Chapter 25

“Where might it be?”

After passing through a field full of lily of the valley flowers, I came out to a barren land with nothing and looked around.

Lily of the valley.

I thought it was just a pretty flower, but it had such a flower language.

It seemed quite nice. I liked the flower’s appearance, its fragrance, and the meaning it contained.

Although lily of the valley contains poison, wouldn’t it be fortunate that one could gain poison resistance?

Thinking about that, I shook my head to erase the thought. Being in the Tower for so long has clearly made my mind strange.

Since the overall level hasn’t risen yet, I need to handle players more carefully.

The magic concentration is very low right now, so they would die before gaining poison resistance.

I waved my hand to remove the toxicity in the lily of the valley. The difference between poison and medicine is subtle, so it can’t be used as medicine either, but it can’t be helped.

For now, I’ll have to be satisfied with it as ornamental. Later, I’ll gradually release the toxicity.

Let’s focus on what I was doing.

“It seems nearby.”

I needed to find the spot where my used bookstore was.

The deal included moving my used bookstore intact.

Though they may be useless to others, they’re still valuable to me.

Stories that have become fiction rather than reality.

But still, they were stories that someone should keep and remember. And I didn’t want to forget them either.

“Hihihi. Bloom. Bloom. Bloom a lot.”

I can see Sleet humming a tune and filling the ground with lily of the valley flowers.

With arms spread, it runs around happily.

First, before building the Tower, we need to solidify this place, our base.

In a broad sense, this place is also part of the Tower.

It could be considered the Tower’s 0th floor.

Unlike other floors distinguished by height, it’s differentiated by the concept of inside and outside.

Everything has meaning in the Tower. All sorts of things are given meaning, and based on that meaning, they are reconstructed or materialized.

If one can define and express that meaning by oneself, one gains status.

The same applies to floors.

A Tower existing from floor 0 to floor 100.

Even the numbers themselves are given meaning.

1 is a number that signifies beginning. Although 0 precedes 1, it was created later, so that’s why.

1 must exist for 0 to exist. Just as existence (有) must exist for non-existence (無) to exist.

Floor 1 must be built for floor 0 to exist. It’s obvious. If not even one floor is built, it’s just ground.

Because the pillars exist, the concept of floor 0 can be counted.

Anyway, since the space within the pillars is defined as inside, the concept of floor 1 is being formed.

It’s slightly unstable since the complete concept hasn’t been formed.

That’s why such work is being done.

To distinguish between inside and outside, lily of the valley flowers are being planted only on the outer boundary of the pillars.

“By the way, I think it’s here?”

As I walked around looking, a familiar place appeared.

Though there was no building or anything specific, I could tell.

Maybe because it’s a path I’ve traveled for a long time, it seems I’ve memorized the entire path.

Being able to know the exact location even though nothing is there feels like the homing instinct of pigeons has developed.

I need to summon the used bookstore.

I glance at the pouch.

There’s probably nothing in here that can summon the used bookstore.

‘Time’ may be malicious, but she’s not a scammer.

Knowing that I shouldn’t open the pouch at this point, I don’t think she would have put it in here.

I might have to use a classic method.

I place both hands on my chest and concentrate.

Closing my eyes, I focus all my senses on my hands.

I gather magic in my hands and gradually release it outwards.

Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, a butterfly formed of magic slowly rises.

I slowly extend my hands, positioned at my chest, towards the outside.

Accordingly, the butterfly’s form becomes clearer and emits a more brilliant radiance.

The butterfly opens its wings and drops a splash of illusion.

A small droplet shines beautifully, holding the light from all directions.

The numerous colors contained within.

The droplet that emanates a mesmerizing, shimmering light touches the ground.

With a refreshing sound like a droplet, the water drop blooms in all directions.

I take in the water droplet that shatters and scatters like a dream breaking.

As if it were a starting signal, the butterfly flies away, flapping its heavy wings.

It’s like rowing, like dancing. An action that might be expressed differently depending on the person, but to me, it looked like pages turning.

Rustle rustle. Flutter flutter.

The butterfly that flies lightly lands where the door of the original used bookstore was located.

And it folds its wings as if curling up.

Drawing a circle, it covers with its wings as if embracing something.

The wings, which have lowered like a person’s garment, wrap around empty space.

A small door buds like a flower bud.

The door that doesn’t open, like a closed flower bud, makes one curious about what’s inside.

A door distinguishes between inside and outside. It creates a boundary.

The scenery changes as one enters. The background changes.

Therefore, a door makes it possible to connect things that cannot be connected.

Opening the door when going back to the past also had such hidden meanings.

It’s a familiar form of a door.

A door I’ve faced almost every day.

I opened that door and stepped inside.

Then, a familiar scenery greeted me.

Books placed here and there, lights with a serene atmosphere, and even coffee machines left as mere decorations with no use.

And as a bonus, an uninvited guest was sitting in a chair.

I saw ‘Time’ brewing and drinking coffee as she pleased.

She leisurely holds a coffee cup and drinks with one pinky elegantly and gracefully raised.

“What? Why are you here?”

“If you can go, of course I can too.”

For a moment, I was speechless. I couldn’t think of anything to refute.

Because it’s an obvious statement when I hear it.

“Huhut. How stupid.”

I got heated by her gesture of covering her mouth and speaking leisurely.

“Well, I’m still glad to see you. I must have gone crazy.”

“You’ve worked hard. Really, well done.”

Those words, which are merely simple courtesies, somehow seem to touch my heart more today.

“You’ve had a long journey, shall I brew you a cup of coffee?”

“That would be nice.”

Saying so, I sat down in a chair.

The clinking sound of cups touching each other strangely sounds familiar and heartwarming.

As I listen to that sound settling calmly, I said,

“But come to think of it, this is my store, so why are you naturally acting like the owner?”

“What does that matter? What’s important is that you’ve returned properly without any issues.”

“You’re quite shameless.”

Drinking warm coffee makes my body naturally loosen up.

I was cold due to the chilly wind, but drinking something this warm makes my body feel relaxed.

“Ah, that’s unfair! Leaving me behind!”

Sleet, who had finished its work, entered the used bookstore with a fuss.

“Oh? Wow! What is this place?”

“A used bookstore.”

Forgetting its anger, it’s busy looking around at the books.

“Ouch!”

Something like a small static shock hit Sleet’s hand as it tried to pull out a book.

“Huh? It says I don’t have access permission?”

“Of course. You were born not too long ago.”

At ‘Time’s’ words, Sleet quickly became gloomy and its mouth drooped.

“Give me coffee too.”

“What coffee for a kid. Drink cocoa.”

“Y-you’re so mean.”

At my words, Sleet made a sad face as if it were sad, but no one here was going to fall for it.

“Hehe, it’s delicious.”

It’s a simple child. After taking a sip of cocoa, it says it likes it, saying it’s just its taste.

While Sleet was distracted with cocoa, I approached ‘Time’s’ ear and asked,

“What’s going on here? What exactly is that child?”

“It’s Sleet.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

Time wore that enigmatic smile on her lips and said,

“I thought you might need a Development department employee.”

“Are you going to keep talking in circles?”

“That’s really all there is to it. The early Tower environment isn’t good for hiring Development department staff, right?”

That was true.

On Earth where magic doesn’t exist, it’s nearly impossible to implement imagination into reality.

The same was true for the Tower, which is heavily influenced by Earth’s environment.

Unlike Earth, magic exists, but its level is extremely minimal.

That’s why the god inserted the Tower into his own heart.

He transformed his blood and parts of his body into magic to give self-awareness to the Moon and Sun.

At this point, magic was the most precious asset.

“Even now, there are two of us, you and me, who consume a lot of magic. It’s difficult to create new Development department personnel on top of that.”

It was true. But that was something I could do sufficiently by myself.

“Well, you alone would have been enough. But that would fix your role. Not as a Constellation, but as the Development department. Doesn’t that go against your plan?”

“You’re ruthless.”

“Every action has meaning. There might be actions taken with meaning, but most often, meaning is attached to actions without any reason. Repetitive actions will demand a certain value from you, and that will be claimed under the name of a role.”

“I understand that. But there was nothing like that in our deal.”

“Don’t worry. I paid for that child out of my own pocket.”

“So why? Why did you pay?”

‘Time’ ran her finger along my arm. Along with a sensation like a snake crawling up, goosebumps rose.

When I came to my senses, ‘Time’ was holding and lifting my chin.

“Just because it’s more fun that way.”

‘Time’ removed the blindfold covering her eyes.

That sight was quite shocking. Looking at me with eyes widened like saucers, ‘Time’ gave a seductive smile.

“I’m tired of just observing. So now I want to participate in the play directly.”

Under her languid eyes, I am reflected in ‘Time’s’ pupils.

Her pupils, which looked slightly cloudy and hazy, held a dreamy atmosphere.

She exudes an overwhelming presence that seems impossible to approach.

Even though she had set down her position as an observer, she was still brilliant.

As if enjoying my reaction, she scanned me one by one and said with a smile in her eyes. I can see her eyes, prettily curved like a crescent moon.

“It’s like an audience-participatory play.”