TLCTS | 10

TLCTS

Posted by Arsiii_here, Released on November 3, 2025

Chapter 10

This world belonged to the more peaceful ones—at least on the surface. There were laws, and everyone was guaranteed a minimal degree of equality.

But no matter how decent a world might seem, darkness always lurked somewhere underfoot.

“P-Please, spare me!”

Davis had completely wiped out one of Seoul’s awakened guilds—an organization officially classified as a villain group by the Seoul government: the Eoseongcho Guild.

They had nothing to do with the Tower. But for Chaeri’s sake—for the sake of the nation she would grow up in—it had to be done.

“Twenty kilograms of magic stones, huh.”

Approximate market value: two billion won.

Davis pocketed those, along with a few unrecorded receipts.

“Live honestly from now on.”

The world Chaeri would live in—
At the very least, there should be no such thing as drugs in that country.

The Eoseongcho Guild’s master, Lee Seong-tae, one of the biggest players in Korea’s drug trade, bowed his head.

“Th-thank you. I’ll live honestly from now on.”

Davis began donating to Sullivan Kindergarten—
under the alias Svida.

I wonder if the kids have heard the rumors yet?

Chaeri was a smart child.
If she heard the name “Svida,” she would immediately think of Davis.

I hope she likes it.

That night, Chaeri called for Davis.

“Davis.”

“Yes, Chaeri. Did you have a good day at kindergarten?”

“Yes!”

Chaeri’s expression was calm.

She didn’t mention Svida at all.

Davis cautiously observed her face.

So… the rumor didn’t spread?

A little disappointing.

If she had heard about Svida, she probably would’ve been happy.

Still, it would be embarrassing to say something like,
“Svida donated a hundred million won to the kindergarten! That was me!”

Chaeri’s eyes burned with determination.

“Davis. Are we challenging the Tower today too?”

A few hours earlier.

The moment Chaeri heard the name Svida, she immediately realized it.

Svida = Davis.

…So he’s started donating.

It had only been two days—
Actually, not even that. Barely twelve hours.

In just twelve hours, a hundred million won had been donated to the kindergarten.

And starting next week, he promised to donate a hundred million won every week.

Chaeri froze.

What did he do… to Seo-ah’s family?

The memory flashed back—
that pale face, those eyes, that suffocating air of fear.

She instinctively knew.

That’s… not something I should ask.

Some boxes are not meant to be opened.

Sometimes, looking away from the truth is wisdom.

She was right to have chosen Davis.

That night.

Chaeri summoned Davis.

As always, Davis greeted her with a gentle smile.

“Good evening, Davis.”

“Good evening, Chaeri.”

Chaeri subtly studied Davis’s face.

Still…

There must’ve been a reason for the alias.

Even if the name was a little obvious—
Adults had their own reasons for things.

It’s rude to pry too much.

So she decided not to ask.

…Or more accurately, she tried not to.

But I’m so curious!

Instinct always moved faster than reason—especially in a child’s body.

So she changed her focus.

The Tower. Focus on the Tower.

She straightened up and declared firmly,

“Davis. Are we challenging the Tower today too?”

“Do you really like conquering the Tower that much, Chaeri?”

“Yes!”

“Do you like the Tower more than you like me?”

“Ugh.”

She liked Davis, of course.
But the thrill and satisfaction the Tower gave her were even greater than a carousel ride at an amusement park—
a tough question for a four-year-old.

“I wish you’d like me more, Chaeri.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll make sure you do.”

“Davis, do you like Chaeri?”

“Of course.”

At that one sentence—her heart raced.

Inside her tiny, soft body, something began to thump wildly.

Calm down, body of a child!

Chaeri assessed her condition precisely.

Wow. I’m seriously love-starved.

She wanted to hear him say it again.

Sigh.

In her past life and this one alike, her body couldn’t help craving affection.

Doing her best to sound calm, she said,

“Chaeri likes Davis too.”

“I’m very happy to hear that.”

Davis gently ruffled her hair.

Today was the day he granted Chaeri’s wishes.

“Then shall we go play in the Tower?”

“Yes!”

[Using Tower Entry Skill.]
[Entering Tower (Seoul) – Floor 4.]

[Quest: Defeat the Black Foxes.]
[Clear condition: Defeat 10 Black Foxes.]

Bigger, meaner-looking foxes appeared—feral and intimidating.

Chaeri swallowed hard.

They looked far scarier than wild animals—
…but she wasn’t afraid.

[‘Kids Safe Filter’ is now active.]

Suddenly, the monsters turned 2D—
like drawings made in Paint.

Like doodles of rabbits drawn with toes—silly, crude, even cute.

Boing boing!
Sparkling starlight!
Fluttering white butterflies!

[Tower (Seoul) Floor 4 Cleared.]
[Clear Rank: L (Legend).]

The black foxes dissolved into butterflies and vanished.

A flood of satisfaction washed over her.

[Your clear record will be registered in Tower Floor 4’s Hall of Fame.]
[Would you like to register a nickname?]

“Chaeri.”

Davis tapped her shoulder.

“It’s over?”

“Yes. We defeated all the villains.”

He patted her head reassuringly.

“Hehe.”

“How about registering an awakened nickname?”

“Nickname?”

“Yes. How about using the name ‘Svida’?”

“Huh?”

Chaeri tilted her head.

“The bad guys saw Svida. I showed it to them on purpose.”

Davis explained calmly.

“I want them to think I’m the ‘Legend-class hero.’ That way, no one will suspect you.”

A pretty clever smokescreen plan.

Davis expected her to respond with—

“You’re amazing, Davis!”

But instead, Chaeri shook her head.

“What if that makes Davis unsafe?”

“…What?”

“Chaeri doesn’t want Davis to be in danger.”

“……”

That short sentence silenced him.

His heart sank.

Such a young child—
yet one who worried about others before herself.

Davis lowered his voice.

“It’s okay. This is a secret spy camouflage mission.”

Then he winked.

“We’re on… a top-secret operation right now.”

Chaeri fell silent for a moment—then gulped.

Secret. Spy. Camouflage mission.

Those were dangerously powerful words to a child.

[Hall of Fame – Floor 4]
[Republic of Korea]

Svida – Legend (Seoul)
…

Chaeri’s 4th-floor conquest was complete.

[Level Up!]
[Level: 4]

“Hehe.”

Climbing the Tower felt amazing—
like becoming a truly capable person.

Her sense of self-efficacy was through the roof.

[Reward: ‘Good Job!’ Sticker]
[Reward: 100,000,000 Diamonds]

That made four Good Job! stickers total,
and four hundred million diamonds earned.

“Chaeri is rich now!”

Well, not cashed out yet, but still.

“Hehehe.”

She giggled, and Davis watched her fondly.

[Exiting the Tower.]

Back in reality, Davis—as always—advised prudent investments.

“Chaeri, rather than using resources to strengthen me…”

“No.”

Chaeri was firm.

[Enhancing Davis Card.]
[Davis +4]

[Chief Advisor of the Fallen Empire +4]

—
Manifestation Duration: 7 hours
Cooldown: 20 hours

She proudly raised her thumb.

“Davis is the best for Chaeri.”

“……”

Davis bit his lip.

“What’s wrong, Davis?”

He didn’t look very happy.

Davis was an Empire-Class Hero.

He had been summoned seven times in total.

None of his previous masters had ever enhanced him.

Empire-class was indeed powerful—
but compared to the higher-tier Legendary-Class Awakeners, his combat potential was considered middling.

His efficiency in Tower raids was poor.

So being chosen by an L-class Awakener was a rarity.

But Chaeri was different.

‘Davis is the best for Chaeri.’

She said Davis was the best.

Not the Continent-Class.
Not the Ocean-Class.
Not the World-Class.
Him.

She’s too young to judge properly, he thought.

Too young to know what was truly better or worse.

Someday, when her level rose higher and she summoned other heroes,
she might forget him.

Just like everyone else had.

“Ah, I should’ve invested in a Continent-Class hero…”
“Can’t you get your points back, Davis?”
“Why didn’t you stop her? What a waste of points.”

Davis gazed at Chaeri’s beaming face—
her small, soft hands, her oddly cool expression, her bright smile,
and that voice declaring he was the best in the world.

Alright. Even if it’s just for now…

He watched as Chaeri drifted off to sleep.

He didn’t know how long this little master would trust him.

“Thank you for cherishing me, Chaeri.”

He pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

Thanks to this tiny, warm child,
he finally understood—

I’ve been starved for affection too.

For thousands of years, he had been alone.

All that time, no one had ever needed Davis.

And this time too, she would probably leave him in the end.

But still—

Until that day, I want to stay by her side.