It's So Tiny?
It's So Tiny?
Don't you resent the Tower Master of Growth?
Venus mulled over the question and gave a small nod.
"It is difficult to grasp the intent of your question."
"Literally..."
A turbid voice slowly continued. The boy looked up at Venus with bleary eyes.
"You are not a human born through natural order... You are a living being directly created by the Tower Master of Growth... aren't you..."
"That is correct."
Venus nodded calmly.
"I am a living being created by the Tower Master of Growth, Lady Neriel Claidia."
Not a parent or a mother, but a creator. An artificial life-form shaped by creation, not gestation.
When Neriel had just become a Tower Master. As she was learning the Authority of Growth, coincidences piled upon coincidences, giving rise to a biological golem.
The number of people who know that inner story can be counted on one hand in the entire world.
As far as she knew, it was a truth unknowable to anyone except the five Tower Masters, but looking at the boy's face, she immediately understood.
"Don't you... hate her...?"
It was the same question as before.
"The Tower Master of Growth... The five Tower Masters... created you, and they're using you as a gatekeeper to guard the Cradle..."
"It is as you say."
Venus's duty is the protection of Siyoram. More precisely, to protect Lee Ha-yul, who will remain at Siyoram, from external threats.
"They placed constraints like a leash to bind you to Siyoram... using you as a guard dog to watch the house..."
"Mm."
External enemies are powerful. That is why Venus, through constraints, draws out the power of her true body only within Siyoram.
Having understood the boy's question by then, Venus nodded to herself.
"I do not particularly resent them."
"Why?"
The question burst out before the rest could be heard. At the sticky, clinging voice, Venus momentarily tightened her grip on her staff.
The boy also gripped his staff tightly.
It was a peculiar staff. Shaped as if long bones twisted together, a mixture of dark colors—violet, ink, and deep indigo.
At first glance it might look mysterious, but its alien texture evoked eeriness and dread.
With her special eyes, Venus could tell that its material was souls.
"Why... don't you resent them...?"
The boy, clutching the staff with both hands, muttered. At his reaction that seemed hard to understand, Venus slowly opened her mouth.
"As you say, I am a created life-form, but that was not intentional."
When Neriel had just become a Tower Master and was gradually learning the Authority of Growth.
Through the overlap and interplay of coincidence and the peculiarities of the Authority, the golem evolved in a direction no one could have predicted and even came to possess self-awareness.
That was Venus's origin.
She remembered her own origin.
A blank expression of bewilderment and shock. Right after, a figure gone pale and flustered, absurdly fussing over Venus.
"My duty was not forced upon me; I volunteered for it after accepting the situation."
The purpose had been a biological golem to protect Siyoram, but the moment the golem developed a clear self-awareness, Neriel abandoned the plan.
It was Venus who learned the details, persuaded Neriel, and volunteered.
Given that, resenting Neriel would be a shameless thought.
Of course, one could resent being arbitrarily brought into existence...
"Lady Neriel is revered as a hero and a great figure in this era."
The Tower Master of Growth is considered one of the beings who uphold the world's peace.
During the Chaos Period, she was hailed as a mage and hero who emerged from the barren lands, and even now young sprouts are taught of Neriel as a great figure.
In some religions, she is even worshipped as a divine being.
"However, Lady Neriel is not a god."
Venus, who was created by Neriel, shook her head.
"Nor is she a flawless, noble hero."
"......"
"Her achievements alone are more than enough to be praised as a hero, but most people do not look at the mistakes and failures piled beneath those successes."
Venus knows that Neriel is a human with many mistakes.
Unlike the history books stuffed full of flowery words, she knows that Neriel is someone who would squat and dazedly watch flowers, then fall face-first.
"Mistakes do not absolve all responsibility."
"They can at least serve to help understanding, even if only a little."
The boy closed his lips. Venus gauged the boy's mood and continued step by step.
"I am in a position of staying at Siyoram under constraints, but periodic outings are permitted."
It was intended so that Venus could enjoy the outside world, even for a short while.
Though Venus has so far only used it for work purposes.
"Before she fully secluded herself in the tower, she also recommended various entertainments and hobbies. As for me, I did not enjoy them for long, but for a brief moment, it was not bad."
"......"
"There was no malicious intent, and even while crushed beneath an overwhelming burden, she showed consideration for me. That is why I understood, and simply accepted it."
- Swoosh
The sound of the waves covered the silence. The sea, mixed with the evening glow and blood, was not a particularly beautiful sight.
"I daresay that you have likely already heard my answer."
"...Yeah..."
"Was it different from the answer I just gave?"
"...No..."
The boy shook his head briefly.
Venus glanced at a monster corpse washed up on the shore.
"Naturally, this is only my situation and my thoughts. Your situation and your thoughts will be different."
Monsters attacked from all sides of the island. There were quite a number of them, but their ranks were all too low to even reach the barrier.
It was, in effect, meant solely to draw Venus out.
"Although I do not know the detailed circumstances, it would be shameless of me to expect understanding from you, who have surely endured far greater hardships and despair than someone like me."
"...No. I did understand..."
The boy, who had been silent, shook his head. At the unexpected words, Venus blinked, and the boy looked down at the sea.
"I know... that there was no malice... that it was an accident no one could have predicted... that she tried to help somehow but couldn't because she had no strength left..."
The boy knew.
How preposterous it was for an entity within a simulation to gain self-awareness.
In truth, it is only called a simulation in name; its essence is a process of accumulating data by repeating foresight through the Authority of Observation.
Within that foreseen world, someone realizes that the world is being foreseen?
There is no need to discuss probability.
Theoretically, it is naturally impossible. The boy understood that it was only natural the Tower Masters had made no preparations for it.
"...But still, I hate... no... I wanted to hate..."
The boy muttered haltingly.
"Because I had to cling to something, and without hating... it was too hard..."
The Lee Ha-yuls within the observed world possessed awareness.
This world is fake.
The people living in this world are fake.
The self within it is also fake.
The moment observation ends, everything vanishes without a trace.
In the latter half, Lee Ha-yul's awareness grew.
Observation was gradually ending.
From the moment Lee Ha-yul within the observed world awakened self-awareness, the power consumed by foresight skyrocketed exponentially.
Thus, the 12th Iteration realized.
This iteration is the last.
"Still, I hate you all."
The boy turned around.
He saw the red sea with monster corpses bobbing on the water.
It was a view he was sick of in the fake world. The scenery of the real world... honestly, it was not all that different.
[......]
A white figure was visible on the sea a short distance away. An exquisitely beautiful existence that overwhelmingly drew the eye even on the eerie blood-red sea.
It felt almost like looking into a mirror.
But they were clearly different. Before even discussing black and white, they were different from each other.
"...Hello..."
The 12th Iteration greeted him. Lee Ha-yul, his lips pressed tightly together, hesitated for a moment and then bowed his head.
[...Hello.]
"Yeah... seeing that an incarnation came here... you haven't managed the rampage yet...?"
[No, it will be over soon and without harm.]
As expected, it was the 12th Iteration's doing. Lee Ha-yul composed his complicated expression and shook his head.
"...Is that so? Then..."
The 12th Iteration deliberately swallowed the rest of his words.
Meanwhile, Lee Ha-yul observed the monster corpses sinking and being swept away by the waves in the surrounding sea.
The 12th Iteration arbitrarily processes an opponent's soul into soul ingots.
The uses of soul ingots are diverse. They can be fed to aid strengthening and recovery, spirits with desired traits can be woven together, and they can even be crafted into armaments.
'There are no hybrids.'
The monsters that attacked Siyoram were all ordinary monsters.
'Why...'
Everything is strange.
They're 2nd-Rank monsters. There should be no superior materials than these, yet instead of subordinating them, he deliberately made them rampage.
He didn't even attach a spirit army. Thanks to that, the casualties on the battlefield were few.
He only brought low-rank monsters to Siyoram, not a spirit army, and even those were few in number compared to the 12th Iteration's ability.
"I have no intention of fighting right now..."
Staring at Lee Ha-yul, the 12th Iteration spoke. Lee Ha-yul twitched his eyebrows.
[Right now... you say?]
"Yeah... I'm still far from ready... The more I prepare, the stronger I become... you know that..."
It was true. The 12th Iteration grows disgustingly stronger the more time and leisure he is given.
How had the 12th Iteration's previous run ended? He'd been waging a full-scale war against the Tower of the Dead when the Tower of Bitter Cold joined the battle. The moment he considered retreat, the Tower Master of Purgatory launched a surprise attack.
After taking heavy losses and fleeing in a hurry, a coalition army descended upon him and dogpiled him to death.
If he had made better choices and finished his preparations, he might have somehow taken the Tower of the Dead.
'No, this time clearly...'
The Tower Master of the Dead who descended upon Taesan Territory was injured. The tower was split in the middle and incomplete.
It is undoubtedly the 12th Iteration's doing.
No matter how much the constraints weakened the Tower Master of the Dead, the 12th Iteration must have already amassed a sizeable army and would have been drastically drained from fighting the Tower of the Dead.
'If the 12th Iteration can wield the Authority of the Dead, even imperfectly...'
There is no need to think further.
He must be dealt with now.
- Kwaruru!
The soul ingots harbored by the 12th Iteration automatically reacted. The cascading soul ingots of various colors protected the 12th Iteration and aimed at Lee Ha-yul like tentacles.
The Authority of Observation automatically calculated the odds.
The 12th Iteration was only an incarnation. But with the Authority of Space, he could instantly swap with his true body. If he then charged in at full force, there was no way he couldn't win.
Even if the remaining army of the dead and the spirit army were brought out, the main body was right there. If he started from this distance, even if there were losses, he would definitely seize the upper hand.
No, he would certainly win.
- Squeeze...
He clenched his fist tight.
It was the incarnation's fist. The 12th Iteration, who had been staring intently at Lee Ha-yul, calmed the soul ingots that devoured mana.
"Your heart seems too... soft. That might make things hard from now on..."
[That... is something I will have to handle. And...]
The words sounded almost like advice. Lee Ha-yul managed to force the corners of his lips upward, which had been about to waver.
[Is it not... the same for you?]
"If you look at my life... no one would say that..."
[Then, was there truly a need to deliberately hold back like this this time?]
The souls of humans and monsters are different. If one takes an average, the souls of monsters are greater in quantity and more vast.
However, in terms of kind and quality, human souls are generally better. Humans are a race with diverse uniqueness and traits, making them excellent material.
They are also easy to obtain.
That is why the 12th Iteration made use of human souls.
But right now, all the soul ingots the 12th Iteration handles are from monsters.
"...I'll be off now."
As they stared intently at each other, the 12th Iteration was the first to turn his body.
"You can observe if you want... since I'll be returning to the Tower of the Dead, anyway..."
[.......]
That sounded very threatening.
"...See you... next time..."
When would next time be? Lee Ha-yul had no way of knowing. And he had no idea what spirits would accompany the 12th Iteration then.
Noticing Lee Ha-yul's increasingly complicated expression, the 12th Iteration's form grew blurry.
The 12th Iteration let out a heavy sigh.
"You really... aren't going to catch me..."
[Next time.]
The 12th Iteration let out a heavy sigh. Taking a deep breath, Lee Ha-yul shook his head.
[If you cause trouble, I will definitely stop you.]
"...Fool. You should be pulling out the root, first..."
The form was almost entirely blurred. Venus, who had been watching Lee Ha-yul, released the spatial binding spell.
Lastly.
The 12th Iteration looked back at Lee Ha-yul.
"......"
Black and white. Not a fake, but the genuine one. The body was clearly the same, yet the other shone far more beautifully.
Was it perhaps because the heart they carried was different in color from the start?
Shaking off his wandering thoughts, the 12th Iteration let out the jealousy he had been forcibly suppressing.
"...You."
[ ...Yes, what is it— ]
"You're really small, aren't you?"
[What?]
Lee Ha-yul's movements froze stiff.
It was a remark he never thought he would hear in this situation. Venus also tilted her head without thinking, then gave a nod.
His mouth agape, Lee Ha-yul observed the 12th Iteration's face.
Very faintly, the corners of his lips turned up almost imperceptibly, and a thin jealousy seeped out...
[What the hell are you saying, you son of a—]
- Wooooong...!
The 12th Iteration completely vanished. His presence disappeared beyond. The location was pinpointed through observation, but his mouth simply would not close.
Grinding his teeth, Lee Ha-yul trembled.
[Y-you... you're damn small yourself, so why are you talking shit...!]
The 12th Iteration was 155.
Lee Ha-yul was 149─
'No, I'm over 150. I can even change it further with manipulation...'
Lee Ha-yul shook his head frantically.
* * *