"Ugh."
I grabbed my forehead, pressing my fingertips against my skull. Then, the headache disappeared, and I slowly regained my senses.
'Right. I'm in a [Trauma] right now.'
This was a different world. No, it was a play that had been created by imitating a certain world.
The actors didn't know they were actors, and the props didn't know they were props, but all the people who came and went here were part-timers hired for the play.
'This is inside the Tower Master's… [Ja Soo-jung's Trauma].'
I have been looking at the life of Ja Soo-jung for a while now.
How talented she was. How ridiculous the manner she broke through the political offensive was. Who she got close to, how she gained power, and finally, how she took the power of the Dragons…
'The Tower was built with the power of the Dragons.'
I could not say it with certainty.
'It's not a place that was built with a single power. The power to deal with [Essence], the power to deal with [Memory], the power to deal with [Time]. And maybe the powers of other Dragon Emperors as well. The powers of so many Dragons combined… created a very comprehensive system.'
Babump.
The heart that wasn't mine pounded with my rhythm.
'I'm the first to unearth the structure of the Tower!'
It was almost as if it responded to my pounding heart.
Despite it being a Trauma, the Tower's voice still responded to my discovery.
[Congratulations. You are the first to discover the structure of the Tower!]
[If you can describe the exact powers(skills) that support the structure of the Tower, you will receive an additional bonus.]
[Can you reveal which four fundamental skills make up the Tower?]
I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
'Ja Soo-jung captured three Dragons.'
Recalling the things I'd seen, I murmured in my mind.
'One of them is the Earth Bone Dragon. The Dragon Emperor who had the [Power to store Memories]. When someone gets close to the Earth Bone Dragon, he would store their memories in a box.'
I thought about the power of the Earth Bone Dragon.
'And the size of the [Box] is not fixed.'
+
[The Earth Bone Dragon's Skull]
Rank: SSS+
Effect: The ability to archive the memories of the living. Archived memories are placed in a 'box' that can only be destroyed by the user.
Unless the box is destroyed, the user can recreate the body of a person who will inherit the same memories over and over. The body can travel around the world, create new memories, and 'update' those experiences back to the box. Of course, if the user allows it!
Even if the body is completely destroyed, the box will not suffer any damage. Grant the privilege of immortality to those around you.
※However, the memories of a destroyed body cannot be updated to the box.
+
I thought.
'Anyone who lived outside could enter the Tower.'
On the other hand, new entrants left everything on the outside and entered the Tower with only their bodies.
Like me. Like Marcus Calenbury. Just like the Director.
Like everyone else.
'The only thing you can bring into the Tower is [Yourself].'
In other words.
'What if the Tower is one big box?'
I snapped my fingers.
'And what if we are in it?'
As soon as I became an entrant, [My memories] were stored in the [huge box called the Tower]. And I entrusted my memories to the Tower while walking around in the world inside the Tower.
'With that, the Tower would gain access to all of the information of everyone in the Tower.'
The more I thought, the more certain I became.
'That explained why I could return 4,000 days in the past!'
Every time I returned a day, the Tower restored one day's [data restoration point]. After 4,000 iterations, the Tower reset to a data restoration point from 4,000 days before.
However, in the process, because of my skill, only my data was 'updated' in the Tower.
-Data restoration point forcibly returned to 4,000 days in the past.
-(Additional code due to skill) Maintain the continuity of character Kim Gong-ja.
That was why I could return without losing my memories.
'Good. If that's the case, then the Tower is a gigantic memory box. Our memories aren't in our brains but in our Towers. It's a great library where our memories are stored. No, it's a great library for souls. That is the identity of the Tower that I've deduced. How about that?!'
The Tower's voice responded quickly.
[Correct Answer.]
[Acknowledged that you have broken through the first gate.]
[The Earth Bone Dragon's Box forms the outer shell of the Tower.]
Okay.
'It must be the same logic that allows us to move between worlds.'
I had moved between the worlds of the [Tales of Somerwin Academy] and [Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon].
Strictly speaking, that transfer was more like 'transmission'.
'However, the only thing I found hard to understand was how the [Tales of Somerwin Academy] and [Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon] were incorporated into the Tower just like us…'
I frowned and rubbed my forehead.
Then, annoyingly, the nobles around me started talking.
"Wh-, when the Viscount receives her title of Duke, should we call her Duke? It feels like she's further away…"
"Mm. Viscount Ja Soo-jung allows anyone to call her whatever they like, so it won't be a problem to suddenly create and share a nickname."
"Nickname…"
"Did you not hear Marquis? Viscount Sim An-chal is called [This One's Princess] by Ja Soo-jung, and the Ultimate Sword Duke is called [This One's Dear Husband]. Those are names that only those people can monopolize. She might even make one for the Marquis."
"That, it's a bit embarrassing to hear others say it…"
"Doesn't it make you think that Ja Soo-jung is cute instead?"
"I can't decide…"
It was hard to ignore them even if I wanted to.
Because everything they said was related to the Tower Master.
People kept leaking information about the Owner who created this world, and no matter how small it was, I couldn't help but be interested in it.
'I need time to organize my thoughts.'
I suddenly realized that the [current me] had that ability.
Magic power flowed through this body. To be precise, it was as if this entire body was made of mana. I wasn't sure what I looked like now since I hadn't gotten the chance to look at a mirror, but this person's flesh, blood, and bones were all made of mana.
In short, so was the brain.
『Consciousness— Acceleration— Time.』
The nerves in the brain were mutated with mana.
The speed of my consciousness changed according to my wish. It was possible for me to even transform it into a [body that didn't need to breathe] if I wished. Whoever owned this body must be a formidable monster.
'Hmmm.'
Good. Time had slowed down.
Marquis Baek Seol-to and Viscount Sun Heuk-sin moved slowly as if they were stuck at 0.1x speed. My body also slowed down, but my consciousness continued to move at the same speed. I continued to think in a world with a more relaxed pace.
'Whether it's [Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon] or [Tales of Somerwin Academy], those worlds could not have entered the Tower on their own. They aren't humans like us. How were worlds brought into the Tower?'
I thought hard.
But I still couldn't imagine it.
'Seriously, how can a world be moved to the Tower…? I don't know if it's possible to make something like that.'
I frowned.
'Make something like that?'
My heart pounded.
'Right. Was there really a need to cram an entire world into the Tower? Wasn't it enough to create the same world as [Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon] in the Tower? In the first place, my memories are also stored in the Tower. That means that there is a record of my time in the world in the Tower.'
That could be it.
It was much easier to imagine than physically cramming a world into the Tower.
'However…'
There were still two problems that remained unresolved.
Firstly, the Earth Bone Dragon's Box [stored memories of the living]. That's how it was explained in the skill. Regardless of whether a world was alive or dead, it felt a bit much to describe a world as [living]. There was no such thing as a world deciding to enter the Tower of its own volition.
Secondly, was none other— than the Tower Master's personality.
"…"
The Tower Master turned her head and looked at me, and there was a hint of playfulness in her bright smile.
Purple eyes.
It was a color too deep to reflect anything. When facing her, it was necessary to not focus too deeply on the color of her eyes, as even a pale white floor would lay bare in those jewel-like eyes.
Her eyes seemed to devour mine like the open jaws of a snake. It was impossible. There was a fair bit of distance between our seats and the throne. But, nevertheless, I felt like Ja Soo-jung was looking at me as if she were right in front of me.
"There is an interesting smell coming from here."
In the distance, Ja Soo-jung moved her lips. Mouthing words. However, her words came right in front of me and drifted into my ears.
'Aura.'
I gulped down saliva. It was unclear how she realized that I'd changed the time of my consciousness to 0.1x, but Ja Soo-jung sent her words out at exactly the same speed. The owner of this body was a Wizard genius. But Ja Soo-jung was a monster.
"What kind of interesting thing are you trying to show me, This one's Advisor? This one's backstabbing staff? Baron Gu Won-ha, one of this one's favorites, who can comfort this one's boring life just by staying still. Are you doing anything particularly interesting?"
"…I was thinking about the structure of the Tower. Viscount."
[The Subject's ego is defying.]
[Continuing to reproduce the trauma!]
I tried to speak in the tone of Kim Gong-ja, but my tongue and lips moved against my will. I became a respectable noble and placed my hands in front of me.
"The structure of the tower?"
In the distance, Viscount Ja Soo-jung tilted her head, still openly displaying her affection with His Majesty.
"Are you referring to the structure of the Platinum Tower? Ah. Well. The structure of this place is quite intriguing. It was used by the Dark Sovereign before the founding of the Kingdom, so it was designed so that even when Dragon's passed…"
"Not this tower."
"Huh? Is that so? Then is it the Tower of Appeal? Ah, is it the Netherworld Tower* that this one captured?" (*: Changed from Yellow Sky Tower)
"I'm thinking about the structure of the [Tower] that the Viscount will build."
"…"
Suddenly, Ja Soo-jung rose up from her place under the throne.
"Viscount Ja Soo-jung?"
The King, who was sitting on the throne, was a bit surprised, so he looked at Ja Soo-jung.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. This one has something to discuss with my faction comrades…"
"Mm. Alrighty. Take your time."
"Many thanks, Your Majesty. This one will count the seconds that I could not spend with you and keep it in my heart, so that I may return with a heart that is full of love."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung turned away.
Tap.
Viscount Ja Soo-jung's dress was belted on both sides. The skirt was long and trailed behind her as she walked. She was not dressed as a noble or as Duke, but only with the sense of [the King's Concubine]. Viscount Ja Soo-jung had enough power and connections to wear such clothes in the sacred halls of the council without worry.
"Now then. Adviser Gu Won-ha."
The noble with the most power in this council hall where all nobles had gathered.
She was my Lord, I was her vassal.
Where other nobles called me [Baron] which was my official title in the Kingdom, only Viscount Ja Soo-jung used [Advisor] which was my position in the family.
"If this one didn't hear incorrectly, I believe I heard the word [Tower] just now. Ah. Marquis Baek Seol-to and Viscount Sun Heuk-sin, may I ask you to step aside for a moment?"
"Ah, Yes. Viscount…"
"Understood. Faction Leader."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung bent over and kissed Marquis Baek Seol-to on the forehead. Marquis Baek Seol-to blushed happily, and with a 'hehe', sprang up from her seat.
Viscount Ja Soo-jung then lifted her left hand towards Viscount Sun Heuk-sin. Viscount Sun Heuk-sin as if it was natural, knelt down and kissed and licked her left ring finger. Then she left her seat with a calm expression, seemingly satisfied.
"…"
"They are cute."
Ja Soo-jung covered her lips with her sleeve and giggled.
"So, about the Tower the Advisor spoke about. As far as this one remembers, this one has never mentioned the Tower to the Advisor. I didn't tell anyone. That is why this one is a bit confused now. Do you perhaps have foresight?"
"…No. Viscount. I do not have foresight."
"That's what I thought. The only person in this kingdom with the ability to see the future is Sin An-Yeji*, who is training his compassion in the desert. [If I don't have compassion, the world will end], he really said that to me with a straight face. Does that make sense, Advisor? Is he just trying to get rid of this one?"(*: Literally Divine Foresight)
"…"
I listened to Ja Soo-jung's words with my hands politely clasped.
The Viscount was originally very talkative, and once she started talking, the conversation would branch hundreds or thousands of times. In that case, it was better to just wait for the Viscount to return to the main point on her own… This body knew that.
"Ah. In any case, the Tower."
Like now.
"If not foresight, then is it mind reading? That would be harder than foresight. As the Advisor should know, this one's mind is now protected by at least four layers of barriers. The place this one was thinking about the Tower in is in the first layer, that is to say, this one's deepest part. I don't think even Jai knows"
Jai…was the name of the Boundary Duke. (TL: Guess this is the final Duke)
There was only one person in the kingdom who could call the Boundary Duke's first name without hesitation, and that was Viscount Ja Soo-jung who was right in front of me. Viscount Ja Soo-jung was the only person who could say the Boundary Duke's real name without having her head sent flying.
The Boundary Duke had the ability to read people's minds, so it was natural for her to have suspicions like [how did you know a plan that even the Boundary Duke couldn't read?].
"Viscount."
"Yes, this one's Advisor. Although this one calls you my advisor, you are this one's second advisor who wants to someday smash the head of your senior and become this one's only advisor."
"You should reverse your thinking."
"Hoh? It's the opposite?"
"I did not [already] foretell the Tower. Viscount. The Tower has already been completed, and, according to the logic of the Tower, we are [belatedly] experiencing this situation now."
"…"
Those purple eyes went wide.
Viscount Ja Soo-jung looked around, once to the left, then to the right. Then she tapped her lips with her index and middle fingers.
"Wow."
That was all the time it took for the Viscount to organize her thoughts.
"Isn't that amazing?"
"…"
"Let's check it out. Advisor, does that mean that you are from the future? If so, do you come from a future where this one has already built a Tower and is running it successfully?"
"That's right."
"However, that's impossible. Even if the Tower is built, the Advisor would never know of its existence. In this world, the only people who could know of the existence of the Tower are the Gold Dragon, the Earth Bone Dragon, the Ice River Dragon, and finally Viscount Sim An-chal. Other than them, no one else would know… Hmm?"
Viscount Ja Soo-jung stroked her chin.
"Indeed."
Then the tips of her lips curled into a smile.
"You. Are not Advisor Gu Won-ha, are you?"
"…"
"You must be someone else, who has taken the image of Advisor Gu Won-ha. Heh. Huhu. As expected, something did happen. How interesting."
"…Yes. I am not this person. My name is Kim Gong-ja."
"You're not from this world, are you? This one can bet everything I have on that."
"Yes. That's right. I am… a hunter from a Tower called Ascension City."
"Hunter? Ah. I guess I settled for that name in the end. Ascension City. Is there a name attached to the outside world?"
"Uh. Um. I've heard constellations call it the Spire World…"
"…"
When she heard the words 'Spire World' Ja Soo-jung's purple eyes narrowed slightly.
"That doesn't seem like a complete coincidence."
"Huh?"
"It's nothing. Ah, I'm not saying that this one thinks it's nothing, I'm just saying it's nothing because I want to upset you. So that curiosity will control your left and right atriums and make your heart flutter. The heart is healthiest when it's pounding. You should be thankful that this one is granting you such health."
"…"
I understood.
This person, talks a lot.
It wasn't just a lot, it was even beginning to scratch my temper a bit.
"But how did a human from inside the Tower come to the past? How fascinating. It's so unlikely that this one finds it hard to believe."
"This isn't the past. Viscount."
"Meow?"
This was new information. The Tower Master sometimes made cat noises.
What a useless piece of information.
"This isn't the Viscount's world. It's not even my world."
"Then?"
"This place is simply a dream recreation. The recreated memories of the Viscount. I'm in the Viscount's trauma."
"…"
Viscount Ja Soo-jung blinked.
"How?"
"Because of my skill. If someone kills me, I can see their trauma. That's the skill."
"What do you know. That sounds like a pretty fun skill. If someone suggested creating such a skill, this one would welcome it with a straight face. Nevertheless, Kim Gong-ja. Doesn't being in this one's trauma mean that [this one killed Kim Gong-ja]?"
Slowly.
Viscount Ja Soo-jung's head tilted to the left.
"That is almost impossible. Kim Gong-ja is a normal germ… Unless they become an Evil God in the other world, this one would never kill anyone in the other world. Instead, this one would prefer to be killed by others."
"The Spire World."
I said the name of the world where the Director lived, where Kim Yul lived, and where the middle school student Ja Soo-jung lived.
"There is a person just like the Viscount in that place."
"…"
"I asked her to kill me. For no other reason than to meet you."
Silence.
Viscount Ja Soo-jung stared at me. She was completely expressionless. Then, 'hmph' she snorted, 'heh' she let out a breath, and finally, 'indeed' she nodded.
"How interesting."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung reached out and touched my cheek.
"Considerably. Extremely. Interesting."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung smiled brightly.
"So you reached this place by weaving a thread of error into a possibility, making use of both chance and coincidence. No. You probably didn't realize that you brought this one to this place. However, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Kim Gong-ja, for you have achieved a miracle."
"…"
"Right. Today, it's this one's [trauma]. That's quite possible."
The sound of Ja Soo-jung's breathing drew closer.
"So?"
"…"
"The warrior who came through a miracle. What do you intend to do here?"
"I… want to know who you are."
I gulped.
"The person who built the Tower… I want to see what kind of person they are. I want to know what kind of life you lived. That's why I came this far."
"Huhu."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung's eyes lit up.
"Cute."
And she slowly let go of my cheek.
"Fine. Please, until you are satisfied, look at the kind of person this one is. It just so happens that the person you possessed is Advisor Gu Won-ha. This one's Advisor. It is Advisor Gu Won-ha's role to follow this one at all times, in any place, so you won't be suspected if you stay with this one."
Viscount Ja Soo-jung turned to me.
"Now then. Follow me, Mr. Kim Gong-ja."
And held out her hand.
"This one will introduce you to my world."