Tower of Endless: Death Granted Entry

Moon asked the important question that he had missed for a while now.

”Erm... then may I know why I’m actually alone here?”

It was a critical piece of information.

As a slave, he knew how to start conversations, make passing friends, or pull away from weird situations he could get into.

But the essence was rumors, or rather—

Information.

For that, he needed to gather enough to maintain his newly acquired and well-earned clean state.

Under the anticipating gaze of Moon, Uon thought for a while, a little longer than he should have. Slightly long enough for Moon to get irritated again.

But this time, Moon didn’t miss that reaction.

He was unreasonably easy to agitate, unlike how he usually was.

His eyes darted back and forth at his reflection in the mirror.

Tired.

He was tired, looking to be on the verge of passing out.

But the newfound cycle of excitement and threat kept him functional.

Looking at the state of his own face, the shaking limbs, and his twitching eyelids—

He knew he was past his capacity to properly function.

He needed to find something to eat and sleep.

And he should ask that simple guy standing before him.

Now that he remembered, Uon didn’t even walk him to the door, but came back right away.

Did he want to say something, but the conversation went against the natural flow it should have taken?

”Um, I’m not exactly sure...” Uon finally broke the silence.

’Right, of course you are not sure, you DAMN SLOW BASTARD,’ Moon shouted in his head only... for now.

On the outside though—

”Oh, is that so?” His smile was there, his parallel eyelids still the same.

”I remember Teacher Samuel mentioning such a case happened a few times during the last couple centuries.”

”Couple what?” Moon asked, his mind failing to grasp the words.

”Centuries,” Uon replied, with a deadpan look that could hollow out a soul, smashing his fist into his palm with unwavering certainty.

’My life is fucked, entirely... for fuck’s sake... dammit,’ Moon couldn’t help lamenting his misery.

He was unsure now.

Would they question him?

Interrogate him?

An invisible tear slipped past his eyelids, visible only to his wounded mind.

”Oh, but I also remember that he said something else about that case,” Uon said.

’Haha, he had more to say,’ Moon bitterly. ’Fucked, I am, absolutely!’ He shook his head, unable to stop smiling.

”Tell me!” Uon leaned forward, staring directly into Moon’s soul. ”Did you maybe...”

’Here it comes.’ His eyes gleamed.

”Maybe finish the trial too early, or spend too long in there?”

”Huh?” Moon exclaimed.

’Oh, that one came out loud. Huh?’

He arranged his thoughts, coping with the unexpectedly simple reasoning he couldn’t have seen coming.

”I’m not sure. I lost track of time after the third hunt of mine.” He erased the smile off his face, touched his chin, seemingly in deep thought.

’My acting skills are improving... I should give myself and the mirror a moment to admire myself as I should,’ he thought.

”Hooo, well... I never heard of a different reason for this from Teacher Samuel,” Uon commented, before adding, ”Maybe you should ask him if you want to know more!” He said with extreme enthusiasm, getting his face close to Moon’s.

’Too fucking bright... like hell I would ask that monstrous man!’ he thought, feeling thankful.

”Of course I would!” Affirming the giant, he answered, trying to match the enthusiasm as much as he could.

’The reason is obvious. Why would I ask him... HAHAHAHA...’ He felt ease wash over him.

’Now everything is set, at last... aside from trash spawns, I now am the great Moon, the mercenary of Gru.’

He eyed the giant, feeling that this guy was the greatest blessing he received after the countless miseries he went through.

”Big brother, can I call you big brother?” Moon asked, overmatching the enthusiasm, but this time, he wasn’t acting.

”Of course you can. Just during classes, make sure to call me Assistant Uon,” Uon said, happy he got himself a younger brother. ”Not sure if we giving classes anyway though hahaha” Uon laughed.

Moon laughed with him, not sure what he meant but it wasn’t urgent anyway.

Then he remembered—

”Oh, how could I forget... did I not ask little brother’s name?”

’The time has finally come for me to introduce myself, MAY NAAAME to someone!’ Moon smiled widely.

”My name is Moon, nice to meet you, big brother Uon!” he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

Uon followed suit, shaking hands.

’So manly. We become friends first, ask names later,’ Moon couldn’t help admiring the moment. ’Just like olden days, we didn’t even have names back then.’

”But, big brother, why did you come here, though?” Moon asked.

”AAAAh, now I remember!” Uon exclaimed. ”Look here, little Moon, these cabinets!” he said, walking toward one of the left-side cabinets and opening it.

Inside, there were two circles on the wall. One higher than head level, one in the middle near chest level, at least for Moon.

On both sides, there were also two glowing circles on shelves.

”Here you can take a shower. You simply touch the arcane circle here,” He pointed at the lower one, ”And water will come from there.” As he pointed at the higher one, ”The ones on the sides, they will do instant washing of your clothes without getting them wet,” Uon explained with utmost care.

Moon wasn’t sure if any of this was common sense, but as far as he could tell, the way Uon described them meant it was either luxury or a speciality of the Normalization Facility.

Also, the word arcane was new to him... but it wasn’t the time to ask, or sure if he should ask.

All he knew now was that he smelled like shit and needed to wash up as fast as possible.

He remembered placing his arm on Uon’s shoulder, but that guy didn’t flinch.

He turned to take a look,

Thankfully, it was clean.

Sigh...

Before he could thank Uon, the gentle giant had more to say.