Chapter 117

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Episode 27 - First Mission [1]

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〖You have cleared the Fallen Maiden’s Memory Gate for the first time〗

〖The story of Luminus Arcantel Valentina has come to an end〗

〖You may now claim the rewards for completing the Fallen Maiden’s Memory Gate〗

〖Choose a maximum of 6 Traits〗

∆ Traits: 21

∆ Unique Traits: 4

↳〖Unique Trait: Annihilation〗

↳〖Unique Trait: Gravity〗

↳〖Trait: Concentration〗

↳〖Trait: Concealment〗

↳〖Trait: Immersion〗

↳〖Trait: Spiritual Manipulation〗

↳〖Trait: Negative Emotions〗

↳〖Trait: Mana Sense〗

↳〖Unique Trait: Divine Sense〗

↳〖Trait: Paradise〗

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〖You have selected the Traits: Spatial Movement, Immersion, Concentration, and Spiritual Manipulation.〗

〖You have selected the Unique Traits: Annihilation and Gravity.〗

〖Registering Traits and Unique Traits to the player〗

〖Congratulations! You have obtained 4 Traits and 2 Unique Traits.〗

There were many Traits, but these were the best ones I chose.

Of course, there were more Traits I would have liked to obtain, but then I wouldn’t have been able to choose the two Unique Traits.

In any case, after the final scene, where Luminus died beside the gravestones of everyone she had known...

Charlotte and I had left the Epilogue, and then the system appeared in my mind while my senses and my black vision, no longer showing the white lines, remained unchanged.

I reviewed Luminus’s Traits and Unique Traits and chose, obviously, the Trait I had come for.

Aside from that one, others also impressed me. I read their descriptions and effects and didn’t hesitate to select them.

I wasn’t sure which Traits and Unique Traits Charlotte would choose.

In any case, after finishing the selection of the Traits, the white lines redrew the surroundings once more.

My senses returned, and my consciousness awakened.

That was when I realized I was sitting on a cushion.

I spread my senses through the surroundings, realizing that I had returned to the real world.

Charlotte, beside me, also seemed to awaken and looked around.

"We’re back."

"Yes, it seems so."

I wasn’t sure how to describe it; the atmosphere between us was difficult to explain.

Perhaps it was because of everything we went through inside the Memory Gate, or because of the story told within the Epilogue.

Both of us felt a strange emptiness as we remembered Luminus’s final moments.

Probably, for both of us, Luminus was the person we had grown closest to.

I let out a sigh.

"It was only a Memory Gate. We shouldn’t feel like this."

I said as I slowly stood up from the floor.

"I know, but I can’t forget it that easily."

I turned toward Charlotte, extended my hand, and helped her to her feet.

She took my hand and stood up. Without saying another word, the two of us went to Professor Ashly to report everything, and we handed the Fallen Maiden’s Memory Gate over to Director Bernice.

I knew Director Bernice was going to question us about how we managed to clear the Fallen Maiden’s story.

***

"So this is everything that happened."

Charlotte and I nodded, hiding nothing about what had happened inside the Memory Gate.

Director Bernice wore a wide smile; her emotions carried anticipation, joy, and genuine surprise.

We explained how we had cleared the prologue and the final two Chapters of the Memory Gate.

Normally, it should have been a short explanation, but Director Bernice kept asking questions over and over again.

"The clearing of the Fallen Maiden’s story will be classified as <S>. If the villains discover that the two of you cleared that Memory Gate, they’ll keep you under surveillance."

Of course, I didn’t mention that there had been real-world villains infiltrating the Memory Gate.

I wouldn’t even know how to explain it, and honestly, based on what was shown in the game, the villains had planned this infiltration for centuries.

So, if my memories are correct, and based on what I know from the game, there are no other infiltrations within the Memory Gates.

’So I don’t think there’s any need to talk about it.’

In any case, the most important Memory Gates are stored elsewhere, where only Director Bernice can enter.

Director Bernice let out a sigh and asked:

"Very well, then tell me what Traits the Fallen Maiden had and which ones you chose."

"Oh, that..."

I began talking about the 21 Traits and the 4 Unique Traits that the Fallen Maiden possessed.

Naturally, the Unique Trait for which I entered the Memory Gate was already known to Director Bernice through the records.

A few minutes later, Director Bernice nodded.

"Wow, most of them aren’t impressive, but..."

She murmured as she seemed lost in her memories.

"Some are even more powerful than mine, especially the Unique Traits."

I laughed internally.

If we’re talking about Unique Traits, Luminus had two that were truly powerful.

But it was true that, for the most part, the Traits weren’t particularly impressive.

Luminus had devoted almost her entire life to revenge and saving families.

She wasn’t like Director Bernice or the Five Swords, who had lived on the path of battle for more than a century.

Naturally, they awakened extremely powerful Traits.

"Well, you may leave now. I’ll reward you with three thousand points, and if you create a guide for clearing the Memory Gate, I’ll give you an extra two thousand points."

Charlotte and I nearly stumbled after hearing the director’s words.

Five thousand points.

’We need to get to work.’

’Yeah, let’s go to the library... wait, you’re blind.’

’I’ll help verbally.’

Ever since we were inside the Memory Gate, to prevent Luminus from realizing it was a false world and that the two of us were Invaders,

Charlotte and I had created a sort of mental language using emotions.

Since Charlotte can also see emotions, though only the negative ones.

We managed to create a method of communication.

"Oh, right, congratulations on obtaining the Fallen Maiden’s Sword Art. Avoid using it, especially when members of your family are present. Train in secret instead, that’s my advice. Understood, Cadet Charlotte?"

Charlotte turned around and nodded.

"I’ll keep it in mind, Director."

***

"These two really obtained a lot of things."

Bernice couldn’t help but be left speechless.

Two of her cadets, especially first-years, had cleared a Memory Gate that no one had been able to clear until now.

Calculating from the day the Memory Gate recorded Luminus’s story up to today—

’Almost four thousand years have passed.’

The era of the First Calamity was four thousand years ago. A Memory Gate records the story of a hero before that hero dies.

Stories could only be recorded if the hero accepted it.

It depended more on choice than obligation.

’Well, from what they said, both of them got quite close to the Fallen Maiden and her disciple.’

Bernice knew what it meant to get too close to the protagonist of a Memory Gate.

Perhaps most people who entered one understood it as well.

Because you live through a hero’s tragic story and are forced to experience their emotions.

Making you slowly sink into the story, as if you were the protagonist’s double.

Bernice had experienced it as well.

’The Saintess of Misfortune... I wonder if the Memory Gate gave me that name.’

The memory of entering the first Saintess’s Memory Gate resurfaced for a moment.

Back then, Bernice had only reached Chapter Two.

She tried several times, but she couldn’t get past Chapter Two. Most likely, the story only has three Chapters.

And perhaps there is a reason why the Memory Gate created that title for the first Saintess.

’I should try one more time.’

She shook her head as a bitter sigh escaped her lips.

In any case, she had to move on. She classified Adel and Charlotte’s results as Classification Secret <S>; only she and her assistant could access that information.

"Get to work, William."

"Yes, Director."

***

Almost four weeks had passed since we entered the Memory Gate.

Since then, classes had continued as usual.

Every weekend, I went to visit Astrid together with Rinna, and sometimes Veronica joined us as well.

Then I trained the Second Form of Inverted Heaven.

Forty days inside the Fallen Maiden’s Memory Gate made my progress in the real world accelerate even further through training.

Originally, I planned to start the Third Form before the Third Chapter of the main story.

Anyway, Chapter Two will be next week.

Today was Friday, and after finishing classes, I was heading toward the dormitories.

But at that moment, the watch in my pocket vibrated.

’Ah, right, this is from the Anti-Villains Club I joined more than a month ago.’

It was already starting to feel strange that neither the other members nor I had been called until now.

’Looks like this will be our first mission.’

I wondered who I would be doing my first mission with.

Whether it would be with all the new members, with the leader Alessia, or with the club’s first member, Zoey.

Shortly afterward, I stopped and turned around toward the main building.

It wasn’t far from where I currently was, so it didn’t take long to arrive.

I went up to the third floor and walked through the hallways until I found the door.

Since I had memorized the route, it wasn’t difficult to find the club room.

I grabbed the doorknob, turned it, and then pushed the door open.

After opening the door, I found only one person inside.

’Mhm, it’s Zoey.’

I used my senses and noticed that Alessia was in the bathroom. Aside from the three of us, the others still hadn’t arrived.