The corridor of the hundredth floor was silent.
Kurumi stepped out from the throne room.
"As always… so quiet here."
She let out a small sigh, her eyes drifting toward the long spiral staircase that coiled downward into the depths.
The staircase was never truly necessary—every resident of Ourolith could teleport with ease. Yet Akira had insisted on building one for every floor.
Kurumi's lips curved into a faint smile.
"He's so stubborn when it comes to interior design. I still remember his eyes turning black from staying up all night, just to perfect the curves of each stair…"
The memory made her chuckle softly.
The sound of footsteps echoed from below. Slowly, something ascended the stairs—an elegant figure, shining faintly like a glass doll given human shape. A long maid's dress swayed with each deliberate step.
Kurumi tilted her head.
"Ah… an Aegiven."
The glass doll stopped, turned, and stiffened. Upon realizing who stood before her, she immediately bowed low.
"Good evening, Sovereign DollMaker."
Kurumi laughed softly.
"No need to be so tense. Your face is practically cracking from it, you know?"
The doll quickly adjusted her expression, though her voice still trembled.
"M-My apologies. I was simply startled to meet you here."
Kurumi tilted her head again, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
"Your name was… what again? I've forgotten. Hm…"
She tapped her lips with her finger, trying to recall, but in vain. At last, she shrugged.
"Alright, I give up. Just tell me your name."
The glass doll bowed even deeper.
"My name is Anna-52, Sovereign."
Kurumi blinked, then nodded.
"Ohh… right. That's true. I did number each of you at the end—Anna, Anna, Anna, and so on. Only the digits change."
She covered her mouth, suppressing laughter.
"Funny that I'd forget. After all, I created you myself, inspired by beautiful bisque dolls… though I mass-produced you to fill the tower."
Anna-52 remained silent, not daring to reply.
Kurumi let out a soft sigh.
"Your purpose is simple, really. Decoration, attendants, and, if necessary, the last line of defense should anyone actually climb this high… though no one ever has. So in truth, most of the time, you're simply… relaxing."
At last, Anna-52 dared to speak.
"If I may ask, Sovereign… where are you heading this evening?"
Kurumi turned her gaze toward the staircase and answered casually,
"Nowhere in particular. Just wandering. Staying in the throne room all the time is dreadfully boring."
Anna-52 grasped the folds of her skirt and bent slightly.
"In that case… please allow me to accompany you."
Kurumi narrowed her eyes before smiling.
"Hmm… not a bad idea. Very well, then. Walk with me, Anna."
She stepped onto the stairs, and Anna-52 obediently followed.
As they descended, Kurumi spoke softly, her voice carrying through the stone stairwell.
"Sometimes I wonder… if someone truly did reach this far, would they fear you all? Or would they simply admire you as beautiful ornaments?"
Anna-52 replied gently,
"Our task is not to frighten, but to delay. As Sovereign knows, we were designed to endure… not to attack."
Kurumi let out a light laugh.
"Yes, that's right. Scaling defense. Just enough to stall, long enough for the other guardians to recover."
She paused midway, gazing downward.
"Now that I think about it… that was so much like me, back then. I endured, I stalled, I held on to everything—until Akira came to pull me out of despair."
A faint smile touched her lips. Anna-52 remained silent, listening without interruption.
At last, they arrived at the ninety-ninth floor.
Kurumi stepped out into the vast chamber.
"As I thought… empty."
The space was enormous, devoid of furniture, ornaments, or decoration. Only tall walls and polished stone floors. Silent. Cold. Empty.
Anna-52 turned her head slightly.
"This floor was never used, Sovereign. Lord Kaliburz designed it as a reception hall for challengers before they reached the hundredth floor. But… since none have ever come this far…"
Kurumi lifted a hand, halting the explanation.
"I know. Still… sometimes it feels sad. All these grand halls, all these intricate details, all these designs… and in the end, only we get to see them."
She stepped into the center of the room, her gown sweeping across the floor.
"Akira created this empty chamber with such seriousness. He told me, 'An empty space is important. So that something grand can happen within it.'"
Kurumi chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
"He always had philosophical reasons like that."
Anna-52 asked carefully,
"Does Sovereign… feel bored, living in a tower that no one has ever conquered?"
Kurumi fell silent, then lifted her gaze to the towering ceiling. Her eyes glimmered strangely.
"Bored? I don't know. Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. I love this tower… yet I also wish for something to shatter its silence."
She glanced at Anna-52, her smile now tinged with mischief.
"Perhaps if I get too bored… I'll just create something new. A new doll, or maybe… a new Ultivate."
Anna-52 gasped, almost dropping her gaze entirely.
"S-Sovereign… aren't the Nine Ultivates already enough to terrify the continent?"
Kurumi giggled.
"Yes, enough. But what if I wanted more? Isn't that my right, as the creator?"
She raised both hands, as though shaping something in the air.
"Hmm… a Tenth Ultivate. What concept would I use, I wonder? Hahaha…"
Her laughter rang through the empty chamber, echoing into long, haunting ripples that made Anna-52 bow even deeper.
At last, Kurumi lowered her hands, her gaze falling blankly to the floor.
"But… perhaps that's just a dream. Even if I made something new, this tower would still be as silent as ever."
Anna-52 clasped her hands tightly.
"If Sovereign truly desires change… perhaps one day, a true challenger will come. And we… will delay them as best we can."
Kurumi smiled, this time gently.
"Yes. That's your task. And mine… is simply to wait, until that day arrives."
She turned toward the staircase once more.
"Come, Anna. Let's go lower. Who knows? Perhaps the next floor will give us a little surprise."
Anna-52 bowed.
"As you wish, Sovereign."
Their footsteps echoed once more down the stone stairwell, leaving behind the ninety-ninth floor in silence—empty once again after their departure.
Kurumi And Anna-52 descended the staircase toward the ninety-eighth floor.
"Ah, the Treasury of Aeons…" she hummed in a cheerful tone. "A floor filled with treasures—though most of them are simply trinkets Akira decided were useless."
Anna-52 bowed her head slightly.
"Even so, Sovereign chose to keep them."
Kurumi gave a small nod.
"Of course. What good is a treasury if it's empty? Even worthless things can carry meaning… so long as they're kept in the right place."
At last, their steps reached the bottom. Dim light greeted them, revealing a vast desert of black sand. In an instant, green grass sprouted, blossoms of every color bloomed, spreading all the way to the walls. Yet just as quickly, the flowers withered, crumbling back into black sand once more.
Kurumi giggled.
"As usual… this place never grows dull."
Anna-52 glanced around warily.
"This… is the influence of the two guardians, isn't it?"
Kurumi nodded.
"Mila and Luna. Far too sweet for a treasure floor—but that was the result of my design."
Suddenly, two faint auras stirred. From afar, twin girls came running, their hair shimmering faintly, their simple gowns betraying their incomplete forms.
Kurumi spread her arms wide, her face lighting up with joy.
"Mila! Luna! Over here!"
The twins nearly leapt into her embrace—but stopped abruptly, bowing low instead.
"Welcome, Sovereign."
Kurumi froze for a beat.
"Huh? That was the perfect moment to run into my arms, you know!"
Mila glanced at Luna.
"We… didn't dare."
Luna shook her head quickly.
"It wouldn't be proper… to embrace the Sovereign of Ourolith."
Kurumi fell silent for a moment, then her expression shifted into mischief.
"If you won't dare… then I'll just do it myself!"
Without hesitation, she stepped forward and swept both girls into a warm embrace.
"Eh—!"
"W-Wait—!"
Mila and Luna were trapped in her arms. Kurumi lowered her head, nuzzling gently against their hair.
"Ahh… you're so soft. And your scent—so fresh, like flowers just in bloom."
Mila panicked.
"S-Sovereign, th-this is highly improper!"
Luna tried to push lightly against her.
"We… we are only servants. Please, let us go…"
Kurumi shook her head, holding them even tighter.
"No. You're not just servants. You're my adorable little girls. And if I want to hug you, who could possibly stop me?"
A few steps behind, Anna-52 stood frozen. Her glass eyes shimmered strangely as fine cracks began to spread across her porcelain-like face.
"What… am I even witnessing…?" she whispered faintly.
Kurumi chuckled, stroking Mila's hair.
"See, Anna? They're perfect twins. How could I let them bow like stiff ornaments without feeling their warmth for myself?"
Luna turned desperately toward Anna.
"Anna! Please help us! The Sovereign must be respected, not—hugged like this!"
Mila also pleaded.
"Please, free us from the Sovereign's embrace!"
Anna-52 hesitated. Her hand lifted slightly, then fell again.
"But… I… I cannot bring myself to touch the Sovereign DollMaker…"
The cracks on her face deepened. She lowered her head, trembling.
"I… don't understand. Sovereign… why do something like this?"
Kurumi glanced at her briefly, still smiling.
"What's wrong with it? Didn't I create all of you? If I choose to laugh, to hug, or even to cry with you… isn't that my right?"
Mila squirmed lightly.
"Sovereign, we truly don't deserve this."
Kurumi pressed her cheek against Luna's head.
"You take everything too seriously. Sometimes, love and gentleness matter far more than respect and rules."
Luna's voice was barely a whisper as she bowed her head inside the embrace.
"If Sovereign insists… we cannot resist."
Kurumi laughed softly.
"Good. Because I do insist."
Anna-52 covered her mouth with a glass finger, her eyes widening.
"Sovereign… you're so different from what I imagined…"
At last, Kurumi loosened her hold, gazing at the twins with shimmering eyes.
"See? Not so bad, right? Just for a moment… I feel like I'm not alone."
Mila bit her lip.
"If that is what makes Sovereign happy…"
Luna nodded faintly.
"Then… we have no objection."
Kurumi smiled, satisfied.
"That's the answer I like to hear."
She finally released them, gently patting each of their heads in turn.
"You two… always make this floor feel alive. Even if it's only with the cycle of blossoms blooming and fading… I see your essence in all of it."
Mila lowered her gaze.
"Thank you… Sovereign."
Luna still looked uncertain, but a faint smile touched her lips.
"As long as Sovereign is happy, that is enough."
Anna-52 continued watching from behind, her glass face veined with fine cracks.
"So this… is what it means to be loved by one's creator? I… don't understand."
Kurumi straightened, her smile warm as she looked at all three of them.
"Alright. From now on, don't be so stiff with me. Yes, I am Sovereign. But I'm also Kurumi. And Kurumi just wants to be with her creations without distance."
Mila and Luna exchanged a glance, then gave small nods.
Kurumi chuckled again.
"Good. Now then, show me the newest treasure you've been guarding. I want to see if, at last, something here might actually prove useful to Akira."
The twins nodded in unison. Together, they walked deeper into the shifting desert of treasures—where flowers bloomed, withered, and bloomed again, in rhythm with the breath of the two little girls who now walked at their Sovereign's side.