Pick Me Up!

Chapter 326: Epilogue 4. Valhalla

“Why did I quit being a court mage?”

Crackle.

Firewood blazed in front of them.

Iolka took off her gloves as she answered.

“Hmph, do you even need to ask? I never got the chance to display my exceptional talent.”

“Exceptional talent, huh.”

“What? Got a problem with that?”

“You’re decent enough at lighting fires.”

The man leaning against a tree grinned.

His name was Belkist—a mercenary whose name was recognized even within the Guild. A distinguished powerhouse.

Crunch.

A girl squatting beside the campfire tore a bite from a roasted deer haunch.

Tender flesh split easily under her teeth, juices filling her mouth. Three daggers were strapped to her waist, and a shortbow slung across her back. Her name was Jena Shirai.

“And who are you two, anyway? Even if I was clueless, you guys must’ve known the situation.”

“What situation are you talking about?”

“I mean the fact that this place is dead quiet.”

Iolka sighed.

“I threw away my fancy title and came all the way down here, but this? This is nothing like I expected. Not a single chance to show off my brilliant magic.”

“Don’t you get plenty of chances to cook meat?”

“Not that kind of chance!”

Iolka shrieked.

She was brimming with dissatisfaction. After a long, drawn-out period of agonizing, she’d made the biggest decision of her life. But her expectations had been betrayed brutally. There was nowhere to unleash the skill she had painstakingly honed.

‘What the hell is with this country.’

It was peaceful.

Too peaceful, even.

All the various species that once constantly clashed with humans had signed peace treaties with the Empire. Over a decade of prosperity had wiped out even the usual bandits. In such times, the work available to mercenaries was extremely limited.

Catching petty thieves.

Finding runaway cats.

Working as waitstaff at an inn.

At most, a handful of errands.

(The last one had been because Iolka lost her wallet and had to cover her lodging somehow.)

It had been well over ten years since the Silver-Crowned Empress, Friasis I, began her reign.

Under her rule, the empire’s citizens lived in an era of true peace and prosperity. Wherever you looked, all was calm. The streets rang with the laughter of children.

Her name was Iolka Libel Strashur.

She came from a once-prestigious noble house. After throwing herself into the study of magic with rabid intensity, she had ascended to the seat of imperial court mage—but at some point, a wave of emptiness overtook her. A feeling like something essential had gone missing from her life. Like something vital had been forgotten.

So she had chosen to challenge herself.

To fill whatever was missing in her heart.

But even now, she couldn’t tell what that thing was.

“You! Why are you only asking questions without answering any? Basic manners say you should respond when someone tells you something!”

Iolka jabbed a finger at Belkist.

He merely shrugged and said,

“I have nothing to say.”

“What kind of excuse is that?!”

“If I had to give a reason... it’d be that everything’s too boring.”

Belkist tilted his head back.

Between the canopy of leaves and tangled branches above, a sliver of night sky was visible.

“This world doesn’t seem to suit me.”

Belkist gazed up at the moon.

Then Iolka turned her eyes to the last member of their trio.

“Uh, me?”

Jena, still chewing her meat, pointed to herself.

“I guess... I was bored?”

“That’s your reason for becoming a mercenary?”

Iolka gave her a deadpan look.

‘Seriously.’

These people are just like me.

Guess mercenaries in peacetime are just eccentric weirdos.

Even that woman Edith, the Guildmaster, had seemed kind of off.

‘This place is full of idiots.’

Iolka regretted it all.

She never should’ve come. She should’ve been enjoying wine and steak in her luxurious estate right now.

About a month ago—

The three of them had met by chance in a remote city.

And just as randomly, they’d ended up traveling together.

‘A coincidence on top of a coincidence on top of a coincidence.’

Until then, none of them had ever taken companions. But this time was different.

It was like magic. None of them had felt the slightest aversion to one another. It was as if they’d fought life and death battles together in a past life.

“So, how far are we from the ruins?”

Iolka asked.

The rumors had reached them about a week ago, while they were idling without work.

“Valhalla?”

“That’s why we’re here, remember?”

The legend of Valhalla.

Somewhere in Taonia, there existed the ruins of an unnamed god.

If you passed the trials of the ruins, you could depart to a new world.

But it was only ever spoken of in rumor.

Few ever dared to attempt it. Most mercenaries dismissed it as worthless fantasy. But these three were different. They had immediately drawn up a plan and set off on the journey.

‘I have to prove my worth.’

To show that she was exceptional.

That she had the qualifications. That she was a chosen genius.

‘To who?’

She didn’t know.

Iolka shook her head vigorously.

“Whew, found it.”

Rummaging through her bag, Jena pulled out a small metallic object.

A golden badge engraved with a mountain goat. Wuuuung— The badge emitted a faint glow in her hand. As Jena caressed the badge, she spoke.

“It’s reacting. We’re close.”

“It’s not a fake, is it?”

Iolka narrowed her eyes at the badge.

She’d asked where Jena got it, but never got a clear answer.

Jena said she didn’t remember.

“Sis, it’s not fake.”

“That’s what I’m saying—it’s suspicious. How could something so convenient exist? Just holding it guides us to the ruins? And you can’t even remember where you got it.”

“Well, maybe I did something great in my past life...”

Jena whispered into Iolka’s ear.

“Maybe the gods gave it to me?”

Iolka sighed deeply.

And so the next day, the three of them packed up and continued on their way.

They were deep in Taonia’s far eastern region.

A dense, suffocating jungle sprawled before them. If Iolka hadn’t mastered wind magic, they might’ve died from heatstroke. Originally, she could only use flame magic, but through bone-crushing effort, she had managed to awaken her affinity for wind.

The three mercenaries pressed forward, guided by the badge’s glow.

Day turned to evening, evening to night. Night again to morning. The journey stretched on.

“This is the place.”

Belkist murmured.

Beyond the jungle stood a high cliff.

A crumbling temple nestled there.

“The markings match.”

Above the temple’s entrance, a mountain goat was carved.

It perfectly matched the symbol of Valhalla. This was the place they had been searching for.

Belkist gripped the hilt of his sword.

“If you pass the trial, you can go to a new world.”

“What kind of place do you think it is?”

Jena tilted her head.

Iolka wagged her index finger.

“Hoo-hoo, isn’t it obvious?”

“...?”

“A place with tons of delicious food!”

Belkist chuckled and stepped through the entrance.

His figure vanished into the dark corridor.

Jena followed him in with a sprint.

“Hey, wait! We need to discuss a plan first!”

Left alone, Iolka stomped her feet.

‘Seriously, they don’t even have basic common sense!’

But standing around wasn’t going to help anything.

Iolka hurriedly chased after them.

Magic lanterns lit up automatically as she entered the corridor.

Inside the temple stretched a broad passageway.

The walls were carved with reliefs—of a man wielding a sword, locked in combat with some monstrous being.

The swordsman, his followers behind him, the monsters they faced—all seemed so vivid they might come to life.

‘This man...’

Iolka slowly reached toward the figure etched in stone.

“Sis!”

“Wh-What?”

“What are you just standing there for? We’re at the end already.”

Iolka ran ahead.

At the end of the passage was a massive chamber.

On the far end stood an enormous door. On either side of it, statues of armored warriors stood with swords raised.

“This the place?”

“No doubt about it.”

Jena held up the badge.

Blinding golden light burst from it.

“We finally made it.”

Jena grinned.

Rumble!

Suddenly, the chamber shook violently.

Caught off guard, Iolka nearly lost her balance.

[Warriors who would join the Eternal War.]

The statue beside the door lit up, its eyes glowing.

A majestic voice echoed from its mouth.

[Face the challenge.]

Flash.

A small stone door appeared on the chamber’s right side.

[Prove your worth.]

Clunk.

The stone door slid open.

[The unworthy shall not set foot upon the battlefield.]

So that door leads to the trial.

Belkist peered into the opening.

He had been ready for this all along.

‘Well, at least I won’t be bored.’

This world held nothing for him.

No opponent could satisfy Belkist. Though this trial wouldn’t fill the void in his heart, it would serve as fleeting entertainment. Belkist placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and strode forward.

“You two just sit tight. I’ll handle this al—”

“Let’s see, Oppa said I should do it like this.”

Belkist turned around.

Jena was fiddling with the badge, trying to insert it into a slot on the large door.

‘What is she doing?’

After some struggling, Jena shoved the badge into a narrow seam in the door.

Creak. Crashhh—

The massive double doors at the front began to open.

[If you pass the warrior’s trial, then you shall—]

“Done!”

[You shall...?]

“Hurry, everyone, go on in.”

[You—what do you think you’re doing!]

A spark of light shot from the statue’s mouth.

Amid the scattering glow, a fairy with two pairs of wings appeared.

Her cheeks flushed red as she screamed in outrage.

[How dare you try to cheat on the trial!]

“Eek!”

Iolka recoiled in fright.

“A monster, a monster!”

“She’s not a monster. Her name’s Iselle.”

[Who are you calling Iselle! I have a proper name—Frey, thank you very much! Anyway, how did you open the door... huh?]

As she looked over the three of them one by one, the fairy’s eyes widened.

[Why are you all here...?]

Jena gave a playful wink with one eye.

Frey turned to look straight at Jena.

“Looking at me like that makes me embarrassed.”

[You... still have your memories?]

“Oppa snuck over once before. He told me exactly what to do if I ever wanted to come.”

[Weren’t you supposed to stay in the forest?]

“I tried to sit still for a few years, but I just got itchy fingers.”

[Grrrgh!]

Clunk.

The giant gate finished opening.

Jena looked back at the two behind her.

“Unni, Oppa—thanks for everything. Let’s meet again over there.”

Beyond the massive door lay a garden.

At its center, a radiant dimensional gate shimmered with brilliant light.

“Jena Shirai, deploying!”

Jena pushed off the ground and leapt gracefully, vanishing into the dimensional gate.

Belkist and Iolka stood there dumbfounded, staring after her.

[Agh... my poor fate.]

The fairy fluttered over to Belkist.

Stardust from her wings sprinkled down onto his body.

A faint light flashed over him.

“......”

His eyes changed.

“So that’s how it was.”

Belkist turned toward the dimensional gate.

“I thought I could live an ordinary life... but I guess that wasn’t possible after all.”

Srrrng.

Belkist drew his sword.

A satisfied smile formed at his lips.

“What the hell is going on? Where did Jena go? What is that gate? And what even is this weird little fairy!?”

“So you can find out for yourself, mage.”

Sword lowered, Belkist stepped toward the gate.

His figure slowly became engulfed in the light and vanished.

“At least give me an explanation!”

Iolka clenched her fists and shouted.

Of course, there was no one left to answer her protest.

[Looks like you're the only one left.]

The fairy muttered as she casually picked her ear.

[Do whatever you want. Stay or go.]

“Where did those two go?”

[Who knows.]

“Ugh, you insolent little—!”

As if I can’t handle dimensional magic!

Fuming, Iolka began marching forward.

Admittedly, she was a complete novice when it came to dimensional spells.

[You're going too?]

“Why not? Is there some reason I can’t?”

[I don’t know about the other two, but you’re gonna struggle. You already dropped out once.]

“What did you just say? Did you seriously call me a talentless, skill-less insect just now?”

[I never said that...]

“So you dare look down on me! Is that it?!”

Iolka jabbed her finger toward the dimensional gate.

“Fine then! I’ll show that fool on the other side the true power of this genius mage—Iolka Libel Strashur!”

[Do you even know who’s on the other side?]

“That’s...”

At that moment, a hazy memory flashed before her eyes.

But only for a second.

“Hmph! Who cares who it is!”

Fwaaap.

Iolka pulled out a fan from her dress and snapped it open.

“I’ll make sure they know exactly who I am.”

[Do whatever you like.]

“Ufufufufu! They better be ready!”

Snap.

She folded the fan closed.

Then took three steps forward—

“Wah!”

—and tripped over the hem of her own dress.

[......]

“Pretend you didn’t see that.”

Flustered, Iolka scrambled to her ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) feet and stepped into the dimensional gate.

Frey watched her receding back and let out a sigh.

[Looks like it’s going to get noisy again.]

Aside from those three, there didn’t seem to be any other visitors.

Rumble. The doors began to close.

‘Maybe I should go too.’

Curious to see what might happen.

Frey flapped her twin pairs of wings and floated toward the dimensional gate—

To the place where her hero was waiting.