Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! Novel - Chapter 329
Pick me Up – Chapter 329 – Special: Interlude Story (2)
«I know! I already know!»
In a dark alley of the city.
Yvolka shouted with a slurred pronunciation next to the campfire.
«Things have changed since then!»
By the time they noticed, the city had darkened.
In this place, the frontier, there was no distinction between day and night, but by some mysterious magical principle, the sun rose, and the moon set some time ago.
«Oh, I don’t care!»
Gulp, gulp.
She drank the contents of the glass.
A golden liquid. It was beer.
«Are you okay, sister?»
«Oh, anyone who sees me will think I’m out of my mind. I’m perfectly fine, perfectly fine.»
Yvolka wiped the foam from her mouth.
Beer.
In Valhalla, it’s extremely expensive.
To get a few beers, one had to spend all their savings.
«With the money you spent on that drink, we could have rented an inn.»
«Oh, shut up! You can drink too. Let’s spend, spend big.»
«You’re crazy. So, another night sleeping on the street?»
«Seems like it. Sister is very discouraged.»
«I know.»
Yvolka spoke.
The Great Plaza was full of people.
I couldn’t openly recognize myself in front of everyone.
‘But, that look…’
It was the look of someone who saw a complete stranger.
Yvolka felt her insides boil.
‘Things have changed since then.’
In the days of Taonier, we were comrades on the battlefield, but now it’s different.
I am a nobody in Valhalla, while that man is praised as a king.
‘I didn’t come here for this.’
In my days as a Court Mage, everyone praised my talent.
The nobles revered me to gain my magical power. But here, I am the lowest of the low.
‘What’s wrong with this place?’
This place is strange.
All the powerful ones from Mobius are here.
Everyone was considered a genius in their places of origin.
‘Is my talent insufficient?’
She trembled.
I don’t want to even imagine it.
No, it can’t be. The situation is what’s wrong. The world is unfair for not giving me a chance.
«Exactly! If you’re going to brag about being a king, you should make this place work well. Only those who arrived first are rewarded and successful. We, the newcomers, are ignored!»
Give me a chance too!
Yvolka emptied her beer and waved her arms.
«As a Mage, you don’t look good.»
«Hmm, neither do you. We are the same. Dust, worms, caterpillars. We are all trash.»
She saw the hem of her dress in her field of vision.
The dress, which was magically enchanted to stay clean, was now dirty. It was as if it reflected her own situation and made her want to cry.
«She should have arrived by now.»
Jenna scratched her cheek.
«Arrive who? The bleak future? Are we going to become beggars and beg on the street? No, I don’t want that!»
«Are you drunk?»
«Cough, cough!»
She coughed several times.
Yvolka couldn’t handle alcohol well.
She felt the heat rise from her stomach.
«Damn it, they are laughing at me. I’m not going to give up like this. I will prove my talent…»
«I hope so.»
«Hmm, of course, I will. Who do you think I am? I am…»
«Be sober before that.»
«Are you underestimating me? I can remove the hangover with magic. I am… huh?»
Yvolka squinted her eyes and looked to her side.
There was someone standing between her blurred vision.
The owner of that voice was wrapped in a long, black cloak.
«Oh, big brother. Have you arrived?»
Jenna greeted the man with the cloak.
«You’re late, Major. Look at the state of this Mage. Truly pathetic.»
«Huh?»
«It doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect anything.»
Didn’t expect anything?
Yvolka blinked.
The stranger removed the cloak from his shoulders.
His characteristic eyes and black hair were revealed.
«Pff!»
Yvolka spat out the beer still in her mouth.
«You… you are…»
«What is that look?»
«No, no…»
Han Israt clicked his tongue.
«Have you been drinking until just before our meeting?»
«Meeting? What are you talking about?»
Yvolka quickly looked at Jenna.
Jenna smiled naturally.
«Oh, I didn’t tell you.»
«Huh?»
«You didn’t know because you left first. After the event, a messenger came. He said we would meet with my brother tonight.»
«…»
«I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t find the right moment.»
Silence.
«Ahem.»
Yvolka coughed a couple of times and put down her beer glass.
She brushed the dust off her dress and stood up.
Then she started to straighten her clothes to make sure they weren’t wrinkled.
«… What is she doing?»
Belkist tilted his head.
Yvolka tidied her messy hair and took out a fan from her clothes, covering her mouth as she smiled.
«Oh, hohoho…»
It was an extremely forced laugh.
Han smiled at her.
«It’s been a while, Yvolka.»
«I didn’t expect to see you either.»
«I didn’t expect you to find me here.»
«That’s my business! What do you care?»
«That’s true. It’s your decision.»
Han wore dark clothes instead of the flashy uniform he wore during the day.
Then he spoke suddenly.
«I have something to tell you.»
«What… what is it?»
«About back then, I’m sorry.»
Yvolka’s eyes widened.
«It was my mistake that you died there. I wanted to apologize if I saw you again.»
«Ah…»
Apologize?
This man?
Yvolka opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
«Then, what is your response?»
«Huh, what?»
«If I apologize, shouldn’t you accept it?»
«E-eh…»
«Sister.»
Jenna nudged Yvolka in the side.
Yvolka suddenly came to her senses.
Snap!
She opened her fan and smiled.
«Heh, hehe, you are very polite. I accept your apology.»
«Good, then that matter is resolved.»
«Huh? Resolved?»
«I apologized and you accepted it. End of the matter.»
«Is that all?»
«All.»
What is this?
This feeling of defeat.
Yvolka stood stiff with the fan in her hand.
«So, brother, it’s been a while. How have you been?»
«So-so.»
«Good or bad?»
«I don’t know.»
Jenna and Han exchanged greetings.
Although it had been a long time since they had seen each other, there was no discomfort or tension between them.
«You knew we would come here.»
Han looked at Belkist.
Belkist responded.
«I’m sorry. I couldn’t betray your expectations.»
«Hmm.»
Han closed his eyes.
«I won’t apologize. What you are going through here…»
«We know, brother.»
«Then it’s fine. They learned enough in Taonier.»
«If it bothers you, get stronger.»
Belkist replied with a smile.
Han opened his eyes.
«However, it seems there is a problem with the fairness of opportunities.»
Han stroked his chin, thinking.
«It’s true, we have failed to treat newcomers properly. Stagnant water always rots. It’s time to review the system.»
«Then, will we also have a chance?»
«That’s right. You will be the first to receive it.»
«Will we be able to become strong?»
Jenna’s eyes sparkled.
Han smiled.
«It depends on you. But remember, the days of following me are over. I won’t be there. You will have to do it on your own.»
«We know, brother. We will do well on our own.»
«That’s right.»
Han said.
«And this is the first and last time I meet with you unofficially.»
«The last time?»
Yvolka replied, surprised.
«Why?»
«No, the last time is a bit…»
«What did you expect, a monthly meeting like a social club? A reunion of alumni?»
Jenna added an explanation.
«Today, my brother made a special effort. It wasn’t easy to sneak out. If he is so important here, every person he meets becomes very important.»
Every person he meets becomes important.
In other words, if the King of Valhalla met with low-ranking heroes without power or skill, controversies about fairness would arise.
«So I say it. This is the last time we meet unofficially.»
«Then…»
«I will give you a chance.»
Han looked at the three.
«Reach where I am. Strong enough not to need unofficial meetings. Soon you will have your opportunity.»
«Wow, Major, you are also late. Are you just starting now?»
«I’ve been busy.»
«Great, now it begins.»
The two encouraged each other.
Yvolka watched the three, astonished.
«Sister, sister?»
«…»
«Answer, answer.»
Yvolka trembled.
«Heh, hehe, of course. A chance, a chance. I’ve been waiting for this. A battlefield to prove my talent!»
All the suffering until now had been a wait for this.
Yvolka clenched her fists.
«But… where is that man?»
Belkist looked beside Han.
«Do you mean Aaron?»
«Yes. I thought he would come.»
«Ah, that’s right, Aaron isn’t here. This is the first meeting of Taonier.»
«Has he completely joined Niflheim?»
«He shouldn’t have. They are our rivals.»
«Rivals?»
Yvolka widened her eyes.
She thought of the heroes who stood behind Han during the victory parade.
The five famous knights of Valhalla.
Except for one, all were from Niflheim.
In other words, they were the best of the best.
«Are those our rivals?»
«Yes, sister. We will reach them. They took our brother.»
«They took him?»
«Yes!»
Jenna clenched her fist.
«We will become strong and take our brother back from them.»
«Is it possible?»
«Of course.»
Han smiled.
«Try if you can. I won’t stop you.»
«Hehe, you will see. So, where is Aaron?»
«He has lost something. He needs time.»
«Lost? What?»
«Don’t worry too much. He will recover it soon. At the next official meeting, Aaron will be there.»
An official meeting.
Jenna’s eyes sparkled.
If they become strong, strong enough that no one can ignore them, they could have official meetings with the heroes of Taonier, and no one could say anything.
«I see. As expected.»
Belkist smiled coldly.
«It’s better to take than to be taken.»
«We will take the place of those arrogant ones. The place beside our brother is ours.»
«Huh?»
It seemed things were being decided without Yvolka’s opinion.
‘Yes.’
Then, like before.
I will be able to fight alongside him.
«Then, Aaron becomes important. We need Aaron to join us. Then we will be four against four.»
«He will decide for himself. He just needs to become stronger.»
«…That’s true.»
Yvolka murmured.
Then she clenched the fan in her hand.
Gradually, her expression and eyes regained their usual confidence.
«People here feared my talent, that’s why they haven’t given me a chance. How petty!»
Yvolka showed a wide smile.
«Perfect, I will show them my true skills!»
«You’re back.»
«You are so simple it’s easy to deal with you.»
«What did you say?»
«Nothing.»
Hmph.
Yvolka laughed contemptuously at Belkist’s words.
Then she pointed at Han with her folded fan.
«You will see! I will make you regret it!»
«Regret what?»
«That… Everything! I will make you regret it!»
A declaration.
Yes, this was a declaration of war.
She was taking revenge on the man who hadn’t recognized her worth and had left her here.
‘Hmm. I will show them if they give me the chance.’
Now I understand why I came to Valhalla.
To prove my worth.
To prove I am the best Mage in the universe.
‘No matter how much they boast of being the vanguard, they are worth nothing.’
In the end, talent cannot be surpassed.
Hehe. Yvolka laughed maliciously.
«Then, I’m leaving.»
«Already?»
«What else is there to say?»
«Well, I suppose so.»
Han put the cloak back on.
His figure blended with the darkness of the night.
Before leaving.
«Don’t make me wait too long.»
The three opened their eyes, surprised.
«Wow!»
Jenna shuddered.
«Those guys have softened you.»
Belkist’s eyes turned cold.
«…»
Yvolka wasn’t thinking anything.
Anyway, the alley returned to calm after the storm.
Crack, crackle.
The light from the campfire chased away the shadows.
‘The hangover is gone.’
The hangover was completely gone.
Only one thought illuminated her mind.
«I will start tomorrow!»
«No, I will start now. I’m going first.»
Belkist disappeared into the alley.
He must be looking for a suitable place to train.
«What do you think, sister?»
«Me?»
The two approached the campfire to warm themselves.
Jenna’s face was illuminated by the fire.
«Do you think it was a good idea to come here? You were a Court Mage. You could have lived well there.»
«I told you. There’s no fun there.»
Geniuses always stand out in difficult times.
In a peaceful world, heroes cannot emerge.
Yvolka murmured to herself.
‘But, is it true?’
She decided to ask herself.
‘Do you regret coming here?’
Of course…
«I don’t regret it.»
«Really?»
«Hehe, among Han’s subordinates there is a Mage, right? How good are they? How great are they? I will surpass them. You also keep up.»
«I will.»
Both smiled.
«I will show everyone here who I am.»
«And I will also make them know my name!»
«There’s no need for them to know that clumsy man’s name.»
«Why? Don’t you like Belkist?»
«Anyway! Hehe, I like this. Let’s start tomorrow!»
Yvolka laughed loudly.
Jenna watched her.
‘Happiness.’
A long time ago.
Jenna remembered her father’s words.
Happiness is living each day to the fullest.
Living like this, you can find light anywhere.
‘We start tomorrow.’
The true life in Valhalla.
The young archer reaffirmed her determination.
‘If the others don’t try hard, we will really catch up to them.’
Thus, the determination of the three began in silence.
< Special Chapter – Interlude Story > End
< Next chapter starts «Aaron’s Parallel Story» >