Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! Novel - Chapter 326
Pick Me Up – Chapter 326 – Epilogue 4 – Valhalla
“Why did you stop being a Court Mage?”
Sparks flew from the fireplace in front of them.
Yvolka took off her gloves and responded.
“Do you really need to ask? I didn’t have the opportunity to showcase my brilliant talent.”
“Brilliant talent, you say.”
“What? Are you dissatisfied?”
“It’s useful for lighting fires, I suppose.”
The man leaning against a tree smiled.
The man with a sword on his hip was named Belkist. He was a mercenary recognized for his skill in the Mercenary Guild.
Crack.
A girl sitting by the fire bit into a deer leg.
The tender meat tore easily, and the juice filled her mouth. She carried three daggers on her waist and a short bow on her back. Her name was Jenna Shirai.
“And you guys? Though I didn’t know, you must have been aware of the situation.”
“What situation?”
“That there was nothing to do.”
Yvolka sighed.
“I gave up my prestigious position and came here, but it’s not what I expected. There’s no opportunity to showcase my brilliant magic here either.”
“But you have plenty of opportunities to roast meat.”
“I didn’t mean that!”
Yvolka shouted, frustrated.
After long contemplation, she had made the most important decision of her life. But her expectation was cruelly betrayed. There was no chance to display her hard-earned skills.
‘What is this country?’
It’s peaceful.
Though it’s peaceful, it’s too much. All the races that used to constantly fight with humans had signed peace treaties with the empire. They had enjoyed more than ten years of prosperity and there wasn’t a trace of bandits. In this situation, the tasks of mercenaries were extremely limited.
Catching small-time thieves.
Looking for lost cats.
Working as a waitress in an inn.
Only small tasks.
The last one was for lodging expenses because Yvolka lost her wallet.
The reign of the Silver Crown Empress, Priacis I, had surpassed ten years.
Under her rule, the citizens of the empire enjoyed peaceful times. No matter where you looked, it was all peace. The laughter of children constantly echoed in the streets.
Her name was Yvolka Rivel Strashur.
She used to belong to a noble family. After dedicating herself intensely to magic, she became a Court Mage of the empire, but at some point, she was invaded by a feeling of emptiness. She felt that something important in her life was missing, as if she had forgotten something.
So she decided to take a risk.
To fill that void in her heart.
But she still didn’t know what that was.
“Hey! Why don’t you respond? When someone tells you something, it’s polite to answer.”
Yvolka pointed at Belkist.
Belkist shrugged and spoke.
“I have nothing to say.”
“That’s not fair!”
“If you insist, I’d say it’s boring.”
Belkist lifted his head.
Through the leaves and branches, the night sky could be seen.
“I don’t think this world is for me.”
Belkist looked at the moon.
Then, Yvolka’s gaze turned to the third person.
“Eh… Me?”
Jenna pointed at herself while chewing on meat.
“I… was bored.”
“That led you to become a mercenary?”
Yvolka replied with a disappointed expression.
‘Wow.’
These people are similar to me.
Being a mercenary in peaceful times is something for eccentrics.
The head of the Mercenary Guild, a woman named Edith, was also strange.
‘This place is full of fools.’
Yvolka regretted coming here. She should be enjoying wine and steaks in her luxurious mansion.
About a month ago,
The three of them met by chance in a remote city.
And by chance, they became companions.
‘Chance after chance after chance.’
Until then, none of the three had companions, but this time was an exception.
It was something magical. They didn’t feel any aversion among themselves, as if they had shared life and death in a previous life.
“So, how much longer to the ruins?” Yvolka asked.
A week ago, a rumor reached the ears of the three idle mercenaries.
“Valhalla?”
“That’s why we’re here.”
The legend of Valhalla.
Somewhere in Taonier, there are ruins of a nameless god.
Those who pass the trial of the ruins can travel to a new world.
But they were just rumors.
Almost no one attempted it. Most mercenaries considered it a worthless story and ignored it, but the three of them were different. They quickly made plans and set off in search of adventure.
‘I must prove my ability.’
To show that I am outstanding.
That I have enough merit. That I am a chosen genius.
‘To whom?’
She didn’t know.
Yvolka shook her head.
“Ugh, here it is.”
Jenna took a small metallic object from her bag.
A golden insignia with the figure of a ram. The insignia emitted a faint light in Jenna’s hand. Jenna said while stroking the insignia.
“It’s reacting. Looks like we’re close.”
“It’s not fake, is it?”
Yvolka looked at the insignia with suspicion.
She asked Jenna where she got it, but Jenna wouldn’t say.
She said she didn’t remember.
“Sis, it’s not fake.”
“I have my doubts. Where is something so convenient? An insignia that guides to the ruins just by having it. And you don’t even remember where you got it.”
“Well, maybe I did great deeds in my previous life…”
Jenna whispered in Yvolka’s ear.
“Perhaps it was a gift from a god.”
Yvolka sighed.
The next day, the three packed their things and continued their journey.
They were in the easternmost part of Taonier.
A dense, lush jungle stretched out before them. If Yvolka hadn’t mastered wind magic, they might have died from the heat. Originally, she could only handle fire magic, but after arduous effort, she also mastered wind magic.
The three mercenaries followed the path guided by the light through the jungle.
Day after day, night after night.
“It’s here.” Belkist murmured.
A high cliff wall at the edge of the jungle.
An old, ruined church stood there.
“The symbol matches.”
Above the entrance of the church was engraved a ram.
The symbol of Valhalla matched. It was the place they were looking for.
Belkist firmly grasped the hilt of his sword.
“If you pass the trial, you can go to a new world.”
“What kind of place will it be?”
Jenna tilted her head.
Yvolka raised a finger.
“Hehe, surely…”
“……?”
“A place full of delicious things.”
Belkist smiled before entering the church.
His body disappeared into the dark corridor.
Jenna followed him running.
“Wait! We should discuss it first!”
Yvolka, who had been left behind, started walking nervously.
‘They have no idea what common sense is.’
There was nothing to do by staying still.
Yvolka also hurried after them.
The magic lights in the corridor lit up on their own.
Inside the church, a wide corridor stretched out.
There were carvings on the walls of a man with a sword fighting unknown monsters.
The man with the sword, his followers behind him, and the hostile monsters. They all seemed almost alive, full of vitality.
‘This man…’
Yvolka slowly extended her hand toward the man carved on the wall.
“Sis!”
“Huh? What is it?”
“What are you doing standing there? We’ve reached the end.”
Yvolka ran forward.
At the end of the corridor was a large cavern.
On the other side of the cavern was a huge door. On either side of the door were statues of armored warriors raising their swords.
“Is this it?”
“It’s certain.”
Jenna raised the insignia.
The insignia emitted a golden glow.
“We finally made it.”
Jenna smiled broadly.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the cavern began to tremble.
Yvolka, who was distracted, almost lost her balance and fell.
[Warriors who wish to join the eternal war.]
The eyes of the statues next to the door glowed.
A majestic voice echoed from the statue’s mouth.
[Challenge.]
Shine!
A small stone door appeared on the right side of the cavern.
[Prove yourselves.]
Creak!
The stone door opened.
[The unworthy cannot step onto the battlefield.]
Must they pass the trial of that door?
Belkist looked inside the open door.
He was already prepared.
‘It won’t be boring.’
This world seemed terribly boring to him.
No enemy had been able to satisfy him. This trial wouldn’t calm his emptiness, but it might provide some entertainment. Belkist grasped the hilt of his sword and started walking.
“You two wait here. I’ll go alone…”
“Let’s see, my brother said it was done like this.”
Belkist turned around.
Jenna was inserting the golden insignia somewhere on the large door.
‘What is she doing?’
After struggling for a while, Jenna inserted the insignia into a slot on the door.
Creak! Boom!
The huge door at the front of the cavern began to open.
[If you pass the warrior’s trial, you…]
“End!”
[You…]
“Come on, everyone.”
[What are you doing, cheaters!]
A small light emerged from the statue’s mouth.
In the middle of the glow appeared a fairy with four wings.
The fairy, with flushed cheeks, shouted.
[How dare you cheat on the trial!]
“Ah!”
Yvolka was startled.
“It’s a monster, a monster!”
“It’s not a monster. It’s Iselle.”
[Who is Iselle? I have my own name, Frey! How did you open the door…? What?]
The fairy, observing the three, widened her eyes in surprise.
[Why are you here…?]
Jenna winked at her.
Frey looked at Jenna.
“It’s uncomfortable that you’re staring at me like that.”
[Do you have… memories?]
“My brother came secretly once. He told us how to come.”
[Weren’t you going to stay in the forest?]
“After staying still for a few years, my hands itched.”
[Grr!]
Thud!
The large door opened completely.
Jenna looked at the other two.
“Good job, guys. See you there.”
Beyond the door was a garden.
In the center of the garden was a shining dimensional portal.
“Jenna Shirai, move out!”
Jenna nimbly jumped and plunged into the dimensional portal.
Belkist and Yvolka watched in surprise as Jenna disappeared.
[Ugh, it’s my fault…]
The fairy flew towards Belkist.
Stardust from her wings fell on him.
A faint glow shone.
“…….”
His eyes changed.
“So that’s how it is.”
Belkist looked at the dimensional portal.
“What’s happening? What’s going on?”
“I wanted to live a normal life, but… it seems I couldn’t.”
Swoosh!
Belkist drew his sword.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
“What the hell? Where’s Jenna? What’s that door? And that strange fairy?”
“Find out for yourself, mage.”
Belkist lowered his sword and walked towards the dimensional portal.
Soon, the silhouette of the man was engulfed by the light and disappeared.
“You should explain!”
Yvolka clenched her fists and shouted.
Of course, there was no one to hear her complaint.
[You’re alone.]
The fairy spoke while picking her ear.
[Do what you want. Whether you go or not.]
“Where did the other two go?”
[Who knows.]
“How rude!”
Don’t think I don’t know dimensional magic!
Yvolka walked angrily towards the portal.
Though she didn’t actually know much about dimensional magic.
[Are you coming too?]
“Why shouldn’t I?”
[The other two, I don’t know, but you’ll have to try hard. You quit halfway.]
“What? Are you saying I’m a useless talentless person?”
[I didn’t say that…]
“You underestimate me!”
Yvolka pointed at the portal.
“Fine. I’ll show that idiot inside the portal the skills of the great mage, Yvolka Rivel Strashur.”
[Do you know who’s inside?]
“Well…”
At that moment, a vague memory crossed her mind.
But only for an instant.
“No matter who it is!”
Swish!
Yvolka took out a fan from her dress.
“I’ll show them who I am.”
[Do what you want.]
“Hahaha! Prepare yourselves.”
Click!
Yvolka closed her fan.
And after three steps.
“Ah!”
She tripped on her dress skirt and fell.
[…….]
“Don’t look.”
Yvolka quickly got up and entered the portal.
Frey watched her and sighed.
[It’s going to be noisy again.]
There didn’t seem to be any more visitors besides them.
Boom! The door began to close.
‘Maybe I should go too.’
She was curious about what would happen.
Frey flapped her four wings and headed for the portal.
To where her hero awaited.