Chapter 460
“...”
Final floor... is she saying that the Towers of Heroes actually have an end? Kwang-Soo couldn’t hide his agitation.
Among the awakened—no, those now called Heroes, rumors had occasionally circulated as a joke, but nobody had ever seriously believed it. Despite countless attempts to observe the final floor of the Towers of Heroes, not a single person had succeeded so far. Why would anyone think there was an end?
“Ludwig speculated that the Tower’s interior expands infinitely. Baek-Yeon said no matter how much she enhanced her vision, it looked like a fogged mirror. Even that crazy Russian said she couldn’t see the top after going all the way into space...”
The summit everyone originally thought existed just didn’t seem to. Yet Ha-Rin was claiming she had found the entrance to the top? Kwang-Soo fell deep into thought for a long while.
“...Are you sure that’s the final floor?” he asked again, finally speaking.
He didn’t know what Ha-Rin had seen to be so confident, but regardless, it was crucial to confirm it properly in case something went wrong.
“...” Ha-Rin silently looked at him for a moment, then turned her head away. “Let’s say there’s a mirror that reflects your heart.”
“...”
“When you look into that mirror, the mirror reflects to you every scar left on your heart as well as every unstable place. Even if you don’t want to see them, the mirror keeps showing them to you until they are completely healed...”
Ha-Rin’s voice had dropped to a murmur, sounding bewitched. Her gaze was on the white tower beyond the horizon.
“So you’re forced to patch up your wounds... sometimes shaving them down, sometimes refining your flaws... until the heart reflected in the mirror has a perfect form.”
“...”
“And if you were standing just one step away from completing it...”—Ha-Rin turned back to face Kwang-Soo, her voice still soft and quiet—“wouldn’t that next step be the end that the mirror was waiting for?”
“...”
Kwang-Soo’s face stiffened. Whenever someone entered the Tower and overcame its trials, their synesthetic mindscape grew sturdier. Everyone had felt that.
But to “complete” it? That was another story.
I thought... the synesthetic mindscape was something we had to build upon endlessly ?
It was common sense that a human’s mind constantly changed as they aged. How could something like that ever reach a state of completion and have an “end”? The idea completely contradicted everything Kwang-Soo had ever learned or experienced.
His thoughts began spiralling, wrestling with the confusion—
“Calm down.”
Ha-Rin’s voice snapped him out.
“As I said earlier, this isn’t just my idea. I believe... this is the price the Towers of Heroes—the mirror—wants from us.”
“The price...”
“It’s weird, isn’t it? That it would grant us the power to cut down mountains and seas without asking for anything in return. In a way, this actually makes more sense.”
Seeing how calm she was, how nonchalant she was acting, Kwang-Soo pulled a bitter face. It wasn’t hard for him to tell that it was all but an act, pretending to be fine for his sake upon seeing how shaken he was.
She wouldn’t have called me here for no reason.... What a disgrace I am...
It wasn’t the time to cling to abstract concepts like the summit of the Towers of Heroes or the completion of the synesthetic mindscape. Right now, he needed to listen to Ha-Rin properly.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kwang-Soo looked at her with a serious gaze. “What do you want to do, Master?”
“What I want to do, huh...? That’s a hard question.”
Giving Kwang-Soo a wry smile, Ha-Rin turned her gaze toward where one of the Towers of Heroes shot into the sky.
“If I manage to perfect my synesthetic mindscape and pay a certain price to the Tower of Heroes... I think I might gain unimaginable power. Maybe... the kind that could even sever the universe itself.”
“...”
The past Kwang-Soo shivered involuntarily. Even though her words were clearly speculation, for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it would happen.
“With that kind of power, we could definitely wipe out the demons... and even erase the Abyss of Demons altogether.”
“...”
“The end of all battles... the wish we’ve
held onto ever since the day my village was burned down would finally come true.”She knew it wasn’t just her own wish—all humanity shared it. However, despite standing just one step away from becoming the one that could achieve such a shared wish, Ha-Rin chose to give up.
“When I first realized the price I needed to pay to gain such incomparable power, though... fear hit me before joy did.”
“...”
“To perfect one’s synesthetic mindscape and become something that could no longer adapt to any changes... isn’t that the same as losing your humanity?”
Even after decades of cutting down mountains and cleaving oceans apart like a monster, Ha-Rin firmly believed she was still human. Her heart that changed endlessly—like how breathing was endless—was proof she was still human.
Yet that myriad heart was being demanded as the payment for her wish? She just couldn’t easily accept that.
“Personally, I won’t ever accept it. Because I know it wouldn’t be much worse than becoming a demon.”
“...”
“Still... is it really right to put my selfish feelings first in times like this?”
For the past fifteen years, humanity had fought with everything they had, but their limits were becoming increasingly clear. Heroes and soldiers decreased with every passing year, and vast lands were swallowed by demonic aura and turned into barren wastelands.
In such a situation where humanity’s defeat was practically inevitable, was it really right to insist on her own will?
“If my selfishness is what’s going to lead to more deaths... if humanity ends up going extinct because of me... if I die along with them...”
Then perhaps, just perhaps, it would be better to abandon her humanity now to save the others. Her wish versus her humanity—Ha-Rin was locked in endless conflict.
Observing the complicated expression on her face, Kwang-Soo finally spoke his thoughts in a low voice. “You’re worrying about the same thing you did back then.”
“The same thing...?”
“The day the villagers were all slaughtered by the demons. Whether it’s that or humanity falling to the Demon Force, at its core, nothing’s different.”
If humanity perished, it would simply be because they were weaker. It would never be because Ha-Rin failed to sacrifice herself. That was simply a cold, hard fact.
“But if my choice can help us avoid that ending—”
“Then I wouldn’t stop you either.” Kwang-Soo interrupted her and met her eyes. “If that decision truly came from your heart.”
“...”
Seeing Ha-Rin speechless, Kwang-Soo continued. “We’ve crossed countless battlefields together. Some of them were so dangerous that everyone else begged us not to go.”
“...”
“And yet, every time, instead of stopping each other, we chose to charge forward at the risk of our lives. Do you know why we made such decisions?”
Ha-Rin looked like she wanted to say something, but she closed her mouth tightly. So instead, Kwang-Soo gave her the answer.
“Because no matter what others say, it was the path we had chosen.”
Regardless of the world’s criticism; regardless of the accusations of insanity; Kwang-Soo was certain beyond doubt he could accompany Ha-Rin on her chosen path.
However, if that choice had been made with reluctance, for the sake of others, or for some grand cause, then he had only one thing to say.
“No matter the path, never hesitate. Even if that path leads to hell, I’ll follow you till the very end.”
Dazed by his resolve, Ha-Rin fell silent, bringing the conversation to a halt.
Then, after a moment, Ha-Rin cautiously asked, “About everything you just said right now... do you mean all of it?”
“I do.”
“Even if I ask you to follow me to the final trial of the Tower of Heroes?”
“Like I just said. Even if it’s hell you want me to follow, I’ll go with you till the end.”
Although becoming a monstrous being with an unchanging heart was unsettling, if it was with Ha-Rin, it wouldn’t be so bad.
Clearly feeling the intent that was without hesitation, Ha-Rin stared at him for a long moment.
“All of my worrying up until now sort of feels stupid.” She let out a small laugh.
To think a simple promise to walk side-by-side could lift such a weight off her heart.
Feeling her face warm up slightly, Ha-Rin shook her head.
“In that case, we should start preparing so we can challenge the final trial together. Because right now, even if we try our best together, it’s still impossible.”
“Aren’t you already pretty close to it?”
“Sorry, but I’m still far off what you’re expecting of me. Honestly... Sophia might even be ahead of me in that regard.”
“Ugh...”
Just the thought of being overtaken by Sophia made Kwang-Soo frown. But the moment he did...
“It’s okay.”
Ha-Rin stepped closer and gently wrapped both her hands around his right hand, smiling warmly.
“I’ll guide you all the way.”
With those words, that unforgettable scene scattered like bubbles before Se-Hoon, who couldn’t help but feel amazed.
She’s practically already reached the realm of the Perfect Ones.
All that remained was challenging the final trial. But judging from how she described it with the mirror analogy, she could have completed her synesthetic mindscape already.
Yet she chose not to. To her, fulfilling her wish by conquering the Tower of Heroes would have been meaningless.
If Kwang-Soo hadn’t been there... maybe she would’ve compromised.
Whether that would’ve been a boon or a loss for humanity, Se-Hoon couldn’t say. If anything, he thought it would have been somewhere in between.
She would’ve fought actively against the Demon Force... but if her power really was born from some compromise, there would’ve been countless issues.
If she had become obsessed with something like the idea of world peace, it wouldn’t be a stretch if she ended up trying to control the entire world forcibly.
Well, it’s not something we can know for sure now.
Just as the past Kwang-Soo said, one way or another, it was unlikely that the fate of humanity would have been decided by Ha-Rin alone. After all, if humanity grew stronger, there was no way the entire Demon Force would have sat idle.
Thinking about it from the other perspective... maybe things are going too smoothly.
Did the Demon Force secretly possess a hidden advantage, just as humanity once possessed the secret weapon of ascension? As Se-Hoon fell deeper and deeper into contemplation, the current Kwang-Soo, who had been silently observing, spoke. “We’re almost at the end of the memories.”
Snapping out of it, Se-Hoon turned his gaze back toward the memory.
Boom!
The peaceful atmosphere shattered like a lie, replaced by a fierce battlefield. Kwang-Soo, Ha-Rin, and Sophia unleashed their Celestial Infinity Blades and swept through the enemies in all directions.
“Massive monster army detected from the northwest! Estimated numbers over three thousand!”
“Detected mana fluctuations six kilometers southeast! Everyone, prepare for bombardment!”
“The eastern front has completely collapsed! Enemy forces might soon spill over this way! We should consider retreating now...!”
Enemies kept appearing endlessly, while allied forces continued to fall.
These bastards... are they trying to wipe Korea off the map? Kwang-Soo grimaced.
Having taken over Australia, the demons were seemingly trying to invade East Asia through Korea. Fighting through intense battle after battle, Kwang-Soo bit down hard.
—Commander Ha-Rin! Do you copy!
The familiar voice of Marshall Park Sung-Jin buzzed urgently through the earpiece.
—S-rank demons have appeared at the northern base and the west coast front! At the current rate, your position will be fully surrounded!
As soon as the east crumbled, enemies flanked them from the north and west as well. Understanding the dire situation, Ha-Rin immediately asked for more information.
“What’s the detailed enemy composition?”
—At the base: 3 S-ranks, 7 A-ranks, and 108 B-ranks or lower. At the west coast front: 1 S-rank, 5 A-ranks, and 286 B-ranks or lower.
Her mind processing Park Sung-Jin’s report, Ha-Rin hesitated for only a moment before shouting to Kwang-Soo and Sophia. “You two support the west coast front! I’ll handle the base!”
“W-wait! You’re going alone?!”
Even if she was powerful, taking on a force with three S-rank demons and seven A-ranks by herself wasn’t something one could easily do. And that was especially the case when considering there likely were even more enemies that weren’t mentioned in the report—it was practically suicidal.
“Don’t worry. I’ll hold out as long as I can until you guys return.”
“But...”
“Besides, there’s no one else here who can pull this off.”
At that, Sophia bit her lip hard. Ha-Rin was right. Only Ha-Rin could even stand against that army out of everyone present. Furthermore, abandoning the troops on the west coast wasn’t an option either.
“...”
Then again, if she thought about it carefully, maybe the right call was to abandon the weaker west coast front and regroup around Ha-Rin instead.
Sophia clenched her fists, knowing what her heart wanted to say—
“I understand.” Kwang-Soo spoke up first. “We’ll join you as soon as possible. Until then, please refrain from engaging them head-on.”
“Don’t worry about me. See you both soon!”
With that, Ha-Rin kicked off the ground and sprinted north under Sophia’s gaze.
Seeing that, Kwang-Soo patted her on the shoulder.
“Let’s go do our portion of the work.”
“Okay...”
The two raced toward the west coast front in silence.
“Kwang-Soo.”
“What is it?”
“About earlier... thank you.”
If she had said to abandon the west coast troops, Sophia was sure her master would have been deeply disappointed in her.
But she wasn’t the only one who had such thoughts.
“I actually thought the same thing, you know,” Kwang-Soo remarked, realizing Sophia’s reason for thanking him.
“Really?”
“Personally and strategically... abandoning the west coast troops would’ve been the smarter move.”
He, too, acknowledged that Ha-Rin’s value was greater than that of thousands of regular heroes—maybe even more. For that reason, even Kwang-Soo had hesitated before accepting the decision for a different reason.
“But if Master has decided to save them, then all we can do is do our best to make it work.”
After all, it wasn’t the first time she had stubbornly pushed for something crazy.
“...You’re right.”
Thinking back to the countless battlefields they’d crossed with Ha-Rin, Sophia steeled herself.
“Let’s finish up quickly and get back to her. Who knows what reckless thing she’ll do next.”
“Yeah. First thing: take out the S-rank demons the moment we arrive.”
Burning with determination, the two stormed onto the west coast front at full speed.
Swoosh-
However, when they reached it, their faces hardened.
“What... How...”
The shoreline was littered with corpses, like trash strewn everywhere. Not a single survivor remained—and, more importantly, something was wrong.
All the corpses are cold.
Even factoring in the strong coastal winds, it felt like considerable time had already passed since the battle ended.
Feeling a strange unease, Kwang-Soo quickly opened his comms.
“The west coast front... is annihilated. Something’s wrong—”
Chzzz!
His transmission cut off, blocked by something. At the ominous sign, the two exchanged sharp looks... and started running north without needing to say a word.
Gwoosh-
But before they even got close, the sky split open above the northern base to reveal the sight of the Abyss of Demons pouring out demonic aura like a waterfall.