Nathan froze after hearing his mother’s voice. Naked. Surrounded by surreal scenery. Fresh off intimate absurdity with monster girls. Annoyed by the sudden appearance of the Tower Manager.
Shame crept in like a slow chill.
A chaotic blend of guilt, longing, and deeply rooted avoidance tangled inside him—turning into a knot in his chest.
"Y–You’re still... alive?"
Emily’s voice shook— choking on tears.
Knowing that her "loser" son—
whom she had never once considered a loser—was still breathing.
"Nathan... where are you? Are you okay?
A tear slid down her cheek.
It carried the kind of love that never asks for anything in return— only presence.
"Ye–yeah, Mom... I’m alive. I... I’m f–fine... you don’t have to worry," Nathan muttered, lowering his head.
Unfortunately, that was a mistake— because he ended up looking down at his private blade now shriveled from the cold.
Reflexively, he covered it with his free hand.
A strange kind of shame bloomed in his chest— like his body was reminding him, he had become a man who once neglected the purest kind of love.
The Tower Manager— aka Milky Mommy—smiled faintly. Warmth filled her chest.
She could hear every word through the tiny speaker. The trembling in Emily’s voice made her eyes glisten.
It was beautiful— so much that it made her heart ache...
"Nathan... where are you?" His mother asked again. Nathan opened his mouth.
"I... I—" But before he could answer or erase her burning question—
"You’re alive...." Her joy crushed the need for clarity. The mystery no longer mattered.
Gratitude overwhelmed it.
Nathan said nothing. He just stood there—memories swirling in his head like smoke. Every scene was one where he ignored her. There was not a single memory of him making her truly happy.
"Mom, you don’t need to worry.
I’m doing fine, I—" He paused.
I can’t tell her the truth.
"I’m working... ahaha..." He tried to sound cheerful— believing a confident tone would erase her pain.
"Sorry I haven’t contacted you these past few months. I’ve been caught up with a job out of town. But really— it’s okay."
"Nathan, don’t lie to me!" Emily snapped. Her voice rose— even over the phone.
"Mom, no, I—" Again, he was cut off.
"I know you were pulled into that vortex. You’re inside the Tower, aren’t you?"
Nathan stiffened. He paused.
But he understood now—
How she know that? Ahh... damn.. So she found out through CCTV footage... His thought giving him clear answer, because he remember when the vortex pulled him he saw a CCTV.
He glanced at the Tower Manager. She nodded— then shook her head gently.
Her lips moved without sound. But Nathan could read them clearly:
"Don’t lie to your mother."
Finally, Nathan opened his mouth again.
"Yeah, Mom... I’m in the Tower. Fighting monsters and—" His fake cheerful voice was cut short.
Emily’s voice cracked.
Then came trembling words—
"Why haven’t you come back? Come home... please... come back, it.. it’s time to celebrate...." Her voice still trembling, her free hand covered her mouth, "You’re now a Hunter, right?"
Her sobs could no longer be held back. The sound of her crying hit Nathan’s ears like cold glass shattering.
Motherhood, raw and pleading.
Nathan took a slow breath.
The water on his body had dried,
but his voice was still soaked with guilt.
"Mom... I... I’m trapped inside the Tower,"
Emily didn’t respond right away.
"I’m on a floor that’s... uh—"
Before he could finish,
the Tower Manager suddenly reached out
and grabbed the phone from his hand.
Speaker mode activated.
Lilith’s voice came through, gentle.
"I’m... with your s–son. He’s not alone..."
Nathan didn’t know what felt worse—
his mother crying on the phone,
or the Tower Manager holding it like a priest delivering his sins.
The way she stood there...
barefoot, smiling, holy—and half responsible—
made everything worse.
He was naked. She was calm.
His shame wasn’t just emotional;
Like the universe was watching him fail
and sending a milf-shaped deity to say,
"It’s okay, my son... but don’t do it again."
Emily paused for a few seconds.
Then, her voice—shaky:
"Who... who is this?"
"I... I was pulled into the vortex too,"
the Tower Manager replied slowly—
like she was reading a script
she had just written in her head.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
’Why am I repeating myself?’
A strange feeling bloomed in her chest.
Nathan turned to look at her, brow furrowed.
The Tower Manager looked calm on the outside,
but her eyes trembled.
In her mind, every neuron tangled.
What will the system—
Emily exhaled from the other end.
At least he’s not alone..."
Then, the question came:
"But... how did you get trapped there?
Do you know the cause?"
The Tower Manager froze.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
Nathan stared at her.
Her face was turning pale.
The words left her like blood from a wound covered in thin cloth—
not visible, but still bleeding.
Nathan opened his mouth to add something—
"Damn... the battery..."
The Tower Manager stood silently,
still staring at the phone—
as if blaming the case for everything.
The evening sky was turning a deeper blue.
Emily walked down the sidewalk,
a plastic grocery bag in one hand filled with vegetables and tofu.
Her steps were light,
but her chest was full.
In the distance, David jogged toward her,
shirt damp with sweat.
He turned quickly. "Is everything alright? Are you okay?"
Emily stopped. Her eyes were still red.
But this time— a small smile emerged.
"Nathan..." She looked at David. "...Nathan is alive."