Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

"Mirchea, there's no rule that says His prophecy must be related to the child you speak of. He was a sorcerer as well, so he would have received many prophecies beyond just the one about that child. What's written there is simply one of them—there's no need to think too strangely of it."

"..."

Mirchea remained silent, his gaze fixed solely on the letters of the prophecy book. As Jinsung said, he could simply think of it that way and move on, but 'the messenger of god'—wasn't that far too grandiose a phrase for just some ordinary prophecy?

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

What was being entrusted? What was 'that thing'? To the outside? Of what, exactly?

The biggest problem was that there was absolutely no way to know who this prophecy's subject was. Like that child, they might not have appeared in this Tower yet, or might have already appeared, or might have already left their mark and crumbled away.

The one reason he couldn't let go of his obsession with this ancient prophecy book, from which only extremely limited information could be gleaned, was simply because of an unsettling feeling. Something indescribable that he felt every time he looked at this prophecy book.

"Jinsung, go on ahead and sleep."

"...Hmm, sure."

Mirchea raised his head and gazed at the ball light—the sole source of illumination on the dark ceiling—then took a deep breath and closed the ancient prophecy book he'd had spread open, sliding it back onto the bookshelf.

.....

Two Years Later, 78th Floor

"Since it's based on Lo Po Bia's technology, there are limitations, and naturally it falls below the level of the Princesses of Zahard... but I believe this should be more than sufficient. After all, the Princess of Zahard system is the culmination of ultimate techniques created by Lord Macseth, Lord Ashul Edwaru, the four Great Teachers, and Lord Po Bidau Gustang all working together."

The Workshop research director spoke proudly. I listened to his explanation in silence while reading through the principles of the blood fusion technology one by one via hologram.

Hmm, this should be... pretty decent.

The blood fusion technology they'd developed was certainly inferior to the Princess of Zahard system, but superior to the Canine race. This would be sufficient.

"Good work. You've already received what you wanted, so can we consider our deal cleanly concluded?"

"Hahaha, I'd say so. Our Teacher was deeply moved by Lord Hoaqin's generosity. Our Fifth Workshop Branch hereby pledges to prioritize the Ruler's commissions above all else, so please don't hesitate to call on us in the future."

"Very well. Then safe travels. The 78th Floor is a floor I've personally developed, staying up through many nights, so it might be worth taking a look around before you leave."

"The beauty of the 78th Floor is already widely known throughout the Tower. Thank you once again for your hospitality. We hope to maintain a good relationship with you going forward."

With those formal, brief parting words concluded, I gathered the kit they'd prepared and left the research facility. Over the past two years of additional dealings with them, a Workshop branch was slated to be established on the 78th Floor. The Workshop was one pillar of a massive force rivaling even the Zahard Royal Palace. Maintaining a good relationship with them couldn't be a bad thing, regardless.

...Though I must never forget that their hearts were pitch-black, and that I should never let my guard down around them. Ever.

In any case, as agreed upon in the deal, I'd obtained the completed version of the blood fusion technology. It had been simplified to an injection method using machinery, so no complicated process was needed. And it was confirmed to have no side effects. Meaning, all I had to do was inject the children.

As for the children, Heron was handling their education. The plan was to first establish their sense of self-identity and equip them with decision-making capabilities, then carry out the blood injection only for those who wished it. However, according to Heron, most of the children wanted the blood injection... so it seemed I didn't need to worry about a shortage of volunteers.

The problem was... whether the main house would permit this. This was a project I'd pushed forward on my own without a word to them. It had been possible because the 78th Floor was far from the main house on the 100th Floor, making communication and exchange less than smooth—but continuing to proceed covertly from here on would be difficult.

I really should get permission...

I'd need to visit the main house soon.

—Or so I'd been thinking, when something unexpected happened.

"Branch Leader Hoaqin, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"...Are you from the Arie Family?"

"Yes. I'm a herald of the Family. To state my business briefly—the Family Head wishes to see you, Lord Hoaqin. Please come to the main house at your earliest convenience."

...Father? Why so suddenly?

I was puzzled but answered that I understood, then sent the herald away. Hmm... would Father give permission? And what was he summoning me for... I'd just have to go and find out.

A few days later, I headed straight for the 100th Floor.

.....

100th Floor, Arie Main House

"Branch Leader Hoaqin has come to see Father."

With the utmost respect, I bowed my head before the being who reigned over this Family, standing before me. Arie Hon, master of this Family and my father, wore his ever-gentle smile and slowly nodded.

"Welcome. You've gone through much trouble traveling from the 78th Floor all the way here."

"...Yes."

The way he treated other Arie members versus the way he treated me didn't quite match. It was thoroughly unsettling, but I hid such feelings and expressions as best I could while bowing my head once more.

When I raised my head again, Hon, looking down at me from above, had an unknown concubine at his side, his upper body half-exposed, chin propped on one arm.

"Do you know why I've summoned you?"

"I do not."

"Haha! Bold of you. Others at least ponder for a few seconds before answering."

"What good is pondering over something I don't know? It would only waste both our time."

"True, you're right. But sometimes, take it easy. Time is on our side."

I nodded lightly, and he, still smiling gently, ordered the concubine to withdraw, then properly dressed himself and slowly rose from his seat.

"Before I get to my topic... so, instead of taking concubines, you plan to find talented branch family members and illegitimate children from the middle area, bring them into your branch, and inject them with your blood?"

"Yes."

I had no idea what Father would say next and tensed up briefly, but contrary to my expectations, the response was quite positive.

"Do as you wish. However, the blood of those children must never leak to other bloodlines. Do you understand what I mean?"

"You mean I should run it like the Princess of Zahard system?"

"Correct. If you agree to uphold that condition, I won't object. I'm rather curious about the results as well."

"Understood. That was something I'd already kept in mind anyway."

Hon nodded with apparent satisfaction. I silently rejoiced.

Now that Father had given permission, the main house could no longer hold me back on this matter. As if reading my thoughts, he smiled and gestured to the butler attending him. The butler understood immediately, carefully walked forward, and reached me. He then produced a jewel the size of a fist from his robes and held it out to me.

"Branch Leader Hoaqin, please channel shinsu into this jewel. The attribute does not matter."

Shaaaa—

Without a word, I immediately placed my hand on the jewel and, as the butler requested, concentrated power at my fingertips, guiding shinsu through my arm, past my hand, and into the jewel. The jewel, having absorbed sufficient shinsu, glinted softly and emitted light.

Before I knew it, something like a tiny star was floating inside the jewel.

What is that?

"My son, tell me what our Family's crest looks like."

"A single long white longsword with twenty-five stars embroidered beside it."

That was one of the things I'd diligently memorized as a child on the Floating Castle of the 99th Floor, before even becoming a Regular. Inwardly satisfied that the day had come to apply what I'd studied so hard to real life, I recited the textbook contents word for word in answer to Father's question.

"Do you also know what those twenty-five stars represent?"

"I was taught they symbolize the first children who built our Family alongside Father."

"Hmm, they're teaching rather old material. That's correct, but things are a bit different now. They symbolize the important pillars of our Family—including the rulers and branch leaders. Much like the great swords embedded behind the altar. And those stars have now been reduced to twenty."

"Ah...."

Because the Elders had died.

"However, now that one has been added, things are at least a bit better."

With those words, Hon extended his hand toward the jewel. My shinsu, which had taken the shape of a star and been floating inside the jewel, flowed out and drifted toward Hon, soon settling into his grasp.

Shaaaa—

Hon manipulated the shinsu freely several times, then sent it flying toward the enormous Arie crest flag behind him. My shinsu flew toward the crest as if it were predetermined, embedding itself in the emblem to become the twenty-first star.

"The reason I summoned you was partly for this, but also to inform you of something."

Hon looked at the butler once more, and the butler—who hadn't even glanced at Hon's face yet somehow knew—immediately spoke to me.

"Currently, our Family has ten branch leaders and ten rulers. Of course, including you, Lord Hoaqin, that would be eleven branch leaders and eleven rulers... regardless, including you, each and every one is a core fighting force of the Family, ranking anywhere from within the top 300 to the double digits."

"Yes, that's right."

I nodded readily. My ranking was among the upper tier of that group, though there were about two people among them who ranked higher than me. Each one a monster on the level of a natural disaster capable of devastating the Inner Tower. But why bring that up?

"Our Arie Family governs the territory from the 77th through 79th Floors, the 91st through 93rd Floors, and finally the 95th through 100th Floors. With the most governed territory and the most rulers of any Family, the strongest of the 10 Great Families is none other than our Arie Family."

"However, as you know, the loss of the Elders and the damage from the civil war have temporarily shaken that prestige. The Family Head finds this unacceptable. He desires an opportunity to firmly reclaim the glory of old."

"...."

The atmosphere hanging in the room grew increasingly heavy. The scale of the conversation seemed to be growing as well. And as expected, the butler's next words made me doubt my ears for a moment.

"The Family Head desires war."

"...!"

I looked at Father with slightly wavering eyes. He merely watched me in silence with an intrigued expression. Meanwhile, the butler continued calmly.

"The target is the 94th Floor. The 94th Floor has always been located at the center of the Arie Family's sphere of influence, and has been a constant thorn in our side whenever we've attempted to expand. The Family Head—and our Arie Family's administrative and military divisions—desire to seize this opportunity to conquer the 94th Floor and achieve complete control over Floors 90 through 100."

"One of the vanguard commanders of this great war will be you, Branch Leader Hoaqin."

I'd been suddenly swept up in something enormous. The 94th Floor—wasn't that a floor governed by the Ha Family? Go to war with the Ha Family? This suddenly?

Of course, the Tower's political situation had been turbulent for the past decade or so. That was why my workload had piled up. But even so... wasn't this too sudden?

While organizing the complicated thoughts in my head one by one, I realized one minor fact. In the world I'd come from, throughout its reasonably long history of several thousand years, wars had broken out suddenly too. The Tower was no different. I'd momentarily forgotten that sometimes wars weren't waged because there was a justification—sometimes justifications were created to wage wars.

War. A war was about to break out in the Tower. And I was no pacifist. I loved peaceful daily life, but I would readily embrace bloody combat too. No—perhaps this had always been what daily life meant for me.

I had simply been momentarily startled by hearing the word 'war'—a word carrying enormous implications—at an unexpected moment.

"As Father wills it."

I shifted my body slightly to face Father, then bowed my head in acknowledgment. Whether the 10 Great Families, who had sworn obedience to King Zahard, were even allowed to wage war against each other, whether Father was truly prepared for all-out war with the Ha Family—there were many questions, but those would be answered in time.

I turned my gaze to the butler and asked.

"Before I ask about the enemy's forces—first, how large are our own?"

"Counting direct lineage only: twenty-four upper High Rankers within the top 300, fifty-two High Rankers, and five hundred Rankers. We possess 680 military floating ships, 30 military warships, and... one decisive weapon. That is our current status."

At those words, I was once again impressed. The fact that the Arie Family was the strongest of the 10 Great Families was palpably felt. And from the butler's deliberate use of the word 'current' in his answer, I could tell: the war was not far off.

"...."

I absently gazed at the jewel the butler was holding—at my reflection in it. And I quietly observed myself. On the eve of a great war, what expression was I wearing right now?

According to the butler, twenty years. Our Arie Family would invade the 94th Floor in twenty years.

....

"I came as quickly as I could. You called for me? What is it, Mother?"

A floating warship where red and black coexisted, and within it, an antique golden throne. A woman wearing long, flowing red silk garments, with hair of a faint black-brown tinged with beige and adorned with a red thorned flower hairpiece, propped her chin on her hand and gazed at her child standing before her.

Due to the dark surroundings, most of her upper body including her face was shrouded in shadow, but her crimson eyes—burning like fire—were distinctly visible.

The 10 Family Head, Ha Yurin, slowly moved her lips and began to speak.

"My daughter."

"Yes, Mother."

No continuing answer came. Instead, only the clinking of a bottle and the sound of gulping could be heard. A moment later, an empty bottle flew from beyond the shadows where Yurin sat and crashed to the floor. A servant immediately cleared it away and presented a new bottle of liquor beyond the shadows.

When the servant reemerged from the shadows, Yurin's voice finally came. Just her voice alone was enough to make the floating warship shake violently as her power surged. Bottles clinked against each other, and dust cascaded from the ceiling.

"Mother, you're too drunk. Please calm down a little—this warship feels like it's going to crash."

"Hahaha! Hon, that crazy bastard! Fine, so you want to have a go...?"

Paying no mind whatsoever to her daughter's words, laughing uproariously on her own whim and drunk on excitement, Yurin emptied another bottle, then finally turned her gaze back to her daughter.

"Daughter, it seems the time has come to remind those white silkworm brats on the 100th Floor who the true master of the 94th Floor is."

"Haha! Thank you, Mother. Choosing me over my twin sister. Well, naturally. That wench is best suited to holing up and tending to her brats."

Ha Yurin waved her hand dismissively as if she had no interest in their squabbling, and added one remark.

"This time, Hon seems to have steeled his resolve considerably, so prepare yourself. Twenty years from now—Arie will attack in twenty years."

"Understood. Then I'll take the branch leaders with me."

Having bowed deeply to Yurin with the utmost respect, she turned her back and disappeared once more into the darkness where red and black coexisted.

"Let me see... then first, the 4th Branch and—"

In that instant, her expression froze momentarily. She'd remembered a fact she'd forgotten.

"Oh right, Jinsung wiped out the 4th Branch. Well, I'll just take other branches. There are still twenty years left, so I can look around gradually. Hmhm~"

Twenty years—a short time by the Tower's standards, but more than sufficient to prepare for war.

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