- The Interesting Drinking Companion -

To think that Edahn proposed a bet where he'll train the two black-haired kids in a month and make them strong enough to defeat him... Zahard found it ridiculous.

The gap of their strengths were too big. What kind of training could Edahn possibly give to increase their powers and decrease the gap between the two of them? Although he was not the real king, he was still his data. He was not someone who one could underestimate just because he was not strong as who he was at the outside.

He accepted this bet with another condition. If he wins this bet, then Edahn shouldn't only disappear like any other data. He should also tell him who the children were and Edahn promised him about it.

"Well...it's not like I don't want to fight the two of them in the same time...." Zahard said as he looked at Charlotte. "But that girl, she already had her own opponent."

"What?"

"You don't know? That black-haired girl made a bet with your drinking friend" Zahard explained to Edahn who looked surprised. "He met me and asked me for a favor which was to prepare a death match between her and his puppet. Don't you feel strange why the data of your drinking friend suddenly disappeared?"

Edahn, to say that now he looked surprised, now he looked very shocked.

"The match between her and his puppet will also be in one month" said Zahard. "You only have one month to train the two of them and you aren't allowed to go anywhere else unless you want to be disqualified. Simple, right?"

Edahn didn't say a word for a moment. But at the end, he still agreed.

Through the mirror, they were like teleported to another stage.

Khun used his lighthouse to made a large barrier which was safe for them to step on as the mirror didn't straightly teleport them to the ground, but on the air.

Bam who was carrying the unconscious Endorsi had a complicated feeling just like Charlotte. It wasn't like the two of them didn't know what was waiting them after this one month. What was waiting them after this one month that will be filled with harsh training was death match. One was against the data of the young king of this tower and the other one was the puppet of an irregular. Neither of them were easy opponents who'll let them obtain victory easily.

Noah's expression wasn't any better to hear about his father, so as Celeste.

Charlotte thought that Bam was not in a good mood. Noah was not in a good mood. Celeste was also the same and her usually- cheerful brother was not in good mood. Even around Khun Edahn, she felt like he wasn't quite happy as well.

She didn't like this kind of atmosphere. But it wasn't something that she could control.

Now, Edahn looked at the boy who Hansung Yu promised to him, "Now, let's start your training, son of V."

"Son of V...?" Bam echoed before he then smiled, "You remember about my father?!"

A hint about his father!

"Of course. V was a fellow companion who climbed the tower with us" Edahn said.

Then, a golden ball appeared out of nowhere, talking to Edahn politely and carefully.

"Do you like the training ground, sir?" It asked.

"...well, just so-so. I smell grapes over there."

"This stage was created with the highest consideration for your tastes. It has grapevines and a waterfall flowing with grape juice."

Edahn seemed to ponder about it, "My tastes hmmm..."

He then squeezed the ball and glared at it, looking like he very much wanted to destroy the ball right there and right now but he couldn't, "That's all a lie. Aren't you keeping me here because you're up to something? You sneaky yellow bastard."

"......."

The golden ball or Big Breeder Hwang can't argue with that.

"... the floating island up above is equipped with accommodations as well as enough food and clothes for you to spend a month there. There are also different kinds of wine, your favorite, sir..."

"Look at you changing the subject. Looks like I was right about you, huh?"

"..... just so you know, this place is also a stage so there is a champion villain at the very end of the island. So, if you beat the champion villain there, you could move to the battleground. Although you can use the scroll to beat the quest and return to your castle but of course, if you do so..."

"I know. It will be breaking the rules of our bet, right? Fine. I get it so get lost now."

"Yes, sir," Big Breeder Hwang politely said. "Well, see you in a month..."

"Wait! What about Wangnan and Icarus?" Bam asked.

"...if you mean your companions, we just kept the two of them as hostages and moved the rest to this place. We will release them if you win in the battle with Lord Zahard" Big Breeder Hwang answered. "Although that won't happen, of course. Well, we'll see you in one month in the battleground."

The golden ball knew how Charlotte was glaring at him but he paid no care and disappeared.

"That sneaky yellow bastard....he ruined the flow" said Khun Edahn and Charlotte agreed with it, though she didn't show it. "We'll keep talking later. For now, let's head up there."

They went to the lodging first.

'It's kind of heavy having to carry three people at the same time' Khun thought. Still, even though he said that it was kind of heavy, he walked at ease like it was nothing.

Charlotte nudged him and asked him, "Are you alright? Is it fine for you to carry three people in the same time?"

"Well, it's heavier than usual, but it's nothing" he answered. Listening to his answer, she just nodded her head and looked away.

Khun Edahn who walked with his arms crossed suddenly stopped and looked at a direction.

"Ascensio."

A mirror began to appear itself.

And in that mirror, they saw someone with dark blue hair and his eyes closed, knelt on the ground with one of his knees and head lowered as he was paying respect to his dearest father who was both stronger than him in both strength and status.

"We won't be able to join you for now" Khun Edahn said.

"All right. Then we'll try to get the mirror of the end by ourselves" Ascensio replied, still not opening his eyes.

"Be careful. It looks like they are up to something. Don't forget to call Icardi too" Khun Edahn advised.

"I will keep that in mind."

Khun Aguero Agnes looked surprised to see the figure in the mirror. That person was obviously the spear master, Khun Ascensio!

"Well, I wish you all the best in battle. Father" said Ascensio politely.

"Thanks" Edahn replied as he watched the mirror disappearing.

He looked at the others and said, "Well, for now, you all go and rest in the lodging. Son of V...I want you and that girl change your clothes and meet me outside."

Charlotte just nodded her head and hummed obediently.

Hansung Yu was ordered to tell about these regulars about the mirror at the end. Without any objection and politely, he bowed down and agreed to it.

"Khun" Bam called his companion. "Wouldn't you like some time alone with your father now that you've met him?"

"Forget it" Khun answered. "I don't know how things were back then...but he's practically a stranger to me."

Charlotte looked at Altaira who didn't seem to notice it. He looked like he was thinking about something while holding Celeste's hand. Charlotte couldn't read minds, she didn't know what her brother was thinking. But seeing his expression and based on how close they were, she was able to tell that even though Altaira didn't make particular expression, something sad was bothering him.

Both Khun and Khun Altaira were sad and she assumed that it was probably related with Khun Edahn's sudden appearance. Ah, one couldn't say that Khun was sad. It didn't feel like sadness when she was with him right now. It was just that he became quieter after seeing his father who didn't feel like his father at all. Perhaps he was uncomfortable?

She nudged him and gained his attention again, "You are okay?"

He just looked at her before he turned away, "I'm fine. At least I'm not wounded."

He looked like he was not in the mood to play with her. Right now, what he needed was some space.

"Then if you have something to say, then you can just tell me. I'll try to help you as much as I could."

He looked at her once more before he lowered his head and just nodded. But even though he nodded his head, Charlotte knew that he won't be looking for her help even if he had a help.

She pulled her hair behind her ear before she noticed the flower that he put on her hair. An idea crossed her mind as she called his name again.

"Khun!"

This time, slightly irritated, he closed his eyes and turned around before he spoke, "Charlotte, I'm not in the mood for--"

His cobalt blue eyes widened, seeing the female suddenly being close with him. Her right hand was holding the fragile white flower he gave to her and put it right on his ear. She did it carefully, as if she was afraid of hurting him and the flower. Those honest golden eyes were looking at the flower, before they looked at him and the flower with a playful smile.

"It doesn't look so bad" she said. "You really suit wearing anything. You are indeed good- looking."

Now, it was his turn to be lost in words. It was his turn to touch the flower on his ear. Charlotte was smiling towards him like she was waiting for him to smile or to speak back. But right now, he didn't feel like smiling.

He just turned around and continued. He pulled the white flower from his ear and continued to walk.

Charlotte's smile changed to the expression of curiosity instead of sad. She didn't have any high expectation to be able to cheer him up anyway. Honestly, she was more curious about what was running on his mind.

Bam held Charlotte's shoulder and said to her, "He needs some time alone."

Charlotte nodded her head and replied, "I know. It's just that I want to make him cheer up a little. He becomes quiet again after seeing his father's data."

'And it's not like I don't know many descendants of the Khun Family hated the one who brings them to the world. But I just want to make sure that he's fine and able to smile even a bit.'

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"W... WHAT?!"

Bero Bero was shouting quite loudly that no one would be surprised if her voice reached out the whole building.

While chewing on her candy, she spoke to Khun in disbelief and shock, "THAT PERSON BEFORE WAS THE DATA OF KING ZAHARD?! IS THIS FOR REAL?! AND THE BLUE- HAIRED MAN WAS KHUN EDAHN?!"

Khun who had his back facing the other regulars replied, "Yeap, you're right. Although to be precise, it's the data of them when they were young."

While licking on the candy itself, Bero Bero spoke, "Crap... then we just saw two legends... I knew something felt different about them..."

In the room filled with some regulars, Khun was telling and explaining to them about the two data of the legends in the tower who fought against each other before.

Licking on his candy, Bero Bero spoke again, "B... but how are we going to beat his data? He looked vicious in that fight before...."

She was referring to the data of King Zahard.

"...well..."

Looking at the white flower on the table, he answered,

"I'm not sure about that either."

'What on earth did my father make that kind of bet for?'

The fight among Zahard and Khun Edahn proved that they were different beings from them. They were irregulars. They were the mysterious creatures who came from another world and opened the gate to the tower with their own hands and power. They were unrestrained and powerful, each of them had their own story and might.

But even though both Bam and Charlotte were also irregulars, their strengths were still not sufficient to be compared against Zahard. And besides, no matter how terrifying people found irregulars or slayer candidates, they were just who they were.

The white flower was made from data. Everything in this place was not real. They were just data.

Yet just because of this small and plain data could make him feel some kind of warmness. That flower was not a precious jewel, a secret to gain either knowledge and strength or something rare. It was just an insignificant flower, given by someone who he knew to cheer him up, and he couldn't bring himself to destroy it.

He inwardly sighed.

Since he didn't have any idea what to do with the flower, he will just keep it for now.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

After both Charlotte and Bam changed their clothes, they went to meet Khun Edahn just like what he wanted.

As both Charlotte and Bam can't float on the air or fly yet, they relied on [Blue Oar] to stand.

"The two of you must be tired since you've just fought not long ago. But you can handle this, right?" He asked the two of them.

"Yes sir" Bam answered while Charlotte nodded her head.

"Um...sir, you said you know about my father, right?" Bam asked.

"That's right."

"Could you...tell me more about my father?"

"Of course. V traveled the tower with us. Although he doesn't remain in this place as data right now..."

"W...what kind of person is he?"

Charlotte felt that Bam needed this answer. After all, he believed that V was his father. He wanted to know whether his father more, including his personality. Somehow Charlotte felt that if Edahn's answer didn't satisfy Bam or was different than what he expected, it would have made him sad.

"Well...it's hard to describe him...but if I had to choose one of us to be a king, I would have chosen your father" Edahn answered.

'Liar' Charlotte thought. 'Or he isn't lying. But right now he's just the data of Edahn when he's a D-rank regular. I think when he climbed the tower, he must have changed some part of his personality because when V and Zahard were having a war, he stood on Zahard's side.'

"Although... our leader was clearly Zahard... V was very interested in the residents of this place, unlike us, who became less interested in other people as we gained more power.

Zahard and V had completely different personalities. While your father kept trying to get close to ordinary people, Zahard, well....the more we traveled, the more it felt like he was becoming something completely different. Arlene would always try to keep the peace when the two of them fought.

I'm not sure what happened, but V died and Zahard became the king of the tower. I heard that news from the coffee later. The ones who came here before don't even know V's name."

Bam found it surprising that Hansung Yu was the one who told Zahard about his father. Edahn also mentioned that it was Hansung Yu who said that V's son will come to this place one day.

Edahn didn't believe in Hansung's words at the time but at the end, as he felt that there was something wrong with data Zahard, he made the promise with Hansung Yu just in case. That was the story between him and Hansung Yu and the reason why Hansung Yu was thankful for his help.

"But...according to what that coffee said, V only has one son" said Edahn as he looked at Charlotte. "Who are you?"

"I...."

'Should I tell him or not? This is Khun Edahn after all. Even though at the outside, he is a lewd bastard, but in here, he seems to be a decent man' Charlotte thought. 'And besides, he's our ally. It won't be harmful to tell him a bit.'

But even though Charlotte thought that she was going to tell him a bit, at the end, she told him about her soul entering Christ's puppet and she was going to have a fight with the real puppet. Khun Edahn when he heard about this first found the story complicated.

"So you aren't Christ's real puppet and even worked together with his son to betray him?" Khun Edahn concluded. "This is my first time hearing a soul from the outside opening the gate to the tower and entered the body of a regular, making that body as the body of irregular."

"Regular?" Charlotte echoed. "But the puppet...the puppet is the puppet of irregular, right?"

"I don't really understand how Christ made those puppets, but those puppets were made from living people" said Khun Edahn. "When they became his puppets, their minds and actions will be under his control. That's how his puppet works."

"So he turns living people into emotionless and thoughtless killing machine?" Charlotte asked curiously.

"No, it's not like that. His ability is to subconsciously manipulate his puppets' feelings and personalities. The moment they became his puppets, they would obtain a new power for themselves. For example, let's just say that he turned a thief to be his puppet. That thief had betrayed and manipulated many people for his own goals, but after being his puppet, his personality that enjoyed to betray others would change and he would risk his life or do anything to serve him.

The stronger the power he bestowed to his puppets, the more loyal they will be towards him. Of course, the only person who could make that power stronger is the puppet himself. Without being aware, they are actually letting themselves being controlled and manipulated for their greed."

Charlotte nodded her head. She and Bam would never expect that there will be this kind of ability. Then considering how loyal the puppet who challenged her, Charlotte was now certain and without a doubt, trusted that her opponent's strength was on the same level with her, or maybe even stronger.

'A soul that entered the body of a regular...even though it's still faint, but the lotus mark on her forehead keeps releasing bit of aura to protect her...' Khun Edahn thought, observing Charlotte who was thinking. His eyes were looking at the forehead mark which was a pink- colored lotus. 'Who is this girl actually?'

"Wait" Charlotte realized something wrong. "How do you know Christ's power so well? Did that coffee machine also tell you? Is he some sort of google at this world?"

Bam who had no idea what that word meant asked, "What's 'google'?"

"No" Edahn who was also curious about what the word "google" meant denied her thought. "He told me by himself."

"What?!"

"When he cleared the train and entered the Hidden Floor stage, we met once and became acquaintances. Even after he had reached the top of the tower, he still found a way to come here and meet me."

"How did he do that?" Charlotte curiously asked.

"After all, he's an irregular. Some rules don't work on him. Even if he is restricted by the rule, he could just use that forbidden technique and had his spirit enter this place" said Khun Edahn. "I warned him to not come here often for that forbidden techniques will decrease his power greatly whenever he used it...but it's not like he cares about it anyway."

Charlotte thought that this forbidden technique must be the same technique that Noah used before she saved him.

'Turns out the consequence of using this technique is having his power greatly decrease' Charlotte thought. 'Then if Noah doesn't use this technique, how strong could he be?'

"Why did an irregular come here all the way just to see you?" Charlotte asked again.

Khun Edahn pointed to the said waterfall flowing with grape juice.

"He came here just to eat grapes and drink my wines" he answered.