The 23rd story arc of the Tower of God series consisting of chapters 34 - 35 from the second season. The arc centers around Sweet-and-Sour deciding on what to do regarding the situation that Viole's trapped in with FUG.
Arc 22 | Return to the main Tower of God recap page. | Arc 24
21F - 21st Floor Epilogue - Path
Team Sweet-and-Sour had returned to their 21st Floor home following the Zigena exam, but Viole's remained unconscious for the past two days due to the injury he received protecting Miseng, which Jinsung watches over him. Thanks to Urek departing the 21st Floor with the baby Zigena, the information gets out to the rest of the Tower of how the Great Yeon Family had been keeping the Zigena species of the 21st Floor they control endangered to keep the jewels created by said creatures at a valuable prince. As a result, Ehwa's left depressed in her room learning that the Great Family she was so proud being a part of ended up having a nasty dark side.
Worried that Viole will not survive if he stays with Sweet and Sour, Jinsung of FUG speaks with Wangnan privately. He asks for Wangnan to stop climbing the Tower alongside their Slayer-Candidate, which the Ranker explains that he's come to the conclusion that Wangnan's group just isn't strong enough to protect Viole. That the Slayer-Candidate will constantly be putting himself at risk, such as what happened against Urek, to protect Wangnan and company. He assures that Wangnan's group will be left alone while Viole would pair up with a new team. However, Wangnan's unable to answer, and heads off to the market to think about it. Jinsung lets it happen as long as Wangnan brings him back a box of cigarettes.
During a market trip with Akraptor, Horyang, and Prince, Wangnan attempts to convince his teammates to continue climbing without Viole fearing that going up with a Slayer-Candidate will put them in danger. However, Prince calls him out for thinking that they would selfishly abandon Viole just because he's being forced to be FUG's Slayer-Candidate. Akraptor adds in that they all want to see Viole return to his Floor of Test teammates, which causes Wangnan to realize that only he was second guessing himself.
Meanwhile, Ehwa remains in her room depressed over the realization that the Great Yeon Family isn't as great as she thought it was. That they didn't regret their actions against the Zigena, and actually put a reward up to have Urek's stolen Zigena baby returned to them. Hwaryun stops by her room to call out Ehwa for the way she's acting, and points out that instead of feeling depressed about it, she should be an elite that thinks about what to do from here on out to make things right with the Yeon Family. The statement from Hwaryun gets Ehwa motivated again by announcing to Sweet-and-Sour that she will be an elite that climbs the Tower with Viole to see the dark side of all the Great Families, and then return to the Yeon Family to correct their mistakes. She also states that she'll become a better cook for the team, much to everyone's worry given that she's been burning their food up to this point.
Wangnan returns to Jinsung with lollipops rather than cigarettes as his way of helping the Ranker stop smoking. He also informs the FUG Ranker that Team Sweet-and-Sour has decided to continue climbing the Tower with Viole. Their goal being to forge a new path away from Jahad, the ten Great Families, and FUG. After Wangnan leaves, Jinsung calls for Karaka, the FUG Slayer before Viole, to finally come out of hiding.
Stepping out of the shadows, Karaka greets master Jinsung, which the former has clear respect for. Like Wangnan, Karaka's seen with a red ring with the symbol of Jahad on it. Knowing that the 21st Floor Guardian's watching them, Jinsung suggests that they take their conversation elsewhere. Jinsung and Karaka move to an underground location of the 21st Floor where the FUG Slayer questions why his master hasn't killed Viole's current companions, which Jinsung answers that that's his decision to make.
Karaka states that while he trusts master Jinsung, there's now rumors amongst the FUG higher-ups that Jinsung's affection for Viole will ruin FUG's dream to kill Jahad. However, Jinsung finds such rumors laughable, and orders for Karaka to tell the higher-ups that he has a plan set in stone. That he's using Team Sweet-and-Sour as more hostages to control Viole. Karaka then departs to return to FUG, but before leaving, the FUG Slayer has a private meeting of his own with his subordiate, Poken. He orders Poken to create a team that will watch over Viole, and kill Sweet-and-Sour if they do anything suspicious, which Poken accepts and heads off.
While Ehwa and Miseng watch over the recovering Viole, the rest of Sweet-and-Sour discuss how they're going to help their Slayer-Candidate teammate. Wangnan states that there must be a way to do so, and realizes there's someone who can help. He decides to have another chat with Hwaryun, and asks the Guide to show his team the path that will lead them to Viole's Floor of Test friends. Despite Hwaryun reminding him that she has no reason to as part of FUG, Wangnan figures that she told him the secret information about their FUG Slayer earlier, because she believes that Wangnan and company can walk the path that will help Viole.
Hwaryun wonders if Wangnan is doing this as the Prince of the Red Light District, but decides to tell him the path. She informs Wangnan of the 30th Floor's Workshop Battle; an E-rank Regular tournament competing for various items developed by Workshop that will take place in two years. She tells Wangnan that if his team can climb up to Workshop to make it to the tournament in time, he will find Viole's previous friends. It's at this point that Viole finally wakes up.
Meanwhile, Shibisu is seen with the rest of his Floor of Tests team having climbed up to the 30th Floor, and talks to Khun through a Pocket. Shibisu mentions that he's excited to see the new team Khun created, which the latter answers that they will definitely catch up to Shibisu's Floor. That they will meet in two years for the Workshop Battle.
Long Summary
Following their completion of the 21st Floor test, Sweet and Sour return to their 21st Floor home with the injured Viole, who was reduced to a bloody wreck after his encounter with Urek Mazino. The team allows Viole to rest in his bed while Ranker Jinsung remains at his FUG Slayer's bedside. Worried, the Ranker from FUG pats the unconscious Viole on the head, and calls his former pupil an idiot for trying to take on a powerful Irregular.
In the kitchen, Wangan and Goseng discuss how Viole's been asleep for two days, and hasn't woken up since that brief moment during the 21st Floor test after Urek had let them all go. Wangnan thinks back to their encounter with Urek, and states that he feels like they just went through a huge storm. Goseng remains silent as she thinks over what had happened the past two days.
Goseng thinks back to how the appearance of Urek Mazino during their 21st Floor test sent the exam into chaos. However, in the end, they were able to pass the test easily due to Urek handing them a Zigena flower as it was revealed that what the Irregular was truly after was one of the Zigena's babies. They return to Test Administrator Noma with the flower, but are left confused seeing the Ranker acting weird, and watch him quickly leave with the flower.
At a later time, the secret data about the Zigena babies being killed to keep the race endangered was released over every lighthouse in the Tower. As a result, the Great Yeon Family, who are the rulers of the 21st Floor, put up a reward to have the Zigena baby returned to them that Urek Mazino left the Floor with. Taking off her Great Yeon family hairband, Ehwa is seen in her room having been left in a depressed state due to learning the dark truth about her family.
Back to the present, Wangnan and Jinsung are seen on the roof of their 21st Floor home looking out at the Floor's landscape. The FUG Ranker asks for Wangnan and his team to leave Viole's side, which confuses the latter. Jinsung explains that it's his own fault for not expecting the possible appearance of someone powerful interrupting Viole's test, and states that out of respect for their FUG Slayer, he will let Wangnan's group leave. Jinsung asks Wangnan to forget what he saw here, and informs the Regular that he will be sure to find new teammates for Viole. He states that Wangnan and company will leave the next morning. Wangnan remains silent as Jinsung continues by stating that he was letting this slide for now, because he wanted Viole to have friends.
However, due to the FUG Slayer's injury against Urek, he now sees that Wangnan and company aren't cut out to protect him, and tells Wangnan that he's now no longer sure that Viole will survive under Sweet and Sour believing that Viole will continue to put himself at risk to protect his teammates. Unable to say anything back, Wangnan asks if Jinsung wants anything from the mart, which Jinsung answers that he needs cigarettes.
Wangnan, Akraptor, Horyang and Prince head out to the 21st Floor marketplace to grab some supplies. The four of them take a break on a bench as Akraptor complains that this is a rough task to do without a lighthouse. He turns to Prince, and points out how stupid it was for the light-bearer to break his lighthouse as it could be used to store the supplies they've been carrying.
However, Prince complains back that Akraptor hasn't even been helping them carry the stuff. The two of them continue to bicker as Wangnan and Horyang remain silent listening to them fight. Akraptor asks how Prince plans to fix his lighthouse, which the latter answers that he will just borrow money from Viole. Wangnan asks for Prince to not borrow money from Viole, and states that Sweet and Sour will be leaving today. He points out how dangerous it would be for them to continue climbing the Tower if they stayed with Viole.
However, Akraptor and Prince continue to bicker about how how the latter is still a son of loan sharks, which annoys Prince. The two begin to punch one another as Wangnan becomes irritated that he's being ignored. Wangnan gets up yelling at the group to take him seriously, which Akraptor finally answers that there's no reason to ditch Viole, and Prince adds that the FUG Slayer has the money to fix his lighthouse. Prince then points directly at Wangnan, and states that if anyone should be kicked out of the group, it should be him due to how useless he is compared to Viole. Wangnan and Prince begin to bicker over who wants to climb the Tower with Viole more as Akraptor and Horyang become confused as to what's going on at the moment.
Prince asks why Wangnan wishes to kick Viole out wondering if Wangnan is being a coward as running away would keep their team safe. He also asks Wangnan why he kept knowing about Viole's situation to himself instead of telling the team, and figures that Wangnan thought they would run away from FUG. Prince then asks if Wangnan considers them to be selfish cowards. Wangnan remains unable to say anything as Akraptor steps in to state what everyone is thinking; that no one wants to run away, because they want to help Viole meet his Floor of Test friends. Akraptor points out that Viole should be thankful that the FUG Slayer ended up in a team such as them, which leaves Wangnan speechless. However, Wangnan teases the team that they look like poor kids selling fruits, which irritates Akraptor and Prince.
In her room, Ehwa continues to remain depressed lying on her bed. She holds the hairclip in her hand that has the flowered jewel symbol of the Yeon family on it, as Hwaryun is seen at the room entrance. The FUG guide points out how the girl who was displaying so much pride previously now looks like someone that's become completely discouraged, which catches Ehwa's attention.
Hwaryun reminds her of how the Yeon family hid the fact that the Zigena babies were real, and were killing them off to make the flowers scarce. But in the end, even after the reveal, the higher ups of the Yeon Family don't regret their actions, and just put up a reward to get the baby that Urek stole from them back. Hwaryun also points out that they're a family that will go to any means to kill Viole just because he's a part of FUG. The guide asks Ehwa how it feels to know of the Yeon family's dark side despite always been proud of being a member of the Great Family. However, Ehwa remains silent, and continues to look at her Yeon hairclip.
Hwaryun continues by stating that if she was someone in Ehwa's current position, she wouldn't be lying down in a depressed state, but take the time to think about what can be done in the future to make this right. She asks Ehwa if that's something that the elites would do, which grabs Ehwa's attention once more. Before exiting the room, Hwaryun leaves off teasing Ehwa that it might be to much for a girl who can't cook for herself to handle.
In Viole's room, Miseng is seen crying over her savior as Goseng tries to comfort her that the FUG Slayer will wake up soon enough. At this point, Ehwa comes storming into the room claiming that she's made up her mind, which confuses Goseng and Miseng. Goseng asks why Ehwa is suddenly acting a lot differently compared to the depressed state she was just in, which Ehwa answers that she's decided to be a true elite of the Great Yeon Family. Goseng and Miseng remain confused as to what Ehwa means by being an elite, which Ehwa explains that she will climb the Tower alongside Viole in order to see the dark sides of all ten Great Families. Ehwa states that the moment she becomes a Ranker, she will go back to the Yeon Family to correct their mistakes. She also adds that starting today, she will take the cooking duties over for Viole as only a real elite should be able to know how to cook for themselves.
Ehwa's announcement leaves Goseng and Miseng dreading the days that are to come as Goseng tries to answer that she will make the meal so that Ehwa doesn't have to work. However, Ehwa stays by her will, and states that she will do it. Miseng begins to cry as well, which confuses Ehwa as to why she would start crying over this. Meanwhile, Hwaryun continues to sit nearby listening to the three of them try to sort things out. Wangnan's group returns to the house at this point, and upon realizing that Ehwa has decided to make herself the cook, they begin to complain as well.
Later that night on the roof of Sweet and Sour's house, Jinsung remains confused at the sight of Wangnan offering him a few lollipops instead of cigarettes. The FUG Ranker asks what Wangnan is doing, which the latter answers that it's his version of cigarettes that he's recommending to the Ranker. Wangnan asks for Jinsung to try them, which leaves the FUG Ranker annoyed that they're just lollipops.
Wangnan then turns around to leave, but informs Jinsung that dinner is ready, and should come back in to have a bite. Wangnan also states to Jinsung that Sweet and Sour has decided to go their own path. A path that has nothing to do with FUG, the ten Great Families, or Jahad. The answer surprises Jinsung as Wangnan leaves off stating that they're going to be taking Viole with them.
Watching Wangnan head back into the house, Jinsung calls out for Karaka to come of of hiding. The FUG Slayer with the giant glowing eyes is seen looking at the Ranker from the darkness as Jinsung apologizes to himself that he will have to eat out tonight. Walking out of the shadows, a mummified robed man with a ring of Jahad on his right hand appears before Jinsung. Raising his right arm to his chest to greet Jinsung, Karaka states to his master that it's been awhile.
Jinsung answers that it has indeed been awhile since he's had to look after the kid, Viole, which Karaka replies back that the fact Viole is a kid is why he should be the one that looks after the new FUG Slayer instead. However, Jinsung answers that Karaka, who's also still a kid, is in no position to look after another kid. Jinsung then asks that he and Karaka take this chat elsewhere in order to evade the eyes of the 21st Floor Guardian, who's currently watching them.
Arriving at an underground location, Jinsung notes how Karaka's been increasing his Tower rank by a lot these days, and congratulates his former pupil for doing so well. Karaka replies back that it's still too early to congratulate him. That the place he's aiming to reach is still on a much higher Tower Floor. Jinsung agrees with Karaka's statement as the latter tells his teacher that he's been having dreams of FUG's goal becoming a reality very soon. Karaka states to Jinsung that they finally have a weapon now that can kill Jahad, but has been confused by his master's actions recently.
He asks Jinsung why the latter hasn't killed Viole's current companions just yet so that FUG can replace them with soldiers loyal to FUG that can watch over their FUG Slayer, which Jinsung answers that Karaka doesn't need to know that since he's the one that's currently watching over Viole. Jinsung asks if Karaka has been losing trust in him, which the latter answers that while he still does, there's been rumors amongst the FUG higher-ups that Jinsung's affection for the new Slayer-Candidate could end up ruining FUG's dream. Jinsung gives off a chuckle finding it hilarious that the higher-ups have started to doubt him.
He then reminds Karaka that he's someone who betrayed his precious family to be a part of FUG, and spent many nights waiting for the right time to come. Jinsung asks Karaka why he would choose to throw away everything by growing a soft spot for Viole.
Giving off a dark aura, Jinsung informs Karaka that he has it all planned out, and that the Sweet and Sour Regulars that are currently with their FUG Slayer will serve as having more hostages as a means to continue Viole. He orders Karaka to to tell the higher-ups of FUG these exact words, which Karaka accepts to do when he has to return to the organization.
Now that that's settled with, Jinsung asks Karaka if he wants to have a bite to eat together since FUG's guide told him of a ncie restaurant on the 21st Floor. However, Karaka answers his master that he can't do that as he's not someone that will take off his mask in front of people that he doesn't trust. Karaka turns around to return to FUG, and bids his master farewell. Watching Karaka leave, Jinsung puts one of Wangnan's lollipops in his mouth, and thinks back that he made a mistake refusing Wangnan.
Continuing to move away from Jinsung, Karaka is greeted by one of his trusted subordinates, Poken. The senior FUG Slayer orders Poken to find a group of trustworthy Regulars, and tasks Poken to keep an eye on Viole and Sweet and Sour. Karaka states that if the Regulars of Sweet and Sour prove to be acting suspicious in any way, then its up to Poken and company to slaughter them. Poken accepts the mission, and departs to do his lord's task. Karaka is left alone again as he continues to make his way back to FUG.
Returning to Sweet and Sour, the team is seen having a brief moment of rest after eating their meal. Wangnan is thankful that they got to eat before Ehwa started trying to cook again, which Goseng adds that they were lucky to task the Yeon member to act as an elite doctor looking after Viole as he continues to recover. Wangnan congratulates Goseng for coming up with the idea as Akraptor interrupts to ask if Wangnan came up with anything to help Viole deal with his current situation. Goseng points out that she heard about Viole's situation as well, but wonders if they can really help him given how weak their team is. Losing confidence, Goseng states that Sweet and Sour might end up just being a burden to Viole, but Viole reassures her that they will come across something. Goseng is left confused by the vague answer, which Wangnan explains that as long as they have the guts to help Viole, they will definitely come across something that will allow for them to help Viole.
At a later time, Wangnan decides to talk with Hwaryun again as the two are seen alone in the dining room like their previous talk. Knowing that Wangnan's been avoiding her since their last chat, Hwaryun asks why Wangnan suddenly wants to talk with her again, which he answers that he heard from others that she's a guide. Hwaryun states that to be the truth, and asks if Wangnan is here to ask for directions on somewhere he needs to go, which Wangnan answers that he wants to be told the path that will lead Sweet and Sour to Viole's Floor of Test friends.
Hwaryun reminds Wangnan that she has no reason to provide him with a path given that she's part of FUG, and that only those who have the ability to reach the end are the ones who are told the path. Wangnan points out that their previous conversation had Hwaryun telling him Viole's secrets, and the bad situation he's been placed in. He figures that Hwaryun told him this, because she believes that Wangnan, and the rest of Sweet and Sour, can go down the path he's asking from her. He states to Hwaryun that he will accept the path she's hinting at him, which leaves the guide unable to speak for a brief moment. Questioning Wangnan's will, Hwaryun asks if he desires to go down this path out of sympathy for Viole, or if it's to accomplish his own desire as the Prince of the Red Light District.
Hearing Hwaryun call him by that title leaves Wangnan completely silent as the guide states that in the end, none of this matters to her, and will gladly tell him the path anyway. Pointing out how Wangnan is one of many Regulars, she assumes that he must have heard from around here about Workshop. Wangnan answers that he heard it's a place that develops items and Pocket Inventories, which Hwaryun states to be correct.
Hwaryun explains that Workshop is a place where all Tower items, such as Pockets, Lighthouses and Inventories, are made. She states that Workshop has lesser branches on each Floor, but there's only seven main Workshop locations throughout the Tower. One such location being the 30th Floor, which holds a tournament every five years amongst the E-Rank Regulars to provide items to up-and-coming Regulars as they climb the Tower. She mentions how the tournament is an Item Battle, which leaves Wangnan confused. Hwaryun explains that Item Battle is also known more specifically to the entire Tower as a Workshop Battle, and that it's a fight amongst the E-rank Regulars where the winners are given the most recent items that were developed by Workshop. She informs Wangnan that this Workshop Battle is going to happen two years from now, and that the path Wangnan is asking for will bring Sweet and Sour to meeting Viole's Floor of Test friends if they manage to climb up to the 30th Floor in time, and join in on Workshop.
In Viole's room, Miseng is seen continuing to watch over the FUG Slayer while Ehwa nurses him. Opening his eyes, the two are relieved to see that Viole has finally woken up.
Elsewhere in the Tower, Shibisu is seen talking into his Pocket with Khun about how the former's team has already made it all the way up to the 30th Floor, but is being forced to wait it out as people only get a chance to take the 30th Floor test once a year. The rest of Shibisu's teammates can be heard in the door behind him bickering over some form of game they're playing as Shibisu tells Khun that he hopes the latter's team will eventually catch up to them. Giving off a smile, Shibisu states that he's been itching to fight the new team he created.
On Khun's side, the Great Family member's teammates can be seen in the back playing a game of basketball as Khun is left wondering if Shibisu's current good confidence is a sign that the latter has gotten a lot stronger since the days they were together in the Floor of Tests. Khun can hear Shibisu's teammates still bickering with one another over his Pocket as the former tells the latter that he will be sure to catch up to Shibisu soon enough.
Shibisu replies back for Khun to not be late, and that they will be sure to meet again two years from now. Specifically, at the Workshop.
21st Floor Epilogue - Path Tropes
- Arc Villain: Karaka. He goes behind Jinsung's back by ordering his subordinate, Poken, to make a team that will watch over Sweet and Sour, and kill them if they do anything suspicious.
- Awful Truth: For Ehwa, the fact that her own family was behind the conspiracy to keep the Zigena an endangered species, and then instead of denying it or stopping, they simply put out a reward for the baby Urek took as if they had nothing to be held accountable for. They even tried to get them killed just to get rid of Viole. Ehwa is forced to accept her family has a dark side and that the conflict between FUG and the Great Families is not as black and white as she thought it was.
- Breaking the Fellowship: Jinsung attemps to invoke it and initially gets through to Wangnan, but ultimately defied by Sweet and Sour, who choose to stay with Viole and help him.
- Character Development: Ehwa is hit with a major realization that the current state of the Yeon Family isn't something to be proud of. She resolves to return to her family once she becomes a Ranker in order to unearth and expunge its dark side.
- Cliffhanger: All roads are set for the teams of old and new to meet at the 30th Floor's Workshop Battle.
- Exposition: Hwaryun explains the Workshop Battle. A 30th Floor tournament where E-rankers gather to battle over various items that are developed by Workshop.
- A Father to His Men: Jinsung's soft spot for Viole leaves the FUG higher-ups worried that it will lead the organization's dream to ruin.
- Heroic R Ro D: Viole spends most of the arc bedridden and unconscious, recovering from the horrendous wounds he suffered in the previous arc protecting Miseng.
- Hospital Hottie: Ehwa dresses up as a nurse in order to care for the bedridden Viole. Goseng put her up to it to get her out of the kitchen.
- Internal Reveal: At some point off-screen, the rest of Sweet and Sour learns Viole's circumstances. Combined with him almost losing his life protecting Miseng, Sweet and Sour as a whole fully accept Viole as a friend and comrade and want to help him reunite with his old friends.
- Lethal Chef: Just to drive the point home, when Ehwa claims she will take over for Viole's cooking turns as well as her own, not only does the rest of the team heavily discourage her, Miseng starts crying.
- Nominal Hero: What side Hwaryun is on really starts to become a mystery here. Despite being a part of FUG, she shows Wangnan the path that will help Viole get out of the organization.
- The Reveal: Very minor one, but Karaka, the FUG Slayer before Viole, is finally shown.
- Season Finale: For the 21st Floor Story Arc.
