Chapter 1: Fallen Stars
Chapter Text
Alternate Timeline
With Hwa Ryun’s help, Baam finally collected the Thirteen Months—the keys to the Tower’s summit. Later, he joined Khun, Wangnan Jinsung, and the rest to defeat Zahard, the Tower’s King, and pull off a revolution that upended the Tower’s order. Around the same time, Rachel, aided by her teammates (equipped with Wangnan’s ring, for instance), reached the 134th Floor to confront Baam and his group. After a series of negotiations, the two sides agreed to join forces to open the summit gate. The condition: only one person from each side could ascend first. Baam’s group naturally sent their strongest fighter—Baam himself—while Rachel managed to convince her teammates to let her go up.
True to form, Baam used his immense power to pry open the summit gate, then brought Rachel up with him. By then, night had fallen, and the sky was dotted with countless stars as far as the eye could see. Both Rachel and Baam were stunned by the sight. Rachel couldn’t help but crave closer proximity to the stars, but her legs were paralyzed—she couldn’t walk. She stretched her hand toward the sky, desperate to clutch the stars in her grasp. Just as her fingers seemed about to brush them, Baam suddenly took her fingertips to stop her. “The Shinsu concentration here is too high,” he said. “You can only watch from the protective barrier I’ll make for you.” Rachel fell silent, then compromised, withdrawing her hand. After a moment’s thought, she revised her request: “Take me to the edge of the summit. At least then I can see the stars closer.”
Baam pushed her to a spot still a safe distance from the edge, then lifted her out of the wheelchair. He sat down beside her and let her lean against him—he’d listened, but not fully. Rachel frowned at the sudden closeness, tried to squirm away, and gave up when it didn’t work. She began pointing out constellations one by one, telling Baam their shapes and positions. Baam memorized them silently, while also counting how many stars she mentioned. When she finished, she realized he hadn’t been looking at the sky at all—he was staring at her, unblinking. His golden eyes clearly reflected her current form, yet they seemed empty, as if holding nothing.
“……”
The air turned awkward. They turned their heads in unison, choosing silence to keep the peace.
Rachel kept gazing upward at the stars she’d longed for, unable to get enough. She murmured to herself now and then:
“Stars… I finally see you… My wish actually came true…”
“……”
Baam glanced up at the stars—the ones Rachel had betrayed him to chase, by any means necessary. He wanted to say something, but there was too much on his mind, and he didn’t know where to start. Seeing how enraptured she was, he held back any sarcasm. Instead, he tightened his grip on her hand, which was still inching toward the sky.
Rachel said nothing about the small gesture. Perhaps because her wish to see the stars had been fulfilled, her tense nerves finally relaxed—a rare sight. Her hostility toward Baam faded, and she even began chatting with him casually as she watched the sky (though she thought there was little to talk about). Once, they’d been enemies fighting to the death, but the tacit understanding they’d forged back in the cave let them set aside old grievances, if only for a while. They spoke like long-lost friends, sharing snippets of their pasts and present lives.
When she heard that Baam and his allies had completely defeated Zahard—and that the former Ten Great Families and various powerful factions had surrendered one after another—Rachel surprised herself: she felt no bitterness or jealousy toward Baam’s talent. Instead, she reached out and ruffled his hair, just like she had back in the cave, when he’d beaten her at chess for the first time. She smiled and said:
“That’s wonderful, Baam. You really did it.”
?！！！
Both froze the moment the words left her mouth. Baam’s eyes lit up with excitement—he was about to speak, but then his gaze flicked to Rachel’s lifeless legs. The light in his eyes dimmed instantly, and he lowered his head as if his gaze had scorched him.
“…Yeah.”
Another strange silence settled. But while Baam was tiptoeing around her, Rachel didn’t seem to care. After a moment, she changed the subject, asking about Baam’s plans with his friends.
Baam thought for a moment, then told her roughly what Khun, Rak, and the others had planned. Rachel listened while staring at the stars, but after a while, she realized she wasn’t hearing what she wanted. She cut him off:
“Sounds like your friends all have things to do. What about you, Baam?”
“What are your plans now?”
“……”
Whether he had no answer or was keeping secrets, Baam fell silent. No matter how Rachel pressed, he wouldn’t speak. Instead, he turned the question back to her:
“…What about you? After seeing the stars, is there anything else you want to do?” Anything else… he could do for her?
“……”
Rachel stayed quiet too. Sensing Baam wouldn’t let it drop, she thought of a random distraction to brush him off:
“Do you remember Boro Veda—the head of one of the Ten Great Families? Back then, he promised to grant me three wishes.”
She tried to read Baam’s expression, but he was still staring at the ground—she couldn’t see his eyes. So she went on:
“I have to admit, his power is impressive. My first wish… it actually came true.”
Baam thought to himself: Of course her first wish was to reach the summit and see the stars.
“…What about the other two?”
Baam took the chance to ask the question he’d been hiding in his heart:
“Do you still have wishes left to grant?”
With his connections and strength in the Tower now… if there was anything Rachel wanted…
He worked up the courage to meet her eyes—only to find his own reflection filling her familiar golden gaze.
Was she finally… willing to look at him properly?
“Instead of that, you must have questions for me, right?”
Noticing Baam’s shift in tone, Rachel adjusted her approach:
“If that’s the case, let’s play a question game. Before I answer yours, you have to answer mine first.”
“…Okay.”
“Then let’s start.”
Rachel studied Baam’s serious expression, thought for a moment, and asked her first question:
“Speaking of wishes… Since we went through all this to reach the summit, you and your friends must have wishes to ask the Tower’s God. Tell me, Baam—why did you climb the Tower?”
“……”
Why had he climbed the Tower?
Baam froze. He found himself recalling the days he’d fought alongside his friends. He’d followed Rachel into the Tower at first, but fate had pushed him along a set path. The journey had been rough—most of his time and energy had gone into protecting the people he cared about. Add in the battles and power plays with the Ten Great Families and Zahard’s forces, and he’d had no time to think about his own desires. After all, there were always things more important than his own wants. If he had to say… maybe his wish was to see others fulfill their dreams, with his help?
After all, the power he wielded now was almost “divine” in others’ eyes—capable of granting nearly any wish…
“Why aren’t you talking? Do you want too many things, and you’re stuck choosing?”
“……”
When Baam still didn’t answer, Rachel waved a hand in front of his face and met his eyes:
“Or… has your wish already come true?”
?！！！
Startled by her gesture, Baam snapped back to reality—only to fall into her eyes, warm with concern.
That familiar look… how long had it been since he’d seen it?
His original reason for climbing the Tower…
Baam held her gaze, watching as her concern softened into the familiar wariness he knew so well. Only then did he snap out of it, lowering his head and retreating into silence, as he always did.
That beautiful past… it could never be brought back.
“Tsk. You won’t answer anything. This conversation’s going nowhere.”
Rachel thought to herself: When he’d sworn to be her enemy, he’d had plenty to say. Now that he could defeat Zahard, he suddenly couldn’t speak?
“Fine, don’t answer. You’re powerful now—you probably have everything you want. I’d rather look at the stars a little longer… and think about my remaining wishes.”
“…I climbed the Tower,” Baam said, cutting her off, “because at first… I just wanted to see the stars with you.”
He slowly lifted his head, meeting her eyes directly:
“Later, it was to find out… the truth about some things.”
To find out why she’d abandoned him.
“Then more things piled up. Everyone fought for reasons they couldn’t back down from. Enemies multiplied. I had to get stronger—strong enough to protect the people I care about, at the very least.”
“Finally… maybe it was fate, like you said. I ended up here without realizing it.” He lowered his eyes, looking away from her. “As for whether my wish came true… if I had to say… most of it did.”
Through countless battles, he’d gained unmatched weapons and strength, and protected his friends. After struggling to negotiate with factions, he’d defeated Zahard with allies who shared his goals—breaking the Tower King’s chains, so everyone could keep climbing. He’d endured hardships to collect the keys to the summit, reached the top, and now sat calmly with Rachel, watching the stars…
Most of the goals he’d set for himself when he started climbing had actually come true.
But… why did he still feel unsatisfied?
He glanced at Rachel’s legs again, his expression dark and unreadable.
Maybe… he just wanted too much.
Typical. Either he couldn’t say a word for ages, or he rambled on about nothing.
Seeing Baam lapse into silence again, Rachel pressed on:
“Fine, your answer’s passable. Your turn to ask.”
“……”
Baam thought for a moment, then looked up at her:
“Then I’ll ask again—what about your two remaining wishes, Rachel?”
Rachel frowned. Was he out of his mind today? Or had FUG brainwashed him—those people who were so eager to use him for their own gain?
“…Are my wishes that important to you now?”
The seriousness in Baam’s eyes annoyed her, for no reason:
“Hmph. Or do you really think you’re some omnipotent god?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“Then I’m sorry—I’m not telling you. Ask another question.”
She swatted away the other hand he reached out, breaking free of his hold. She tried to crawl back to her wheelchair on her own.
“……”
Baam stared at his hand, then at Rachel, who was struggling toward the wheelchair. The Shinsu he’d hidden in his sleeve stayed dormant. He waited until she’d hauled herself back into the wheelchair and settled before speaking.
“New question. What was my mother… Arlene… like, in your eyes?”
“……”
Arlene…
Rachel fell into a long silence. Just as Baam was about to change the question—thinking she wouldn’t answer—she spoke, her voice softer than he’d ever heard it:
“In my eyes, Arlene… had eyes as clear as glass—just like yours.” Eyes that cried for others.
She reached up and brushed his cheek, as if gazing at a long-lost friend through his similar eyes.
“She was like you, too. She’d work hard—even risk her life—to fulfill others’ wishes.” A naive,可怜 (pitiful) fool.
“……”
Baam said nothing. Rachel didn’t either.
Suddenly, a wind blew, and the sky began to lighten with the first hints of dawn.
“Baam, the stars are fading.”
Rachel stared at the sky, watching as the stars’ glow dimmed bit by bit. No one knew what she was thinking.
Looking at her, Baam didn’t know what to say. He walked silently around to the back of the wheelchair, planning to push her back.
Just as his hand touched the armrest, Rachel spoke:
“Baam—before the stars disappear completely… can you answer one last question? Face to face.”
“…Okay.”
Baam stepped in front of her, subtly lowering his posture to meet her eyes as evenly as possible.
“I’m here. Ask.”
“Okay.” Rachel looked into his eyes—the same eyes as Arlene’s. She took a deep breath, placed her hands on his shoulders, and held his gaze.
“Baam—you have to look me in the eyes when you answer.”
“Baam, you know I’m not the shining star you think I am.”
I’ve always been just a selfish, despicable person. I used you, hurt you, betrayed you, left you behind—over and over.
“I hate to admit it, but you really are the ‘protagonist’ fate chose.”
I’m just ordinary. I struggled, caused trouble, tried to trip you up… and in the end, I became just another stepping stone on your way to the top. Even a random passerby in the Tower is stronger than me.
“The fate between us was sealed the moment you followed me into the Tower.”
We were never meant to walk the same path. We were always meant to fight to the death—kill or be killed.
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been forced to separate from your friends. You wouldn’t have been used by FUG to do things you didn’t want to do. Your friends wouldn’t have gotten hurt, wouldn’t have been in so much trouble. All of this is my fault.”
Every hardship you’ve endured—you got it because you met me first.
“We might have been friends once… but now we’re enemies.”
“……”
Sometimes I think: What if I’d never met you in that cave? What if you’d never followed me into the Tower? What if you’d really died during the Test Floor…?
“So Baam—all these years we’ve known each other… when I got you and your friends into trouble, over and over. When I tried to hurt your friends, countless times. Even when I saw you as an enemy—when I truly wanted to kill you… did you ever… even for a second… regret meeting me?”
Rachel lifted her chin, holding his gaze, waiting for his answer.
“……”
Baam was silent. Then he reached up and gently wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye. He shook his head—softly, but firmly.
“I know. You’re not the shining star I thought you were.”
He’d known that for a long time. Rachel wasn’t as dazzling as a gem, nor was she the most beautiful person in the world.
“I know you’re not like the heroes in adventure stories—you don’t have some special power.”
You’re just a person who jokes like a tomboy, lies sometimes (even though you taught me not to), and feels all the same emotions everyone else does.
“You had no power of your own, so you had to rely on others. You saw people as stepping stones—climbed over them to get higher, no matter the cost.”
You used me, hurt me, betrayed me, left me behind. Always.
“We’re enemies now… but I can’t deny it. You were my first friend. My best friend.”
“All these years we’ve known each other… when you got me and my friends into trouble—I hurt. I was confused. When you tried to hurt my friends—I didn’t understand. I was angry. Even when you saw me as an enemy, when you wanted to kill me—I was disappointed. I struggled. In the end, I just felt numb.”
Before I climbed the Tower, everything I had—you gave me.
“I know. You caused me so much trouble… but without you, I wouldn’t be who I am now.”
“So even though I still don’t understand you. Even though I’m angry at what you did. Even though I’ve wanted to kill you, when you tried to hurt my friends…”
Even though I know we were never meant to walk the same path. Even though we were always meant to fight to the death.
“But you were the only one who came down from the light… just to see me.”
Even though I know our fate was sealed the moment we stepped into the Tower.
“I have never… regretted meeting you.”
Rachel stared at him, stunned, at the unwavering certainty in his voice. Then she laughed.
That’s good, Arlene. He changed the Tower… but the Tower never changed him.
Rachel’s laugh was bright. Her gaze on Baam was like a clear lake reflecting the glittering stars.
“…That’s good, Baam. I’m glad.” Glad that even though I regret meeting you… you don’t regret meeting me.
How enviable. You’ve been through so much, but you’re still as steady, as kind, as you were back then. You never lost your初心.
“You really haven’t changed at all, Baam.”
Rachel glanced at the stars, now nearly gone from the sky. She smiled—the same smile she’d worn the day they first met. She let go of his shoulders and opened her arms, offering a hug.
“Rachel… you haven’t changed either.”
Baam’s first instinct was to hug her back. But just as his fingertips were about to touch her shoulder, she pulled a sharp dagger from a hidden compartment behind her—from the lamp stand—and stabbed straight for his heart.
“Yeah. I haven’t changed.” Still jealous of you, still hating you, still furious enough to do anything to kill you.
Of course, the result was the same as always. Every time she fought against fate… she lost.
Even if her mind didn’t react, her body—honed by countless battles—moved on its own when danger came.
Tsk. Guess I’ll have to use my third wish.
“…Rachel. Why do you keep doing this?” Baam caught her wrist effortlessly, frowning as he realized what she’d done. He reached for the dagger she held to his chest.
“You know this won’t hurt me…”
Before he could finish, Rachel grabbed his hand—her grip surprisingly strong—and twisted the dagger. It plunged straight into her own heart.
“Splurt—”
?！！！
Baam stared at her in shock. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the crimson blood gushing from her chest. And he was the one who’d helped drive the blade in—
“Rachel, you—” Why?
He tried to pull the dagger out, frantically gathering Shinsu to heal her. But Rachel’s strength had grown—stronger than his, somehow. She held the dagger in place, pushing it deeper.
“Cough… Baam. Remember this. This stab… it’s for Khun. For you to avenge him.”
Blood bubbled up in her throat as she spoke, her voice growing weaker, hoarser.
Wait, no…
“I remember. Once, I crippled Khun’s friend. That man—Dan. I broke his legs.”
“So later, Khun crippled mine. Fair’s fair.”
“Stop talking, Rachel…”
“Then I took revenge. I stabbed Khun in the heart. After that, you swore to cut ties with me—said I was your enemy.”
“Cough… Now this stab—you’ve paid me back for that. Tell Khun… we’re even.”
“Rachel…”
“As for you…” Rachel looked up at Baam, who was pouring all his strength into healing her wound. She sighed softly. “Don’t waste your energy. The dagger’s poisoned… cough… stop using Shinsu. You’ll kill me faster.”
She thought: It was Emile who got this from the workshop. A poison made specifically for people like Baam—people who relied too much on Shinsu. Wasting it on an ordinary person like me… what a shame.
“……”
Baam froze, then quickly stopped using Shinsu. He tore off a piece of his clothing to bandage her chest. The calm mask he’d worn shattered—panic showed plainly on his face, and tears spilled from his eyes, dropping onto Rachel’s golden hair.
Tsk. He can defeat Zahard now… but he still cries as easily as he used to.
“Baam… can’t you wait till I’m dead to mourn? Cough… I don’t have the strength to wipe your tears anymore.”
“Rachel—this isn’t the time for jokes…”
Baam wiped his face roughly, then did as she asked: he lifted her out of the wheelchair and sat her at the summit’s edge. This time, she finally “touched” the stars—just as she’d always wanted.
They were beautiful. Even their fading light was so bright, she couldn’t look away.
She’d always preferred the starry night to the sun—bright, alone, outshining everything else.
Rachel looked down at the gaping wound in her chest. She didn’t know how Baam had stopped the bleeding, but the poison was spreading—from her heart to every part of her body.
She turned to Baam, who was sitting beside her, watching her. His golden eyes were filled with a complexity and sorrow she couldn’t name.
“Hey, Baam. You wanted to know my wishes, right? Come closer. I’ll tell you.”
They say wishes don’t come true if you speak them aloud… but if the wish has already come true… it should be fine.
Baam leaned in, obeying. But his eyes stayed fixed on her, alert for any sudden moves.
She was weak now… but what if she tried to push him off the edge, pretending to be helpless?
He was still thinking of how to stop any tricks when he heard her voice—soft, familiar, just like it had been back in the cave:
“First wish… to see the stars.”
…Of course. Nothing matters more to her than the stars.
“Second wish… I hoped… cough… I could make his wish come true.”
What? His? Whose wish was she talking about?
Baam’s mind raced, searching for anyone who might matter to Rachel. That celebrity, Yura? Or White, Koon Eduan’s son? Dammit—how were these people connected to her? Why was she thinking of them now?
No—this wasn’t the time. He had to save her—
Arlene, that boy has eyes like yours. Bright, like stars… eyes that cry for others.
“Rachel, hold on…”
But why?
Why would someone who has everything… cry for someone like me—someone who has nothing?
“Please… don’t fall asleep. Just a little longer…”
I’m useless. I’m selfish, despicable. I only know how to use people, how to betray them.
Every hardship you’ve been through—you got it because you met me.
I’ve always been jealous of you, angry at you… I’ve wanted to kill you.
But I’ve also always wanted you to kill me.
So why? Why are you crying for someone like me?
Rachel’s breathing grew faint—barely noticeable. Her heartbeat slowed to a whisper. Baam snapped back to reality, ready to channel all his Shinsu to rush her down to the lower floors for help. But then Rachel lifted her hand and brushed his cheek—just like she had the day they first met—wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Really… why do you always cry for me?”
“Third wish… my last one…”
I hope Baam… never cries for someone like me again.
To Be Continued…
Chapter 2: Throne and Morning Star
Summary:
Feel free to interpret the relationships between the characters as you read. (Also, Khun is so hard to write—I did my best to keep him in character! Ducking away to avoid criticism jpg)
Chapter Text
Continuing the Alternate Timeline from Part 1
After Khun, Rak, and the others found a way to reach the Tower’s summit, they saw Baam holding Rachel, his back turned to everyone. Even though Yura—from Rachel’s team—insisted fiercely that Baam let her go, he ignored her completely, not saying a word the whole time.
Something’s off—definitely something happened between Baam and Rachel.
Shibisu, noticing the tense air, hurried forward to smooth things over. But Androssi, seeing Baam cling to Rachel without a word, lost her temper. She disregarded the negotiation strategy Shibisu had mentioned and demanded Baam let Rachel go and turn around—otherwise, she’d start throwing punches. Even then, Baam acted as if he hadn’t heard, not turning around. It was only then that everyone realized his state was seriously wrong.
Khun told everyone to stay calm, but Rak had no patience for waiting. He hurled himself—spear and all—right in front of Baam.
“Black Turtle Brat, are you deaf? So many people calling you, and you don’t even—”
Before he could finish, Rak landed and was about to chew Baam out. But the second he saw Baam and Rachel’s condition, his entire demeanor shifted in shock: “Wait, Black Turtle Brat—what the hell is going on here?!”
At his words, everyone behind them jumped. Khun felt a sinking feeling in his gut—and a second later, Rak’s even louder shout confirmed his fear: “Black Turtle Brat—did you really… kill Yellow-Spot Turtle Brat?!”
？！！！
Baam… killed Rachel?!
The moment Rak’s words left his mouth, Yura from Rachel’s team lost her cool. She grabbed her suitcase and charged at Baam, trying to yank Rachel out of his arms. But Baam’s team wasn’t about to let that happen—they stopped her in seconds. Khun stepped forward to take control, but the two sides were already squared off, and the tension spiked instantly.
Even so, Baam remained unresponsive. Khun thought his state was eerily similar to the time they’d seen Rachel at the Hell Train platform. This was bad—unlike back then, no one present could move Baam or Rachel now, unless Baam himself wanted to.
Just as the standoff dragged on, Baam finally moved—only after Rak bombarded him with his spear.
When the smoke cleared, everyone finally understood why Rak had reacted so violently earlier.
Baam still held Rachel in the same position as before. Her eyes were tightly closed, and there was a gaping wound in her chest—even with a bandage wrapped around it, blood had soaked through her clothes and his. Baam’s condition was no better: his garments were tattered all over, his golden eyes dull and lifeless. His eyelids no longer shed clear tears, yet a strange, watery fluid still seeped out, dripping onto Rachel’s pale face. It sent an unexplainable chill down everyone’s spine.
Dammit. What did happen between Baam and Rachel last night? This was way more complicated than he’d feared.
Seeing Baam’s obvious distress, Khun rushed to think of a plan—but his mind kept drifting back to the night before the summit, when he’d found Baam on Zahard’s old throne.
Back then, Baam had sat on the broken throne, wrapped gently in starlight simulated by Shinsu. His golden eyes reflected those unreal yet dazzling stars, yet they seemed to hold nothing at all.
“Khun. You’re here.”
As Khun approached, Baam’s voice echoed through the empty hall—tinged with a loneliness he could barely hide.
“…Yeah.”
Khun looked up at Baam on the throne, and his mind flashed to the Crown Game, when he and Rak had “crowned” Baam king.
The boy’s eyes had been clear and bright—eyes that trusted easily.
After all these years, he still remembered the feeling of placing the crown—fought over by everyone—gently on Baam’s head, under the gaze of the crowd.
Back then, he’d thought: Baam is the king I’ve chosen. The one I’m willing to trust, to climb the Tower with, to fight for—if it means making his wish come true.
But later, to protect Rachel, Baam had given up victory within his grasp. He’d dropped the crown and left the throne.
If Baam was the most brilliant gem he’d chosen from thousands, Rachel was just a common stone you’d find in potholes by the road—ordinary, and sometimes even a tripping hazard.
To everyone else, Rachel was nothing but a “fodder” in the Tower, not even worth a second glance. But to Baam, she was the most precious thing in the world—more important than anything else in the Tower.
The boy’s gaze was earnest and stubborn, and in the depths of his eyes lay an extremity and obsession unfathomable to others.
Even though he couldn’t fathom it, Khun had still found a way to get Baam’s team through the “Hide-and-Seek” test (even if they’d paid a price for it). He’d convinced everyone to take the Administrator’s test, doing everything he could to bring along Rachel—the dead weight.
In the end, though, he’d clung to that sharp, annoying stone… and lost the gem he’d cherished so much.
It was then—when he realized Rachel might have lied to everyone, might have been the one to push Baam into the endless darkness—that he’d come to hate her, truly and completely.
He’d wanted to kill Rachel a thousand times to avenge Baam. But to uncover the truth and fulfill Baam’s last wish, he’d built a “protective circle” that was really just a cage. He’d dragged her up the Tower, against his will, pretending to protect her while keeping her under surveillance.
Then, when he’d learned Baam might still be alive—when he’d been ready to risk everything in the Workshop Battle to get his gem back—Rachel had stabbed him in the back. To escape his watch, she’d allied with FUG, trapping him, tearing his team apart, crippling Dan’s legs out of spite… and betraying them again, without a second thought.
So even later, when he’d reunited with Baam—when he’d heard Baam was willing to risk his life to board the Hell Train and find Rachel—he hadn’t objected. Instead, he’d agreed to Hwa Ryun’s request to split from Baam and train with a separate team.
Before Baam found Rachel, he’d planned to let her die in the darkness, unnoticed by anyone.
Unfortunately, despite his best efforts to keep them apart, the two had met again just before boarding the Hell Train.
When they’d faced each other, old friends had become rivals—enemies. Baam couldn’t understand Rachel’s obsession with the stars, just as Khun couldn’t understand Baam’s obsession with Rachel.
So to escape them, Rachel had abandoned Baam once more—right in front of everyone.
In that moment, Khun had seen the light that had kept Baam going vanish from his eyes.
Even later, when they’d chased the train, when they’d gone through hell to see Rachel again—the light in Baam’s eyes had never been as pure as before. He’d refused to meet her gaze, not voluntarily.
To fulfill their own wishes, old friends had turned on each other, finally going their separate ways. That was the Tower.
In this Tower that devours people, the weak become food for the strong, and the strong become food for those stronger still. Without food, you can’t survive. So people fight and kill, use and betray each other. There’s no need to blame or hate—just climb to the top and make your wish come true. Nothing else matters. That’s the Tower’s law of survival.
Sometimes, he had to admit: Rachel was one of the few people he’d seen who had not only adapted to the Tower’s rules, but mastered them.
With no power of her own, she’d seen everyone and everything around her as a stepping stone. She’d climbed over others by any means necessary, at any cost—all just to see the so-called stars at the top.
If Rachel is a madwoman who’s ruthless to others and even more so to herself—through and through—then Baam is a fool who’s unwilling to sacrifice anyone, and hopes everyone can fulfill their wishes.
The boy’s naive kindness and integrity had never let him fit into the Tower’s cruel norms. Or rather—he’d never accepted those cold, brutal rules, and refused to change for them, not even once.
So even when Rachel had caused them so much trouble, Baam had never truly been able to see her as an enemy. Even in their rivalry, he’d never struck to kill.
But in this merciless Tower, kindness and integrity were the last things you should have. To show mercy to your enemy was to be cruel to yourself. Baam had never learned that—so Khun had let Rachel teach him, with her own hands.
If Baam was a rare, flawless jade, Rachel was the dull, rough stones surrounding him. To let the jade shine for the world, those impurities had to be ground away, one by one.
He’d wanted the gem he cherished to become the brightest star in the Tower. So he’d gambled with his life.
In the Train’s secret room, he’d sensed something was off—but he’d let Rachel slip through his fingers anyway. While treating his wound, she’d planted a time bomb in his heart, ready to kill him at any moment.
When he’d watched her press the trigger without hesitation, he’d smiled instead.
He’d been gambling—gambling on who Baam would choose: Rachel, or him.
The good news? He’d won. Baam had sworn to cut ties with Rachel, to see her as an enemy from then on.
The bad news? That day, the boy who’d once chased his star with all his heart had vanished—along with the star he’d lost.
What came next had gone exactly as he’d planned. The gem, freed of its impurities, had shone as it should—bright, but not blinding. He’d poured his light into every corner that needed it, becoming a true star, illuminating the Tower trapped in darkness.
In that endless night, the boy who’d lost his star had finally stopped chasing. He’d embraced his fate as the “protagonist,” striving to shine—until he became a star himself.
In the end, Khun had followed that starlight all the way here… and once again, placed a crown of victory on the head of the king he’d chosen.
He’d always believed Baam was the only one worthy of sitting on that throne, worthy of happiness. And he’d finally gotten Baam there.
But now, as he looked at the boy sitting alone on the throne, bathed in starlight, something felt missing.
They’d defeated Zahard. They’d gotten the keys to the summit. Baam had taken the throne, and he’d become the Head of the Khun Family—everything had gone exactly as he’d hoped. So why did he still feel uneasy? Why did his chest feel empty?
“Baam. Tomorrow we’ll reach the summit. What’s wrong—aren’t you happy?”
Khun spoke up, breaking the silence as Baam sat on the throne, saying nothing. “Or… do you want me to help you brainstorm what wish to make once we’re there?”
“……”
Baam was silent for a long time. He looked up at the Shinsu-simulated starry sky and asked, instead: “Khun. What wish will you make, when we reach the summit?”
Faced with the expectation in Baam’s eyes, Khun hesitated—rarely. Instead of answering right away, he joked: “Hmm… I heard wishes don’t come true if you say them out loud before making them. So I’ll wait till tomorrow, when we’re at the top.”
“I see…” Baam nodded softly. After another pause, he added: “Then, after your wish comes true… what will you do? You, Rak, everyone else—do you have plans? Things you want to accomplish?”
Khun looked at Baam, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Baam wouldn’t ask this for no reason. This wasn’t just curiosity about their future. There was something more…
“You seem pretty confident about reaching the summit, Baam.” Khun smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “We have the Thirteen Months, sure—but you know how Rachel’s team is. Either way, tomorrow’s success is still up in the air. Isn’t it a little early to think about life after your wish comes true?”
But Baam didn’t smile. “Khun, I know it might be early. But I really want to know.” He looked up at Khun, his gaze still earnest and firm. “All this time, we’ve been working to reach the summit. But what comes after that? What dreams do you have? What goals? I want to know… I want to do something for you.”
“……”
Sigh. Of course.
Seeing how determined Baam was, Khun gave in and laid out his plans: “Well… first, I’ll fix the mess in my family. Thanks to my useless father, becoming Head of the Khun Family means I’ve got a mountain of problems to deal with. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.”
“Rak? Oh, he’ll probably go hunt whatever interests him next.” Sigh. That guy was always bouncing off the walls—there’d be no end to the chaos in the Tower once he got started.
“Shibisu and the others might find a place to settle down or train. I heard they’re already looking for a Floating Island.”
“As for Androssi… she found a way to drop Zahard’s surname and take back her original one. Caused a huge stir in the Tower. She’s probably holding some fan meet right now.” Tsk. Knowing her, she’d come running to Baam the second it ended. What a hassle.
But maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. A stable relationship might be a way to keep Baam here. As long as Baam was happy, he didn’t mind adding a little more weight to the scales of his heart.
With that, Khun looked up, trying to read Baam’s reaction—but Baam kept his head down, silent, giving nothing away.
Khun went on, roughly explaining Wangnan,Rika, and FUG’s situations. After listening quietly, Baam fell into thought. Then he let out a soft breath, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.
“That’s nice. It sounds like everyone has things they want to do.”
There was genuine warmth and relief in his voice—happiness that his friends had dreams and goals.
But looking at Baam like this, Khun couldn’t feel happy at all.
A flicker of anxiety crossed Khun’s eyes, and an inexplicable surge of restlessness and unease stirred in his chest.
“What about you, Baam? What do you plan to do after this?”
“……”
Baam was silent for a moment, as if weighing his answer. He looked up at the Shinsu-sky—its Floating Stones glinting like real stars, yet always tinged with unreality.
After a long time, he tore his gaze away and turned to Khun, his eyes filled with an indescribable confusion and sorrow. “To be honest, Khun… I don’t know. Or at least… I haven’t figured it out yet.”
Fate had pushed him forward, even when he’d resisted. Troubles and battles had followed one after another, every step a struggle. He’d barely had time to stop and think about why he was moving forward—only climbing higher, until he’d defeated the enemy everyone had told him to: Zahard, the former King of the Tower, the man who’d started all the Tower’s tragedies.
He still remembered the moment he’d driven the Thirteen Months into Zahard’s heart, slicing his throat with Enryu’s spear. The man who’d once seemed invincible had looked at him with a mix of regret and relief, and spoken his final words—words about fate.
“Son of Arlene. You’ve finally fulfilled your destiny as the ‘protagonist,’ just as the prophecy said.”
“But even as the ‘Chosen One,’ no one can escape fate’s chains in this Tower—cursed by the Gods.”
“I was once like you—passionate, naive. I led my friends up the Tower, built its order, and became its fated King.”
“But karma is a cycle. The order I built with my own hands became the source of all tragedy. In the end, I became your enemy—the ‘sinner’ who bears all the blame.”
“But when you reach the summit, you’ll understand why I became this way. There, you’ll find beauty and power beyond reason, supreme authority and glory… and stars more dazzling than anything else. It’s all more alluring, more mysterious than you can imagine. It will tempt you, every second.”
“The hero who slays the dragon looks at the piles of gold and treasure—and slowly, horns grow from his head, wings from his back. In the end, he becomes the new dragon.”
“You and I both tried to fight this cruel, pitiful fate. But I know the curse won’t let me go… and it won’t let you go, either.”
“Right now, because of me, people have put you on a pedestal. They call you the Tower’s savior.”
“But when the hero kills the dragon, and people no longer need saving—when they look at the endless treasure at the summit—you, this ‘false god’ forced onto a pedestal… you’ll become the next ‘Zahard.’ Maybe even something worse than me.”
“After all… you’re the one who truly devours everything, aren’t you?”
Since defeating Zahard, he’d questioned everything. Had those once-lofty missions, that “protagonist” aura he’d been given—had they all just been tools to serve some higher, unspoken purpose? In this God-cursed Tower, every action, every choice of his felt pulled by invisible strings. He couldn’t help but wonder: was this “salvation” and “being saved” just a silly farce, directed by the Gods of Fate?
He’d tried to find answers in the Tower’s endless mysteries. But where, exactly, was his true freedom? His own will?
“I don’t have a concrete plan yet,” Baam said, his voice pausing. He looked at Khun, suddenly unable to finish. “But first, I’ll use my power to open the summit gate. Then…”
“Baam, why the long face?” Khun sighed softly, seeing Baam hesitate. He didn’t want to push—but he couldn’t help but call out the truth. “Then you’ll take Rachel to see the stars, right? That’s why you decided to climb the Tower in the first place. Now that your wish is almost coming true, why are you here, anxious and unable to sleep?”
Khun smiled, trying to ease Baam’s tension.
“……”
At Khun’s words, Baam managed a bitter smile, but the worry in his brows didn’t fade.
“You’re right, Khun. That is the wish I’ve held onto all this time.”
Yet, even as the wish he’d clung to for so long was on the verge of coming true, he felt an inexplicable twinge of unease.
Seeing Baam still frowning, Khun felt a twinge of concern. He offered a suggestion:
“If you’re worried, why not ask Hwa Ryun? She’s a Guide—she might know something.”
“I already did.” Baam cut him off. “She said she doesn’t know what will happen tomorrow, either.”
“All she told me was… the final ending of this story is up to me to decide.”
“……”
Looking into Baam’s melancholy, confused eyes, Khun could feel his inner turmoil—the mix of anxiety about the future and longing for his own truth. Baam’s golden pupils, lit by starlight, seemed deeper than ever, searching for a light to guide his way forward.
“Alright, guess I can’t help you this time.” Khun’s tone held a hint of resignation. He patted Baam’s shoulder in comfort.
“But no matter what choice you make, I’ll support you—just like I always have.”
Looking into Baam’s eyes—still as clear as the day they’d met—Khun’s gaze was sincere and steady.
Feeling the warmth and resolve in Khun’s words, Baam’s heart calmed under his gaze.
“…Yeah. Thank you, Khun.”
He knew this unconditional trust and support from his friend was the greatest strength pushing him forward.
Before Baam took Rachel to the summit, he asked Khun one last question.
“Khun… if,” he said, hesitation in his voice. He knew this question might test their friendship—but he also knew only honesty could bring the real answer. “If I had never followed Rachel into the Tower… or if we had never met at the Test Floor—you and Rak…”
His eyes lingered on Khun’s face, filled with tangled emotions.
“If we had never met… would you still hate Rachel?”
“……”
At that, Khun fell into a long silence.
He knew this question wasn’t just about their friendship—it cut to the core of Baam’s feelings for Rachel.
If asked whether he hated Rachel now? The answer was yes, without a doubt.
He’d hated her since the day he realized she might have betrayed Baam—since he realized she’d thrown away the gem he cherished, like it was trash.
Later, when she’d abandoned Baam again, ruined their plans time and time again, even tried to kill him and Baam—he’d wanted to tear this woman apart, to let her die in the darkness, unnoticed, just like she’d left Baam.
He still remembered the day he’d deliberately sent Baam away. With the same knife Rachel had used to cripple Dan, he’d crippled her legs, too.
But Baam had sensed something was wrong and rushed back—before Khun could drive the knife into her heart. She’d survived, thanks to him.
“You should be grateful Baam saved you again.”
“Heh. Why would I thank him?”
He remembered the way Rachel had looked at him—taunting, defiant—when he’d been forced to lower his knife.
“If not for Baam, would you have killed me? You, with your high-and-mighty attitude—you’d see me as nothing but a stone by the road, wouldn’t you? Not even worth a glance.”
“In this Tower that eats people, there are dozens like me—climbing over others to get ahead, by any means. And before you met Baam, you were one of us, weren’t you? You followed these rules, too. Deep down, you know we’re not that different. With Ten Great Family blood in your veins… you’re even more guilty than I am.”
“……”
As he fell silent, Rachel—bleeding on the floor—had dragged herself to him, leaning on her lamp stand. Her voice was sharp with anger, accusing:
“What’s wrong? After meeting Baam, you realized I might stand in the way of your ‘kind, upright’ hero’s path to godhood. So you’re desperate to erase me from his heart—hiding behind the excuse of ‘doing it for Baam’s own good’ to kill me. Khun Aguero Agnis… you self-righteous accomplice to evil. Who do you think you are?”
Before Baam arrived, Rachel had used the last of her strength to strike him with the lamp stand: “Khun Aguero Agnis. This time, I should thank Baam. Thank him for keeping me from dying at the hands of someone like you.”
“I used that knife to cripple Dan’s legs. Today, you used the same knife to cripple mine. We’re even now.”
“But let me make one thing clear: we’re both despicable. Your character didn’t become pure and noble just because you stand next to a ‘protagonist’ like Baam. Sinners don’t get to throw stones at other sinners, hiding behind justice.”
“I still owe you a life. But you have no right to judge me, Khun Aguero Agnis.”
“So even if I die… I’ll never die by your hand.”
“……”
Lost in that memory, Khun looked up at Rachel—standing on the opposite side of the standoff—then spoke slowly.
“Baam, I get why you’re asking. But you need to know: whether you’d followed Rachel into the Tower or not, whether we’d met at the Test Floor or not—my opinion of her would never change.”
“To be honest, Rachel is one of the few people I’ve seen who truly mastered the Tower’s rules of survival. She lives by them, completely.”
“She sees others as stepping stones, willingly. She climbs over them to get higher, by any means, at any cost—all for her wish. There are dozens like her in the Tower. Before I met you, Khun thought those rules were right. I followed them, too.”
“Khun…”
“In a way, we’re the same person. Both despicable. Both willing to use others without hesitation, if it serves our interests.”
Khun’s eyes darkened as he recalled the past. He went on: “So if we’d never met? I might have still clashed with her on the way up. But I wouldn’t have cared about her. Because we both followed the same law of the jungle—eat or be eaten.”
“If we both see each other as prey… there’s no need to hate. Just do your best to ‘eat’ the other and keep climbing.”
“……”
“But after I met you, Baam—I realized those rules don’t apply to you. Maybe because you’re from outside the Tower. You never accepted those cruel rules. You refused to change, stubbornly holding onto your own way.”
“The first time I saw you—those eyes of yours, so willing to trust, so quick to shed tears for others… they drew me in, somehow.”
“That’s when I realized. Your kindness, your integrity—they showed me another possibility. A way to live that isn’t just about cruel competition in the Tower.”
“But unlike you, Baam—I never had the courage to trust so freely.”
There was a tinge of bitterness and self-mockery in Khun’s voice—he knew full well he’d long lost too many things in this cruel environment, including the innocence and trust he’d once held close.
“At first, I chose you as a teammate because I wanted to see how far that pure kindness of yours would take you in this Tower. I wanted to see if it would survive.”
“I’ll admit—I held back at first. I had hopes, and fears. I was scared the Tower would devour you. Scared you’d lose that innocence one day.”
“But as time went on, I saw you were stronger than I thought. You never backed down from trouble. That kindness of yours—so rare in the Tower—only grew brighter. I started to think… maybe you really could make it to the end. Maybe you really could change the Tower’s rules.”
Complex emotions flickered in Khun’s eyes as he remembered the time they’d spent together—the laughter, the tears, the way they’d supported each other through it all. He continued: “Baam, I’ll admit I once thought of using you. I wanted you to stop chasing Rachel, because I saw your potential—your worth. I wanted us to reach the end together, to change the Tower’s rules, side by side.”
“So to make you stop chasing that star of yours, I tried to guide you back to the ‘right’ path—my way. I even gambled with my life, forcing you to choose between Rachel and me.”
Regret and guilt tinged Khun’s voice. He knew the pain his choices had caused Baam. “But I was wrong. I ignored what you truly felt. I brushed off how much Rachel mattered to you.”
It was only when he’d seen Baam sitting alone on the throne—seeming to have everything, yet nothing at all—that he’d finally realized. He could never decide for Baam. He should respect Baam’s choices, not try to change them with his own hands.
“Rachel made choices that benefited her. I suffered for them, struggled with them. But I know I have no right to judge her for hurting me. Because I’ve hurt others, too—all to climb the Tower.”
“On the way up, I lied to people, used them. I turned a blind eye to their deaths. Before I met you, I thought that was right. I accepted those dark rules and lived by them. Now, when I think back… those people I hurt—they had dreams, too. Hopes. And I crushed them, all for my own selfishness. After spending time with you… I can’t help but feel guilty. Regret. Even if I try to push it down.”
In the end, it wasn’t him who’d changed Baam. It was Baam who’d pulled him out of the endless darkness—letting him now stand calmly in the light, showing everyone the blood on his hands.
“So even now, I still hold hostility toward Rachel…”
Khun lowered his eyes to his hands, his voice low and sincere:
“…but I also know that shouldn’t stand in the way of your relationship with her. Baam, you have the right to choose your own path, and to decide who walks it with you. I won’t try to influence you or change you in my own way anymore. I only hope you can find true happiness that’s truly yours—whether it has anything to do with Rachel or not.”
“…”
“One last thing, Baam. I don’t accept that ‘what if’—us never meeting.” Khun looked up, his eyes meeting Baam’s clear gaze.
“Because I believe meeting you, meeting Rak—it was part of our fate. It made my choices clearer, firmer.”
“Because no matter if our meeting was chance or destiny… we were always meant to be—”
Before he could finish, Baam suddenly pulled him into a hug. The gesture took Khun by surprise, but he could feel the warmth and gratitude in it. Baam’s voice was quiet, slightly choked, in his ear:
“Khun. I’m sorry. And thank you.”
Sorry for all the pain and hurt he’d caused Khun.
Thank you for staying by his side, through all the hardship.
“I’m really grateful. And I’m so lucky to have a friend like you.”
“…Yeah. Me too.”
As Khun listened, the tangled emotions in his chest finally settled. He hugged Baam back, letting him feel his acceptance, his understanding, his support.
For him… this was enough.
When Baam and Rachel finally vanished into the “sky,” Khun looked away. He turned to find Hwa Ryun standing beside him—she’d appeared out of nowhere.
“So my silly little God is finally making his final choice. Who do you think he’ll pick? The star he chased for so long… or the friend he just said goodbye to, in tears? You must be curious too. Want to bet on it?”
“……” As always, he still couldn’t stand this cryptic, know-it-all Guide.
“Whatever. Guess what you want.” He had no interest in her meaningless bets. He’d rather go back and get some sleep.
No matter what choice Baam made, he’d accept it. Understand it.
“Is that so? But maybe Baam will change his mind—all because of that touching ‘confession’ of yours. All that talk earlier… you were just gambling again, weren’t you? Testing how much you and the others matter to him.” She giggled.
“I don’t ‘giggle.’ Baam’s already reached the summit—you’re no use as a Guide anymore. Before I skewer you with my ice spear, go hide somewhere cold and quiet.”
“Ooh, using someone then tossing them aside. Typical Khun Family cruelty. So that ‘support’ and ‘understanding’ you told Baam about—was it all an act?”
Tsk. Of course this Guide, who knew everything, saw through him. It was infuriating.
“But it looks like you at least fooled my silly little God. So… want to bet anyway?”
Fine. Bet then. What did he have to lose?
“What’s the bet?”
“Let’s bet on whether Baam will kill Rachel. To avenge his poor, devoted friend.” She drawled.
“……”
To Be Continued…
Chapter 3: Dark Night and Bright Stars
Summary:
I can’t believe this was just a brainstorm, but it got longer and longer (Who writes a brainstorm for an ending in three parts anyway?!). But no matter what, I finally wrote down all the plot points I wanted to include (exhausted 😂).
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Let’s continue from the alternative timeline in the previous chapter.
To be honest, Khun had imagined countless scenarios of Baam reaching the top of the Tower. He also guessed that Rachel would never let things end so easily—that annoying woman might even hurt Baam, or use Baam’s unknown past to achieve her own goals, or even threaten Baam with her own life to let her and her companions leave safely.
He had prepared multiple response plans for this, but never once did he expect events to unfold exactly as Hwaryun had bet with him: Baam killed Rachel, avenging the harm she’d done to Khun back then.
“Wow, looks like my silly God really fell for your trick—such a touching brotherly bond, huh~”
“……”
Clearly, his vengeance had been fulfilled, and that haunting woman Rachel was finally gone from Baam’s side. Yet why didn’t he feel relieved? It was more like finishing a brutal war: even though victory had been hard-won, the smoke on the battlefield still lingered.
Staring at Baam’s golden eyes that had dimmed completely, Khun glanced at Hwaryun—who stood beside him with her arms crossed, deep in thought—and ventured to ask in a low voice.
“You did foresee this… If that’s the case, what else do you know about where the story goes next?”
What method was there, after all, to bring Baam back to…
“Nothing. Even if I’m the Guide, I can’t control the direction of the story.” As she spoke, Hwaryun looked up at Baam, who stood not far away, silently holding Rachel in his arms. Her tone was meaningful: “The final ending of the story must be decided by Baam himself.”
“If you really want me to say something… then thank you, Head of the Khun Family, for your brilliant acting. It let me win our bet~”
“……”
Androssi, finally reacting, couldn’t hold back any longer when she saw Baam still clutching Rachel without a word. She flew over to him on her Bong Bong, trying to rouse his senses.
“Baam, what’s going on here? How could you…?”
“……Androssi.” Baam cut her off, his voice unbearably hoarse. “I’m sorry, but my mind is a mess right now. I need to be alone.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”
With that, Baam brushed past Androssi, still holding Rachel. His figure faded away in her sight, leaving nothing but a trail of profound loneliness and sorrow.
“Khun… Before she died… Rachel asked me to pass a message to you.” Baam approached Khun, still carrying Rachel. His gaze was complex and deep, as if hiding countless emotions and thoughts. He spoke slowly, his voice heavy with unspeakable grief: “Rachel said, ‘The knife I stabbed you with back then—I’ve repaid it through Baam. From now on, we’re even.’”
“……”
Looking at Rachel—lifeless in Baam’s arms—Khun’s eyes flickered with mixed feelings. For him, this was both a relief and a sharp pain.
He knew Rachel’s departure meant the end of their tangled story. No matter how many grudges there had been in the past, none of it mattered now.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. Lifting his head to meet Baam’s eyes, he tried to reignite the light in those dimmed orbs: “Baam, I know your mind is in chaos right now. But you have to believe—none of this is your fault. For Rachel’s sake… you’ve done more than enough. You can’t let yourself drown in pain forever. You have to move forward—for yourself, and for all of us.”
“……”
At his words, Baam lowered his head to gaze at the pale face of the girl in his arms, his eyes filled with tangled emotions.
He held Rachel like this, trying to use his own warmth to soften her cold body, searching for even a sliver of comfort or solace.
After so much effort, he had finally found his long-lost star—yet he had snuffed it out with his own hands.
Khun’s reassuring words echoed in his ears. Baam closed his eyes, trying to soothe the confusion and chaos in his heart.
Even though he knew he couldn’t let grief consume him, couldn’t let himself linger in the sorrow of losing Rachel… the pain and emptiness in his chest still surged like a tide, drowning his breath in silent darkness.
Maybe it was time to fulfill the wish he’d made long ago.
With that thought, Baam looked up at the sky—and there he saw the rabbit-like spirit who had first guided him into the Tower: Headon, the most senior Administrator of the Tower.
“You finally made it to the top, young man. I knew I didn’t misjudge you.”
“……”
“According to the Tower’s contract, I will grant any wish you desire.” In the sunlight, Headon’s voice echoed through the air. Every word held profound meaning, like an ancient incantation crossing the boundaries of time to reach the depths of Baam’s heart.
“Come now—speak your wish. The one you’d give anything to make come true.”
“……”
In this moment of excitement, Baam held Rachel in his arms and fell into a long silence.
After waiting for a while and seeing Baam still hadn’t spoken his desire, Headon—floating in the air—drifted over to him.
“What’s wrong, young man? Don’t you want to speak your wish? You know, this is a chance countless people would kill for—it’s the reward for all the effort you’ve put in since you entered the Tower.”
A chance countless people desired… the reward for all his efforts…
At those words, Baam raised his hand to gently brush the pale cheek of the girl in his arms, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath, then looked up at Headon and asked the question he’d been wanting to ask since entering the Tower: “Headon, if possible… is there a way to grant everyone’s wishes?”
A way for wishes to come true without reaching the top… a way for everyone to be happy…
Staring at the resolve in the young man’s eyes, Headon’s gaze flickered with surprise. “How greedy of you—you want to grant not just your own wish, but everyone’s?”
Is that not possible… Am I really just…
“But if that is your wish, I can help make it come true.”
？！！！
Baam looked up at Headon in shock. Headon continued: “In my view, there’s only one way to grant everyone’s wishes and make everyone happy—and that’s to become a ‘God’ who can make all this happen.”
“With the power you have now, becoming a God isn’t impossible. Once you’re a God, you can relight your beloved star; you can even reshape a perfect body for her, so she can stay by your side forever. For your comrades and friends who walked this difficult journey with you—you can grant their dreams and wishes, give them everything they need. If you want, you can even rebuild the Tower’s rules and order, turning it into the ‘perfect paradise’ in your heart.”
“……”
“As a God, you’ll gain supreme authority and eternal life—you’ll be omniscient, omnipotent, and all-good, a being who controls the fate of everything in this world. If you want, you can rewrite anyone’s fate, erase their pain and sorrow, and make everyone happy.”
As he spoke, Headon pointed his scepter directly at Baam’s forehead. His wise eyes seemed to see through everything: “So, young man—do you want to become a God?”
“……”
Baam’s silence seemed to freeze time. His eyes flickered, and his thoughts surged like turbulent waves—every thought carrying heavy emotion.
If he became a God, he could rewrite his and Rachel’s ending; he could help Khun, Rak, and the others fulfill their dreams and wishes.
At the thought, he couldn’t help but close his eyes. Headon’s voice echoed in his ears, stirring the temptation and longing deep in his heart: “As long as you’re willing to accept this power, you can become a God. You can make everyone happy—including yourself and the people you cherish.”
All he had to do was choose to accept it. But still, he felt…
“I refuse. Because this isn’t the real answer.”
Baam looked up at Headon, his eyes shining with unwavering resolve: “I don’t want to become a God who stands above everything else, controlling others’ fates. No one has the right to decide what destiny someone is born to bear—even less should anyone have to live for another’s will.”
“……”
“I’ve always believed that every person in this world has their own unique value and meaning. No matter who they are, every choice and decision in their life deserves respect and care. Because it’s exactly these choices and decisions that shape each person’s unique life path, letting us live as ourselves.”
In this world, no one understands your value better than you do—and no one can decide your fate better than you.
“I hope that from now on, everyone in the Tower can be the ‘protagonist’ who controls their own destiny. They can choose according to their true will, walk their own path, and finally fulfill their own wishes.”
“No one will need to wait for a ‘savior’ to rescue them, and no one’s wish will need to rely on a ‘God’ to come true.”
No need to climb endlessly at all costs, no need to kneel and beg a high and mighty God.
“In a world like that, there’s no need for a God to be worshipped by all. So no matter how powerful or tempting the power you offer is—it’s not what I truly want.”
“You were just one step away from becoming a God, yet you’re willing to give up at the last moment… Your answer is truly unexpected, young man.”
At these words, a complex emotion flickered in Headon’s eyes. He stared deeply at Baam, as if peering into the depths of his soul through those bright golden eyes. After a long moment, a meaningful smile curved Headon’s lips. He spoke slowly: “Very well, I respect your choice. But according to the contract, I must grant the wish of the one who reaches the top. Since becoming a God isn’t what you want, tell me—what is it that you truly desire in your heart?”
“……”
Baam fell silent. He knew this would be a moment that belonged only to him—a moment where he made a choice entirely of his own free will.
He turned to look at his companions behind him, at the trust and support in their eyes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath; when he opened them again, his gaze was clear and steady.
He lowered his head to look at Rachel in his arms. The girl’s face was calm and peaceful, as if she too was waiting for his decision.
He spoke slowly, his voice soft yet unusually firm: “What I truly want… is to go to the place where we belong—together with my star.”
No matter how many hardships and dangers he’d faced, his original intention for entering the Tower had never changed.
Under the surprised gazes of everyone, Baam raised his hand to gently stroke the soft golden hair of the girl in his arms. His eyes shone with unprecedented resolve and tenderness.
“When I first entered the Tower, I only wanted to find my lost star.”
“She once left me to come here, just to see the stars at the top of the Tower. But now, I’ve found her—and I’ve accompanied her to see the starry sky she’d longed for so much…” At this point, Baam looked back at the companions who’d climbed the Tower with him. His clear golden eyes sparkled like beautiful stars: “Now that both she and I have fulfilled our reasons for coming to the Tower… it’s time to say goodbye to all of you.”
“Baam…”
Seeing the resolve and reluctance in Baam’s eyes, Khun couldn’t help but clench his hands tightly—yet he still couldn’t hold onto that precious figure that was about to vanish.
Even after trying every way he could… he still couldn’t keep Baam here?
“I’m truly grateful and fortunate to have walked this far with all of you.”
He looked back on the journey he’d shared with his companions, his tone sincere and nostalgic: “Along the way, we’ve all been through so much. The laughter and tears we shared, the hardships and challenges we faced hand in hand, the countless times we fell and got back up, every word of encouragement and every hug… to me, these memories are treasures more precious than anything at the top of the Tower.”
Baam’s voice was filled with gratitude and warmth—every word felt like a stream of warmth flowing from his heart.
“I can’t even imagine what this journey would have been like without all of you.” He held Rachel in his arms, bowed respectfully to everyone, and said seriously: “You gave me strength, so I wasn’t alone when facing hardships and challenges. Your encouragement and support—these were all the motivation that kept me going. Without you, I might not have made it this far, and I wouldn’t have these precious memories.”
“Meeting and getting to know all of you was the greatest luck and gain of my time in the Tower. I really… thank you all so much.” Baam looked up at every friend who’d fought alongside him, his eyes shining with the most sincere gratitude and blessings.
Looking at the boundless warmth in Baam’s eyes, Khun felt as if something was blocking his throat. He wanted to say something to keep Baam, but the words just wouldn’t come out.
“Baam… do you really…?” Do you really intend to leave everything behind?
“Khun, I’m sorry.” Baam’s voice was low and full of regret. “Because of my obsession, you’ve suffered so much pain and harm.”
“Baam, I already told you—it’s not your fault…”
“No, Khun. This has nothing to do with right or wrong. It’s just about cause and effect.”
Baam looked up at Khun, his eyes shining with unspeakable helplessness and sorrow.
“Every decision I made and every step I took during this journey—they were like seeds. Nourished by time, they took root and sprouted, and finally bore the fruit that led to everything today.”
“I know very well that because of my obsession and choices, I’ve brought irreparable consequences to you… to all of us.”
“Khun, you’re the companion I’ve known the longest. But even so… you still don’t know the real me.”
As he spoke, a complex light flickered in Baam’s eyes. He slowly revealed the stories and secrets he’d once hidden.
“Everyone calls me ‘Arlene’s Son’, but I know—she isn’t really ‘my’ mother. Even the name ‘Twenty-Fifth Baam’ was just a name she chose for revenge, based on the day she sacrificed to ‘me’ back then.”
？！！！
At these words, everyone stared at Baam in shock, stunned speechless by this sudden truth.
Under the gaze of everyone—some surprised, some shocked—Baam continued to tell the cruel truth of the past:
“To maintain the Tower’s order, Jahad killed Arlene’s child right in front of her. To avenge her dead child and her lover, she offered this child’s body to ‘me’—the one outside the Tower. She hoped to use ‘my’ power to bring her child back to life, and to let ‘me’ take revenge on Jahad… while ending everything in the Tower.”
“So the person you see in front of you now isn’t the real ‘me’.” Baam’s voice was calm yet powerful, as if every word was squeezed from the depths of his heart.
“The real me is just a ‘source of power’ dwelling in this boy’s body—a ‘Devourer’ that Arlene used her child’s body as a vessel for, something that will eventually devour everything.” There was a faint trace of sorrow in Baam’s voice, but his gaze as he looked at everyone was extremely calm.
“Because my true ability is to devour, I instinctively ‘absorb’ everything around me. That’s why I have such strong resistance and control over Shinsu; that’s why when I’m attacked by an opponent, I can instantly ‘copy’ the skills or abilities they spent so much time and effort mastering…”
“Whether it’s the endless power contained in the ‘Thorn’, or the unique skills and techniques I’ve ‘learned’ from enemies and opponents so far—I’ve only instinctively ‘eaten’ them, then digested and absorbed them.”
“No matter if I’m willing or not, no matter if the people I eliminated with my power are willing or not—their abilities, even their souls, are inevitably devoured by me. In the end, they all become part of my power.” By this point, Baam’s voice had grown hoarse, and there was unspeakable helplessness and sorrow in his eyes.
“After learning the truth, every time I use my power, my heart aches faintly. Because I know—power doesn’t just bring victory. It also brings irreparable sacrifice and destruction.”
“I’ve always tried my best to control this power, not wanting it to become a weapon that harms the innocent. But sometimes, when facing powerful enemies, to protect everything I cherish, I have no choice but to unleash this terrifying power. In the end, it’s a vicious cycle—and it’s turned me into what I am now.”
“……Maybe all of you think I’m a hero who climbed to the top with my own strength, without stepping on others’ shoulders. Maybe you think I’m the ‘savior’ who brought light and hope to the Tower, and finally freed it.”
At this point, Baam looked up at everyone—still in shock—and his gaze was heavy with sorrow:
“But in the end, I’m just someone who’s been using others’ sacrifices, stepping on their shoulders without mercy to look down on everyone else. I’m a sinner who hides behind the banner of justice and salvation… and I’m the one who will eventually lead everything in the Tower to destruction.”
From start to finish, he’d only been a monster hiding in endless darkness, waiting to devour everything.
“……”
Everyone listened in silence, their eyes filled with complex emotions. They understood the struggle and conflict in Baam’s heart, and they finally realized just how cruel and heavy a fate Baam had been carrying for them.
“Baam, we’ve never thought of you that way.” Seeing the loneliness in Baam’s eyes, Khun stepped forward and shook his head firmly. “No matter what, everything you did was to protect us, to guard this Tower. We all see your sacrifices and efforts. No matter how this ends… you’ll always be a hero in our hearts.”
？！！！
At these words, a flicker of emotion crossed Baam’s eyes. He stared deeply at Khun for a moment, then slowly lowered his head, as if lost in thought. After a short while, he looked up at everyone again—his eyes had regained their original clarity and resolve.
“Khun, Rak, and all my friends who’ve stayed by my side—thank you.” Baam’s voice was hoarse but full of strength. “Your trust and support are the greatest motivation that brought me this far. Even though I know everything I’ve done isn’t perfect… even though it’s brought so much harm and sacrifice… I don’t regret walking this journey with all of you.”
“But no matter what, everything started because of me—and it should end because of me.”
As he spoke, Baam took one last deep look at his old friends, as if trying to carve their faces into his memory forever.
“I’ll end this cycle of fate and karma. I’ll take Rachel and leave here. This isn’t to run from responsibility—it’s because I know that only this way can all of you truly escape the shadows of the past and face a new beginning without hesitation.”
With that, Baam summoned the terrifying power hidden within him. It was a mighty force capable of devouring everything and changing the world—something he’d both relied on and feared.
“Wait, Baam—what are you doing…?” Seeing the resolve in Baam’s eyes, an overwhelming sense of panic rose in Khun’s heart. He urgently wanted to ask for an explanation, but Baam stopped him softly:
“Khun, you might think this is foolish of me. You might even try to stop me. But I hope you can understand—this is something I have to do. Like I said before, every decision and every step was my choice. So the responsibility of ending all this… should be mine to bear.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Baam waved his hand. The power turned into a dazzling light that cut through the sky—everything in its path seemed to be devoured by it. Then, the countless stars at the top of the Tower turned into tiny streams of light. As if drawn by Baam’s power, they gathered around him one after another. Each star held endless secrets and power, but now—under Baam’s control—they obeyed his call like obedient spirits.
Watching the sky darken as the stars faded, a trace of loneliness flickered in Baam’s eyes. But he knew—only by completely dispelling the darkness hanging over the Tower could they truly welcome a bright dawn.
He took a deep breath and gathered the resolve in his heart once more. As if sensing his determination, the power gathered from the stars burst forth with a bright yet gentle light. It flowed from his palm, soared into the sky, and finally turned into a brilliant glow on the horizon—illuminating every corner of the Tower that had once been shrouded in darkness.
The night that belonged to the Tower finally came to an end. The dawn’s light gently embraced every inch of the Tower’s land, announcing the retreat of darkness and the arrival of light.
Baam stared quietly at the sun rising slowly from the horizon. A sense of peace and contentment he’d never felt before surged in his heart.
Once, he’d had nothing. He’d followed his star into the Tower, knowing nothing. So when he left, he would take nothing with him—except the star he’d found again, and the unforgettable, precious memories he’d made with his companions.
After doing all this, Baam turned away from his old friends who’d walked with him. He looked up at the path leading out of the Tower, which had appeared in the sky.
Light fell from the heavens, covering the path and lighting it up.
Baam lowered his head to look at the peaceful face of the girl in his arms. A warm, gentle feeling suddenly rose in his heart, bringing him a long-lost sense of calm and reassurance.
“Rachel, it wasn’t until I stood at the top of the Tower with you and saw the stars with my own eyes that I finally understood why you’ve always yearned for that bright, vast starry sky.”
He raised his hand and carefully tucked the golden hair on Rachel’s forehead behind her ear. His eyes were full of compassion and tenderness for her: “Those stars that shine with soft light turn the originally dark and terrifying night into something gentle and peaceful. They make me think of your eyes, involuntarily.”
No matter what kind of cruel, tragic fate bound them together—she had once been the only one willing to come down to see him from the light.
Before he met her, he’d lived in darkness—no memories of the past, no name to call his own. He’d been like a lonely, wandering shadow, forgotten in a corner of the world.
But after he met her, she gave him a name: Twenty-Fifth Baam. She said that on that night, the stars would shine especially brightly—and she loved nights like that.
When she reached out her hand to him, bathed in light, he seemed to see a soft ray of light falling from the clouds to the ground. It illuminated every corner of the dark cave… and it illuminated him, who had been hiding in the depths of that darkness.
From that moment on, the shadow that had wandered alone in the dark took on the shape of light. His name was no longer a symbol of loneliness and indifference—it became a new existence, filled with warmth and hope, thanks to her.
“Rachel, even though stars shine brightly—if you look closely, they’re not really any different from the stones in that cave. It’s just the distance and the circumstances that make them seem so special in people’s eyes.”
Just like how he knew Rachel didn’t have those external glories or honors. In everyone else’s eyes, she was just an ordinary stone you could find anywhere—a ordinary person with joys, sorrows, anger, and desires, unremarkable and plain.
“But even so…” Baam held the girl, who now lay peacefully in his arms, and stepped firmly onto the path leading out of the Tower, which shone in the sky.
“You’re still the only star I want in my heart.”
“……”
The story began with a girl climbing the Tower to chase the starry sky she dreamed of. Then, a boy who saw the girl as his everything followed her into the Tower, starting his journey to find his star.
The boy stumbled and wandered in the dark for a long time. Finally, among the things called “treasures” at the top of the Tower—things that were more like garbage—he found his long-lost star.
Even though the star had dimmed, the boy still held it carefully in his arms. He chose to return to the beginning—together with his star.
As everyone’s vision gradually blurred, the boy held his dim star and walked step by step toward the end of the story.
Light shone on him, making him glow brilliantly.
He walked steadily, slowly—every step was firm and sure.
So calm, so composed.
The light stretched his shadow long, long.
In a trance, the figure bathed in light seemed to turn back into the way he looked when they first met him. He wasn’t a “God” who saved everything, nor a “monster” who destroyed everything.
He was just a boy called “Twenty-Fifth Baam”—a boy who wanted to find his star.
From start to finish, he’d only been himself. Nothing more, nothing less.
At the moment before he left, the boy turned around and looked back. He smiled and waved at his old companions.
Everyone seemed to see his face clearly, bathed in light—and yet, it also seemed like they saw nothing at all.
All they heard was that familiar, gentle voice, carried by the morning breeze, softly reaching their ears:
“Goodbye, Khun, Rak, and everyone who walked this journey with me.”
“Remember—even if we’re apart, the bond between us, everything we went through together… all of it will always be… the most beautiful and real part of our lives.”
——The End——
Notes:
No matter what the original manga’s final ending is, this is the ending of Tower of God in my heart (Turns out I still love warm, wrap-everyone-up happy endings hhhh).