154: Origin of the Tower 154: Origin of the Tower Processing her words for a few monts, I eventually shook my head.
“Oh, don’t apologise…
From the way it sounds, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Does that an you’ll have to go back into hibernation after this?” “Certainly, that is the case…
and thank you.
For understanding, and for working so hard to allow to speak with you like this, even if it is only temporary.
It appears I was right to choose you after all.” Saying that with a mysterious smile on her lips, I flinched, proceeding to scratch the back of my neck awkwardly.
“What is that about, anyway…
You said before that you’ve been waiting to et , so is that from after I ca here, or before…?” Following that, her smile only seed to widen a little, and she lightly shook her head.
“Now, I don’t want to give all of my secrets away just like that, do I?
I understand you have many questions, Enki, and you shall certainly receive the answers you desire in due ti.
For as long as you continue doing the trendous job you are, I have no doubt about that.” “…Can you at least answer one question?” “Certainly, well, I suppose that depends on the question.
What were you thinking?” “Where do Protagonists co from?” “Ah, I’m afraid not that one.” “…” As expected, what was probably the biggest mystery of them all, was sothing I simply couldn’t know the answer to.
Because the person who knew didn’t want to tell .
“Oh, no, please don’t misunderstand.
Enki, I would like to tell you, sincerely.
However, I do not wish to place unnecessary pressure on you.
Knowing the answer, perhaps would…
make you doubt what you are capable of, and I wish for you to remain strong.
Please understand I do not hide the truth out of malice, but faith that you will persevere to the end.” Hearing her honest plea, I sighed.
Even if I didn’t like it, I understood where she was coming from and why she would do it.
Although it was regrettable, I nodded my head.
“I get it.
I’m just too weak at the mont, right?
Then, will you at least tell when I reach Tier Four Authority?” “Yes, certainly…
Tier Four or Tier Five.
Whenever I feel you are ready to know.
The truth is that these arbitrary tiers exist in the first place for such a reason.
It is not a matter of trust, or a lack thereof, and not capability per se, but rather simple strength.
I do not wish to assign you a responsibility I believe you cannot handle, and so the most efficient way to go is by building you up gradually like this.” “Right.
But wait, how many tiers are there?
There can’t be many after five, right?” “There are only five Tiers of Authority.” “Oh.” ‘I’m already at Tier Three, so if I only need four more dispatches to reach Tier Four, it shouldn’t actually take that long to reach Tier Five…’ Of course, the only reason I had co so far so quickly was because I was taking on a bunch of low-star Difficulty Contracts.
The mont I start taking on more 3-stars, and then 4-stars and even 5-stars, progress in that departnt will grind down to a halt, I’m sure, especially with the number of dispatches required to promote itself increasing.
‘Anyway, I guess I don’t really need to focus on that.
The important thing is getting strong, as she said.
That way I’ll be able to handle the Tower, too…
wait, that reminds .’ Suddenly recalling the questions I had a long while ago now, I opened my mouth again.
“With the Authority I have now, is there any chance you can tell about the Tower?” Before, when I asked the Librarian about it, her answer implied that she did know sothing, so even though the Spirit should be the sa, I honestly wasn’t expecting anything much.
After all, with all this talk about Authority and needing to get stronger, I held no doubt that anything related to the Tower would follow the sa pattern.
However.
“Certainly.
I made it.” “…What?” At that mont, a distant mory flashed in my eyes.
“Yes.
The Augury Tower?
It was .” My eyes flared open at her answer.
All of a sudden, I felt a rush of heat.
I didn’t realise it at the ti, but for it to have even bypassed the natural cooling of my heart, the enhancent of the Winter Goddess’ Blessing flowing through my body…
“…” I must have really been furious.
“…Let ask you one thing first.” Even I realised how cold my voice probably sounded at that mont.
All of it was directed towards no one other than the Spirit in front of , the person who, at first glance, hadn’t done anything wrong in the slightest.
But, if what she just said wasn’t a joke, then…
‘It’s her fault…?’ “―You would be curious about that, wouldn’t you…
Very well then.
What would you like to know?” “Do you know what happened because of you?
Just…
why…” “Isn’t that more than one question?” “Don’t fuck around.” “…Mm.
My apologies.
I was only trying to lighten the mood.
Allow to answer you then.
First of all, yes, I am aware of the incident you speak of.
However, I believe there is a misunderstanding.” “Misunderstanding?
How?” “I may have created the Augury Tower, but I did not create magical beasts.” Taking in her words, I realised I might’ve gotten ahead of myself.
“But…
then, where did they co from…?” Even still, I had to ask.
Clenching my fists under the table, I slowly cald myself.
At the sa ti, she answered.
“That is a rather complex issue…
An interconnection of World Stability distortion and the introduction of mana into your world would be the primary concerns.
Would you like to go more in-depth?” I thought about it for a mont, but eventually shook my head.
“No, it’s fine.
You don’t have a lot of ti you can spend talking like this.
It wouldn’t be fair to waste all of it explaining sothing I’m not going to understand anyway.” Finally feeling like I’d properly cooled down, the sharp chill within pulsing just as strong as before, it was as if I was being forced to do so.
eting her eyes again, or more precisely where they would be located beneath the blindfold, I let out another sigh.
“What’s the purpose of the Tower?” “Certainly.
To put it simply, its purpose is to serve as a temporary asure to maintain the balance of World Stability.
For worlds in which no Antagonist yet exists, a Tower will be summoned in their place, waiting in preparation to counter the Protagonist that will inevitably appear.” “What…
Really…?” Hearing the explanation, my first thought was that it made a surprising amount of sense.
After all, if a Protagonist erged in a world without an Antagonist, the balance of World Stability would instantly collapse, causing the world itself to soon follow.
The Spirit…
Leinth created the Tower as a counterasure for such occurrences.
That ant, not only was it sothing necessary for the world to exist, but it was also sothing that existed in other worlds than Earth, too…
“Isn’t it basically a pseudo-Antagonist then…?” “You can certainly think of it that way.
It was only possible to create with the power of World Stability, and due to the nature of the Protagonist, the Tower will inevitably be conquered by them, no matter the world it exists in.
That’s why, until the mont a true Antagonist arises, the Tower will protect the world until then.” Following her words, I leaned all the way back in my seat, my hands subconsciously floating to rest against my face.
It was like I was hit with a sudden revelation―or rather, that’s exactly what it was.
‘That ans, all the Challengers and Frontliners of the Tower…’ Before they managed to clear the whole thing.
Before anyone could conquer the Augury Tower of Earth, an Antagonist of Earth had to erge.
“…” Or otherwise, there was no choice but to stop them from clearing it myself.
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