✧･ﾟ: 𓆩♡𓆪 :･ﾟ✧

Two Sides of the Same Coin - ToG Time Travel/Dimension Travel AU (Masterlist)

War brought death, betrayals and tragedies that separated their teams. Khun and Bam spent years searching for their missing friends, those whose death weren't confirmed. They were sent to the past instead and met their younger selves with their young teams. What kind of adventure awaits?

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Grace laid on his side of the bed, watching Agni who was fast asleep.

It wasn’t often that Agni asked to be watched over. But when he did, Grace knew that it meant Agni wasn't doing well. Their encounter with Cheu yesterday must have brought back the memories Agni had tried so hard to avoid. And the more Agni let the memories linger, the more likely they were to turn into nightmares. It didn’t help that the incoming welcome party and the news from Hwaryun added to his stress.

Grace double tapped Agni's palm and squeezed it, then slowly caressed it with his thumb as he took note of how prominent Agni's eyebags had gotten. 

Agni always had too many things to take care of that prevented him from resting. He would sometimes stay awake while Grace slept or when he was left alone, unable to relax when he felt vulnerable. Then there were the nightmares that would wake him in the middle of the night and he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep afterwards.

Now that they were living more peacefully, they had been working to fix those habits. Although it couldn’t be helped when things got rough. They’d just have to get through it like always.

He tucked a loose blue lock behind Agni’s right ear before placing his hand on Agni's forehead. It was cool to the touch, which he considered a good sign for Agni's standards. Usually a fever would follow if his body got too cold, as if to fight it off, so Grace couldn't let his guard down just yet. It was the reason his presence was needed, after all.

At this point, Agni had become so accustomed to his touch, that he didn't even stir in his sleep. Sometimes it scared Grace that Agni would stay like that forever, frozen in time. It had happened before, hadn't it? Back on the hidden floor that had put Agni in a two-year coma.

Although, something about the quality of Agni's ice shinsu had changed while they had been apart. It had become more dominant, especially without the Yeon Sweetfish—almost as if it was threatening to freeze over his heart the moment Agni let his guard down.

However, just like how it was his ice that had saved him on the hidden floor, it was probably also how Agni had managed to survive the explosion, so it wasn't something Grace would consider a curse. Still, in the end, it was just Agni's subconsciousness trying to 'preserve' himself and it could become a threat if Agni lost control of it.

Grace didn't know what he'd do if Agni ended up freezing himself again because there was no guarantee that the same method would work a second time. There was already some permanent scarring on his heart that made it twice as hard to function, but there was no telling how much more it could take before it seized completely. 

They were still too far away from the 49th floor where they could find the Yeon sweetfish—their best bet to get Agni’s temperature to stabilize. If they could get their hands on it sooner, the better. He could leave his friends to climb ahead with Agni and get the sweetfish early, but that would defeat their purpose of traveling back in time—although it wasn't like Grace hadn't considered it whenever Agni fell sick. It'd take years, sure, but it’d still be less than the time it took them the first time if they were to rush it. Years was still a long time to leave his friends on their own, though. It would certainly be a bad move now that they had FUG's attention. One mistake and someone could end up dead while they were away.

Despite everything, the possibility of losing Agni still scared Grace the most. Whenever Agni got too stressed or depressed, or when he pushed himself to the point of exhaustion, his body temperature would drop. And then Agni would get sick until he got his mental state sorted out.

His lightbearer was undoubtedly a genius—someone with a brilliant mind that could anticipate every outcome, prepare backup plan after backup plan, and was always ten steps ahead. But unfortunately it was also a double-edged sword when his mind tended to spiral and make his condition worse. That was why it would be dangerous to leave Agni alone with his intrusive thoughts.

Agni was aware of this, and it was the reason why he’d rather overwork himself than sleep; to keep his mind occupied, and within his control. Grace had also come to an understanding that Agni liked to be useful as well, as it helped him fight for his self-worth in his mental battle. That was why Grace would refrain from stopping him as long as Agni knew his limits.

Of course, sometimes Agni would get so caught up in his work that he forgot about his own well-being. But more often it was because the situation wouldn't allow Agni to look after himself. So when that happened, Grace was glad to be there for him, just like now.

It wasn't something Grace would say he enjoyed doing, as he was in fact worrying the whole time, haunted by the worst outcome for each second that passed. He also knew how tiring being a full-time caretaker could get, having experienced the burnout firsthand.

But he wasn't lying when he said it made him happy to be able to help Agni. He was prepared to fight and bleed to keep everyone—especially Agni—safe, but of what use would it be if he couldn’t be there when Agni needed him most? If staying by his side to assist him could help lift even a fraction of Agni’s burden off of him, wouldn't that be worth more than anything else? If it cost him nothing to remind Agni that he mattered to him, then what was stopping him from showering Agni with love?

He was his cherished lightbearer. His loyal companion. His dearest partner. His love. The person who shaped him to be who he was today; neither a god nor monster, but a human with emotions and free will. The person who loved him unconditionally from the very beginning. The person who would pave the path for him even if they have to go through hell for it. The person he trusts with his very being and could be vulnerable with, knowing that he'd have his back no matter what.

Even if Grace searched the whole tower or turned back time, he was sure there would be no one else that could complete him in the way that Agni did. After all, where else would he return to if not his home? Grace had imagined a life without Agni hundreds of times and he couldn't help but believe it would feel like the end of the world if that were to become reality.

So if he had to worry about Agni for the rest of his life, then so be it. It'd be way better than the aching darkness that'd be left by his absence.

Grace pressed a fleeting kiss on Agni's temple and kept him in his embrace, hoping it was enough to make him feel safe.

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Agni went inside the lighthouse that he currently entrusted to Dan—one which functioned as a fish bowl. Velt swam to greet them, then led them to a certain corner where the eel's nest was placed. Upon approaching, he only spotted one eel at first, before the second one revealed himself next to his sibling.

"How's Cosmo?" Dan stood next to him, observing the nest with anticipation. 

It had been a day since Cosmo released his electrical shock to protect Dan and Dan had insisted Agni check on him right after the briefing ended.

Agni wasn't a veterinarian, nor was he an anima. This was also his first time seeing the eel recover from it, so he didn't exactly know what to expect nor what to do other than to wait it out.

But from what he saw in that brief moment, he could tell that Cosmo still wasn't feeling well, given that he wasn't concealing himself as his instinct should have. On the other hand, Zuo was now swimming protectively near Cosmo. An electric current could be felt in the shinsu when Dan hovered his hand too close to them.

"It looks like Cosmo is not yet done recharging." Agni concluded. "Let's give them more time."

Velt let out a low squeak beside him, nudging Cosmo without angering Zuo. She was bred specifically to herd electric eels. With her gentle nature, the eels seemed to naturally accept the dolphin as their kin. From what he understood, this species of dolphins were originally vulnerable in the wild. They weren't built for combat nor defense, and they usually lived in groups to hunt and protect themselves better. But higher floor dolphins had gone through some natural selection, and the few that survived had sought protection from another shinheuh. In the process, they developed an affinity with certain species. Her kind had even evolved to have a matching color pattern with the eels.

Agni gave her a pellet to test it out. She took it in between her snout and dropped it near the eels, before returning to ask Agni for more.

"Aww. That's so sweet." Dan squealed as he observed her antics.

Satisfied with what he witnessed, Agni refilled their pellet bowl before he made to exit the lighthouse with Dan in tow. 

"Hey, Boss. About last night…" 

Agni stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Dan, carefully keeping his expression neutral. So this was Dan's true motive for getting him here.

"Grace said you both didn't mean to keep it a secret, so…is it okay if I told the others about it?"

Agni's stomach dropped as he realized something he overlooked. "You didn't say anything to Emily, did you?"

Dan flinched, but he didn't break eye contact. "No. I at least know I shouldn’t do that."

"Okay. That's good." Agni had made it clear to everyone that one of the biggest threats was leaking information to Emily. And it wasn’t like he could ask Emily himself without digging the hole deeper, so he had to trust Dan that he was telling the truth.

"I haven't told anyone explicitly," Dan grimaced, "but I miiiight have dropped hints here and there when people were visiting yesterday."

"Hm." Considering it wasn't something that would be kept a secret for long, especially now that they found Harakiri and planned to climb with him again… "That should be fine. I'll let it slide this time."

Dan visibly exhaled in relief.

"But I prefer it to be kept secret until we are ready to open the topic publicly. I'll allow you to share that information only between Novick and Gyetang for now. Make sure they keep it between themselves since Bam's team will be visiting later."

"Understood."

"Oh, and make sure Wangnan says nothing about it." Since he was the other one who knew about Harakiri, once he met Bam's team, he'd probably connect the dots.

"Oh? Is violence allowed?" Dan asked jokingly.

"Keep him alive at least." Agni replied without missing a beat. "Though he's hard to kill, so I think he'll be fine."

Dan grinned, humoring him, "I'll keep that in mind."

Agni would've turned toward the exit, but an afterthought stopped him from moving. "Dan, remember to be extra careful. Cosmo can't protect you for the time being."

What happened yesterday couldn't be helped since they were low on manpower and Dan had to guard Nia by himself. At least Agni should be glad that his investment in raising the eels wasn't for naught. Still, there was always room for improvement in their defense, and Agni was still working on perfecting it. Until then, they had to hold on and make do.

"Boss…" Dan sounded thoughtful. "Can I ask you something?"

"Depends. What is it?"

"What happened to me in your time?"

Agni let the silence linger while weighing his options. Should I tell him? It'd be beneficial to make him more cautious, but it might lower his morale. "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes." Dan barely hesitated, but Agni caught the hint of doubt in his voice.

Agni exhaled softly. "I’ll spare you the details then." He had to choose his words carefully, only revealing the important points that would explain to Dan why he did what he did up to this point. "There were traitors in my team. They set a trap to get me killed when I was away. I survived because Wangnan's team found me, but my innocent team members weren't that lucky. One died, two were kidnapped, and Dan…he survived, but his legs were severely damaged. He couldn't run as fast as he used to."

Agni observed how Dan's expression turned from confusion to shock. But he seemed to regain his composure pretty quick.

"Obviously I don’t plan on repeating the same mistake. We have changed a lot of variables in this timeline in hopes to prevent it." Agni tried to be reassuring, but perhaps he wasn't as convincing when he himself doubted it. 

Michael and Apple may no longer be part of his team, but they were still out there in one of the FUG opposing factions. And since they let Rachel go, they would cross paths one day, and he wasn’t looking forward to what she would be planning. The tornado created from the butterfly's wings would hit them the moment they let their guard down. And with how things were going right now, he knew it was inevitable.

"But because we changed things, now my past is no longer relevant. I’m not omniscient, and I’m not a guide that can see the future. I can’t be certain how things will go this time, so that's why I won't let this incident slide easily." He knew very well that he couldn't promise their safety so he had to make sure that everyone knew the risk. "I don't want you to end up the same way. I'm only letting you know so you can be prepared for the worst."

"I see." Dan looked at his feet like they had brought him great sorrow. "It makes sense now."

"Does it?"

"Yeah. The things that you do, the way you live. Perhaps the way you treat us too." Dan was smiling bitterly. "Remember the thing you told me when you recruited me to your team?"

Not down to the exact words, but Agni remembered. Though there wasn't anything worth noting from his perspective. He didn't use a petty plan to trick Dan into joining like he did before. They simply just sat down and talked.

"You said you value loyalty. And yet you scouted me. I, who had abandoned my previous team and left them to die."

"There is a big difference between deciding that your life was worth more in a losing battle, and actively planning to get your own team annihilated for a cause."

"Yes, that was also what you said back then." Dan's expression turned soft. "I thought you tried to justify my actions to please me—so that I'd feel that you're on my side. I didn't know you said it from your experience. Although I suppose it wasn't that surprising."

Agni huffed, humoring him. "You know, if there ever comes a day where we're facing a losing battle, I won't hold it against you if you run away."

"Does the future look that bleak?" Dan scratched his head dejectedly. "If you and Grace are present and we are still losing, I don't think running away will save me. But thanks for telling me that, I guess."

Honestly, it was still hard for Agni to understand why Dan was willing to believe his story. If it were him, he’d consider the possibility of a fake tale. He could have spun a slightly different story to maybe tug more at his heartstrings. Perhaps something that could put Agni in a better light, or something that could give Dan hope. After all, who could verify something that didn’t happen in this timeline? But Agni didn’t want to betray that trust, so he told him the truth. 

It’d be counterintuitive to question that trust, but… "After knowing so, do you regret joining my team?"

"Eh. Not really." Dan shrugged. "I've seen plenty enough until now to weigh my options. And I still chose to be here despite knowing the risks, didn't I? Everyone I've met here are all good and strong people that you've handpicked yourself.

"Sure, I'm nothing compared to Princess Endorsi, or Grace, or even Novick. But you still chose me despite what happened in your past, so doesn't that make me a little special, at least?"

Agni wouldn't use the word 'special' for him, but if it could boost his morale then why not. "Sure. Think what you want."

"I have a question."

Agni raised an eyebrow.

"How did you end up here anyway? What happened in your time?"

Just remembering it sent an unpleasant shiver on his skin. Agni didn't want to answer that, at least not yet. "You'll know when the time comes."

Of course, Dan didn't look satisfied at that, but he easily dropped the topic. "Then I'll change my question."

Agni closed his eyes and sighed quietly. Still, he didn't turn Dan down. It was better to address any concerns before it turned into scepticism. "Sure."

"Did I stay in your team after that incident?"

"Yes." Agni kept his answer simple and confident. Although back then they weren't climbing together since Agni decided to split his team members, he still considered Dan to be his teammate.

Dan seemed to be satisfied with this answer, though he timidly looked away. "I know my fast legs are the only thing I have better than most regulars, yet I couldn't say I take pride in them anymore. So it makes me feel less pathetic knowing that I can still be useful even without it. If anything, I want you to think that having me in your team is the right choice."

Agni was slightly taken aback by such a cheesy confession. "Is that so?"

"I'm not promising anything big though, don't get me wrong." Dan raised his hand with an open palm facing Agni. "But I do want to live up to your expectations, as a token of appreciation for trusting and supporting me."

Agni felt a smile tugged on his own lips, remembering how Dan in his past life confessed that he didn't betray him not because he liked him, but only for his own belief. And now Agni managed to gain not only his trust, but also his respect. It sure felt nice to reap what he sowed. "I think you've been doing well so far."

"That's a relief then."

"But don't get too comfortable. It's going to get harder and more dangerous going forward."

"Of course. I'll be extra careful."

As he stepped out of the lighthouse, his eyes immediately found Grace. Grace greeted him and Dan with a smile, then offered his hand for Agni to take. Dan wished Agni a good rest as Grace escorted him back to their dorm. However, Agni made sure to tie up some remaining loose ends before he finally let himself claim some rest.

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Grace registered a faint blue glow behind his eyelids as his consciousness returned. Immediately, he recognized it from Agni's lighthouse. He squinted his eyes open and saw Agni sitting slouched with his gaze focused on his lighthouse screen. His weighted blanket was draped around him and his fingers skillfully danced on the keyboard.

"Agni?" Grace mumbled, and the said man turned to face him. His blue eyes were still alert, but his body was clearly exhausted. "Have you slept?"

Agni slightly furrowed his eyebrows and turned his head back to face his screen, avoiding eye contact. "No."

Agni resumed his typing. Whatever he was working on seemed to be more important than getting cuddles and kisses, or even a good morning. It happened sometimes, and Grace didn't mind.

Grace pushed himself up and summoned his pocket. It was almost time for breakfast. Thankfully it still wasn't too late for Agni to catch up on some sleep, but they needed to get something to fill their stomachs first considering yesterday they barely ate anything nutritious.

He reached up to feel Agni's forehead, making Agni pause his work. Agni closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders, his whole body seemingly leaning toward the touch to Grace's delight. Agni's skin was slightly cold and his shinsu felt restless, but it was not alarming. Agni must have had a lot on his mind that kept him awake so he was forcing himself to work as a distraction. Grace supposed it was understandable after what they went through yesterday, anticipating any loose ends they might've missed. 

Grace leaned in to nuzzle Agni's cheek, planting a light peck on the corner of his lip. "I'm getting food. Are you coming?"

Agni looked between Grace and his screen, sighing quietly. "Yeah, okay."

Agni took out a scarf and jacket from his lighthouse to substitute his blanket. Once donned, Grace offered him a hand and pulled Agni up to his feet. He followed Agni's pace as they walked down the stairs, always keeping him within arm’s reach just in case. They then stopped by the bathroom and fixed their appearance before walking out of the dorm.

Gyetang was the only one in the dining area mixing batter in a bowl while chirping a song until he noticed them. "Morning, cluck."

"Good morning," Grace greeted their cook and joined him at their usual seat.

"Morning. Where are the others?" Agni asked as he glanced around.

"Novick is in the gym and Dan is using the bathroom, cluck. They should be here soon."

"I see." Agni tapped his fingers on the table a few times before summoning his lighthouse. "Let's have a briefing today."

"Roger!" Gyetang saluted.

Briefing: A casual meeting to discuss and appoint specific tasks. It wasn't an everyday occurrence, but it was held quite often, specifically when they had a special agenda for the day. Otherwise, their team members would follow their own set schedules.

Gyetang stirred the batter a few more times and left for the kitchen. Soon enough, the sweet aroma of butter filled the room. It was a familiar smell, pancakes being one of Gyetang's go-to dishes for breakfast.

Grace decided to get the table ready in the meantime. Five plates and four empty mugs set down on the dining table as he waited for the water to boil. He put tea leaves in a teapot and added just enough hot water and sugar to brew them. Once done, he poured a fifth in Agni's mug and diluted it with hot water, while the rest in the teapot was diluted with cold water and some ice cubes.

Setting down the teapot and giving Agni his warm tea, Grace eyed the lighthouse screen that Agni was working on. It seemed that Agni had their tasks sorted out already and now he was just reviewing them.

"Grace?" Agni called once Grace had sat down.

"Yes?"

Agni hesitated for a moment before he opened his mouth again, voice lowered. "Can you spare time for me today?"

After considering their current situation, Grace easily guessed the implication of that question. He leaned toward Agni and whispered so no one else would hear, asking just to be sure. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"...Sort of," Agni replied hesitantly. Agni once claimed that admitting it was embarrassing, so he did it seldomly and indirectly. Because of it, Grace had learned to catch the hint whenever Agni tried to convey it.

Anyhow, it made sense now about why Agni didn't sleep earlier. Sometimes nightmares would make Agni fall sick, so he must've thought that it wasn't worth risking a moment of rest in busy times like today, and especially when Grace was unavailable to assist.

However, Agni must've been aware that he'd be prone to make mistakes when sleep deprived. Considering that he was working on something with so much focus earlier, and the fact that Sweet and Sour will be moving in soon, Agni must've foreseen that things would get even more hectic. Maybe that was why he was willing to let Grace know that he needed some help.

"Then take as much of my time as you need." Grace agreed, mentally running through things he should prepare so he didn't have to leave the room later. Drinks, perhaps some snacks for himself, maybe a book to help Agni fall asleep. Over the counter medicines, just in case. What else…Oh, wait. Before that… "Have you emptied our schedule yet?"

"I was debating on it." Agni pointed at his screen. "I can free mine until evening as long as there’s no sudden emergency, but your presence is needed for today's event. It'd be awkward if the star of the party didn't attend, wouldn’t it? So I can only free yours until Sweet and Sour arrives."

Grace let his shoulders droop. That was indeed something to consider. He was the one to recruit them, yet yesterday he was absent from the lunch party. If he skipped attending again, wouldn't they think that they were being abandoned? He also couldn't just put Sweet and Sour with Bam's team in a room and hope for the best outcome without him or Agni to bridge their connection. It would also put him and everyone in an awkward spot going forward. "So, what's the plan?"

"I'll keep your schedule open for this afternoon so you can decide what you want to do, depending on how it goes later."

That didn't sound too bad. If Agni did fall sick later, he’d just spend his time going back and forth. "Can you arrange it so that my afternoon tasks can be delegated in case you still need me?"

Agni's expression crumbled before he quickly plastered it with an appreciative smile. "Okay." Still, a hint of guilt could be seen behind it.

Grace knew what Agni was thinking to get him to make such an expression. But since Agni's worries tended to be repetitive, Grace had also learned what to do to comfort him. He extended his hand to rest his fingers on Agni's chin, slightly tilting it to an angle. Grace leaned in, and Agni only hesitated briefly before allowing it—a fleeting kiss, now reciprocated.

Once they pulled away, Grace felt some sort of satisfaction seeing a light blush adorning his lightbearer's cheeks. It was a way better look on him. "It's okay. You know that it makes me happy to be able to help you. Who knows, maybe you'll feel better even before they arrive, right?"

Agni didn't have time to give much of a reaction before a movement from behind the far wall stole Grace's attention. The figure quickly hid away, but Grace had enough clues to identify that it was Dan.

Whoops, Grace thought, unrepentant. Alas, the spell was already undone the moment he broke eye contact with Agni, so it seemed that they would need to cut the moment short. He decided to tell Agni in whispers when his expression showed confusion. "Dan is here, I think he doesn't want to interrupt."

This time, Agni smiled with humor. "How thoughtful. Let's end the PDA so we can all go eat."

Grace chuckled in agreement.

"...Oh, and…thanks," Agni added quietly. The tip of his ear was tinted lightly with blush.

Cute. Grace immediately gave in to the urge and planted another kiss on Agni's cheek. "Anytime."

Agni placed his fingers on Grace’s cheek and pushed him away slightly. "C’mon now." He had a small grin as he gave Grace’s nose a light pinch, making Grace’s heart swell with joy. "When did you become such a tease?" Agni’s mood seemed to have gotten a lot better now, which in turn made Grace feel more assured.

"Alright, alright." Grace decided to get up and help Gyetang bring the pancakes to the table while Agni returned his attention to his screen.

When Grace came back, Agni had his tea in hand while staring at the revised schedule. His glasses turned foggy as he took a sip. In the distance, Dan approached the cafeteria with Novick in tow, acting like he saw nothing earlier. To be fair, teasing seemed to have gotten too old for them at this point. Though honestly, Grace missed it sometimes.

"Morning."

"Your pancakes, cluck."

"Thanks."

"Can you pass me the syrup?"

"Mmmm. It's fluffier than usual."

"Do you have some leftover batter to make a second serving, Gyetang?"

"Any request for lunch? Or would a simple omelette be fine?"

"Oh right, guys, we'll have a briefing after this."

"It’s going to get really busy, isn’t it?"

It was just another peaceful morning. Maybe it would be their last, considering how chaotic it will turn once the Sweet and Sour members get added to the mix. Still, it was something that Grace looked forward to.

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Bam couldn't just let Ms. Ehwa walk around with a sprained ankle when he knew it could potentially worsen the injury, so he offered to help.

They found her a cold compress, then asked Isu to find them a nearby and trustworthy clinic. In the meantime, he planned to bring her around the market so they could get their groceries done before dropping her off at Isu's recommended clinic later. 

Thankfully, Rak and Ms. Endorsi didn't fuss over his plans too much, and Ms. Ehwa didn't turn down his offer either.

They tried to carefully walk around the food market so Rak wouldn't destroy anything with his decompressed form.

Bam spared a glance at Ms. Ehwa who was happily being cradled in Rak's arm. She had bought herself a replacement for the spilled rice box earlier and was hugging the grocery bag over her chest protectively.

They passed by the crowded noodle restaurant on their way back. His companions only spared it a glance and did not look back, either disinterested or distracted.

Something was up in that building, that much he knew. He couldn't see the entrance but that was probably why people had their observers out. Bam also had heard whispers among them saying that some regulars were killed overnight by the loan sharks. So that might be the unfortunate case.

Back before they arrived on this floor, Khun had briefed them that the loan business on the twentieth floor was infamous for their ruthlessness, in hopes that their team did not make any regretful decisions. Though the news didn't concern him nor his team now, Bam could understand why people got curious and restless over such an incident. 

Well, he decided not to dwell on it any longer. They had their own plans for the day.

Based on the information that Isu provided him, there were surprisingly not many clinics on this floor, and all of the trustworthy ones were too expensive for Ms. Ehwa, judging from her reaction.

"I'm really thankful that you went out of your way to help me." She twirled on her hair. "But, uhm…you can just drop me by my apartment instead. Or leave me here on that bench, that's fine too."

"I know someone that can help," Bam insisted. He couldn't explain why he did it, other than it felt wrong to just abandon her. "Although he might be a bit busy, I'm sure he could spare a few minutes for you later this evening." Probably not free of charge since she was an outsider, but at least it won't be crazy expensive as the standard here. He could always ask Hyung to help persuade him if needed.

"Isn't that a bit too long of a wait though?" Ms. Endorsi crossed her arms. "Aren't you going to be busy with today's preparation, Bam?"

Bam bit his lip. Ms. Endorsi was right, he had a long day to tackle. Besides, bringing Ms. Ehwa to their bunker was out of the question. She would definitely feel uncomfortable and wary from being surrounded by strangers. And he was sure that her presence would only displease everyone, especially Khun who placed an importance on their bunker’s privacy and security. 

In the end, they decided to drop her off at her apartment. Though not before exchanging contacts, as per Ms. Ehwa's suggestion. 

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POV you made a mess in their café

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Long time no see, my friend.

(Happy birthday Hatz 🎉)

Ehwa sat at her apartment dining table, contemplating what was on her pocket. It displayed the amount of points that Agni had given her yesterday, as per his promise. It should be enough to get a decent place on the next floor and apply for the test, but it wouldn't last forever, especially with her lifestyle.

If it were that easy to earn points, she wouldn't have gotten tangled up in that loan business in the first place. She didn't know how easy it'd be to get a job on the next floor, but looking at her experience on this floor already made her want to flop back into bed.

She preferred a job that was suitable for someone of her status so that she wouldn't tarnish her family name. But there weren't many opportunities in the job pool that fit her skill.

To be honest, she was actually still considering joining Grace's team. Yes, FUG was bad, but she had seen firsthand how powerful Grace was. If one day they crossed paths after she made enemies out of them…would she stand a chance? Wouldn't it be better to form an alliance with him now? Dan did tell them that he wasn't affiliated with FUG despite being in the same team as Grace, so joining his team wasn't equal to joining FUG. She could live with that…probably.

Plus, there was no guarantee that she could find a better team to take the next floor test with. Weak people would flock to her hoping to hitch a ride because she was from a great family, just like how it had been before. She would then treat them as disposable because that was all they were worth.

She still had time until noon to make up her mind. Maybe going out would enlighten her somehow— she had to buy breakfast anyway.

She pushed herself up from her seat and debated what food to get as she put on her heels. Perhaps something savory or crunchy, maybe fried.

As she tried to decide on a snack, her feet led her to the food market district and the smell from the street stalls made her stomach grumble. 

The market wasn't as packed with regulars as she had anticipated, but it was still crowded, especially at a certain Chinese noodle restaurant that seemed to still be closed. Was it so popular before? She didn't remember. Anyhow, she wasn't in the mood for noodles, nor was she willing to wait more than she had to, so she paid it no mind.

She bought some delicious-looking spring rolls and a special seafood rice box takeaway for lunch. The latter sure cost a little extra, but she didn't mind treating herself once in a while.

Unfortunately when she turned around to leave, her thigh hit something hard and she lost her footing, tumbling to the floor.

"Oww!" She had twisted her ankle, immediately regretting wearing heels to such a place.

In front of her stood a small and chubby…dinosaur? He was groaning while covering his snout with his tiny claws. That's so cute though! Ehwa squealed in her mind, briefly forgetting her pain.

The dinosaur grumpily glared at her. "Hey, turtle! Watch your step!"

He can talk?! And he called her a turtle?? "S-sorry!"

"Rak? What happened?" There was a voice from behind her that stole the dino's attention.

She turned her head around and saw– huh. She imagined Grace for a moment and almost jumped away in surprise. It turned out the person just had a similar appearance as him, if not prettier– with that lustrous long hair and delicate frame.

"Are you okay, miss?" The person offered her hand to her.

Ehwa took it and she was pulled up to her feet, immediately wincing as a sharp pain shot through her ankle. Right. And then she saw the rice box she had just bought spilled across the floor. What a shame.

"Here, sit first. I don't think you should stand on your sprained ankle." The kind girl brought her a nearby chair. And after helping her sit down, she turned to the dino with a squint. "Well?"

"Ah, it was my fault." Ehwa immediately cut in before the dino could get scolded. "I accidentally bumped into him. He did nothing wrong."

"That's right, Black Turtle. Just as this turtle said." The dino crossed his chubby arms defensively. How cute!

The girl smiled and patted the dino's head. "I wasn't accusing you, Rak. Sorry if it came through like that."

So Rak was his name. She could've come up with something cuter to call him, but Rak felt somewhat befitting.

"What's going on here?" Another person approached them. She was wearing a skin-revealing sporty outfit, complimented with a hat and sunglasses. She was giving a celebrity in disguise vibe.

"Ah, this miss accidentally bumped into Rak and hurt herself."

The woman sneered. "Well, you can't blame her. That crocodile is a moving tripping hazard since he’s shaped like a nubby boulder."

"You wanna fight, Ghost Eyeball Turtle?!"

"Guys…" The girl chuckled awkwardly before turning back to Ehwa. "Please don't mind them. I'll help you clean up the mess."

"Y-you don't have to…" Ehwa wanted to stop her, but immediately thought the better of it. "Sorry for the trouble."

"No worries." She assured her as she began collecting the scattered rice off the floor with tissue sheets and throwing them in a nearby bin. "What Ms. Endorsi said wasn't wrong, so it was partially our responsibility too."

Huh? Endorsi? The Endorsi Jahad? The famous model that often featured in popular magazines and TV shows? Looking back at the said person; Her hair, her build. No doubt that she was the real deal.

Suddenly, Ehwa felt her hands trembling with excitement. That's it! The perfect job for someone like me; a model. She was confident in her beauty, many people had told her so. She might not be a Jahad princess, but she was still a Yeon, one of the great families.

She could look for a sponsor to apply to by herself, but it'd be much better if she could get someone from the industry to recommend her. And who'd be better than The Endorsi Jahad? It'd be easy to build her career and popularity with a Jahad Princess as her backing. She knew she could make it big in no time! This was her chance! The lucky encounter that wouldn't come twice.

But first, let's not forget the kind person that was willing to help her, and the dino too, as they were acquaintanced with Princess Endorsi.

"Excuse me," Ehwa tucked her hair behind her ear. "May I know your name?"

"Oh!" The girl was slightly flustered. "My name's Bam. Nice to meet you Miss…?"

"Ehwa," She bowed her head politely. "My name's Ehwa Yeon. I'm really thankful for your generosity, Ms. Bam."

"Huh?" The girl looked perplexed.

The dino laughed for a reason Ehwa couldn't pinpoint.

Princess Endorsi put her hand on Bam's shoulder, a gleeful grin plastered on her lips. "I'm not against you making friends, Bam. But she better keep her hand off my boyfriend, yes?"

Boyfriend…?! Ehwa's mind blanked. What does that mean?

"Ms. Endorsi…! You're going to make her get the wrong idea."

"Well, she already did anyway. What's another one?"

The dino laughed louder, making a few people turn their heads toward them. "This turtle…He already has a mate and it's not you, Ghost Eyeball turtle."

"Rak…!" Bam pouted with rosy-tinted cheeks. "We're just friends."

"Bah! When will your banana grow…" The dino shook his head solemnly. "Both of you turtles are the same. Tsk tsk tsk."

Ehwa could only blink, not understanding what the dino was talking about. But soon enough realization dawned on her that she had been getting him confused as a girl, on top of her clumsy first impression.

It was so over. Goodbye celebrity life. She wished she could disappear right now— or let the ground swallow her, whichever was more likely to happen. It'd be better than dealing with this much embarrassment.

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Bam woke up with an unexplainable weight in his heart. He could feel some unpleasantness from his dream lingering in the back of his mind, but he couldn't recall what was the cause of such a feeling.

Nightmares were nothing new, of course. It had been an occurrence ever since he was molded into Viole— or maybe it had been there even before he entered the tower.

He had learned how to brush it off, completely forgetting about it as he started the day. Especially now that he was reunited with his old team, he no longer had to wonder whether his teammates were still alive anymore.

But in recent months, while the images of his dreams were starting to get vague, the sensations were becoming more vivid. Grief, anger, helplessness, loneliness; Those were the worst kind. Some mornings, he’d wake up feeling miserable for a reason he couldn't put words into.

Bam checked the time and debated going back to sleep since it was still too early in the morning. The thought of waking up with another unpleasant feeling made him reconsider that idea though.

Instead, he opened his eyes and focused on his surroundings. Rak was snoring loudly beside him, and Khun was buried in the blanket on his other side.

It was really nice to wake up with them everyday. A life that he never thought he could return to when he was turned into Viole. It was all thanks to Hyung and Mr. Agni that he could have such luxury now.

Bam shifted on his bed as he tried to recall his plan for the day and gather enough motivation to get up.

He'd need to go to the market in the morning with Ms. Endorsi and Rak to buy fresh ingredients plus takeout food for breakfast. Then he’d spend the rest of the afternoon cooking with Isu and Hatz while the others figured out how to bake pastries. It was all to prepare for the evening, where they would throw a party at Hyung's place to celebrate him passing the floor test and welcome new members of his team.

Hyung had told him that he wasn't expecting anything grand. A simple party where they ate and chatted and played together would suffice. But Bam wanted to contribute his best, especially when he thought back to the extravagant dinner that Mr. Agni's team and Hyung had thrown for them to celebrate their success of passing the floor tests beforehand. Surely his team wouldn't want to put themselves to shame by not reciprocating the sentiment.

With newly found motivation, Bam pushed himself up and off the bed. He spared a quick glance at Khun and Rak who were still fast asleep, noting how peaceful they were, and found himself smiling at the sight before he quietly left their bedroom.

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Prince stared at his bedroom ceiling. He had gone home right after he parted ways with his team– it still felt a little odd calling them that. But even on his luxurious comfortable bed, sleep didn't come easy.

He was considering what the blue-haired guy said earlier. How bad could it be, really? Climbing the tower so far had been easy, he just needed to have strong and trustworthy people on his side.

What happened on the test yesterday was merely because his dad picked the wrong people for the job. But since he passed anyway, he'd just be more careful next time.

However, that 'next time' was actually now. He had to pick between teaming up tomorrow or search for a new one later.

With his dad's riches, he could afford a better living quarters on the next floor than what FUG could provide him. He didn't need to do any chores and he wouldn't have to worry about the threat of being in the same team as FUG. 

He could recruit decent teammates with money, but he knew that Mr. Devil wasn't someone he could buy. And perhaps that was the only thing that made him consider staying.

"Young master!" A servant knocked on his door with an urgency. "There's– there's bad news!"

Prince growled in annoyance. What news could it be that it couldn't wait until morning? He was already comfortable on his bed.

"What is it?!" He shouted back, too lazy to get up.

"Something happened in the office! The head janitor contacted us and reported that The Principal had passed away!"

Prince immediately leaped to his feet, heart thumping anxiously in his chest. He rushed toward the door to meet eyes with the servant. "What did you just say about my dad?!"

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It was past midnight and Dan couldn't sleep. He was plagued by a question ever since this morning, but he hadn't found the right time to ask because Boss and Grace hadn't returned yet– which honestly wasn't that unusual. Maybe he should be concerned for their health, but he knew better than to stick his nose in their business.

Instead, Dan decided to wait in the living room by himself, strumming mindlessly on his guitar. It was a requirement from Boss that everyone should take on hobbies other than sparring. He decided to try some musical instruments, and the guitar was the one that catered to his liking the most.

He had been playing it for a while now; from following a random music sheet, to learning how to play the current songs that he liked. At this point, his hands could play them on autopilot. It felt nice to have some tunes to accompany him in that empty room.

"Dan?" Boss descended from the cafeteria's staircase with Grace in tow. They both looked weary, somewhat tense. Despite that, Boss approached him, and asked, "Can't sleep?"

"Actually, I have a question for you both." Dan put his guitar aside and got up to his feet. He clenched his fists at his sides in hope that it could help him fight off the anxiety that steadily rose. It was a secret for a reason, right? They could easily silence him if it was actually confidential information. He took a deep breath to calm himself, how bad could the consequences be anyway? It wasn't like he was actively trying to uncover it. "Does…an alternate timeline exist?"

Boss stared at Dan with an unreadable look, while Grace shot Boss a glance before directing his gaze back to Dan. The silence was uncomfortable.

Boss eventually huffed, "This is because of Cheu, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah. Just kinda wondering. It's understandable that you look similar to Khun since you're from the same family, and we all know that the Khun family has many descendants. Grace and Viole were easy to pass as brothers, though it was not the case anymore after learning Viole's story." Dan rambled on while he noted how Boss and Grace exchanged glances. "Then I saw Cheu earlier, and I couldn't make any more excuses for such coincidences of why he looked exactly like Hatz. Even their beauty marks were the same, so what are the chances? Especially after noticing you three somewhat knew each other."

Grace hummed thoughtfully, still glancing at Boss as though he was expecting an answer from him as well.

However, Boss only raised an eyebrow, hinting slight irritation. "And the conclusion that you came up with is the existence of an alternate timeline?"

Dan gulped when he realized he may have picked the wrong time to ask. He understood very well that Boss was exhausted and likely in a bad mood since earlier he had been really strict when talking to Wangnan's team. But now Dan was stopping them from getting their well deserved rest, so his cold reaction wasn't that out of the blue.

Before Dan gave in to his cold feet, Boss let out a defeated sigh. "No, yeah. You're right about that."

…Hm?

"We never meant to keep that a secret from you guys." Grace looked at him apologetically. "It's just hard to explain without digging deeper into our wounds, so we just…never brought that up. I hope you understand."

Dan was still too dumbfounded by their confirmation to feel anything but confusion. There were suddenly so many questions that he couldn't yet put into words as his brain tried to make sense of it all.

But one thing for sure was that neither Grace nor Boss wanted to talk about it, especially not right now. Dan knew he shouldn't be keeping them much longer than he already had. 

"Okay. I understand."

He wished them a good night and they disappeared into their dorm. He picked up his guitar and also headed toward his own room to try and catch some sleep, although unsure if he could achieve it when his thoughts were going wild.

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The artificial lights had dimmed hours ago, and hopefully all the loose ends of this incident had been tied up. The perpetrators were eliminated and traces of their involvement had been wiped. Witnesses were kept to none and any casualties were framed as retaliation against the loan shark.

Agni wasn't expecting this floor to have any security strong enough to apprehend them anyway, so his precautionary measures might be overkill. But it never hurts to be overly careful.

Their lighthouses were still on cooldown so they couldn’t use the teleport function, and once the adrenaline wore off, Agni felt like his limbs had been chained down by exhaustion. It would definitely take a while if they were to walk back, so he accepted Grace's offer.

Agni wrapped his arms around Grace's neck as Grace easily picked him up and carried him in his arms. Grace's shinsu wings manifested from the surrounding air, pulsing and dancing beautifully behind his back.

As soon as Grace secured his hold on him, they took off back to their floating ship. Agni rested his head against Grace's neck, trying to keep his face warm, shielded from the angry wind that blew past them.

It had been a really long shift and he was exhausted. From strategizing Grace's test, dealing with Nia's situation, the whiplash when he was informed about Harakiri, staying at the hospital room that he loathed while arranging a funeral, dealing with Sweet and Sour members, and lastly, cleaning up all this filth. He usually could've kept going without sleep for a few more days, but there were too many emotions involved in this case and it had started to overload his mental capacity.

Agni could feel Grace's elevated carotid pulse—such a rough day must've also weighed a lot in his heart and his mind. Although Agni was drained, it wasn’t an excuse to not check on Grace.

"Hey, what’s on your mind?" Agni asked, just loud enough so it didn’t get lost in the wind. He couldn’t see Grace’s expression from this angle, but that didn’t really matter much. He wasn’t too keen on pulling away from his face warmer.

"I’ve been thinking about what happened earlier."

It was an obvious and valid answer. Agni hummed to acknowledge him. Grace proceeded to tell him about his encounter with Harakiri at the restaurant. It was informative, for lack of a better word. 

"We also met Hwaryun. Our Hwaryun."

"She’s here too, huh?" At this point, this kind of reveal didn’t surprise Agni anymore.

"Yeah. I didn’t bring it up earlier because the timing wasn't right. But she told me something."

Of course. Agni braced himself when he asked, "What is it?"

"From what I understand, she warned us not to stay in this timeline for too long." Grace slowed down as they entered the forest area and glided down to where the floating ship was located, hidden within an invisibility barrier. "She also said that duplicates shouldn’t exist together at the same time, and our presence here is affecting events' progression since it messes up the balance, whatever that means."

Agni couldn’t help but grunt. He could see where Hwaryun was coming from. 

He remembered making a deal with God to send him back in time, yet his end of the deal that She proposed wasn’t exactly equivalent for such a favor, especially since he was also filling Grace’s bargain. But equitable doubt aside, he had always been expecting a catch somewhere along the line, as any deal with such high stakes would have.

Grace flew into the upper deck through the side entrance and let his wings dissipate back into the air as soon as he landed. Agni shifted away and Grace lowered him down before they walked toward the doorway.

"Hwaryun didn’t specify what the consequences would be," Grace continued, "but she did tell us that our time limit should be until Shibisu arrives." 

Agni stopped to stare at Grace in disbelief. What?!

Grace caught his stare and offered a curt smile. "I was paraphrasing, but that’s roughly what she said."

Agni was truthfully a little baffled how Grace was reacting so casually about it. Sure, it was a lot of information to take in, but that reveal was huge. And yet Grace acted like it was nothing more but a side thought to be processed later.

Did Grace not know what happened to Isu?

Agni remembered he’d told Grace about it, but Agni couldn't tell whether he did it in reality or in a dream. If it turned out to be the latter though…that'd totally be Agni's fault.

Anyhow, the truth still stands. Isu was dead. Agni saw it with his own two eyes, how he was beheaded right in front of him. Sure, Agni had quickly sent out the Yeon Sweetfish to heal him, hoping for a small miracle that Isu could be saved somehow… Only for the explosion to hit them a moment later, and he lost consciousness as Rak shielded him and Harakiri away from the scorching heat. So he never found out what actually happened.

Because of that, he once had faith in that small chance. It was what kept him going. But after the news of Rak's death, he had stopped believing. And yet, now they know that Harakiri was alive, could it really be that Isu survived somehow?

They resumed their descent down the stairs, though Agni was still lost in his own thoughts.

Come to think of it. Was that why God wanted him to be a healer? It would grant Her no benefit, yet She managed to convince him because it was the least desirable profession that Agni would have chosen, something that he had to really struggle to learn.

Was that also why She easily agreed to let Grace– an irregular who can defy the Tower's law– join him in going back in time? 

Was the catch actually related to Isu's resurrection or would it be something else? Thinking about seeing Isu in that state already made him nauseous, so he hoped that wasn't the case.

But then why did God choose to lend Her hand to their team instead of just the ranker? What were they in the grand scheme of things that they were being offered this chance? Was it really all just for Her amusement? His head ached trying to make sense of the situation, so he'd just keep it as is for now.

"Agni…" Grace pulled him out of his thoughts. "How do you feel about going back to our time?"

So that was what bothered Grace most. Maybe he didn't know the truth about Isu after all. Grace's eyebrows were drawn together in deep thoughts and worries, and Agni didn't like to see him look so troubled. In that case, there was no need to add more wood to the fire, but perhaps one day. "I don't know yet. It's a lot to take in." 

Grace glanced at him and finally let out a fond huff. "That's fair." 

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"The funeral is scheduled sometime this week." Agni told Wangnan once they had settled down in Nia's room. "Cheu will decide the exact date later."

A sound barrier had been cast over the four of them, excluding Nia who was still asleep. For precautions, he said. Maybe a little too much if Wangnan were to have a say.

Grace turned his head toward him. "It's going to be held privately. Would you like to attend, Wangnan?"

Wangnan straightened his back as he observed Grace. The said man was leaning forward with his arms on his thighs, shoulders slumped and voice weary. He looked like he was ready to call it a day and go to sleep right away.

Wangnan spared a glance at Cheu, who was sitting in a separate chair that overlooked the bed. He had his hood pulled over his head, complete with a face mask on.

"Well I…" Wangnan fidgetted with his fingers, uncomfortable by the awkward atmosphere. "If I'm allowed, I will attend. She was Nia's grandma, after all. It's not like we hadn't met before either."

"Very well." Agni deactivated the sound barrier, before he rose up from his seat. "Then we'll take our leave. Cheu will fill you in on what you've missed."

Cheu only spared a quick glance at them before he nodded once.

"Let's go, Grace."

Grace got up to follow Agni, stopping briefly at Cheu's side to give him a gentle pat on the back. "Don't hesitate to call us if you need anything, okay?"

He didn't wait for a verbal answer before following Agni out of the room.

When the door was closed, Wangnan silently let out a sigh of relief. It was such a weird interaction, but he knew it wasn't over just yet. Wangnan decided to approach the bed, standing next to Cheu.

Agni told him on the way here that the reason Grace couldn't come to the lunch party was because they didn't want to leave Cheu alone, and Wangnan could understand that.

However, Agni also told him that he and Grace needed to take care of any loose ends from the incident. That was why they had left so quickly, and also the reason his presence in this room was needed right now.

"We…don't know if he will survive." It was the first sentence that Cheu said, which managed to douse Wangnan in hypothetical cold water.

"You mean Nia?"

Cheu nodded solemnly. "Grace told me that there was a catch in bringing him back to life; that it will only work as long as Nia wants to live."

"Then we just need to–"

"He has been sleeping ever since before you left to take the test, and Ea– Agni said Nia didn't show any signs of awareness when I was away. He didn't even stir for the whole time I got back here."

"His body needs a lot of energy to heal, that's probably why." Wangnan tried to be optimistic.

"Yeah… I still have hope that he'll wake up. I know he's still fighting." Still, Cheu sighed after he said that. "Even then, he will eventually learn about what happened to Grandma. And I fear that it'd only make him fall into despair."

Wangnan looked down at Nia's peaceful expression. From what he knew of Nia's personality and his past, Cheu's fear didn't sound too far-fetched. 

"They offered me an option; to pull the plug, spare him the pain. We did leave him on a hopeful note, didn't we? That I'd figure something out, that you forgave him for what he did. But now that things have turned this way…I'm…I don't know." Cheu squeezed his own arm and looked away. "I knew you were listening earlier, and I think you've got the gist of it; that my decisions so far only led to their suffering. I can't…trust myself to be the decision maker anymore. Truthfully, I've never been one to begin with."

Cheu’s dark eyes met his—Actually focusing on him instead of just a lingering glance like before. There was a weight in his gaze that made Wangnan hold his breath.

"So, Wangnan Ja, tell me… What would you do, if you were me?"

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They were back in the residential area, escorted by Gyetang only from the floating ship until they arrived at the town square.

The walk back was mostly quiet since the chatterbox named Wangnan had gone with Agni instead. It left them with only casual conversations on the way back; from plants and food to weather and outfits. It was comfortable, and it flowed more easily after the time they spent together at the lunch party.

They were starting to feel like a team, Goseng thought. But she wouldn't hold it against them if they didn't return tomorrow to regroup.

It was still a few hours until the artificial sun dimmed, and soon enough, everyone parted ways. Now it was just her, Miseng, and Horyang with the town square fountain towering behind them.

"Should I walk you home?" Horyang asked. His wing somewhat gave the impression that he was nervous.

It was almost romantic. Almost. She didn't want to jump to conclusions just yet. It could be risky if he had ill intention, and there was nothing to lose by being careful. "It's fine. We can take care of ourselves. Thanks for the offer."

"Y-yeah. Of course." He looked a bit flustered, but quickly recovered with a smile. "It's nice knowing you, miss Goseng. You too, Miseng."

"Ah, hold on–" She stopped him before he turned around to leave. Why did that sound like a goodbye? "Are you…not going to the meet up tomorrow?"

It was Horyang's turn to be a little surprised, "Are you?"

Goseng didn't reply right away. Miseng didn't answer him either.

"It's dangerous." Horyang's gaze turned soft, "I have nothing to lose. I have a reason to climb, and I will do whatever it takes to achieve it. But you and Miseng… you're…"

"...Weak?" Goseng completed the sentence for him— there was no need to beat around the bush. "I know."

Horyang shook his head solemnly. "No. You're a good lightbearer. And Miseng is agile; she'd make a good scout too. But you're both good people, and I'd hate to see you get hurt, or worse. Is your goal to climb the tower really worth risking by joining someone from a criminal organization?"

"Yes!" Miseng answered without hesitation, and she began crying. "I have to find them. My mom and dad… I need to climb higher, I need to get stronger. This is my chance."

Goseng tightened her grip on Miseng's shoulder. She personally no longer had a strong resolve to climb the tower like Miseng did. She had lost it along the way with her previous teammates who had either died or left her team.

But these people were what she had been looking for. The light at the end of her infinite tunnel, an island in the vast ocean where she had been drifting for the past few years. She didn't know what the light would reveal once she crossed over, nor did she know what awaited her on the island. But if she wasn't willing to take the risk, she knew she'd be living her life with regret.

Horyang crouched down and spoke more softly toward Miseng, though it didn't do much to stop her from crying when he said, "You could get yourself killed."

"Then I'll make it my goal to protect her." Goseng stated her new resolve. She didn't want to get left behind anymore, and she wouldn't have let Miseng take this risky opportunity on her own without it poking her conscience. Everyone was doing their best to take another step toward their goals, so she should strive for her cause as well. "I want to see it to the end; our journey, that is."

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"Haah! I’m full." Wangnan leaned back on his chair, rubbing his belly. "That was really delicious. Thank you for the food!"

"You’re welcome, cluck!" The chicken man– who introduced himself as Gyetang– chirped happily.

As Wangnan waited for the others to finish their share, he snatched some crackers and fruits from the tray and let his mind wander as he snacked.

Earlier, they were all expecting the worst when Dan led them far from the residential area. He remembered how they exchanged worried glances when they ventured deeper into a forest, whispered among themselves of escape plans in case they were ambushed, and even debated going back before it was too late.

But after all Wangnan went through today, he trusted that Grace meant them no harm. He managed to convince everyone and they pushed through. Soon enough, they reached a clearing where a floating ship shaped like a fish was docked, much to everyone's awe.

Honestly, Wangnan shouldn’t have been so surprised when he found out that Grace had his own floating ship since he said it himself that points weren’t something he needed to worry about. Still, it must have cost a fortune that Wangnan couldn't even begin to wrap his head around.

They were greeted by Agni's two other team members— Gyetang and Novick— and were ushered to the cafeteria where the buffet was prepared.

"Actually, in the rundown, we were expecting Boss or Grace to give a speech after we ate," Dan told them once the majority had finished their meal. "But since they're not here, what do you say if we take you around for a quick tour?"

"We prepared rooms in advance in case you decided to stay with our team, cluck!"

And so they were taken to look at their rooms afterward, just a few steps away from the cafeteria. Wangnan could only gape when he saw how nice they were. Turns out, the rooms were grouped into dorms. Each dorm had two to three bedrooms, a shared living room and bathroom. With this, the boys and the girls could each take a separate dorm. 

With how perfectly their number filled up each room, it felt almost as if this place was fated to be theirs. They even had a special bedroom and shower to accommodate Horyang's size. Dan also gave them some insight on how their daily lives would go as they passed by the public spaces. All in all, it actually sounded too good to be true. 

Living here would definitely be a major improvement from Wangnan's previous lifestyle. The bed was comfortable. The bathroom water was working fine. He wouldn't have to fast when he was low on points. He could focus on training instead of making money. And he would have people to spend off time with.

They were definitely in the recruitment phase, since this ship was this large with even more dorms. At one point, Wangnan offhandedly commented about how he expected more people to come live in such a big place. To which Dan responded with a shrug, and said that he thought the same when he first joined.

Once they were done with the tour, they were free to roam around the place as they waited for the next rundown event.

Miseng and Prince found a dancing game and immediately got invested. The ladies were having a tea party with Gyetang. Meanwhile, Novick invited Teddy Bear to spar in the training area so Wangnan, Akraptor, and Dan decided to watch.

"So, do you know why Grace chose you guys to be in his team?" Dan started. "You said you're not teamed up by being in the top eight."

Wangnan was reminded of his own pitiful ranking, and then he recalled the moment where Grace made that deal with him. The moment Grace revealed that he had already made his picks. "Honestly, I don't know."

Dan smiled, as if he already knew the answer. "Is that so…?"

Akraptor spared Wangnan a curious glance before changing the topic. "So, we're waiting for your Boss to come, correct? Anything we should know about before meeting him?"

Dan hummed thoughtfully. "Not really. He's usually very chill…Well, sometimes literally. He likes to make himself seem unapproachable, but he's actually a softie and cares a lot about his people. Though he can be scary at times too, you just have to be able to read the room.

"In terms of skill, he's the second strongest in our team, after Grace. And he's likely the most skilled lightbearer you can find below the thirtieth floor— FUG acknowledged him for it too. Definitely not someone you want standing on the other side of the battlefield."

Wangnan chuckled nervously as he recalled his encounters with Agni. What Dan said seemed to be on track, and it only made Agni's image in his mind even more scary.

The ground suddenly shook as Novick and Horyang exchanged heavy blows and it drew their attention back to the arena. It was still too early to tell who had the upper hand but at least they looked like they were enjoying themselves.

"That's Novick for you," Dan mumbled, looking somewhat smug. "He's very competitive, especially with new people. You better get yourselves ready."

Wangnan felt cold sweat forming as he forced a laugh. Surely this wouldn't be how he died, right?

It took about another hour until Agni arrived. He looked tired and worn out, but he still carried an air of authority as he entered the meeting room where everyone had gathered.

"Good afternoon, everyone," Agni greeted them. "I heard that you have passed the twentieth floor test. Congratulations. I hope the food we prepared was to your liking."

Everyone only nodded, not much of a verbal response other than hushed murmurs of affirmation.

"As you may have learned, my name's Agni. I'm in charge of managing things around here." His cold gaze swept across them, and Wangnan felt a shiver when it glanced over him. "I apologize for my late arrival, and also on Grace's behalf since he couldn't come right now."

Yeah, Wangnan had seen that coming. There were too many things that happened earlier and it definitely would take a while to sort out. Wangnan was here only because Grace had convinced him that he needed to attend this gathering, otherwise he'd have paid Nia a visit or helped with the funeral planning.

"Anyway. Due to the recent circumstances, we might need to delay our plan to ascend to the next floor," Agni said while he looked toward his team members. "Any objection?"

"Nah. It's understandable."

"No problem, cluck."

"Sure. It’s not like I’m in a hurry." Novick spoke. "But how about them?"

"Since they have applied to take the next floor test, they should still climb as planned. I'll try to get the situation sorted by then."

"Alright."

Wangnan wondered who they were referring to, but he assumed that there were more people in Agni's team than he knew of.

"Now, to the new faces here." Agni called for their attention once more. "I'd like for you to forget whatever Grace has said that made you join his team."

"Huh." His group replied collectively.

"What I meant is; If you’re here because you felt threatened, know that you're still able to turn back. If you came here only for money you were promised, I'll spare you some points and off you can go. If you think you'll live an easy life in this place, or think that you can safely hitch a ride, know that you're gravely mistaken.

"Joining Grace's team means you have to put it all on the line. I assume you've seen what he's capable of, and many will target him for it. Thus, being with him will put you in danger because you will be his weakness.

"It's not an exaggeration that you might die following him. 

"If you don't have the conviction to get stronger, are afraid of experiencing hardships, or value your life enough to stop climbing the tower, you’d be better off anywhere but here."

Everyone was exchanging glances but none of them uttered a sound. Wangnan knew that this speech was intended to make him second-guess his choice, but for some reason, it only convinced him that it was the right path to take.

Harships were already his old friend, so did putting things on the line just to climb the tower. He had brushed with death so many times already, and he doubted it'd be the last, regardless of which path he chose. If joining this team could make him stronger and take him higher up the tower, then he’ll take the risk.

"Grace wanted to choose his own teammates, and that's the only reason you're here. He believes that you have what it takes, but I just want to make sure that you're all here by your own volition.

"I want it to be known that it won't be his fault for whatever may happen to you the moment you decide to join us here, because I'm giving you a chance to turn back after telling you the truth.

"As you have seen, we will provide you with what we got here. We will help you get stronger and reach your best potential. But that also means you'll have to put in a lot of effort to improve.

"And just so you know, FUG won’t take this team matter lightly. Today, Grace has publicly declared himself a slayer candidate, and we know they are planning to team him up with people who are more talented and stronger. They will try to eliminate you if you're deemed unworthy."

Wangnan shivered. Though it wasn't enough to shatter his resolve, it was still scary to think about.

"Obviously, we will do what we can to prevent that from happening in the first place. But we can’t look after you all the time and guarantee your safety." Agni had put it very bluntly for them.

Agni's approach to the recruitment process was the exact opposite of Grace. If Wangnan had to put it into words, Grace had been trying to appease them to join him, while Agni was trying to drive them away. Even though Wangnan believed that Grace’s actions were genuine—seeing how he truly cares about his friends— Agni’s warning wasn’t something he would take lightly either.

"It's up to you to decide whether the things that we could offer you here are worth risking your life for. So once you leave this place today, I want you to think this through. And if you still want to climb with us, get your belongings ready and gather near the forest entry at noon tomorrow. There will be no turning back afterward."

Ehwa raised her hand. "So you'll really just let us go? Nothing would happen if we didn't come back?"

Agni stared at her for a second, before he nodded. "That's correct. As long as you're not publicly in contact with Grace, you should be fine."

Wangnan supposed that means it was too late for him to turn back now. Well, not that he was planning to do so anyway.

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Akraptor and the others gathered in the town square. Some had changed into more casual clothes for the occasion. A few also had bags of snacks they had bought for later. It was almost noon and they were waiting for the last two people.

"Sorry I'm late!" Wangnan waved at them, half jogging and clearly out of breath.

Akraptor noted that Wangnan lacked his usual cheerfulness as he slowed to a stop. "Did something happen?"

Wangnan looked away, shoulders tense. "...Yeah. It was–" He stopped mid sentence and sighed, dropping whatever he was about to say. "Grace will be late, or he might not come at all. I don't know. It was a mess."

"He was the one to invite us and he's not coming along?" Ehwa grumbled, and then repeated her statement from earlier; "What if going there is a trap? We all know that he's dangerous."

"What happened?" Teddy Bear asked Wangnan, completely ignoring Ehwa.

Wangnan's hands balled into fists, teeth clenched. "Lurker Kim, the guy that hurt Nia…He killed Nia's grandma."

Arkraptor was a bit surprised at Lurker’s impudence, but he brushed it aside. The most he let himself feel was pity towards Nia; he was just a kid, and it was truly unfortunate that he had to go through that.

"Apparently, someone from Nia's family is Grace's acquaintance." Wangnan continued. "So Grace decided to stay with him and Nia for the time being to wrap everything up."

"Ho-oh. Then what about us?" Prince crossed his arms.

"Someone else will pick us up, I suppose."

As if on cue, Akraptor spotted someone familiar slip out from the sea of people and walk towards them. It was Dan. He had a palm up facing them in greeting. "Yo! We meet again."

Wangnan turned to Dan and grinned when he recognized who he was. "Oh!"

"Congrats for making it through the test! Grace recruited you, right? He wouldn't have invited you otherwise."

Akraptor nodded. "Thanks."

However, Ms. Yeon had something to add. "We passed the test and he invited us for lunch. That's all. I was hoping I could talk in more detail with him first before agreeing to anything."

"I think he has made it clear that we're his teammates now," Akraptor countered. "Although, I do have some things I want to talk about with him too."

"Sure. I'm not sure when he'll be available today, but you'll get your chance eventually." Dan shrugged. "Anyway, Boss– well…Grace has asked me to escort you to our abode."

"Uhm…" Glasses looked sceptical as she clutched Miseng's shoulders protectively. "It seems like everyone here knows you, but…"

"Oh!" Dan dramatically covered his mouth and then bowed. "Pardon me for not introducing myself, ladies. My name's Dan."

"I-I'm Goseng. This is Miseng."

Miseng bowed politely when Glasses introduced her.

"Nice to meet you!" Dan winked. "I hope we get along from now on."

"Ah, uhm…. If I may ask, what's your relation to Grace?"

"He's my teammate, although in a different group since he has you guys now. His fiancé is my team's leader. My team is already qualified a few floors ahead so we couldn't take the tests with Grace until he caught up. Currently, we just live under the same roof. I guess calling him a friend fits better. What else…" Dan rambled. He tapped his chin and suddenly his eyes lit up with realization. "Ah! For your information, I'm not directly affiliated with that organization. Though it wasn't a secret between us that he is."

"Wait. Fiancé?? Your boss is…?!" Wangnan gaped.

Was that supposed to be surprising? Akraptor thought.

Dan's expression turned gleeful. "Whoops. I think I said too much~"

The haunted expression on Wangnan's face made Akraptor extra curious as to who he might be. Dan was clearly baiting them, but the intent seemed innocent, so maybe it was just his attempt at an ice breaker. Everyone looked slightly less tense now, so it was surprisingly effective.

"Well, since we're done with the reintroduction, why don't we go get lunch?" Dan turned around and gestured at them to follow. "C'mon, the food’s waiting."

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