With a soft click, Simon opened the briefcase he had received from Kizen headquarters. It might not have looked like much, but it was a secret weapon. Instead of documents, the case housed an artifact, and the magic circles engraved on its exterior were linked directly to it. A staff member had already shown him how to operate it. He turned the device’s dials to their precise positions and pressed the activation button.
The device whirred to life, and the room began to fill with gray, spectral figures and historical anomalies. The artifact was recording everything.
[Fascinating! Is this the work of Nephthys?] The Ghost of Time laughed, clearly intrigued. [Her power is truly on another level! Utterly incomparable to my own abilities.]
-$@&%^@$!!
-@$’#%?
Time and events were so chaotically jumbled that it was impossible to discern any specific scene, but he knew that once he returned, headquarters would be able to decipher the data and find what they were looking for.
’More importantly...’
Simon turned to look at the Ghost of Time. He remembered what the Ghost had said—that the Tower Master must be using this tower to plot some suspicious scheme. It echoed what the headquarters staff member had told him: that the peace of the continent was at stake because the Tower Master was plotting something.
Their stories aligned. Both pointed to the Tower Master as the mastermind. ’At this point, it’s certain that something is going to happen in this tower.’
Kizen had caught wind of a plot and sent Simon to find clues about the Tower Master’s scheme. The problem was the timeline the Ghost had given him.
’In four days, something terrible will happen in this tower.’
The timeline was far shorter than Kizen had anticipated. If the Ghost was telling the truth, there wasn’t much time left. This mission was no longer just about gathering intelligence; he might be dragged directly into the incident itself.
Simon turned back to the Ghost of Time.
"You said you wanted to help me."
[That I did.]
"Then what do you want? What’s in it for you?"
[My goal is singular! I wish for the Tower of Time to still exist four days from now.]
Simon nodded. The objective was clear and easy to understand.
[The tower must continue to exist for me to exist as well!] the Ghost declared. [And for that purpose, your role is crucial.]
"What do you want me to do?"
The Ghost of Time descended to the floor and approached him.
[My reason for approaching you is simple.] He made a gesture as if to touch Simon’s hair, then plucked two shimmering, thread-like strands from the air before him. One was sky blue, the other ivory. [The two girls who are strongly entangled in this tower’s fate.]
As the strands of hair fluttered, the forms of two girls materialized in the air. Simon’s face flushed, and he quickly averted his gaze. Even as illusions, the two figures were rotating slowly, completely naked.
[I see they are entangled in your past as well. What is your relationship with them?]
"They’re my classmates."
[I see. They are the very keys to preventing the coming disaster!]
Simon looked puzzled.
"Meirin and Serne?"
[Precisely.]
"But neither of them are even in the Ivory Tower right now."
[Where they are is of little importance.] The Ghost of Time smiled cryptically and held out his palm. [I shall lend you my power to see their pasts, one by one, along with the secrets of the Ivory Tower.]
"...The secrets of the Ivory Tower?"
[That’s right! Once you learn all the truths hidden within their pasts, you will choose for yourself what judgment to make and what action to take. Everything depends on you.] His fingers danced as if playing an invisible keyboard. [And upon your choice, the fate of this tower will turn.]
The world dissolved into a wash of gray before his words could even finish.
Simon slowly opened his eyes. He had been pulled into the gray-tinted world of history.
"Tee-hee!"
He could see children running through a sun-drenched garden.
"Follow me!"
"Yay!"
Among them, one girl stood out.
’Ah!’ Simon couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. With her sky-blue hair and bright blue eyes, it was unmistakably a young Meirin.
"Hahahaha!"
Even as a child, Meirin was a leader. She bounded around with boundless energy, her personality so commanding that even the boys her age followed her lead.
"Meirin! Time for dinner!"
A man wearing glasses walked into the garden. It was Daniela Villenne, though he looked much younger than he had at the banquet.
"Dad! Dad!" Little Meirin ran over and showed him a marble. "I did it! I froze it again!"
"That’s amazing!" Daniela knelt and stroked her hair.
"Grandpa and Grandma love it when I freeze this! None of the other kids can do it, only me! They were so happy, they said I’m definitely the ’heir apparent to the Tower Master’!"
"I see." Though he was smiling, Daniela’s face was etched with worry. Little Meirin seemed to sense it and tilted her head. "Dad, do you not want me to become the Tower Master?"
Daniela’s eyes flickered with turmoil. He squeezed them shut for a moment before forcing another smile.
"Of course not. I’m so proud of you, my daughter."
"Ehehehe!"
Meirin threw herself into his arms. Daniela grunted as he lifted her.
"Alright, let’s go eat—"
"Sir! It’s an emergency, Lord Daniela!" A group of robed figures rushed toward him.
"What’s all the commotion?"
"There’s an uproar outside! The Tower Master has returned!"
"I see." Daniela gazed into the distance. "It’s been two years since he left... a long time indeed."
"To think he’d abandon the tower for two years without a word and have the nerve to show his face now!"
"Please, calm yourselves down. Let’s all go together." Daniela smiled at Meirin. "Would you like to come too?"
"Yeah!"
Daniela and his retinue descended the stairs to the main gate, where a large crowd had already gathered. Daniela and the moderate faction took their place opposite the radical faction, the Tower Master’s supporters. A moment later, a voice called out.
"The Tower Master is entering!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd. Finally, Bermude, the Tower Master, came into view, looking much younger than he had at the banquet. But there was something else.
"This is unacceptable!" people began to shout.
Simon leaned closer, trying to see what was causing the commotion. A tiny, delicate hand was clutching the Tower Master’s.
"The Tower Master has brought a child!"
The girl at his side had grimy, platinum-blonde hair. Daniela’s faction erupted in fury, but even the radical faction members, who valued the tower’s strict rules and bloodlines, began to criticize Bermude.
"A child? Now of all times!"
"Isn’t this a bit too obvious!"
The Tower Master’s power was immense, his magical skills flawless, but he had one critical weakness: he was incapable of having children. His inability to produce an heir had allowed the influence of the opposing moderate faction to grow, to the point where Daniela’s own daughter had been designated the next in line. And now, that same Tower Master had returned with a child.
"We cannot accept this, Tower Master!" an elder of the Ivory Tower declared, stepping forward. "Are you going to claim you can have a child now—!"
"I found her."
At the Tower Master’s words, a hush fell over the crowd.
"I couldn’t turn a blind eye to a dying child, so I brought her with me."
The Tower Master’s lust for power was legendary. Everyone had expected him to stubbornly insist the girl was his own flesh and blood, but he had readily admitted otherwise. The unexpected declaration silenced them, but only for a moment. Shouts erupted from all sides.
"Don’t try any cheap tricks!"
"Let me be clear! A child not from one of the ten great families cannot be recognized as part of the Ivory Tower’s bloodline!" the elders roared.
The fury of those who dared not confront the all-powerful Tower Master was instead directed at the child.
"L-Look at that filthy sight!"
"A child that smells of the gutter as the Tower Master? Unthinkable!"
Even the other children began to laugh and point.
"Beggar! Beggar! She’s a beggar!"
"She’s a street rat!"
’Hahahaha!’ The little girl with ivory-colored hair shrank behind the Tower Master in fear.
"Stand tall," Bermude commanded, pushing her forward again. "If you let them intimidate you now, you will never survive here."
"...Yes."
As the nobles of the Ivory Tower spewed their vitriol, the atmosphere growing ever more hostile, a single voice cut through the noise.
"Hi!"
A girl boldly approached her.
"What’s your name?"
Blocking the Tower Master’s path, she took the beggar girl’s hand and smiled brightly. This child was none other than the heir apparent, Meirin.
’W-When did she get over there?’
Daniela’s mouth fell open. He was sure she had been standing right beside him.
The platinum-blonde girl avoided her gaze and whispered, "...S-Serne."
"Hi, Serne! I’m Meirin. Is this your first time here? Let’s play together!" She grabbed Serne’s hand and pulled her away. "I’ll show you around!"
"Uh, uh...? But my hands are dirty."
"It’s okay!"
The adults could only watch, dumbfounded, as the two little girls scampered off into the garden.
"Well now." The Tower Master smiled. "You should all be ashamed. Perhaps we adults have something to learn from the children."
The elders of the Ivory Tower let out a series of awkward grunts.
The flashback ended. Simon blinked, looking around the familiar interior of Room 38.
[Well, about a minute has passed. What are your thoughts on seeing their past?] the Ghost of Time asked.
Simon pressed his forehead, still feeling dazed.
"Did you really just show me the past?"
[That I did. Can’t you tell?]
"What if it was all fabricated to trick me..."
[Hmph! Such hurtful words! In that case, you’re welcome to contact the two of them and ask for yourself.]
Indeed. Simon already knew the general outline of their history. From the very beginning, he had a feeling the vision was real.
[It seems the artifact has finished its data collection as well,] the Ghost noted.
The briefcase clicked shut, ceasing its operation. A blue light in one compartment confirmed the recording was successful. Looking out the window, Simon saw the sky beginning to brighten. He had to get back to his room before he was spotted.
[You’ll be heading to the sixty-third floor tomorrow at dawn, won’t you?]
"...Yes, I suppose so."
[I’ll see you there! I’ll help you with the security again tomorrow. And, of course, I must tell you the next Chapter of our two girls’ story.] He adjusted his rabbit mask. [If you wish for it, that is.]
Simon gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Morning came. After a grueling night, Simon returned to his room to find it in utter chaos, courtesy of Merida’s sleeping habits. At least she seemed to have tired herself out, as she was no longer casting curses in her sleep. Simon managed to lie down and get a few precious moments of rest before a knock came at the door.
"Who is it?"
"...M-Mird."
It was Mird, the Ivory Tower student who had been on the receiving end of Merida’s wrath. The moment Simon opened the door, she prostrated herself on the floor.
"I-I came to... to escort you! It’s breakfast time!"
"Alright."
Simon woke Merida, and they took the magic circle elevator down to the first-floor banquet hall. The other guests were already deep into their meals.
"The best night of my life! I saw the moment the Shahed Kingdom was founded! I wept!"
"I must see it! Tell me which floor you were on!"
The guests were excitedly sharing information about the anomalies they had witnessed. Simon and Merida, still half-asleep, sat at a table.
"Please wait here, I’ll bring your food!" Mird said, trembling. The dark circles under her eyes suggested she hadn’t slept a wink since her encounter with Merida.
"Just speak normally," Merida said flatly. "The adults might think it’s strange."
"...Yes! I mean, okay!" Merely making eye contact with Merida was enough to make Mird flinch.
Simon stood.
"We’ll get our own food. And Mird?"
"Yeah?"
"Could we get a room on the sixtieth floor today? I want to do some cleaning up there." His real purpose, of course, was to get closer to the sixty-third floor for his early-morning mission.
"W-We’d be happy to have you clean a more difficult upper floor... but are you sure?"
"Yeah. There’s an anomaly on the sixtieth floor that I want to see."
"Okay. I’ll see if there are any empty rooms."
After Mird left, Simon and Merida enjoyed a light breakfast. During the meal, he spotted a familiar face.
"You mean to say you still haven’t caught Girdon?"
"He’s a necromancer who uses spatial magic, which has complicated the search. However, we’ve completely sealed everything from the seventieth floor up, so he won’t be able to come down."
It was the familiar voice of Daniela Villenne.
"Merida, I’ll be right back."
"Okay."
Simon approached Daniela’s group. Just as his conversation ended, Daniela noticed Simon and greeted him warmly.
"Ah, Student Council President Simon. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thanks to your consideration." In truth, between the secret mission and Merida, he had barely slept at all. The two sat down in nearby chairs.
"Ah, come to think of it, I heard Meirin has visited the Tower of Time before."
"Haha, she came a few times when she was little."
Simon and Daniela chatted about various things, the main topic naturally being Meirin.
"At school, I’m worried because Meirin and Serne don’t get along," Simon said, casually dropping the bait.
Daniela gave an awkward laugh.
"That’s a headache for us at the Ivory Tower as well."
"From what I’ve heard," Simon continued, his eyes gleaming, "the two were very close when they were young. At their first meeting, Meirin blocked the Tower Master’s path, grabbed the hand of the newly arrived Serne, and whisked her away to show her around the tower. Is that right?"
At his words, Daniela’s expression filled with bewilderment.
"...Hmph! Hrmm. Haha, my daughter has told you quite a few stories, I see."
The more Simon talked with Daniela, the more certain he became. The past he had witnessed was entirely true.

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