Chapter 880 – Ancient Tower (1)

-Dieffenbachia.

A sudden whisper woke her up from her long sleep.

In the living room with a view of the entrance, as she lay prone in front of the fireplace, the distraught faces of people whose faces she did not know were reflected in her pupils.

What are you talking about?

Where is this place in the first place?

‘I must wake up quickly and see His Majesty.’

Feeling a dreamy floating sensation, Diefenbachia shook her head to wake up.
Pieces of coal and tinder appeared on her hands as she swept the floor.

-Oh, poor Josef. I feel bad for losing my wife.

-Recently, I heard that His Majesty often sleeps with women with outstanding talents. Marianne will definitely come back. They were the most beautiful lovers in our village!

Lament mixed with lament.

Dieffenbachia Marianne. Da-jeong’s expression, struggling against her heavy armor, hardened.

Thump, thud. The sound of sparks flying.

In a building reminiscent of the era where the Industrial Revolution had just taken place, Da-jeong watched with her own eyes for a long time, frozen as a stone.

-Looks like the war is getting longer. I’m tired of hearing the sound of artillery shells every day. I heard that even the high-ranking magic tower collapsed because all its talented people died…

-Josef was not the type of kid to leave like that. Black. Honey, why does the Great Emperor take someone else’s companion…

-Don’t say anything profane. If you’re not careful, the military police will come.

-But, but… His Majesty, whom I knew from afar, was not that type of person. Last time, the daughter of the herbalist Alex was taken away because of her magical skills. Can you believe it? That bright blue kid… !

King Mokyeong.

To be precise, it would refer to a king from a previous era.

Da-jeong couldn’t even struggle, so she stuck her body in front of the fireplace like a piece of gum and listened to the conversation between the two. With the familiar name Dieffenbachia, it didn’t take long for Da-jeong to guess that these two were her grandfather and grandmother.

-Your Majesty seems to be very heartbroken.

-…

-The way to save the child has been cut off. It looks like he tried to kill the saint. Fortunately, the loyal knight leader escaped with her saint.

-I don’t want to hear your Majesty’s story. That guy is completely crazy. I’m talking about women. The world tree is much… !

The chilly fall passed quickly as if watching a movie, and it became winter with a blizzard.

As if not only seasons had passed, but also years had passed, the old couple’s hair and beards became grayer, and the worry on their faces became deeper and deeper, with no way to overcome it.

It feels like a cornered mind is eating away at one’s health, rather than being lost to time.

-Joseph, Josef. Ah.

-Stop talking. I can’t live like this forever.

-You, until the end… Ed. Is there no such thing as a heart?

-I wasn’t going to say it, but do you know who it is thanks to us that we didn’t go hungry? Damn daughter-in-law. It was thanks to Marie. I heard the news. Dieffenbachia Marianne became a corps commander. I supported this village by myself. Even in the midst of a disaster beyond her control, Marie did everything she could. Josef That guy was weak.

-How can you, Ed, your father, say something like that? I’m sick of it now.

-For a moment. Lily. There’s a blizzard outside, where are you going? Ah… Fuck.

The man stroked his regretful face and waited for his wife to come.
Not long after, men presumed to be soldiers came looking for him in the morning breeze, and then the man ran out of the house with a pale face.

I don’t know whether he froze to death on the road or took his own life, but the results were similar.

Da-jeong could not leave the house any further. No one returned to the empty cabin, and then a march, presumed to be an army, echoed from afar.

Occasionally, civilian newspapers that flew in during the rain and wind would stick to the window.

What was written in it?

It seemed to be a piece of propaganda full of ridicule and criticism of the existence of King Mokryeong.

The end of this shabby building ended with a worker barging in with tools in hand.

With the sound of the ceiling collapsing, Da-jeong came out of her long dream.

-Quaaaaang!

“… !”

Corps commander. Dieffenbachia.

Da-jeong got up from the dirt floor, shedding a cold sweat.

No one was watching around her. Da-jeong, who fell into the desert alone, thought back on a movie she had seen and was absorbed in its powerful sentiments for several minutes.

-Sarak.

Following. She assimilated into the environment of the tower.

I don’t know if it is correct to say that it was assimilated, but it would be correct to say that some of the structures and phenomena in the background of the ancient tower were clearly visible.

The Tower of Ancient and Dreaming had a long communication with the Tower of Time and Dimension.

However, at some point it was cut off unilaterally, and I felt like I understood the context right away.

-Wheeeee!

The environment in the tower was very miserable.

A ruin with only grains of sand rolling around appeared before Da-jeong’s eyes.

Buildings with various colors that prove that people have stayed there.

However, unlike the city, which is still struggling to breathe, there was no living thing inside.

Royalist nobles, subjects, soldiers, and corps commanders.

Are they all dead?

The shelter that King Mokryeong had built had already stopped functioning. Dieffenbachia realized why the nobles and Engahero who stayed in the Tower of Time were trying to hastily bring about the resurrection of the King of Dragons.

A large cog is missing from the wide blueprint. This may be because even though failure was right around the corner, I had no choice but to ignore it.

‘Why?’

The problem is the cause.

There were traces of battle in the ruins, but it seemed odd to dismiss this as an internal conflict.

Dieffenbachia was also a woman from the top.

From the brainwashing under the pretense of education that takes place within it, to the deification of the king, and the continued loyalty, their bond becomes complete.

Although it cannot be concluded that there are no people who distrust the system like Diefenbachia, I heard that Simmong and the Ancient Tower were rich in material resources, even more than the tower he stayed in…

‘What made this place like this? Your Majesty… Where are you?’

Dieffenbachia stood up.

The grains of sand that had filled the space between the armor slipped through the cracks, and as soon as I could step forward, something buried in the sand blocked my path.

-Boom!

Dieffenbachia dug into the sand and frowned.

A material similar to what you are wearing, no. It is an artifact-type weapon with even stronger minerals and magic formula added.

After realizing that the person wearing this was a frail white skeleton, she quickly took out her dog tag from her arms.

“… Sarracenia.”

Commander of the 2nd Imperial Corps. Sarracenia.

The broken iron armor rolled on the sandy beach. There was a large hole in one cheekbone of the skull, and the bones in the arms and legs looked empty as if they had been lost.

The remaining life energy reacted to Dieffenbachia’s presence beneath the ground, and a dark green vitality then touched and permeated her body.

-Flashing.

Several scenes pass before your eyes.

The once intact building intersects with the current ruins, and the memory and control of the tower are delegated.

“This is-“

The king’s former wife being eaten flashes through her memories.
Soulless trees deteriorated the otherwise healthy grasslands and preyed on humans by searching between buildings.

The vengeful spirit that steals all living beings, including nobles, humans, and royalty, came as if stabbing my eyeballs with hallucinations.

-Cheoppapdeok.

Dieffenbachia sat down on the floor, calming her breath and organizing her memories.

Dark, dark fog clouding the sky.

In the dark clouds that engulfed the desert city, huge eye wrinkles appeared. Then, he slowly lifted his huge eyelids.

The number was not one.

The vengeful spirit of the Great Forest, covered in black shell, sensed the owner of the tower again. The world tree, which had reached a state of escape from ancient times, looked down on Dieffenbachia with eyes as big as stars.

-Cough, poop!

Giant trees arise in the desert. Each tree is as big as a mountain.

【…】

【… ?】

With a deformed cry, the tree with hieroglyphs carved into it gave a dry, machine-like warning.

【Kikigeek, Kikigigeek.】

【… 】

Although Da-jeong does not know the origins of all Towers, there was still a story that came as a side note.

The story of a world tree who agreed with the king’s ideas but was betrayed.

From the being who rebelled against the king and was thrown into the crown.

Even good beings who have lost their souls or consciousness and are left with only shells.

【… Squeak, squeak. Geek. Geek.】

A horrifying sound, like cutting iron with fingernails, penetrated Da-jeong’s mind and eroded her strength.

The bright eyes of countless eyes floating in the sky stand out as large as a sign before a thunderstorm.

Then, red rain fell on the ruins like blood.

There was a lot of resentment and hatred. Those giant trees wearing human masks were said to be bigger than the mansion built to accommodate the king.

It boasted a size so shocking that it could erase the remnants of the empire with just a single footprint.

To put it bluntly.

Their incomprehensible and incomprehensible appearance aroused a fear that could not be felt even when watching Lee Si-heon.

Is it a nightmare or a dream like before? Or maybe I was reminiscing about a horror movie I watched with my loved one in a corner of the house.

Dieffenbachia’s eyes, covered in all the many angles of view, are soaked in madness and seeping into the darkness.

From the desert hill to the far end of the horizon, a pitch-black ink-like body, presumed to be the owner of the eyeball, continued.

Maybe. That being would have brought down this kingdom.

-Tap, click, click.

A strange voice is heard from below. When I looked down, the white bone that Dieffenbachia had taken out was trembling as its teeth clenched together.

Black, slippery tentacles grew from the bones of the brutally murdered commander, and then completely covered the bones. It even started eating up the armor.

-Procrastination, procrastination, procrastination.

At the same time, the sound of a flagship exploding across the sky.

【 Kak, Kak, Kak, Kakak, Kak. 】

Although it is short. As a needle-sharp scream erupted, a jet-black tentacle buried beneath the ruins emerged from the desert.

One, two, one hundred, one thousand…

Black hair that shoots out like oil streams rides the air and dances beautifully, drawing waves as if worshiping a giant tree.

The eyes of the sky blink-

Is there a way to kill that indescribable being?

It would be much easier to deal with King Mokryeong’s alter ego, which has been covered with a minimum amount of kalpa.

Before discussing the level of power, the psychological pressure is different.

Was there a being with such a description added?

Da-jeong recalled old memories in her mind and quietly blurted out the name.

“… Hyperion.”

A living, breathing skyscraper.

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).

To describe the size of this entity, it would have to be compared to a small asteroid.

Hairs sprouting from the floor covered a white mask and scattered red eye lights.

Obvious hostility.

Did King Mokryeong stand a chance of victory by facing such a being?

. Ĝ̱̮̠̞̂̂́̍̄͒̓ ?

It’s not something to say in the current situation where you’ve turned away from your old dreams, but if you’ve been living with something like this, your spirit will be broken, and you’ll be crazy.

Dieffenbachia drew his sword and pounded his beating heart to fight back.

My stiff legs didn’t listen to his words, but if I couldn’t get out of this place, it would be like giving up my will to protect that man.

* * * * * *

Alba and Wiki, who came back, seemed to have become quite unfamiliar with each other, and without any conversation, they came to me hesitantly and kicked the sand with their feet without saying a word.

“…”

Taking advantage of the two’s disappearance in that dark atmosphere, Marronnier, who was expressing anxiety, gently let go of my hand.

From what I heard, she seemed very upset about meeting her friend who betrayed her.
As I rested my chin and looked down at the two people, Wiki held on to the hem of her skirt and carefully lowered her head.

“… Sorry. “I lied.”

Unlike before, where I pretended to be sorry to avoid the situation, but didn’t bend my knees at all, I was very discouraged now.

What on earth did we talk about?

When I glanced at the wise man, there were traces of tears left at the corners of his eyes.

-Swish.

Alba turns her head without saying a word.

Wiki, who was in tears, grabbed my hand and looked up at me.

“… Dad.”

The moment when I felt like I had something to say and was waiting for an answer.

─Jeojeok.

The sky began to tremble. This time too, the surprise came at a truly amazing timing.

The surrounding space suddenly became distant, and an unpleasant energy rose up from various places, as if it was planning to separate us once again.

This time, the hand gestures seem quite disturbing. I hurriedly revealed my crown, entangled the lovers and Wiki around me with magic, and pulled them towards me.

“Wow!”

“Oh, Dad?!”

A feeling that threatens to tingle with murderous intent at any moment causes the eyelids to twitch.

‘This is.’

It doesn’t make sense.

How on earth did they tie these guys up to the tower?

-Crackling, crackling!

The crown was making a loud noise and pulsating toward the surrounding danger.