A Mysterious Friend at the Tower's Peak
I arrived at the suspiciously efficient spire. Looking up from below, the tower was staggeringly grand. Its peak seemed to pierce the heavens. Even the paths of birds soaring between the clouds barely reached halfway up its height.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard and stepped inside.
The interior was just as vast. The ceiling loomed at least twenty times my height. The pillars were enormous, the windows gigantic—everything was huge.
I feel like an ant.
As I wandered around, gawking, a familiar booming voice rang out.
"Oh! Kid!"
It was Ronan.
"You already finished the second exam?!"
He strode over and ruffled my hair roughly. Aaack!
My hair turned into a total mess.
"Impressive! So impressive!"
"Th-thank you, sir."
I backed away slightly, smoothing my hair.
"I'm here for the interview."
Ronan's expression turned puzzled.
"Interview? Why didn't you come with the exam proctor? The Grand Master was supposed to oversee this one."
"Ah, he... um..."
I couldn't exactly say he'd been trapped by the teddy bear.
"He had urgent business and couldn't make it."
"Hmm..."
Ronan tilted his head for a moment, then let it slide.
"Alright then. The interview's on the top floor."
"The top floor?"
How was I supposed to get up there? Birds couldn't even fly that high.
"How do I even reach it?"
"Heh, with a badge, you can move freely up and down the spire!"
"Ooh."
Ronan pointed to a pillar in the corner. A square platform lay at its base.
"Step on that and hold your badge to it!"
"Magic?"
"Beats me! I just know it's the Tower Lord's mysterious power!"
Whoa, such wonders exist in this world.
"But the interview floor requires a gold badge, so I can only take you up to the silver badge level. You'll have to walk the rest."
Ronan scratched the back of his head as he added,
"Hmm, or you could wait for the Grand Master."
"No!"
Waiting would be a disaster.
If I run into that scary old man here... he'd grab me by the collar and go berserk.
Just imagining it sent chills down my spine.
"F-for lower body training, I'll walk from the silver badge floor."
Ronan's eyes lit up at my hasty addition.
"You little rascal! Don't tell me!"
He scooped me under his arm and burst into hearty laughter.
"You've awakened to the importance of training! Yes! That's the spirit! A man grows strong through challenges!"
Agreeing readily, he carried me to the corner pillar.
We stepped onto the square platform, and Ronan pressed his badge against it.
Ding—
With a resonant chime, the platform began rising into the air.
"Whoa, whoa!"
I had no idea how it worked, but it was incredible.
We ascended for a while before the platform stopped.
"This is as high as I can go."
Ronan set me down and pointed to the stairs.
"Just fifty more floors up ahead."
What?!
"F-fifty floors??"
I must have misheard.
Thwack!
He slapped my back hard enough to make me stumble forward.
"Hang in there!"
With that, Ronan rode the platform back down.
I stared up at the endless spiral staircase, my face falling.
What do I do now...?
The end was nowhere in sight.
How much time had passed?
My legs were trembling, my calves burning like fire.
Ugh... fifty floors should mean I'm almost there, right...?
I'd lost track of which floor I'd started from. The exhaustion had made me forget to count.
That's when I heard footsteps approaching from the corridor beyond the stairs.
Huh?
Plum-colored hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her hair was braided into perfect hemispherical buns on either side, without any ribbons or pins visible. Yet the shape held impeccably, almost unnaturally.
Does she have some kind of support inside the braids?
Opera gloves, side-slit dress, heels—all in black. She looked about my age.
Sniff sniff.
A sweet scent wafted from her. Not like cookies—hard to describe.
For some reason, she feels... familiar.
The vibe was odd. Hard to read, that was the best way to put it.
She seems like just a normal girl.
But being here meant she was someone extraordinary. This was gold badge territory.
Should I say hi?
I clutched the teddy bear in my arms tighter, steeling myself, when...
The girl stopped walking.
And looked at me.
"......"
I reflexively bowed my head.
"...Hello?"
No response.
I looked up, and she was still staring blankly at me.
What's with her?
Something felt off. Her golden eyes were unfocused. She seemed to look at me, but through me, piercing into my core.
Like standing before a mirror.
I felt dissected, analyzed. An unpleasant nakedness made me rub my arms, and the sensation faded.
Her eyes widened slightly, then returned to normal.
What was that?
Embarrassed, I spoke up.
"Um, I'm here for the interview. Do you know which floor it is?"
She turned around.
"Follow me."
A flat, emotionless command. That was it.
She started walking, and I hurried to stand half a step behind her.
How long did we walk?
The corridor stretched endlessly, despite the tower narrowing higher up. Was this another of the Tower Lord's mystical feats?
My legs are starting to hurt...
As that thought crossed my mind, she asked without turning, still walking.
"That thing in your arms. A yokai?"
I flinched.
It felt like she knew everything.
"...Yeah."
"Not scared?"
"Not really."
"Why?"
I glanced down at the teddy bear in my arms. Its button eyes gazed up at me.
"It's just a teddy bear that likes hugs."
"Even though it tried to trap and eat you?"
Eat me?
The teddy bear was shaking its head vigorously.
But how does she know that?
I'd heard the exams were broadcast, but had word spread already?
"Didn't feel that way. Seemed like it just wasn't good at expressing itself."
The girl glanced at the teddy bear.
It jolted in fright, trying to burrow into my arms. But Sariya-nee was already sleeping in my pocket, so no room.
"So naive."
She said curtly, then eyed my chest.
"What's in there?"
I almost said Sariya-nee, but bit my tongue.
"...A spirit."
At "spirit," she paused briefly, then resumed walking.
"Doesn't seem like an ordinary one."
"...Pardon?"
"First spirit I've seen sleeping in someone's arms."
"Hmm."
It felt like she was asking about my relationship with her. No reason to deny it.
"My spirit's special."
"Why carry her around like that?"
"She protected me. Now I protect her."
The girl kept walking ahead.
"Nee... weird."
Her toneless voice made it hard to tell if it was praise or mockery.
Footsteps echoed in the silence for a bit before she asked,
"Anything you're curious about?"
Plenty.
"What's the Tower Lord like?"
She hesitated, then countered,
"How do you know about her?"
I recited what I knew.
"Empire's greatest, last demonkin on the continent, sealed herself to protect the capital, living legend of the empire—"
"Not those clichés."
She cut me off.
"What do you think the Tower Lord is like?"
My thoughts on the Tower Lord?
Hmm...
I pondered deeply.
...Incredibly great, self-sacrificing person, but...
Trapped in this tower all these years.
I didn't know much about demonkin.
Just fairy tales of heroes and demon kings.
But even the mightiest demon king...
Enduring over a century alone, watching companions leave one by one—easy?
If it were me...
Could I endure?
"...Kinda hard to say."
"No one's around. Just say it."
The teddy bear tugged at my chest. Telling me not to?
But an inexplicable urge pushed me to speak.
Felt like I'd regret it if I didn't.
Besides...
Her steps were slowing.
Burdened by expectation, but...
I couldn't ignore it.
"Must be really lonely."
"......"
She stopped.
Not looking back, staring into the endless corridor ahead.
Like chasing something invisible to me.
"...Why think that? She meets people here in the spire. Overthinking it."
Overthinking.
If she truly believed that, she wouldn't have asked why in the first place.
I shook my head slightly.
"Living so long, watching everyone leave. Council's nature probably made it worse."
Ronan and Reina avoiding bonds because death could come anytime.
"People must treat her distantly because of her position."
I'd briefly played archbishop, felt the weight of responsibility—even a few lives was crushing.
Nothing compared to bearing a nation's fate.
"Demonkin or not, she's human at heart. Doing what only she can is one thing—enduring the weight is another."
So...
"Contradictory, but... surrounded by people, yet profoundly alone."
Like me, loved by parents yet feeling isolated.
"......Bold."
She still faced away.
Chirp chirp chirp.
A bird flitted past the window. Crimson sunset rays filtered through the stained glass, dyeing the corridor.
She slowly turned.
Her golden eyes now truly met mine.
Not that dissecting gaze from before—
For the first time, they held me fully.
"...You're the first to think that."
Her plum hair shimmered iridescent in the light.
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen."
She paused.
"...Same age."
"Whoa, really?"
"...Yeah."
I'd guessed peers, but same age for real. First since Tommy. Joy welled up inside.
"Anyway, same age... so speak casually."
"Wanna be friends?"
"Friends...? Ahem, yeah, that."
Friends.
First time hearing it since Tommy.
"But... aren't you someone important? Wandering these high floors alone."
"See."
She pointed to her chest. No badge.
"Special circumstances, staying here. Acquaintance of someone important. No worries."
"Hmmm..."
I mulled it over.
As time passed, she fidgeted with her fingers.
Doesn't matter to me.
Didn't seem bad.
Just awkward at expressing herself, maybe.
Her tone was subtly imperious, commanding.
After Reina's quirks, it didn't faze me much.
"...Okay, sure."
Her expression stayed blank, but her eyes softened slightly.
"What's your name?"
She hesitated, then answered.
"...Next time."
"Cool. Mine too, then."
No name to give anyway—I swallowed that part.
"...Whatever."
For the first time, the corner of her mouth twitched up.
Ever so slightly.
"I'll be here awhile, so... come visit often."
"How? Fifty floors of stairs minimum."
She thought briefly.
"Just get a gold badge quick."
"Impossible."
"You could."
I shook my head.
"Dream's to be a rich, desk-job slacker."
She stared.
"Too wasteful for your talent."
"I have talent?"
"Seems like it."
Her voice held inexplicable certainty.
"...Head to the first floor. I'll pass the word to the important one."
"Really? Thanks!"
I grabbed her hand in excitement. She stiffened, then gently pulled away.
"......Surprised me."
"Ah, sorry. Got carried away. Just so happy."
She escorted me to the lift. After seeing me off, she took a few steps, then turned back.
"Come again."
She stood there, watching till I was out of sight.
Seems like a good friend.
I waved and started down the stairs. Descending was way easier than climbing.
Back on the first floor, waiting a bit...
"There! Applicant 179!"
An old man with a pen-shaped silver badge came panting up.
Gasping, he said,
"You've passed the interview! Congratulations!"
"Pardon?"
I hadn't even taken it?
"But I didn't do the interview—how'd I pass?"
He rolled his eyes, then replied,
"W-well... you aced the first two exams so outstandingly, the interview was waived. Congratulations on your acceptance!"
Fishy, but passing was passing—I was thrilled.
"Thank you! Really, thank you!"
I bowed repeatedly. He offered two badges on stiff cloth.
A bronze badge inscribed "Cheonchu." And a plain gold one.
"The bronze is your Cheonchu Squad badge. Report to the second floor tomorrow."
"And the gold?"
No markings. No affiliation.
Why this one?
The old man stammered,
"That's... your friend asked the Tower Lord... it's a gold badge for weekly lift use only."
"My friend did that?"
"Yes. Drip blood to imprint ownership."
I placed the gold badge in my palm, examining it.
My friend...
Only that girl came to mind. Getting a gold badge from the Tower Lord?
More influential than I thought.
I bit my fingertip lightly, letting a drop fall on the badge.
Shimmer.
It glowed softly, emanating warmth.
So, visit once a week, huh.
Anyway, made a friend and passed the test.
The leg fatigue melted away.
Leaving the spire, I gazed at the sunset.
Something felt solid, reassuring.
Sariya-nee. Teddy bear. Ronan and Reina. And my nameless new friend.
People are starting to gather around me.
Tomorrow's my first day.
My heart was already pounding.
Atop the Council Spire's pinnacle.
The sole occupant using an entire floor as her office.
She rubbed the back of her hand where the boy had grabbed it, murmuring,
"Didn't tell him not to grab..."
