Gateway

In the south of the continent, in a gorge heading towards the Great Forest, there is a massive gateway.

The devotees of the Church called it the Sacred Gateway, while conspiracy theorists ranted that it was the entrance to a warehouse hiding the Church’s ugly secrets.

But for the Holy Knights guarding this place, what was happening inside the Great Forest was of no importance.

Like their predecessors who had guarded the gateway with their lives for hundreds of years, without even leaving behind their names, they too would simply fulfill their lifelong duty here.

In that place where the same unchanging day continued, someone suddenly appeared.

One of the soldiers, noticing a man walking towards the gateway with unwavering steps and radiating a noble dignity, shouted loudly from the ramparts.

“Halt! If you come any closer, I will shoot an arrow.”

Despite the soldier’s shout, the man’s steps were unhindered.

Having reconfirmed that no one was authorized to pass through the gateway today, the soldier immediately signaled the archers, and arrows rained down on the man.

But the dozens of arrows, as if repelled by something invisible, lost their force in the air and simply fell to the ground.

Sensing something was wrong, the soldier immediately shook the handle of the bell installed on the ramparts. Soldiers and Holy Knights who had been resting throughout the gateway rushed to the ramparts at the sound of the bell.

Among them was Ian, the Lord of this Sacred Gateway, who had earned the 「Title」 of Red Holy Knight. As Ian ascended the ramparts, his adjutant immediately approached.

“There are no hidden enemies.”

The area near the gateway was magically barren, not even a single blade of grass could grow, to prevent enemies from hiding.

An empty plain.

The man, who was moving unhindered towards the gateway, looked up at Ian on the ramparts.

The moment he met the man’s gaze, Ian felt an inexplicable sense of unease and warned his adjutant.

“Prepare for battle.”

At Ian’s words, the adjutant did not ask and immediately shouted to the soldiers.

“Prepare for battle!!!”

At the adjutant’s shout, the soldier at the highest point of the gateway blew a loud horn.

The remaining knights and priests in the buildings also took up their weapons and climbed onto the ramparts.

Under the countless gazes on the ramparts, the man stopped walking and raised his head.

“Is the Saintess beyond this?”

It was a mumbling voice.

But there was no one on the ramparts who did not hear that voice.

A monotonous voice without any intonation or pitch, making the listener feel uneasy.

“Who are you?”

Ian, picking up his weapon, the Red Hammer, asked threateningly, infusing his voice with magic.

“Answering a question with a question, that’s not a good habit.”

“Shut up. This is the Sacred Gateway. No one who has not received the Church’s permission can pass through here, even in death.”

At Ian’s words, the soldiers on the ramparts raised and waved flags emblazoned with the Church’s symbol.

“To believe in a false god in this false world. How truly pathetic.”

At the man’s words, Ian realized he was an enemy of the Church, a follower of the Chaos Church.

“A follower of the Chaos Church, huh? I’ve heard it’s a gathering place for crazy bastards, but I never thought there would be such a moron looking to commit suicide by coming here alone.”

At Ian’s words, the soldiers on the ramparts laughed, mocking the man.

Even at the mockery, there was no change in the man’s expression.

“Your assumptions are all wrong.”

The space around the man, who uttered the monotonous words, began to distort, as if heat haze was shimmering.

“I am neither a simple follower, nor a suicide hopeful. Above all, I am not alone.”

Udeudeudeudeu――!

The earthquake that started from the man’s feet shook the gateway’s ramparts and the ground. One of the soldiers who had been drawing his bow lost his balance due to the massive vibration and accidentally released the string.

The man, catching the flying arrow with his hand, announced himself to everyone in a low voice.

“My name is Cassis. Number 2 of Confession, and the Lord’s Legion.”

A massive book appeared in front of Cassis. Black light flowed from the book as it opened its pages on its own, and a skeleton knight in armor emerged from the book.

Starting with that, all sorts of evil things began to pour out of the book.

The number of them filling the plains was literally a legion.

“And I am your death.”

No sooner had Cassis’ arrogant words ended than the legion of death began to move towards the gateway.

***

The day after the duels that were the capital’s festival.

Despite it being Monday, the Academy had a day off.

This was because the items from the temporary shops set up in the classrooms were still there, and there was still cleaning up to do after the festival.

However, the students who had not participated in the duels gathered in the morning and cleaned every corner of the Academy together. Thanks to that, I was able to skip breakfast and sleep in a little later.

I had lunch with the club members who had returned after cleaning. Since it was free time from lunch onwards, a pleasant commotion could be felt from the cafeteria.

After finishing my meal, I immediately went to see Professor Leora with Aria. I thought it would be better in many ways to tell the person involved in advance before using the wish ticket.

“Ugh, it’s not just me who’s nervous, right?”

Aria pouted her lips, as if she was anxious about meeting Professor Leora.

“You better get used to it quickly? From now on, you’ll have to meet the professor alone without me.”

“Don’t worry. I’m closer to an animal than a person. I’ll adapt more easily!”

Deeply sympathizing with Aria’s words, I opened the door to the faculty office. It was deserted, probably because it was a day off.

“Professor. I came because I have a favor to ask.”

I spoke on behalf of Aria, who was frozen and tightly shut her mouth.

Leora scanned me and Aria with a stern gaze and asked.

“What is it?”

“I want to use the wish ticket I received for Professor Leora. I came here to ask you to accept Aria as your disciple.”

I nudged Aria with my elbow. Aria, who flinched greatly as if a button had been pressed, opened her mouth at my signal.

“H-hello! I’m Aria Baldwin! I’m a first-year in the Magic Department, and I mainly use fire and lightning elemental magic! I placed 4th in the recent grade test and made it to the top 8 in the duels. I want to become a disciple of Professor Leora, who is highly renowned in the Academy….”

The corners of my mouth twitched at Aria’s words, which anyone could tell she had memorized in advance. Professor Leora isn’t that bad to be so nervous.

When Aria finished her diligently prepared speech, Professor Leora said in her usual stiff voice without any change in expression.

“Aria, would you excuse us for a moment?”

“…Huh? Ah, yes!”

As I was shaking my head at Aria’s figure, who was hurriedly leaving the faculty office as if running away, Professor Leora asked.

“I wanted to talk to you alone just in case. Was there any coercion or pressure to transfer the wish ticket?”

I was taken aback by the sudden question, but I immediately shook my head in denial.

“No. There is absolutely nothing like that. Aria and I are friends. We have never traded the wish ticket separately.”

“Then what is the reason for using the wish ticket for someone else?”

“I will use one wish ticket for myself, and I decided to use the remaining wish ticket for Aria, who is a member of the Messiah club. I thought it would be good for the members to grow even more than they are now.”

Professor Leora nodded slightly at my answer and muttered.

“The growth of the members, huh…. I’m sure student Ross felt that they were lacking a lot. I understand.”

Huh…? I think she misinterpreted my good intentions. I wanted to retort, but Professor Leora spoke faster than me.

“I need to have a separate interview with student Aria, so student Ross is free to leave now.”

At the stiff voice, I immediately bowed and greeted her, and came out of the faculty office.

“W-what did she say…? Did she allow it? She didn’t get angry, did she?”

I gave Aria, who was clinging to me with anxious eyes, a playful smile.

“Professor Leora said she wants to have a separate interview?”

“Heok!”

Aria’s mouth dropped open. Her shocked eyes were even bigger than usual.

With a trembling voice, Aria pleaded as if begging.

“Y-you’ll be with me, right?”

Seeing her quickly link arms with me as if I was going to run away, I shook my head slowly with a mischievous smile.

“Unfortunately, it’s a separate interview. I can’t be with you.”

When I smacked the back of Aria’s hand that was holding my arm, Aria pursed her lips and gave me a betrayed, pitiful look.

“Come on, the professor is waiting. Go quickly.”

“W-wait, I need to prepare myself…! S-stop!”

When I forcibly pushed Aria into the faculty office, I chuckled at the sight of her looking at me with sullen eyes full of dissatisfaction and plump lips that looked like they could be grabbed if I reached out.

Although she didn’t have the flashy beauty like Ellie, Aria was definitely a beautiful woman with pretty looks.

But I had never felt Aria as a member of the opposite sex until now.

It would be right to say that she was the kind of person who fits the unfamiliar term, a female friend.

A fun and enjoyable friend of the opposite sex to be with.

In fact, she felt more like a carefree younger sister who needed to be taken care of than a friend.

A scattered, curious, and emotional younger sister.

If I said this to Kane, he would immediately answer, ‘Isn’t that Aria?’

Thinking of Aria, who would be flustered in front of Professor Leora unlike usual, I smiled and moved my steps towards the club room.