Mount T...ai
Mount T...ai
"As I've said before... please, take care of yourself. Whether you're inside the Tower or out."
- Yes...
Sierra was scolding me with a somewhat awkward tone.
I bobbed my head as a hand stroked my hair.
Something soft pressed against my face. The binding that had been constraining Sierra's chest—its magic tool had come undone.
'Finally came loose, huh.'
I'd known about it since our first meeting. While checking for concealed weapons, I naturally spotted the magic tool as well.
It wasn't a threat. A bit of defensive magic was the only meaningful function. Being an older magic tool, its overall quality was lacking.
It had looked suffocating, the way it bound her so tightly. But the earlier battle must have finally undone it.
"Please... don't take this too harshly..."
- Sierra, your magic tool came undone.
"...Ah. Yes, I'm aware."
A faint flush colored Sierra's cheeks, embarrassment flickering in her eyes. But there was also a hint of relief mixed in—she must have found it uncomfortable too.
"It got in the way of my swordsmanship. As you may know, this age is far from peaceful. If I went around openly presenting as a woman, I'd inevitably face a host of troublesome encounters."
Even though I hadn't asked, Sierra explained why she'd worn the magic tool.
"Of course, I could simply beat the pests senseless each time... render them thoroughly incapacitated. But repetition makes even that tiresome."
- Even if you hide your chest, wouldn't people know you're a woman from your face?
"Is that something you, of all people, are saying to me, Lee Ha-yul?"
When I tilted my head, Sierra narrowed her eyes and looked down at me.
Those dark eyes blatantly traced my features. I puffed out my cheeks a little at the scrutiny.
- What's that supposed to mean...
"If we're judging purely by looks, Lee Ha-yul, you are one hundred out of one hundred a woman—"
- NYOOOOPE
The transmission shrieked like nails on a chalkboard, and Sierra's shoulders flinched. I wriggled free of the soft embrace and shook my head violently.
- Anyway. The big boss monster's been subjugated, so the situation's wrapped up.
"...Hah. Yes. Now that the Alpha is dead, the monsters who pushed into the front line will scatter soon enough."
I'd swiftly changed the subject. Sierra shot me a wry look and turned away with a long sigh.
"It's gone. Without a trace."
Sierra's expression grew complicated as she took in the vast crater. A swirl of thoughts crossed her face, and I nodded along, reading the mood.
'Hm.'
I checked on the doppelganger again.
Observation normally extends outward from me as the center, but a doppelganger can act as a relay, spreading an additional radius from its position.
- Grooooaaar...
The Giant that had assaulted the front line was crumbling.
Countless snowflakes, far beyond counting, were disassembling the Giant's body, while Calamity Flame and Azure Sea mingled over it in tandem—burning, freezing, and shattering.
'3rd Rank... definitely an Alpha. Got a bit dicey.'
Not because the main body had died. The Giant that had been here just now had perished without a trace to Three Ends, but the doppelganger had remained.
The Giant's doppelganger had become the main body.
That was its unique ability. The doppelganger crafted from darkness was equal to the main body, serving as little more than a spare.
The boundary between main body and doppelganger was blurred.
Which was why I'd struck both at once.
A strange ability, really. Whether it had been like that since birth, I couldn't say, but right now it was a unique ability befitting the rank of a 3rd-Rank Alpha.
'Weaker than the Twin-headed Poison Dragon... but just as dangerous.'
The 3rd-Rank Alpha might have gone down a little easily, but that was thanks to solid strategy on our end.
The manpower was more than sufficient—excessive, even.
The Giant's doppelganger was handled by Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin, whose basic combat skills had long since reached a high-tier level. Plus my specially crafted doppelganger.
The main body, which had lain hidden, was ambushed and subjugated by me and this era's Sierra.
Five people at or near the high-tier level.
Observation had given us perfect intel, and I'd provided support to prevent darkness from settling in. Taking down a 3rd Rank monster was well within our capacity.
'Even so, I still think the Twin-headed Poison Dragon was more of a bastard...'
No matter how I thought about it, I doubted the Dragon was genuinely 3rd Rank.
Its body might be 3rd Rank, but its venom-and-disease unique ability was too threatening.
In terms of sheer lethality and destructive power, it felt easily 2nd Rank...
- Whoosh
While I was mulling it over, the Giant on the front line finally collapsed completely.
A great roar of cheers reached my doppelganger's ears. I gave a nod and checked both my arms.
The arms Sierra had wrapped in bandages. Steeped in vitality, they'd mended well. The bones had set back into place.
I placed a hand on my chest. Calming my mind slightly, I perceived the innate talent now standing boldly within me.
'Taesan.'
The power to command earth. The power to wield life that springs from the earth, and the undead who lay their bodies down within it...
'Its structure's more complex than Calamity Flame. Plenty of expansion abilities I still haven't gotten to try.'
Calamity Flame had three expansion abilities in total.
But Taesan had more. When I raised my hand, white and yellow hues gathered at my palm.
I reabsorbed the vivid vitality swirling there back into my body.
It soaked in naturally.
That was all.
With Taesan's full manifestation, my skill in handling vitality had grown. I could now perceive things I hadn't before.
Vitality seeped into my body. That was it. It couldn't do anything about the fundamental "vessel."
"Lee Ha-yul."
A hand settled on my head again. It was Sierra, studying my complexion with a worried expression.
- I'm fine.
I shook my head lightly. Wasn't that the part I'd already resigned myself to, already made other plans for?
'Anyway, at this level, I think I could try restoring the Fairy Tree.'
I hadn't been confident about nurturing the Fairy Tree with the Taesan I'd merely imitated before. But now, I felt oddly sure I could do it.
'Heh heh...'
Thinking that, a swell of confidence rose up. The hand gently stroking my hair fueled it.
- Sierra, Sierra. Before you head back to the front line, do you think I could... maybe... try a little experiment?
Sierra's worried expression froze solid for a moment.
My budding confidence shriveled right up...
.
.
.
When the Giant collapsed, its control over the monsters collapsed with it.
Deprived of their commanding entity, the monsters scattered naturally. Some fled; those that had lost all reason and kept fighting were mostly mopped up by now.
"You're back?"
Outside the front line's barrier.
Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin hadn't entered the barrier. They'd been standing guard where the Giant had fallen.
I'd learned why through the doppelganger. The Giant had long since dissolved upon death, but they were keeping watch just in case.
...Though apparently they'd gotten bored, because the two of them were sitting on the ground cheerfully abusing my doppelganger's cheeks.
That was why the corner of my mouth had been twitching for a while. Doppelganger or not, it was still a body capable of remote control.
'Ahem.'
I cleared my throat mentally and formed hand seals with both hands. The doppelganger melted away into a soft swirl of vitality.
Baek A-rin, who'd been poking its cheek, covered her mouth with one hand.
"Oh no, my attachment doll disappeared."
[I'm not a doll...]
As I refuted Baek A-rin's teasing, wondering if she really meant it, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Sensory sharing. A body that was frail and soft, yet plush in texture and warmth—manifested into form.
The original Incarnation technique, unmodified and without sacrificing the vessel, was indeed suited for crafting art objects or attachment dolls...
'Ahem.'
The vitality energy that had composed the doppelganger returned to me. The same went for the artifacts the doppelganger had been wearing.
The Winged Garment fluttered back and wrapped around me, and the Confession Necklace settled around my neck. I grasped Jeonghwa, which had shot toward me before anything else.
"...Huh?"
I pressed the vitality energy firmly into my body. At the presence that leaked out during the process, both of their eyes went wide.
"Fuhuhuhu..."
"Ha-yul, you right now..."
"Yes, that's right!"
The reaction I'd been hoping for deep down. At Yeon-hwa's unfinished question, the corners of my lips twitched on their own. The confidence that had been flagging rose once more.
"Not imitation—I properly manifested Taesan!"
I squared my shoulders with pride. The moment I let slip the presence I'd been keeping faintly concealed, Yeon-hwa's and Baek A-rin's expressions shifted.
"Fuhuhu..."
Their reactions were delightful. Emotions shifting this way and that with every single thing I did! I could dominate Yeon-hwa's and Baek A-rin's feelings...
"Well? Amazing, right! I manifested it just now while hunting a 3rd Rank Monster! As expected of the Tower of Growth. I thought it'd take a while, but it manifested this fast... As expected of Kkonnim's... no, that's probably not it... Anyway!"
I spread both arms wide.
'Praise!'
I'd done something incredible. Naturally, a reward ought to follow. That reward was praise. My eyes sparkled brightly with anticipation.
"...?"
The praise didn't come right away. The surprise faded from their expressions, and a different emotion surfaced.
"You've already manifested Taesan too?"
"You really manifested Taesan first, leaving Azure Sea aside?"
Jealousy, sulkiness. Displeasure...
"Uh, uhh... it just sort of happened..."
This wasn't the reaction I'd expected. I lowered both hands awkwardly and shifted my gaze around.
Already manifested Taesan?
It was certainly a bit fast. Calamity Flame had time behind it, first imitated in childhood, so Taesan really was on the early side for manifestation.
Taesan first, leaving Azure Sea aside? That part, I couldn't help.
I'd been steadily imitating Azure Sea for Baek A-rin's sake too, but in my case, there'd simply been more situations where I had to use Taesan...
"Lee Ha-yul reports that the boss entity's annihilation has been confirmed."
Just then, footsteps sounded behind me. It was Lady Sierra, returning after briefing a few of the heroes who had come out to meet us.
"Both of you have worked hard. Let us not linger on this cold, filthy ground—please, come inside."
"Yes, understood."
"You worked hard too, Lady Sierra. It's a relief that you don't seem to have any major injuries."
At that, the two who'd been radiating displeasure composed their expressions. As Baek A-rin spoke with a soft smile, Yeon-hwa looked back at me.
"...Ha-yul, too... on the outside, you don't look hurt..."
Yeon-hwa tilted her head, then seized my chin and thoroughly examined my face.
"You're really not hurt?"
"Don't worry. I manifested Taesan, and Lady Sierra was right beside me—what could have gone wrong?"
Having been flustered by the unexpected reaction, I composed myself as well. I clutched the Confession Necklace and nodded with a soft smile.
Nothing I'd said was false.
That I had manifested Taesan. That Lady Sierra had been at my side. That there had been no problems... all of it was true.
- Thank you.
I turned my head toward Lady Sierra and sent my gratitude via sound transmission.
Her timely interjection into the conversation had cut off the strange atmosphere.
"......"
[?]
Just as I sent that sound transmission along with those thoughts, I suddenly blinked.
Lady Sierra's expression after receiving my thanks was extremely peculiar. With an air of deliberation, she looked back and forth between Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin.
Unease suddenly knocked at my chest.
[Um... Lady Sierra? What's the ma—]
"Lady Hong Yeon-hwa. And Lady Baek A-rin."
The deliberation ended. As Lady Sierra abruptly spoke, the two who'd been preparing to enter the barrier turned their heads.
"Regarding Lee Ha-yul, there is something I must tell you both."
"...About Ha-yul? What is it?"
Yeon-hwa's eyes narrowed in an instant. Lady Sierra gazed at my face one last time as if hesitating, then glanced at my hand.
My right hand. The one that had been cut and torn so many times in the Tower of Growth, and had just now been left tattered by the aftermath of Three Ends...
"To be more precise, concerning the matter of recklessly endangering one's body, including the earlier battle..."
[Ah, wait just a—mmph]
- Mmph...
My mouth was covered. The necklace was squeezed tight too.
"...Hm? I heard our kid wasn't hurt?"
A scorching gaze bored into the crown of my head.
Something my physical eyes shouldn't have been able to see—but because of Observation, I perceived those eyes smoldering like flames...
My eyes trembled faintly.
.
.
.
"Uweeeng..."
I was dragged—no, hauled in and confined to a tent. Shedding a few tears of injustice, I burrowed into Ellia's embrace.
"Taesan, I manifested Taesan though..."
"Oh, please. You brought this on yourself."
"Elliaaa..."
Ellia let out a heavy sigh and shrugged. At that reaction, my shoulders shrank. Even Ellia was reacting like this...
"Everyone around you has told you over and over, and yet you pushed yourself again. Hm? Just how much do you intend to tear apart the hearts of the people around you..."
"This is the Tower of Growth, so..."
"Ah-hem, no. No matter the place, you have to take care of your body."
"Hng..."
Thanks to Lady Sierra's unexpected betrayal—from someone I'd trusted—my secrets had been laid bare.
Fortunately, not all of them.
What had been revealed was the part about deliberately letting the Giant hit me, getting stomped until my body burst open, was torn apart, crushed... all to intentionally trigger the manifestation of Taesan.
"Goodness, what am I going to do with this Golden Child, really..."
"Mmnggghh..."
When I lifted my head, my nose was gently pinched. The touch was tender but firm, and a whining sound escaped me before I knew it.
Bright yellow eyes looked down at me, full of exasperation. When she finally let go of my nose, I sniffled and pressed my face firmly into Ellia's chest.
Silence followed.
Instead of the scolding I'd braced for, a hand rose and gently stroked my head.
At the same time, the gaze in those eyes turned into one that looked at a troublesome child.
As if fleeing from that ticklish, warm look, I burrowed deeper into her embrace. Then Ellia, who had been fiddling with my hair, spoke.
"...Our little one, aren't you hungry?"
- Grrrrowl
Before I could answer, my stomach growled like a conditioned reflex.
"Pfft, oh my. Now that I think about it, we haven't even fed you properly since breakfast."
Ellia let out a little laugh. To hide my reddening face, I buried it deeper into her chest and mumbled.
"...I haven't answered yet..."
"Hm? You don't want your num-nums?"
[Negative]
[Negat... wait... Mute]
"Heh, what are you doing with the necklace?"
Giggling, Ellia placed a hand on my clothes.
* * *
[Player Correction System: Affection]
Lee Ha-yul → Sierra Skariar
●●●●●○○○○○(57▷59/100)
｢Tower Master of Space｣ ｢Swordsman｣ ｢Voluptuous｣ ｢Sensible Person｣ ｢Strict Person｣ ｢Betrayer?｣