Chapter 14: God's Tower
The next afternoon after the Tower of God. Our army had descended the mountain at dawn, spent the morning resupplying, and was now ready to depart. As promised with Sharel the day before, Amon's merchant guild had taken responsibility for transporting the 600,000 gold. Just like that, a huge chunk of cash had slipped through my fingers again.
Hmm, armies really are money-devouring monsters. 100,000 gold gone up in smoke in the blink of an eye. Still, with the 300,000 gold squeezed from the local lords on the way here, plus the bribes and fees from Baron Akaron totaling nearly 400,000, I had a solid war chest. It should be enough to handle any emergencies back in the territory with flexibility.
"The whole army, advance!"
"March to the capital!"
After the wails of grief echoing through the night, it seemed the knights had whipped the soldiers into shape. The marching formation was crisp and precise, like a veteran elite unit. Their armor had been repaired and polished to a shine, giving them a majestic air at first glance. No one would dare look down on us now.
"Baron!"
Far off in the distance, Baron Akaron and Lady Aria came galloping up on horseback. What did this father-daughter duo want now?
"What brings the baron and lady here?"
I treated them with due respect. We'd fleeced them for nearly a million gold in this territory alone—30,000 in bribes, 100,000 in fees, 700,000 for the ogre and red orc corpses, and the twin-headed ogre's bounty still unsettled. After lining their pockets that much, the gods wouldn't look kindly on me mistreating them.
I dismounted and greeted them courteously. Baron Akaron took his daughter's hand and offered it to me. What kind of cliché was this?
"My lord! Please take my daughter as your vassal!"
"A vassal?"
My brow furrowed naturally. Was this guy trying to plant a spy right in my face? Did he think I was an idiot just because I'd been polite?
"Why would I?"
No way was anything nice coming out of my mouth. I couldn't curse him out thanks to the money he'd paid, so I turned to leave—when an unexpected plea burst forth.
"You strive for great deeds, my lord! My daughter graduated top of the academy and studied under the great archmage Licardo himself, mastering magitech! She'll be a tremendous asset to your territory's development!"
"Licardo's disciple... magitech?"
I looked at Aria with fresh eyes. That name rang a bell...
Ah!
I remembered. Aria the Archmagitech! Known later as "Heavenly Aria," the once-in-a-generation genius who fused magic with trains and engines. She wasn't supposed to join until about ten years from now. And I'd only just recalled it!
Aria suddenly looked different. A talent like this? I'd kidnap her if I had to. The protagonist had always lacked early-game recruits thanks to his trash reputation. His rapid growth was pure protagonist buff—and Kainus's help, of course. A gem like this dropping in my lap? Scoop her up.
I seized Aria's hand.
"Aria! Looking forward to working with you!"
"C-can I really come along?"
"Of course! Absolutely!"
Kainus and the knights stared, unaccustomed to my benevolent smile as I welcomed talent. When had I ever been this kind? Never. Not even to my sister, let alone outsiders.
Baron Akaron beamed with genuine joy.
"Hahaha! This must be fate! Aria's finally found her place."
"I'll take good care of Lady Aria. Thank you."
"No, no—my mind's at ease now."
"Alright, let's move out."
"Th-thank you."
Aria blushed. She had some agenda of her own, but who cared? With Archmagitech Aria on board, my territory would grow leagues faster than in the original novel. Who knew luck like this would come my way?
Heh heh, perfect. I'll work her to the bone.
On the road to the capital, less than an hour after recruiting Aria, I was already regretting it.
"My lord! What are your hobbies?"
"Reading...?"
"Ah! A hero's pastime indeed. What foods do you like?"
"I especially enjoy roast turkey."
"I've researched roast turkey for three years."
"Oh, have you now."
"Anything you particularly dislike?"
Chatterboxes like you.
Was Aria this talkative? Honestly, I wasn't sure. Even as the author, remembering every detail of a novel written ten years ago was impossible. She played a key role, but later chapters tended to drag, so I might've skimped on her personality.
Come to think of it, in the novel, Aria falls head over heels for the protagonist and joins unconditionally. Wait... is this...?
Rubbing my eyes, I saw it: Aria was half-mad with infatuation, like Cecilia. She radiated adoration for me. No wonder she'd followed so eagerly. In the story, she defied her family to join him—but here, Akaron seemed to push her harder.
How the hell? After fleecing them, they still showed favor? This was creepy. Probably massive jealousy brewing...
Get tangled wrong, and my harem dreams could shatter before takeoff. No way.
"My lord!"
"Hm?"
"Are you listening?"
"Yes, I am."
"What's your ideal type?"
"Ideal... type?"
Here it came. Time to dodge carefully. Only then could I work her to death. With other women, maybe—but best avoid romantic ties here.
"Ahem. Modest, smart, beautiful, and no jealousy toward her husband. I dream of three wives and four concubines, you see. Above all, I hate talkative women."
"......"
Aria froze in shock. Naturally. I'd declared a harem before we even started— no way she'd accept that.
Message received, right?
"It's awkward sharing a carriage with the opposite sex like this. I've prepared another one—head there."
I had her switch carriages immediately. She was still stunned as she left. Problem solved.
The ornate carriage was familiar to Aria—it was her family's. Her father had lent it so she'd travel comfortably.
Aria sat reeling from her encounter with Baron Aron.
"Jealousy...?"
Why say that?
Did he notice I like him?
She shook her head. No. Nothing major had happened between them. Her feelings were one-sided. She'd fallen at first sight—destiny itself—and resolved to follow him, abandoning all. She'd fed her father excuses, but from that initial meeting, she knew he was the one.
Yet he hated jealous women. While proudly declaring his harem plans.
To be his lover, she'd have to accept his future flings.
Her father's words echoed: 'He's destined for greatness. With his power, he'll rule the East at minimum—maybe become a legend. Your goal is to be his official wife or first concubine. Don't sabotage a great hero with jealousy.'
Don't start if you're gonna get jealous. It hadn't made sense then—but now it did.
Aria clenched her fists.
"I'll become the first wife, no matter what."
Meeting her fated man early, untainted by politics—this butterfly effect hardened her resolve.
The world felt quieter once Aria left. I'd ordered no one to enter my carriage until evening, then closed my eyes.
Time to use the shop ticket, maybe. Another would come eventually—maybe a god would gift one. Hoarding wasn't the answer.
I was dying to see the gods' shop anyway: prices, inventory. Crucial for timing future uses.
"Let's do this."
The shop ticket wasn't a physical item. The gods' system wasn't tangible. Level-ups worked via conscious stat allocation—no form needed. Same here. Karma, divine gifts—all intangible.
Eyes shut, I consciously activated the shop ticket.
Shwaaaa!
Suddenly, everything froze. The galloping carriage, the flowing air—halted.
Then my mind was sucked into the void.
In the darkness, light bloomed. A colossal tower materialized before me.
The moment I focused on it, I was inside.
The spiral interior stretched endlessly, shelves lining both sides with countless items: books, potions, weapons—everything imaginable. Some formless, others fully manifested.
Swish.
As I marveled at the mystical sight, a stunningly intellectual angel in black horn-rimmed glasses appeared. More librarian than angel.
She greeted me.
"Welcome, hero chosen by the gods. I'm Raen, guide and manager of the Tower of God."
"Uh... you're the manager?"
"Yes. I handle guidance and purchases for heroes like you."
First, intel.
"What's available here?"