Conquering the Tower Even Regressors Couldn't-Chapter 317: Seventy-Seventh Floor, Euros’s Flower Forest (5)

Chapter 317: Seventy-Seventh Floor, Euros’s Flower Forest (5)

[Survive. Time remaining: 49 hours 29 minutes.]

“What on earth is happening?”

“Aoshi’s been captured!”

“B-by who?”

“An outsider. From beyond the forest!”

“How could Aoshi get caught by an outsider? The forest protects him!”

“They say he’s someone under the protection of the trees.”

“Protection of the trees?”

“Look! Just look at the axe in his hand.”

“Oh my gosh! A tree with eyes?!”

“And that mask looks completely unnatural!”

“Those fools made something strange again!”

“But doesn’t he kind of seem like he’s not a bad person?”

“What are you talking about?! Aoshi’s being held hostage!”

“He’s got a kid with him, and there’s some weird snake sitting on the kid’s head.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! He pointed an axe at Aoshi’s throat! Of course he’s dangerous!”

The villagers’ chatter rippled through the air. With so many voices speaking at once, much of it was fragmented, but the sharp, clear tones of the older women rose above the rest.

Thankfully, some of them appeared somewhat sympathetic, but the vast majority radiated suspicion, even hostility.

That much was obvious, considering the gazes I had received from the men who had accompanied Aoshi earlier. Word of what had happened clearly spread quickly.

It is unfair, but I can’t really blame them.

I no longer had my axe to the boy’s throat, but he was still bound in my grasp.

Considering that I had seized a child as a hostage, it only made sense that they would view me this way. Ryun, too, was an unfamiliar figure to them.

Still, these were gentle, unassuming people by nature, so none of the remarks hurled my way were particularly cruel.

Whether I should consider that a relief or not, I am not sure.

My gaze wandered slowly across my surroundings.

Just as planned, I had made it to the village—this was where things would truly begin. I had to stay sharp and focused. That was the only way to shift this dynamic and turn suspicion into something else.

Amidst the growing commotion, the figures standing before me began to part.

“Madam Jacob is coming! Everyone, make way!” a middle-aged man with a booming voice called out, forcing his way through the gathering.

The people stepped aside even farther. Judging from their reactions, the tribal chieftain was approaching, the very person I had been hoping to meet.

Someone stepped through the dispersing crowd. She wore a loose, flowing white robe layered with a ceremonial-looking crimson sash. Her stooped posture and deeply lined face revealed her age.

She was clearly an elder.

A pang of guilt struck me.

Aren’t tribal chiefs usually strong and youthful, regardless of gender?

I hadn’t expected someone so aged.

I supposed I was still—regrettably—a product of Korea, with its lingering Confucian and biased ideals.

Well, it isn’t like I said anything out loud.

I watched her approach, silently chastising myself. A quiet apology in my heart would have to suffice.

The old woman drew closer with measured steps, her eyes calm and steady as they met mine. Despite her hunched back, her gaze was sharp, clear, and unwavering.

There was something inexplicably enigmatic about her. Her eyes didn’t suit her age, as if time had worn her body but spared her spirit. Given her ceremonial attire, she resembled a priestess.

Is she connected to a god?

A bright, clear voice shattered the stillness.

“Aoshi!”

Everyone, including me, turned to look.

“Aoshi! Are you okay?!”

The girl from earlier, the one with the flower bracelet, was pushing through the crowd. She came striding straight toward me without hesitation and halted exactly three steps away.

Her eyes, reddened with emotion, were fixed on the boy in my arms.

He began to thrash again. “Ferel!”

“It’s dangerous! Step back!”

“You were told to stay home! Get back!”

Villagers tried to grab her arm and pull her away, but she yanked free without hesitation.

“I said I’m fine!”

Her gaze shifted from the boy to me. It burned fiercely and unfiltered, her eyes glaring with pure, unadulterated rage.

I felt the boy’s tension spike.

On edge, he shouted, “Ferel! Go back!”

The moment was almost strange enough to make me laugh.

Even though the boy and girl felt the most anger toward me, they were still kind of adorable.

Ah, love. A beautiful emotion, really.

On the other hand, it was admittedly a little painful to be the one bearing the brunt of that righteous fury.

“You bastard! Let Aoshi go!”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of hurting him.”

“Then take me instead!” The girl lunged toward me with startling speed.

The boy reacted immediately. “No! Keep me!”

“Take me in his place!”

“Ferel! Go back!”

As the two poured their hearts into what resembled a melodramatic climax, I stood there, momentarily stunned. I had never seen anyone this fearless.

At this point, I couldn’t exactly press my axe to someone else’s throat again. That would only escalate things.

What am I supposed to do?

“Go back!” The boy squirmed in my arms and thrashed wildly.

Unsure of how to respond, I simply pulled him in tighter. Salvation arrived, mercifully, before things could spiral further.

The elder finally intervened. “Ferel...”

She hadn’t spoken loudly, yet the single call brought the girl to an immediate halt.

“Madam Jacob!”

“Stand... down...”

Her voice was drawn out, laced with coughs, and sounded frail.

Yet paradoxically, it carried power. It was a kind of strength that compelled people to act. Her halting speech reminded me a little of Ryun.

Regardless, the girl froze. Grinding her teeth, she shot one last glare at me before stepping back. Though she retreated, her gaze sharpened even further.

These kids really are acting out a TV show.

It was charming in its own way, but still absurd. A moment ago, I had simply been “the bad guy,” but now I felt like the villain in some tragic love story.

Well.

At least the chief seemed willing to compromise.

She drew closer and directly met my gaze.

“Let us... go inside... and talk. Will that be... acceptable...?”

“Yes.”

“Everyone... except Aoshi... and the outsider... please... clear the area...”

“Madam Jacob!”

The elder didn’t repeat herself. She merely shot the shouting man a sharp look.

After a moment of silence, the villagers began to swiftly disperse.

Even so, I could feel gazes peeking from windows and narrow alleyways. She didn’t seem interested in stopping that.

She turned around. “Come with me... and if you would... kindly release Aoshi...”

Wordlessly, I let the boy go.

The boy turned sharply, casting a complicated glance at me, before moving to stand behind the elder. It felt as if he was positioning himself so that he could shield the woman from me.

I followed at a measured pace, careful to ensure he didn’t perceive my movements as a threat.

As we walked in silence, the image of the boy and girl rose once again in my mind.

A love that doesn’t hesitate even in the face of death.

It was something beautiful to behold. For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, I found myself growing increasingly fond of them, perhaps even wanting to root for them.

Suppressing the small smile that tugged at my lips, I steadied my expression.

***

[Survive. Time remaining: 49 hours 24 minutes.]

The elder’s dwelling stood at the farthest edge of the village. It was a small, neat hut.

Not speaking a word, she seated herself at the center of the room, before a low wooden table. Small stones and bead-like fragments were scattered across its surface, their purpose unclear.

Aoshi settled himself across from her, casting me a glance as he did so. He seemed a touch disgruntled yet mindful of the setting, and he kept his emotions in check.

He has a strong sense of propriety.

“Doppy, let’s sit.”

“Yup.”

As I lowered myself onto the mat, the elder’s eyes quietly roamed over me. I met her gaze head-on.

Her clear, profound eyes felt as if they were delving into my very being.

Maintaining the heavy silence, she reached out and swept the objects atop the table, scattering them across its surface.

Clatter—

The stones tumbled briefly, then came to a halt. From within her robes, the elder drew a small blue stone and placed it gently on top of the spread.

Her actions resembled some kind of divination ritual.

Raising her head slowly, she fixed her gaze upon me.

Her eyes gleamed faintly. “You are... not of this... world. Nor the child... beside you... nor the tree... that walks... with you...”

For a moment, I was taken aback.

There was something in her gaze that didn’t merely know, but pierced through me. It was a feeling difficult to articulate.

I held my silence briefly while contemplating my response.

In the end, I decided there wasn’t a need to lie. “Yes.”

The elder smiled faintly, the deep lines of her face growing more pronounced.

Across from her, Aoshi’s eyes widened, though he managed not to flinch.

This time, the elder cast a handful of red and black stones onto the table. They scattered and weaved between the smaller fragments as if alive, before gradually coming to rest.

At the sight, she let out a quiet sigh. “So it has begun.”

“What is it, Madam Jacob?” The boy leaned forward urgently.

The elder drew in several slow breaths before speaking again.

“From the east... the flower forest... is beginning... to burn...”

“What?”

“Those... who dwell outside... have awakened... the Ancient Fire...”

“What do you mean?!” Aoshi rose to his feet, shocked, but after meeting the elder’s gaze, he sat back down without further protest.

The elder tossed another stone across the table. “Outsiders... like this young man... now hold... the lifeline... of the forest... in their hands...”

Aoshi turned to look at me, his eyes filled with a turmoil he couldn’t quite conceal.

After a long exhale, the elder once again shifted her gaze to me. “You... have not yet... made your choice...”

I could roughly guess what she meant. Knowing the tower’s tendencies, I could easily follow her train of thought.

I said nothing, merely holding her gaze in steady silence.

Within her clear, deep eyes, a shadow of worry had begun to form. “I have to ask... What do you intend... to do...?”

What am I planning to do?

I had discussed a general plan with Ha Hee-Jeong before the floor. We had agreed to touch base after I confirmed the forest’s state.

If nothing had seemed unusual, I would have followed the original plan. Now, however, the situation had changed. Something was hidden here.

Even so, I couldn’t afford to make an impulsive decision.

“I plan to see what lies at the heart of the forest before I decide.”

The elder chuckled dryly as she smiled faintly. “No one... can reach the center... of the forest. That’s not something... I say merely... because you are an outsider... It holds true... even for us...”

“I’ll go as far as I can.”

“I will... assist you.” The elder turned toward Aoshi. “Aoshi... lead the outsider... to the domain... beneath the flowers...”

“Madam Jacob! That place—”

“Enough! That is... the only path... to saving the flower forest...”