Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

"Hoaquin...! It really is you. I was worried I might have called out to the wrong person."

"...It has been quite a long time, Mother."

She offered me a kind smile, a warm gaze. And yet not a single thing about it felt warm to me. I had learned far too early what I meant to her. I wish I had never found out. I wish she could have simply remained the tender mother she once was to me.

Her love was real — only it was never directed at me. It was directed at the power I carried. The moment I let go of what I held in my hands, we would become strangers.

"You've become a Branch Master. My sincere congratulations."

"....."

I gave a heavy nod. By the family's hierarchy, a direct heir outranked even the head's concubines — at least on paper. In practice, things were rarely so clear-cut. And besides, she could have spoken informally to me, her own child. But this was exactly like her — placing rank and power above all else.

I forced a quiet smile and stepped toward her.

"What brings you to me?"

"Oh, I simply happened to pass by and spotted you by chance. There is nothing particular I need to say to someone already doing so well. Just continue as you are — gathering more strength, more influence. That is all."

"...Is that so."

She returned my smile with one of her own. Just passing by, by chance.

So she hadn't come because she missed me. Then I had nothing to say to her either.

I turned my back to her and began walking toward Hanul, who had been silently watching the two of us — when her voice stopped me.

"A moment, Hoaquin?"

"...? What is it?"

I turned only my gaze back to her. She was cradling her stomach gently with one hand.

Wait. Don't tell me—

"I thought you ought to know. Within me grows the Head's seed — your kin. When this child comes into the world someday, would you look after them?"

"...There's no reason I wouldn't. Then, if you'll excuse me."

Still not enough for you, is it.

A slow, creeping unease rose within me, and I buried it without a word. I turned away, walked to Hanul, and did not look back again.

Please, at least be a good mother to that child.

....

"Hmm... so you're Raphir's son."

"Do you know my mother?"

"I've heard she's been systematically overpowering the other concubines, building quite a foothold for herself. I was wondering how she managed it so suddenly — turns out it was thanks to you."

"...Being used like that doesn't exactly sit well with me."

"I'm not fond of messy entanglements like this either. Come on, I'll finish showing you around."

Hanul picked up his pace again. I didn't follow. I stood where I was.

He glanced back, tilted his head — then sighed.

"...Yeah, you're not in the mood. Fine. Do what you want. I'll send the residential district location to your pocket later. Just go clear your head for now."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah. And tell father I gave you a thorough tour."

....

With that, I left Baekhwa Sword Palace and climbed to the rooftop of a building somewhere in the civilian district, staring down a hundred floors into the city below.

I'd come to clear my mind, but the night view was better than I'd expected.

No — it was breathtaking.

"...Hah."

Is family always this complicated? Back in my Selectee days, I was too busy fighting, wandering, getting swept up in one incident after another to ever bother with thoughts like these.

And now I was a Ranker. A Branch Master. A sovereign, of sorts. My life had changed in every possible way—

"Hey. Why are you moping around again?"

"...?"

A familiar voice from below. But this was the top of a high-rise. Why was it coming from below—

Whoosh—

Before I could even finish the thought, blue flames erupted from his hands and feet, and Hwarang rose steadily upward until our eyes met.

"...Pfft. No beams shooting out of your hands and chest?"

"Flames instead of beams. And nothing shoots out of my chest. What kind of nonsense is that?"

Oomph— Hwarang grunted as he pulled himself up over the edge. He settled onto the rooftop like it was the most natural thing in the world, casually shaking the blue fire from his hands, while I had quite a few things to say.

"How did you find me here?"

"Asked Maschenny. She told me you'd gone up to the hundredth floor." He rolled his shoulders. "Even if we've become Rankers now and started walking our own separate paths — I didn't think parting ways that easily was right. So I came."

"Haha, this is touching. And you already gave me a gift on top of it."

I drew the gift from within my coat. Inside a specially crafted storage lighthouse made by Luf, sat a semi-transparent violet cube — each of our divine beast attributes woven into it, little by little. Maschenny, Hwarang, Luf, Yura, Asensio, and I each carried one of these cubes.

Now that we had all become Rankers, there were limits to how often we could stay by each other's sides the way we had during our Selectee days. Everyone had their own purpose, their own obligations — and so, not long after I became a Ranker, we held one last banquet as a team and went our separate ways.

The gift, of course, had been Hwarang and Lug's idea that day. So in a sense, it was as much from those two as anyone.

"I came to congratulate you on your rise and grab a meal before parting ways, but — today's supposed to be a good day for you, isn't it? Why do you look so gloomy?"

"Hahaha...."

"Stop smiling like that."

"Just... I think I'm finally going through the kind of trouble that's ordinary for the Ten Great Families."

"...? You don't need to worry about survival competition, so then... is it a family matter?"

A friend as sharp as you...

"You're being an idiot."

"....What?"

Hwarang's bluntness hit me without warning, and I blinked for a moment. Where did that come from?

"Giving birth to someone doesn't make you a parent. Raising someone doesn't make you a parent either. The side that refuses to let go of a fraying thread is only the one that suffers more — while the other has already dropped it and moved on without a second thought."

"...It's a little, just a little more complicated than—"

"What's complicated about it? In the end, it hurts because your mother doesn't love you, doesn't it? Hoaquin, just let go. That's what I can tell you — someone who's actually been through the 'ordinary troubles of the Ten Great Families.' It might not be the right answer. The choice is yours."

I was quiet for a moment, then drew in a long breath and let it go.

"Pfft — you really just come straight at it, don't you. Still, thank you, Hwarang. Things feel a bit clearer now. The decision itself... I'll need a little more time for that."

Hwarang, who had been perched beside me, clicked his tongue and stood.

"Ha. Came to celebrate a friend and ended up doing therapy instead. Save the thanks. I still haven't paid back the debt I owe you for my life — not even close."

"Haha, if you still haven't paid it back after all this time, you're practically in debt default."

"Always so quick with that mouth. Anyway — your face looks better now, and it's not like this is the last time we'll meet, so I'm off."

"Where to?"

"You already know — destinations don't mean much to me. Now that I'm a Ranker, I'm thinking of traveling the Outer Tower for a while, watching my back around the Yeon Family until I get a bit stronger. You know how much they can't stand me."

He raised a hand, and blue flames curled to life in his palm.

The Yeon Family's flame. A power that should have belonged only to the direct female lineage — their symbol of might and authority — now resting in his grasp. Of course they resented it. And now that he'd become a Ranker and lost the protections afforded to Selectees, they might actually come for him.

"Hwarang, if you want, I could help—"

"Stop. What are you, my babysitter? Always fussing and covering for me. This is my family's burden to carry. If things get truly dangerous, I'll ask — so don't go overextending yourself first."

He brushed the dust from his clothes and looked at me, pulling his lips into a wide grin that showed his canines.

"Next time we meet, smile a little brighter. And help goes both ways — if you ever call for me, I'll come, no matter when. Right then! Until we meet again someday!"

He thrust out his hand for a shake, bold and full of energy. His words and the force behind them lifted something in me too, and I smiled wide and gripped his hand with everything I had.

"OW! Hey — my hand, my HAND! Let go, ease up!"

"....."

Right, strength control.

This time, unlike before, I found the right measure — and gave his hand a proper shake.

"Thank you, Hwarang. For climbing the Tower with me since the Second Floor. For saving Albelda. For all of it. Send my regards to Luf."

"Don't worry. I'm planning to go see Luf next. I thought about visiting Maschenny too, but someone that high up isn't exactly easy to get to. Besides — there's someone else who'll be going to her, isn't there?"

Hwarang glanced at me with that mischievous look of his.

"Let me ask, just for the sake of it — where are you headed, Hoaquin?"

"Just for the sake of it — the place you mentioned earlier."

"Figured as much. Well then!"

Whoosh—

Hwarang leapt from the rooftop and plunged downward, blue flames wrapping around him as he shot off somewhere at tremendous speed. His talent was every bit a match for Maschenny's — perhaps the next time we met, he'd already be a High Ranker.

In far better spirits than before, I watched the place where he'd disappeared for a moment — then turned and made my way toward somewhere new.

.....

134th Floor. Zahard's Royal Palace.

*Rumble—*

The massive gates, adorned in gold and crimson, began to slowly part. Through the gap — wide enough for a single person to pass — stepped an elderly man bearing the emblem of the Red Three Eyes.

The solemn space he entered was filled with: the weight of boredom, raw power, gold and red, the Red Three Eye insignia, guardians sworn to protect their great lord, divinity, something that transcended all things, billions of threads of fate, and...the King.

No one dared look upon the King.

The old man was no different. He prostrated himself before the great Red Three Eye sigil and spoke.

"The preparations for Princess Maschenny Zahard's royal investiture ceremony are complete."

"..."

As always, the King did not answer. Those golden eyes — impossible to read, impossible to know what they truly saw — simply gazed down, transcending all things.

"...I must prepare to receive my daughter."

The King finally rose from his throne.