34 - Rest 2F

[Interlude]

The Crown game ended with no winner. The participants were each given a room to rest in before the next test.

The unconscious Regulars were all carried away, though Baam was only unconscious because of Axion's gas so he was woken up quickly.

Lero Ro announced that all the teams were now disbanded for the next portion of the tests, so everyone could go their own way.

Once most of the Regulars left or were carried away, Lero Ro oversaw the completion of the bet.

Lero Ro handed Baam the Green April and explained to him in brief terms what happened after he fell unconscious, and confirmed that Androssi could keep the Black March before leaving them.

Baam looked at the Green April in his hands, the Black March Androssi was carrying, and the rest of Androssi's team.

His gaze lingered on the girl who looked like Rachel, but she quickly left the area on her own. Then he turned back to Axion and Androssi.

Then he bowed. "Thank you very much for helping me, Miss Androssi and Mr. Axion."

"Don't thank me, thank her," she said, pointing to the quickly retreating and cloaked Rachel. "She's the one that wanted to help you. Don't know why she ran off like that. I was just in it for the Black March," said Androssi.

"Hey Baam. How about a trade? Give us the Green April in exchange for Black March," Axion said suddenly.

"Huh? Why?" Androssi asked.

"The Black March won't let you use it, Androssi. The Green April might."

"I don't want to use something that lizard used! And I don't need you to make decisions for me!" She said with a glare toward her teammate.

"Well, it's your choice, but you do realize the real owner of the Black March is going to come looking for it soon? And you aren't going to stand a chance against her," Axion said.

"The real owner, huh?" Androssi's eyes flashed with something indiscernible.

"Ah…yeah. I've got to return it to Miss Yuri," said Baam with an honest expression. "I would be grateful if we could trade it back…"

"That's right…Yuri Zahard. The only Zahard's princess to receive a 13 month series in the last 500 years. A prodigy Fisherman that became a High Ranker in less than a hundred years, and feared by young Rankers for her vicious temper," Androssi said slowly. "So why would she lend it to a random kid like you?"

"Um…I don't really know. She just showed up all of a sudden…and gave it to me," said Baam nervously.

"Tch, whatever, let's trade then!" Androssi suddenly handed the Black March over and took the Green April.

O O O

[Kaleidus]

"So…the teams are disbanded," said Androssi, after we said goodbye to Baam.

We started walking away from the arena as well, with no particular destination in mind.

"So it seems," I said.

In the distance, Baam went running after the Rachel, who sped up to get away.

"Oh…that's cute," said Androssi, seeing Baam chase Rachel. "Why'd she run off like that, after trying to help him?"

"She doesn't want him to get hurt, but she doesn't want him to keep following her up the Tower either," I said.

"Isn't it romantic? To have a guy risking his life, chasing the girl he likes up the Tower?"

"Maybe. Or maybe he's being a creepy stalker," I said.

"He's not that kind of guy. Can't you tell? He's so innocent," said Androssi.

I shrugged. "Whatever you say."

"I'm guessing you're going to keep helping that girl as part of Headon's deal?" Androssi said while flowing a hand over the Green April as if examining it.

"Maybe. What's it to you? The teams are disbanded. Are you trying to figure out what your competition is going to look like in the upcoming test?"

"Oh come on. You helped me get the Black March, and even advised me to swap it. You treated me as a real teammate, and I'm not the type of girl to just ignore that," she said, brushing back her hair to give me a sidelong glance.

"I gave them to you because they wouldn't let me use them. Otherwise I'd have kept them myself," I said honestly. "If I can't use them, might as well give it to somebody on the team that can."

"There's a pretty girl trying to thank you here! Can't you take a hint and say something sweet, like you did earlier after the first test?"

"Compliments are cheap if you can just fish for them."

She growled. "Fishing, am I?"

"Besides, I wouldn't want a relationship built on lies, would you? I even tried to ignite those weapons myself right in front of you, are you just going to pretend you didn't see that?" I added.

Although Androssi liked having admirers, that wasn't an appropriate role for the current me to take, given the level of strength I had shown. She was likely much more wary of me than she showed. A bit of occasional flattery and playful flirting would be responded to in kind, but if I tried to take it in a more serious direction alarms would probably start going off in her head, even if she was the one that invited me to do it.

"So you want a relationship built on trust? By the way, you know I'm not allowed to date, right?" she said slyly.

"I hear that strict families just make bad girls more rebellious in secret," I said.

"It's a little hard to be rebellious when daddy is the King of the whole Tower," said Androssi. "And the guys with good sense stay away, if they want to keep their heads on their shoulders."

"What a scary family."

"Haah! I know. But my dad loves his daughters so much…" She sighed dramatically.

There was a moment of silence as we walked aimlessly, passing some other Regulars along the way who looked scared stiff at the sight of us.

"But you know, that's surprisingly idealistic of you. I didn't take you for the type," Androssi said finally.

"What kind of person did you think I was then? Something insulting?" I said with a small laugh.

"Only if you consider it insulting to be a schemer. I certainly don't," she said, smirking at me. "You should take it as a compliment. But schemers usually aren't concerned with lies. In fact, they're usually quite comfortable with lying."

"You sound like you have quite the experience with schemers," I said.

"In this Tower, everyone is a schemer. But few are as smart as they think they are, and ever fewer have the strength to make use of it," said Androssi.

Eventually we found our way to what seemed to be a cafeteria, and grabbed some food in exchange for test points before sitting down.

"So," said Androssi, sitting across from me. "How serious are you about this team thing? Did you help me get the Green April because you want this team to last beyond this floor?"

"Oh, so you caught on after all. I was starting to wonder if you actually thought I was after a different kind of relationship," I said.

"Are the two mutually exclusive?"

"Is that another hint?"

She looked at me with a haughty smirk. "I can't be seen holding you by the hand…only a fearless man would have even the slightest chance to claim a royal prize."

"Is that so? Then I'll say it clearly, Androssi Zahard. You are strong and talented. I've no doubt that you will do well for yourself on your own. But there is always a bigger mountain no matter how high we climb. Together, we can be greater than either of us alone. It's a long and harsh journey to the top…but it will be a more comfortable journey with allies you can count on. You have seen my strength as I have seen yours. Now is the time to join forces and achieve greater heights!"

"You sure know how to make a speech. But what about that other girl? Is she going to be part of this?"

"For certain reasons that aren't suitable for me to discuss here," I said, making a show of glancing around the cafeteria, "It is to our advantage to continue working with her. My deal was only to bring her through the second floor, though it is my belief that she and I will both see reasons to cooperate beyond that, at least from time to time, if not as an actual team."

"What's so special about her? Although she gave me a strange feeling at first, she seems like an ordinary girl. She hasn't fought at all and I'm starting to think she just can't."

"You're right, she can't, at least not now. But like her friend, that black-haired kid, she has unusual potential. You've seen some signs of that already."

"That unnatural Shinsoo resistance…" Androssi said, nodding slowly. "Even members of the Ten Families don't have that much resistance before being trained in using Shinsoo."

"There are those that would see such great potential as a threats to themselves, as enemies to be eliminated. But there are also those wise enough to see them as useful investments, pawns to be protected until they can be made use of. The question for us is…which role shall we play?"

Androssi finished the food on her plate and started to drink her juice while thinking of how to answer.

"The obvious answer is the latter, of course, considering how you're helping her with the test. But the way you're talking, it sounds like you're looking at it from a different point of view. It makes me wonder if you're a Regular at all," said Androssi with narrowed eyes.

"Oh? What else could I be?"

"An undercover Ranker, maybe?"

I laughed out loud. "Really?"

"Come on, it fits! There shouldn't be any Regulars stronger than me on this floor," she said, crossing her arms with a pout.

"Is that logical reasoning or just arrogance talking?"

Androssi looked annoyed at that, before I continued, "Though I'm surprised you'd even admit that I'm stronger than you, especially when I'm not sure of that myself."

She raised an eyebrow at my admission of uncertainty. Then more neutrally, she said, "And there's the way you absorbed the Shinsoo barrier the test administrator made. That's definitely not normal. Before, I just thought you were unnaturally strong, but now this talk of Tower politics makes me think there's more to it. You were talking about the Tower's politics weren't you? If someone with high potential reaches the top and becomes a Ranker, it could change the balance of power, or even create a new faction. Most Regulars would never think about something like that. I only figured it out because I'm a princess and my," she put up air quotes, "'family' before Zahard's adoption is counting on exactly that—for me to bring them the prestige and influence that would come with having sponsored a new Ranker princess. So even if not a Ranker yourself, you've gotta be involved in the Tower's politics somehow. So spill, which faction are you working for?"

"It's not surprising to me that you came to that conclusion, but while you've gotten close to the truth, it isn't entirely correct," I said.

I had thought I was giving fairly large hints that Baam, Rachel, and I were all Irregulars, and the three of us plus Androssi herself were all potentials that various factions would be interested in.

It seemed however, that my performance thus far had such an impression on Androssi that her mind went in the other direction, with me working for one of the power players scouting the potentials.

Or perhaps this was inevitable, considering how rare and ridiculously powerful the other known Irregulars were. It was just too much a stretch to think that someone was an Irregular, no matter how abnormal their abilities were. The other three known Irregulars were each absolute monsters that stood at the pinnacle of strength in this Tower, two of them were ranked even above Zahard himself, with power rivalling gods, one of which might as well be a god that could 'instantly destroy the Tower of God story if he wanted to', according to the series author. The third was ranked fourth just below Zahard.

I contemplated briefly how much to explain to bring her to my side, then acted.

Communing with the water spirits, I requested that they create a cloaking bubble around us, similar to what they did against the Beast. I emphasized the need to block out spying attempts and sound, just as Cromwell did when he used it against me.

Previously Lero Ro had shown an impressive hearing range in the Crown game, and there was no telling what other means of spying people in the Tower could use.

As the spirits were in a good mood after consuming and being surrounded by Shinsoo, they actually obliged, to my pleasant surprise.

A spherical barrier appeared around us, distorting the air.

Androssi looked at it cautiously and tried to poke it, which caused a ripple in it like water, but her fingers went through without issue.

"What's this?" She asked.

"What I'm about to reveal to you could be dangerous if the wrong people get wind of it," I said. "Please keep that in mind."

"Right. I won't say anything…within reason of course. I haven't agreed to be part of your team yet, but I'm seriously considering it, so I'll give you this much," she said.

"I can't keep this up for long, so I have to make this quick," I said, and that was true. Already, I could sort of sense that something powerful had turned its attention to us, now that the water spirits cast their spell. It wasn't hostile, but it wasn't friendly either. It was more…curious as to what it was sensing from our location. If I had to guess, it was this Floor's Guardian, the Administrator and practically the god of the floor.

"I am not part of any faction, not yet anyways. I have not chosen a side in this game—I don't even know who the sides are at this point," I said.

"You really expect me to believe that?" She asked with a frown. "After everything you just said?"

"Let me put it this way then. If I were to answer my own question from before, our role would actually be as the pawns. You and I, Rachel and Baam, all of us are pawns. I am not from a faction looking to recruit you. I am in a position similar to yours, and I would rather we…form our own faction, so to speak, while leveraging the resources of other factions that would seek to use us. You already know that there is at least one faction supporting Rachel's rise. Their intentions for me are unclear, though I suspect they are just being cautious with me due to my perceived strength. Nevertheless, I am also keenly aware there are hostile forces arrayed against us, offended by our mere existence," I said. "Therefore, I felt it prudent to temporarily align myself with Headon's group of conspirators, and they have provided useful benefits so far."

Androssi looked contemplative, but didn't dismiss my claims out of hand.

"Do you know why your mere existence offends these supposedly hostile forces? Or who these forces are?" She asked.

"I do have some ideas, nothing certain yet, but it is too early for me to speak of it. Perhaps once you've agreed to team up with me, and we've built a stronger foundation of trust, I can share my thoughts on the matter. After all, I don't know if you would also discriminate against me for the circumstances of my birth, if you knew. You seem like a reasonable person but nobles tend to be a prejudiced lot, in my experience."

"Fine. I guess that's fair. Just so you know, I don't really care about that sort of thing. I'm not really from a noble family, either, so all that high born stuff means nothing to me. I was adopted for the sole purpose of becoming a candidate for princess, as just a pawn, like you said. But anyways, you're basically asking me join up with you without knowing who I'd be up against? Seems risky…"

"This is true, but consider this. I don't know who your enemies are either, and I'm sure you have plenty. By your own admission earlier, you don't have a lot of friends in high places, and you're climbing this Tower more or less on your own despite your status. The connections I am offering have already demonstrated their worth on this floor," I said.

She nodded slowly. "I won't deny that."

Then I continued with a smirk. "…but what are you offering, other than your body?"

A dark look came over her, and then she flew at me, flipping the table over and sending us both to the ground as she tried to choke me while straddling over me, though she wasn't using enough force to be actually threatening, so I didn't fight back.

The cloaking bubble dissipated as we exited its area of influence, and I didn't ask the spirits to move it with us.

"I can offer you a slow and painful death, if you want!" She said with a dark smile.

Some Regulars decided to come in right at that moment, including Hatsu and Ship Leesoo. They stared at us, then gave us a wide berth as they approached the serving area.

O O O

After the servers came to scold us, we were forced to clean up before going to our assigned rooms.

Her room was right beside mine and Rachel's as they were ordered by teams from the first test.

When we were right at our doors, she made up her mind and gave me her answer.

"Don't expect me to jump into whatever trouble you get yourself into just yet. Like you said, it's too early to trust each other. I don't know what your circumstances are, and you don't know mine. So let's start with something simpler. I'll be your teammate for the floor tests. Once we get to know each other a little more, maybe that can change," Androssi said.

"Good enough for me," I said, going to my own door.

Then, just as she was opening her door, she noticed Hwaryun walking towards us.

Hwaryun smiled at me, then looked at Androssi.

"Some jewels may shine deceptively bright, but lose their lustre when examined closely," said Hwaryun.

"What—are you implying something about me?!" Androssi flipped around angrily, and flew towards Hwaryun, grabbing her by the cuff of her shirt while Hwaryun maintained eye contact with the princess, never losing her smile.

Suddenly Derflinger woke up and decided to make a comment.

"Woo! Catfight! You go girl!"

I struggled to keep my hand from facepalming when Androssi let Hwaryun go and turned towards me with an angry glare.

"I didn't say that, that was my sword," I said, holding my hands up innocently. Derflinger went back into his sheath by himself with a snigger.

Before Androssi could say anything though, Hwaryun continued to speak.

She ignored Androssi as if nothing happened and turned to me.

"The water here is very deep. Be careful of monsters hiding in the depths, Mr. Axion," she said, before walking away.

"I see. Thank you for the warning, Hwaryun," I said with a nod.

"Excuse me?! I'm right here!" Androssi stomped over to me. "You're just going to let some other girl insult me and thank her for it?"

"Calm down, she wasn't talking about you. I think," I said, holding up a hand.

"Could've have fooled me, with how she was looking at me!" She shouted loudly.

"Well, she was probably trying to provoke you for fun, but I'm pretty sure she meant something else," I said.

"Like what? You'd better have a good explanation, or we're through!"

By now, some other Regulars were peeking out of their doors to see what the commotion was.

Couldn't Hwaryun have come along at a better time? Or maybe this was her way of getting back at me for threatening her with the gas in the Crown game?

"How troublesome that her fun is coming at my expense," I said, shaking my head. Then I gestured to her to follow me. "Come inside and I'll explain it. There's too many eyes and ears here."

She looked around, saw the people who were staring. "What are you all looking at?!" She yelled with a red face.

If I took Hwaryun's words literally, could she have been referring to the cloaking bubble I used earlier? If she had somehow known that it was the water stone, which looked like a jewel, that allowed me to do that, then she might be warning me about the Guardians of each floor that controlled Shinsoo, the divine water that permeated everything in the Tower.

It was surprising that she noticed at all, but not impossible. Just the fact that the water spirits were hiding us, perhaps even on a conceptual level, could have affected her own ability as a Guide.

Of course, it might have just been metaphorical, and actually referred to my association with Androssi being dangerous to me, especially as a princess of Zahard. After all, the organization that Hwaryun belonged to, FUG, was opposed to the Zahard family.

But I couldn't tell Androssi either of those…the first for my own safety, the second because that would sound like Hwaryun was warning me away from Androssi, which was exactly what Androssi was angry about, even if she thought it was for a different reason.

O O O

A/N:

Eins minus zwei: Maybe, but MC's a part of the conspiracy so he has no reason to diverge from canon that much yet.

LastPenis: See above.

feauxen: More like being overgeared, I'd say. MC's base abilities without all his equips are still rather unimpressive.

CILinkz: Irregulars are allowed to ask the Guardians for a test directly. Regulars can't. Baam was exposed as an Irregular that way in canon. For everyone else though, the Ranker test administrators' word is absolute.