Traitor? What Does That Mean?
“Traitor? What do you mean by that?”
“You had a divine beast body?! What the hell are you?”
That scum who deserves to be devoured is still alive? Let's go there right now!
The ancient dwarf king called the War God, and me, who had endured several cycles of this world. Ridiculously, the three of us were lost in our own shock or surprise, each blurting out whatever came to mind.
“Calm down. Tur Mah, you too.”
I pressed my throbbing temple and soothed the pair.
“This is Black Eye. My familiar.”
Tur Mah had lived in an era far predating Black Eye's time, so he had no way of knowing him. I could introduce Black Eye without reservation.
“A humanoid divine beast body... I've never seen anything like it.”
Tur Mah poked at Black Eye curiously, and he snapped back irritably. The reaction was so amusing that I couldn't help but chuckle.
“How does a divine beast use weapons? Does it fight barehanded? What about armor? Can it equip gear?”
Tur Mah's mind seemed flooded with experiments; questions poured out of him nonstop.
“He wields divine beast power like mana. Armor... I'm not sure if he can wear it.”
“Hoo, I see. Makes sense—being more spirit than flesh, fitting armor might be tricky... but that material could work. Maybe use it for the frame...?”
I shook my head at Tur Mah, who had lapsed into mutters again, thinking there was no helping him.
“Tur Mah. Our conversation isn't finished yet. How about telling me where Guljiwang is first?”
“Oh, right, right. Can't help it when I spot intriguing materials. Totally slipped my mind.”
At my chiding, Tur Mah stroked his beard sheepishly.
“Where to begin... Hmm. The tower was accessible only to a select few.”
Ignoring Black Eye's retort, Tur Mah continued slowly, as if dredging up old memories.
“No one knew its location or shape, but those who received invitations from it were drawn there like moths to a flame.”
“That's the strange part. How come you—the dwarf hailed as the greatest artisan—never got invited?”
Tur Mah shook his head.
“It wasn't that I didn't receive one. I refused it. A dwarf king can't just abandon his realm irresponsibly for some tower.”
“Hm.”
His words rang true.
“But Norpa was different. Now they've got these pointless titles like Guljiwang, but back then, they were just green kids in my eyes.”
“They?”
“Norpa were twin brothers. The Guljiwang moniker probably went to the elder. He excelled more as a miner than a smith—his brother had the superior handiwork.”
“I see.”
This was the first I'd heard that Guljiwang Norpa had a twin. Intriguing, but not crucial right now.
“Norpa wasn't the only one who left for the tower. Word was, Shteuan Tinubiel of Elvenheim, Parakel of the gnome kingdom, even high-ranking demon and devil lords with intellect—all headed there.”
I couldn't hide my shock.
“Tinubiel is the elf royal house, isn't it? And Parakel a senior gnome elder...”
Figures from ancient tomes I'd never seen in person, but all held lofty positions in their races. High status meant heavy responsibilities—and yet they'd forsaken everything for the tower.
What could have mesmerized them to abandon it all for the tower?
Reading my expression, Tur Mah spoke gravely.
“That's why you might be fortunate. You came to me—who knows of the tower through that sword. I may be the only one who ever refused the invitation.”
“Ah...!”
Right. Though he'd refused, Tur Mah had received one—which meant he remembered its contents.
“What did it say?”
“Nothing much. Just one sentence.”
Tur Mah met my gaze.
“Conquer the summit. From the boundary.”
Thump—thump—thump—!!
For some reason, my heart suddenly pounded wildly.
“What does 'boundary' mean?”
“No idea. I refused, so I don't know more. But those who accepted got a special tool to reach the tower.”
“Special tool...”
“Never seen one myself... but I remember Norpa holding a peculiar compass before he left. Definitely not dwarf-made.”
“......!!!!”
His words made me swallow hard without thinking.
“You don't mean this compass, do you?”
I showed him the compass of the dead's boundary, repaired by the illusion merchant.
“Heh... You never cease to amaze. Tower-forged weapon, divine beast familiar, and now a compass to the tower itself.”
Tur Mah stared at me.
“Yes. Identical to what Norpa had.”
“...”
This broken compass points to the tower sealing the calamity...
I stared at it blankly.
If those invitees truly sought to erase the one I know, they failed—the seal broke, and it escaped into the world.
Until now, I'd only prepared for the encroaching calamity. But knowing this secret opened another path.
I couldn't predict where or how it would appear, so I could only wait...
Squeeze—
I gripped the compass tighter.
If I can repair this, I might strike first—before the seal breaks.
“Tur Mah. Can you fix this compass?”
I held out the broken device.
“This...”
He took it, his face turning uncharacteristically serious—unlike any expression before.
“Tur Mah?”
Without a word, he walked into his workshop.
In countless dream cycles, I'd seen that look on him once.
When he learned he'd been trapped in time, and his dwarf kingdom gone for centuries.
I wondered if pursuing the tower would wound him again, like last time.
“Hoo...”
But the water was spilled. No point regretting—better to press forward.
“Black Eye. Time to talk, you and I.”
“You swore loyalty to me; we forged the familiar's pact. But we still know so little of each other.”
He hadn't told me his master's five heroes wielded swords forged in that hidden tower.
“I won't pry about the tower or your master. To complete Chil-ya, I need your Baek-ya from life—and that path reveals your master. Secret or not, you gave me your best information.”
“However.”
He looked at me.
“I'm not curious about the power I seek. It's you I'm wondering about.”
“The second hero, U-ryu-ga of the Bitter Smile. The records say: 'His swift blade reached divine realms—foes died unknowing. He stands before the slain, eyes closed as if atoning, his tragic smile evoking pity even for the killer.'”
“Why?”
Black Eye's eyes blazed as he spoke to me.
“Reviewing...?”
“Why take such a disciple?”
Whose account was true would need verifying, but Black Eye's alone painted U-ryu-ga as far from admirable.
“Hm...”
Black Eye's regret flowed to me through our contract. A thirst for strength. Right or wrong, I understood—I'm growing strong to beat it too.
Not some grand ideal of saving the world. Just the raw desire to crush it.
In endless dream cycles, no effort mattered; one glimpse, and defeat was certain.
Squeeze—
My fist clenched unbidden.
“Then why kill you? His master.”
Time for the truth behind Gullak's death, long a mystery.
As I stared, he hesitated, then spoke.
I shook my head.
“No. Tales of Gullak's five heroes are scarce. I pegged him as one because records say he used Chil-ya Sword Style once—in his final, fiercest battle in the south. They call him only Bitter Smile there.”
Yes. Just once. Hearing Chil-ya swords came from the tower, I guessed.
“Guljiwang Norpa—the four arcana smiths—died long ago. But his line endures.”
“Exactly.”
Like the four arcana smiths in dwarf glory days, Kal Duchy had three artisans leading magitech. Guljiwang's descendants.
“No survivors from the tower are known. And as I recall... the tower was never conquered.”
Because it appeared.
“Then Norpa must've abandoned the tower for some reason and returned.”
“Yes.”
Guljiwang Norpa's legacy skill: Torong's Scripture, pinnacle of extant mechanical engineering.
“Spot on. Guljiwang passed craft to his blood, but ironically, his secret arts to non-dwarves: humans dubbed Torong tribe.”
“Who knows.”
I shrugged lightly.
“Something happened in the tower—maybe Guljiwang planned ahead, preparing warriors if they failed.”
“Torong are vaults for Torong's Scripture—but also armaments themselves.”
I faced Black Eye.
“Magitech incarnate: armed engineering. That's Torong.”
Black Eye gaped at me incredulously, but I could only offer a faint smile.
“Just heard tales—never seen it used. U-ryu-ga had the Torong bracelets.”
“Why?”