"Mic test! Mic test! One two three! Good morning regulars! This is Lero-Ro. Did you all have breakfast? I know yesterday's test was exhausting, but don't just stay in bed and eat your meals" You clothed yourself in the typical clothes you had been wearing for the position test: the Evankhell's shop uniform. The voice from outside blasted into your room as well, "For your information, all the food is free now that the tests are over. For those of you who didn't eat too much to conserve points, please help yourselves! Though, to be honest, the food here isn't very good."

"Now to the main topic, tonight at 6 pm, the list of regulars who'll take the final exam will be announced! All regulars, please come to the first hall by six o'clock! Alright, that's it! Bye!" Soon enough, you found yourself in the restaurant, ordering two servings of pearl, jade and white jade soup and two loafs of bread to go.

Not long later, you found yourself in front of Ho's room, knocking on his door and receiving no response. You hummed, deciding to speak through the door, hopefully reaching the regular who wouldn't walk out of his room, "Good morning, sorry to disturb you, Mr. Ho. But I've brought you some food so please do eat up."

Ho cfucled into a ball on his bed, clutching his blankets- ". . . The reason you hate us is not because we have all this power, is it? You just want something to protect."

I wonder if it's the same for you, Ms. Serena

And thus you went on your way to head to your room- until a door opened beside you and a hand latched onto your arm, pulling you into the room. The familiar scent of blueberries and vanilla reached your nose, "Mr. Khun?"

"Stay here for a while, [Name]."

"Mm?" You glanced up at his face, "Alright."

". . . Baam knew about Rachel. . ." Khun sighed after a moment, letting you go and flopping onto his bed as he recalled the morning's events when Baam hurriedly left to check on Rachel.

You hummed to his words, nodding, "Yes, I suppose they'll go up the tower together now, don't you think so?"

He sat up, "But Baam achieved his goal. So why would he keep climbing up the tower?"

"That's true, however Ms. Rachel still has a long way to go before she reaches the top of the tower to see the stars. Why would Baam let her go alone? More than anything else Baam wishes to stay with her." You placed a hand on your chest, a giggle falling from your lips, "Of course, if Baam requires our assistance I won't just sit still. Hehehe."

"Though we all might be 'enemies' in tests, we're all friends and comrades above all else, Mr. Khun." You explained, a quiet smile resting on your face as silence came into the room. Khun laid back onto his bed, placing his arm over his face to cover his wide grin- ". . . Yeah."

Then multiple bangs were heard on the door. Khun stood, "Who-"

"Hey! You sneaky turtle!! Open the door!!"

Khun sighed dejectedly, placing a hand on the doorknob, "What do you want?"

And he opened the door- "Rak?"

He received a headbutt to his stomach- "What the hell! What do you think you're doing!? Crocodile!!"

Khun looked at his teammate, a small crocodile humanoid reaching his view, "Where's your dad?"

He received yet another headbutt.

You sighed, taking your hand from Khun's forehead where he received his second attack from Rak, who sat on Khun's bed, across him. Once you confirmed that there was no injury or pain after healing him, you nodded to yourself. Then you faced the crocodile, "Mr. Rak, may I ask what happened?"

Abundant lughter left Khun who slapped the chair he sat on repeatedly, his other hand placed on his stomach, "That's hilarious!! You've turned into a munchkin overnight!! You look much younger!!"

"Don't laugh, t-turtle!!" Rak was promptly ignored, "D-damn it!! I said stop!!!"

"Damn!! It's all because of that coffee addict!!" Rak roared, recalling yesterday's afternoon when he bumped into the test director, called him small and got compressed and made fun off in turn. "Argh!! That damn turtle bastard!! How dare he does this to me!!"

"So you can here to ask me to make you big again with my bag?"

"Yeah! Your bag! Can't it shrink and expand things? Please. . .!"

Khun snickered, "Sorry, but it can't."

"What!? Why not!?"

"This can only compress objects that go into the bag. To change the size of a living this, you need permission. so please get out now." Khun explained, flopping back onto his bed and Rak walked past him.

"Damn! I thought you would be useful!! You're only good for cheating!!" Rak stormed away, pausing mid-way to turn back. "Hey, mermaid turtle. Where's that black turtle? Don't tell me that my prey was eaten by someone else."

You shook your head and offered a quiet smile, "Baam is checking up on Ms. Light. If you want to see him soon, let's wait here."

Khun boredly at the ceiling as you conversed with Rak, snapping out of his draining train of thoughts about Baam's decision in continuing up the tower before he got kicked in his face. He jolted up, an angry glare on his face, "What the hell!? What are you doing crocodile!?"

"Hmpf. You and your rotten eyes. You were useless before and you're even more useless now." Rak turned heading to the door. Khun spoke, stopping Rak amidst his tracks, "I had a sister named Maria. Well. . . I call her my sister but we have different mother's. Actually, we're barely related. I think that was why she was nice and kind. . . unlike me. She knew how to care for others."

"I grew up as part of the main family that was disputing over power everyday. She was an alien. . . but also a miracle. I believed that she deserved to be the one to be by the King's side and relish all the happiness." Khun explained, images of Maria flashing in his mind, "And I succeeded in her place next to the king. That was actually my biological's sister spot. So it was easier for me to do what I did. But since that day. . . something has been missing from my heart."

"Everything went according to plan. But something is missing . Maybe I'm going up the tower to find what I lost that day. I thought I could find something while watching Baam chasing Rachel and Rachel looking after Baam." Khun sighed, laying back down on his bed, "To be honest, I was probably reluctant about them meeting before I found what I was looking for. That's why I helped her to ensure that Baam kept going. But when I woke up, nothing has changed."

"I was always perfect. What was missing?"

For a moment there was silence - and then Rak huffed angrily, "Mermaid turtle, he's worse than I thought."

"You sent your sister to the King's side because you thought it suited her?" Rak stood on the chair by the bed after struggling, "And you're boasting about it?"

"Do you even know what it is to be a Princess of Zahard? You stupid crocodile? You have all the power and-"

"If I were you," Rak cut Khun off, "And I thought she deserved to be next to the King, I would kill that king and make myself the king."

"Then the person sitting next to me is my choice."

"Hmph. You don't know what that-"

Rak pointed at Khun, "I think what you lost that day, is your banana!!"

And there was silence- before the crinckle of your garments broke through the air, "Before you wanted to send Ms. Maria next to the King, I think you wanted to be together with her, Mr. Khun."

Knocks came onto the door which opened a second later, revealing Baam by the doorway, a somber expression on his face, "I have something to tell you."

"Rachel. . . might not be able to walk anymore." You sat straight up, eyes wide in shock as you recalled the wound Ho had inflicted on Rachel which you had healed, leaving nothing but smooth skin. "I heard it's curable with shinsu. . . but it takes time and costs a fortune. . . and besides we need an expert, so I think I'll. . . I'll be Rachel's legs!"

". . . What?"

"I'll be Rachel's legs and help her go up the tower. I. . . don't really care what's up in the tower. I don't look forward to seeing the stars but if going up there is what Rachel wants then I want to make it happen."

"I don't mind if it's hard or dangerous. I'll keep climbing." Baam continued, "Um. . . I know this is too much to ask but I'm not as admirable or strong or smart as you are. . . so, I want to ask you. . . if you'll join me"

"I don't know how you'll take this. . . but you are my cherished friends. . . I want to go up with you three." Baam smiled nervously. Rak jumped towards Baam, "Ok! Turtle! If you're asking I'm in!"

"Well, difficulty is," Khun pushed Rak aside, the crocodile falling to the floor, "my specialty. I'll escort you to the top of the tower, in the most evil and sneaky was possible. Be prepared, once it starts, no matter how rough it gets, you won't be able to get out."

You nodded simply, "Of course. Take heart, victory will be ours."

"Thank you!! I mean it!"

"Don't thank us. Alright then, to trick or to bluff? Which do you want to learn first?"

Perhaps, just this once, you'd snoop around more than you should- for deep in the waters, the truth awaits.

- -

"What an astounding collection." You commented as you glanced around the room full of speakers. Lero-Ro shook his head, preparing some tea, "No no, I just bought some when I moved in. It's nothing special."

You smiled wryly, ". . . I see.

"So, what questions do you have this time?" Lero-Ro placed his cup of tea down onto the table.

"I would like to know if there's a way for Ms. Michelle Light, who failed due to an injury, to take the next test."

"I did hear about Michelle and Baam but we can't let her take the test just because of their personal drama. Remaining healthy is a regular 's duty. Besides, you could've healed her anyways." Lero-Ro reasoned, drinking his tea.

"I have reason to believe Ms. Rachel's injury was indirectly inflicted by a ranker who may be helping her." You took out the note Khun made a copy of with his bad, Manbarondenna, and gave it to the ranker across the table "Mr. Khun gave me this, it's a copy of a note someone gave Mr. Ho one day before the hide-and-seek test. To sum up, it says, kill Ms. Rachel to keep Baam from climbing the tower."

"This definitely did not come from a regular. Someone who knew the parameters of the test before it was announced must've done this and no other regular besides Mr. Khun, Ms. Androssi, and I knew of Ms. Rachel and Baam. And the three of us are helping them, we have no reason to sabatoge them either." Lero-Ro took the paper, unfolding it and reading it for himself, "Mr. Lero-Ro, this note and the fact that Ms. Rachel and Baam is taking the same test, is proof that someone is deliberately bending the rules of this floor to keep Baam, who has incredible talent, from climbing this tower."

"Furthermore, right after the test when Ms. Rachel was unconscious, I had already healed her wound. Even if I hadn't, it wouldn't have been deep enough to paralyze her legs. Whoever has access to officialize who fails and passes must've lied about her injury. You can check with the doctor yourself." You explained, "Think carefully. This test has too many anomalies: two Princesses of Zahard, which is impossible given that they're chosen every several generations; Ms. Anak who has Green April even when she isn't a ranker nor a chosen princess; three precious weapons; and irregulars."

"I fear that this test is not to see if we're worthy of climbing this tower, but to eliminate threats to keep this tower from chaos." Lero-Ro placed his mug down as you spoke, a scowl settling on his features, "Irregulars? More than one?"

You nodded, images of Rachel, Baam, Akryung and yourself flashing through your mind, "That's right. Irregulars aren't from this tower aren't they?"

For a moment the ranker said nothing, then he sighed.

"There might be a way to let Michelle take the next test, I need some time to think." Lero-Ro said and you stood with a bow. You headed to the door, "I'll see you before the announcement. Don't do anything to jeopardize yourself."

With that, you left the room.

- -

"Good afternoon, regulars. This is Lero-Ro. Starting now, I will announce the regulars who passed the final position test." A list appeared on his lighthouse and you went through the list, spotting your picture. A loud slam- "What!? What's this!? Why am I out!!? Our team beat the test!! How come I'm not in there!!?"

The test director spoke, "You don't agree with the results?"

"Of course not!! Why did I fail, huh!?"

"As I said, the teacher's scores are also factors-"

"That's bull!! Quit the nonsense and change it!! I passed!! You know how hard I tried on the last test, you coffee addict!!" The director stood and walked to the stage, gesturing for the regular to approach with his fingers. The regular walked onto the stage, "Ok, Mr. Mauchi, if you don't agree with the results prove that you're talented enough to pass the test . Right here, right now."

". . . What? How can I. . .?" Mauchi asked.

"It's easy. You just have to make it off of this platform without going crazy."

"What?"

Thus before long, the regular found himself on the ground, unable to move.

"Wait," Khun stood from his seat, raising his hand, "I also disagree with the results, Director."

Yu Han Sung sighed, "Come up here please."

Khun came up to the stage, stopping in front of the director before pointing towards Mauchi who glanced up at him hopefully, "I think he hasn't been beaten enough."

"Oh, I see."

"Hey!!"

"So, what are you unsatisfied about, Mr. Khun? You passed the test with a hugh score. I'm sure you're not here to ask me to fail you." Yu Han Sung asked boredly after he knocked Mauchi out cold.

"I want Michelle Light, who failed due to an injury, to move onto the next round." Khun announced. The director stared at him, "Why do you care about Michelle?"

"It's important to my friend." Khun replied. Once again, the director stared at him- before he laughed, "Hahahahaha!! Oh, I'm sorry. I don't associate you with the word friend."

"Haha. . . but I'm sorry. She's too wounded to take the next test. and the rules say injured candidates can't participate in the next round." The director wiped his teary eyes.

"Yes, under normal circumstances that would be true. I'll meet the administrator of this floor myself and take his test." Khun explained, "I heard that although the supervisors carry out the tests now, the administrator has supreme authority on all tests. If I get permission from the administrator for Michelle to rejoin the group, your rule regarding injury and failure would be invalid, right? So I'll take the test from the administrator to get permission for Michelle Light to rejoin the game."

". . . And how did you know all this?" Yu Han Sung asked. Khun gave him a smug look, "Well, I'm from the Khun family. I've heard a lot about the tests."

"Then you must know why people choose not to take that test."

"That test is too difficult compared to the floor tests. So people won't risk taking it. But it's ok, I'll pass."

"Aren't you a little cocky? Sorry to say, but there's another reason people don't take that test. There's a requirement to take the test." Yu Hansung admitted. Khun flinched, "What!?"

"You must be an irregular, like Zahard or Urek Mazino. Only an irregular can take that test."

"That's. . ."

The director smiled, "You must've not known about that rule. I know. This is ancient lore, so only a few of us know the specifics of that test. I'm sorry to inform you that your plan didn't work. Now please go back to your seat, Mr. Khun."

And there was a shout- thus all became still.

author's note

pearl, jade and white jade soup = jewelry soup

mc talking to ho was basically her saying goodbye to him + serena

rak would probably hit khun for no reason at all- a lot like siblings do 😭😭