Chapter 359: The Heaven that Gathers Wails (1)
This wasn’t my first time.
I had met with the Pillars several times before and attended meetings where the Pillars were present. So when the tower whispered, [a majority vote meeting from the Six Pillars of All Lives], I wasn’t particularly startled.
“Please rise, King of Death.”
I thought I would wake up in the dark Netherworld again.
That’s what I was thinking.
“Do you intend to lie down like this? I advise you to get up promptly. I wish for you to regain your consciousness and show proper etiquette first. Until then, I have no intention of inviting the Duke here.”
A familiar voice resonated in my ear.
“…….”
I blinked my eyelids. Little by little, my vision cleared. Just like a car’s windshield smeared with yellow dust being wiped clean by a wiper.
There stood a black-haired beauty with elegant eyebrows.
“Have you finally opened your eyes?”
She was undeniably a beautiful person.
She looked down at me with her head bowed. Distinctive eyes. Indifferent pupils. Lips that held no stubbornness, no obsession and no self-display. They were simply closed shut. As if rejecting all that was whitened and grayed in this world, she was clad in pure black.
Somewhere.
I had definitely seen that attire, those lips, and those pupils somewhere before.
I paused for a moment, trying to recall the name of this darkness.
“……Gu Won-Ha…… advisor?”
She nodded her head.
“Yes, that is my alias.”
Her chin movement made no sound. Perhaps that’s why it seemed as if, around her moving chin, gravity and even air were absent for a brief moment.
“It wouldn’t be right to greet you as if it’s our first meeting, would it? King of Death. I am aware that you had, albeit briefly, possessed my body, as informed by the Duke.”
“Ah…….”
Right.
I had been to a kingdom in the world of Tower Master Jaa Soo-Jeong. Although it was during a visit within a trauma.
At that time and place, I possessed someone. It was the woman standing before me, hands neatly folded in front, Baron Gu Won-Ha.
I had become her. That’s why, upon seeing this woman of darkness, I felt déjà vu.
“The Duke owes you a debt of gratitude.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha bowed.
The person Gu Won-Ha refers to as ‘the Duke’ must be ‘Kaleidoscope Duke’. Another alias for the Tower Master.
“Ah, yes. No, not at all….”
I felt a strange sensation.
To be faced head-on with a face that was once [me].
“But why are you… um, I’ll call you the Baron. Why is the Baron welcoming me? I was summoned for a meeting of the Pillars.”
“……I have heard that you are an exceptionally quick-witted person.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha straightened up and tilted her head slightly.
“Don’t you recall anything upon hearing my voice?”
“Huh?”
Oh.
“I did think that I’ve heard this voice somewhere before. Somehow, it felt familiar.”
“Is that so? Perhaps it would be clearer if I played it for you directly.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha looked at me quietly.
That moment came.
[Test.]
[Playing the voice.]
[This message does not carry any particular meaning beyond playing the voice.]
I was taken aback. My mouth fell open.
“Wha? Wha-wha-wha-wha?!”
“Let me introduce myself properly once again.”
Unaffected by my astonishment, Baron Gu Won-Ha bowed.
“I am the second advisor of the Kaleidoscope Ducal House, a subordinate and a noble who received the eleventh cup from the Sun King, Baron Gu Won-Ha. My true name is Miya. Please, call me Baron Gu Won-Ha.”
The voice that flowed from underneath the bowed head was identical to the voice I had heard countless times while climbing the tower, the so-called [Voice of the Tower].
“Wait, just a moment……”
I stuttered, lost for words. I had heard a lengthy self-introduction from Baron Gu Won-Ha, but frankly, there was only one thought in my mind.
“The voices that come from the Tower…… aren’t automatic responses by some system but you…?”
“Yes. It’s all done manually.”
“What?!”
I was astounded!
“Manually… All of it? But I’m not the only Hunter who hears the Tower’s voice. There are countless others! Every time Hunters learn a skill or ascend a stage, they hear a voice, and that’s…”
“All done manually.”
“That’s impossible!!”
“But, as a matter of fact, it is possible.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha remained expressionless throughout.
“The flow of time in your world and here is different. From your perspective, time here is virtually at a standstill, King of Death. Even if events occur simultaneously for you, for me, it’s merely a task that I can address one by one.”
“But… you’d have to respond to Hunters thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of times a day…!?”
“That is correct.”
The Baron tilted her head as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Is there a problem?”
There were nothing but problems.
“The epitome of inefficiency……”
“Inefficiency arises only when time and space are limited. Here, time can be manipulated at will, and as many different worlds as desired can be observed. The concept of inefficiency does not exist.”
“Don’t you get tired…?”
“It’s for the Duke. There’s no reason to be weary.”
It seemed sincere. My goodness.
“The important matter at hand is not my work, King of Death. First, please dress properly.”
Only then did I take a proper look around.
Just as Baron Gu Won-Ha’s face was familiar to me, the place where I had awakened was incredibly familiar. The grand council hall of the kingdom where all the nobles gathered for discussions. The very place I had visited when I was possessing Baron Gu Won-Ha.
“Why here……”
Weren’t the Pillars supposed to meet in the dark Netherworld?
“An explanation will follow shortly. For now, please organize your attire. Even if you personally know the Duke, in my presence, etiquette must be observed. I cannot allow you to meet the Duke in your current state.”
“M-My appearance? What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“They are crude.”
“…….”
Baron Gu Won-Ha scrutinized me from head to toe. Naturally, my current outfit was Anastasia fashion. In other words, I was wearing a black leather outfit.
I couldn’t bring myself to argue, so I averted my gaze.
“……But this outfit was quite expensive.”
“How much?”
“Huh?”
“You said it was expensive. May I ask how much, if you don’t mind?”
I mentioned the price Anastasia had told me.
Baron Gu Won-Ha heard the cost and lightly nodded. Then, she picked up one of the garments laid out on the desk and handed it to me.
I awkwardly accepted the clothes.
“What’s this for?”
“It’s at least 120 times more expensive than that.”
“…….”
“Please get dressed.”
I obediently changed.
“This is the control room that oversees all the towers.”
While I was changing, Baron Gu Won-Ha spoke softly, her back turned to me.
“It was modeled after the kingdom’s grand council hall. Although it looks the same, it’s an entirely different space. From your perspective… Let’s see. This is the [Basement Floor 1] of the tower.”
Basement Floor 1.
While slipping my left foot into my pants, I asked,
“Is there a Basement Floor 2?”
“There isn’t. Rest assured, even if you clear the 100th floor, there won’t be an event like [In fact, there are 100 basement floors from Basement Floor 1 to Basement Floor 100, and our true adventure starts now – The King of Death Saga Part 2 Begins (Celebration)]. Please, be at ease.”
I had never even considered such a terrifying possibility, but somehow, it sounded plausible…. How terrifying would that be…? It would be a disaster for my soul and the whole world.
“Are you fully dressed?”
“Ah, yes. I’ve finished changing.”
“My apologies.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha turned around. She carefully examined me, now dressed in royal attire fitting the kingdom.
“Hunters, or even Constellations for that matter, can never set foot here in Basement Floor 1. Even if by a one in a million chance someone does gain access, without the proper qualifications, they would only see utter darkness.”
“Interesting.”
“Yes. Previously, King of Death, you too would have only seen darkness here. However, you have now temporarily obtained the qualifications. This is the first time such a thing has happened since the tower was established.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha glanced at the serpent wrapped around my wrist.
“I apologize, but the qualification is exclusive to you. Activities of [The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth], [A Music Box Just for You], [Goddess of Protection], and [Sword Emperor] have been suspended. It’s for security reasons, so your understanding would be appreciated.”
“……”
So that’s why everyone has been quiet since I arrived here.
“Fortunately, the clothes suit you well.”
Was the dress check complete?
Baron Gu Won-Ha took a step back, looked me over once more, and nodded.
“This should be sufficient for meeting the Duke.”
“I heard rumors that I can pull off any fashion, you kno……”
“Then, let us commence the meeting.”
Baron Gu Won-Ha didn’t give me a chance to enter nonsense time and clapped her hands with a smack.
Creeeak—
The grand council hall’s main door opened.
As if they had been waiting by the door, figures walked in.
“Confirming participants.”
[Confirming participants.]
The same voice overlapped twice. Baron Gu Won-Ha, with her chin held high, directly faced the newcomers entering through the main door and called them out one by one.
“The 5th Pillar, ‘The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages,’ has joined.”
[The 5th Pillar, ‘The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages,’ has joined.]
The first to enter was the Princess.
The Pillar most amicable towards me.
Her hair, a mix of golden and white as if gold conceded half of itself to white, fluttered as the Princess smiled broadly and waved excitedly at me.
If I were to liken her to an animal, it would perhaps be q chick.
“Hello, King of Death! Long time no see! How have you been—”
“I’m sorry but, Miss, please maintain your decorum.”
“Oh, Miya, the advisor. You’re too harsh……”
The Princess pouted her lips.
Baron Gu Won-Ha remained expressionless and continued to announce the next arrivals.
“The 4th Pillar, ‘The Moon Contemplating Blindness,’ has joined.”
[The 4th Pillar, ‘The Moon Contemplating Blindness,’ has joined.]
A Pillar with a face that seemed annoyed by everything from the beginning to the end of the universe, with an expression that seemed perpetually bored, entered the hall.
If likened to an animal, perhaps an otter.
“The 3rd Pillar, ‘Legislator of the Beginning,’ has joined.”
[The 3rd Pillar, ‘Legislator of the Beginning,’ has joined.]
A Pillar who seemed to have tasted every flavor of life, from bitter to sweet to spicy, and now just wanted to play, entered with a sluggish gait.
An animal comparison? Maybe a hedgehog.
“The 2nd Pillar, ‘The God Who Dances in Emptiness,’ has joined.”
[The 2nd Pillar, ‘The God Who Dances in Emptiness,’ has joined.]
A Pillar who couldn’t care less about the creation or destruction of worlds, focused only on their own interests, entered not with normal steps but… actually dancing ballet… no, literally performing a ballet dance as they entered… and continued to dance even after entering.
What’s going on?
Seriously, what is this…?
If I had to choose an animal, undoubtedly an African flamingo.
“The 6th Pillar, ‘Staff of Time Immemorial,’ has joined.”
[The 6th Pillar, ‘Staff of Time Immemorial,’ has joined.]
A mage who seemed like they would sigh upon being born and sigh again at death, as if they could only respond to life’s various events with sighs, glanced at me briefly as they entered.
Compared to an animal? Perhaps an old lion.
“…….”
And then.
Thud, footsteps echoed.
“Welcome, Duke.”
Unlike the indifferent reception given to the other five Pillars, Baron Gu Won-Ha bowed deeply as the last figure entered. She bent her waist. She lowered her head.
“I apologize for summoning you amidst your busy schedule.”
It was a distinctly different attitude. Unlike when greeting the other Pillars, Baron Gu Won-Ha didn’t use ‘the Voice of the Tower’ this time. She didn’t send a message. She used only her own voice to directly, respectfully welcome the newcomer.
“The meeting has been convened according to the regulations you previously commanded, but the legitimacy of the convening is entirely up to you, Duke.”
“It’s fine. It looks perfectly legitimate, doesn’t it? As always, you’re reliable, my advisor.”
“Thank you.”
The Tower Master.
A person who could assume any expression, mimic any voice, known in this world by the alias Kaleidoscope Duke, and familiar to me as Jaa Soo-Jeong, smiled radiantly at me with platinum blonde hair.
And the owner of the Tower, the Duke of this realm, greeted me—
“Hai, King of Death.”
“…….”
“Hewwo.”
“………….”
“Ah? You seem a bit underwhelmed. I heard this was the latest greeting method. Wasn’t it? Hihi? Hiiii. Hiya? Um. Hellohello?”
No……
You, no, you……
From all around, sighs filled the air. Baron Gu Won-Ha sighed, the Staff of Time Immemorial had been sighing from the start, and the other Pillars joined the sighing ensemble, seemingly expecting this. A bountiful harvest of sighs.
“Mom! That’s not it!”
Only the Princess, instead of sighing, scrunched her face and spoke up firmly.
“It’s Hi UwU!”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, my daughter.”
“Yep. I’ll gladly accept Mom’s thanks. From now on, make sure to use what I taught you without mixing it up.”
Tower Master Jaa Soo-Jeong turned to look at me.
And greeted me with an extremely elegant gesture.
“Let me greet you again, King of Death. Hi UwU.”
Your final boss aura, where did you sell it off to?
And that’s definitely not the latest greeting method, just so you know….
