Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

Eyes of green, red, and gray that somehow brought watermelons to mind; long, flowing blue-gray hair; a white silk garment draped half-open; and pointed cat ears poking out. The man approached us, smiled warmly, and gave a light bow of greeting.

"I am Yasratcha, the Lo Po Bia negotiation representative."

"Meoooow."

As if adding emphasis, a cat's cry decorated the tail end of Yasratcha's words. That cat is surprisingly cute. By the way, this person... or is he a cat? Either way, I never expected to meet him here. It was quite a nostalgic feeling.

"Arie Family branch leader, Arie Hoaqin."

Matching his greeting, I too gave a light bow in return. For some reason Yasratcha opened his eyes quite wide, and Heron and Orca noona also looked at me with surprised expressions.

Yasratcha slightly raised the corner of his mouth, then extended his hand to point toward a large domed building complex.

"That is where this negotiation will take place. It was carefully prepared by our Family, so please make yourselves comfortable for the duration of the proceedings."

"Thank you for your hospitality. Shall we all head in?"

I took the lead, followed by Yasratcha, then Heron and Orca, Yasratcha's cat, and behind them the Arie and Lo Po Bia Rankers formed a long procession as everyone entered the building together and retired to their respective quarters.

"Why were you all staring at me earlier?"

"It's just that I've never seen the party in the position of power bow back when the weaker party bows first. That was a first for me."

"Branch Leader Hoaqin values courtesy. I'm sure it left a good impression on the Lo Po Bia side as well."

"As long as they don't take it as a sign of weakness."

No matter how much this meeting was one where the Arie Family held the absolute upper hand—receiving reparations for unauthorized territorial intrusion and negotiating contracts for partial resource extraction on the 78th Floor—there was no need to be overbearing about it. Yasratcha's attitude had been far more courteous than I'd expected too. No point in making enemies unnecessarily.

"That said, we're not starting right away."

"No. Starting today we rest up, a banquet will be held in one week, and the formal talks begin a month from now."

"...Isn't that dragging things out too much? It already took two weeks just to get here."

"It's a schedule drawn up by the Lo Po Bia side, who tend to be laid-back and leisurely, so it's bound to feel that way. In any case, the main house has requested that we secure at least a 20% stake in the mining rights contract to be discussed."

"And regarding reparations?"

"They said to handle that as you see fit, Branch Leader. After all, it was the 78th Floor—the floor you govern—that was violated."

"Hmm..."

What should I demand? There wasn't anything in particular worth taking from the Lo Po Bia Family. I pondered briefly while pouring and drinking water from an elegant bottle.

"Ah, from what I've heard, the Lo Po Bia side is apparently discussing the possibility of sending a direct lineage member as a concubine to you, Branch Leader, as a gesture of apology..."

"Pfft! Cough, cough!"

Seriously, why are there so many people trying to meddle in my love life? While I was choking and hacking, Orca noona was taking it a step further.

"Oh! That's a great idea! Hey, just ask them to send a concubine. They're probably on the fence about it anyway—if you say you want one, they'll jump at the chance!"

"Hah... how many times do I have to say it before it sinks in? I don't need one."

"Hey. How many times do we have to tell you before it sinks in? Do you even know that the administrative division has been hounding me and Heron nonstop? They've been especially aggressive about it lately."

"They've dared to be aggressive with you, noona?"

"Stop. Don't reach for your sword again. Listen seriously, you oblivious young master."

"...Regardless, I have no intention of taking concubines. I'd sooner step down from the branch leader position."

"".....""

Heron and Orca were looking at me with the exact same expression they always wore.

The reason I didn't want to take concubines? Simple. Before I entered the Tower, I wasn't from an Arab background—I came from a monogamous society, so naturally polygamy didn't sit well with me. And above all else, I just wanted to live with Mascheny alone.

Beyond that, treating concubines the way the 10 Family Heads did—feeling nothing for them, using them merely as a means for pleasure and producing children before discarding them—was never even on the table for me. Looking at myself honestly, if I were to take concubines or have children, I would give them all the same affection. And I didn't want that. I had no confidence I could remain emotionally detached from them, and I didn't want to take them in to begin with. One person—she—was more than enough for me.

Of course, others who didn't know these circumstances probably saw me as either an oblivious idiot or an incomprehensible eccentric. In Orca noona's eyes especially, I probably qualified as both.

"...Haah... little brother? Can't you just listen to your noona? If you just have one child, then you can just hand it off to... (and on and on)..."

I decided to tune out noona's words for a moment. Why was everyone so desperate for my children?

That said, I hadn't known that Heron and Orca noona were being hounded by the administrative division lately. It would be troublesome if my selfishness was causing this kind of grief to those around me... Haah, I never should have taken this branch leader position. Then again, without it I'd have had no power, so the Family would have pressured me even more.

The pressure on Orca and Heron aside, the biggest problem was still Mascheny. I had been inseparable from Mascheny since our Regular days, and now I was refusing to take concubines. Right now nobody was connecting those two facts yet... but would that last forever? Ultimately, my possessiveness over Mascheny might be what put her in danger instead.

Frustrated by this maddening dilemma, I decided to just stop overthinking and go back to listening to Orca noona's nagging.

"Hm? Hoaqin. Your blood isn't more precious than King Zahard's up there at the top of the Tower, is it? So—"

That damn Zahard blood thing again... doesn't she ever get tired of it? Hah, come to think of it, Zahard does have children in a sense. The Princesses of Zahard, called Zahard's daughters, aren't actually his biological children, but just by receiving Zahard's blood they're treated as his daughters and.....

"...!"

Huh? Wait, come to think of it, doesn't the Hendo Family also bring in outsiders and inject the Family Head's blood into them through a special method to make them members of the Hendo Family?

Yes. Blood. That was the key. And on top of that, from what I knew, Lo Po Bia also...

A crisp feeling as though everything was being solved at once—unable to contain my excitement, I shot to my feet.

"Eureka! Noona, you're the only one for me. I think that's a really brilliant idea."

"Wh-whoa, you scared me. What is? All of a sudden?"

Naturally, Orca noona and Heron were bewildered by my sudden outburst, but I just smiled and plopped back down on the sofa.

"My decision hasn't changed. I will not take concubines."

"Haah...."

Before the sighing Orca noona could say another word, I quickly got the next sentence out.

"However, I do intend to produce children. After all, what the Family really wants isn't the concubines themselves, but the children that would be born between those concubines and me, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about? Don't tell me you're going to go around like the Khun Family Head, just randomly—"

"Will you stop saying ridiculous things! I mean injecting blood! Like the Princesses of Zahard, or the Hendo Family!"

"...Ah. Sorry."

Orca noona sheepishly scratched the back of her head, then posed another question.

"Hey, but who are you going to inject it into, and how are you going to get the technique? Our Arie Family doesn't have blood fusion technology."

"I already have some idea about who to inject it into... and if we don't have the technique, we simply acquire it from those who do."

"...Don't tell me?"

At Orca noona's reaction, I answered with a smile.

"Yes. Exactly what you're thinking."

All three of our gazes turned toward the Lo Po Bia members' quarters beyond the window. Because they too possessed blood fusion technology. Specifically—the Canine race. They were beings created through blood fusion technology shared between Lo Po Bia and the Workshop. And I intended to request information about the Canine race from Yasratcha during this summit.

"It would probably be good to contact the Workshop side later as well."

Heron quietly nodded, remarking that it was certainly a fresh approach with real potential. Orca noona, too, widened her eyes slightly at the unexpectedly decent answer and nodded several times.

"Hmm... it doesn't sound half bad, actually, little brother. This noona is asking because she's genuinely worried—you're not planning to stay single for the rest of your life, are you? Hm? If you really do that, how are you going to live when you're old and lonely?"

"Of course not, so you can put that worry away. I'm going to marry the person I love and have children with her and live happily ever after."

A week from now, in the evening—they said there would be a banquet? I should make contact with Yasratcha beforehand and have a word with him then.

....

One Week Later

The week passed faster than expected. Refining the shinsu flow within my body, playing games with Orca noona, just sitting still and calming my mind through meditation—time flew by.

Today was the day of the banquet, and I had just woken from meditation moments ago. Looking out the window, it was already dark outside. Partly because the season on this floor was winter.

I switched my Pocket to thorn mode to check the current time, took off the Eastern-style clothing I'd been wearing, changed into silk garments embroidered with lavish banquet decorations, and leisurely finished preparing to go out. The banquet had only just started, so there was plenty of time.

"Ah, Heron. You were waiting. You could have gone ahead."

"As your aide and butler, I could not possibly leave without Branch Leader Hoaqin. Ah, Lady Orca, of course, has already headed to the outdoor swimming pool."

"That woman is nothing if not consistent. Well then, shall we be off?"

"I shall escort you. By the way, the new outfit suits you very well."

Chuckling at Heron's lip service, I set off toward the banquet hall in good spirits. The banquet hall we arrived at didn't look much different from the ones I'd enjoyed before at first glance—except that it was far larger, far more dignified, and gorgeously beautiful.

Come to think of it, this was my first time attending a banquet hosted by one of the 10 Great Families.

In the distance, Orca noona was already lounging around the outdoor pool with Arie Rankers she'd befriended in no time, and Heron was discussing something with the White Wolf unit's commander. Soothing classical music drifted through the air, and waiters circulated offering champagne. Arie and Lo Po Bia members leaned against pillars of beautiful gemstone and marble, each engrossed in their own conversations, while some were already dining.

A banquet of nobles—no better words came to mind to describe that scene.

Gazing at the peaceful, luxurious scenery from the balcony, I too sipped a bit of champagne.

"Banquet attire? It suits you well."

"...? Ah."

I'd been wondering where he was, and he'd been looking for me too, apparently. Yasratcha appeared with his large cat, dressed in the exact same outfit as when we first met. I smiled lightly toward Yasratcha, who had spoken first, and responded.

"We meet again. Actually, I was looking for you—seems it was mutual?"

"Yes. I too have something I'd like to say to Branch Leader Hoaqin."

He strode right up to me, then suddenly bowed his head deeply. ...Huh? Really, just like that, out of nowhere?

While I was taken aback, Yasratcha continued speaking with his head still lowered.

"When our Rankers trespassed on your floor last time, you sent them all back safely. Thank you. You could have killed them all and sent a warning to our Family, yet you chose not to."

"...It didn't look like they'd entered my floor of their own volition."

At those words, Yasratcha suddenly broke into a broad smile and stepped one pace closer.

"Exactly! To think you understood even that—I'm growing quite fond of you, Branch Leader. Those Rankers were ones I was especially fond of. Separate from my position as negotiation representative for these proceedings, I, 'Yasratcha' personally, express my gratitude to you, Hoaqin."

In many ways, he was quite different from the image I'd expected. They said he cherished his own people, and it seemed to be true. He'd shown plenty of that side even as a Corps Commander, looking after his subordinates. No, but something felt off about that...

'Aha.'

After pondering briefly, I soon found the answer.

'It's not those Rankers he's interested in. It's Wangwang.'

"Meoooow."

Nuzzle nuzzle—perhaps because Yasratcha was showing me goodwill, the large cat had approached at some point and began rubbing against me. Ah, so soft and fluffy. Did Yasratcha live with a cat like this every day?

"Haha, it seems he's taken a liking to you as well. My cat only permits touch from those who are noble and dignified."

"Haha... I appreciate you saying so. By the way, I actually have a matter I'd like to discuss with you as well."

Yasratcha accepted a glass of champagne from a waiter who had made his way over, sipped it, and looked at me.

"Ah, right, you mentioned that earlier. What might it be?"

"As reparations for this incident, I don't particularly want anything from 'your' side."

"Oh."

Yasratcha's face brightened. Whether there was another reason behind it, I couldn't tell. I continued speaking. As time went on, Yasratcha's expression gradually shifted to one of surprise.

"Instead, I want something related to the Canine race. The principles and methods of the technology used to create them."

"Haha... well, it seems the Arie Family's intelligence network is not to be underestimated."

"Haha, we are the Arie Family, after all. Anyway, I don't want anything from the Lo Po Bia branch. Instead, for research purposes, I'd like you to hand over the Canine who intruded this time. Would that be possible?"

At my words, Yasratcha made a slightly troubled expression and let out an awkward laugh. Well, Wangwang held a position essentially equivalent to the Canine race's branch leader—perhaps I was asking for too much. Above all, judging by Yasratcha's reaction regarding Wangwang, I could guess my request would be refused.

Yasratcha scratched his cheek and answered my request.

"...I'm afraid that would be difficult."

"Oh dear, it seems I was asking for too much."

"Yes. I'm truly sorry, but it's an impossible request."

At Yasratcha's utterly resolute attitude, I tilted my head. Yasratcha, as if understanding what question I harbored, immediately spoke up. With a smile different from before—a bitter one. But I could tell that expression was a kind of act. What I actually read on his face was... a hint of anger?

"They are the Family Head's property. We cannot make such decisions on our own. And the Family Head would most likely not grant permission."

"...Then I'd like to at least receive DNA information, or the blood fusion technology that was used to create Wangwang."

"...That much might be possible. I'll make a request to the main house. I sincerely thank you for your generous consideration, Branch Leader Hoaqin."

Yasratcha extended his hand, offering his champagne glass, and I met it with mine. A crisp ring of glass spread through the air, and after both taking a sip of champagne, we completed a handshake as a sign of agreement.

After that, the two of us chatted about various topics, and in the process, we came to realize something new. We actually got along surprisingly well.

....

Khun Family, Main House

"Noona, you called for me?"

Click—carefully opening the door, Ascensio stepped inside. Mascheny, who had been sitting in her office diligently staring at her Lighthouse screen, saw him and casually gestured for him to sit.

"Noona, I appreciate you calling for me, but I'm sorry to say... there are many in the main house with far superior abilities than mine. I'm afraid I won't be of much help to you."

"No, this is something only you can do within the main house."

At those words, Ascensio's face brightened tremendously. As if deeply moved, he trembled briefly, then steeled himself and cried out energetically.

"Thank you! I'll get it done no matter what, so just leave it to me!"

"...Just answer what I ask you."

"Yes ma'am!"

Mascheny, who kept hesitating over and over, finally let out a sigh and opened her mouth.

"...Hoaqin might be taking concu—"

"That wolf dares to betray you, noona!"

Mascheny, with a cold expression, extended a finger to point at the sofa and spoke to Ascensio.

"Sit. I wasn't finished."

"Yes ma'am."

To Ascensio, who had obediently sat back down on the sofa, Mascheny continued.

"Hoaqin might be taking concubines, apparently."

Hah—watching Mascheny let out a faint sigh, Ascensio gazed at her with complicated feelings and cautiously asked.

"What are your thoughts on it, noona..?"

"I don't know. Would you like it if you were me? Obviously I'm against it. But then..."

It might cause trouble for Hoaqin.

"And... honestly, taking concubines is in some ways perfectly natural for someone of Hoaqin's standing in the 10 Great Families, but..."

I still don't want it. What I don't want, I don't want. I'm greedy and selfish, so I don't want my share of his affection divided. I want him to look only at me. And if he takes concubines he'll have to have children too, which would only make things more complicated.

"...What do I do?"

"Noona, isn't that Hoaqin's choice to make?"

"That's true, but he must be agonizing over it too, right? If I say something here, he'd probably just go along with my wishes."

He was probably worrying about all sorts of things right now as it was, and perhaps he was already in a difficult situation because of this very issue. In the long run, problems were bound to arise eventually.

...He wouldn't be able to easily choose to take concubines. Then the problems would only grow, and the situations causing him difficulty would only multiply... so what should I do here? What should I say to him?

"Hahaha, noona. You've certainly changed a lot compared to before."

"...I have?"

Ascensio smiled warmly and nodded vigorously.

"Yes. The old you... would probably have had one of two reactions. Either you'd have said you didn't care how many fake concubines Hoaqin took since you were the real wife anyway, or... you'd have immediately forced Hoaqin not to take any. But now you're here worrying about causing harm to Hoaqin, agonizing over it. You've definitely softened a lot from spending so much time with Hoaqin, and it also seems like you've become quite attached to him in many ways. Though you're still the same when fighting or being scary, of course."

"...."

While Mascheny maintained an expressionless face, running through various complicated thoughts in her head, Ascensio shot up from his seat.

"Noona. In times like these, thinking deeply usually doesn't lead to an answer. Let's go!"

"...Where?"

"Where else? To Hoaqin, obviously. Meeting in person and talking it out is the best approach."

Ascensio strode over and tried to lead Mascheny outside.

"W-wait. I'm not mentally prepared yet, and I still don't know what to say to him when we meet..."

"That's the kind of thing you figure out when you're face to face! Come on! This Ascensio will escort you! To the 100th Floor, at once!"

While Mascheny was flustered yet unable to resist Ascensio's guiding hand pulling her toward the door, her Pocket chimed with a clear sound.

It was a notification that a message had arrived.

— A mission has been issued from the Royal Palace.

At the conveniently timed appearance of an excuse, Mascheny let a slight smile form. She stopped in her tracks and spoke with utterly transparent pretense, as if she truly had no choice.

"Ah! Ascensio, I'm sorry but I need to carry out a mission from the Royal Palace. Going to Hoaqin... let's think about that afterward."

"But noona! You know Princesses can ignore a mission or two! Right now, Hoaqin comes first!"

"...No."

Mascheny shook off Ascensio's hand and practically ran in the other direction. Not yet, not yet... I'm not ready yet.

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