Fwooosshh~~!!
A cold and piercing wind crashed against Malea’s body. The sharp whistles of the wind were mixed with the eerie and bizarre laughter from the ghosts roaming around Malea. However, she didn’t pay any attention to them.
-KEKEKEKEKEK
-KEKEKEKE
The ghosts on this floor had a tendency to cling to the living and invade their minds to break it down. They would try their hardest to break their target’s will and mana so they could possess them or turn them into idiots. But such a trick had no effect on Malea.
After all, Malea’s mind had long since departed from this world.
-Kekekeke
-Heh heh heh heh heh…
However, even after knowing the fact that their trick didn’t work on her, the ghosts still constantly hovered around Malea, who was the only living person on this floor, and Malea was bound to stay here forever with them.
Malea, who had curled up in a fetus position in front of a reddish boulder, lifted her head slowly. It had been a year and a half since she was left here all alone. Her previous bright appearance was nowhere to be seen; it was all replaced by a wretched and desolate appearance which was far more pitiful than when she had lost her last classmate. It was not a stretch to say that Malea was barely alive.
For the first few months, Malea tried to console herself by saying ‘There must be a reason why they left me here.’ or ‘They must have gone somewhere for a moment.’ She even thought of chasing after them thinking they might have abandoned her to climb the tower by themselves.
However, no matter how long Malea waited, the Tutorial Tower did not announce that the 79th floor was conquered, which meant that Yoo Seodam and Aracelli were not climbing the tower.
Malea was lost. She couldn’t find their traces anywhere. But, she was not alone, because even the fairies, who were ardently looking for them since they were the top climbers in the tower, couldn’t find them anywhere. They searched every nook and cranny of the tower, leaving no stone unturned, but there was not a trace of them.
“…”
The gloomy scenery of the 79th floor was reflected in Malea’s eyes which had lost its brilliance. She just sat there blankly, waiting without thinking, just like that, every day since they left.
Suddenly, however, the fairy in charge of the floor approached her quietly
-Challenger Malea~ Instead of wasting your time here~ how about making a ‘wish’ after conquering the top of this tower~?
“…wish?” Malea responded in a hoarse voice which sounded similar to the voice of the ghosts around her.
– That’s right~ Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about that~? A Challenger who succeeds in conquering the highest floor in the tutorial will have their wish granted!
“…” Malea’s forehead scrunched in confusion.
Now that the fairy told her about it, she remembered that there was such a thing. Until now, she had never thought about it simply because the reason for her climbing the tower was not to have a wish granted but to escape this wretched place.
If she could truly make a wish… Then…
“Can I wish to meet someone again?” Her eyes twinkled for the first time in a long time as she asked the fairy that question hastily.
-Of~ Freaking~ Course~! You can even wish for the world to run backwards~ So, it’s a bit of waste to wish for something like that~ but oh well~ as long as your heart is satisfied with it~ It’s a good wish~
Malea raised her head in hope. To be honest, she was getting tired of sitting idly and waiting for them in this quiet space. However, now that there was a way for her to meet them again…
She slowly got up from her seat.
-But~ there is one problem~
“What is that?”
-Because you have stayed on the 79th floor for too long~ Your soul now completely belongs to this place~
The fairy shook its head.
-Because of that, wherever you go, you will eventually return here, the 79th floor~
After that the fairy grumbled, saying, ‘What did I tell you? You should’ve challenged the boss room sooner.’ However, Malea simply left without paying any heed to the fairy’s words.
But when she tried to walk ahead, suddenly, there was a metallic screeching noise. She felt that something was wrapped around her ankle. However, even when it was able to produce sounds and even if she could physically feel it’s weight , it wasn’t some kind of a tangible force she could break, rather, it was a supernatural force. The whole floor itself had become a shackle to tie down Malea’s soul.
However, even with her knowledge of magic, she couldn’t find a way to resolve it.
‘I just have to endure.’
Malea hardened her resolve and forcefully dragged the chains with her.
Malea remembered that the fairy had told her that if a normal person stayed in this place for more than 100 days, they would be unable to leave it forever. And Malea, who had stayed on the 79th floor for over 500 days, was somehow able to drag her body towards the passage to the 80th floor.
“Ugh!” But, as soon as she took one step to enter the 80th floor, her mind turned upside down. All sounds vanished, as if the space itself had blurred around her. And a few moments later, she found herself in the middle of the 79th floor once again.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, Malea nodded. This place was indeed just like how the fairy described it: ‘a space which one could not escape even after death’. Because even after their death, their souls would be forced to wander in this space.
But from the moment she had decided to climb once again, giving up was something she wouldn’t do. She would do her utmost and keep trying over and over again to reach the top.
She moved her feet once again, slowly yet steadily. As this floor was a floor without any challenges, she never thought that she would suffer this much pain on this floor.
As she reached the passage leading to the 80th floor once again, the same thing happened again; she was teleported to the middle of the 79th floor. After a few more tries, Malea’s slow but steady steps eventually gained vigor, increasing their strength gradually. One step. Two steps. Five steps. And soon, she was able to jog. That jog turned into a sprint. With every lap, she was able to move faster and faster.
-Wa-wait! Challenger Malea~ If you keep doing that, your soul will be torn apart! Le-let’s find another way okay..~!
Even the fairy was worried about her and tried to stop her from doing something so reckless again. But it was to no avail. It was because Malea, who was fully immersed in the challenge, couldn’t hear any voice because of her extreme focus.
“Ah!” Malea suddenly exclaimed as she opened her eyes.
How come she had only been looking at the world with only her two eyes?
She thought as she looked up at the reddish sky above. That ‘red’ colour was only perceived as ‘red’ by her brain because of the wavelengths of light which entered her cornea; it was not real. That world beyond reality, where colour or substance did not exist at all. This was the world which was currently clearly engraved in Malea’s vision.
Normally, people would be unable to see it, feel it, or touch it. If they were able to do so, they would eventually become the same as ‘them’. That’s why no one in this world was able to prove the existence of the soul. Those who saw them would have wandered around the world beyond in a form that could no longer leave a record in reality.
However, Malea was different, even while her soul was completely fused into the world beyond, she kept a firm grasp on her body which still had the resentment of ‘longing’ deeply etched within itself. That was why she was able to see, hear and feel her soul even though she was still a human. And thanks to that, it was now possible for Malea to grab the unidentified restraint and shake it.
‘With my own power, I can never break this chain.’
However, it was possible to stretch this chain to follow her to the 100th floor.
And finally…
[You have entered the boss stage on the 79th floor.]
[Good luck to Challenger Malea.]
She was finally able to ‘start’ the challenge. If she can start it that simply, the challenge would not be difficult. With that belief, Malea entered the boss room.
“Huh?”
As soon as she entered, she saw a familiar blue crystal ball laying on the floor. It was a ‘Recording Marble’ which was traded at an expensive price on the lower floor. But, different from what she had seen before, the crystal in front of her was certainly of high grade. It was capable of projecting holograms rather than just simply showing a recorded image.
Malea swallowed her saliva and reached her hand towards it. She tried her best to calm her violently beating heart.
Just before her hand touched the crystal, a man suddenly appeared in the air.
-Ah, ah, ah… can you hear me? Is this already recording?
The man’s face, that familiar face which had become bluish because of the crystal’s colour. No… should Malea say that she was more than just familiar to it, rather, she was too used to it?
Yoo Seodam, who Malea had been desperately waiting for, then touched something beyond the recording frame of the crystal before shaking his head.
-Are you sure you have set this correctly? It keeps flickering…
-I’m sure of it. You can just start now Professor…
A familiar voice and a familiar conversation. As soon as Malea heard those, tears welled up in the corner of her eyes.
“Yoo Seodam…”
Malea was aware, since it was a pre-recorded video, Yoo Seodam would not be able to hear or see her. But she still unknowingly let those words out.
-Huh? Why are you calling me? I’m right here…
“..!!!”
Yoo Seodam who was looking to his side, which Malea presumed to be looking towards Aracelli, suddenly turned his head towards her as if he could hear her voice. No, that’s not all. He was also staring directly into her eyes.
“Hey, can you see me? What is this… Just how…”
However, before Malea could even finish her words, Yoo Seodam started to talk.
-Perhaps you’re talking to me right now. But you know… I can’t hear your voice. Sorry.
And then he bowed his head.
-First of all, let me apologize for leaving without any word… I know that no matter how many times I bow to you, it’s of no use. Because for you, who has suffered through loneliness, it would have hurt a lot. I know it very well. Even I have lost a lot of partners till now.
“…”
As expected, Malea was right. Yoo Seodam knew her well and didn’t just leave without any reason. However, even knowing that, she still resented him, hated him for doing so. But in the end, Malea pushed down all those feelings for his sake.
“Why…why, why did you do that…”
It was a recorded video, but stupidly, Malea asked him those words even though she knew very well that the answer would not come back.
-To me… the time I spent with you was a beautiful memory. It was such a fun time that I will never forget even if I try. However, I couldn’t fully enjoy that happiness…
It was simply because Yoo Seodam remembered the end of ‘Principal’ Malea. At that time, he didn’t understand the situation at all. However, after actually meeting her and making memories with the ‘Young’ Malea, he realized just how lonely and miserable the end of ‘Principal’ Malea he had met back at the magic academy was.
She had waited for a long time to relive the memories she had created with him. It was to the point where she even forcibly prolonged her lifespan. She endured all the loneliness, sadness and pain to meet the person she wanted to meet the most. However, at the end of that long dark tunnel, the only thing waiting for her was a man who didn’t remember her.
It was an extremely tragic tale. Knowing such an ending, it was difficult for Yoo Seodam to accept it. Even more so after he met Malea in the Tower.
Yoo Seodam was aware that once set, the future cannot be changed. However, it was not an absolute rule. There was still a possibility for that fixed future to be changed.
<Yoo Seodam, the moment you read a certain event on the diary, the future would be set to that event because the future has been observed by someone, which in this case, is you.>
The system said so to Yoo Seodam. It meant that Malea’s ending had been destined to be what he had witnessed back then. But, he was ready to take advantage of everything he had in his disposal after seeing the ‘end’. And so, he decided to use the diary to his advantage.
-I know your future. No, I used to know your future. But now, I don’t even know what you’re doing, how you’re standing, or what kind of stupid expression you’re making.
Yoo Seodam decided to not read the diary until the end. He only read it up to the challenge on the 79th floor. Because if he read it to the end, it would mean that Malea’s future will be the same as before, and he didn’t want it to be like that.
The 79th floor, the Grave of the Howling Wraiths.
Shortly after they arrived in that terrifying space that could bind the soul of the Challenger, Yoo Seodam had a gut feeling. He felt that the 79th floor would open up the possibility of their true ‘reunion’.
– But, one thing that I know is, you must have come all the way here despite being ‘soul-bounded’ to the 79th floor.
“Yes… that’s right. I came here to meet you. So, please…”
He didn’t tell her the reason he left her behind until the very end. Just why?
“Why… Why did you leave me here? Even if you can’t tell me that… a Go…goodbye… So ple…”
-It was because it wasn’t the right time yet.
“…!”
The hologram Yoo Seodam shook his head. But, he was still staring intently into Malea’s eyes.
– Malea. I’m really sorry. We all know that apologizing hundreds of times is not enough. I also know very well that all of this happened because of my one selfish heart.
However, Yoo Seodam couldn’t help but to do it since he didn’t want to acknowledge Malea’s ending. He wanted to change her ending, the ending where she, who had suffered a lifetime, was only able to meet him who did not even remember her.
Malea could not understand what Yoo Seodam was trying to say, but she still listened to him for a long time nonetheless. Tears trailed down from her eyes to her cheeks before dropping to the ground while she listened.
Then, after Yoo Seodam finished, Malea asked her in a tone mixed with sadness and hope.
“Ahjussi… Can we meet again?”
And, like a miracle, Yoo Seodam answered her question.
-Yes, we can.
When the projection came to an end, Malea clenched her fists tightly before picking up the crystal ball. No matter how many times she tried, the video refused to play again. But that’s fine. It was still a meaningful memento he left behind.
Carefully placing it on her arms, Malea then raised her head. Eyes, which were once filled with tears that flowed like a wild river, had been replaced by those which carried a burning desire. A desire to meet them again, a desire to meet him again.
Although she resented Yoo Seodam for abandoning her and leaving, scolding him and demanding an apology was something she should do only after meeting him in person.
For now, her priority was to climb the tower again.
“Challenge, start…”
-I understand…
From there, she started to climb the Tower again. She didn’t need any companions, hints or cheats. Her own strength was enough.
She successfully reached the 80th floor, then the 90th floor, and finally, after an uncountable amount of time, she reached the 100th floor.
As soon as she stepped on the 100th floor, Malea made a wish to the ‘God of Tutorials’, which was bigger than the sky and smaller than a grain of sand.
“I want to meet him.”
-I can’t allow it.
However, when she woke up, she found herself in ‘Cheonyeon Private Magic High School’, which she originally attended before she was kidnapped into the Tutorial Tower.
“Huh?”
Why did she end up here when she wished to meet Yoo Seodam? Such a question bloomed on Malea’s mind. But, as she thought that there must be a reason, she accepted it and decided to simply wait. In the meanwhile, she immersed herself in the study of magic. In particular, Soul Magic.
After some time passed, ‘ghost story’ began to appear in the school, but sealing them was not even a job for Malea, who had already lived in a space closer to the underworld for over a year. In the end, Malea, who became an authoritative figure in the field of Soul Magic ended up becoming the headmaster of the magic academy.
And, after a while. That man finally appeared.
When he came, that time was a really dangerous time for Malea. It was because her soul was beginning to fade and her presence was slowly fading to the point where it was difficult for her to even move her body.
And by the time she felt that her impending death was just one step away from her, the energy of a great ghost story suddenly ran rampant.
She hurriedly headed towards the direction where the energy came from.
“Who are you?”
There, the very man who she had been waiting for, was staring at her with a disinterested expression on his face.
An unexplainable feeling welled up in Malea’s heart and filled it to the brim. She struggled to hide her expression behind her veil, and simply ended up smiling faintly.
“It’s been a while, Yoo Seodam.”
However,
“…Oh, Principal?”
The man did not remember her. As she knew that Yoo Seodam was a jokester, she quickly checked the truth. And turned out, it was true. The man she met after a long time was Yoo Seodam from the time before he met her in the Tutorial Tower.
On the brink of her death, she was reminded once again just how vast and wild the world truly was.
How could things turn out like this?
A feeling of despair engulfed her heart. It felt her entire life of lonely waiting had become meaningless. However, she decided to be as hopeful as possible. She tried to pretend to be happy, and she comforted herself by saying to herself that meeting like this, and seeing his face for one last time was enough. This was the ending befitting her long and lonely life.
For just 30 minutes, like a midsummer night’s dream, Malea was able to forcefully smile till the end of her life while watching Yoo Seodam’s face. She dreamt a sweet dream that seemed impossible to come true.
However, until the very end of her breath, she was unable to see Yoo Seodam’s smile.
[79th floor, the Grave of the Howling Wraiths]
Immediately after losing her consciousness, Malea, who had quietly closed her eyes at the moment of her death, was able to open her eyes again. What greets her was a place from a long past, the 79th floor of the ‘Tutorial Tower’, where her own soul was bound.
“What’s happening?”
In an unbelievable reality, she unknowingly touched her cheek and wrist. Although her existence itself was already disappearing, it seemed that this place had returned her appearance from decades ago, when she first climbed the 79th floor.
“Ah…?” At the moment of her death, was she dreaming once again?
As she was thinking about it, all of a sudden, dozens of fairies from the tutorial appeared before her eyes. They all looked confused as they circled around Malea.
– Hey, what’s going ~?!
-The Challenger who had graduated from the Tutorial Tower appears here again…!
-That too, with the ‘qualification to challenge’…
They talked amongst themselves. However, For Malea who already experienced this tower, she was well aware that they were communicating with the administrators. And at that same time, Malea also realized that she once again was given access to the Tutorial Tower’s ‘System’.
In other words…
‘I can climb again?’ She raised her head.
– Yes, yes! Administrators! Please do anything but that! Th…th..the bug report will be done immediately! I promise you it will never happen again!
The fairy who seemed to be the leader of the crowd crouched in the air and then stared at Malea with a resentful expression.
– Challenger Maleaaaaaaa!!! Why are you back here again?
“….Did you just call me Challenger? Am I really a Challenger? Can I climb the tower again?”
– Ah, ah, that…, that….
“Answer quickly!”
When Malea jumped up from her seat, the chains that bound her soul to this space broke into pieces. Malea’s soul had become so powerful, it had reached a level where even the 79th floor could not dare to bind it.
In front of Malea, who exuded an overwhelming presence similar to those ‘Administrators’, the fairies started sweating profusely and could not even open their mouths.
After rolling its eyes for the umpteenth time, the leader of the fairies finally opened its mouth.
-Yes, yes. You can climb the Tower, but just this one time. Remember, this will never happen again!
“Okay. Once is enough.”
It was then that Malea began to understand everything. From the very start, Yoo Seodam had known her fate. He also knew that she would meet that kind of end. And since he didn’t want that to happen, he forced the future to change by letting the 79th floor bind Malea’s soul so that she could return there once she died.
That’s why, currently Malea was able to climb the tower again.
“So… If I climb to the top again, I can make another ‘wish’, right?”
-Ye…Yes, that’s right~ So, quickly conquer the top and get out of the tower as soon as possible.
“Hmph, even if you don’t tell me that, I’ll still do so.”
At some point, she had once again returned to being the young girl who had dreamed of hopeful dreams while climbing a giant tower decades ago.
“So, this time again, please take care of me.”