Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

"Ugh... I... I can't see..."

Hagipherione, who had collapsed to the ground, rubbed both her eyes. The light had been intense enough to fill the entire office and spill outward. Having taken it head-on, her vision was temporarily disabled. Because of that, Hagipherione didn't see it.

The purple light was gradually beginning to turn red. As if shedding a false shell it had been wearing, the purple particles swirling around the butterfly began transforming into red light, one by one.

Before long, the butterfly's color was no longer purple but red. And then, the butterfly's wings were enveloped in light, and enormous wings made of red light overlaid its small wings. Simultaneously, the room began to gradually turn red.

"...S-sleepy..."

Hagipherione ultimately lost consciousness. Meanwhile, even the shinsu-powered lights that Hagipherione had switched on turned red, and soon the butterfly's red wings spread wide open. Red particles of light cascaded down and enveloped Hagipherione. The moment the red particles covering her emitted an even more intense glow—

"HISSSS—"

Leap.

Jumping over Hagipherione's collapsed body, an odd-eyed cat that had appeared at some point positioned itself in front of her. Baring its teeth and extending its claws despite its tiny body, glaring at the butterfly before it—it was Harp.

Upon Harp's appearance, the red particles heading toward Hagipherione froze in place. The butterfly, which had been gently flapping its wings, also ceased its movement. Harp flashed its two differently colored eyes at the 'shinsu life-form' before it. A kitten not even a year old doing this would only look cute to others, but Harp was doing its absolute best to pose a threat.

"Hissss..."

After a brief standoff—

The butterfly slowly folded its wings. The red light began to fade. The shinsu lights that had turned red returned to their original color, and the red particles that had enveloped Hagipherione scattered and vanished. Before long, the office lost its red hue and regained its natural colors.

The butterfly returned to purple. When Harp tried to catch the butterfly, it flapped its wings a few times and instantly flew up to the high ceiling, clinging upside down like a bat, and remained perfectly still.

Harp, now like a cat that had chased a chicken up a tree, shot the butterfly one glance, then turned its eyes back to its butler. Lick, lick—no matter how many times Harp licked Hagipherione with its rough tongue, there was no response from her.

"Meooow...."

Pacing anxiously around Hagipherione, Harp pressed its body against her nose and, seemingly relieved to confirm she was still breathing, let out a big exhale before crying as pitifully as it could.

"Meoooow... myaaaaaaw..."

"Harp, why are you suddenly being so lou— ?! My lady? My lady!"

It didn't take long for the branch's handmaiden to arrive, and only then did Harp feel reassured and trotted off to eat its treats.

Hagipherione regained consciousness shortly after, and the day's incident was concluded as a simple episode of falling asleep while eating cookies.

...

One week later.

Somewhere on Black Thorn Mountain, one of the Elders' legacies—'Paradise'

The facility hidden deep within the Black Thorn Mountain range—Paradise. A place that seemed as though it would never be found by anyone, a natural fortress—was undergoing a new change.

Thud—the wall shook. Thud—the wall shook once more. Little by little, cracks began forming in the wall, and the Ranker who had been managing this Paradise for the past decade or so swallowed hard and gripped his weapon even tighter.

"...Did they leave?"

The periodic tremors and the thunderous sounds of something breaking through the wall had stopped at some point. No more noise, no more cracks in the wall. Just as the rattled Ranker slowly began walking toward the cracked wall, the tiny cracks instantly spread across the entire wall surface. The eerie sound of the wall splitting was heard, and before the Ranker could even react, debris flew in all directions as the wall came crashing down.

"..."

"Just as Lord Hoaqin said, it was here."

Beyond the collapsed wall, Hoaqin's aide Heron appeared. As if annoyed by the thick dust clouds rising around him, he covered his nose and mouth, then waved his other hand around—and that alone sent a fierce gust of wind that blew all the dust away.

The formidable physique felt through the shirt he wore sent an inexplicable chill down the Ranker's spine, and he urgently questioned Heron while keeping his weapon aimed.

"A-are you Fug? Did you come because you received my message?"

"....."

After a brief pause, Heron answered.

"I did. But weren't you the one who contacted us first? Why are you pointing your weapon at me?"

"Are you insane?! You broke through the wall first!"

"I couldn't find a door, so I had no choice. Now then, where are the other Paradises?"

"...I don't know that either. However, every Paradise has 'caretakers' like me. They all know our masters are dead, so they're probably keeping a low profile while searching for a new faction to align with."

"I see. Then you're no longer needed."

The conversation flowed so naturally that the Ranker blanked out for a moment and blinked twice. Immediately after, having grasped the situation, the Ranker stumbled backward and screamed at Heron in fury.

"Y-you, you bastard! I knew it, you're not FUG after all...!"

"I am Heron, head butler of the Arie Family and aide to the Branch Leader."

Heron closed the distance to the Ranker's face in an instant. Despite the Ranker never lowering his guard or blinking, the speed was so fast he couldn't even perceive it. The Ranker, reacting belatedly to that speed, frantically tried to swing his weapon, but once again he was too late.

With the sound of bones cracking, the Ranker's neck twisted 180 degrees and he collapsed wretchedly to the ground. Having dealt with him, Heron secured the facility, and after exploring every corner of Paradise, he discovered the children who had been taken in by the Elders and took them under his care.

"Phew, that's everything we needed. I have a rough idea of how FUG found the 'Paradises' too... I should report to the Branch Leader."

Having swiftly wrapped up the facility, Heron loaded all the children onto the floating ship, and only at the very end did he board the ship himself and head for the branch.

....

— I found Paradise. All the children have been secured as well.

— Good work, Heron.

After quickly sending the message, I focused again on the person before me. We had secured the blood fusion technology that created the Canine race, but the problem was that securing it was all we'd done. Just as showing ordinary people the blueprints for a ship didn't mean they could build one immediately, simply obtaining the technical mechanisms was useless to us.

The one difference between ordinary people and us was that we could allocate a sufficient budget. To the person right in front of me—someone who could actually look at the blueprints and build it.

"Have you finished your conversation?"

"Ah, yes. I'm done."

"Ah, I see. Then let's get into the discussion properly."

I smiled at their words. The person before me was a 'Teacher' affiliated with the Workshop—a disciple of the four 'Great Teachers' who currently managed the Workshop's operations. Their authority was not something even a floor's ruler could treat lightly, so we were conversing with mutual courtesy.

"The reason I sought out the White Whale is simple. Our master mentioned recently meeting you, and it piqued my interest."

"...? I don't recall meeting any of the Great Teachers though?"

When I tilted my head, he chuckled softly.

"Huhu, there is one more person besides the Great Teachers. Someone who occupies a master-level position in the Workshop. Do you truly not know? I was clearly told that you met in person."

...Could it be?

Having roughly guessed the identity of his 'master,' I answered with a more relaxed expression.

"If you're referring to Lord Ashul Edwaru, then yes—I owe him a great deal."

Without him, I wouldn't have been able to fuse with Baek-ya and would have just lived about five hundred years before dying. When I thought about it carefully, he was essentially my life's savior. He was someone who impressed me in many ways, and outside of the 10 Family Heads, he was the first person I'd felt that level of presence from.

"However... I had no idea he was affiliated with the Workshop, let alone being one of its masters."

"Hahaha, he's so free-spirited and never keeps a single disciple by his side, so to outsiders he just looks like a bad-tempered wandering eccentric blacksmith."

I replied somewhat awkwardly to his words.

"I wasn't thinking quite that far, but did you perhaps put a bit of personal feeling into that just now..."

"Ahem, ahem!"

Ah, so I was right. The Teacher cleared his throat furiously to gloss over it, then hastily changed the subject.

"A-anyway... you want the blood fusion technology—no, you already received the technology from Lo Po Bia, and what you want are Workshop scientists who can implement it..."

"Yes. And I believe you've brought the answer I'm looking for, Teacher."

"Ahaha, the White Whale has a keen eye. I have indeed brought an answer—but whether I give it to you or not hasn't been decided yet. As you know, our Workshop only provides services to those who are qualified."

"...Then, do I need to take some kind of test to prove my qualifications?"

"No. You have already proven your qualifications."

"....?"

The Teacher extended his hand and pointed at me.

"Has Lord Ashul Edwaru not crafted something for you? If so, that means he has acknowledged your 'qualifications.'"

He took a sip of the coffee sitting on the table and smiled warmly.

"Unless it's the Great Teachers or Lord Macseth, no one can question Lord Edwaru's decisions. Besides, it would be rather absurd for us to say we won't acknowledge someone our Workshop master has already recognized, wouldn't it?"

I felt inwardly relieved, yet tilted my head. Just before I could pose my question, the Teacher continued as if already knowing what I was about to ask.

"I've come to make a deal with you, White Whale. Blood fusion ultimately requires 'blood,' and I presume the source would be you? You intend to inject your blood into someone, do you not?"

I nodded readily, affirming his words.

"Haha, you're spot on. That's correct. I want to inject my blood into children so that they too can inherit my power to some degree. Just like—"

"The Princesses of Zahard."

"Yes. Like the Princesses of Zahard."

The Teacher paused briefly, then drew a sheet of paper from his white coat and handed it to me.

"Normally my role is to verify the client's qualifications, but since that's already been verified, I'll get straight to the point here. The Workshop wishes to make a deal with you, Ruler. Frankly speaking... we have some interest in your body as well... but that's probably not going to work, is it? It would just be a simple examination."

"Haha, of course not. Who would cooperate with a request to be used as a test subject?"

If I just sat here and listened, this fellow was going to try slipping past the line. Especially since dealing with Workshop personnel was already quite uncomfortable given what they'd done to some of my family and companions long ago.

"However, Ruler—some members of our Workshop view you in an unfavorable light. As you know... long ago, on the 21st Floor, didn't you demolish one of our Workshop branches?"

"That was self-defense. You people tried to kidnap my friends and use them as test subjects, and now you're going to hold that against me?"

The warm, gentle atmosphere turned rigid in an instant. Little by little, this room began filling not with warmth but with killing intent and cold. I felt my blood pressure rising simultaneously.

"Haha, I can see how you might view it that way, but... from our perspective, it was a day of humiliation—the Workshop, which even the Zahard Royal Palace doesn't dare touch, had one of its branches razed by a single Regular acting alone. We couldn't even hold anyone accountable for it. Thanks to you, we've had to massively reinforce security at every Workshop branch since that day—it's been nothing but hardship. So, if you wish to receive something from us, there needs to be some give and take first, wouldn't you say? Otherwise, how am I supposed to persuade the other 'Teachers' at the Workshop who hold grievances?"

"Hahaha! Teacher?"

"Yes, Ruler."

"Cut the games."

"..."

Black smoke spread thickly from around me, and within that black smoke, Heuk-rin partially revealed itself. Growling low, Heuk-rin bared its teeth and pushed its face right up to the Teacher's nose, blasting him with rough breaths.

[Grrrrr...]

"My... I thought the White Whale was a rational individual. Was I mistaken?"

I sipped my coffee at leisure and spoke to him gently.

"You threatened me, Teacher, so what's stopping me from doing the same? The difference is, you don't have the power to do anything to me—but I do."

"Haha... you're more emotional than I expected. Have you forgotten that my status is that of a Workshop 'Teacher'? Even a ruler cannot treat me so carelessly."

"I am a ruler and branch leader of a great Family. You are in no position to demand anything of me."

A few more sips and the little coffee remaining was quickly emptied. I tapped the empty coffee cup with a teaspoon while staring at the Teacher.

"Now then, please tell me what you really want. I'm not in a position to ask the Workshop for help empty-handed either, so tell me what you people truly want."

The Teacher, who had been staring at me quietly, suddenly bowed his head deeply and began trembling slightly. Before long, he burst into laughter as if he could no longer contain himself.

"...Heh, hahahaha! My apologies. It seems the White Whale is ready to do business with us. Those remarks were merely to probe the Ruler's intentions, so please forgive my rudeness thus far. Well, it's fine even if you don't forgive me."

"I'll forgive you. I am merciful, after all. Haha."

"My, a sense of humor as well. Without further delay, I'll get straight to it. What we want is your blood. In exchange for our full cooperation, the research group I belong to requests the opportunity to study your blood as well."

There weren't... no issues at all, but this much was acceptable. If I refused here, the deal would fall through, and without the Workshop's support it would be difficult to achieve what I wanted. And honestly, it would be laughable to entrust the Workshop with blood fusion technology using my blood while expecting none of my blood to end up in their hands. To grasp something, you must let go of something else.

It wasn't like my blood harbored some grand secret anyway. And there was no system that screened non-Regulars by blood type. I nodded willingly. The Teacher, looking satisfied, clapped a few times and extended his hand to me.

"Perfect. Hoaqin, Ruler of the 78th Floor and Arie Family Branch Leader—do you agree to this deal with our Workshop?"

"I agree."

The deal was struck, and it didn't take very long for the blood fusion technology to be completed.

...

80th Floor, somewhere in the unexplored zone of the Outer Tower

"...."

A silent jungle where not even the sound of insects could be heard—deep within it stood an ancient castle. Someone residing there was quietly enjoying a book. A man with long, dark crimson hair, wearing garments of black fabric with red patterns, sat comfortably in an antique rocking chair, focused solely on the ancient text.

Rustle—the man turned a page of the ancient book and slowly read through the words densely filling the worn pages, carefully savoring each word.

Then, in this quiet world where only the sound of turning pages had existed, a new noise appeared. The door was flung open violently—something that would normally warrant alarm, but the man showed no concern whatsoever.

Thud, thud—footsteps followed, and a middle-aged man appeared carrying a black plastic bag.

"Hey, Mirchea. I'm here. Brought some gukbap on the way. Is this your new place?"

"...Jinsung."

"That old book again today? How many times are you going to read it?"

Setting the packaged gukbap on the table, Ha Jinsung approached him. The identity of the man who had been leisurely absorbed in reading was the first Slayer and leader of FUG—Grace Mirchea Luslec.

Ha Jinsung treated such a being as casually as an old friend. Which, of course, they could be called.

Having approached Mirchea, Jinsung turned his gaze to the ancient text he was reading. And as always, he let out a light sigh. The ancient text Mirchea was reading contained countless words, but most of them were nearly impossible to read due to various overlapping issues. Among the sentences that could still be deciphered, one read:

'I.... entrusted it.... the messenger of god.... that thing.... to the outside....'

Among the words forming sentences, if one read only the legible characters while excluding the majority that were impossible to decode, that was what emerged. Every time Mirchea read that passage, he couldn't help but tilt his head.

Because the prophecy written by one of his masters was unrelated to the 'child of god' that he had been waiting for through all of eternity.

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