Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

About two hundred years ago, Khun Family Main House.

"Ahaha! Try to go faster!"

A young little girl was sparring with an adult man before her, wearing a joyful smile. The man's wooden sword came at her threateningly, and each time she used her small frame to dodge this way and that. The wind from the wooden sword cutting through empty air each time cooled the girl whose brow was beaded with sweat.

After diligently dodging attacks, the girl's eyes finally spotted an opening in her opponent. Quietly raising the corner of her mouth, she pretended not to notice the opening, pretended to keep struggling to dodge—and then—

"Hyaah!"

She finally charged at her opponent's opening. Her long hair, tinged with a soft blue hue, swayed beneath the gap in her helmet, and her blue eyes focused solely on the strike point. Toward that point, the girl swung her wooden sword as fast as she could.

And in that moment—

Thwack—

"Ow!"

Regrettably, the opening she'd been shown all along had been deliberately induced by the man. He instantly recalled his swung wooden sword and struck the top of her head. Of course, he'd hit with moderate force to avoid serious injury, and she was wearing a helmet, so she wouldn't be hurt—but it would still sting, and she would surely stop attacking now and clutch her head in pain.

—Or so the man thought. But reality differed from his expectations. The girl gritted her teeth and ignored the pain, instead pushing in even deeper to land a decisive blow.

"....!"

"I won!"

"Hehe... I ended up letting a hit through after all. I've lost."

He had pretended to let his guard down to make the girl overconfident, but instead got caught by his own acting. He could only marvel at the girl's innate combat sense, which may have orchestrated this entire situation. While he gazed at her with admiration, the girl moved her short legs rapidly and ran to the woman sitting on the bench.

"Mother! Did you see? I won!"

The girl removed her helmet and spoke proudly with a bright smile, as if showing off to her mother. Her mother likewise smiled warmly and answered with praise.

"Yes, that last part truly surprised even me, Mascheny."

"Hehe..."

When her head was gently stroked, Mascheny seemed pleased and briefly surrendered herself to that warmth. She had always loved having her head stroked, and knowing this well, Khun Mascheny diligently ruffled and stroked her hair.

"Mascheny, do you enjoy sparring that much?"

"Yes! It's really fun! Honestly, it's the most fun class!"

"Well, if you enjoy it..."

Khun Mascheny gazed at her child with a honey-sweet smile. If her daughter Mascheny had been interested only in combat and was otherwise a rowdy tomboy, Khun Mascheny might have worried to some degree—but Mascheny excelled not only in combat but in her studies and refinement as well.

Mascheny climbed onto the bench, lay down with her head on Khun Mascheny's lap, and smiled.

"Mother, do you think I could become a great Princess of Zahard too?"

"Of course. You'll become the finest Princess of Zahard our Khun Family has ever produced. After all, you're the beloved daughter born between this Khun Mascheny and the great Family Head, Lord Khun Edahn."

"Hehe, when I become a Princess of Zahard, I'll definitely make you happy, Mother!"

"Mascheny, I'm already so incredibly happy that you've grown up to be so lovely. When you become a Princess of Zahard, fulfill the duties of a princess, but live for yourself."

"Mm... yes, Mother!"

The girl who would one day become Mascheny Zahard had shown outstanding talent from the age of six. She was now eight years old, and her overwhelming talent compared to any other faction within the Khun Family made her the top prospect and hope of the Khun Mascheny faction.

She was proficient in virtually every area. Her refinement was beyond excellent, and her combat prowess went without saying. Every instructor in the Khun Family unanimously sang praises of her talent until their mouths ran dry. If she became a Princess of Zahard, she would undoubtedly become the most outstanding Khun-born Princess in history. The Thirteen Months were practically guaranteed.

Thanks to this, she was raised with every possible affection lavished upon her. This was partly because at the time, not a single Khun-born Princess of Zahard existed, making the Khun Family desperate for one, but—

"Mother! You know what today is, right?"

"Of course. It's our beloved daughter's birthday, isn't it? Happy birthday, my dear. The party is ready, so let's go."

"Hehe... I love you, Mother."

"Haha, thank you. I feel the same."

The decisive reason she was so cherished and doted upon was that Khun Mascheny genuinely loved her daughter. She had recognized Mascheny's outstanding talent early on, and leveraging the fact that the Khun Family was in a rather desperate situation regarding Princesses of Zahard, she was able to secure full authority over her beloved daughter's education.

She was not greedy. No matter how much the Khun Family—growing increasingly covetous of Mascheny's talent—demanded higher standards for her daughter, she rebuffed them as unreasonable and provided only education suited to her level. She never saw her daughter as a tool of power, never treated her coercively, and never inflicted mental or physical violence. To her, Mascheny was her most precious child, above all else.

She educated her only as much as necessary, and spent all remaining time with her daughter. Thanks to this, Mascheny wanted for nothing.

"Today it's... you! You're my sparring partner today!"

"I humbly ask for your best, Lady Mascheny."

"Let's go!"

After classes ended, she could spar to her heart's content during the remaining time, and—

"...And so, the great berserker of the Khun Family pierced the tyrant's heart, ending the war on the 72nd Floor. The end."

"Wooow... that was truly fantastic. Though it's a shame the war ended so quickly."

At bedtime each night, Khun Mascheny always read her fairy tales. For Mascheny, each day was an endlessly happy continuation, and for her mother Khun Mascheny as well, every day was a continuation of happiness spent with her beloved daughter.

Khun Mascheny had noticed early on the madness her daughter harbored, but it was something anyone in the Khun Family carried. Her daughter's was simply a bit more pronounced, she thought lightly—and indeed, that was the case. Mascheny only showed slightly fanatical tendencies regarding combat and war; otherwise she was simply an adorable girl equipped with excellent martial prowess, knowledge, and refinement.

That wasn't to say she was all sunshine either—when encountering members of hostile factions, she could bend appropriately when needed, or come out strongly with a charisma unbefitting her age. She seemed to have no weaknesses, and indeed showed perfect results in every area. Thanks to that, with nothing to be exploited, mother and daughter could continue enjoying their peaceful daily lives.

The mother and daughter were so very happy.

A few years later, she was selected as a Princess of Zahard, with only the final examination remaining. During the gap period that arose, the mother and daughter were enjoying a picnic in peaceful nature, far from the main house, for the first time in a while.

"Mascheny—or should I call you Princess Mascheny now?"

"Don't worry about that, Mother. Here, would you like a sandwich?"

"My, our daughter seems all grown up already. How delightful."

"Hehe."

The ball light shining from the Tower's ceiling cast warm light upon the ground, the blowing breeze was clear and refreshing, and the sounds of nature were beautiful. Rather than enjoying this peaceful spectacle, Khun Mascheny watched her ever-consistent daughter—who was using the soldiers she'd brought along as sparring partners—with a warm smile.

And she prayed. That her child could continue to protect that smile. That she could bear the weight of being a Princess of Zahard. That she could be happy. She prayed for it to be so.

That wish was shattered to pieces before it could be fulfilled. God, it seemed, favored tragedy.

On a night following peaceful days no different from any other, Mascheny—who had been sleeping beside her mother Khun Mascheny—began tossing and turning. First came a strange sensation, then gradually increasing pain, and finally excruciating agony assaulted her entire body. Mascheny jolted awake in shock.

"Aaahh..."

She tried to swallow her groans and suppress the pain so as not to wake her mother, who was sleeping soundly—but it was far easier said than done. The horrific pain that felt as though her entire body were being torn apart was not something an eleven-year-old child could endure. In the end, she shook her mother awake.

"M-Mother... "

"...Mm... what is it, my dear?"

"My body... hurts... like I'm dying..."

"...What? Mascheny, open your eyes... Mascheny!"

Struck by sudden, horrific pain, Mascheny lost consciousness. Khun Mascheny was aghast and shook her, trying to wake her. Naturally, she didn't wake. Consumed by fear, dread, anxiety, and every other emotion, Khun Mascheny trembled and took her daughter to the medical ward as secretly as possible.

She loathed herself for watching others' reactions even at a time like this, but if word got out that Mascheny had lost consciousness, what would happen next was all too predictable. Hostile factions would tear into them relentlessly, and she might even fail the Princess of Zahard selection examination. A Princess of Zahard must never show weakness.

The Family medical ward doctor, met in secret. He mobilized every piece of medical equipment to examine the unconscious Mascheny as carefully and thoroughly as possible. Yet not a single instrument indicated that she was ill. Every medical machine unanimously declared that the condition of this girl—who had suffered sudden agony before losing consciousness—was normal.

The doctor let out a deep sigh, and Khun Mascheny stamped her feet in fear, tension, and anxiety. Unable to hold back any longer, she asked the doctor.

"...What is the diagnosis? What is the cause?"

"..."

The doctor maintained his silence for a long while. Khun Mascheny had no intention of wasting even a single minute or second of this urgent time like this. As she gradually began revealing her lightning-attribute shinsu, the doctor finally opened his mouth with a grave expression.

"It's a hereditary disease."

Shaaaa—

The lightning-attribute shinsu that had been gradually filling the room scattered in an instant, and Khun Mascheny's pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

"...What?"

"...To put it again, it's a hereditary disease. As you know, Lady Mascheny is the daughter born between the Family Head, 'Khun' Eduan, and you, 'Khun' Mascheny, standing before me. Even so, the probability of developing a hereditary disease to that degree is astronomically low... you were simply terribly unlucky."

A hereditary disease. The cause lay clearly in the circumstances of her daughter's birth. Khun Mascheny stepped back as if denying the fact. The thing she'd most wanted to deny—the worry she'd set aside and sent far away because her daughter had grown so healthy and beautiful—now bared its teeth once more from the darkness at the far reaches of her memory.

She had no capacity to control her frantically pounding heart. She could only ask the doctor desperately, in a trembling voice, showing a more vulnerable side than ever before.

"Is there... a cure...?"

"...No cure has been specifically researched. However, if I may humbly say, there's no need for great concern. Lady Mascheny is showing symptoms I've never seen before, but if healing sorcery is used, the hereditary disease itself can be suppressed."

"Hereditary diseases aren't terribly rare within the 10 Great Families, so sorcery for addressing such issues has been fairly well-researched. Of course, I'm sorry to say the sorcery field isn't my specialty, so you'd need to find a sorcerer separately..."

Mascheny's complexion visibly improved. In a somewhat softened voice—though the trembling still remained—she spoke.

"Th-that's a relief to hear. If you happen to know any sorcerers, I'd appreciate a referr—"

In that instant, a chilling sensation flashed through Khun Mascheny's mind. When she looked at the doctor with a face of sudden realization, he nodded as if he'd anticipated her thought.

"You will have to give up the young lady's princess candidacy. The Zahard Royal Palace does not accept any defects whatsoever in princess selection. Lady Mascheny is disqualified as a princess candidate."

The doctor's cold gaze, laden with professional insight, swept past Khun Mascheny. His eyes were endlessly cruel and cold, and precisely because of that, it was truth without a shred of falsehood—and the doctor's composed expression only reinforced that truth.

The doctor lowered his head and spoke.

"I'm sorry."

Khun Mascheny stumbled and collapsed onto the cold marble floor. For her daughter's sake, she could have abandoned that princess seat without hesitation. But the problem was the Khun Family's overheated princess competition. And the power struggle growing ever more ruthless.

Mascheny had already waded deep into that maelstrom, and if she pulled out now—especially if the reason was a defect called a hereditary disease—she would be torn apart in an instant by the other competitors within the Khun Family who never missed the slightest opening.

This was a matter directly tied to the survival of not just Khun Mascheny herself, but her daughter as well. The history of the Khun Family's power struggles proved just how wretched the end was for those who fell behind in the princess competition.

It was a complete checkmate. If she tried to suppress the hereditary disease with healing sorcery, it would be discovered by the Royal Palace or other competitors, and the outcome was obvious. But if she didn't use sorcery, her daughter Mascheny's hereditary disease couldn't be cured.

"...Is her life... in danger?"

"Fortunately, her life isn't at risk. There are no externally visible symptoms either."

"...I see."

The doctor was bowing his head repeatedly, expressing his regret, and failed to notice. The look in Khun Mascheny's eyes—completely different from the vulnerable, fear-stricken woman of moments ago.

This was the Mascheny who had survived in the Khun Family until now, walking the razor's edge, pushing aside opponents with venomous determination. The doctor didn't notice the killing intent she harbored upon resolving to protect her daughter, and—

Crackle—

Squelch—

"...Gkh."

"...I'm truly sorry. Please, don't forgive me."

In an instant, Khun Mascheny's hand blade, infused with lightning-attribute shinsu, pierced through the doctor's chest. The doctor stared at her with bewildered eyes for a moment, then breathed his last.

It wasn't because she'd killed him in a fit of rage over his inability to treat her daughter. It was to silence him—to protect her daughter.

If this rumor spread, Mascheny would undoubtedly be in danger. At the very least, until she was fully recognized as a Princess of Zahard, until she received Zahard's blood, this fact had to remain hidden. Once her daughter was fully selected as a princess and her safety was assured, then—as secretly as possible—she would use healing sorcery to treat her daughter. That was Khun Mascheny's resolution.

Khun Mascheny filled her hand with warm shinsu and stroked her daughter lying on the sickbed. As the shinsu scattered and settled across Mascheny's body, perhaps in response, Mascheny slowly opened her eyes.

"...Mother.."

"Yes, my dear..."

"It's much less than before but... it still hurts... if I go to the doctor, will he make it better...?"

"..."

Khun Mascheny gritted her teeth so hard they might crack. Crying out to god that she would protect this lovely, pitiable daughter by any means necessary.

In the end, she succeeded. Whether by heavenly fortune, fate, or perhaps orchestrated by someone—she didn't know—but Mascheny Zahard managed to deceive the Royal Palace's eyes and was selected as a princess. This was possible partly because she wasn't a newly nominated candidate but was at the stage just before final selection after completing various tests.

There had been hope that receiving Zahard's blood might suppress the hereditary disease without needing sorcery, but that proved of little help.

Mascheny Zahard, steeped in pain and the negative emotions born from that pain, gradually changed in every way. She herself despised the existence of the hereditary disease eating away at her body. The optimistic child's outlook turned pessimistic, and the smile filled with happiness transformed into cold sneers and bitter smirks.

She found the mere act of living through each day tedious. Partly because the pain exhausted her mind, but also because Khun Mascheny had harshly trained her daughter in how to survive and reign in the Family.

Even so, she still enjoyed combat. No—she became even more fanatically obsessed with it. Strangely, the pain vanished completely during the moments she fought. The smell of blood shed by her opponents became a painkiller that elevated her mood like a drug and made her forget the pain.

Over the long years, she grew numb to stimulation, and her temperament twisted bit by bit. Her interest in the war stories she'd loved reading since childhood gradually warped into something distorted. Just a madwoman who simply wished to see the Tower burn in rivers of blood.

Khun Mascheny Zahard—that was how she was born.

Had she never met Hoaqin, she would surely have remained that way until now.

....

"...That's all."

I was too shocked to speak. I simply stared at her—so intently it bordered on glaring—with eyes half-believing, half-doubting. I stumbled, nearly losing my balance, and caught myself on the nearby railing.

And I protested.

"...That's impossible. A hereditary disease, out of nowhere?"

"...It must be because that child inherited the Family Head's blood too strongly. That was the doctor's speculation."

Denial, denial, denial, denial. I just wanted to deny everything. I desperately waited for Lady Khun Mascheny to break into a broad smile and tell me it was just a tasteless joke. Naturally, nothing so ridiculous happened.

Reality was merciless.

The thought that I wish I'd never heard this flooded in like a tide. Lady Khun Mascheny was silent for a long while, then for the first time glanced slightly back at me and asked.

"Do you regret having this conversation with me today?"

"...No."

What if, by some chance, I'd never heard this story? The thought of myself grinning away happily while Mascheny was drowning in pain made my skin crawl, and I felt pathetic. What on earth had I been...

Whether I even had the right at this point, I didn't know—but I was worried sick about her. The gratitude I felt toward Mascheny, who had come to find me when I'd been a wreck long ago, hit me with double the force.

"..."

...My head was throbbing. A severe headache had set in. Even this was nothing compared to what she'd endured.

"...Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I've finally found someone. Someone my daughter relies on. And someone who relies on my daughter. My daughter discarded many things to become a Princess of Zahard, and after becoming one."

She raised her head and looked at me.

"And yet now, it seems she's about to discard that very position—which she obtained by sacrificing so much—because of you."

She drew close to me, showing an indescribable look in her eyes. A gaze mixing madness, obsession, anxiety, fear, a sliver of hope—every emotion tangled together—was directed at me.

"My daughter chose you, prepared to bear everything. If you should ever try to cut that bond first, you will pay dearly for it."

"That will never happen. Absolutely not."

"...Then that's a relief. Please, I beg you... take good care of that child... please."

"...I should be the one asking."

She disappeared beyond the garden maze first. I stood there with a bitter smile, staring for a long while at the spot where she'd vanished, then walked out the opposite way, escaping this maze that was thickly coated with every negative emotion.

...Should I go to Mascheny? Just as she had once hesitated to come to me, now it was my turn to hesitate. What should I...

"....?"

Just as I was about to clutch my head, a man passed by my side with perfect nonchalance. Given this was the Khun Family main house, the man's presence felt deeply out of place. Much like mine.

Red eyes, black hair. That alone told me everything.

"...Ha Family?"

Had they arrived first?

Ding—

"....?"

— Khun Family: The negotiation schedule has been moved up. We will meet at the Typhoon Palace in two days.

What was this now? My head was a tangled mess. Should I go to Mascheny right now? Knowing her personality, going there and bringing this up would only...

And had the Ha Family already been here? The negotiations? Had they already finished talks with the Khun Family?

I felt as though secret dealings that had been happening beneath the surface, unbeknownst to me, were creeping up my body.

.....

78th Floor, Sea of the White Whale Arie Hoaqin's Territory, Branch Estate

Belsian was walking down the corridor with an annoyed sigh, carrying an enormous basket in his arms, with Hagipherione trailing behind him. Since Hoaqin had been going out on business far too often lately, the play-partner-less Hagipherione had turned her attention to Belsian, the person she was closest to after her brother.

"Belsian! Play with meee... I'm bored..."

As always, Belsian was firm.

"I'm busy, so please find someone else, my lady. I need to feed Rex."

"Why can't I meet Rex...? I want to see Belsian's friend too..."

When she looked puzzled, Belsian stopped briefly and whispered to her quietly.

"...Rex, when he meets small children..."

"...Meets them?"

"BOO!"

"Kyaaah!"

Startled by Belsian's sudden shout with arms spread wide, Hagipherione ducked down. Belsian wore a mischievous smile, dusted off his hands, and picked up the large basket again.

"—gobbles them up in one bite. It's dangerous, so you can't. Stay here and play with your toys."

"Okay..."

Her eyebrows drooped, and even the antenna-like strand of hair sticking up from her head wilted. At her visibly deflated appearance, Belsian couldn't hide his alarm.

"I'll play with other Ranker brothers or sisters... even though they're all complete strangers... since Belsian is busy..."

"Wh-why would you play with strangers?! That's reckless!"

"Well, it's because Belsian won't play with me..."

At her drooping form, Belsian grew even more flustered and furrowed his brow.

"Ugh, wait! Let me just feed Rex and I'll come back up and... go along with things a bit."

At his words, Hagipherione's expression brightened instantly.

"You mean you'll play with me?"

"...No, it's... a kind of lesson. Please don't think of it as playing, my lady."

"Okay! What are you going to teach me, Belsian?"

"...Beast taming?"

"I don't know how to do that... but if that's what Belsian wants to play with me!"

"I said it's not playing! It's a lesson!"

"Okay!"

"...Sigh."

Heaving deep sighs, Belsian passed through the corridor and disappeared somewhere. Hagipherione decided to sit obediently in the corridor and wait for his return. It was a rare day off from lessons, and it was such a shame oppa wasn't here... but Belsian was!

Just then, something was detected by Hagipherione's keen senses.

"...? Is someone there?"

She turned around, but nothing was there.

"...That's strange."

She had definitely sensed something. Hagipherione tilted her head, then went back to fidgeting with her hands while waiting for Belsian.

That there was an unidentified man on the ceiling above, watching her with his presence perfectly concealed, was something the current Hagipherione could not possibly detect.

The man—with white hair, gray skin, black sclera and golden irises—wore a robe pulled over his head, and from within it let out a satisfied smile.

'Oh my, both the power she harbors and her talent and her refinement... she is splendid beyond compare. She is more than worthy of receiving the King's blood.'

Of course, infiltrating the White Whale's territory without being detected by anyone was impossible even for him, so he could only set foot here after receiving permission from the acting branch leader, Cain.

The man's identity was a 'Breeder.' An entity tasked by the Royal Palace with selecting and training girls suitable to become Princesses of Zahard. He marked Hagipherione as one of the 'candidates' and swiftly departed the branch before Belsian returned.