Flowers, Farewells, and the Burning Floor

“Good, right?”

“A splendid taste.”

“I put a lot of care into growing them.”

After that, Garam returned to the table.

He figured standing near hot oil for too long might be bad for the flowerpot.

As that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly realized something funny.

‘Since when did I start caring about this flowerpot?’

Was it because he used his skill on it every day?

Because they got kidnapped together?

He didn’t know.

But it no longer felt like an inanimate object the way it once did.

‘Still don’t know what kind of plant it is, though.’

He had checked every plant encyclopedia in the library, but none had answers.

Even the system encyclopedia couldn’t identify the plant.

‘There’s something about it…’

But he couldn’t figure out what.

A few days passed.

Since eating the tempura, Garam hadn’t seen Lee Jaehun at all.

According to Kang Yujun, whom Garam ran into in the hallway, Jaehun was busy preparing for tower climbing.

“We will finally challenge the 50th floor this time. It’s exactly halfway up. If we succeed, it will be another monumental step for humanity.”

Yujun spoke about Jaehun with near-worshipful admiration.

As his closest subordinate, he definitely fit the role.

“Oh, and I almost forgot. I’ll be entering the tower this time as well.”

Every 10 floors, the tower bosses became absurdly strong.

Because of that, even Yujun—one of the top-ranked tanks—would join the climb.

“Then who’s managing the guild while you’re gone?”

“We have another vice guild master for situations like this. She’s… a bit of a psycho, but she does her job perfectly. It’ll be fine.”

Garam had always thought Yujun wasn’t exactly normal.

For him to call someone else a psycho?

That sounded terrifying.

“No need to worry. She’ll do anything for the guild’s sake. Just like me.”

“In what way?”

“In the way that we both respect the guild master beyond everything. So she won’t dare touch the guild master’s lover.”

“That’s… reassuring.”

Did that mean if they weren’t lovers, something might happen?

Unsettling thoughts bubbled up, but Garam shook them off.

“Oh, and take this.”

Yujun handed him a card.

A black card—one that looked like a key to something incredibly important.

“It grants access to the guild master’s kitchen. He said you can do whatever you want in there.”

In a way, it really was an incredible place.

“Anything?”

“Yes. If you need supplies, just write them on paper and stick it outside your door. They’ll be delivered the next day.”

“Thank you.”

After Yujun left, Garam stood alone, staring blankly at the card.

Since he got it, maybe he should try using it for something…?

He felt like giving it a shot.

When the tomatoes and corn in Garam’s artificial greenhouse started bearing fruit, Lee Jaehun and a group headed to the tower.

On the day Jaehun climbed, countless people gathered to see him off.

He was about to attempt something great.

And at the very front of the crowd stood Garam.

He had declined, saying it was unnecessary, but Yujun insisted he stand there.

He said it would be best for Jaehun to see his lover’s face before embarking on a dangerous mission.

‘Excessive consideration…’

As Garam walked forward with flowers in both hands, camera flashes erupted.

They were taking photos.

‘Don’t waste mana-stones on cameras, you idiots!’

He desperately held back the urge to scream and quickened his pace.

Might as well finish this and go home.

“P–Please return safely.”

He almost bit his tongue.

It was the first time he’d spoken in front of so many people—he was nervous.

“Of course.”

Jaehun didn’t accept the bouquet.

Instead, he plucked out a single flower and tucked it behind Garam’s ear.

Garam felt his shame meter explode.

“Take care.”

He barely stopped himself from throwing the bouquet at Jaehun’s smirking face.

Doing so here might get him burned at the stake on the spot.

Despite being a crazy person who walked around with a flowerpot, Jaehun’s popularity was insane.

“You’re so handsome!”

“You’re amazing!”

Fans shouted loudly.

‘So that’s it. The answer is looks!’

Garam had an epiphany.

If he looked like Jaehun, the world would look different too.

Tall, buff, handsome.

Rich, strong.

Slightly insane, but that was manageable.

As Garam reached that point in his thoughts, horror filled him.

‘What the hell am I thinking?! About him?!’

His pupils shook violently.

“You should smile more.”

Garam forced the most awkward smile of his life.

Maybe he really should’ve taken acting lessons.

“Then I’m off.”

Jaehun ran his fingers through Garam’s hair and kissed his forehead.

Some people screamed.

Some gasped.

“My forehead!!”

Garam squeaked, but Jaehun was already at the tower entrance.

The people following him were all incredible.

They were on a different level—one Garam could never reach.

He felt a pang of disappointment.

‘Warriors and mages really are cool…’

Leaving his unattainable dreams behind, Garam turned away.

Later, he would forget about the flower in his hair and get teased by Deokpal.

Stepping into the tower, familiar scenery greeted them.

A desolate land, smoky air, a sky that looked ready to collapse.

A jester-like figure appeared from nowhere and asked,

“Lee Jaehun and 50 others. You may challenge up to the 50th floor. What floor today?”

“Fiftieth.”

They had prepared for this.

No hesitation.

The view blurred, and the surroundings changed.

The tower’s landscapes varied by floor.

But the 50th floor matched their expectations exactly.

“A burning wasteland.”

The description fit perfectly.

Even with fire-resistance gear, the heat was suffocating.

“It’s so hot.”

Aileen, the mage, fanned her hands.

Second-generation Korean-American, she had originally lived in another city, but moved here after meeting Jaehun.

Because he was the strongest.

Being near him increased her survival odds.

Which still dropped to zero inside the tower—but she followed anyway.

‘If I don’t move, I can’t get stronger.’

The world had changed.

Strength meant survival.

So she climbed the tower again today.

“It’s bearable.”

Yujun laughed at her complaint.

“That’s because you’re a tank. Tanks are shields just by existing.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

Aileen grumbled, and just then, Jaehun raised his hand.

“They’re coming.”

Something raced toward them from far away.

“Fire bulls! Red Bulls! Prepare!”

Huge flame-element monsters with house-sized bodies.

Slow but thick-skinned.

Hard to damage.

But not a single person here looked afraid.

“I’ll clear a path.”

Because they had Jaehun.

As the Red Bulls charged closer, Yujun and the tanks moved up.

The mages lifted their staffs and fired long-range attacks.

Elemental blasts hammered the bulls.

The surviving ones pushed through—and were grabbed by vines summoned from the ground.

“Entangle!”

Buffers and debuffers worked next.

Only then did the tanks charge.

“Forward!”

The tanks collided with the Red Bulls, shields up.

“Mooooo!!”

The monsters stomped hard, but the tanks held firm.

The damage dealers began their assault.

Whenever someone dealt too much damage and drew aggro, the tanks slammed into the bull again, stealing its attention.

With perfect coordination, they brought the Red Bulls down.

“This is easy now.”

Aileen smirked.

Yujun shook his head.