Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 149: Back To The East (6).

…Again…!

When she opened her eyes, what she saw was an infinitely stretching space and a gigantic gate standing tall.

Whenever Elena fell into deep meditation, she would often awaken in this space.

Standing before this enigmatic gate, which was impossible to interpret, she felt an inexplicable chill. Perhaps it was a sense of awe for the unknown realm beyond her understanding.

The Gate of Origin.

Ever since she had slightly opened it once, she had not touched the gate again. What she glimpsed through the gap was nothing but an abyss as dark as the universe.

However, something inside the gate seemed to be constantly calling her. Urging her to open it and come inside.

…I can’t avoid it forever. It’s a gate that must be opened someday. Perhaps it is my destiny…!

The Milk-Jug Mage, after taking several deep breaths, finally made a firm decision and stood before the gate.

It was an overwhelmingly large gate.

Logically, it wasn’t a gate that a female mage with disproportionately large breasts could push open with mere strength. However, this massive gate before her eyes was something beyond common sense. From the start, what opened this Gate of Origin wasn’t strength, but mana.

Hooo…

Standing in front of the gate, she rubbed her hands together a few times, and then placed each hand on the gates. Clenching her teeth, she drew up her mana fiercely.

!!!

The gate, which at first didn’t budge, began to open slowly… very slowly.

And through the gap, that distant abyss began to appear.

…Ah…!

The Milk-Jug Mage almost stepped back in fear of the unknown, but this time, she firmly held onto her resolve.

She would do it. This time, for sure!

In order to overcome her fear, she thought of her beloved Group Leader.

Allen, I will do it. Definitely…!

Elena imagined a happy future with Allen forever, and kept moving forward. Even in the pitch-black darkness… the light of love shone brightly.

Thus, the Milk-Jug Mage completely opened the Gate of Origin.

…Right there, something was blowing—no, it wasn’t a physical wind, but a wind of mana.

Elena, who had been lingering in front of it for a long time, swallowed hard, clenched her fist tightly, and took a step forward… and at that moment, fell straight into the pitch-black darkness.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unable to scream, she felt the dizzying sensation of falling. As the Milk-Jug Mage endlessly plummeted into the abyss, she began to see the red earth slowly appear. Simultaneously, heat poured over her body as she was doused in it. The earth, bubbling with heat, stretched endlessly in all directions.

Strangely, the fear of falling gradually disappeared. Her body became as light as a feather, and she soon landed gently on the ground.

It was obvious this was not a land of reality. Beyond the Gate of Origin, the space of mana…

“…You’re not Elizabeth….”

Ah…!

Elena was startled by the sudden voice and quickly turned around.

A middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back. She never imagined meeting someone in a place like this. Or rather, was it truly a person?

Just in case, she immediately assumed a combat stance. Then, a chuckling sound was heard next to her. This time, it was an old man with a head full of white hair.

“See? I told you. She’s too arrogant; it won’t work. It’ll take her ten more years to open the gate.”

Next was a middle-aged noblewoman. Appearing to be born of high status, her every action was refined.

“To think someone would come before Elizabeth… Is she a genius, too?”

Elena was confused. She couldn’t understand the situation at all. She had crossed the Gate of Origin, only to find people there.

As she stood bewildered, a middle-aged man spoke up.

“Calm down first… Don’t worry. We are all like you, those who have opened the gate. In a way, we’re your seniors.”

The old man, scratching his temple with a staff as tall as himself, couldn’t wait and asked bluntly.

“What is your name?”

Elena hesitated, scanning them nervously before cautiously revealing her name.

“Elena… Horgan Herrera…”

“…Elena? That’s a name I’ve never heard before. Which group are you with?”

“I’m from the Herrera family. Ah, currently with the Allen-Mercenary Group.”

Allen-Mercenary Group?

Upon hearing that name, the middle-aged man let out a brief exclamation of admiration.

“The one who accompanied Viola to the capital last time was the Allen Group Leader… wasn’t it?”

“That’s correct.”

“It seems the rumors weren’t entirely exaggerated. Seeing that they have talents like you.”

With that, he discreetly extended his hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m the Group Leader of the Grenzo-Mercenary Group, Grenzo.”

!!!

Elena couldn’t help but be shocked upon hearing that name.

A leader of one of the Top 10 and a master of fire magic, the Ghost Flame Grenzo.

If the Sword Emperor Magnus was the idol of swordsmen, the Ghost Flame Grenzo was like an idol to mages. Naturally, Elena could not be unaware of him.

“Ah, it’s an honor, Group Leader…!”

The two exchanged a firm handshake. Next, the elderly mage introduced himself.

“I’m Scone. Just call me old man.”

The last was a dignified middle-aged noblewoman.

“Shetlan. Nice to meet you, comrade.”

After warmly shaking hands with both the man and woman, Elena gestured around with her eyes and asked.

“But… where is this place? I crossed the gate, and suddenly I ended up here…”

“This is… ah, one moment.”

Just as the Ghost Flame Grenzo was about to explain something, the ground suddenly began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. Then, a massive hand burst through the boiling earth.

An overwhelmingly evil aura poured out from there. It was enough to make one wonder if a demon had appeared.

However, the others were very calm. As if they had been through such situations countless times.

“Is it… my turn today?”

Ghost Flame Grenzo took a step forward, lightly dusting off his hands, and cracked his neck from side to side. Then, he stretched his arms wide and began to summon an immense amount of mana.

!!!!!

Grenzo’s mana instantly swallowed up even the evil aura that filled the surroundings. Elena couldn’t help but be astonished at the incredible sight.

The difference was so vast that every mage she had seen so far seemed like a child in comparison.

This is… a true mage!

Just then, a hand shot up from the ground, pressing against it, as a head and chest emerged. It was a monstrously grotesque creature. It was hard to tell if it was a beast or a demon.

The large, blood-red eye embedded in the center of its head fixed its gaze on Grenzo, who stood with arms outstretched, and made a gesture as if to strike down with the hand planted on the ground.

And at that very moment, Grenzo, who had stretched out both hands, drew them to his chest.

The mana, thick like mist, gathered towards the creature and turned increasingly red-hot, soon becoming a blazing flame. It engulfed the creature’s chest, head, and arms, burning completely without leaving even ashes.

The monster that had tried to break through the ground died and fell back below, and the ground that had opened up closed again as if it were alive.

The entire process from battle to conclusion was literally in an instant.

As the battle ended, Old Man Scone grumbled.

“Showing off just because a junior is here.”

“It’s been a while since we had a comrade. Gotta show off my cool side.”

Grenzo, with a grin, looked again at Elena, who was still bewildered.

“You asked where this is, right?”

He spread his arms again, as if casting a spell earlier.

“The End of the World and the Beginning of Hell. The boundary between the two.”

The End of the World and the Beginning of Hell.

“And the three of us are the Gathering of the Gate Openers—no…”

Grenzo pointed a finger directly at Elena.

“Now it’s four.”

The Gathering of the Gate Openers.

“Welcome, comrade.”

The middle-aged woman approached Elena slowly with a meaningful smile. Then she gently took Elena’s hand, lifted it slightly, and ran her finger across Elena’s wrist, drawing a line.

Ah.

A hot sensation pierced her skin, sketching a symbol. It was the shape of a cross.

“It’s your first time, so many things must seem curious and intriguing. Of course, it might be frightening, too… But don’t worry. We will be by your side from now on.”

This time, the entire world began to shake.

“It’s about time for the gate to close.”

Then, Old Man Scone, who had been chuckling eerily, glanced over them and spoke.

“Since we have a new comrade, how about everyone show their face after a long time?”

“I like that.”

“Shall we?”

The Ghost Flame Grenzo and the middle-aged noblewoman Shetlan also agreed.

“Comrade Elena. If you get the chance, come find me in the capital. If you’re busy, you can come after finishing your work.”

“Understood. I will definitely visit.”

“Yes, comrade. Don’t worry too much. It was a pleasure meeting today.”

Grenzo extended his hand to Elena. The bodies of the four were already faintly blurred.

And the moment she firmly grasped his hand and exchanged farewells, her vision flashed and flickered.

……

…Ah…

When her vision returned, she saw a dark lodging room. The Milk-Jug Mage was sitting on the bed, in the same meditative pose as before.

Elena glanced surreptitiously at the Blind Saintess, who was sprawled out asleep on the bed next to her. It seemed not much time had passed.

It all felt like a dream to her. But unlike a dream, all the memories and sensations were vividly clear.

At that moment, she felt a faint pain in her wrist—there was a cross engraved, drawn earlier by the middle-aged noblewoman, Shetlan.

Elena realized that she had become a member of the Gathering of the Gate Openers.