1.

This isn’t the first time.

I have met with the pillars several times before. I had attended a meeting where the pillars were present. So when the voice of the tower whispered, [A majority decision meeting is requested to the six pillars], I was not particularly surprised.

“—–Please rise, Death King.”

I would wake up in the dark underworld again.

That’s what I thought.

“Do you intend to lie down like this? I advise you to get up. I want you to regain your senses and show respect first. Until then, I have no intention of inviting the Duke here.”

A familiar voice, rang in my ears.

“…….”

I blinked my eyelids. Little by little, my vision cleared. It was like a car windshield dirtied with yellow dust being wiped clean by a wiper.

There, a beauty with delicate eyebrows stood in black.

“Have you finally opened your eyes?”

I had no choice but to call her a beautiful person.

She was looking down at me with her head bowed. Distinctive eye lines. Indifferent pupils. Lips that were just closed, free from any stubbornness, obsession, or self-display. As if to reject and push away everything that has turned white and gray in this world, she was dressed in pure black.

Somewhere.

Definitely, I have seen that dress, lips, and pupils somewhere before.

I paused for a moment to recall the name of this darkness.

“……Gu Won-ha… Advisor?”

She nodded her head.

“Yes. That is one of my aliases.”

The movement of her jaw made no sound. Perhaps that’s why. It seemed like for a very moment, even gravity, a single point of air, was absent around her moving jaw.

“It would not be correct to greet you for the first time. Death King. I have heard from the Duke that you possessed my body, albeit briefly.”

“Ah…….”

That’s right.

I had been to the world of Tower Master Amethyst, to a certain kingdom. Although it was a visit within trauma.

At that time and place, I had possessed someone. The woman standing in front of me, neatly clasping her hands. It was Baron Gu Won-ha.

I had become her. That’s why, upon seeing this woman of darkness, I felt a sense of déjà vu.

“My Duke is indebted to you.”

Baron Gu Won-ha bowed.

The person Gu Won-ha referred to as ‘Duke’ must be the ‘Kaleidoscope Duke’. Another alias for the Tower Master.

“Ah, yes. No, not at all….”

I felt a strange sensation.

To face the face that was once [me] head-on.

“But why are you…. um, I will call you Baron. Why is the Baron welcoming me? I was called out for the meeting of the pillars.”

“……I heard you were very quick-witted.”

Baron Gu Won-ha straightened her back and tilted her head.

“Does my voice not remind you of anything?”

“?”

Oh.

“I did think it sounded familiar. Somehow.”

“Then, it would be easier for you to understand if I explain it directly.”

Baron Gu Won-ha quietly looked at me.

That was the moment.

[Test.]

[Playing the voice.]

[This message does not carry any additional meaning other than playing the voice.]

I was taken aback. My mouth fell open.

“What? Wha-wha… what?!”

“Let me formally introduce myself once again.”

Unaffected by my astonishment, Baron Gu Won-ha bowed her head.

“I am a family retainer of the Kaleidoscope Duke’s family, belonging to the affiliated doors, the second advisor, a noble who was bestowed the eleventh cup by the Sun King, Baron Gu Won-ha. My real name is Miya. Please, call me Baron Gu Won-ha.”

The voice that flowed from beneath the bowed head was completely identical to the voice I had heard countless times while climbing the tower— the so-called [Voice of the Tower].

2.

“No, wait a moment…”

I stumbled over my words. Even after hearing a long self-introduction from Baron Gu Won-ha, honestly, there was only one thought that came to mind.

“The voices coming from the tower… are not something that runs automatically by the system, could it possibly be…”

“Yes. It’s manual.”

“Whaaat!”

It was shocking!

“Manual? All of it? But, I’m not the only Hunter who hears the voice of the tower. There are so many! Every Hunter hears a voice when they learn a skill or advance through a stage, and that’s…”

“Everything is done manually.”

“That’s impossible!!”

“Well, actually, it makes sense.”

Baron Gu Won-ha remained expressionless throughout.

“The flow of time in your world and here is different. From your perspective, it’s as if time stands still here. Death King. Even if events occur simultaneously for you, for me, it’s just a matter of dealing with them one by one.”

“It seems like you’d have to respond to Hunters thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of times a day…!?”

“That’s correct.”

The Baron tilted her head as if it was nothing.

“Is there a problem?”

If anything, it was nothing but problems.

“The epitome of inefficiency…”

“Inefficiency arises only when time and space are limited. Here, we can control time as we wish and observe other worlds as much as we want. The concept of inefficiency does not exist.”

“Don’t you get tired…?”

“It’s work for the Duke. There’s no reason to be tired.”

It seemed sincere. Incredible.

“What’s important now is not the story of my work, Death King. First, please dress yourself properly.”

Only then did I properly look around.

Just as Baron Gu Won-ha’s face was familiar to me, the place where I had opened my eyes was extremely familiar. The Grand Council Chamber of the kingdom. The very place where all the nobles gathered to discuss, where I had been when I possessed Baron Gu Won-ha.

“Why here…”

Weren’t the pillars supposed to gather in a dark underworld for their meetings?

“I will explain shortly. So, please dress properly first. Even if you personally know the Duke, as long as I am here, you must show proper respect. I cannot let you meet the Duke in your current state.”

“My, my appearance? What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“They are vulgar.”

“…….”

Baron Gu Won-ha scrutinized me from head to toe. Naturally, my current outfit was Anastasia fashion. That is, a black leather outfit.

I couldn’t refute, so I averted my gaze.

“…But this is quite an expensive outfit.”

“How much is it?”

“?”

“You said it was expensive. If you don’t mind, how much is it?”

I told her the price as I had heard from Anastasia.

Baron Gu Won-ha heard the price of the outfit and lightly nodded her head. Then, she picked up a set of clothes laid out on the desk and handed it to me.

I awkwardly received the clothes.

“This is?”

“It’s about 120 times more expensive than that.”

“…….”

“Please change into it.”

I obediently changed.

“This is the situation room that monitors all towers.”

While I was awkwardly changing clothes, Baron Gu Won-ha, with her back turned, spoke softly.

“We modeled it after the kingdom’s Grand Council Chamber. It only looks the same but is a completely different space. From your perspective… Yes. This could be considered the [Basement Level 1] of the tower.”

Basement Level 1.

I asked while slipping my left foot into my trousers.

“Is there a Basement Level 2 by any chance?”

“There isn’t. Rest assured, there will absolutely not be an event after you break through the 100th floor where [In fact, there were from Basement Level 1 to Basement Level 100, and our true adventure starts now – (Congratulations) The Saga of the Death King Part 2 Begins (Celebration)] occurs, so please be at ease.”

I had never even thought of such a horrible thing, but somehow it feels like a story that could actually exist… How terrifying is that…? It would be an event that could set my soul on fire and burn the entire world to ashes.

“Are you done changing?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve finished changing.”

“Excuse me then.”

Baron Gu Won-ha turned around. She scrutinized me, now dressed in a kingdom-style outfit.

“Hunters, under normal circumstances, can never set foot here, in Basement Level 1. The same applies to the Constellations. Even if by one in ten million chance someone did manage to enter, those without the proper qualifications would only see pitch darkness.”

“Huh.”

“That would have been your experience too, Death King. But now, you have temporarily obtained the qualifications. This is the first time such an event has occurred since the tower was established.”

Baron Gu Won-ha looked down at the serpent wrapped around my wrist.

“I’m sorry, but you are the only one with the qualifications. The activities of [The Snake Living in the Labyrinth], [A Music Box Only for You], [Goddess of Protection], and [Sword Emperor] have been suspended. We appreciate your understanding for security reasons.”

“…….”

So that’s why everyone has been quiet since I arrived here.

“Fortunately, the outfit suits you well.”

Was the outfit check done?

Baron Gu Won-ha took a step back, looked me over, and then nodded.

“With this, there is no lack in your presentation to meet the Duke.”

“I’ve heard rumors that I can pull off any fashion…”

“Then, let us commence the meeting.”

Baron Gu Won-ha didn’t give me a chance to enter my nonsense time and clapped her hands with a snap.

Creeeak-.

The main doors of the conference hall opened.

As if waiting by the door, figures walked out.

“Participants are being confirmed.”

[Participants are being confirmed.]

The same voice overlapped twice, simultaneously. Baron Gu Won-ha held her chin high and looked directly at those entering through the main door. She called out to each of them one by one.

“The fifth pillar, The Lady Who Walks the Mirage is present.”

[The fifth pillar, ‘The Lady Who Walks the Mirage’ is present.]

The first to enter was the Lady, the pillar most favorable to me.

Her hair, which seemed like gold had given half of itself to white, swayed, and the Lady smiled broadly. Then, she excitedly waved at me.

If I were to compare her to an animal, perhaps a chick.

“Hello, Death King! Long time no see! How have you been—-”

“I’m sorry, but Miss, please keep quiet.”

“Ah, Advisor Miya. That’s mean…”

The Lady pouted her lips.

Baron Gu Won-ha, without blinking, continued to call the next entrants.

“The fourth pillar, The Moon Contemplating Blindness is present.”

[The fourth pillar, ‘The Moon Contemplating Blindness’ is present.]

A pillar with a very indifferent face, as if they would find everything from the beginning to the end of the universe bothersome, entered the hall.

If I were to liken them to an animal, it would be a sea otter.

“The third pillar, The One Who Wrote The Beginning, is present.”

[The Third Pillar. ‘The One Who Wrote The Beginning’ is present.]

A pillar who seemed to have tasted every flavor from the beginning to the end of life, from bitterness to sweetness to spicy, plus mint chocolate, and now just wanted to have fun, lazily moved with a slime-like gait.

If compared to an animal, perhaps a hedgehog.

“The second pillar, The God Who Dances In The Void, is present.”

[The Second Pillar. ‘The God Who Dances In The Void’ is present.]

Regardless of whether the world is born or destroyed, as long as their own interests are preserved… Huh? What? Entering through the main door, their steps were not normal but rather like they were performing ballet… No, actually performing a 100% pure ballet… and even after entering, they continued to dance.

What?

No, seriously, what could it be…?

If likened to an animal, it would be an African flamingo.

“The sixth pillar, The Wand Of Ages, is present.”

[The sixth pillar, ‘The Wand Of Ages’ is present.]

A wizard who, upon being born, would likely sigh thinking it’s just being born, and upon dying, would sigh realizing it’s indeed dying, accepting various events in their life with just a sigh, glanced at me briefly.

If compared to an animal, perhaps an old lion.

“…….”

And then.

Thud, footsteps resounded.

“Welcome, Duke.”

As the five pillars entered, Baron Gu Won-ha, who had been merely watching with an expressionless face, slowly bowed her head. She bent her waist. She lowered her head in respect.

“I apologize for requesting a meeting amidst your busy schedule.”

It was a distinctly different attitude. Unlike when welcoming the other pillars, Baron Gu Won-ha did not use ‘the voice of the tower’. She did not send a message. Using only her own voice, she directly worshipped the owner of the footsteps.

“I have convened the meeting according to the regulations you previously commanded, but the justification for this assembly is entirely for the Duke to judge.”

“It’s fine. It looks quite legitimate, doesn’t it? As always, reliable work, my advisor.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

The Tower Master.

A noble with platinum hair, familiar to me as Amethyst, capable of wearing any expression and mimicking any voice in this world, known by the alias of Kaleidoscope Duke, smiled brightly at me.

And the owner of the tower, maintaining the dignity of a noble here, greeted me—–

“Hi. Death King.”

“…….”

“Nice to see you.”

“………….”

“Huh? Your reaction is a bit light. I heard this was the latest greeting method. Wasn’t it? Hiyeom? Hiiing. Hiyeo? Euhm. Hello hello?”

No…..

You, no, thou…..

Sighs flowed from everywhere. Baron Gu Won-ha sighed, The Wand Of Ages had been sighing all along, and the other pillars joined the new wave of sighs as if they knew this would happen. A bountiful harvest of sighs.

“Mom! That’s not it!”

Only the Lady, instead of sighing, frowned and firmly corrected.

“It’s Hi, nice to see ya!” (ED: Here, the “Hi” is in English, so from a Korean perspective, it’s the English “Hi”. But since this is the English translation, it doesn’t make any difference. The ‘방가방가’ used after that translates as ‘nice to see ya’, which is old Korean slang used in the 1990s.)

“Ah, I see. Thank you, my daughter.”

“Yep. I’ll gladly accept mom’s thanks. From now on, make sure to use what I taught you without mixing it up.”

Tower Master Amethyst turned to look at me.

And she greeted me with an extremely graceful motion.

“Let me greet you again, Death King. Hi, nice to see ya.”

Where did you sell your final boss aura.

And that’s definitely not the latest greeting method…

*****