Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

"So this is our first time meeting. I am Baekya, my master's one and only beloved sword."

"…I'm Hoaquin's lover."

"Oh…?"

At Maschenny's sudden remark, Baekya's brow narrowed slightly.

Maschenny stared back at her with icy blue eyes, but unlike Baekya, her thoughts were in turmoil.

Baekya…

That was definitely the name of the sword Hoaquin treasured most.

So that sword he cherished so much could take human form and speak like this?

What was this?

Did Hoaquin know about it?

Maschenny's gaze moved past Baekya toward Hoaquin, who lay on the treatment machine.

What if… what if Hoaquin had always cherished Baekya so much because she looked that beautiful…?

Meanwhile, as Hoaquin slept, he instinctively flinched slightly—perhaps sensing the sudden chill in the air.

Baekya watched Maschenny with amusement before speaking.

"Ah… I see. You've been together about twenty years? I've lived with my master for roughly one hundred and fifty years."

"…You're just a sword. After 150 years, you should've rusted by now."

"Rust? This body was forged by the greatest blacksmith in the Tower. What kind of joke is that?"

Crackle—

Electricity sparked between them.

Not metaphorically.

Actual blue lightning from Maschenny slowly began filling the hospital room.

For a moment Baekya glared at Maschenny with killing intent.

But when Maschenny didn't move at all—

Baekya burst out laughing.

"Ahaha! It was just a joke, so don't make that face. More importantly, I appeared because there's something I must tell you."

Whoosh—

With a single gesture from Maschenny, the room returned to silence.

She tilted her head toward Baekya.

"What do you want to say?"

"It's about my poor master's current condition. Listen carefully from now on."

"….."

As the explanation continued, Maschenny's normally composed expression began to gradually waver.

....

Floor 130

Shuuuuuuu—

A purple path of shinsu recognized its users and guided them along a preset route.

Soon afterward, a group of several dozen people emerged from within the violet path.

Most of them were Rankers from Leruie.

Among them was their leader, Illensia Asinus, being supported by his subordinates.

Even while focusing on healing the fatal wounds he had received from Hoaquin, he spoke to the one responsible for transporting them.

"…You are…"

"We met once during the Great War. I am Khel Hellam. At your teacher's request, I rescued as many as I could. I recommend abandoning any attempt to save the rest."

"…I see."

Even though those people were merely pieces used to accomplish his goal, they were still followers who trusted him.

Asinus didn't feel at ease abandoning them.

But returning to Floor 128, where the Corps Commander awaited, in his current condition would be madness.

Leruie's headquarters—an ancient-style floating fortress—had already been lost to the enemy.

Many precious Rankers and High Rankers had died.

The only relief was that most of the cult members scattered throughout the Tower—and many of the organization's key figures—were still alive.

Still, the damage Leruie had suffered was enormous.

Kel Hellam understood that.

"You won't be able to recklessly wage war against Zahard's army again like before… but let me warn you. Avoid actions that could start a war. The Ancient Species are one of the greatest threats Zahard's army monitors after FUG. This incident only succeeded because Zahard's army knew nothing about the Seven Swords. If they had known—or if your plan had succeeded—war would have broken out."

"…But there are still those within FUG and among the comrades scattered in the shadows who desire revenge."

"At least FUG's official stance is opposition. We would lose anyway. If your actions drag FUG into conflict, it will only increase the damage."

"...…."

Khel Hellam's words were a warning.

Do not cause further trouble.

Whether Asinus intended to listen or not, the heavy losses suffered by Leruie had already eliminated one possible path to rescuing his sister.

"…By the way," Asinus said,

"You took the Thorn. The vice-leader informed me."

It had been discovered by chance while building their headquarters on the Floor of Death.

Originally it was meant to be used in negotiations with FUG about war.

Yet during the chaos, someone had barged in and taken it.

Khel Hellam answered calmly.

"If we hadn't taken it, the Thorn would have fallen into Zahard's army's hands along with your floating fortress. And it's useless to you anyway. As the one who saved your lives, I think it's fair for me to claim that reward. Don't worry—I don't intend to take it without compensation."

"…We will return to the Floor of Death. I hope we meet again soon."

"Very well. Remember what I told you."

"...…"

Asinus's shadow enveloped the surviving cult members.

In an instant, they vanished.

For a defeated faction's retreat, it was quite a dramatic exit.

Soon after, the one who had taken the Thorn appeared along the violet shinsu path.

"Hey, Khel Hellam. Sorry I'm late. I ran into a kid in the village. Anyway, I got the Thorn. I didn't expect the information to be real. Luslec will be pleased."

"…I see. Personally, I don't like that Thorn either. I don't understand why Lord Luslec is so obsessed with something he can't even use. Holding it will only invite the threat of war…"

"KHEL HELLAM."

"…?"

With a cigarette burning in blue flames between his fingers, Ha Jinsung interrupted him.

He exhaled thick smoke and continued without looking away.

"As people age, it's natural to fear war and resist change."

"But at the very least, shouldn't we adapt to the waves that are approaching?"

"…If that wave truly cannot be avoided, then it will arrive no matter what I do. I will simply do what I must."

"Heh… I see."

Ha Jinsung smirked and continued smoking.

Khel Hellam watched quietly, then tilted his head.

"…But what kind of fire is that? It doesn't look like an ordinary flame."

"Hm? Oh, this? Of course it's not normal. Who would've thought the day would come when I'd use Yeon Family flames to light a cigarette? Living long enough really lets you see strange things. Anyway, Khel Hellam… where are you heading now?"

"I don't have any particular destination."

"Oh really? Then let's grab something to eat. I recently found a really good restaurant. Their marsh snail soup is amazing."

"Tsk. Ha Jinsung, you really have gotten old. Who even eats marsh snail soup these days?"

"Is that so? Then how about dried radish greens soup with rice?"

"That actually sounds fine."

"Great! Then after that, let's go to the sauna."

.....

While the two middle-aged men went off searching for a place that served dried radish greens soup, Asinus and his subordinates—who had escaped far away through shadows—were resting at a temporary hideout.

"Cult Leader, where should we go now?"

"…We return to the Floor of Death, where our main order resides. As for the floating fortress… commission Blood Coral to handle it. And…"

Asinus gestured.

His shadow stretched outward, and the black maw creature living within it appeared.

Gwaaaak—

Kuhak!

The creature retched repeatedly before finally vomiting something out.

"Cult Leader… this is…"

What it spat out was Hoaquin's arm, which it had bitten off during the earlier battle.

It had been pierced by teeth, chewed, and torn apart, leaving a gruesome appearance—but its overall shape was still relatively intact.

Blood was still dripping from it.

While freezing the arm to preserve it, Asinus spoke, his gaze fixed on it.

"Contact the Workshop."

.....

"Ugh…"

My head hurts.

When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

Ah… so that means…

I've woken up.

How much time has passed?

It doesn't feel like it's been long.

"Ugh…"

Holding my throbbing head, I slowly got up from the treatment device.

The first thing I saw was my reflection in a full-length mirror.

For some reason my upper clothes had been removed, exposing my pale skin and muscles.

I looked at my reflection and checked my condition.

The wounds from Asinus's scythe had already healed.

There wasn't even a scar left on my chest where I'd been deeply stabbed.

But…

The arm I had lost was still gone.

And my left eye still had no vision.

Well, the eyeball itself had been cut by the scythe.

So that was to be expected.

My shirt was hanging on a rack nearby.

While putting it on, I was reminded again how inconvenient it was to have only one arm.

This is more uncomfortable than I thought…

Even when I swung my sword earlier, I couldn't maintain my balance.

I'd probably need to spend some time getting used to it.

Bzz—

"…?"

While struggling to get dressed with one arm, I heard the door connected to the outside open.

Click. Click.

Elegant footsteps echoed.

Soon I saw who it was.

"…Maschenny. So you were the one who brought me here."

"...…."

As always, she was dressed in her usual blue outfit—blue shoes, blue dress, blue hair—perfectly color-coordinated.

She simply stared at me.

I waited quietly for her to respond.

The last time in the village I had only seen her briefly before passing out.

But now that I saw her again, she looked even more beautiful than before.

When she didn't say anything, the silence became awkward.

So I walked toward her.

"Maschenny. Last time we barely saw each other, but now that I see you again—"

Whoosh—

"….!"

Suddenly she buried her face in my chest.

Thud.

Without saying anything, Maschenny punched me.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

"You never even think that I might worry about you."

"…That's not—"

"Shut up. Don't talk."

"..."

"Can't we at least meet with a smile after such a long time?"

"First you slash your own wrist. Now you come back missing an arm and an eye."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"What are you going to do now?"

"What about your arm and your eye?"

"If you came back after one year like this—one eye blind and one arm gone—how do you think I'd feel?"

"...…."

At that moment my throat dried up.

She was right.

If Maschenny appeared like that after one year…

Only then did I begin to realize what I had done to her.

"Answer me."

"…I… probably wouldn't have been able to endure it. Maschenny, I'm really so—"

"You wouldn't have endured it?"

"Then what about me?"

"You think I'd be fine?"

"If you showed up looking like that, did you think I'd just say, 'Ah, Hoaquin, you should've been more careful. I'll buy you a prosthetic arm and eye, so just wear those' and let it go?"

"Why don't you ever think about how I feel?!"

Thud.

Thud.

The punches hitting me gradually lost strength.

Eventually her arms wrapped around my body.

She buried her face in my chest and said nothing.

Why hadn't I realized it?

Just as much as I worried about her—

she worried about me even more.

I stood there like I'd been struck by a hammer.

After a long time, she finally spoke.

"…I know. You must've had your reasons."

"There must have been circumstances I don't understand."

"I know. I understand that."

She lifted her head and looked into my remaining eye with her blue eyes.

"Just… please take care of your body."

"Please think about me too."

At that moment, the only thing I could do—

was hold her tightly while apologizing again and again, and making promises.