Tower

Chapter 16

Yu Hye-na and I had different general-education classes, so we said goodbye at the Main Building elevator. It was still early when Kang Yu-seong and I reached our lecture hall.

Only a handful of seats were occupied.

"Man, how does she manage to get here this early every single day?"

There was no mistaking who he meant. Kang So-eun sat by herself, her long light-brown hair spilling down her back. Her eyes were as sharp as the Park sisters', but where theirs could seem seductive, hers were cool and uncompromising. She was stubborn, yes, but also unfailingly diligent. Professors trusted her, classmates relied on her, and as class representative she took every responsibility seriously. Some people called her rigid. Even they couldn't accuse her of cutting corners.

Yu-seong shoved past me to greet her. "Hey." His eyes lingered on her bare legs and figure as he approached.

So-eun caught him looking and frowned. "Hi." The greeting sounded reluctant.

Yu-seong dropped his bag into the chair beside her. "You know, I don't think I've ever sat next to you. Your almost-boyfriend's always hogging this spot. How about giving someone else a turn?"

"..."

'What the fuck is he doing?'

I was already glaring at him when So-eun spoke.

"If you have a girlfriend, you shouldn't go out of your way to get close to other girls."

She collected her things and moved farther back. "It's unfair to your girlfriend, and I don't intend to be mistaken for the other woman. Show some restraint."

She gave me a pointed look. I hesitated, then followed her to the back row. Left alone, Yu-seong scowled for a moment before recovering his grin. "Hey, why's the Main Building packed today? The student council's everywhere. What's going on?"

So-eun frowned. "Did you even read the group chat? There's an announcement."

"Uh...?"

"You were probably too busy chasing girls to notice."

"...What? What's going on?"

She regarded him with open exasperation. "A cult calling itself the Great Peace Sect has been recruiting students on campus. The dean's making an announcement in the auditorium after class. Freshmen go first, starting at two. Not that you'd have noticed."

Yu-seong leaned toward me, stealing a glance at her. "Did you know? Those cult freaks have really been harassing people?"

"Yeah, I'd heard."

And that was exactly what bothered me. 'There was no Great Peace Sect in the game.'

The story was approaching the protagonist's starting point. An unfamiliar faction appearing now was the last thing I needed. 'Did changing Ha-rin's and Se-eun's routes cause this butterfly effect?'

Or was someone else interfering? I was still turning it over in my mind when—

"At least stop scrunching up your forehead every time you're worried."

A sigh came from beside me. "You'll get wrinkles. How many times do I have to tell you?"

So-eun pressed two fingers between my brows and tried to smooth out the crease. Yu-seong stared at us, his face growing darker. "Hey, So-eun. When's your birthday?"

"Huh? February twenty-seventh."

"Mine's in January, so I'm older than you. You can call me your big brother. Si-hyun wasn't born until November—so he's younger than you, too."

His mouth twisted into a grin. "Oh, wait. There's probably only one woman he'd call his big sister. He's a total siscon."

He shot me a nasty smile. After an awkward pause, So-eun asked, "...What's a 'siscon'?"

"..."

Yu-seong burst out laughing. "Seriously? You're that innocent? You don't know any of that weird stuff?"

"Why would I? I'd rather study than waste time on nonsense. Aren't you both behind in your classes?"

Yu-seong stifled another laugh. The look on his face told me exactly what kind of sleazy fantasy he'd come up with about her innocence.

"We should all go out for drinks sometime—the three of us. No, bring my girlfriend and make it four. I'll pay."

"No thanks. What's so fun about drinking? Go without me."

"Come on, just once. Si-hyun here is always too busy with girls to hang out with us."

"...Girls?"

Kang So-eun's gaze darkened slightly. This bastard Kang Yu-seong, starting his usual bullshit. He's probably getting antsy, thinking I might snatch Kang So-eun first. And he's not wrong. 'I've got nothing to say to that.'

"They're friends of my little sister."

Three years ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ago, I went to a karaoke with Park Se-eun's friends, and after witnessing my disastrous singing skills and looks, they became obsessed. Se-eun, unable to withstand their relentless begging—"Oppa! Please! Just twice a week! No, once! They won't shut up about you, it's driving me crazy!"—ended up clinging to my pant leg, pleading. So, I agreed to hang out with them once every two weeks. Honestly, I thought Park Ha-rin would lose it, but she just laughed and let me go. She's changed a lot.

"Don't play innocent. You're always out with your sister, and you meet up with that half-Japanese older girl too. Women are always after you."

This bastard was attacking me with facts again, the coward... But such was the tragedy of a man whose looks transcended generations. No matter where I went, women clung to me. The fact that I've kept my chastity intact is nothing short of a miracle.

"You'd make any girlfriend miserable. How could she ever trust you?"

Kang So-eun stared at me with a stiff expression. Her eyes were worried, but... No, that's the look of someone utterly smitten by my face. Right. No matter what this bastard says, the heroines won't waver. Besides... He's still just an amateur Golden Sun.

"I'll handle it myself. (You bastard.)"

Women were naturally drawn to popular men. And right now, his words were just proving how in-demand I was. Thanks for that.

That was when I sensed wariness flicker in Kang Yu-seong's eyes.

"Ugh, those cultists are relentless."

"Can they even come onto campus like that? Isn't it illegal?"

A group of girls came in, talking loudly. The moment they spotted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me, their faces brightened.

"Si-hyun! You're early! Morning!"

"Hey, Si-hyun! Yu-seong, too. Oh, So-eun... you're here already."

Intimidated by So-eun's expression, the girls offered her an awkward greeting before sitting nearby.

"Si-hyun, what did you do over the weekend?"

"Worked out."

"Oh, no wonder you look even better. Can I touch your muscles?"

"Ahaha... Maybe not."

"Hey, I'm sitting right here, and you're not even asking me?"

"You already have a girlfriend."

"He's got a girl right next to him too."

"Si-hyun is everyone's boyfriend."

"Jesus... What the hell."

Yu-seong muttered something under his breath, but the room was already filling with students.

"Yo! Si-hyun-kun! Yu-seong-kun! So-eun-kun! Ohayou!"

A loud voice boomed as Jang Yeong-han, the otaku, plopped down behind us. In high school, I kept my distance, but after resolving my conflicts with Park Ha-rin, he remained a friend. He was in Korea University's animation department. His T-shirt had a print of his favorite twin-tailed, moe-blob anime girl. I saw it every time we had class together, but today, too, I couldn't suppress the chills. This guy actually rides the Seoul bus dressed like this to commute to Korea University. But since his terrifying face was plastered with a satisfied grin... I'll keep my mouth shut.

More people streamed into the room, and the chatter swelled.

Then our professor arrived.

"As expected of Korea University students. It's the hour when most people would be sleepy after lunch, yet here you all are, ready to learn. As a professor, I'm proud."

She adjusted her thin glasses and smiled, every inch the poised academic.

"One more thing. You've heard about the Great Peace Sect causing trouble around Seoul, haven't you? Don't accept their pamphlets. If they approach you, contact the police."

The Great Peace Sect... So it really is serious.

"Let's take attendance. Business Administration—Ga So-jeong."

* * *

Bzzzt!

While typing notes on my laptop, my phone vibrated. Shit, did I forget to mute it?

I hurriedly unlocked the screen.

「Nemesis」

Se-eun was calling.

"Your sister? Is it urgent?"

So-eun glanced at my phone.

"Uh, give me a second. I'll be right back."

I slipped out of the lecture hall as quietly as I could and answered.

"What is it? Aren't you supposed to be at school? You're a senior now, and you know my schedule. Why call in the middle of class?"

"Conclusion."

I could hear students shouting in the background. From the way their voices carried, she was probably on the rooftop at lunchtime. Se-eun said nothing for a moment.

"...I just wanted to hear your voice. Is that a problem?"

"Nothing's wrong?"

"No. I was on the roof and felt like calling. So what?"

"Yeah, a fucking problem. Hang up. Don't bother your busy oppa—go smoke a cigarette or something."

"I quit three years ago! That's not what I'm calling about—"

"Conclusion."

I heard her grind her teeth, followed by a long sigh.

"...Oppa, it's almost time, right?"

Her voice was so serious, and trembled so much, that I stopped joking. I wasn't going to comfort her with a lie.

"Yeah. It's almost time."

Because that would have been the truly irresponsible thing to do.

"Right... Honestly, I never really believed most of what you told me. How could I, when it sounded so impossible?"

"Fair enough."

"But... just if. If what you said really happens..."

Her voice faltered.

"...Can you take me with you...?"

I couldn't answer at once. I could hear the fear behind her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠question, and it weighed on me.

"... ..."

Sometimes I wondered whether I'd frightened Se-eun needlessly by spending the last three years warning her about the end of the world.

"... ..."

And the closer we'd grown, the harder that question became to ignore.

'She's changed so much from the game... I've started feeling guilt like this, and you've started ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worrying about things like this—guess we've both become more human, huh?'

The Se-eun from the game had despised everyone and trusted no one. The girl on the other end of the phone was nothing like her.

'Did I change her?'

I couldn't be sure. But I didn't want her to become that Se-eun again.

After that, the answer was simple. We were family. That was all that mattered.

"Of course I'll take you."

I was worried about her. That was the truth.

"Did you seriously think I'd leave you behind?"

I didn't want her to think her family had abandoned her again. The words came out more firmly than I'd intended.

"If the world ends, we face it together."

"!"

I heard her catch her breath.

"...Really. Really? No take-backs later?"

"I've answered you. Can I go back to class now?"

"No! Do you know how many guys would kill to—!"

"Not my problem."

Somehow the call lasted until the lunch break ended. If listening to her chatter was enough to put her at ease, I could spare that time. I answered whenever she wanted me to.

She laughed more than usual that day.

#

By the time I returned, students were already leaving the lecture hall for the break.

"Hey, siscon. What could you possibly have to talk about with your sister for that long? You dating or something?"

"She needed someone to talk to."

"Ah, that's my specialty. Has Se-eun grown up a lot? Tell her to meet me sometime. I'll buy her something expensive."

"Ask me again in a month."

If we even get that long.

I walked past Yu-seong's idiotic grin and back to my seat. So-eun spoke before I could sit down.

"You look a little brighter, so I'm glad it wasn't anything serious. ...Actually, you seem in a good mood?"

"Huh?"

What was she talking about? My sister had talked my ear off.

"Still, you shouldn't miss an entire lecture. Next time, at least let the professor know. He wasn't pleased."

"Right. Sorry."

Right... Normally, he doesn't care if people slip out, but he's got a soft spot for me, huh...? Damn it. I'll have to apologize after class.

"Here."

So-eun turned her laptop toward me. She'd taken meticulous notes while I was gone.

"I owe you one."

"You can treat me to sashimi tonight. How's that?"

According to the game's official setting book, fish was her favorite food.

"Deal."

Her stern expression softened.

"...Maybe we could get drinks afterward?"

I stared at her.

"You said you had to look after your little sister last time—"

"...D-Don't get the wrong idea! A-And—she's eight! That's practically grown! Besides, my mom's free today..."

So-eun's eyes shifted nervously. She seemed afraid I'd turn her down.

So-eun's eyes trembled slightly. She looked worried I'd refuse.

Naturally, I said—

"Sorry. I'm a virginity-until-marriage kinda guy."

Kang So-eun's hysterical glare cooled coldly. "...What were you thinking? Are you a pervert?"

"Ah, wasn't that what you meant? Sorry."

Kang So-eun openly showed a disappointed expression. Most likely, that was exactly what Kang So-eun had been aiming for. But. 'I can't resist a Quest.'

Sometimes a man had priorities. For me, a quest was more important than romance.

"An eight-year-old younger sibling? Are you trying to pick a fight by saying it in a roundabout way?"

"Pfft. I'm joking."

She laughed, and I found myself thinking about how much she'd changed since freshman orientation. Back then she'd been tense and sharp-tongued, the kind of person who could turn a casual conversation into a reprimand.

At the welcome partyshe'd announced, 'I'll work hard on everything except pointless things.' At sports day she'd barked, 'Park Si-hyun, you're our ace! Don't you dare slack off!' I'd replied that even I would give my all if a goddess invited me to dinner, and she'd immediately warned me not to drink.

That same So-eunwas now laughing with me and inviting me out for drinks, looking embarrassed by her own boldness. 'She's really changed. Maybe things in Journey of the Eastern Tower will go smoothly after all...'

Ding-

『Protagonist Synchronization Rate - 150%』

The synchronization indicator, silent for so long, had finally risen. Then someone called my name.

"Student Park Si-hyun...?" The professor's voice reached me just as another series of messages appeared.

『Until the Tower appears, 8 days... ... remain.』

『Until the Tower appears, 7 days remain.』

Beep-

『Until the Tower appears, # days remain.』

Between one message and the next, the entire world seemed to freeze. A low rumble rolled through the building.

Time began moving again—and an enormous shadow swept across the lecture hall windows.

"Wh-what is that...?"

The sun seemed to split apart. Where its light had been, a colossal structure was descending toward the ground. Its growing shadow swallowed Seoul.

『Protagonist's level confirmed as abnormally high』

『Difficulty adjusted to its maximum, from 'Normal' to 'Heaven'』

『Monster damage adjusted to an extreme 200%』

『Affinity with women rises to the extreme.』

『Until the Tower appears, 10 seconds... ... remain.』

The Tower was coming down.