Chapter 189 : Chapter 189

Chapter 189 - Platinum (1)

Seo Ah-in was feeling a stronger sense of crisis than she had expected.

It could be said to be a rather unfamiliar feeling in a situation where she had Kim Gyu-sik by her side, but at least in certain areas, it was a feeling she felt quite often.

However, it was also quite rare to feel a crisis of this intensity.

“...Uh, that is, how to get up here is.”

The Guardian haltingly continued her explanation.

Considering her usual attitude of always speaking as if looking down from above, it could be said to be a very unusual sight.

“...”

No, on second thought, it also felt like her usual high-handed attitude was being maintained towards Seo Ah-in herself.

It meant that the way she was acting now was purely an abnormal phenomenon triggered only by the ‘man in front of her eyes’.

Even now, as she continued to speak, the way she flinched and glanced at Mr. Kim Gyu-sik was quite noticeable.

And although she didn't know when it started, the ‘radar’ that had never had any problems with its accuracy until now was continuously blaring a red siren.

This was undoubtedly a crisis situation.

“I certainly, that, according to the floor structure I designed... Why, why have you been looking at me like that since a while ago?!”

The Guardian, who had been speaking, suddenly shrieked, almost sobbing.

The way she was huffing and puffing, unlike her usual self, was almost like an adolescent girl throwing a tantrum at an adult.

“No, no. Keep talking.”

And there, Mr. Kim Gyu-sik was stroking his chin and looking the Guardian up and down with a serious expression.

It was a gaze as if he were observing a stuffed specimen, carefully examining it.

It also felt like he was trying to recall something from the far reaches of his consciousness, something he could barely remember.

“...Hmm.”

Of course, this was a conclusion that only Seo Ah-in, who had been observing this person the longest, could make. It was also true that on the outside, he looked like an old man in the back room watching his granddaughter's cute antics.

There was a reason why the Guardian was reacting like that.

“Y-you know! Even if you’ve done such things without any help until now! I, I am the Guardian of the Tower! I’m not a target you should show that kind of attitude to...!”

“Right. Is that so. My apologies.”

“...E-eeek...!”

“...”

The Guardian stomping her feet in frustration and Kim Gyu-sik stroking his chin and continuing to observe her.

For Seo Ah-in, it was a scene that sent chills down her spine.

‘...Normally, you know.’

That kind of back-and-forth should be my domain, not that woman's.

It felt like the stone that was me, which had been diligently laying its eggs until now, was being relentlessly beaten by a stone that had suddenly rolled in from somewhere.

And to top it off, an event that seemed to drive a wedge into that feeling followed.

“Hey, by the way.”

“Uh, yes?”

Mr. Kim Gyu-sik’s quiet sentence cut off the Guardian’s loud shouting.

Seeing the other person, who had been standing still and responding only with one-word answers, suddenly become serious, the Guardian's reaction quickly subsided, as if she was quite flustered.

“Wh-what’s with the sudden change in atmosphere? What are you trying to say...”

The Guardian, who was stammering nervously, quickly shut her mouth.

It was probably because Mr. Kim Gyu-sik had strode up to her without a word.

“...?”

And as if her brain hadn't properly registered that fact yet, she stared at him blankly before being startled and jumping back.

It was a reaction like a startled cat.

“Wh-wha-what is it?!”

And Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, who had been watching that with a dry expression for a while, finally opened his mouth slowly.

“Have we, by any chance, met somewhere before?”

“...Huh? What? Huh?”

“I’m asking if we’ve met somewhere before.”

The meaningful words that came out settled heavily in the vicinity.

It was a voice mixed with such various emotions that even Seo Ah-in, who was listening, became tense.

“I-I don’t know what you mean.”

“You, for starters, take it off.”

“...”

“...”

At the sudden words, the gazes of the Guardian and Seo Ah-in simultaneously turned cold.

“...What do you mean by that?”

“Take off your hood, your hood.”

Right. I knew that's what he meant from the start.

At the very least, this man needed to think a little more about how his words would sound to others on a regular basis.

“...I don't want to. If you suddenly say that, who would happily obey...”

Before she could finish her sentence.

Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, who had strode even closer to the Guardian, immediately grabbed her by the waist.

Then, with a vigorous motion, he pulled off her hood.

“...?”

“...????”

While the Guardian and Seo Ah-in were simultaneously dazed.

The long hair that had been hidden under the hood came down to her waist and scattered.

“...Wow.”

What was revealed under the hood next was undoubtedly a beauty with such delicate features that Seo Ah-in let out such an exclamation, momentarily forgetting the situation.

However, what was concerning was.

‘...She looks so young.’

It was an appearance that was unbelievable for a woman who sat at the top of the Tower and exuded such an aura of ‘I am a great person’.

Doesn't she look to be in her late teens to early twenties at most?

At this rate, well. She was probably about the same as that person who had bothered Mr. Kim Gyu-sik so much before he entered the Tower...

“...Hmm...?”

Seo Ah-in, who suddenly had a strong realization as if she had been hit on the head, looked back and forth between Kim Gyu-sik and the Guardian with narrowed eyes.

No.

Really.

I don’t think so.

In the first place, I also somehow feel that it is very rude to fit a deceased person into something like this.

But how many times has something that seemed impossible happened near that man?

“Wh-what, wha-what are you doing...!”

Seeing the Guardian flustered, her face flushed red all the way to the top of her head, and seeing the somewhat fond emotion even in Mr. Kim Gyu-sik’s eyes, that sense of ‘alertness’ seemed to grow even stronger.

‘Wait a minute.’

On second thought, the Guardian’s appearance right now felt somewhat familiar.

Yes.

If you aged the small girl in the picture that was hanging in Mr. Kim Gyu-sik’s ‘house’ by a few years, she would look exactly like that...?

“...”

No, I still think it might not be, but.

Could it really be...?

“...Right. So this is what it was.”

Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, who muttered something meaningful again, let go of the Guardian’s hand and moved a little away.

And he suddenly flicked her on the forehead.

“Ouch! Wh-what was that?!”

“Just, a feeling of paying in advance for the trouble I’m about to go through.”

Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, who muttered so, then sighed and looked up.

“...If you have that kind of ‘appearance’, it’s obvious what state the guy waiting up here is in, even without seeing it.”

Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, as he said that.

Looked a little angry, which was unusual for him.

***

The great cavern located on the highest floor of the Tower.

In a place where only pitch-black darkness resided, the only light in this vast space was the faint glow emanating from the giant ‘gate’ in its center, a rift where the dimension was torn, and the knight sitting in front of it.

However, in this place where there had been hardly any human presence for a long time, something that had never happened in those accumulated years was happening.

A ‘portal’ from below opened upwards, and three humans walked up from it.

-...How absurd.

Such a mutter came from the knight clad in golden armor.

These guys.

No matter how bizarre their power was. They had completely traversed the Tower, which had been the limit for all of humanity to conquer only a dozen or so floors even when they charged together, in less than a day.

Right. At this rate, it’s somewhat understandable that the System expected him to be defeated in the first place.

Because even after searching through all his past and present memories, he couldn't find even an approximation of a human who could wield this much power.

-It’s been a while, my companion.

“...It’s been a while, Platinum.”

And that aside.

Of course, the contribution of his long-time partner sticking next to that man could not be ignored.

The Platinum Knight rose from his seat and looked at the Guardian with sunken eyes.

-Human bastard. You’re lucky. To be able to traverse the Tower so quickly thanks to having the Guardian of the Tower with you.

Yes. It must be so.

Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to climb at this speed.

-How is she? The supreme sage by your side? She must be a woman worth protecting. I don't know what kind of tricks you used to have that woman by your side now, but I will surely defeat you and free my companion from the delusion that has been cast upon her...

Seeing the blank expressions on the faces of the Guardian and Seo Ah-in at the same time, he became more convinced of his hypothesis. He must have hit the nail on the head...

“...Um, Platinum. It’s nice to see you after a long time, but.”

The Guardian’s utterly perplexed voice cut through his thoughts.

“I really didn’t do anything.”

-...

“This man’s existence itself is kind of like, well, a bug. I was just breathing.”

-...

“So, um, how should I put it.”

The Guardian looked back and forth between the Platinum Knight and Kim Gyu-sik with an expression that said it was difficult to say anything.

Well. Judging by the atmosphere, the Platinum Knight seemed to be solemnly trying to declare something for her, so it was a bit much to say something harsh to him.

But, considering Kim Gyu-sik’s state as she had seen him on the way up here, the probability of him winning was, well.

“...”

Honestly, it’s desperate, isn't it?

Then what is the best judgment she should make here?

“F-fighting...?”

The Guardian said with an awkwardly clenched fist, in a voice that sounded like she herself didn't know if this was right.

To the Platinum Knight.

“...”

“...”

“...”

It was already quiet, but a silence that felt heavier than before descended upon the entire great cavern.

Ah, this isn't it.

The Guardian broke out in a slight cold sweat and decided to try to come up with a better response.

“I-if you do your best, you might be able to last a little longer...?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

This doesn't seem to be it either.

A silence that would make everyone uncomfortable flowed for a long time, and finally, a sentence that could represent the thoughts of everyone there came from Seo Ah-in’s mouth.

“Why, that is. We are in the position of challenging the strongest something-or-other. Right, Guardian?”

“...I guess so?”

“Then why are we the ones who met the final boss on the final stage, but you’re saying that to him...?”

“...”

Well.

It just happened that way.

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