Chapter 165: Chapter 165
That haze held the very existence of Ahn Seohye, mixed so thoroughly with the energy of the Red Eyes that the two could no longer be differentiated. It was like the Red Eyes were Seohye, and Seohye was the Red Eyes.
'If I were to look in the way that a Fire Giant sees the world…'
Fire Giants had their unique method of perceiving the world, as did I. Through Observer's Eye, Seohye's presence and the energy of the Red Eyes she had absorbed felt almost like one and the same, like they had always been one entity.
[The Guardian Tower has concluded preparations to assimilate the powerful Guardian Will.]
It seemed the 'Guardian Will' mentioned here was 'that thing' that could not be precisely defined, the amalgam of Seohye and the Red Eyes' energy.
[With the Guardian Tower Master's consent, the process to assimilate the Guardian Will shall begin.]
This was the process to reform an incomplete Guardian Tower into a complete one. But it wasn't a procedure I was very happy to see.
[The success rate for assimilating the Guardian Will is less than 30%.]
Seohye was no longer visible. But to my eyes, it was like she was standing next to the Guardian Tower. To be more exact, it looked like she was surrounding the Guardian Tower in mist-ified form.
[(Courageous) Hunter's March is in effect.]
[The success rate for assimilating the Guardian Will has increased by 40%.]
I took it all in—the Guardian Tower preparing to take in something new, and the red energy enveloping the tower.
'I'll accept it.'
I could instinctively feel that this was the 'utmost' I could do right now.
'I have to focus.'
This was similar to enhancement. When enhancing an item, you needed Enhancement Crystals and Element Affinity Powder. Depending on the item, there were times when you needed other materials as well.
'This and enhancement are the same in essence.'
Could this really be called enhancement? I couldn't say. But there was no doubt that the process of assimilation was in the same vein as enhancement. At least, that was what I felt.
'Enhancement is affected by a complex mix of countless factors, including the Player's talent, timing, and the field's attribute.'
It was the same now.
'When the flow of the Guardian Tower and the flow of the Red Eyes align…'
I had to nail the timing, the most suitable and efficient moment for the Guardian Tower to accept the Guardian Will.
It was like time stopped, like I was in a Pause. Every sound faded away. The only two things in the world were the Guardian Tower, me, and Seohye's afterimage.
'Now!'
[By the order of the Guardian Tower Master, the Guardian Tower begins to assimilate the Guardian Will.]
The seemingly paused world began to move again.
Flash!
A red light burst out.
Whooosh–!
Red threads covered the sky. It was the 'Nemesis Doom Barrier' that had been set up here in advance, the barrier that had swallowed the Fire Giants alive. It filled every inch of this space, the red threads so numerous they couldn't possibly be counted. Not long after, the swarming mass stretched out towards the Guardian Tower.
'The red threads… have covered the Guardian Tower.'
It was almost like they were trying to hunt the Guardian Tower. But I didn't feel the same 'bloodthirst' I had felt earlier.
'Seohye.'
I didn't know how things would unfold from here on out, either. But I could tell.
'Seohye isn't dead.'
She was alive. It would be pretentious to call this conviction Precognitive Eye, but it was a similar feeling.
[Guardian Will is beginning to imbue the Guardian Tower.]
My heart thudded as I looked at the red threads covering the Guardian Tower. The energies of the Guardian Tower and Red Eyes gathered in one place, alternating between tangling and detangling, almost like they were trying to consume each other. It felt like two savage beasts were snarling at each other.
'It's not enough.'
The effect of the Red Eyes was greatly boosted by Courageous Hunter's March, but it still wasn't enough. Something more was necessary.
I spoke into the sky. "I want to nurture my Guardian Tower into the best Guardian Tower."
I didn't mention anyone's name.
"I am well aware that you have been watching over me ever since the Shot Table Dungeon."
Back then, I clearly heard a notice.
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' has begun to pay attention to you.]
When I was enhancing the Wind Shoes, the Barrier of Blue Light helped me by putting a temporary safe zone around me. Later, I even won a good chunk of the Barrier of Blue Light's goodwill.
"I know that you have helped me a lot, great Guardian."
The Barrier of Blue Light themself put it like this:
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' wants to help you.]
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' states their strong will to sponsor you.]
And not only that, but—
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' promises a big sponsorship.]
That 'promise' was what I was referring to now.
"Barrier of Blue Light, you who have so generously supported me, you once promised me a big sponsorship."
I wanted to avoid direct deals with Guardians if at all possible, but desperate times called for desperate measures. In all things, there were times when you had to step forward and times when you had to step back. This was a time for the former.
"I promise to show what the Barrier of Blue Light wants to see."
I had the confidence to back those words. I was confident I could fully amuse not just the Barrier of Blue Light, but most Guardians.
This time, I had to take the straight path. I spoke frankly.
"Please help me just this once."
Owing a Guardian a debt was absolutely nothing to be happy about. But Seohye put her life on the line. Owing a debt was nothing.
"I want to protect," I said honestly.
In response to the sincerity I expressed in a statement made by thoroughly calculating the Barrier of Blue Light's disposition, I heard the same notice I heard in the past.
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' keenly understands your feelings.]
I added one last thing.
"I want your protection."
A message the Barrier of Blue Light often sent came once again. The words were the same, but the sincerity within them was different.
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' wants to protect you.]
* * *
It was hard to say how this situation came about. Was it because the Shepherd Boy directly interfered? Because he used a fabricated power? Or was it because the Barrier of Blue Light truly wanted to protect me?
[The 'Blessing of Blue Light' has begun to descend on the Guardian Tower.]
As the Guardian Tower Master, I could feel that 'Blessing of Blue Light' had extremely good compatibility with the Guardian Tower Tintin.
The energies of the Guardian Tower and Red Eyes clashing within the dome made of red thread began to mesh. It looked as though the Blessing of Blue Light was acting as an intermediary.
Water and oil did not mix. But they could be made to mix if an emulsifier was added—that was the role the Blessing of Blue Light was playing.
[Countless factors taking effect and assisting the process.]
[The Guardian Tower has successfully assimilated the Guardian Will.]
That moment, the red threads started to get sucked into the Guardian Tower. A 'red eye' appeared above the Guardian Tower Tintin, and the tower's name changed.
[Guardian Tower - Tintin]
The Guardian Tower guarding the Guardian Field.
Growth-type Guardian Tower
Guardian Tower Master: Kim Hyukjin
LVL: 1
Special notes:
Has absorbed the Red Eyes.
Barrier Magician's ego.
More precisely, the name [Guardian Tower - Tintin] changed from black to blue, almost like a blue item from an enhancement.
I heard a voice.
(Thank you.)
It was Seohye.
'Huh?'
I pinpointed where the voice was coming from.
'The Guardian Tower?'
It was coming from the tower.
(I am told I need a new vessel.)
This had to be what the 'Barrier Magician's ego' in the special notes was referring to.
(Don't worry too much. In due time, when the Guardian Tower grows, I think I will be able to materialize a body with my power.)
The current Ahn Seohye was kind of like a consciousness imbued in the Guardian Tower. But later, when the Guardian Tower grew, she would be able to have her own body.
(I'm alive.)
I was stumped—nothing like this had happened in the past. For the time being, I concealed my shock and expressed my thanks to the Barrier of Blue Light.
"Thank you. Because the Barrier of Blue Light protected me, I was able to achieve what I wanted. I will not forget this kindness."
A follow-up of this level was necessary. Actually, a little elaboration from Senia would make a far better follow-up, but that was still too much to exp—hm? The ultimate stone face, Senia, was smiling brightly. Her wings were swaying gently as she streamed with words I couldn't understand.
She still looked incredibly awkward in my eyes, but she seemed to believe that she was giving the best follow-up.
[The 'Barrier of Blue Light' is very satisfied.]
For now, the Barrier of Blue Light didn't demand anything in particular. They were a Guardian who liked to 'protect' something. It was possible that they felt extreme joy from the act of responding to my request for protection.
(Darn, I want to eat hamburgers, but I can't.) Seohye continued to talk to me. (Please hurry and help me grow. I want to eat hamburgers.)
I couldn't see her, but I thought I could see Seohye smile.
(In the meantime, I will protect this Guardian Field perfectly. I should be able to channel far more strength than the original Guardian Tower.)
She went on to say that although she couldn't move, her new hardware was much more suitable for a Barrier Magician than her previous body.
(And… I'm really sorry, but…) After quibbling for a bit, she finally continued. (About the way I address you…)
Seohye had a history of calling me 'sir'. I understood, and never even thought to force a different address.
(You might dislike it a little, but… this is the set name.)
I heard a System notice.
[The quest 'Guardian Tower's Vow' is in progress.]
It wasn't a very difficult quest. Clearly reaffirming the Guardian Tower - Guardian Tower Master relationship was enough.
(Um, so…) Seohye hesitated for a long time. (I have to call you 'Master' in order to officially complete the process.)
Ah.
Master.
The heck was this strange, outdated form of address?
(In the future, when I address Master, I have no choice but to call you Master.)
This was October 2018. How could anyone in Korea get used to being called 'Master'?
(Even if I try putting it in other ways or saying other words, it will be interpreted as 'Master' to you.)
It was hard at first, but she seemed to have gotten the hang of it. The title came popping out of her metaphorical mouth with ease, even though it was painful to my ears.
'Still… she's become more cheerful.'
After becoming a Guardian Tower, Ahn Seohye brightened up, and she seemed to have opened her heart a little more to me. She was conversing with me with much greater ease than before.
(Will you become my Master?)
When I inwardly assented, the System notices continued.
[The 'Servant-Master Relationship of the Guardian Tower - Tintin' has been fully established.]
[The quest 'Guardian Tower's Vow' has been cleared.]
[The Guardian Tower begins to faithfully fulfill its role of a Guardian Tower.]
Well, alright. Whatever. She was alive. What she called me was hardly of any importance, and I could feel from her voice that she was a lot more sunny than the original Ahn Seohye.
(Please tell Yeonseo unnie and Sunhwa that I'm okay, too. I can't talk to other people yet.)
Yes, I definitely had to tell them that later, Seohye would once again be able to have a 'body' with which she could walk around on her own two feet. Yeonseo and Sunhwa would be really happy to hear it.
(And please tell Mister Yoohyun to stop crying. I don't like getting snot on my body.)
I hadn't had the presence of mind to pay any heed to the others, but Yoohyun was crouched in front of the Guardian Tower, wailing. Tears the size of chicken eggs were streaming out of eyes as swollen as his muscles, and snot was dangling from his nose. It was like watching a rhinoceros crying its heart out.
In any case, we successfully hunted the Fire Giants.
Seohye said it again.
(Thank you.)
Was it because we were now in a servant-master relationship? I could feel Seohye's feelings more keenly than usual. She really meant her thanks. She continued, more talkative than usual.
(I'm happy that I have people to protect.)
She seemed sincerely happy about that.
(I think the world right now has become a lot brighter than when I had no one I wanted to protect. Minus the fact that I can't eat hamburgers.)
The 'red eye' shining at the top of the Guardian Tower no longer felt wicked. I could no longer say that was the aura of the Red Demon. From that energy came the will to protect.
(Thank you so much.)
I told the party everything about Seohye's current condition, including the part about how we would likely be able to meet her in the flesh in the future.
Sunhwa rubbed her cheeks on the Guardian Tower, clinging to it. "Let's go and eat hamburgers together for sure, Unnie! I'll earn a lot of money and buy you a hundred burgers!"
But just then, someone crashed our joyful celebration.
"You. Do you know that you're in for it now?"
I was aware that the Blood and Iron Queen, Song Junghye, had been here for a while. I looked in her direction as she walked up to me.
"Starting now, I will objectively inform you of the situation you are in."
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