Chapter 360: The Scream-Gathering Sky (2)

I tried my hardest to explain why “Wassup, man” wasn’t the way people greeted each other nowadays. In short, I had to explain the phrase to the owner of the Tower, but neither of us had ever imagined that such an explanation would be necessary... Well, no one had expected this, actually. Who could have seen it coming?

“I know that, Death King. Did you think I didn’t know? I was just trying to ease your tension by cracking a joke.”

I laughed monotonously. “That was a good joke, ma’am.”

“Of course. After all, I’m the master of the Tower. Anyhow...” The Tower master narrowed her eyes. “Since an objection has been raised, we should address it.”

With her purple eyes, she glanced at me, then at the mage. “Death King and Primordial Staff, please step forward."

The Pillar stepped forward, gripping her staff.

The Tower master was sitting where the Sun Queen used to sit in the original chamber, though not on the throne, but at the base, leaning her head against its arm.

The Primordial Staff and I were facing each other across the throne.

“The one who raised the agenda is the Scream-Gathering Sky, and the raised agenda is a vote of no confidence on the Primordial Staff. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” I replied with a nod.

The Tower master mused, her chin resting on her palm. Her lips fought to suppress a smile.

“It’s a vote of no confidence, not a complaint or a proposal. Good!” she said in high spirits. Before I could react, she added, “First of all, the Pillars shouldn’t find this unpleasant.”

She glanced around at the Pillars. “I know many of you don’t like the Death King.”

The Pillars were silent, but the Tower master went on as if she knew what they were thinking.

“‘Arrogant. He’s a baby star who has just stepped into the sky, and yet he dares to question the Pillars’ work. On top of that, he even started a vote of no confidence! From the moment he started toying with the rules, he got on everyone’s nerves. Still, the Tower master has been generous, but he finally crossed the line.’”

Even though I could now understand the emotions in her voice, the Tower master still sounded like a hissing snake.

“‘We’ve always set limits on what we do. Even though we have the power to do as we please, we restrain ourselves. That alone is a grace we bestow on him, but he doesn't see it that way. How rude. We’ve watched over his small world and created a place where he can shine. Is this how he repays us?’”

The Pillars stayed silent. Not a single muscle on their faces moved. However, the Tower master’s voice lingered around them, like tendons beneath a layer of skin.

“‘And above all, how... how dare he challenge the Tower master even before reaching the fiftieth floor and earning the name of a Constellation? That’s rude. Impudent.’”

With a balloon-popping sound, the tension in the air snapped—the Tower master clapped, her gaze still fixated on the pillars. Her voice was clear, like polished crystal.

“I know some of you think like that, but please stop. Because the arrogant acts that the Death King is committing are exactly what I did before I stood here. He raised a vote of no confidence, not just a mere objection, yelling that what we’ve been doing is fundamentally wrong and can’t be solved by making minor adjustments. That is what I had been doing in every way before I built this Tower, and it’s what made me the super-ultra-class wacko I am today. Pillars, you know this better than anyone else.”

There were no lies in her words.

For the first time, the Legislator of the Beginning spoke up with a quiet yet firm voice. “We know, but you and the Death King aren’t the same. You didn’t just shout that something was wrong. You made a proposal to solve the problem and improve things, not just raise a vote of no confidence.

He

said he would take the Primordial Staff’s work.”

The Legislator of the Beginning looked at me with cold eyes.

“It’s easy to point fingers and criticize when you think something is wrong. Mocking is fun, and condemnation is always enjoyable. Many stop there and don’t go further. They don’t offer better plans, claim they can do better, or take responsibility for their words. I can understand that, but it’s only natural to think that it’s not fair.”

“I would say that statement is rather unfair to the Death King,” the Tower master said immediately.

The Legislator of the Beginning hesitated.

The Tower master rested her chin on her hand again, her gaze lingering on the Pillar. “Everyone here knows what the Death King’s journey has entitled so far. He took in the endless autumn rain and made peonies bloom in the eternally frozen land. He melted the plated heart and helped a lost puppet find himself again. Instead of avoiding the criticism and condemnation directed at him, he accepted all of it. So I want to make it clear that it’s unfair to judge the Death King like that. But also...”

The Tower master turned to me. “This is the core of the issue, Death King. Let me remind you of something. Raising a vote of no confidence against someone else is never just a matter of objection. It means you’ll take that person’s place and take over their tasks.”

“Yes, of course,” I said.

The Tower master clapped once more.

“Good. Now that we’ve cleared that up, what you have to do is simple.” The Tower master spread her arms. “Prove yourself as you always have done, Death King.”

***

The Tower master explained the rules to us.

“If the Death King proves he has the ability and resolve to replace the Primordial Staff, the vote of no confidence on the Primordial Staff will pass and she’ll resign from her position as the Pillar. The Death King will fill in for her and run the Tower’s underworld. Should he fail, he’ll pay the price.”

The Tower master didn’t say what the price was going to be. With her usual smile, she added, “Needless to say that the first thing you’ll lose is the right to challenge me.”

I clenched my fists. “I understand.”

“Good.” The Tower master's smile widened. This time, it was directed at the mage. “What about you, Primordial Staff?”

“... No problem,” the Primordial Staff reluctantly replied, like a branch that held onto its red leaves in fall.

The other Pillars sat in a ring far away. The place was like an arena, though no arena had such a small audience. The consequences of the duel wouldn’t be less dire than at most other arenas by any means.

[Announcing the vote result.]

[Death King : 0 votes]

[Abstention: 2 votes]

[Primordial Staff: 3 votes.]

Of course, I wasn’t off to a good start. I had pissed off the Pillars many times in the past. Even though the Tower master had told them not to be offended, the Pillars were still affected by what I had done in the past. Furthermore, the Primordial Staff was their long-time colleague.

Even so, two Pillars still abstained from the vote and reserved their positions. Things weren’t that hopeless for me.

The Primordial Staff was the first to break the silence. “I must begin by saying how much this hurts me, Death King. I’ve shown you leniency. As a manager, I abided by the rules but was considerate of you as much as the rules allowed me to be, and this is what I get in return? Is this the price of my actions? I tried to help you, a rising star who followed after the Sword Emperor. I could have been your patron. Even if you remove me from my position, you’re basically cutting off your own finger. It’s not too late to stop this.”

The mage mentioned my best interests, reminded me of what she had given me, and spoke of what she could give me in the future with her position and power. It was the simplest yet strongest form of persuasion since the dawn of time.

“You’re right. It may have been a mistake to appoint Yoo Soo-Ha as the examiner. Your criticism is valid. I admit it and apologize, but even Pillars can make errors. To condemn me for one mistake is arrogant!”

Next, the mage emphasized on her humanity. Pretending to admit her fault, she slandered me for making her do it. This was also an effective attack. The mage knew that the outcome of this duel would be decided by a majority vote. It was more important to win over the Pillars than to persuade me.

The mage went on with a sigh. “Let’s say you do manage to drag me down from my position. Since the Tower was first built, there have been many talks about what to do with the underworld. My proposition was accepted, so I was entrusted with the task of designing the seventieth to the seventy-ninth floors. Don’t think this is the first vote of no confidence against the Pillars. Many Constellations coveted our seats after the Tower was built. As the Pillar in charge of the most sensitive work, I’ve faced many attacks, but...”

The mage, who was still holding her position as a Pillar, lightly bit the tip of her staff, like it was a pipe in her mouth.

“In the end, the same problem the Legislator of the Beginning spoke of stopped them. It’s easy to say that I’m wrong. Anyone can criticize us, but what about taking responsibility? Do you have a better proposition than my heavens?”

Lastly, the mage brought up why she had to win. She was competent while I was not. It was only a matter of relativity, but that was also why the outcome could be decided by a majority vote.

“I make these souls happy. It’s the joy they wanted and what I can give them. If you can’t give them as much as I do, Death King, you can never beat me.”

Her logic, sharp as a sword, cut me in three ways. This wasn’t an attack that would end if I blocked just once. Only after blocking it three times would my body be whole again.

“Shall we hear your answer?” she asked.

I rubbed the handkerchief with my index finger. Yes, if one were to dig a grave for someone else, they should dig one for themselves first[1]. I always had a few graves dug in my heart.

There was no need to rush. I just had to strike down the easiest attack first.

“

Hmm,

it’s true that you’ve been considerate of me, Lady Mage. You said that I’m a rising star who showed up after the Sword Emperor. That’s why you want to help me, but why do you want that in the first place? It isn’t because you like me or want to help me without any reason. You don’t think highly of the Sword Emperor either. In your eyes, he’s just a troublemaker.”

I had seen her reaction after clearing the Truth Heaven Realm.

“Did you two really have to prove that you’re one of a kind in troublemaking, too?!”

“Sword Emperor, I can’t see you, and you wouldn’t probably speak to me either. But I’ll tell you this: there’s a good reason you failed to clear the Absolute Heavenly Peak.”

This wasn’t the reaction of someone who viewed him in a favorable light.

“You don’t support someone just because they’re a Hunter challenging the hundredth floor. You think that there’s something only I can do, right? You have your own reasons for backing me up. I don’t know if those reasons have to do with the Tower master or the secrets of the hundredth floor, but you’re using me for your own gain, not mine.”

The mage was unfazed. My words didn’t hurt her at all. “Everyone does that. Are you trying to say I’m a snob?”

I looked at River Eternal.

[Death King: 0 vote]

[Abstention: 2 votes]

[Primordial Staff: 3 votes.]

The vote count was etched in mana above River Eternal’s head. There was still no change in the score, so I reorganized my plan of attack.

I shook my head. “No, and I’m not blaming you for one mistake.”

“That’s unfortunate. It feels that way to me.”

“A mistake is an unintentional error, but what if it was done on purpose? What if you knew what would happen for sure and chose to ignore it? Is that also a mistake?”

“You sound like I intentionally picked the wrong examiner,” the mage said quietly.

“Is Yoo Soo-Ha the first?”

“What?”

“Is Yoo Soo-Ha the only mistake you’ve made until now?”

The mage showed signs of hesitations for the first time.

I went on. “When Hunters die, you’re the one who decides which floor of the Nine Heavens they’re sent to. You made the mistake of thinking that Yoo Soo-Ha wanted heaven. Fortunately, I noticed this and pointed out your error.

“But did the other Hunters get the same opportunity to do that? No dead person can tell even if you make a mistake, so they couldn’t have pointed it out. That’s why the incident with Yoo Soo-Ha seems like your only mistake. Do you have the slightest idea of how many other errors would have been buried until now?”

I didn’t need to boost my senses with aura to feel the Pillars staring at me. Their eyes were fixed on my face, stingingly intense, but that didn’t stop me from talking.

“While I was progressing through the seventy-first to the seventy-sixth floors, I visited six heavens in total. Out of those six, you made one mistake. Yes, maybe this incident is truly your only mistake. But what if there has been one mistake out of sixty judgments so far? Or what if there has been one mistake out of six hundred judgments? What if there have always been souls sent to the wrong heaven because of your errors? Would you still call that a mistake?”

The mage’s grip on her staff tightened. “Such incidents may happen. So what? I always do my best. Death King, can you judge better than I can? Can you decide which heaven each person should go to, so they’ll be happier than I can make them?”

Her reply carried conviction. The Primordial Staff would have judged many souls, reaching her position after many errors and trials. With infinite time and an immeasurable amount of tears shed, she had gained plenty of experience. I had no way of denying that.

“Yes, there’s no way I can do that better than you.”

However, I wasn’t the one holding the key to solving this conundrum.

“Let’s ask them.”

“Ask who?”

There was only one correct answer. “The dead who have died and are waiting for your judgment. Hunters come to the Tower of their own will. It’s their own choice to come here. If you keep judging them without asking them questions, the same error will keep happening. Ask them where they want to go.”

The mage let out a dry laugh. In a clearly scolding tone, she said, “Ask them? Fine. Go and ask them yourself! If you can, that is!”

When the mage tapped the ground with her staff, a white wave rippled through the air. From under that wave came black fingers.

Grrr...

They were human fingers; well, they were more like undulating shadows in the shape of humans.

Gurgh... Grr.... Krrrr!

The fingers, palms, and wrists were all dyed black. There was no difference in shade. Only the swirling blackness defined their existence.

The wide chamber was suddenly filled with a lot of noise. River Eternal clapped lightly.

Claaaang! Clink, clink!

Chains rose from below, binding the shadows one by one.

Gurrrghhh! Guh... Grrrr..

The creatures ferociously growled while bound. It looked as if they would rush at us as soon as they were freed.

“Look! These are the souls of those who died in the Tower!” the mage shouted. “They are only leftovers of past feelings, only capable of screaming. They aren’t wounded people; they’re tattered rags that have nothing left but wounds! Their lives ended, and they’re no different from shattered stones! Go ahead. Ask them. Where do they want to go? They have already abandoned the world and the world has also abandoned them. Where should they go to finally find peace? Death King, I would really appreciate it if you would ask them these questions for me.”

The mage’s sneer didn’t seem to be just for me.

“They have no memories because they’re dead. They don’t know why they’re hurt because the memories are gone. Only the wounds remain to torment them. No, they are the epitome of torment. The only reply you can expect from them is a cry of pain. Perhaps it’s not even an answer. You can’t call the sound of crumbling stones an answer. I wonder. What can you ask them?”

Pzzzzz.

In the water that the mage sprayed, a faint video appeared.

“I can only watch,” the mage said.

Videos played from all sides. They were summaries of the shadows’ lives. These were the faces and smiles they had before the dark swirl had swallowed them.

“I study them as hard as I can before I give out my judgment. That’s all I can do. Yes, you’re right. We can’t know everything just by looking, but what else am I supposed to do?”

Gurrrghhhh. Krrrrrr.

I nodded and looked around. The shadows couldn’t meet my eyes because they didn’t have eyes. They could no longer look around or reflect on anything. The only thing they could do was be seen or stay broken. Many deceased stood before my eyes.

This sight was very familiar to me.

I turned to face the Primordial Staff. “There is a way. There’s something more we can do here.”

“What?” she asked with disbelief.

“There’s more we can do than just watch the rest of their lives. Lady Mage, there’s still something we can do.”

The mage looked confused. “What in the world are you talking about?”

All was clear to me. What I could do, what I wished to do, my title, what kind of Constellation I could be if I were to become a complete one... everything became clear. With that clarity, I acted.

“In the end, people do what they have always done.” I walked slowly until I stood in front of the deceased, spreading my arms. “Come. Kill me.”

Before the mage could understand what was going on, one of the deceased bit my neck.

[You have died.]

As if in slow motion, I could see the Primordial Staff’s eyes growing wide with shock. Someone among the Pillars seemed to realize what I was doing.

[Announcing the vote results.]

[Death King: 1 vote.]

[Abstention: 1 vote.]

[Primordial Staff: 3 votes.]

[The penalty's intensity level is ultra high.]

[The penalty's theme is Human Realm.]

[Recreating your killer’s trauma.]

Now, it was time to do more than just watch.

1. It's an expression in Korea about how determined you should be when seeking revenge. If you're planning to kill someone, you should also be ready to die yourself. ☜