The Star's False Bridge
Han Do-yoon mulled over the Heavenly Tower Lord's words. She said there was something she wanted to show him, but strangely enough, it was her who seemed desperate to make it happen.
Why?
Estelle Argent. A woman with a history of losing her mind to the whispers of the stars, possibly already a Star Bishop. In his final moments, she'd left behind a vicious curse that scarred him with trauma. No matter how warmly she approached him now, Han Do-yoon couldn't help but feel wary because of that past.
Logically speaking, there's no reason for her to set a trap or turn hostile against me at this point...
With an inexplicable unease gnawing at him, he opened his mouth.
"Something you want to show me?"
"Yes. If not today, there might not be another chance."
Her tone was stiff, but it carried a warmth. The shape of her eyes, usually hidden behind closed lids, struck him as oddly endearing. At this stage, since they hadn't clashed in a life-or-death struggle, maybe this was natural.
Am I being too sensitive?
If he set aside the secret only he knew and looked purely at their current relationship, weren't they just the Tower Lord and a promising new alchemist?
No particular incidents came to mind that warranted caution right now. If he had to pick one, it might be the destruction of the Oracle.
If that's today...
He glanced back at Evelyn. She was still hiding, unwilling to let on that her mana circles were damaged. They'd been talking about research, but it looked like he'd have to postpone.
"Let's go. I don't know what it is, but if it's a good opportunity, I can't pass it up."
Her anxious expression, as if fearing rejection, brightened instantly.
"Shall we head out right away?"
Estelle beamed with joy, linking her arm with his as if determined not to let him slip away. Han Do-yoon startled and stepped back. The sweet scent that clouded his logical judgment and the brief touch of her warm, soft skin faded away.
"Ah... I'm sorry. I just did it without thinking..."
Now it was Estelle who flustered. Not wanting things to get awkward over this, Han Do-yoon smiled and asked,
"Do you do that with just anyone usually?"
"N-no, it's probably because it's you, Han Do-yoon."
Han Do-yoon understood. Her fondness wasn't for him as a promising alchemist or an attractive man. It was simply because she mistook him for someone connected to the outer gods. That's why it felt burdensome... but he decided to use it to his advantage.
This is purely to keep the Star Bishops in check.
The three absolute rulers who conquered the Tower World. One of them was the Star's Grand Bishop, Orion. He hadn't found any traces yet... but maybe through Estelle, he could.
"I've prepared a carriage."
"No need to go that far."
"There's a topic I want to discuss on the way."
He tried to hold onto his wariness, but her pure affection proved powerless against it.
Receiving Estelle's lavish hospitality, they arrived at the Heavenly Tower. The summit, where the Oracle telescope was installed, had a completely different atmosphere from yesterday.
"This is..."
"You've already understood the transmutation array? You've only been in the Tower World a short time. As expected..."
Hundreds of transmutation arrays drawn around the Oracle. No alchemist could grasp them in such a short time. Not even the current Han Do-yoon, or Evelyn from the distant future.
So he played dumb, responding as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
"No? I don't get it at all. Aren't you overestimating me?"
"Ah... I see. I was hoping, just maybe. Since you're connected to the stars, Han Do-yoon."
...But even if hundreds or thousands of arrays overlapped in intricate layers, it was different if you'd seen them multiple times before.
...The Star's False Bridge.
The stars' ultimate goal was to invade the Tower World. They tempted alchemists by teaching them the core of alchemy. If you bring me down to the Tower World, I'll teach you more.
The array before his eyes was one method to summon those outer gods.
A transmutation array that uses a telescope gathering faint starlight from dozens of light-years away to create a bridge of light that even outer gods can cross.
Alchemy's foundation was equivalent exchange. Using immense mana and materials to build a bridge of light that outer gods could traverse.
...It wasn't an efficient method. In fact, later on, even the Star Bishops abandoned alchemy-based rituals and shifted to summoning magic.
They're going through trial and error.
Now he understood why this once-in-a-century telescope had been destroyed. It was inevitable with an array like this.
He turned his gaze. In the distance, a group that wasn't alchemists caught his eye. Reading his look, Estelle explained.
"...Ah, we're conducting a special ritual, so we've increased external security just in case. Not everyone approves of our work."
Among them was a familiar face... Heavenly Sword, Arachne. Isana's master. Their eyes met immediately.
"...To think I'd see you here. You're an alchemist, so maybe it's natural?"
"You two know each other? Arachne?"
"He's my disciple's husband."
At those words, Estelle's eyebrow twitched. She usually kept her eyes closed, but if they were open, they might have widened round.
"...Husband?"
"Surprised? Ah... well, well. Don't tell me our Heavenly Tower Lord has her eye on him too? Too bad, he's taken."
"N-no... I mean... um."
Estelle knew Han Do-yoon found her burdensome. It was too early to reveal her feelings. Besides... he already had two women. Adding one more wouldn't make much difference.
If he realizes his greatness as a being... those women won't matter.
It stung that she wasn't the first, but she let it slide.
"Since you know each other, no need for introductions."
"Everyone, this is the person I mentioned before..."
Heavenly Sword Arachne began introducing Han Do-yoon to her comrades... All faces he knew. They hadn't had much direct contact, but they'd once been his idols.
I heard at this time, they were struggling around floor 40.
The Heavenly Sword party had no fixed leader. They rotated roles based on the trial's affinities.
Han Do-yoon had modeled his own party after them, and in certain floors, Isana, Karia, and others had taken the lead.
Werewolf, bear-man, centaur, spider, chimera, and even a dryad rooted to a flowerpot...
"Nice to meet you. Han Do-yoon."
"Ah, the alchemist?"
"Hmm. Doesn't feel like he has the grit to clear floor 10."
"He's got a decent look, though."
As they exchanged greetings, he eyed their gear... In his memories, Heavenly Sword had no ties to the stars, but the equipment they wore now was all crafted by alchemists.
It was common for non-magic martial artists to serve as lackeys just for superior gear.
...At this time, the term Star Bishop wasn't public knowledge yet.
"Now that introductions are done, come this way for a bit..."
"Still more to show?"
"I didn't bring you here just for the array... There's a star that's hard to observe except today."
Estelle reached for the Oracle telescope. As Tower Lord, there was nothing strange about it. She adjusted the dolly to focus on her target star, then yielded the spot.
Han Do-yoon hesitated before peering through the lens.
"...Betelgeuse, alpha star of Orion. Eleventh brightest in dark skies, seventh in bright ones. I've been wondering about the cause of your crimson-black mana circles, and I think it might be Betelgeuse's influence."
Unlike when he'd used it, magnification limits made Betelgeuse appear very blurry.
"What kind of influence do you mean?"
"In the Tower World, mana circles are gateways to the gods. But your mana... it's crimson-black, right? You hid it from me, but."
"Correct. I hid it because it's not normal."
"I believe your unique mana circles mean you're connected to Lord Betelgeuse... or perhaps you are him."
"Who knows. Never considered that."
Estelle sighed. She'd hoped observing Betelgeuse would affect him somehow.
If there's still no change... I'll have to proceed as planned.
"Tonight, using that array, we'll summon Lord Betelgeuse here. Would you watch over it? Do you have time?"
Han Do-yoon pulled away from the Oracle and looked at Estelle. Everything felt like it was for her sake. How far should he let this go? How much should he tolerate? He agonized.
What if it led to an even worse end than before? The worry crept in, but he had confidence. At least, it wouldn't end like last time.
"...I'm honored you'd offer me this chance. Still no idea what connection I have to Betelgeuse, though."
Before sunset. The Star's False Bridge ritual was set for after midnight, around 2 a.m.... Plenty of time remained, so Han Do-yoon inspected the Oracle first.
The telescope's structure itself wasn't remarkable. The key was the transmutation array etched to protect the lens from damage.
Such intricate processing on the lens... Not easy. No wonder even 20 years later, no one could replicate it.
The good news was, he'd seen the finished product before it broke and memorized the array, so he could recreate it... Though gathering materials would take ages.
At least creation was feasible now.
In the remaining time, he observed the alchemists drawing the Star's False Bridge array.
Estelle being a Star Bishop had gone from suspicion to near-certainty. Half the alchemists below seemed oblivious to what they were doing, while the other half knew and assisted willingly.
Soon, the existence of outer gods will spread across the Tower World, splitting residents into three factions. Those still focused on the tower. Those addicted to outer gods. And the clueless masses.
Initially, tower loyalists dominated conservatively. But as outer gods delivered rapid growth and immense power, the tide turned over time. Star-summoning rituals everywhere... The tower's absolute rules began crumbling. A chaotic world beyond all predictions—I have no desire to relive it.
Yet he watched this ritual unfold leisurely because...
It'll fail.
He could tell from the array. Tonight's ritual here would fail. The Betelgeuse Estelle Argent desired wouldn't descend into the Tower World.