- Announcement -

"So? What is it? Aren't you going to explain your identity to us? To your brother?"

Garam was questioning and pressuring Charlotte to give the answer. Charlotte who felt that she has been cornered, lowered her head and put her right hand on her chest. She was unable to answer not because she didn't want to. Alright, she didn't want to tell them the answer. But it was also because she also didn't know what the answer was. The exact answer that Garam wanted....the existence of Charlotte.

Who was she?

She thought that it was a miracle that she was reborn as his twin sister but she never thought that she wasn't really his twin sister. The story remained the same....even though sometimes it was quite cruel.

Bam was curious. He also wanted to know. Since she wasn't Arlene's child, who was she? Who was Charlotte? He didn't know so he wanted to get the answer. But seeing his younger sister trembling and lowering her head uncomfortably, was it really worth it?

Maybe not.

He had made up his decision.

He turned around and walked towards Charlotte. The closer he walked towards her, she slowly lifted her head to look at her brother. It wasn't really surprisingly that Bam would smile to her gently and reached out his hand.

There was no trace of harm or malice in his expression. When he extended his hand, he was telling her to not be worried, to not be afraid. Garam took this as Bam didn't care about that person's identity. He put so much faith on her, had he ever thought that he might be betrayed by this mysterious and strange person?

Ah, he never thought of it. It was precisely because he put so much faith on her that he never doubted her.

"It's fine" he assured her.

Charlotte of course wanted to take that hand.....though she was hesitant. Not that she was afraid, but because she felt that she was not worth it.

But still, she held his hand.

Bam turned around and looked at Garam.

"She's my younger sister. She helped me to reach this far and risked her life plenty of times for me. She....is my only family in this tower."

That was his answer and will also be her answer of Garam's question.

Garam, "........."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

According to Hwaryun, the passage that she and Raisin took were the secret passage that only Red Witches should know. That was why they were separated and walked in different paths.

Hwaryun said that there was something that she wanted to show to them.

She said that helping both Viole and Nox weren't only the reason why they needed Yuri's help to get rid of Hell Joe. But because of personal grudges.

A place without administrator was a dangerous place that even a high ranker would find it hard to survive here. The citizens in the Floor of Death were lucky since they were surrounded by the corpse of the administrator. But that didn't mean they could get out safely.

In order to prevent the rumors of Enryu from spreading, Zahard had his people to murder the survivors or those who planned to leave this place. Two high rankers, Grand De Sah and Grand De Jah came up with a solution to prevent the people in the Floor of Death from dying which was to store their souls in the spirit room. But as the consequence of their immortality, they shall never leave this Floor of Death. They could no longer leave this place.

They were forever locked, trapped, caged in the Floor of Death. This way, there was no way for them to breath a word about Enryu to the people outside.

"But everything changed when Hell Joe appeared. He wants to break the spell and leave this place. Ultimately, he drove out De Sah and conquered the South City. He even broke the rules of this place and joined forces with an outside power" Hwaryun explained. "FUG promised to get him out of here if he worked with their agents and send them the thorn fragments. He went looking for the last thorn fragment.

And in the end, he even ended up harming a guide who was on a pilgrimage for him."

When they opened the coffin, the coffin was filled with water......and a corpse.

The corpse was a red haired woman with red eyes opened wide. She looked very thin and lost her youthful appearance. She wasn't that beautiful and she looked very weak that wind could blow her into pieces.

According to Hwaryun, she was the predecessor of the maiden who guided them the way.

"Hell Joe caught her while on a pilgrimage and pressured her to look for the thorn fragment. When she refused, he stole her vitality and made her suffer a cruel death."

"A RED.....WITCH.....?!"

"It looks like Hell Joe didn't know that guides' ability didn't work here. That must be the reason why he thought that she might find the thorn fragment" Hwaryun continued her explanation, ignoring their shocked expressions.

Red Witches could read their paths. They could read their own destinies therefore they never avoided their deaths. When they were supposed to die, they'll die without objection. They accepted their fates.

"But she tried to avoid death. Having been caught by Hell Joe and dragged to his castle, she is said to have died while begging Hell Joe to spare her. Because....she was not meant to die there. Hell Joe.....that man.....is defying destiny."

A moment after she finished her words, there was an announcement.

"AHH--!! This is an announcement for the intruders in this place! I am Hell Joe, the ruler of the South City! I don't know who let you in this place but I know that you came here because you're after something! And that thing you are looking for is in my castle! So spare me the game Hide- and- seek and come to fight me! If you don't come, I'll give it to FUG! So you had better come get that special something! I hope you guys are strong enough to make this fun for me! That's all!!"

His announcement seemed to have spread through the whole Floor of Death.....because Bam and the others who were in the North City could hear it.

"That Hell Joe...he is stirring troubles" Garam said with a hint of annoyance.

"Hell Joe....?"

"He's currently the lord of the South City. He imprisons Grand De Sah, the old warlord, and made himself the leader. I heard that he's working with FUG to get them thorn fragments."

"He's.....giving them the thorn fragments?!"

"That's right. He's working with FUG and give them the thorn fragments in order to escape to the outside. Although he's having a tough time right now because he can't find the last one. There's no way that the final gatekeeper told Hell Joe about you guys....so those who entered this place with you must be alive" Garam said as she was impressed that the others were still alive.

Garam then told them a huge secret, that the thorn wasn't actually at the South, but the North City where they were in now. The one who knew the place of the thorn fragment was the former ruler of the North City, Grand De Jah, one of the people who saw Enryu in person. He handed his position to Grand De Lee, his descendant and if they went to look for him, he might tell them the location of the thorn fragment that they were looking for.

"If you pass his test, you will find out where the thorn fragment is" said Garam. "Of course, ordinary D- ranks could never pass his test. But if you are a real deal, I'm sure that he'll acknowledge you and you will able to find the thorn fragment.

I knew that you would be confused after hearing what I told you. But regardless whatever destiny brought you to this place, it's up to you whether you want to take that path or not. So even if you choose to avoid that destiny and walked to different path, I will not criticize you."

She smiled and then tilted her head. Her smile appeared to be sincere and genuine as she added, "Because that's a massive and difficult burden to bear."

But Bam was determined, "No....I'll do it....not because of my destiny, but by own will."

Garam just smiled when she heard that. She looked at Charlotte, still smiling, but Charlotte only hid behind Bam. She didn't feel comfortable with Garam .

"....and I assume that you are going to follow him?" Garam asked her.

".........he's my brother. My kin. Wherever he goes, I'll follow him" Charlotte hesitantly answered. She really hoped that Garam would believe her despite of their mysterious existences. She paused for a moment before she added, "I will never betray him...regardless anything."

"Good" said Garam. "Since he trusts you so much, I don't think you will betray him. You don't look like that kind of person, right......?"

It was obvious that Garam was still filled with doubts. But still, Charlotte nodded her head and hummed.

So what if she doubted her?

"After all, no matter what, we are twins. We won't be separated."

After talking with Garam, the twins went to look for Mata and Hockney. Bam told them that he was going to the Grand De Jah's castle for his goal and believed that this was really the time for them to separate. But this time, it wasn't Mata trying to convince Hockney and decided to follow Bam.....but rather, Hockney was the one who insisted to follow Bam and Charlotte even though the road might be dangerous.

"I may obtain something more valuable in there" said Hockney, repeating Mata's words and made Mata surprised for a moment.

'Could this be destiny too?'

Charlotte was certain that there was a complicated expression on Mata before Mata cheerfully smiled again and agreed to go with them.

"Then, let's do this together!!" he said.

"Okay!"

At the end, after saying good- bye to the princess and Bam received Arlene's pocket, the four of them decided to go to meet Grand De Jah.

In the middle of their way, Charlotte felt that there was something inside her storage bracelet. Therefore, she opened her right palm and a mirror appeared.

The mirror was a blue- colored mirror. Except for the mirror, the surrounding glass was colored blue and it was soft and delicate. The item that she had now appeared to be quite fragile but in the same time, interesting, since that item will be able to allow her to communicate with her teammates regardless of the place or the situation.

Nathan gave her this mirror and for what she knew, he must have given another one to Noah. Right now, the blue glass around the mirror was turning red, Noah must be looking for her.

But to her surprise, by the time she used that mirror to talk with Noah, the one who was holding the mirror wasn't Noah, but Khun. This made her surprised.

"Khun?!" She called his name in surprise. "Why is it you and not Noah?! Didn't Nathan give the other mirror to Noah?!"

That question made Bam's eyes widened in realization.

"I have my ways to get it" Khun answered which made Charlotte believe that he must have pulled another dirty trick to get this mirror from Noah. "Anyway, I don't have much time. How are you and Bam doing over there with Hockney?"

"Is he your friend?" Mata asked, thinking that this blue haired male looked handsome.

Charlotte looked at Mata for a moment before she nodded her head with a friendly smile and looked at Khun again. Her hands held the mirror rather gently and carefully with care.

"We're fine, of course. We're in the North City right now" said Charlotte.

"North City?" Khun sounded surprised.

"Khun, are you and the others in the South City?" Bam asked Khun as he leaned forward so that he could see the blue haired male.

"Yeah. We thought that you guys are going there. How did you get to the North City anyway?" He asked.

"It's.....a long story...." Bam answered.

"Definitely one" Charlotte agreed.

"We'll tell you after we meet again."

"But don't leave the South City though. We're heading there soon" said Charlotte.

"But that would have taken a long time, won't it? Should we go there instead?"

"No, no, no. From what I see in the future......we'll get to the South City soon enough to help you fight against Hell Joe. With a little twist, of course."

Hockney was surprised to hear that.

"Then could you tell me right now what will happen to the South City?"

"If you are trying to trick me to tell you what will happen, then I'm sorry" Charlotte apologized with friendly smile. "You are too tricky that I have to put myself on the guard to not spill the beans."

"Tch....."

Bam sweated dropped.

"You've met with Hwaryun right? She must have lead you to the place with Red Witches, didn't she? Just go ahead and help them to deal with Hell Joe first" said Charlotte with rather an expressionless face as she looked at the road before she looked at Khun again. "It will take some time for us to get there, so you could just go ahead and attack Hell Joe first. We'll be there soon."

"Then let's meet again at the South City" Khun agreed.