Chapter 7: Kalon in Solitude

Chapter 7: Kalon in Solitude

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The days passed, and before long, Bam was healthy again. Kalon noticed him one morning while heading to his class.

He exchanged greetings with Bam, who responded, though his mind seemed elsewhere. Perhaps he was preoccupied with thoughts of Rachel, the girl he'd glimpsed at the end of the Crown Game.

Kalon occasionally ran into Khun during class, though they barely interacted. Khun always occupied a seat at the front, while Kalon, influenced by his past habits, preferred to sit at the back.

Even Tryllo and Squidshark had old acquaintances in the Tower, participants in the test like themselves. Their time with Kalon had dwindled as they began spending more time with their friends.

Kalon understood this change. The next test wouldn't require teams since sorting would now be random. There was no reason for them to stay together anymore.

Seated at the back of the class, Kalon found himself reflecting on his memories from Earth. Although he hadn't had many friends, the few he did have were loyal and supportive, always there when he faced unfairness.

[Skill Detected: Lighthouse Flow Control – Stored in System Space.]

As memories of familiar faces from his past filled his mind, Kalon found himself reluctant to return to reality. But this was a class, and he couldn't afford to attract unnecessary attention.

Opening one eye, he glanced around, seeking the source of the notification. His gaze settled on a student seated at the front—a child from one of the 10 Great Families. The boy had been discarded because his sibling lost the Princess of Zahard competition. As a result, everyone related to her had been cast out of the family.

It was none other than Khun Aguero Agnes.

The situation was ironic. If the family head's logic held, he should have exiled himself too, since he was also related by blood. But hypocrisy ran deep in these powerful families. They didn't care for their children's desires, only for pleasing the King.

Kalon recalled how the story hadn't yet revealed why Zahard imposed such harsh measures. He'd been curious about the reason, but before it could be explained, he was thrust into this reality—the true world of Tower of God.

Studying the behavior of other regulars, Kalon decided to remain inconspicuous. Too much talent, without a powerful backing, was dangerous. Khun, with his lineage, was safe. But Kalon remembered how Bam had exposed himself by showcasing abilities far beyond those of a normal regular.

...

"One juice and four macarons, please," Kalon said, holding an empty tray as he ordered his meal.

His isolation was evident. Despite being on this floor for so long, he hadn't even known where to find food until yesterday—thanks to an unexpected encounter with Androssi Zahard.

"I haven't seen you in the cafeteria for days," she'd said. "I thought you might be dead."

"Clearly, I'm still alive, Princess," Kalon had replied flatly, his melancholy reflected in his tone.

"You little—what's with that attitude?" Androssi snapped. Her temper flared as she launched a punch, strong enough to incapacitate any ordinary regular.

Thud!

Expecting Kalon to crumple, Androssi was startled to find him still standing. His gaze, calm and steady, met hers. He'd grown taller, now a head above her, and hadn't even flinched.

Was her punch off-target?

"I'm sorry if I offended you, Princess," Kalon said evenly. "But could you tell me where to find food?"

It was only then that Androssi realized her fist still rested against his chest, separated by his clothes. Embarrassed, she quickly pulled back. A princess couldn't afford such proximity to a man outside of battle.

"You should thank me for holding back," she muttered. "Otherwise, you'd already be out of the Tower."

"Did you say something, Princess?" Kalon asked, stepping back slightly.

"No—nothing. Follow me," Androssi replied, turning abruptly and walking ahead.

Kalon followed, his pace steady. He walked beside her, drawing her ire once more.

"Why are you walking next to me? Just follow behind!"

"My mother taught me to walk either ahead or beside a lady, never behind—unless she's my mother or sister," Kalon explained simply.

Caught off guard, Androssi let it slide. She too disliked the sensation of people trailing behind her.

"This is the cafeteria," she said as they arrived. "You can manage from here, right?"

"Yes, Princess. Thank you for your concern," Kalon replied earnestly. His gratitude was genuine—after three days of starvation, he was finally getting a proper meal.

Back in the present, Kalon sat in a secluded corner of the cafeteria, savoring his macarons and juice.

"These are delicious," he muttered contentedly.

From behind a pillar, he observed the lively group at the center: Bam, Khun, and others, chatting and laughing. Despite the cheerful scene, Kalon felt no envy. He knew the hardships awaiting them—how many would quit, how many would fall, and how few would reach their dreams.

"With great power comes great responsibility," he mused.

As he reflected, Hwa Ryun appeared beside him.

"Are you feeling jealous?" she asked.

"No," Kalon replied. "I'm just thinking about how many of them will actually achieve their goals, how many will give up, and how many will die."

"Then why are you sitting here? There are quieter corners if you want to be alone," she remarked.

"I dislike crowds, but I also don't like eating alone," Hwa Ryun replied simply.

Kalon found himself at a loss for words. This enigmatic red witch, who should have been plotting how to entangle Bam in the schemes of FUG, was instead casually eating with him.

"Well, it's just food," he thought. "And I doubt Hwa Ryun suspects I'm an irregular."

Finishing his meal, Kalon decided to leave. He planned to let the other regulars develop their skills before copying their improved techniques.

On his way out, he checked his status for the first time in days, curious about his progress.

[Status]

Name: Kalon

Titles: Transmigrator, Sword Grandmaster (New), Combat Master (New)

Strength: 100 → +1000

Agility: 100 → +1000

Defence: 100 → +1000

Speed: 100 → +1000 (Peak human stats: 10)

Skills: Triple Sword Formation (Sublime) → Nine Sword Formation (Sublime), Combat (Sublime), Lighthouse Flow Control (New), Shinsu (Apprentice)