Tremble, tremble, tremble.
I stared at the empty air with a face full of dissatisfaction.
The moment Leon drove in the cross, the Tower of Myth had been dismissed, kicking me out before I could even say goodbye.
Ding!
Messages began to appear belatedly.
[The second hand of the twisted clock has reached its end!]
[The clear conditions for the 29th floor of the Tower of Myth have been met!]
[The name of the 29th floor of the Tower of Myth has changed from 'Unfinished Cathedral' to 'The Crack Engraved on the Hero'!]
[This floor is constructed from a specific time period! Re-entry is impossible!]
The floor's name had changed again, and re-entry was impossible once more.
From the 28th floor to the 29th, this had happened twice in a row.
I stared at the phrase 'the second hand of the twisted clock.'
That was the identity of the text that had shattered when the clear conditions for the 29th floor were updated.
Bam!
"How dare the Tower of Myth kick Momo out!!"
Momo shouted, stomping her feet.
She had been tumbling around after being ejected, and it seemed she was really riled up now.
I felt the same way, so I threw a punch into the air.
I didn't know if I should be hitting the system or the Tower of Myth, but anyway.
"Elia, do you know anything about a 'twisted clock's second hand'?"
"Hmm. I've never heard of it either, but if I roughly piece together what Camelot saw and the current situation, wouldn't it be something like this? Hey, Chubby."
"Why are you calling me!"
"Go pick up a twig, will you?"
"Here!"
"As expected of our Chubby! Always prepared."
Elia received a strangely familiar Y-shaped stick and began drawing a picture on the ground.
"These two circles are the 28th and 29th floors we went to. And this square is what Camelot saw—an event that had already happened but was still in the future from the perspective of the 28th and 29th floors. However, from the current point in time, it's an event that has already passed."
Finally, Elia, who had called it the present, drew a triangle on the far right.
"Until now, the Tower of Myth we entered was always the present. But this time was an exception. Why?"
Jinhyuk, rubbing his chin, opened his mouth.
"Based on our experiences so far... could it be outside interference? Unlike the Tower of Despair, the Tower of Myth changed floors even when we acquired specific items."
"Ding-dong-dang. Excellent! A perfect score! But there's a difference from back then. Until now, we caused the change, and the fact that the floor changed was always notified to the owner. But not this time. Plus, considering that re-entry is impossible, the number of possibilities I can think of is..."
Elia pointed at the triangle.
"This time, it might be interference from someone inside the Tower of Myth, not from our side."
"So that someone used the twisted clock to interfere."
I wrinkled my nose.
Just hearing about it, it didn't seem like an ordinary being.
"Elia, have you ever seen a being with similar power in your life?"
"Quite a few alchemists have attempted to twist time. Someone might have succeeded without my knowledge. But one thing is certain: even if they succeeded, it would have come at a great cost. Alchemy always follows the law of equivalent exchange."
After a moment of thought, Elia shrugged.
"Even if it's not the law of equivalent exchange, strong power always demands a price. I don't want to think there's a being that escapes this rule."
"True. The thought of a being that can manipulate time freely is terrifying just to think about."
"Momo is scared! What if they turn back time and steal Momo's bag!"
I pulled the trembling Momo over and squished her chubby cheeks.
"It's okay. At least the owner of the twisted clock can't do that."
Elia, catching the meaning of my words instantly, also nodded.
"As the owner says, Chubby. I don't know exactly what that friend was aiming for by sending us to that time, but the fact that they went through all this trouble is practically an admission that their own abilities have limits."
"Really!? What a relief! No one can take Momo's bag!"
I patted Momo, who was beaming with a smile, and let out a small sigh.
The problem was my Moko, Leon Mortem.
'I hope he's okay.'
After Camelot saw that memory, the time we had was only a few days on the 29th floor.
-Let's find it.
At first, I desperately watched Leon while helping with the cathedral construction.
I was trying to find the cause of the corruption of Leon's flame.
But soon, I had to admit it.
The cause of the corruption didn't exist at this point in time. There was nothing we could do right now.
-He seemed terribly lonely and isolated.
That was why.
I gifted Leon the daily life I normally enjoyed.
Because, as far as I knew, nothing was more enjoyable than that. It was my best effort.
'I hope it helped, even a little.'
I stood up, wishing it from the bottom of my heart.
The second hand of the twisted clock had reached its end.
The time manipulation by the unknown being should be over now.
From the next floor onward, the present would begin again.
It meant that what Camelot saw had become reality, and Leon might no longer be the Leon Mortem we knew.
But I decided not to mind.
If he fell, I would just lift him back up.
I slowly looked around.
My friends were already ready to re-enter, smiling.
Huh?
Only one person, Yodel Ranger Vice-Captain Cancho, was frantically searching his bag and clothes with a "Huh!? What!?"
"This is a disaster! The treasure number one given to me by the Grand General, Volcanus's slingshot, has gone missing! How dare someone steal treasure number one! Execution upon discovery!"
With cold sweat trickling down my temple, I turned my head toward Elia.
The twig she used to draw on the ground—more precisely, the one Momo had picked up for her.
It looked familiar. It was Volcanus's slingshot.
Whoosh!
Sensing annihilation, Elia threw the slingshot away, pretending not to notice.
And so, the perfect crime was...?!
How long had it been?
Yodel Ranger Vice-Captain Cancho had been staring at Elia.
He had witnessed the entire attempt to destroy the evidence just moments ago.
Step by step.
Cancho quietly walked over, picked up Volcanus's slingshot, and dusted it off.
"Hey, hey, Satan. It's a misunderstanding! It was our Chubby who...?"
An earthquake struck Elia's pupils.
Momo, who had handed over the twig, was gone.
She had already fled to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
"Are you insane?!!!"
Cancho kicked the ground and swung the slingshot in a full arc.
"W-wait a minute! Ouch! That hit my bone! I'm old, you know...! Ugh!"
I watched Elia get beaten while rolling on the floor for a moment, then quickly pressed the entry button for the safety of the elder.
Ding!
[Entering the 30th floor of the Tower of Myth!]
* * *
The Chamber of Commerce, located in the Imperial Territory.
The door opened, and a woman with sky-blue hair entered.
"Welcome, Princess Ramu Barzali."
"It's been a while, Ludovic. Has it been ten years?"
Ludovic, the administrator of the Chamber of Commerce, smiled.
He was a middle-aged gentleman with a neatly styled mustache.
"Yes. Time has flown by. Please, have a seat. I'll prepare some tea."
"Thank you, but I'll pass on the tea."
Ramu waved her hand and looked around the empty Chamber of Commerce.
"My appetite is already ruined. The appointment time is almost here, and there's no sign of them."
"It's always been the Barzali family members who arrive on time."
"I don't like it. If it weren't for the head of the family, I'd be late too."
"Haha. I know you wouldn't do that even if the head allowed it. This way."
Ramu chuckled lightly and sat down on a chair.
This place always had a beautiful view, no matter when you came.
A few minutes later.
Bang!
The door burst open, and a red-haired man appeared.
"Hey, Ramu! As expected, you're already here! Long time no see, Ludovic!"
"Welcome, Prince Vallak Caldras. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Sure! Ludovic's tea is fantastic! Can I sit over there?"
"Your seat today is in the center, Your Highness. You are the mediator."
Vallak looked at Ludovic with a surprised expression.
"A mediator?"
"Did you not know?"
"The head just told me to come before he beat me, so I just came. Anyway, don't tell me the mediation is between the Barzali family and...?"
Squeak.
Vallak squeezed his eyes shut.
The visitor hadn't appeared yet, but he didn't need to see them to know.
Because it was flowing in through the open crack in the door.
The aura of decay and erosion that made you recoil just by touching it.
"Oh my, long time no see, Vallak."
Flowing pastel-colored hair.
Vallak shrugged and raised his hand.
"Long time no see, Rishana."
"Welcome, Princess Rishana Roxian."
Rishana elegantly tilted her head and shifted her gaze to the table in the Chamber of Commerce.
"And hello to you too, mediocre princess."
Boom!!
A rough roar erupted from the table.
Crackle... Crack!
Ramu Barzali glared at Rishana with murderous eyes.
Vallak, meeting Ludovic's gaze, let out a deep sigh.
It was always like this whenever they met, so it wasn't particularly surprising.
"That filthy temper of yours hasn't changed. Are you going to get beaten and corrupted again until you're almost dead? And aren't I much older than you? Could you please use honorifics?"
"Honorifics can go freeze to death. And that was from when you were a snot-nosed brat. You've been milking it for a long time. Trash princess."
"Oh? Can you use that title in front of our family head too?"
"Stop with the 'family head, family head' crap. You're not a child. If you don't like the title, let's step outside and settle this."
"Why go outside? I could kill you right here and now."
Just as the two princesses were about to clash.
Whoosh!
A flame flared up between them.
"I know you have bad blood, but let's stop here. I came here as a mediator today, after all."
"...Tch."
Ramu clicked her tongue and withdrew her power.
Even if it weren't Vallak, fighting in the Chamber of Commerce was absolutely forbidden.
Especially in a place where an administrator was present.
"It's disgusting to be in the same space, so I'll just get straight to the point. You, trash princess. Stop what you're doing in your kingdom."
"Oh my, I guess you have nothing better to do since you don't have any territory to govern. Meddling in other kingdoms' affairs. But what do you mean by 'what I'm doing'? What am I doing?"
"Don't play dumb. That filthy corruption of yours is creeping out of your kingdom and into the Imperial Territory."
"That old story again? Didn't you come last time and see for yourself? There's nothing there but a beautiful forest."
Ramu's lips twisted.
"How long do you think you can hide it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but if it's against someone as mediocre as you, forever?"
Grit.
Ramu gritted her teeth and took another step closer.
Then she lowered her voice.
"The World Tree, Nemesis. You're the one who destroyed that too."
"I had no idea you thought so highly of me. I'm at a loss for words."
After staring at her for a long time, Ramu continued.
"If there is something like that, I guess it would be fine to destroy it? You wouldn't know anything about it, after all."
"If you have the ability, by all means."
"Vallak, Ludovic. You heard that, right?"
"I will record it."
"Confirmed under the authority of the mediator."
Ramu nodded and spun around.
"Look forward to it, trash princess."
After finishing her words, Ramu exited the Chamber of Commerce.
Watching Ramu's retreating back, Rishana wore a strange smile.
'Please, do your best.'
Even if, by some miracle, she found it, it would be useless.
Because she could never go beyond that.
----------
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