After clearing the first floor of the Infinite Tower, Trụ stood silently in front of the tower gates for a long time.
Her heart was still pounding from the battle earlier.
It was the first time she had truly fought monsters.
And also the first time in many years…
that she felt alive.
No longer the exhausted delivery girl rushing across the city.
No longer the student who had been mocked at the academy.
Inside the Infinite Tower, when she drew her bow and fought— for the first time, Trụ felt like she was finally walking toward the dream she once had as a child.
Even if it was only a tiny first step.
The evening wind gently swept across the plaza outside the tower.
People constantly moved in and out.
Some adventurer groups laughed loudly after clearing dungeons.
Some injured explorers were carried outside by their teammates.
Others stood with hopeless expressions after failing their trials.
Amid all that noise…
the girl dressed in purple still stood alone, separated from everything around her.
Her long black hair swayed softly in the wind.
The butterfly-shaped purple hairpin reflected the orange light of sunset.
The katana at her waist radiated danger.
Yet strangely…
several small purple butterflies made of energy slowly fluttered around her.
Beautiful beyond belief.
Without realizing it, Trụ stared a little longer than she intended.
She could tell this girl was strong.
Very strong.
Strong enough that Trụ felt pressure just by standing nearby.
But for some reason…
she wanted to speak to her.
Maybe because this was the first person she met after entering the world of adventurers.
Or maybe because…
she no longer wanted to be alone.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Trụ took a deep breath and walked forward.
— Hello…
The purple-haired girl immediately turned toward her.
Just that single glance made chills run down Trụ’s spine.
Those purple eyes were nothing like ordinary human eyes.
Calm.
Sharp.
And filled with caution.
Trụ forced a smile.
— Uh… I just wanted to ask a few things about the Infinite Tower—
But at that exact moment—
SWOOSH!
A freezing killing intent exploded into the air.
Trụ only saw a flash of purple before her eyes.
CLANG!
A katana instantly appeared against her throat.
The cold blade reflected Trụ’s widened pupils.
The distance was far too close.
If the sword moved even slightly forward…
she would die instantly.
Everything happened too fast.
Trụ could not even see how the girl moved.
The surrounding people immediately backed away after witnessing the scene.
Some whispered nervously:
— It’s her…— Another idiot provoking that monster…
But the purple-haired girl ignored everyone around her.
Her eyes remained locked onto Trụ.
— Who sent you?
Her voice was terrifyingly cold.
Completely emotionless.
Trụ suddenly felt her throat dry up.
Every instinct screamed at her to run.
But she knew…
if she moved, the sword might slash down immediately.
Trụ slowly raised both hands.
— Calm down… I’m not your enemy.
The blade remained pressed against her neck.
A drop of cold sweat slid down her cheek.
— I just cleared the first floor…— I honestly only wanted to talk.
The girl did not answer immediately.
Those cold purple eyes carefully observed her.
As if analyzing every heartbeat.
Every movement.
Every possible lie.
The silence became suffocating.
After what felt like forever…
the katana finally moved away from Trụ’s throat.
She immediately let out a relieved breath.
Only then did she realize her hands had become ice cold.
The purple-haired girl tilted her head slightly.
— Most people would’ve screamed by now.
Trụ laughed awkwardly.
— Honestly… I wanted to scream too.
— But I was afraid you’d actually cut me.
A brief silence followed.
Then…
the corner of the girl’s lips slowly curved upward.
Very slightly.
But it was definitely a smile.
— You’re interesting.
With a smooth motion, she spun the katana effortlessly in one hand before sliding it back into its sheath.
The movement looked almost like a dance.
Only now did Trụ dare to look at her more carefully.
The girl’s black-and-purple outfit carried patterns resembling butterfly wings.
A silver butterfly emblem rested on her shoulder.
Her entire presence felt both beautiful…
and dangerous.
— My name is:
Butterfly.
— And you?
— I’m Trụ.
— Trụ…
Butterfly repeated the name quietly, as if memorizing it.
Then she turned around as though preparing to leave.
But suddenly, Trụ called out:
— Wait!
Butterfly stopped walking.
— What now?
Trụ hesitated for a moment.
Truthfully, even she did not fully understand why she wanted to say this.
Perhaps because…
for almost her entire life, she had always been alone.
Nobody stood beside her at the academy.
Even while working as a delivery driver, she never had close friends.
She had grown used to enduring everything by herself.
But after entering the Infinite Tower…
Trụ realized something important.
If she wanted to survive in this world…
being alone would never be enough.
She looked directly at Butterfly before speaking slowly.
— I want to create an adventurer team.
Butterfly slightly raised an eyebrow.
Trụ continued.
— I know I’m still weak.— And I don’t have much experience yet.
— But I want to go far.
Her eyes gradually became more serious.
— I want to explore this world.
— I want to become stronger.
— And… I think it would be better to have companions.
Butterfly silently stared at her.
The atmosphere between them suddenly became strangely quiet.
Trụ gently clenched her fists.
— Would you like to join?
— …
— Consider it… an invitation from the first person I truly want as a teammate.
At that point, Trụ smiled softly.
A completely genuine smile.
— Besides…
— I have a feeling we’ll become soulmates someday.
Hearing that, Butterfly froze for several seconds.
Then suddenly— she laughed quietly.
Not the faint smile from before.
A real laugh.
— Soulmates?
She covered her mouth while laughing softly.
— You’re definitely the strangest person I’ve ever met.
The evening wind blew past them.
The purple energy butterflies slowly floated around her body.
The scene was so beautiful that Trụ almost forgot she had nearly been killed moments earlier.
After thinking for a while, Butterfly lightly shrugged.
— Fine.
— I’ll join for fun.
Trụ blinked several times in disbelief.
— Really?!
Butterfly nodded.
— I’ve been bored lately anyway.
— Besides…
She looked directly at Trụ before smiling faintly.
— I’m curious how far someone as weak as you can actually go.
Hearing that, Trụ did not feel angry.
Instead, she laughed along with her.
For the first time in many years…
she no longer felt alone when thinking about the future.
And at that moment— nobody knew that this accidental meeting in front of the Infinite Tower…
would eventually become:
the beginning of the most famous adventurer group of their era.
~ End ~