The stairs seemed endless.
Carved from ink-black stone, they spiraled downward into the forbidden depths of the Tower. Ha Yuri Zahard was descending them at breakneck speed, her silhouette slicing through the air like a blade. Her white shirt snapped behind her, stretched taut by velocity — like a war banner carried by a storm.
Behind her, Evan struggled to keep up, breathless — but she didn't slow down. She didn't even look back. She didn't need to.
She hadn't come to talk — she'd had enough of empty words and the Guide's warnings. She was here to see. To witness. To judge with her own eyes.
And yet, despite her resolve, her thoughts spun in relentless circles.
An Irregular. Another one.
The word echoed like a dull drumbeat in her chest, laced with ancient fire. Excitement. Tension.
These beings had no key, no invitation. They never asked for permission. They shattered the rules, forced their way in. Like cracks in a frozen world.
But Yuri wasn't one to flinch. She had met them before. One was her friend, and two ran through her veins.
More than anything, she was Ha Yuri Zahard — a Princess of Zahard. A genius among geniuses. A star born to burn brighter than the rest.
So why this feeling in the pit of her stomach?
A faint unease. A muted alarm. Something inside her whispered that this Irregular was not like the others.
Maybe worse.
Like him.
The thought came unbidden. A faceless figure, a veiled memory — but his name, or the lack of it, was enough to chill her blood.
She shook her head, refusing to let the idea take root.
With a sharp motion, she accelerated once more, a streak of crimson in the dark spiral.
When her foot finally touched the floor of the First Floor, something shifted.
The Shinsu.
It vibrated differently.
Yuri sensed it immediately. Her intuition — honed far beyond that of most High Rankers — flared at once. Where others might have felt nothing, she picked up the subtlest changes, the invisible murmurs in the Shinsu. That instinct had saved her life more times than she could count.
And now, it was speaking again.
The Shinsu pulsed. Strangely. Unsteadily. Irregularly. As if it hesitated to flow. As if the Tower itself was holding its breath.
Her red eyes narrowed, sharpening like twin blades.
Has the Shinsu on the First Floor… always been this strange?
She had never set foot here before. The First Floor was off-limits to members of the Zahard Family. And yet, what she felt defied logic. The Shinsu seemed both chaotic… and perfectly ordered.
As if it were torn between two opposing instincts.
As if it didn't know what it was supposed to do.
And only then did Yuri understand.
The unease that had haunted her from the beginning… came from here. From this uncertain current.
But she didn't show it. Her face remained calm, almost detached, as she strode forward toward the only exit — a white opening that stretched across the heart of the First Floor.
She might have already guessed the cause of the disturbance.
And deep down, that idea didn't scare her.
Quite the opposite.
It thrilled her.
Like a child about to tear open a gift.
Her heels echoed on the stone, unyielding, and the closer she came to the glowing rift, the more anticipation surged within her — sharp, burning, almost electric.
And when she finally reached the edge of the luminous bridge, she leaned forward to glance below.
And she saw him.
The one they called the Irregular.
The one said to be capable of defying the established order, of breaking the natural laws of the Tower...
...was just a boy.
A boy so slight he looked almost swallowed by the vastness of the First Floor's hall. He stood there, unmoving — a quiet silhouette in the midst of silence. Nothing in his posture or bearing hinted at danger.
Just in front of him stood the familiar shape of Headon — the rabbit-like Guardian — seemingly engaged in conversation. Next to him, the supposed Irregular looked even smaller. His clothes were dull, nearly lifeless. His hair, dark as ebony.
And his eyes — even from a distance, Yuri saw them clearly. Two golden irises, gleaming in the shadows. Two silent flames.
She observed him for a few moments, her gaze steady, unblinking.
Huh? Wait... That's really the Irregular?
The thrill drained from her in an instant. Like a wave retreating without a sound.
Her expression darkened slightly, caught somewhere between disappointment and confusion. She had expected a monster. A force of nature.
Not this... boy.
She remained there, motionless, studying this living paradox.
But the longer she stared, the more doubt crept in.
Maybe there's been a mistake? she thought, narrowing her eyes slightly.
And yet, she didn't let go of that sliver of hope. Impulsive as she was, Yuri knew better than to judge a book by its cover — especially in the Tower.
And maybe... yes, maybe this time, what was inside mattered more than what met the eye. After all, the Shinsu itself had sent her a signal. That strange flicker, that irregular heartbeat in the air… it wasn't nothing.
But something felt off. Something bothered her.
The fluctuations in the Shinsu around the Irregular were faint, almost imperceptible, yet undeniably there. Like a hidden breath beneath a calm sea. And because of that subtle disturbance, even she — Ha Yuri Zahard — couldn't clearly sense the boy's presence.
As if the Shinsu itself... was trying to conceal him.
To wrap around him.
To hide him from the world's gaze.
And that idea, absurd as it sounded, sent a shiver down her spine.
But she smiled. A sharp smile, cutting — as striking as the beauty of her features.
This kid... might not be as ordinary as he looks.
Lying on her stomach, chin resting on the ledge, she briefly glanced away. Still no sign of her Guide. He was taking too long. And she needed him — not to move forward, but to understand.
Because Guides don't just point the way. They see beyond appearances. They detect the spark others can't. They sense the extraordinary where others see only shadow.
And Evan… Evan was a high-level Guide. He had to see something in that boy.
But when she looked around for her companion, a frown tightened her features.
Evan's face — usually pale — had turned deathly white. Tiny beads of sweat trickled down his temples. He was frozen in place, literally motionless, as if suspended outside of time. But what troubled Yuri most were his eyes — darting, restless, filled with panic.
He looked like he was searching for something.
No… like he was desperately searching for a way out. Like a man lost in thick fog, unable to find the path he knows by heart.
Never had Yuri seen her dwarf like this — shaky, disoriented, almost... lost. But she chose not to mention it. For now, only one thing held her attention: the new Irregular.
"Hey, Evan! Look over there! It's the newbie… and Headon!" she called out, her voice clear, just loud enough to snap him out of it.
And it seemed to work. Slowly, as if waking from a troubled dream, Evan stood upright and stepped closer without a word. His face, though a bit calmer, remained tense. Curiosity and unease tangled in his eyes.
He knelt beside his princess, his gaze following hers.
Yuri let out a mocking smile. The dwarf who, just a moment ago, was trembling at the thought of facing the Irregular — was now staring at him without blinking.
But that smile vanished as quickly as it had come.
Evan had gone pale again. His eyes were locked onto the boy, and a barely noticeable shiver ran through his frame. His shoulders flinched, and his silver pupils widened, as if an electric current had jolted through him the moment he saw him.
That simple tremor — so subtle, yet so unmistakable — only fanned the flames of Yuri's curiosity.
What had he seen? What was it about that boy that could so thoroughly unnerve a seasoned Guide like Evan?
"Evan…" she murmured, her tone suddenly softer, almost conspiratorial. "As a Guide… what do you make of him?"
She watched him closely, hungry for answers.
"Do you think he's like Urek? Or that he's hiding some kind of power… something violent, something vast? A sudden transformation, maybe?"
Evan didn't answer right away. He remained silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words, trying to arrange what he had just perceived — though he was still visibly shaken by it.
"Hmm… how should I put this…" he muttered, scratching the side of his temple. "If I'm being honest with you, Princess… I'm not even sure how to explain something I don't fully understand myself."
His tone was weary, almost apologetic.
Yuri frowned, unconvinced.
"What are you talking about?" she snapped, clearly irritated. "Just give me something simple: is he strong or not? Stop dancing around the point."
Evan sighed and shook his head, defeated. He knew better than to drag things out with her — otherwise she might shake the answer right out of him.
His gaze returned to the boy, still calmly conversing with Headon, appearing utterly ordinary.
"Physically speaking…" he began, squinting slightly, "he looks agile, but too small to be a born fighter. And he doesn't give off the vibe of a hybrid or a modified being."
Then his eyes focused on the boy's face — blank, impassive.
"But if we're talking hidden strength… then yes. I'm certain. There's something in him. Something immense. Colossal. The kind you only find in Irregulars."
Yuri's eyes lit up like fireworks. That was the kind of answer she'd been waiting for.
"Oh, really?!" she exclaimed, bursting with excitement. "You mean like, he's got planet-destroying beams shooting from between his legs, like Urek or Phantaminum?!"
Evan nearly choked. He coughed loudly, his cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment.
Oh god… she was serious.
Of course she was. She was Ha Yuri Zahard — the boldest, most irreverent, and definitely the least modest of all Zahard's Princesses.
"Even those two never spouted something that absurd!" Evan cried, slapping his forehead, utterly exasperated by his princess's disarming immaturity. "Well… I mean, Mazino does have something that shoots out, but it's definitely not a beam!" he added, instantly regretting the words.
A burst of laughter escaped Yuri. Evan froze. He had just said something incredible, and now it felt like her immaturity was rubbing off on him.
He coughed into his fist, trying to regain some semblance of composure.
"More seriously… that boy shouldn't be underestimated," he said in a graver tone, his gaze fixed on the Irregular in the distance. "His appearance may be deceiving, but his presence… it screams that he's no ordinary human."
He turned to Yuri, his expression solemn.
"You felt it too, didn't you, Princess?"
Yuri straightened a little. She crossed her legs, stretched her arms behind her head, and tilted her face to the dark sky — adopting a relaxed pose… or so it seemed. Then she slowly nodded.
"Yeah… I felt something," she admitted, her crimson eyes drifting into the void. "It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but the Shinsu… it didn't flow like it usually does. And even though we're on the First Floor, where the pressure and density of the Shinsu are supposed to be much lower than the upper levels… the surroundings felt like they were… speaking."
She paused, then turned her scarlet gaze toward Evan's silver eyes.
"Tell me the truth. There's more to this Irregular than what you're telling me, isn't there?"
Her voice held no threat, no command. Just honest curiosity. A stubborn intuition.
She had seen Evan react strangely from the moment they entered the First Floor. And it wasn't just some erratic Shinsu that could put her Guide in such a state.
No.
It had to be something else.
Something deeper. Heavier.
Something only a Guide could sense.
Evan remained silent for a while, his gaze locked on the boy, as if trying to decipher an ancient manuscript written in a language even Guides didn't know.
Then he exhaled softly.
"I'm not hiding anything from you, Princess Yuri…" he murmured. "But there are things a Guide simply cannot put into words. What I felt… it wasn't a vision. Not a premonition either. It was… an absence."
Yuri looked at him, intrigued.
"An absence?"
He nodded slowly, his brow furrowed with a doubt he couldn't quite name.
"It was as if, the moment I laid eyes on him, part of my perception faded away. As if something within him refused to fully exist under a Guide's gaze. Do you understand? I can see him… and yet, part of him remains out of reach. Slipping away. Shrouded."
"In my field of awareness, there was only… emptiness."
He paused. His face had darkened.
"This is the first time I've ever felt something like this. Even Mazino, with all his overwhelming power, or Phantaminum, as unfathomable as he is… they were there. Fully present. Towering. But that boy… he's the opposite. He's like a hole in reality."
Yuri sat up straighter, arms resting on her knees. Her gaze had changed — no more teasing. No more games.
"You think he could… change the Tower?"
Evan hesitated. His eyes flickered with a blend of fear and fascination, as if frightened by his own thoughts.
"I think… he doesn't even know what he is. And that is what's truly terrifying."
A heavy silence followed, broken only by the soft, rhythmic breath of the Shinsu drifting around them.
Yuri let a faint smile cross her lips — less defiant than usual, almost restrained.
"You've always had a nose for sniffing out disasters."
Evan let out a tired chuckle.
"And you've always had a talent for charging straight into them."
Their eyes met, a shared moment of wordless understanding.
But this time, no laughter followed.
Because something was coming.
And the Irregular — unknowingly — may have just laid the first stone of a coming cataclysm.
THUD!
A dull impact shattered the silence, snapping their attention toward the source of the sound. A faint tremor rippled through the air, as though space itself had just been struck.
It seemed the Irregular's test was finally about to begin.
After everything they had just discussed, Yuri could feel her excitement spike, a gleam of impatience lighting up her crimson eyes. Even Evan, usually more reserved, couldn't quite hide his growing curiosity.
But as the darkness faded, revealing the materialized test zone… their expressions shifted in an instant.
Their eyes widened — stunned by what lay before them.
"What?! Five White Steel Eels? Has that rabbit lost his mind?!" Yuri exclaimed, stunned by the sheer absurdity of the challenge.
Her expression had hardened — this was no longer amusement, but a blend of disbelief and growing tension.
"White Steel Eels…" Evan echoed under his breath, pupils narrowing as he scanned the testing arena below. "Even a single one would be considered a fearsome Guardian on the 20th Floor… but five?"
He furrowed his brow, unable to hide his astonishment.
"No Regular of Rank E — aside from a Zahard Princess or one of this generation's greatest prodigies — could hope to survive such a nightmare."
He paused for a moment, as if the weight of his thoughts made them too heavy to voice immediately.
"Is this… a tactic to make him forfeit the test?" he murmured at last, more to himself than to Yuri.
It was obvious Headon had sensed something in this new Irregular — just as Evan had. There was no doubt about it.
It wasn't even a question worth asking. Of course Headon, the Guardian of the very first floor, had seen what the Silver Dwarf had felt. An absence. A void. A gaping hole in the Tower's paths. If even a Guide could perceive such imbalance, then Headon couldn't ignore it — not without making a mockery of himself. Not without looking like a ridiculous rabbit in a world he was supposed to control.
"Tch… that damn rabbit," Yuri growled, irritation crackling in her voice. "Because Irregulars disrupt the order of the Tower, he's trying to scare him off with a trial this grotesque!"
And yet, despite her anger, Yuri didn't truly believe that this boy — this seemingly harmless, boyish-looking kid — was doomed to die here. Not after what Evan had revealed to her.
This Irregular… might still be hiding a dormant strength, a veiled power that only his Guide had sensed.
In other words, she wanted to believe he could win. Even this ridiculous battle.
Because if he couldn't… then he didn't deserve the title of Irregular — those extraordinary beings who could shake the Tower with their mere arrival. Urek Mazino was living proof of that.
But if this boy couldn't overcome this trial…
Now lying on the ground again, her eyes fixed on the Irregular, a thought took root in Yuri's mind.
A smile slowly crept across her lips — graceful, yet full of mischief. And knowing Yuri, that kind of smile was never a good sign.
"Poor thing…" she murmured, her voice soft, almost affectionate, as she looked at the boy's youthful face — which she definitely found cute. "Should I help him?"
Those words dropped like a declaration of war.
A bomb, just released — and one that would surely have exploded if Evan hadn't instinctively defused it, as if he'd been bracing for her madness.
"I knew it! I knew you were going to say that! And no, no, and absolutely not!" the Guide burst out, on the verge of panic. "We must not intervene! Especially not with an Irregular this dangerous!"
With Yuri, you always had to expect the opposite of what she promised. A golden rule Evan knew all too well.
"Isn't it exciting?" she replied in a sweet, syrupy tone. "Irregulars have always brought chaos to this Tower… And besides…"
She trailed off, her crimson gaze lingering on the Irregular's youthful face, as if hypnotized.
"He's totally my type~" she sang dreamily.
If Evan could've smacked her to bring her back to her senses, he would have. Unfortunately, he lacked the strength — and more importantly, the courage. So instead, he stayed firm, jaw clenched with worry.
"That's not the point, Princess!" he cried, voice tight with anxiety. "Irregulars always bring trouble! A princess like you should stay far away from them! And the Tower… the Tower doesn't need more chaos! If the King found out one of his princesses had helped an Irregular, it would be… it would be death! Death, Princess!"
He swallowed hard at those final words, as if their weight alone was already enough to crush him.
But the young woman didn't even bother to glance at him. Her attention was entirely consumed by the slightest movement of the Irregular. In other words, she couldn't have cared less.
Outrage surged through Evan, rising in him like a tidal wave.
"Well, damn it! Forget everything I just said, Princess. There's no way he's stupid enough to try and clear a test with a ball that complicated…" he sighed loudly, crushed by the princess's blind stubbornness.
But his attempt at rationality was instantly obliterated.
"Except…" Yuri said casually, raising a finger to point in a specific direction, "he's actually going for it."
Evan turned his head, eyes suddenly wide.
"Huh!?"
Maybe a part of him had expected it. But he never imagined the kid would have the audacity — or sheer recklessness — to calmly walk toward what looked like a deathtrap.
"Why is he going there?!"
He stood frozen for a moment, unable to look away from the boy's steady, unhurried steps — as if danger simply didn't exist in his world.
"HEY!! HAVING A BEAM BETWEEN YOUR LEGS WON'T SAVE YOUR LIFE, KID!!" Evan shouted in desperation, waving his arms to catch the boy's attention. But the distance was too great. His words were lost to the wind, scattered like leaves.
Beside him, Yuri was smiling. A radiant, predatory grin — almost devouring in its intensity.
This was exactly what she'd been waiting for.
Courage. Madness. Determination.
And she loved every second of it.
"Hehe, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. Now it's finally getting interesting!" she said, her eyes gleaming, lips curled with fierce excitement. "Evan! I'll be right back!"
"WHAT?!"
Without waiting, Yuri threw herself into the void, vanishing into the gaping hole like a comet caught in the thrill of the moment. The height didn't even faze her.
Evan stood rooted in place, mouth slightly open, face drained of all color.
"NO, PRINCESS! FOR THE LOVE OF—"
But his voice met nothing but abyssal silence. Yuri was already gone, swallowed by her own impulsiveness.
Devastated, Evan lowered his arms. His shoulders slumped in utter defeat. Once again, Ha Yuri Zahard had dragged him headfirst into a nightmare.
"We're dead…" he whispered, eyes dull and lifeless, like a fish washed up on shore.
And even then… he hoped death would be the kindest punishment, if the King ever found out about this disaster.
.
.
.
Back to the present…
"Um… hello?"
With an awkward smile and his head slightly tilted, that was all Baam could think to say. He seriously doubted the red-eyed woman would understand him — or even care.
He had no desire to irritate her. He knew her temperament well enough from the webtoon: she didn't even hesitate to be cheeky with Urek Mazino, the man who claimed to be the strongest in the entire Tower.
And now that she was standing right in front of him, Baam understood those stories hadn't been exaggerated.
He could feel it — the overwhelming, colossal pressure radiating from her.
…It's enormous, he thought, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple as a chill ran down his spine.
He activated his Shinsu perception.
Instantly, the world around him sharpened into infinitely surgical precision: every crack in the floor, the faintest heat flows, every subtle vibration carried by the Shinsu's charged energy.
Information flooded his mind like a torrent — a chaotic stream of data processed by a consciousness honed to the extreme.
And what he sensed from Yuri nearly gave him a headache.
The Shinsu around her was warped, like space itself was bending to her presence. It was quiet, still… but brimming with catastrophic power — like a chained storm, waiting for a single command to obliterate everything in its path.
So this is… the power of a High Ranker, he mused, lips curling into a faint smile despite the deep unease that gripped him.
This Tower is truly filled with monsters… and some are even more terrifying than her.
Before deactivating his Shinsu reading, Baam cast a brief glance upward, trying to locate the point from which Yuri had jumped. He was searching for the energy signature of Evan — her servant? No… her personal Guide.
But he sensed nothing.
Not the slightest presence. Only the infinite ceiling of the Floor, as vast and silent as an endless sky.
He's no longer there… or at least, well hidden.
Maybe the place they had been watching from existed in a separate space, detached from the First Floor — a concealed zone beyond his perception. Or perhaps… their stealth abilities were simply too advanced, far beyond even what his Shinsu sight could detect. Maybe both.
But in the end, it didn't matter.
Because at that very moment, the princess before him appeared visibly annoyed by his silence — or so Baam assumed, noticing the shadow that flickered across her expression.
In truth, Yuri's furrowed brow had nothing to do with irritation. She had simply realized something when she heard him speak.
He doesn't understand the language of the Tower, she thought, her crimson eyes fixed on the boy.
It made sense, logically. In the Tower, even if its inhabitants came from regions with different languages, they all ended up understanding each other thanks to pockets — those little universal translation devices.
But now that the doubt had taken root, a new question formed in her mind.
Why hadn't this Irregular received a pocket from Headon?
Turning to the Administrator standing calmly behind them, Yuri shot him a cold, almost jaded look before snapping:
"Hey, Headon. Don't tell me you forgot to give the newbie a pocket?"
"Ah! It seems I may have… forgotten," Headon replied lightly, as if he'd merely misplaced his keys.
But Yuri wasn't buying it. Her gaze hardened, those crimson pupils slicing through him with thinly veiled contempt.
"Forgotten? You? One of the Tower's oldest Guardians?" she said acidly, teetering on the edge of sarcasm and accusation. "You really expect me to believe you just forgot? You sure you didn't deliberately leave him with nothing?"
Headon raised his hands, feigning innocence.
"Eeh~~ I do make the occasional little mistake," he replied with a broad grin, his carefree tone like a slap in the air.
But that only fueled Yuri's irritation further. She clenched her teeth, furious at the sheer hypocrisy.
In the background, Baam watched the scene in silence. Amused in spite of himself by Headon's nerve, he stifled a laugh.
This guy really has no shame, he thought, though he didn't dare say it aloud.
He wisely kept quiet. Unlike Yuri, he had neither the audacity nor the desire to provoke this entity. Not after what he had felt when trying to pierce through him… An experience bordering on madness — or death.
"Tsk." The Zahard Princess clicked her tongue, clearly fed up with Headon's nonsense.
Without bothering to continue the conversation, she turned on her heels in frustration, eyes rolling toward the ceiling. Her hands landed on her hips, and her voice — sharp and commanding — cut through the air, making the Shinsu itself tremble:
"HEY, EVAN! Stop messing around up there, GET DOWN!"
No response. Only silence.
A vein throbbed violently on her forehead.
"EVAAAAAN!!!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" came an echoing voice, clearly tired but resigned.
A silver blur shot through the air at incredible speed before landing softly on the ground. The Guide — or rather the "Silver Dwarf" — had finally made his entrance, and Baam couldn't help but observe him with a hint of amusement.
The little man looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
He's even smaller than I imagined, Baam thought. The scout uniform only added a comedic flair to the image — though he wisely kept that thought to himself. The dwarf might've looked funny, but he was still a High Ranker.
Not as powerful as Yuri, sure, but still capable of crushing someone like him with a flick of the wrist.
And yet, Baam wasn't intimidated. Not even a flicker of fear or despair crossed his mind. Quite the opposite.
He knew what he had to do: climb the Tower and grow stronger, no matter the obstacles. Even the original Baam — without a system — had managed to reach the level of a High Ranker well before reaching the halfway point of the Tower.
So if he, with the system on his side, couldn't match that feat…
Then no, he wouldn't deserve to be called the 25th Baam. Just an impostor.
"I knew you were her Guide, Evan Edrok," Headon stated in a perfectly neutral tone. Neither surprised nor annoyed by his arrival, he spoke with the cold detachment of a referee in the middle of a game.
Yet the piercing, icy gaze hidden behind the slit of his mask was enough to make Evan shiver.
"Ha… Hahaha~ It's been a while, Mr. Headon! You're looking… in great shape, as always!" he said, clearly nervous, a forced smile stretched across his face as he bowed respectfully to the mysterious Administrator.
"Evan, stop flattering that damn rabbit," Yuri grumbled, annoyed by her Guide's overly polite manner. "And… do you have a spare pocket? That guy didn't even bother giving him one."
She motioned toward the Irregular with a nod. And the moment Evan laid eyes on him… everything changed again.
He met the boy's gaze.
And what he saw there sent another strange chill down his spine.
Still that same emptiness.
A deep, crushing silence. Like a black, bottomless sea, ready to swallow everything.
The light in his eyes flickered for a moment. He paled slightly. But he forced himself not to show it. He was a High Ranker. He had his pride.
Still, that gaze… it lingered too long on the boy. A moment too long.
And Baam noticed.
Why is he looking at me with such caution? he wondered, puzzled. Did he see something in me that scares him?
As far as he knew, Evan Edrok — in the original story — hadn't seen anything special in the "canon" Baam when he first entered the Tower. He had even described him as "just an ordinary human."
But this time… it was different.
Ever since he had received the Gift of the God of Shinsu, his power had grown exponentially. And if Evan had sensed that?
Maybe he even… caught a glimpse of the System's presence?
A soft chime echoed through the air, and the familiar blue screen materialized in front of Baam.
[The Host need not worry. No living being in this Tower is capable of detecting the existence of the System.]
He tilted his head slightly, reading the glowing runes with care.
Good news, he thought, satisfied. No one must ever discover the System — not even his future allies. It was his most precious asset, his secret weapon.
But that thought had barely formed in his mind when Yuri's sharp voice snapped him back to reality:
"Hmph! Don't tell me you're just as stingy as that damn rabbit, huh?"
The remark was aimed at Evan, who let out a long sigh before replying.
"Right, right... So that's why you dragged me all the way here..." he grumbled, unable to resist his princess's stare.
He dropped his bag on the ground with a dull thud, then crouched to rummage through it quickly. After a few seconds, he pulled out a small orb carefully wrapped in white and gray bands marked with strange inscriptions.
Straightening up, he stepped toward the Irregular and held out the object.
"Here, newbie," he said calmly, his pure silver eyes locking with the boy's golden ones. "An A-rank Pocket. It's a bit much for a beginner... but it's all I've got on me."
Baam said nothing. He understood what Evan was saying, even if the language was foreign to him — he didn't need the translation. He already knew this scene — he'd read it, and now, he was living it.
So this is a Pocket? he thought, observing the fist-sized orb. Looks way more advanced than a simple phone…
As soon as his finger touched the smooth, cold surface, the bands suddenly sprang to life. They wrapped around his arm and torso in a fluid, almost mystical motion. Then, with a breath-like whisper, a black sphere formed around him.
Strange, shifting symbols rose into the air — like glowing snowflakes made of forgotten language.
It was as if a hundred ancient civilizations were speaking to him at once, in a tongue long lost to time.
And then, his mind was flooded. A tidal wave of knowledge struck him without warning — coordinates, translations, analysis systems, interfaces… a torrent of information imprinted itself into his brain, as though an entire ocean had poured into a single vessel.
Barely had he regained his composure when a chime rang out, and the System's translucent blue window flashed before his eyes again. The cold, neutral voice — now familiar — echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained your very first Item in the Tower: a Pocket.
— Assessing the Item…
— External knowledge detected… Functions recognized as those of a Pocket.
Assessment complete. Would the Host like to view the item description?]
Baam gave a small nod. He already knew the purpose of a Pocket — the memories from his past life, or rather from the canonical version of himself, had taught him plenty. But this time, he was curious to see how the System would analyze the items and knowledge he acquired in this life.
The window began to scroll slowly, revealing a detailed description of the object.
[Item: Pocket
Item Rank: A
Item Type: Communication Device
Item Description: The Pocket is an essential communication tool within the Tower. Only Regulars and Rankers are authorized to possess one. This device is exclusively assigned to "Inner Tower climbers" chosen by Headon, the Guardian of the First Floor.
Naturally levitating, the Pocket is crafted from a special ore called suspendium, a common levitating stone within the Tower. However, only suspendium of the highest purity is used to manufacture these devices.
The organization responsible for their design is the Workshop, a legendary institution founded by its creator and Great Father, Masceth. The higher the rank of a Pocket, the broader its functionalities: automatic translation, data storage, holographic projection, multi-floor messaging, and more.
The main distinction between ranks lies in the number of languages the Pocket can understand and translate. The default universal language of all Pockets is Macsethian, a standard tongue used throughout the Tower.
Finally, the Pocket also serves to formalize the Shinsu Contract with Floor Guardians — a crucial step for all climbers.]
Baam blinked, impressed despite himself.
This System… it's incredibly precise.
"So, newbie? Feels weird using your first pocket, huh?" Evan chimed in, abruptly cutting through Baam's thoughts. The entire scene had unfolded in just a matter of seconds. "You do understand what I'm saying, at least?"
Baam nodded softly, his eyes still fixed on the small black sphere levitating beside him. He was fascinated. Through it, he had instantly learned a language that had been completely foreign to him mere moments ago. That single function alone far surpassed the technology of his former world.
"Move it!" growled Yuri as she shoved the dwarf aside without the slightest care, stepping closer to the Irregular. "Hmm... given your level, that pocket is clearly way too high-end, so you'd better be grateful, newbie. That thing costs a fortune!"
You're saying that like you were the one who paid for it... Evan complained inwardly, tears brimming in his mental wallet as he imagined it going up in flames.
Baam nodded again, silent. He had no interest in responding to the princess's condescending remark. He'd prove himself later, during the test. She would see.
For the briefest moment — the space of a heartbeat — his gaze, almost involuntarily, slipped toward Yuri's generous chest, accentuated by their close proximity.
He quickly averted his eyes, tensing up. The last thing he wanted was to get sent flying across the floor from a single well-placed slap.
"I suppose I should thank you... for offering me such a precious item when we've only just met," he said quickly, his voice calm and sincere as he bowed respectfully to the pair.
Yuri was taken aback. This unexpected politeness from an Irregular caught her completely off guard.
"Oh my~ Not only are you cute, but you also have a very pretty mouth," she murmured with a mischievous smile, gently placing a finger on the boy's lips. Their faces were so close, they could feel each other's breath.
"Ahem, ahem... No need for thanks!" Evan coughed abruptly, cutting short the exchange between Yuri and Baam. The princess reluctantly pulled back from the boy's face, and though Baam's expression remained impassive, a quiet sigh slipped through him — a blend of frustration and disappointment.
And here I thought things were about to get interesting... he thought, slightly bitter. Missing an opportunity like that, with a woman like her? Practically a crime. But then again... this was only the beginning. There would be more. He was sure of it.
"Anyway, let's put that aside for now. Allow me to introduce myself!" Evan continued with forced enthusiasm. "I'm Evan Edrok, high-level Guide and Ranker of the Tower. And this woman here is Miss Ha Yuri Zahard — also a Ranker, though I suppose you already guessed that, judging by her aura."
Yuri folded her arms, chin held high, as if to confirm his words without needing to speak.
"What I just gave you," Evan continued, pointing to the pocket, "is an essential tool for climbing the Tower. It's packed with all sorts of features, but here's what really matters: it can translate every spoken language in this place into Macsethian. That's the Tower's universal tongue."
He cleared his throat, then added with a small smile:
"Oh, and just in case: say 'invisible mode' to hide it, and say the opposite to bring it back."
Baam was barely listening. Not out of arrogance or disrespect — but because he already knew all of this. He'd read this scene far too many times in the manhwa to forget a single word.
"Invisible mode," he said calmly.
At once, the pocket vanished from his sight, though he could still feel its presence hovering close by. Now invisible to others, it felt like an extension of himself — as though it had fused with him.
"It's really a useful item," he murmured. "I don't yet know how I'll repay you for this pocket, but I promise I will."
He wasn't the kind of person to make promises lightly. In his former life, he'd never had the means to give anything back, let alone repay his debts. Just thinking about it stirred that familiar bitterness inside him.
But now… he had changed.
And from now on, he would carry every debt close to heart — no matter how long it took, or how far he had to go to settle it.
Evan scratched the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish. He wasn't used to receiving such sincere gratitude. For once, he was dealing with someone who wasn't arrogant or ungrateful — and damn, that felt nice.
Meanwhile, as the conversation between Evan and Baam continued quietly, Yuri had already begun to walk away. Her stormy gaze locked on Headon, she strode forward with heavy steps, each movement radiating simmering fury.
She stopped just in front of the Guardian, arms crossed, expression hard as stone.
"Hey, Headon!" she barked, her voice sharp. "Just because he's an Irregular, you seriously plan on using twisted methods to kick him out of the Tower?"
There was no trace of politeness in her tone. She wasn't asking — she was accusing.
But Headon, true to form, remained unfazed. His voice, soft and even — almost weary — seemed to drift through the tension like mist.
"This is merely a misunderstanding, Princess," he replied calmly. "I have no intention of expelling him. I simply wish to give him a test... one suited to his nature. I've never once planned to drive him away."
His words were calm — almost detached.
But far from soothing Yuri, that nonchalance only stoked her irritation. Her jaw clenched. Her eyes hardened.
"What a pathetic excuse," she spat. "That test is way above the Twentieth Floor's level! Even competent Rank E Regulars could die against those damn starving eels!"
She wasn't shouting, but each word cracked like a whip.
Headon didn't flinch. His voice remained as tranquil as a flame under glass.
"Princess, have you forgotten that he is an Irregular?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "All of his kind, so far, have demonstrated extraordinary abilities…"
He slowly twirled his golden staff between his fingers.
"This test is appropriate for an Irregular. Because they are not like the others... They are special."
"...."
Headon's words slowly faded into the air, leaving behind a heavy silence. Neither Yuri nor the Guardian spoke.
At last, Yuri broke the stillness with a firm voice:
"So what?" she snapped, arms crossed. "I know exactly what Irregulars are. They're the weird ones — those who enter the Tower by their own will. And since ancient times, Irregulars have always meant one thing: chaos and upheaval."
She paused, her crimson eyes locking onto the Guardian's.
"They all possess terrifying strength. That's exactly why the entire Tower fears them."
Then, she slowly turned her head and pointed straight at Baam.
"But that kid… He looks weak. No talent, no presence. More like a lost puppy than an Irregular. And yet…" A faint crease of concern formed at the corner of her lips. "And yet, I felt something strange coming from him. A chill. Something off."
She jerked her thumb behind her shoulder, aiming it mockingly at Evan.
"Even that damn dwarf — and he's a high-level Guide — sensed something inside the boy. Something hidden, like a dormant force just waiting to come out."
She let out a mocking little laugh.
"Evan turned so pale he looked like a corpse."
"HEY!! Was that detail really necessary?!" Evan shouted, face flushed crimson, wishing he could vanish into the floor.
But Yuri wasn't done. She completely ignored his protests, then pointed firmly toward the cage containing the monstrous creatures, her finger like an arrow.
"No matter how strange he is, no matter what power he might be hiding — there's no way he can clear that test! It's impossible!"
Not far off, Baam, still standing quietly in the back, didn't react. He didn't flinch at her words — though a faint sting of annoyance did prick at him from within.
Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. he thought, mildly sarcastic.
Granted, he now had solid proof: two High Rankers had both sensed something unique in him. Something deep, something rare. But even with that, the princess didn't seem to grant him the slightest bit of credit.
Even if he passed this test, he feared she might become an overbearing watchdog — just like in the original story. No matter his accomplishments, even after reaching a power level rivaling Rankers or even High Rankers, people like her — like Ha Jinsung — would still see him as a child. A fragile little thing barely taking his first steps.
Maybe one day I'll have to pull something big, he mused. Something truly grand… to show this world that I'm here. But only when I'm ready. When I no longer fear those who rule this Tower.
For now, he'd play 'a little' the part of the harmless child — just enough to be underestimated, protected… especially if those drawn to him were as stunning as Yuri.
After all… it'd be a shame to waste that, wouldn't it?
Snapping out of his thoughts, Baam looked up just in time to see Yuri sneaking up to Headon with almost comical subtlety. A mischievous smile, utterly unapologetic, played on her lips. Reaching him, she tapped him lightly on the arm with a feigned air of politeness.
"What I mean, Mr. Headon," she said, with a tone slightly more respectful than usual — a visible effort — "is that maybe… just maybe… you could consider dialing the difficulty down a notch?"
The Guardian slowly turned his head toward her, still as unreadable as ever.
"Princess, you seem quite invested in this boy's future. Do you intend to see him climb all the way to the top of the Tower?" he asked, with a flicker of curiosity.
Even I'm wondering that, Baam thought, oddly aligned with the Guardian for once. Is this cougar Is she really so desperately in need of a younger boy? He stifled a laugh, hiding his amusement behind a mask of innocence. Honestly, if Yuri asks him out — despite technically being centuries older — he wouldn't be quick to say no.
After a beat of silence, Headon finally seemed to relent under the princess's persistence.
"Very well. Let us alter the rules a little."
Yuri blinked, clearly surprised. Even Evan raised an eyebrow. Seeing Headon bend to such an absurd request? That was the last thing either of them had expected.
But of course, nothing ever comes for free.
"How about this?" Headon said, turning partially toward the young woman. "Among all the weapons in your possession… would you be willing to lend him one?"
Yuri frowned, visibly puzzled.
"Lend… him a weapon?"
Ah, here we go, Baam thought, instantly grasping where the Administrator was heading with this.
"Exactly," Headon confirmed, still as composed as ever. "All your weapons are designed for High Rankers. If you were to lend him one, it could help balance out the difficulty of the test — if only slightly."
He paused, bringing a hand to his pointed chin as if pondering deeply. His gaze drifted for a moment, lost in thought — until a spark of inspiration lit up his expression.
A secretive smile crept onto his face.
"Hmm… Now that I think about it… You still have 'Black March', don't you? The weapon gifted to you personally by the King?"
And then — it was like a detonation.
"B-Black March?!"
The Silver Dwarf nearly choked on his own breath, unable to believe what he'd just heard. Was this really happening?
One of the Administrators — and not just any Administrator, but Headon, the Guardian entrusted with selecting those deemed worthy to climb the Tower — had just casually suggested that a Zahard Princess lend Black March?
One of the fabled Thirteen Month Series? A royal weapon so priceless it defied value?
And to whom, exactly?
To a stranger.
To an Irregular.
If this wasn't a veiled death sentence, it was pure madness. Heresy. A provocation so bold it could shake the very Empire.
Even Yuri was left speechless. The confidence that had colored her expression had drained completely, replaced by wide-eyed disbelief.
And yet — among them — one person stood untouched by the shock. Unfazed. Almost indifferent.
The 25th Baam.
But it wasn't only because he already knew what was about to happen. No — something else had just taken hold of his attention. Something far more important.
A soft beep echoed in his mind, followed by a faint blue glow visible only to him. A flicker of light passed through his eyes as a new notification appeared before him.
The System had sent him a message.
[System Notification]
[New Quest – Acquire Black March
– Objective: Obtain Black March, one of the legendary weapons from the Thirteen Month Series, from the hands of Ha Yuri Zahard.
– Time Limit: None.]
Baam silently scanned the virtual interface, eyes sharp. One brow arched ever so slightly, betraying a flicker of surprise mingled with quiet calculation.
His mind was already at work, redesigning the roads of the future.
Looks like I'll need to… adjust a few plans.
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Hey everyone, it's been a while.
I know — once again, it's been over a month without a new chapter. But it wasn't due to a lack of inspiration. I've just had a lot going on in my personal life, which took up a lot of my time and energy.
I also got to spend some time with my family, which was really nice. I highly encourage all of you to cherish those moments with your loved ones while you still can — they're truly valuable.
But anyway, I'm not here to give you a life lesson.
Today's chapter is longer than usual. Some parts might feel a bit slow or like filler, but I wanted to give some readers a chance to revisit certain events from the canon in case they had forgotten — as I mentioned in my previous chapter.
If it felt too repetitive, I apologize, and I'll do my best to improve that aspect moving forward.
Also, I'm planning to launch a Patreon soon. That means I'll be putting even more effort into this story, but it also means I might need to pause public updates for a short while, just so I can build up a backlog of early chapters for Patreon. That said, I can't give you an exact date for when the Patreon will be up.
As for the next chapter… I honestly can't say exactly when it'll drop. Maybe this week if I find the time, maybe a bit later. But I'll do everything I can to avoid another month-long break — even if I can't promise it for sure.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Have a great day (or night), and see you soon ;)
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