Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

The Festival of the Sword, about a month later

"Yura, did you load all the luggage?"

"Yeah, now all that's left is you, so hurry up and get on the ship."

"Haha, alright. I'm coming."

The break was over.

It had already been a month since the Festival of the Sword ended. Staying cooped up at home with Maschenny and spending sweet, lazy days together had been fun… but it was about time to start climbing the Tower again.

More than anything, I had no intention of living only 500 years and then crossing the river… So within the time I had left, I needed to meet Ashul Edwaru and cure this heart condition.

I briefly caressed my beloved sword, Baekya, which would soon be fused with my soul, then hurried onto the floating ship before Yura rushed me again.

Though not as large as a floating fortress, our ship was top-class among floating vessels. The spacious interior was more than enough for the six of us.

I looked at Albelda and Anna, who had boarded the ship to see us off, and spoke with concern.

"Albelda, Anna. Are you really sure? Even if you're not Regulars, if you go inside Luf's Lighthouse, we can somehow climb together, and while we do, we can look for a way…"

Albelda smiled gently and shook her head.

"It's okay, Hoaquin. I know what you're worried about. But I told you before, didn't I? I want to become a Regular myself and climb the Tower properly. We were meant to be Regulars anyway, so if we talk to Headon, something will work out."

"…Then what will you do until then?"

Albelda quietly covered Anna's ears and spoke. She was still smiling, but this smile felt strangely bitter.

"…I'm thinking of going to Sister Leblanc's hometown. The place you said you buried her."

"…Albelda."

"When you first told me, I didn't believe it. Having lost my memories from back then, even now I can't understand it, can't accept it, and emotionally… it's just… too painful…"

She lowered her head briefly, then looked at me again with a bright smile.

"But I'm sure she protected us until the end, right? So I want to stay there for a while and at least thank her. Maybe that kind of stimulus will help my memories return."

"…Alright. Tell her I said hello."

"Hehe, don't worry."

She finally removed her hands from Anna's ears. Anna looked back and forth between us in confusion.

If this was Albelda's decision… I wouldn't object, but maybe Anna should've known in advance…

"Oppa Hoaquin, then Anna will go on a short trip!"

"Alright. Be happy. And if you become a Regular, contact me. I'll send you another gift then."

.....

"Do you know where Edwaru is?"

Hwarang, who had finally earned his pilot license and was now at the helm, asked me.

I shared the information I had gathered over the past month through all my connections.

"He seems to be staying between the 120th and 134th floors. If we're lucky, we might meet him on the 120th. If not, maybe only when we become Rankers."

"Well, whenever it is, it won't take us even 50 years to reach the 134th floor. Don't rush too much."

"Of course. 500 years is a long time. Let's climb steadily and properly, like before. Eat good food. Visit beautiful places."

I looked at everyone traveling with me.

"We're starting our journey again."

Even saying it myself made my chest swell. Luf, Yura, and Hwarang especially looked excited.

Ah… how long had it been since I felt like this?

I leaned my head on Maschenny's shoulder.

"Let's head to the 101st floor, the first destination of our resumed journey."

....

101st Floor – Ascension Test Site

"Then, as explained, the attacking team will move to the center and capture the point, and the defending team must hold it for one hour! If the defending team takes all the individual cards from the attackers, they win immediately! Begin the test!"

The siren blared.

I, Po Bidau Kanna, a child of the Po Bidau family—one of the Ten Great Families—and a member of the "Research Association," was climbing quickly using my superior intellect and Shinsu control.

My skills earned recognition, placing me among the top five A-rank Regulars.

And I had no intention of being satisfied with that.

My goal was to become a High Ranker.

I trusted my outstanding teammates and deployed over ten lighthouses.

"Take positions and move fast! I'll send the enemy info! Sanchez mid! Yeolho top! The rest bottom! Chris, throw your spear when the Scout sends coordinates!"

"Okay!"

Perfect teamwork. Their strength. My intellect.

Was there really a better team in this Tower?

"Let's check the opponent…"

I opened the team info.

[Opponent Team Info]

- Fisherman 1: Arie Hoaquin (Top 5 A-rank)

- Fisherman 2: Khun Maschenny Zahard (Top 5 A-rank)

- Wave Controller: Yeon Hwarang (Top 5 A-rank)

- Spear Bearer: Khun Marco Asensio

- Scout: Ha Yura

- Light Bearer: Tu Peri Luf "..."

Are you kidding me?

As a true Po Bidau genius… I finished calculating instantly… and pressed the forfeit button without hesitation.

High intelligence is meant to be used in moments like this.

To hell with this.

.....

The test ended almost immediately.

"…The opponent forfeited?" Hwarang muttered.

"Already?" Luf blinked.

Since we hadn't even moved yet, we basically passed without doing anything.

"Well, let's eat first on the 101st floor."

"Agreed."

And so we advanced.

We ate great food, rested in luxurious hotels, toured landmarks the next day, explored new routes.

Our climb was always peaceful yet fresh.

We built new bonds, discovered new values, helped with Maschenny's royal missions, and crushed dangerous FUG.

The higher floors' dense Shinsu made us stronger.

As I grew stronger, my heart condition worsened again…

But now, I had a clear solution. That hope let me endure the pain.

Our journey—those of us who "had"—was relaxed and joyful.

Teammates.

Power to achieve what we wanted.

Travel.

Happiness.

The Maschenny I love.

The life I had longed for during the past hundred years passed quickly.

In the Tower, 11 months made a year.

When I glanced at the calendar on my Pocket…

20 cycles of 11 months had passed.

....

Twenty years later, 124th Floor.

Eternal Glacier Upper District, 124th Floor Main Branch

"Intruder! Find the intruder!"

Alarms blared loudly as the Permafrost Merchant Guild's security forces ran through the building, sweeping lighthouse beams everywhere.

Just as the 1st Security Battalion turned a corridor corner, blue electricity suddenly burst from around it.

Crackle—

The sharp sound of sparks snapping endlessly, accompanied by the steady click of high heels.

The slow rhythm of heels striking marble made the guards realize the opponent was extremely relaxed.

"Which insane bastard dares—!"

As they turned the corner and saw the intruder, most of them froze in shock.

"Hm? Not a bastard. A bitch."

"…What is the meaning of this behavior?! Even if you are a Princess of Zahard, the guild will officially demand compensation—"

Thud—

A guard who dared speak rudely to a Princess of Zahard had his heart pierced instantly by a lightning spear and died.

In the sudden silence, Maschenny spoke calmly.

"The Permafrost Guild colluded with a direct FUG branch. The royal family is already aware. I'm here to execute the guild master."

"Kill her!"

A-rank Regular guards armed with illegal Workshop weapons rushed at her.

Maschenny sighed.

"Annoying."

Crackle—

Maschenny-style Lightning Spear Technique – Tree of Relámpago

She formed a lightning spear and threw it. The tip split into dozens of branches like a tree made of lightning, piercing the guards and electrocuting them so they could never rise again.

"We must escort the guild master out! Move!"

"Oh? More trash."

As she prepared to throw another spear, blue flames suddenly engulfed the enemies from the opposite corridor.

Hwarang walked forward, extinguishing the blue fire in his hand.

"Only you here, Maschenny? Where are Yura and Asensio?"

"No idea. Maybe they died somewhere. They're not answering."

"You must be the intruders causing chaos."

Two men approached.

Not Rankers… but Regulars who deliberately remained Regulars.

Mercenaries who stopped at 133F to accumulate power.

"Khun Maschenny Zahard… Yeon Hwarang…"

"Perfect prey to add to our records."

Hwarang smirked.

"You've never fought a Princess of Zahard, have you?"

They attacked.

Blue flames roared.

Moments later—

Both mercenaries were defeated.

Maschenny yawned.

Then Luf contacted them.

Maschenny connected to Hoaquin.

"Coordinates 22, 21, 33. Five Ranker escorts. Guild master is a High Ranker."

—Okay. If you run into Rankers, better retreat?

"No."

—Haha. Figured you'd say that. I'll finish quickly.

Click.

Rumble—

They looked up.

A massive sword was falling from the sky.

It pierced straight through the guild's core.

BOOOOM—

White light flashed.

Hoaquin walked out, white clothes stained with blood, smiling leisurely.

"Maschenny, the outfit you bought me is ruined."

"…I'll buy you another."

"Haha. Hwarang, the others?"

"Luf's hacking their core lighthouse. Yura and Asensio are either still fighting or fighting each other."

"Haha. As expected."

Hoaquin held up a card.

An invitation.

To a large-scale auction.

"It seems invitations were sent to major power holders… and to Ashul Edwaru. Not sure if he'll attend, but it's worth going. If something good shows up, we can buy it."

They had searched floors 120 to 123 thoroughly but hadn't met him yet.

Still—

His intuition told him.

The meeting with Ashul Edwaru was drawing near.

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