章節 1702: Reprieve
Following the outburst of Baam's power, the best way to describe the atmosphere in the arena was 'stunned silence'. Even Endorsi, a Princess of Jahad, and Khun, a descendent of one of the Ten Great Families could hardly believe what they had just witnessed. It wasn't until Laure very openly asked, "Where the hell is the Test Administrator?" that everyone else seemed to return to their senses.
As if in response to the man's question, Lero-Ro appeared out of thin air, an unhappy expression on his face as he replied, "My apologies, Regulars. I, too, was caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events..."
While explaining the situation, Lero-Ro surveyed the state of the arena, suppressing a sigh when he glanced at the two corpses with their skulls bashed in. Though killing other Regulars wasn't against the rules, it was still heavily frowned upon in most situations. This was especially true when the test was a bonus game, meaning there were no real consequences for failing to emerge victoriously.
Resisting the urge to shake his head, Lero-Ro shifted his attention to where Baam was being held by Rachel for a brief moment before quickly looking towards where Anak was collapsed. The latter was bleeding rather severely due to the hole running through the center of her chest and exiting out beneath her right shoulder. Despite this, she had managed to crawl towards the rubble of the throne, passing out while hugging the Green April and Black March.
Noticing Lero-Ro's gaze, Khun was the one to break this silence, his expression severe as he said, "This incident can't go unanswered..." as he walked over to where Anak had collapsed, a glistening knife in hand.
Khun wasn't just going to let the girls steal his friend's weapon, especially after she went out of her way to interrupt the game, but, before he could seek revenge, a figure appeared to block his path just as Lero-Ro was about to intervene. At the same time, two more figures appeared next to Baam and Rachel, one pulling out a staff to treat their injuries while the other released a uniquely peaceful yet suffocating aura.
Though he was surprised by the sudden appearance of Gandr, Phae, and Vahn, Lero-Ro quickly recovered his senses as he plainly advised, "Please do not make this situation more complicated. I will allow you to treat their injuries, but any further action will result in a point reduction."
Shifting his attention to the Test Administrator, Vahn's expression remained largely unchanged as he calmly stated, "I will take possession of those two weapons and mediate this matter. Are there any objections?"
In response to Vahn's inquiry, Endorsi, still holding her gut, was the one to answer, "As a Princess of Jahad, those weapons should be entrusted to me. The Thirteen Month Series isn't something that is supposed to fall into the hands of others."
Turning to face the slightly hunched over Princess, Vahn's expression immediately became stern as he plainly stated, "No. I will not allow others to take advantage of this incident. When everything is settled, I will return those weapons to their rightful owners."
Feeling the pressure on her body begin to increase, Endorsi clenched her teeth in frustration, her ghostly eyes seeming to glow with increasing intensity. Fortunately, before she could do something she was bound to regret, Lero-Ro calmly stated, "Very well. Though it is unorthodox, I can tell that you hold no malicious intent towards either of the parties involved in this incident. However, if you have not reached an agreement by the end of the Position Test, I will require that both weapons be returned to their original owners."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn turned toward Phae and ordered, "Retrieve the two weapons and treat the girl's injuries..." before looking towards Gandr and adding, "Gather those who cannot move on their own. Phae will treat them after she is finished dealing with our little friend there..."
With his orders issued, Vahn moved at a slow and steady gait towards his waiting room, stopping after a few steps to observe Khun and advise, "Those who forget themselves and allow hatred to blind them are fated to experienced misfortune..."
Hearing Vahn's words, Khun shifted his gaze away from Anak, his expression becoming intense as he asked, "Did you know this was going to happen?"
Rather than respond to the heated youth's words, Vahn just continued along his path in silence, his aura slowly receding until even his presence seemed to disappear. This left Khun feeling even more resentful, but, knowing there was little he could do against the three monsters, he forced himself to calm down before going to Baam's side...
---
With both the Crown and the throne being destroyed, the Crown Game ultimately ended without a winner. This left quite a number of people dissatisfied but there wasn't really anything they could do to repeal the decision. In the end, they simply accepted the points handed out as compensation before retiring to their assigned rooms.
Though Phae had treated most of the wounded, even restoring the eye of the masked woman, the Test Admins had given all the Regulars three days to recuperate. After that, they would be sorted into one of five classes based on the Positions the Admins thought best suited each person. From that moment onward, they would spend thirty days learning both the ins and outs of their assigned Position and how it covered the various strengths and weaknesses of others.
When everything was said and done, only those who had qualified to move up the Tower would be given the right to move on to the 3rd Floor. Everyone else would be forced to retire to the Middle Tower, denied the opportunity to retake the test. To further increase the pressure placed on each of the Regulars, there were a limited number of slots for each Position, so, even if you were just a little weaker than someone who had passed, you could only blame your 'bad luck' for not being chosen.
---
Unconcerned about whether or not he would pass the Position Exam, Vahn was silently meditating within his room when a gentle *pitta pon*, the sound of the doorbell being rung. He already knew who was standing outside, so, without having to check the display showing the exterior corridor, he picked up the nearby remote, unlocking the door with a simple button press.
Like something out of a sci-fi movie, the sound of pressure being released could be heard as the door quickly slid into the wall with a mechanical hiss. On the opposite side, Gandr could be seen with a cheeky grin on his face, while, behind him, a rather frustrated looking girl with brown hair and green skin could be seen clenching her dress.
While everyone else had received monetary compensation following the failure of the Crown Game, Anak, alone, had been penalized quite severely. She had been fined 5000 points, effectively placing her into a point deficit due to Regulars only being allotted 1000 points upon receiving their Pocket.
Under normal circumstances, Anak would have had her qualifications as a Regular revoked, but, due to the Crown Game's status as a 'bonus test', she was fortunate to escape that fate. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to earn points early on, so, while everyone else was able to purchase supplies and eat their fill in the cafeteria, Anak was effectively forced to starve. She couldn't even afford a simple apple, and, if not for the charity of her former teammates and Phae helping to mend her dress, she would already be looking like a homeless vagabond...
Reinforcing his image as a mischief-making with a hunger for battle, Gandr snickered mischievously before performing a half-bow and saying, "Good morning, Master. I brought someone who wanted to say something to you. Is that okay?"
With a gesture of his hand, Vahn gave Gandr leniency to raise his head before shifting his gaze to Anak. This caused her to grind her teeth audibly, but, after several seconds of tense silence, she ultimately lowered her head and loudly exclaimed, "I'm sorry! Please return my Green April!"
Though her manners were greatly lacking, Vahn surprised Anak quite a bit by calmly replying, "Very well. Just remember, if I catch you misusing it in the future, I will confiscate it once again."
Following that simple statement, Vahn used his Telekinesis to retrieve the green hook resting near the corner of the room, returning it to the befuddled 'young' girl. Vahn, or, more specifically Phae, had heard that Anak was even older than Endorsi. Despite this, she had the appearance of a young girl around 10-12 years old, albeit one with a height of 154cm and a startling weight of 140kg...
Not sure how to respond after receiving her weapon so easily, Anak just stared blankly at the Green April until Gandr lightly nudged her arm and said, "I told you, right? You just have to be sincere and His Imperial Majesty won't mind lending you a hand. Now, isn't there something else you wanted to say?"
Though she was momentarily confused by Gandr's words, Anak realized what he was implying after the boy inclined his head towards Vahn with a 'say it' expression on his face. This caused her to feel slightly indignant, but, having recovered the Green April, she managed to restrain her anger as she bowed a second time and begrudgingly grumbled, "Thank you..."
Further exacerbating her frustration, Anak could hear Gandr snickering at her side, but, fortunately, she didn't have to keep her head lowered too long as Vahn simply replied, "It was a small matter. I just hope you learned something from all this. Now, run along. If you need anything else, you may inquire from my vassals."
Hearing Vahn's perpetually calm tone, Anak wasn't quite sure how she should respond to the man's words. She got the impression he was trying to look out for her, but, after everything she had done, it didn't make sense for him to do so. Stranger still was the fact that she got the same feeling from the woman named Phae, and, to a lesser extent, the annoying Vanargandr to her left...
Before she could mull over the incongruencies she was experiencing in her mind, Anak was brought back to awareness by Gandr saying, "Hey, we shouldn't loiter around here for too long. Master is a kind man, but we shouldn't impose upon him unless it's necessary. Come on, let's get something to eat in the cafeteria. I don't really need points so I'll treat you this time around. You can always pay me back in the future so don't even think about refusing...!"
Though he was originally going to pull the girl along by her hand, Gandr felt that would be going a little too far. He didn't want Anak to imprint upon him, so, after finishing with his words, he alighted from the room and gestured for her to follow. This left the girl feeling even more disconcerted, but, after a moment's hesitation, she quickly chased after him with the Green April in her hands...
Seeing the duo depart, Vahn pressed the button on his remote, locking the door and restoring the serene atmosphere that had been disrupted by their arrival. Now that they were gone, he closed his eyes once again, a golden hue coloring his surroundings as nine watery marbles, glistening with the same golden hue, began to orbit gracefully around his body...
----
Despite the childishness of the act, Gandr ended up turning the short journey to the cafeteria into a foot race. This was silently assented to by Anak, who, despite her small size, crammed a tremendous amount of power into a teenie-tiny package. This made her body so dense that she was harder than steel without any kind of physical reinforcement. Because of this, her bare feet left noticeable prints in the metallic corridor as she chased after him, her expression darkening as she failed to even get close, much less surpass, the cheeky Vanargandr...
Without any suspense, Gandr reached the cafeteria before Anak, snickering with his hands behind his head as he remarked, "What took you so long?"
With a visible tick mark appearing on her head, Anak looked like she was about to ignite the Green April, but, before she could make up her mind, Gandr turned his head away as if he had just noticed something. His fluffy ears began to twitch slightly, and, though the 'attack' had come from his blind spot, he was able to easily evade the grasp of a fashionable woman wearing a golden pleated dress, a light brown vest, black tights, and golden high-heels...
Though she wasn't that surprised by Gandr's ability to evade her 'attack', Endorsi adopted a slightly pouty look as she complained, "You're not supposed to dodge..." before shifting her gaze to Anak and asking, "By the way, why are you with this imposter...?"
Hearing the way Endorsi had referred to her, Anak immediately released a hate-filled aura from her body, the atmosphere, quite literally, becoming tense from the increase in pressure. Despite this, Endorsi showed absolutely no signs of discomfort, even placing her hand on her hip as she plainly remarked, "Oh? Does the truth offend you...faker?"
The moment she heard Endorsi call her another name, Anak became a green blur as she threw a full-powered punch towards the smiling Princess. Before the hit could connect, however, the two badges on Endorsi's vest enlarged in an instant, blocking the punch and mitigating all the force behind it in an instant. This earned a slightly intrigued look from Gandr, but, with more pressing matters to attend, he quickly stepped between the two Princesses, catching Anak's follow-up attack with his bare hand while glaring at Endorsi...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Emperor speaketh','Manners are important','Endorsi is just jealous that Anak is getting all the attention (UwU)~!')
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章節 1703: I am The Path
Seeing Gandr 'protecting' Anak, Endorsi couldn't help but scrunch up her nose slightly, hands on her hips as she said, "There is no reason to glare at me. Everything I've said is the truth. Anak isn't even her real name and she certainly hasn't earned the name Jahad. Everyone else has to put in a ridiculous amount of effort to obtain the blood of Jahad. That imposter got-"
Without waiting for Endorsi to finish, Gandr's expression became even more severe as he stated, "I don't want to hear it. I'm tired of hearing people blame and resent others for circumstances beyond their control. Just because you chose to become a Princess of Jahad, that doesn't give you the right to look down on others just for being born. Stop being petty."
Feeling like she had taken some kind of mental damage, Endorsi stumbled backward a bit, her face paling for a brief moment before she shouted, "Hey! I'm just trying to warn you guys! I didn't want to see that stupid lizard get killed trying to act cocky! Pulling stunts like what happened during the Crown Game isn't going to help with her revenge! Don't be such a jerk, you fluffy-eared brat!"
Following her outburst, Endorsi stamped her foot on the ground a few times, creating several cracks in the reinforced metal surface due to her high-heels. Then, with a loud 'hmph!', she turned around and stormed off with her hands balled into fists.
Surprised by unexpected reaction, Gandr just stared blankly in the direction of Endorsi's retreat as Anak remarked, "That woman has a screw loose inside her head..."
Finding Anak's comment rather amusing, Gandr issued a light snicker while shaking his head. Then, with a slightly serious expression on his face, he turned to face her and asked, "Are you okay...?"
Feeling the same incongruous feeling as earlier, Anak frowned in response to Gandr's words, asking, "Why are you being so nice to me? What kind of game are you playing?"
Though she didn't sense any hostility at all from Gandr and the rest of his team members, Anak felt it was strange how all three of them seemed to treat her kindly. It made her feel more than a little uncomfortable, her mind telling her to remain cautious despite her instincts telling her it was okay to trust them.
In response to Anak's question, Gandr performed the characteristic ear flop of a Vanargandr, head tilted to the side as he asked, "Is there something wrong with being nice to people? My Master has always told me that we should do our best to help others. Unless it forces me to compromise on my own integrity and ideals, I try to be nice to everyone I meet. There is already so much negativity in the world. Why add more?"
Surprised by Gandr's words, Anak, once again, found herself at a loss as to how she should respond. She had already observed him getting along relatively well with several others so it didn't seem like he was trying to be deceitful. Despite this, she couldn't shake the feeling he was hiding something from her, almost like he was putting on an act to try and fool her. The only thing that didn't make sense about this was that there was simply no reason for him to do so, as, at his current level, Gandr could kill her without any effort...
Further surprising the seriously confused girl, Gandr placed his hand atop her head faster than she could react, lightly caressing her dark-brown hair as he said, "You must have had it rough to be so fearful of trusting others. Don't worry, even if you can't fully trust me, I will still look after you when I'm not fulfilling my other duties. You can also go to Phae if you need advice. She might be a little scary at times, but she always helps those who ask."
With decades passing since the last time she had her head pat, Anak briefly turned statuesque in response to Gandr's unexpected action. It was only after he had finished speaking that she made a full recovery, her expression becoming a deadpan as she smacked his hand away and asserted in a dull monotone, "Don't touch me. I'm not a child."
While shaking away the numbness from his hand, Gandr reacted with a light chuckle and a roll of the eyes before saying, "I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
Though she didn't like being told what to do by someone much younger than her, Anak couldn't prevent her stomach from grumbling in response to Gandr's words. This caused her deadpan to become even more prominent, but, despite her best efforts, she was unable to prevent a very light blush from coloring her cheeks. It didn't help that Gandr immediately laughed at her expense, his voice giving her a very strong urge to string him up and beat him...
---
After several hours of silent meditation, Vahn's concentration was once again interrupted by a soft *pitta-pon*. In response, he immediately expanded his domain to sense who was outside his door, his expression showing visible intrigue for a brief moment before melting into a mask of calm as he picked up the remote allowing entry into the room.
Without showing any surprise at being let in so easily, the red-haired woman on the other side of the door stepped fearlessly across the threshold.
Seeing the woman without her full-body tights on, an appreciative shimmer flashed across Vahn's eyes. If he had any preference at all, it would be that he always had a thing for red-heads, especially when they had wild and free-flowing hair. This woman, in particular, had characteristics very similar to Hephaestus, the key differences being that her hair was much longer and her bosom was slightly smaller. She even had an eye-patch covering her right eye due to having refused Phae's treatment during the Crown Game...
Though he was feeling slightly reminiscent, Vahn didn't allow it to show on his face, plainly stating, "Speak. Why have you come here?"
As if nothing in the world could surprise or perturb her, the woman just placed her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie before casually replying, "I had noticed it before, but I wanted to confirm something. Tell me, how is it that you and your companions do not have a fate? I have tried seeing the paths around you several times, but all I see is darkness..."
Vahn already had his suspicions, but, based on the woman's words, he could easily intuit that she was a Guide, an exceptionally rare existence within the Tower. Since there were typically only two tribes associated with the Guide Position, Silver Dwarves and Red Witches, Vahn could assume she was a member of the latrer for rather obvious reasons. With that in mind, he habitually stroked his beard as he stated, "So my suspicions were correct...you are a Guide..."
Without trying to deny it, the woman replied with a curt nod before answering, "I am Hwa Ryun, a member of the Red Witches. Though I have only recently started my pilgrimage, I am, indeed, one of the Tower's Guides..."
Sensing something 'wrong' with the woman's words, Vahn couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly, an action that resulted in Hwa Ryun paling slightly. Despite this, she made no attempt to avert her eye or flee, standing her ground in the hopes of ascertaining the truth.
Though he got the distinct impression the woman was lying to him, Vahn decided against trying to pressure her, his expression relaxing as he explained, "It is simple, Hwa Ryun of the Red Witch tribe. The reason you cannot see the path I walk is because I am the only one who can decide my path. I am not bound by fate nor destiny; I shape it through my words and actions...does that satisfy your curiosity?"
Now with visible beads of sweat on what little of her brow was exposed, Hwa Ryun offered a smile in response before saying, "You're a real monster...". Immediately afterward, however, she asked, "I wonder if you are willing to answer a few questions of mine? I can also answer anything you might be curious about. As an Irregular, I'm certain you could benefit from the knowledge of a Guide..."
Without denying the woman's claims, Vahn casually nodded in response before pulling a chair out of his Inventory with a wave of his hand. This caused Hwa Ryun to gulp, but, rather than flee from the room, she smoothed out her rather plain-looking skirt before taking a seat and asking, "What is your purpose? Why have you decided to climb the Tower?"
Before answering the woman's questions, Vahn produced a kettle from his Inventory, filling his cup with tea as he explained, "I will answer your questions. In exchange, you will also answer them. I'm sure you've already noticed, but I have the ability to see through falsehoods and deceit. I might not be able to know what you are lying about, but I can tell when you are lying. Your ability to see the paths will not help you here, Guide. If you intend to play games with me, don't expect me to ignore it the next time I catch you altering the paths of others..."
Understanding the meaning behind Vahn's words, Hwa Ryun's eyes widened as she asked, "You can see the paths...?"
Rather than answer, Vahn merely smiled in response to Hwa Ryun's question before adding, "If your question would not provide me with any new information, do not expect me to answer. Now, have you accepted my terms?"
Though she felt like she was walking into a trap, a known flaw of most Guides was that they were always inextricably drawn to things they couldn't see. They generally lived their entire lives with a certain level of surety, their ability to read the paths even revealing the circumstances of their own deaths. As a result, they neither feared nor tried to avoid their own death, accepting everything as the machinations of fate, accepting the unique role they had been given.
After a brief moment of consideration, Hwa Ryun nodded her head, stating, "I accept." in a resolute tone.
Finding the woman's reaction rather amusing, Vahn's smile became slightly more prominent as he answered, "My purpose is to reunite with my family and protect the things in life worth protecting. I climb the Tower, not to reach the top, but to ascend to a place far higher. At your current level, you would not be able to comprehend the truth of which I speak. All you really need to know is that the Tower is actually a 'very small' place, a construct fundamentally incapable of holding something like me..."
Sensing no falsehoods in Vahn's words, Hwa Ryun could only hide the trembling of her hands by keeping them firmly tucked within her front pocket. She got the impression that Vahn wasn't really moving up the Tower, merely passing through. His destination was far beyond the reach of others, far beyond the petty squabbles and political struggles within the Tower...
Suddenly feeling as though her throat was very parched, Hwa Ryun instinctually looked toward the pot of tea only to find a cup literally manifesting in front of her. This caused her to feel even more nervous as she couldn't even comprehend how Vahn was able to accomplish these feats. He didn't seem to be manipulating the surrounding Shinsu; the objects just manifested out of thin air with no warning whatsoever.
After consuming half the contents of her cup in a single gulp, Hwa Ryun couldn't stop herself from exhaling a cool sigh. The tea Vahn had provided for her was some kind of honey-mint tea, its taste both sweet and refreshing. It also seemed to have a mysterious calming property, as, immediately after consuming the fragrant substance, Hwa Ryun felt as though all her tensions were gradually fading away.
Without worrying that the tea was poisoned, Hwa Ryun finished the contents of her cup before deciding to uphold her end of the agreement, explaining, "My purpose is to orchestrate a series of events that lead to the downfall of Jahad. My reason for climbing the Tower is to Guide those with the capability to kill the King. The Tower has stagnated under the rule of Jahad and the Ten Great Families. Rather than climb to the top, they have sealed the path, perverting the purpose of the Tower for their own selfish gain. Even if I am ultimately fated to die before the journey has come to an end, I will continue walking this path in the hopes that the False God is forced from his throne."
Since she could have easily concealed the full extent of her purpose and goals, Vahn couldn't help but feel a little surprised by Hwa Ryun's bold statement. It took a considerable amount of restraint for him not to burst out laughing, not because he thought her claims were ridiculous, but because it sounded like a lot of fun. He had already heard a bit about Jahad and the Ten Great Families during Gandr's discussion with Endorsi, so, even if he didn't really care about their politics, it was only ever a matter of time before Vahn went to war against the Jahad Empire...
Noticing the glimmer of excitement contained within Vahn's eyes, Hwa Ryun could feel her heart beating at an inordinately fast pace. She couldn't see the path he was walking, but her instincts told her the man before her was going to flip the Empire on its head. Her original purpose had been to manipulate events so that Baam was given proper motivation to climb the Tower, but, now that she was sitting before this man, The Sage Dragon Emperor, Hwa Ryun was experiencing doubt for the first time in her life.
Eager to learn the truth, Hwa Ryun could hardly contain herself as she stared directly into Vahn's eyes and asked, "Do you intend to kill Jahad and the Ten Great Warriors?"
Though it was a question he wasn't compelled to answer, as he already knew what Hwa Ryun's response would be, Vahn couldn't fully restrain his excitement, smiling as he stated, "The Aldrnari Empire has always placed the people before everything else. We will never turn a blind eye to the injustices others ignore. If the Jahad Empire is as corrupt as it seems...we will burn it to the ground and open the path for all those who would follow after."
Feeling the aura radiating from Vahn's body, Hwa Ryun's heartbeat reached a crescendo. She wasn't able to explain it, but something about the man compelled her to believe in his words. It was like he 'knew' he would succeed, not that he 'thought' he might, but that it was something that was bound to happen; an absolute. There was no arrogance or hubris within his words, just sheer, uncorrupted, force of will...
Guides were supposed to act as the torchbearers that led others through the darkness, showing the way towards the future and subtly influencing its outcome. Hwa Ryun considered herself a meager flame that was meant to be extinguished once it had fulfilled its purpose. Vahn, however, gave off the impression similar to the stars, bathing the world in their light during the day and guiding those who knew how to read them during the night.
Though the fables claimed it was impossible to reach the stars, no matter how far you stretched out your hand, Hwa Ryun felt it would take very little effort to reach out and touch the one sitting right in front of her. Despite this, his luminance didn't diminish in the slightest, bathing her in its radiance and inspiring a feeling she never felt before: hope. She was not afraid of death, far from it, but there was a tiny voice in the back of her mind telling her that, if she following this guiding light, even the fate of the Guides could be altered...
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Hwa Ryun recalled the suffering of her sisters and the purpose she had been given. She was meant to guide the Child of Destiny, but, as none of the paths had previously intersected with Vahn, she could no longer be absolutely certain of the future. What she did know was that the man in front of her was guaranteed to shape the future of the Tower, so, without any hesitation, even ignoring the fact she was wearing a skirt, Hwa Ryun kneeled down, her head lowered as she asserted, "My God...my Emperor..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gandr is a sly shota (OwO)...','Vahn and his red-head fetish...','The guiding light the illuminates all paths...')
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