we sat down on a wooden stool in front of him. He started grumbling some words before sitting up in a rush. "who- who are you!?" He looked at Nobic in shock. "And you!" he pointed at me aggressively. I raised my hands up. "I'm Nobic, the spear-bearer of Khun's team. nice to meet you." I butted in. "I don't think I've introduced myself yet! My name is (y/n) Daeyang! I'm the first fisherman on Khun's team!"

"darn... this is..."

"yes, this is out lodging. you were brought here after being tranquilized." Dann groaned. he stopped moving, seemingly a realization that hits like that shot. "you!" he pointed a finger towards me. "D-Daeyang!? You!!"

I tilted my head, feline-like, "I'm kind of offended." I also forgot to tell you, I decided to follow after my mother's steps. I'm going to be open about being a Daeyang. Fuck rules and Fuck my father.

"Darn! I was blinded by the floating stone! And now I have to go up the tower with that swindler!" He groaned once again. Nobic laughed dryly at his antics, "now you've given up huh?"

I exit the room, let them become friends and let them have a moment. I leaned my body at the door. "there's a girl upstairs called Rachel. She can't use her legs. I heard that he's going up the tower to take her to the top." I heard Dann let out a mischevious giggle. "what? Is she his fiancee? He's more romantic than I thought, huh?"

"I warn you. If you do that in front of Khun you won't have that finger the next day." he paused, "contrary to (y/n), you'd lose your head."

damn right.

"what? their actually dating?" Dann asked in disbelief. "no. It's a bit complicated."

hell yes, it is. I can't even figure my feels out for him. And even if I like him, he doesn't like me back! it's better to ignore these things and see where they go.

~

"there you guys are." Dann and Nobic walked into view. I continued staring at the clouds as they danced across the sky. the water made me feel calm. ever since I met that black-haired Jahad princess that I successfully identified as Yuri Jahad, and at the same time, the day that stupid Jigu eggplant disappeared, the water has affected my emotions more than before and I don't know why.

It affected me before that accident, but never this much. And it's growing even more powerful lately.

probably due to the fact that there is a large mass of water around us.

"Is he our new teammate?" the self-proclaimed doctor asked. "yes, this is Edin Dann, a scout."

"say Hi, Dann. they are our teammates. I'll introduce you one by one."

"Data gathering scout, Apple. Fake doctor and wave controller, Evangelist Michael. Spear bearer and Cook Gyetang. He's here because he heard he could meet princess Endorsi. Fisherman, Ran." I glared at him, "the second fisherman," he added.

"w-wait, Princess Endorsi!?"

"yes, endorsi Jahad. Khun took the same test as Khun on the first test floor"

"Really? going up with Anaak Jahad and Hatz?" He beamed with excitement. "yep~ If we're lucky, we might get to meet them soon." Nobic added.

"Anaak punched me once because I lost a bet. Endorsi was... Endorsi. And Hatz was the fangirls main guy." I recalled the days back then. whishing we were having fun like that now, together.

"anyways, now that we're all here, should we start?"

I closed my eyes, not really interested in what's about to happen.

~6 years ago~

"What do you mean that Rachel lied to us?" Shibisu sneered, "are you crazy?"

"yes," Khun admitted. "Don't say stupid things! why would Rachel lie!? What are you talking about!?" Shibisu spat. I breathed, "I just met Mr. Lero Ro and he told me that the doctors told him her legs were...okay."

"then Rachel pretended to be even though it's fine?! why would she." Shibisu's voice ripped through the room.

I avoided his gaze, and so did Khun. "I don't know why she fooled us or what her reasons are." he said, "maybe she was threatened by someone. I'm sure that the supervisor also knows about this. there's something between them."

"darn...what's all this about..." Shibisu said weakly. "so, what will you do Khun?"

"You guys go up the tower, Shibisu. I'll form another team with Rachel."

"what?"

"For now, let's keep this just between us three. Don't tell anybody. It's Bam's death that brought us together. If the others find out about this, our team will collapse."

"then...what will be (y/n) be doing?" Shibisu directed his gaze at my figure. "she's coming with me."

"But you said-"

"Shibisu, drop the act. I know you knew from the start." I met his eyes. "you... you're a part of the main family of the Daeyang family. one of the shadow families that King Jahad tricked into living outside the tower. The main family is known to have... manipulative personalities and cold intentions." I nodded, "It's not far off."

"then it's settled. we will keep an eye on Rachel."

~present time~

Khun and I stared at the team. he let out a 'pfft' sound, holding his laugh. I was to busy staring at Khun through the corner of my eye, making sure to not make it look obvious I was wondering why he looked extra attractive at golden hours.

"what's with the uniform?" Khun let out a weird laugh, "are you a basketball team?"

"they're the team uniforms that Nobic ordered. although he got two of the sizes wrong." Michael motioned towards Ran and Nobic. Khun started laughing out loud. "It's hilarious!"

"But good timing Nobic. Actually, this morning I went up to sign up for the next exam. it'll begin in a month."

"Finally, we're continuing to go up the tower again. and my goal once again is to be the head of the Khun family."

"I promise that I'll grant your wishes when I become the head of the Khun family. In exchange, I'll ask you for one thing." he gestured towards the yellow lighthouse behind the window, camouflaging with the sun, "to be the boundary that protects Rachel. always help her, be nice and 'pretend' to be friendly." the lighthouse behind us disappeared.

I continued for Khun, "but, don't let your guards down. don't think she's your friend. so that you can ignore her screams once the time comes," I looked at each of their eyes. "hate her, because she's the girl who killed my best friend."