The Cathedral of the Remote Place, 28th Floor of the Mythical Tower.
I raised my head and examined the building before me.
It was the smallest cathedral I had ever seen, about the size of the church back in my hometown.
"The steel beams are sticking out everywhere."
"And there are pointy rocks too!"
Just as Kanmoduo had observed.
Exposed steel frames and rough, unshaped stones were everywhere.
Was it abandoned mid-construction because it was so remote?
*Prick!*
While I was looking around, a sound came from inside.
The sound of something being hammered.
As I moved closer, I could see traces of construction—ropes hanging here and there, pulleys for lifting stones.
I passed through the arched entrance and went inside.
"Up there!"
I followed the chubby finger.
A boy sitting on a ladder.
He looked like an early elementary school student, yet he was already doing carpentry. What an impressive kid.
Kancho, perched on my shoulder, shouted boldly.
"Come here!"
He must have stayed up late watching a historical drama on his phone.
It was a bit rude for a guest, but the effect was perfect.
The boy stopped hammering and turned around.
"Whoa!"
He must have been completely surprised by the unexpected visit.
Just as the boy lost his balance and I was about to push off the ground—
"Momo cushion, deploying!"
"What is that—"
Kancho grabbed his chubby head and hurled himself under the ladder.
Before I could ask what he was doing, Momo rolled across the floor.
He had been all fresh and clean after washing up with Camella this morning, but now he was covered in dirt from that single throw.
"Oh?"
I was about to go catch the boy, but I stopped myself.
Not because Momo's cushion had landed in time.
Before the fall even began, the boy hooked one finger on the ladder and supported himself.
He was small, but balancing with just one finger showed incredible strength and reflexes.
The boy jumped down lightly and looked at Momo, who was sprawled on the ground.
"Hey, chubby friend, you okay?"
Even a stranger's first thought was "chubby."
Truly, the Grand Empress of Chubby!
Momo got up, dusted off his dirt-covered pants and clothes.
Then—
"Yaaaaaaah!!!!!!"
He charged at Kancho and delivered a dropkick.
"Oh! That's a great kick!"
The boy clapped like a seal, genuinely impressed.
He watched Kanmoduo tumbling on the dirt floor with great interest.
Well, there's nothing more entertaining than watching other people fight.
"Hi. I'm Yoo Jinhyuk."
"That's a really strange name. Oh, you're an outsider?"
"Yeah. I'm from outside the Tower."
"Wow. I've never met an outsider before. I'm Leon Morterre."
I shook hands with Leon, a bright-eyed kid.
At that moment, I felt a strange ripple through his hand.
Instinctively, I followed the energy and looked up.
*Whoosh.*
It was burning.
It was clearly a flame, but it was so transparent and clear that I could have mistaken it for water.
*"A lot is engraved in one's energy. If you keep handling it, the owner will naturally come to understand it."*
My martial arts teacher, Renya, had told me that once.
Every being carries energy, and the form of that energy is shaped by their inner self and the passage of time.
With such a clear flame, he must be a good person.
At the same time, the corner of my mouth twitched.
*'I've grown a lot.'*
Even without intending to, I could sense things like this.
All those days of getting beaten black and blue during training were paying off.
Of course, I still had a long way to go, so I shouldn't get cocky.
"By the way, Leon. Are you building this cathedral all by yourself?"
"Yeah. My father started it, and I took over. The people who worked with him left after he passed away. They said no one would come to a cathedral built in such a remote place anyway."
It really was remote.
If the floor's name hadn't been "The Cathedral of the Remote Place," I would have just passed by without a second thought.
*'It would be rude.'*
I was about to ask why he kept building even though he was alone, but I stopped.
A brief silence followed.
Leon gave a strange smile.
"You're considerate. Most people ask why I'm doing something so meaningless. They say it's a waste of time."
I shook my head.
"I don't think that way. Whether something has meaning or not is up to you. If you think it's meaningful, then it's meaningful time."
Various scenes flashed through my mind.
Swimming all day with Kanmoduo.
Playing video games with the Monican Trio.
Teaching Seira how to cook and draw.
In terms of productivity, they were close to zero, but I had never thought any of them were meaningless.
The fact that the corner of my mouth twitched just from recalling them was proof.
"Wow..."
Leon looked at me with sparkling eyes.
I had accidentally acted too cool.
"You're the first person to say that since my father."
Leon smiled and looked around the cathedral.
"I think this place has meaning just by existing. Because you never know—maybe someday, a traveler exhausted from walking will need a place to rest, or someone who has gone through hardship will need a place to pray. If I can offer even a single moment of comfort to such people, I'll be more than satisfied."
I covered my mouth.
To have such a noble mindset at such a young age.
He was the complete opposite of my younger sister, Yoo Jinhee, who had been eyeing my allowance since she was little.
*'Let's not compare.'*
I quickly shook my head.
Comparing Leon to someone like Jinhee was out of the question.
"Alright!"
Leon shouted energetically and held out his hand again.
"From today, we're Moko! It's been a while since I've met a friend who shares my thoughts."
"Moko?"
"It's what we call a friend and comrade in our kingdom who shares the same heart."
I smiled and took his hand.
"Comrade" was such a good word.
And "Moko" sounded cute too.
*Dong—! Dong—!*
A bell rang at just the right time.
Leon looked out the window and started walking.
"Then, friend! Let's go!"
When I gave him a questioning look, he gave me a thumbs-up.
"As Moko, we must face the battlefield together. You'd better brace yourself. It's going to be a long, hard fight."
*Ding!*
[The clear condition for the 28th Floor of the Mythical Tower, "The Cathedral of the Remote Place," has been updated!]
[You must help Leon Morterre win the battle!]
A simple and clear clear condition brought a smile to my face.
A battle. That was my strongest suit.
"But."
"Yeah?"
"How long are those two going to fight?"
"Yaaaaaaah!!"
"Agh! My ear! My ear is being torn off! It's my trademark! Gyaaah!"
Kancho, who had meant to say "trademark," and Momo, who was throwing chubby fists wildly.
"Spinning back kick!!"
Leon watched the fierce fight and tilted his head.
"If it's a spinning back kick, why is he pulling her hair?"
I shook my head sadly.
Did I know?
"Leon."
I put my hand on his shoulder and turned toward the exit.
"Let's pretend we didn't see that. Those two have their own fight, and we have ours."
"Oh. You must read a lot, friend. Your words flow like the water of the Bardigang River."
"I try to read a lot."
Exchanging various stories with my new friend Leon.
Pretending not to hear the endless battle cries of "Yaaaaaaah!!"
We left Leon's cathedral, which would one day be beautifully completed.
---
* * *
---
I arrived at the destination, mentally preparing for the battle that was about to begin.
How many hours had passed?
*Chirp chirp.*
I lifted my head at the sound of sparrows.
A cloudless, clear sky.
Perfect weather for staring blankly at a lake.
I quietly turned my gaze to Leon, who was hiding beside me in the bushes.
Could my friend sense my confusion?
Why was this a battle of waiting, not a fierce fight?
Why were we observing a flying squirrel, one of the forest's residents, instead of a monster?
*Tap tap.*
I tapped my leg quietly.
My legs were falling asleep from crouching for so long.
"Now!!"
I guess I shouldn't have let my guard down in such a peaceful environment.
Leon shot out like a bolt of lightning without warning.
He pushed off the ground and lunged toward the flying squirrel.
Was the battle mentioned in the clear condition catching a flying squirrel!?
Well, if he caught it, we'd clear it... *Boom!!!*
My brow furrowed.
Does catching a normal flying squirrel make a sound like that?
*'Oh, crap.'*
That sound wasn't for nothing.
The flying squirrel shot into the sky, kicking off the ground so hard it kicked up dust.
What kind of flying squirrel was that?!
While Leon, who had missed his target, rolled on the ground, the goblin Renya materialized in the air and swung his hand.
*Swoooosh!!!*
"Huh."
The flying squirrel barely dodged and disappeared into the distance.
It was faster than a bullet.
"Tch."
Renya clicked his tongue and kicked off a rock.
He was probably going to look for the flying squirrel that had flown away.
"I missed again."
Leon got up from the ground and pulled out a small notebook.
I snuck a peek and saw a massive number of tally marks.
"That's the 983rd failure."
Now I understood why he called catching that flying squirrel a "battle."
His persistence was incredible.
He had failed nearly a thousand times, yet he still didn't give up.
Leon dusted off his clothes and gave an awkward laugh.
"That thing took something from me, and I need to get it back. So I've been studying when it comes to the lake to drink water and its habits, but it's not easy."
"Are all the flying squirrels in this forest like that?"
"I don't know what a flying squirrel is, but that one is special. The villagers say it was born with divine power. Of course, it's all just speculation."
It seemed Leon and the villagers didn't know exactly what it was either.
A flying squirrel that even Renya couldn't catch—an absurdly overpowered creature.
I thought it would be simple, but this might not be easy... *Rustle.*
"Whoa!"
Leon stepped back as Elia suddenly materialized.
Ignoring him, Elia rubbed her chin and snapped her fingers.
"That's a Rantori."
"Rantori? Elia, have you seen that before?"
"It's my first time seeing one in person, but the divine turtle I mentioned before told me about it. It said it was so absurdly fast that it could easily escape even if hundreds of wyverns surrounded it. I think even Lindbior, the Wind Dragon, couldn't catch it."
I swallowed hard.
What kind of squirrel was this that even a Wind Dragon couldn't catch?
"Of course, there's no need to worry."
Elia laughed confidently, "Heheh!"
She pulled out a large book from the Star Workshop and opened it.
"It's all here. The method to capture a Rantori."
As expected of the first alchemist and the Sage of the Stars.
I knew I could count on you!
----------
T/N:
Just for being a free member, you'll get 5 advanced chapters every week!
Access 35 chapters in advance on my Patreon:[email protected]//towerup