"Keep going. You still haven't told me why you chose to come to me first," Shinso said, casually waving his hand to dismiss the topic like it was nothing. Yeah, I'm planning to fight a Ranker—so what? I could kill a High Ranker. It's like stepping on a slightly bigger ant.
Shibisu didn't press the issue and just sighed, exasperated. *People with talent and power really can do whatever they want.*
Reluctantly, he returned to the topic. "As for why we approached you first… I don't think that's really relevant. Whether you were first or second doesn't matter. It's just a change in order, although both are our goals. Honestly, I'm here more to clear things up than to make friends." His voice was calm, unafraid of provoking someone who could blow him up on a whim.
"So, understanding my actions is more important than passing the exam? That makes sense. Whether we become friends or not doesn't change much. If I rejected you, you'd just go to someone else. Your task is done once I agree to join, which is a good thing. If I don't, you wouldn't lose anything," Shinso said, leaning his head against the back of the chair.
"Although my actions may seem childish, they're not without reason. I did it to see whether they're capable of playing against me. They want to play complex chess, but I wanted to play checkers. Same piece but different moves (another lie.) "
*I said that, but it wasn't even about changing the game. It was about flipping the board—or rage-quitting altogether. Before, I couldn't afford to. I was powerless against schemes and manipulation; after all, I'm just a plain average guy on Earth. But now that I've gained power, I could kill them easily. No complicated strategy survives against pure violence.*
Shinso said, sighing inwardly.
*But having power also inflates your ego. So when I win by brute force, it feels hollow. Rather than a moral boost, it's more giving yourself a mental burden. For someone like me, simple things become complicated. Although, in the end, the winner is very important. But winning the war is better than winning a battle.*
*That's why my feelings toward Rachel are complicated. We're not so different. We both know pieces of the plot, but the difference is power and objective. I have power—she doesn't.*
*She made a deal with Headon, sure. But in the end, she's just a pawn. She wanted the Thorn, the same weapon Enryu used to kill an Administrator. But she has no way to obtain it. The fake Thorn, essential to absorbing the real one, was given to Baam. No matter how much she pockets it, she wouldn't be able to absorb the thorn.*
*Although her character is garbage, it's not completely useless. Judging by her actions, it means her information is based on incomplete knowledge—maybe from Arlene's diary or scraps of her notes. Whether by accident or intentional plot, she's being used to lead Baam forward. Without her knowledge, after all, without her existence, he wouldn't have a reason to climb the Tower.*
*To reach the stars, Zahard and the Ten Great Families probably stand in her way; it's unlikely since she's probably cooperating just to borrow their power. However, Zahard failed to conquer the final floor and split the key—half into the 13 Month Series given to his princesses, and half into a ring given to his princes. That might be why Rachel dragged Ja Wangnan along; she needed something from him, likely his backer.*
*Anyway, she has no weapon to remove the threats in her path. That's why she craves the power of a Slayer. But can Slayers even change the Tower? These so-called gods and their followers in the organization Faith Under God are just insignificant creatures. Even with a blade, it's dull compared to what Baam is. He was making real change—as an irregular.*
*That's why she's bitter. That's why she complains. "Baam took everything from me." The Thorn, the support, the future she imagined. A powerless ant trying to fight the waves. It's cute."
*The hilarious part is, do having those really give a way to see the stars? Are the stars even important? For me, an Earthling, the star is just luminous, reflecting light. If she wanted to see stars, she might as well strip Urek. At least she could see a star before dying. Anyway, was that really the case?*
*I remember the system issued a quest… I pretty much obtained the power of Luminous. Maybe it wants me to become a god to fulfill her wish. Heh… fascinating.*
A series of bone-chilling ideas creep into his mind, as if opening a Pandora's box; it was tainted by thoughts that even terrified Satan himself.
*Oops—got carried away again.* Realizing his thoughts had wandered far from the conversation, Shinso shook them off and glanced at Shibisu, who was still muttering to himself. *I can't just say, "I wasn't paying attention; can you repeat that?" That'd crush his enthusiasm. And I respect the guy… it's just my mind drifted.*
"I accept. I'll be your friend," Shinso said abruptly, picking up the paper and signing his name without waiting for a response. Then, standing up, he added, "Follow me. I'll help you find someone reliable."
*Consider that payment for not listening,* he muttered to himself.
Knock! Knock!
After a few moments, the dark brown wooden door creaked open—just slightly. Through the narrow gap, a single round eye peeked out, its color reminiscent of the sea, a vivid blue. Upon spotting a familiar face, the eye widened in surprise for a split second before returning to a calm, guarded stare.
"Wait a minute..." Khun muttered.
He shut the door, unlatched the U-lock, and opened it fully. Without saying a word, he tilted his head slightly—a silent invitation to enter.
Shinso stepped inside, followed by Hatz and Shibisu. As they entered leisurely, Shinso's eyes roamed the room, scanning every corner like a predator in a new territory. It was ironic, really. Two Scouts, and yet it was the Fisherman doing the scouting.
There were only three chairs around the round table. Rak was already slouched in one, so Shibisu and Shinso took the remaining seats. Khun, choosing not to sit with them, crossed his legs on the bed facing the group.
"...So, what do you guys want?" he asked. The tone was polite, but his eyes were cautious—especially toward Shinso. He hadn't forgotten. Shinso had spoken with the administrator—likely about Baam. And now here he was, casually dropping by like he wasn't a threat.
Khun didn't trust anyone. And now his guard was fully up.
Noticing this, Shinso smirked inwardly.
*An anxious blue cat. You're worrying about the wrong enemy. Heh.*
"Calm down, 'incest lover.' We're not here to cause trouble—or rather, they're not. I'm only here to offer my assistance," Shinso said coolly, his face flashing a bright smile.
Instead of easing tensions, the words only made them worse. "Incest lover." That phrase hit a nerve. It was public knowledge; Khun's relationship with Maria had always been... complicated according to rumors. It was the reason they were exiled from the Khun family and the cause of death of his sister.
And here Shinso was—pretending to make friends while slicing straight into his scars.
Sensing the rising tension, Shibisu quickly stepped in.
"Right. We just want to be friends. That's all," he said, explaining everything as clearly and calmly as he could. Fortunately, Khun was willing to listen.
"I see..." Khun muttered. But then his gaze slid to Shinso. Cold. Sharp. "But I still don't understand why he's here." Though he didn't say it outright, the meaning was clear: "If you want to talk business, get rid of him."
Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen.
"Sigh... Why are you so scared, incest lover? It's not like I'm going to eat you," Shinso teased.
"You—! "Khun, snapped.
He lunged forward and grabbed Shinso by the collar. He didn't care if Shinso was strong. He was ready to throw hands. But before things escalated, Hatz and Shibisu grabbed his shoulders, pulling him back just in time.
Khun gritted his teeth, glaring daggers at Shinso.
Shinso, unfazed, met his gaze with a sly smile. "Was the damage really that bad? Why so sensitive? You chose to be an incest lover. You should be responsible for your own actions, abandoned son of the Khun family."
He still remembered it—how Khun had lost his composure back when Neon provoked him with the same words. "Abandoned son of the Khun family." Although SIU had altered the scene later, the pain behind the scene seems to remain unchanged.
Realizing he was being provoked on purpose, Khun took a deep breath and slowly composed himself.
After a moment of silence, Shinso asked with a grin, "Calmed down now, incest lover?"
Khun narrowed his eyes. "Why are you trying to provoke me?"
"Nothing much. Just confirming a few things," Shinso replied casually.
In truth, Shinso needed to test him. If someone else had taken Maria's place as Princess of Zahard, the timeline might have shifted. And Khun played a major role—especially when it came to Rachel. Shinso needed to be sure of where his loyalties lay. Satisfied, Shinso changed the topic as if nothing had happened.
"Now then, let's get to the point. I didn't provoke you for no reason. I needed to see if I could trust you—with Baam."
"Baam?"
"You've probably already noticed. You see, he's… special. We'll talk about that later. For now, you need to be more cautious."
"Cautious of what?"
At Khun's sudden shift in tone, Shinso chuckled. "I brought you allies you can trust with your life. But there's someone else you shouldn't trust."
"…Who?"
"Rachel."
The room went quiet.
Shinso rose to his feet, stretching leisurely. "Anyway, that's all from me. Be careful, for someone who likes to give his sisters a backshot. I'm sure you don't want to end up the next guy receiving it, right? Don't drop the soap."
With that crude remark, Shinso left the room. Baam—still unconscious—was the only one who didn't react. Khun sat in stunned silence, jaws half-open.
*Be wary of Rachel?* Khun replayed the words in his mind. He wanted to dismiss them, to brush them off as part of Shinso's provocation. But something about his tone, his certainty, made Khun hesitate.
*He may be annoying and arrogant. But he seemed to know far more than he should, ignoring his warning might be dangerous.*
Biting his thumb, he reluctantly put things into consideration.
Shinso walked away from their room. On the way, he encountered the person he needed to meet the most. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Finally… Rachel."
Not missing his chance, Shinso decided to approach the devil.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Rachel was taken aback for a moment. Her back instinctively pressed against the wall. Taking advantage of the moment, Shinso placed his palm on the wall beside her head—a kabedon, the kind you'd see in Japanese dramas.
While his right hand blocked Rachel's escape route, his left hand reached for her chin. He pinched it lightly before lifting it, guiding her gaze upward. His face leaned in—not close enough for a kiss, but just enough to lock eyes.
With a sly smile, he whispered a few words that only the two of them could understand. But there were certain keywords mentioned—stars, assistance, and deal.
Hearing this, Rachel's cheeks flushed red, and her knees shook. She was clearly flustered, perhaps even shy about something—but in the end, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.
A deal was made.
With no one watching, the two of them quietly walked into a vacant, obscure room.
After several hours, a round of slow applause echoed briefly—then silence.
Minutes later, Rachel emerged first, hand trailing the wall to support herself. Her steps were uneven, her free hand resting on her lower back. There was a slight wince in her expression… and yet, a strange satisfaction lingered on her lips.
As for what happened inside... It was obvious.