- Decisions -

Bam told Charlotte everything that happened in the Floor of Death when she was unconscious and resting. From his explanation, Charlotte concluded that she had to prepare herself for a death match with Charlotte.

"Charlotte is Christ's puppet. He will definitely give her enough power to defeat you" said Khun. "You have to brace yourself."

"I thought you are going to say a few words to support me?" Charlotte asked with an awkward smile. Really, among all of them, only Khun had the ability to speak scary and terrifying things as if they were nothing.

"If I'm not wrong, that old man will definitely give the same power just like yours" said Noah. "There is nothing wrong with Khun's words actually, for you really have to brace yourself. All these time you encountered enemies who don't have similar abilities with yours. But now, a tough opponent has appeared."

Of course Charlotte understood that. There was a high chance that Christ was going to give Charlotte the same ability as hers- Time Manipulation. Not to mention that Charlotte must have the strong desire to kill her for she believed that she took everything from her.

"Ha....."

Charlotte sighed in stress. Her expression didn't look good.

"What's wrong?" Noah tilted his head a bit with his arms crossed. "Based on your abilities and experiences, there is still a chance for you to win. That Charlotte hasn't fight for 8 years more....do you think she could be better than you?"

"But...." She scratched her cheek with a sheepish smile. "No matter what....this is actually her ability. Using her ability to go against her.....I don't think it is the right idea."

"......"

"Tender- hearted" Khun responded with hint of sarcasm.

"Well, if you aren't willing to use the Time Manipulation, you could use the lotus power that you had" Noah said.

"Lotus?" Charlotte echoed.

"It's your ability" Noah answered. "Back then when I analyzed the 13 chains and the hourglass, I didn't find a trace of the lotus power. But after you nearly died in the Floor of Death.....you feel it as well right? The power within you."

Charlotte nodded her head. She pondered about his words before she looked at Noah again.

"But no matter what, in the past, I'm nothing but an ordinary girl. How could I possibly have my own ability?" She asked him once more.

Right, she always thought that all she had now actually belonged to Charlotte. Therefore, she was surprised to know that this lotus was her power. She touched her new forehead mark while thinking about it.

"Well, this is the tower. Anything could happen."

"You might be right."

Charlotte still didn't have the idea to fight against Charlotte. She needed the time to think on how to face Charlotte properly in the Hidden Floor later on.

But put that thought aside first. She looked at her brother and asked, "Oh right, brother. You've met the Poe Bidau Gustang right?"

"Yes."

"Did he ask you about something you want? Your desire?"

"......yes."

Charlotte smiled and asked him again, "Then what did you ask for?"

Bam wondered whether he should tell Charlotte or not. Seeing Charlotte's golden eyes, she must have expected something big and interesting. Will he be mad if he tell him the truth?

"I....asked him about your health.....and your condition at the time."

"What?" Charlotte's smile faded slightly.

"He asked him about your conditions" Endorsi replied.

"........."

Charlotte's whole body froze as if she had turned into a stone.

How could she not be shocked? After all, the only reason why she saved Rachel at the time was because in the manhwa, Poe Bidau Gustang will ask Bam about his desire and this good brother of hers will ask Poe Bidau Gustang to heal Rachel who was poisoned by Grand De Lee. Charlotte thought that if she saved Rachel, prevented Rachel from falling into coma, Bam could ask for something else to Poe Bidau Gustang. But because of Christ's appearance and her nearly dying, Bam asked Poe Bidau Gustang to check on her condition instead and healed her.

She didn't know who to blame for this one. At the end, she could only say "oh".

"Anyway, Charlotte!" Endorsi called her name again and startled her. "You really have to change your brother's mind!"

"Huh?"

"Bam is actually planning to bring Rachel with him to the Hidden Floor! Don't you think it's ridiculous? You won't want to have your brother being stabbed from behind again right?" Endorsi asked with flames on her eyes.

She was of course angry with Bam's decision. After all, Rachel had hurt them plenty of times. She and Bam were separated for 7 years because of that blonde haired woman. And then Bam went berserk in the Train City because of her and she had pushed him down again. Bam went through so many dangers for her and was hurt again and again because of her.

Such a cunning and dirty woman, how could Bam possibly allow her to come with them to the Hidden Floor? She knew that it was because Bam wanted to have a fair competition with Rachel and that Rachel knew something about Bam that he didn't know and she also had a fragment of Hockney's painting with her. But who could guarantee that she won't do any harm in the Hidden Floor?

Charlotte sighed.

"Endorsi, it's not like I don't want to help you......but we know brother's personality right? If he insists on something, not even I could change his mind" said Charlotte with a helpless smile.

"But still! It's too dangerous to let such a woman come with us!"

Charlotte just awkwardly laughed and Endorsi couldn't accept it.

"What are you laughing about? Do something about it!"

Charlotte was indeed laughing at outside. But in inside, she couldn't stop worrying as well. Endorsi wasn't wrong. Rachel was too dangerous and cunning to stay in one team with them.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Charlotte and Khun were walking in somewhere in the train.

In the manhwa, Rachel will definitely hurt someone again. And that someone was Khun Aguero Agnes, the one who was walking behind her.

'I don't want him to get hurt.....but I'm sure that after meeting the ranker from Yeon Family, Khun will get more power. I want to see him to get stronger.....but......'

"You said that there is something you want to say to me." Khun's voice distracted her. "What is it?"

"......." Charlotte remained quiet for a moment.

Then, she turned around and looked at Khun with a playful smile.

"Khun...do you know how my name is written?" Charlotte asked him.

"Your name?"

"Not Charlotte Everest" she said and walked closer to him. "But Xi."

"Xi?"

"Xi is a word in Chinese Language. The world where I came from has lots of languages. Chinese is one of them" Charlotte told him with her hands on her back. "And in Chinese, there is something called 'Han Zi'."

She opened her right palm towards him, as if asking for his hand. Khun who didn't understand extended his hand and opened his palm.

On his palm, using her index finger, Charlotte wrote a word.

希

"This is how my name is written" said Charlotte once she finished writing. "That 'Xi' means hope."

Khun looked at his right palm before he looked at Charlotte in confusion.

"Why are you saying this to me in all sudden.....?"

Charlotte just smiled. She turned around and had her back facing him as she took several steps forward. Her hands were still on her back.

"Khun......can I ask you something?"

"What's it?"

"If you have to........if you have to risk yourself and fall into coma for several years......in order to achieve greater power....what will it be?" She asked him with hesitation. "I mean- would you fall into coma for some time.....before getting greater power?"

Khun, "......."

Of course, he didn't expect to be asked this question.

The reason why Charlotte didn't see him while talking right now must be because she couldn't. It seemed like something bad was going to happen to him.

"Charlotte, something bad is going to happen to me in the Hidden Floor right?" He asked, smiling as if it wasn't a problem.

Charlotte wasn't surprised to hear Khun's words. This man was extremely intelligent. It would have been surprising if he didn't understand her words.

She closed her right palm and put it on her chest. Her left hand was holding her right wrist, nervous.

She didn't answer but Khun knew that it was a "yes".

"How long do you think I'll fall into coma?" He asked.

".....I'm not certain about it" she said. "But it won't be for long time....maybe around 1 or 2 years......do you want it.....?"

Falling into a coma wasn't a good option. He wanted to avoid this option for he didn't want to miss the time that he could spend with the others, with her. Once he falls into the unconscious state, how could he help the others? He could no longer help her for some time if that happens. And if something happened to her at the time, what could he do?

But he also wanted power. He needed power to protect the others. He knew that he had changed ever since he encountered Bam, Charlotte and the others. He wasn't as cold- blooded as before. He was sure in that, for now that his desire to get stronger wasn't only for his goal to overthrow his father, but to prevent the incident in the Floor of Death from happening once more.

Even though most of them didn't show it, but Khun was certain that when they saw Charlotte nearly died and left them completely, they were all afraid that it might truly happen one day. Even though this was the day where they confessed the truths and she had her identity exposed, but having her identity exposed was just a trivial matter. No matter what, she was already an important person in their hearts. They didn't want to lose her.

He was aware that if he didn't want to fall into coma, Charlotte will take whatever it takes to prevent it from happening. But she considered his opinion and therefore asked him this question and he felt kind of grateful of it.

After pondering for awhile, he had came up with an answer.

"......it's just a coma right?" He asked.

Charlotte turned around and looked at him. He was looking at her with a confident smile.

"You could die once to be reborn in this tower and nearly died to absorb the power that was bursting inside you. It's just falling into a coma state. It won't be too painful."

"But....falling into coma.....you will miss lots of things" she said sadly. "Do you really.....want it?"

Inside, he also felt that his decision was wrong. But for the power he needed, he felt that it might be worth it.

"Yeah" he crossed his arms.

Charlotte looked away. She was still unsure whether it was the right decision to follow Khun's decision or not.

"You really have made up your mind?" She asked once more. Even though her mind said that it was just right for Khun to agree for the plot line and so that he'll be stronger....but her heart was still hoping for him to disagree.

"I have made up my mind and I'm sure of my answer" he said and pat her head. "It's fine. It's just for 1 or 2 years right? After that, I'll see you again, Xi."

Charlotte's ears perked up when she was being called by that name.

".....Xi....?"

"Isn't it your name?"

She nodded her head and turned around again. Khun lowered his hand.

Charlotte turned around once more because she couldn't look at him for a moment. Somehow she felt that her cheeks were heating up.

"T- then since you've made up your mind, I.....I'll respect you decision" said Charlotte. Khun hummed. Once she felt better after trying to calm herself, Charlotte looked at Khun and said to him, "But you have to hold your words. I really hate someone who gives me false hope......so in case you really fall into a coma state, if you don't wake up even after 3 years, I'll never let you off."

The young girl harmlessly pouted and glared to him. Khun chuckled over her reaction.

"Then you should also promise me" he said. "In the fight against Charlotte, you can't lose as well."

Charlotte smiled and nodded her head. She lifted her right hand and her pinky finger.

Khun who knew what she wanted looked back at her, couldn't help but to ask, "What are you? 5?"

Charlotte just playfully smiled without saying anything. Even though Khun teased her for being childish, but still, he made that pinky promise with her.

"Then neither of us could break the promise" said Charlotte with a rather sweet and lovely smile when the pinky promise was made.

She was happy, she was really, really happy. Turned out, Christ exposing her identity might not be a bad thing, but he had done her a favor. From this incident, they will trust each other more. From this incident, Charlotte knew the sincerity of her beloved ones. From this incident, Charlotte was certain that no matter what happens in the future, she will always defend them even though she had to die for it.

Now that she had someone or a group of people who she could sacrifice her life for, death doesn't seem terrifying at all.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

At the promised time, Charlotte, Bam, Khun and the few others was waiting for the others in the hall in front of the sleeping car.

Among all of them, people like Boro and Sachi had entered the Hidden Floor once. Since Hidden Floor was supposed to be hidden, when Khun explained to them about their next destination, he couldn't directly tell them about the Hidden Floor. He thought that his speech might scared them.

Well, if they were unwilling to come, they'll just have to go by themselves.

According to Khun, the others didn't know about her real identity. Therefore, she didn't have to worry about not blending in with the others. But right now, a small part of her wanted to tell the others about her real identity. She has been discovered by some of her comrades and she was sure that the others were nice and loyal. They won't hate her just because of her strange identity.

Of course, all except for Rachel.

That blonde woman was now all alone without her friends or comrades. Poor her, but there was no one there who sympathized her. It was kind of amazing that even though she was alone and helpless, she could make the others worry about her stabbing them from the back.

When Bam knew that the others were also coming with them to this journey, he was quite happy. After they have made up their mind to go to this Hidden Floor, they immediately left to look for that floor.

Four hours later, they were walking to the hall that was leading them to the "Room of the Past".

"There are few special routes in the train where boss- level guardians and minions appear" Boro said to them.

"Boss- level guardians and minions?"

This place did appear to be fishy.

"That's right. Guys like the Bloomer Guardian or Mother Fish. The more important the area, the stronger the guardian protecting it so we should be careful."

"Actually...it certainly won't be a problem for us, brother" said Charlotte who looked at Bam. "With our team's current strength, the one who you should pity are those guardians and bosses."

They had a ranker and two high- rankers here. They also had 2 irregulars and a few descendants from 10 Great Families. What could possibly be a harm for them?

In fact, those guardians should have been careful instead. Otherwise, if they were unfortunate enough and encounter them, they will definitely be killed.

Yuri suggested an idea. Rather than waiting for the monsters and the guardian to show themselves up, why don't they look for them and finish them off? She divided them into several teams. For the team that she will lead in order to seek for the boss- level guardian, she called Khun, Endorsi and Charlotte.

The surprised Charlotte pointed to herself, "Me?"

"Yes, you" she replied.

Charlotte looked at the others, not understanding why she was called. But still, she stepped forward and walked towards Yuri.

Noah pondered for awhile before he stepped forward, "Let me come with you guys as well."

"You?"

Celeste held Noah's sleeve. Noah held her hand back.

"I want to see your improvement" Noah answered. "After all, no one here knows more about your power than me right?"

"....."

As much as some didn't like it, they couldn't argue about it. Bam wanted to come as well but according to Yuri, he had to stay behind and lead the others to defeat lower level guardians.

As the result, the four of them left together with Yuri to look for the boss.

Charlotte should have known that the reason why Yuri wanted to her to come as well was to ask her about her identity. Even though Yuri didn't directly ask her about it like the others, she was still one of the few people who knew about her identity.

"So....your soul really comes from another world right?" Yuri asked.

Charlotte put her hands on her back, her fingers were playing with each other. She avoided her gaze and nodded her head with a small hum.

"Really?" Yuri asked, somehow sounded quite astonished and excited. "Is that so?"

'To be more exact, I come from different dimension' Charlotte thought as she replied, "Yeah."

"Then how's the outside world?!" Yuri asked with an excited smile.

"....you want to know about the outside world?" Charlotte asked, sounded confused and in disbelief. She thought that Yuri would have asked how her soul will get into this body. But instead of asking that, she asked about the outside world. "Well, there is nothing much about it. It's just like stars, moon, sun and sky....."

"They're real?" Khun asked her.

As the regular who has been living in the tower, Khun had always believed that those things were just a legend. But now, an irregular who had seen the said legend was true.

Charlotte nodded her head.

"Of course real. The sun shows itself at the morning and the moon in the night" Charlotte explained. "But Princess Yuri, I think Urek has explained it all to you. To be honest, the world where I came from is just a simple world. There's nothing special about it."

For her, it was indeed not special. But for the others, it was a mystery that they will never know. Like a cage, once they were born in the tower, they couldn't get out anymore. They could only hear about the existence of the outside world, but could never see them.

"How could it not be special? I've never been there before. I could only hear them from irregulars like you or Urek."

Charlotte just smiled. She looked at a direction and said, "We're close with the boss- level guardian. Why don't we go there first and beat the guardian? Right now, coincidentally, I need someone or something to test out my new ability."

Her last line seemed to puzzled the others a bit.

"Your new ability?" They echoed, wondering what it was.