then out.

The familiar scent of Shinsu. The realization that everything in this place remained unchanged made the fact that I had finally returned feel undeniable.

I really had come back. After all this time.

Too much time had passed, and far too much had happened just for me to return home. But the fact that I had climbed from the 2nd Floor all the way to the 99th by my own strength filled me with a strange mixture of confidence and pride.

Recalling the layout of the landing zone exit, I began walking at an unhurried pace.

I arrived on the 99th Floor around evening, so that makes it… late at night now. If memory served, I'd come right after dinner hours—after everyone's daily routines ended.

Passing through the automatic doors and up a small set of stairs, I emerged into the central hall of the fortress—

"...?"

Looking around while spreading my senses outward, I tilted my head.

The structure of the fortress had changed.

When had they remodeled?

Back when I was living here, the fortress was made up of multiple floating towers interconnected by bridges. Now it was a single integrated structure. This was going to make navigation a bit troublesome—

dududududududu—

Hm?

While scratching my head at the inconvenience, I heard something running full force toward me. But I couldn't see anything.

"Ow!"

"Oh— sorry. Are you alright?"

Looking down, I found a tiny girl sitting on the floor rubbing her forehead. No wonder I didn't see her—she was too short to enter my field of vision.

So she ran into me without looking where she was going, huh…

"Sorry about that. Here—can you stand?"

"Uh… um… I… I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

Before she even took my hand, the moment she saw my unfamiliar face she froze up and bowed repeatedly, apologizing in panic. Watching this tiny little thing turn pale with fear made me feel like the villain; I gently patted her head to calm her down.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Don't worry. Here—take my hand."

She finally grabbed my hand and stood up. Still tense, but definitely less terrified than before.

Watching her dust off her short legs with her tiny hands, I couldn't help but smile. Cute.

So the cadets in the fortress were all kids now, huh.

The generational shift was undeniable.

"Um… so…?"

"Yeah?"

"You're… a big brother, right?"

"Sure. I'm a big brother. Why?"

"I've never seen you around here before… Who are you? Or maybe I'm just forgetting—sorry…"

"Haha. No need to apologize."

"Yeah, you wouldn't have seen me before. I lived here a long time ago, and since I was climbing the Floors anyway, I thought I'd stop by again."

"Huh? Then… are you a Regular?"

Her voice trembled with excitement, and I nodded honestly. At once, her eyes sparkled.

"Then! Then! Hey—Oppa!"

"Mm-hmm."

"Do you know the White Ghost?"

…White Ghost? What?

I felt like I'd heard it somewhere before, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember what it was exactly. White ghost? Was it a person? A weapon? A title?

Having absolutely no clue, I grimaced apologetically.

"Sorry. I think I've heard it before, but I don't really know what it is."

As expected, the bright glimmer in her eyes immediately dimmed. If only I knew what it was, I could've bullshitted something for her.

"Hey kid, can you tell me what 'White Ghost' is? If I hear the details, maybe I'll know."

"Um… well, they said it's a nickname. And that his real name is different."

"So the White Ghost's real name is… Ah! I remember now!"

The child clapped her hands with the triumphant air of a tiny detective who had just solved a mystery.

"It was Arie Hoaquin! I'm sure that was it!"

"…What?"

…Was there someone with the exact same name as me?

Completely ignoring my bafflement, the girl continued excitedly.

"So, the White Ghost—um, I mean Lord Hoaquin—he's from this fortress! Among the Aries of his age, he was the strongest! And he hunted down the evil enemy of our glorious Family—FUG—tons of times! And right now he's the strongest Regular in the Tower!"

"..."

"I'm such a huge fan! They say he's kind and gentlemanly day-to-day, but fights like a merciless demon against his foes! And he always, always wears a pure white crown—"

Her gaze, mid-rant, drifted upward—and finally landed on the pure white crown on my head.

She froze.

"…Wearing a white crown… then why is oppa wearing one too…? Oh! Is it a trend right now?"

"Uh… no."

"...Lord Hoaquin?"

"…Hello?"

White Ghost my ass. I'd love to know who came up with that.

.....

And so, after a brief period of cognitive dissonance, I ended up here—before the Sword Altar where Father rested.

Since the fortress layout had changed a lot, I had to rely on the kid to guide me. At some point, more kids had gathered, and suddenly I was surrounded.

"Hyung! Hyung, were you really the strongest among the Arie trainees!?"

"Haha, yeah. I was the strongest."

From the things I learned through the kids, a few points:

First—White Ghost had become my official alias at some point.

Second—I was apparently far more famous than I thought. Especially among the children of the fortress, who seemed to treat me like some legendary hero from a picture book.

Not that it felt bad—so I answered one boy's spirited question, and suddenly I was bombarded by curious kids. Not annoying at all, actually. It was fun. Cute even.

"O… oppa…"

"Yeah?"

It was the shy girl who had been sneaking glances at me from behind the whole time. Unlike the first girl who'd guided me here, this one was painfully bashful.

She approached slowly, cupping something small in both hands.

"This is… for you."

"Thanks, that's rea—"

The moment I received her 'gift,' time froze.

It was a scale from a White Irrawaddy—one of the Mythical Shinheus that migrated through the 99th Floor during mating season, shimmering like silver stardust.

"Oppa! Oppa, look!"

"Oh? What did Anna bring that she's so excited?"

"Look look! Isn't it pretty?"

When I lived here with my family, after one such great migration, Anna had gifted me a scale just like this.

And now—this nameless child had handed me the same scale.

There was no way Anna wouldn't come to mind.

"...Thank you."

Suppressing something deep inside, I offered her a beautiful piece of jewelry in return. A gemstone I had once bought from the Yeon Family's jeweler—no need to describe its value. Anyone with eyes could see it was both exquisite and expensive.

"Hehe…"

Ignorant of its true worth, the girl just blushed at having received something pretty. Her attempt to hide her reaction was adorably clumsy—just like Anna.

"…You really resemble her."

No one heard that little whisper.

Just as the atmosphere was about to shift back into cheerful chatter—a cough sounded behind me.

"Ahem. Ahem."

The administrator of the floating fortress, Arie Rom Dickel, successfully drew the children's attention, sent them off toward their dorms, then turned back to me. In the eyes that appeared cold at a glance, something far more complicated simmered beneath.

"It has been a long time."

"Yes. It's been a while since we met in person."

"Watching that scene earlier… it was nostalgic. One of the little rascals who used to run around the Sword Altar is now old enough to play with the younglings himself."

Dickel still recalled the four Arie brats—'the Four'—who constantly played at the altar. And now one of them stood here, fully grown.

"You must have a lot to say."

"I do."

When I nodded, Dickel nodded back.

"Let's go inside and talk. I also have much to say."

.....

Meanwhile—on another part of the Tower—

A large group had crossed a gate in succession. No sooner had they arrived than they shot off at alarming speed, cloaked figures streaking through the air.

At their head, the apparent leader barked his orders:

"Target is Regular Arie Hoaquin! Intelligence confirms a visit to the 99th Floor Floating Fortress! We are to secure him immediately—capture preferred, but if necessary, kill on sight! Those are the higher-ups' orders!"

"—Yes, sir!"

They didn't even bother hiding the white swords strapped to their backs and waists as they accelerated toward the fortress that held their objective.