Chapter 75

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Episode 16 - Fragment from Gate of Memory [2]

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A space filled with old equipment used to create potions, elixirs, and other things.

In front of me stood an entire ancient facility.

There were several pieces of furniture and tables, various empty and filled flasks, some neatly arranged papers, and books covered in dust, dampness, while a cold air flowed through the place.

In addition, crystal veins protruded from the walls.

’Oh, what luck.’

There were several small crystals embedded in the walls.

"Liora, go eat some of those."

Liora woke up and looked around. Then she flapped her butterfly-like wings and flew toward the crystals.

Those crystals were a type of food for spirits and fairies.

They had an enhancement effect, and there was a chance they could evolve into a higher rank.

Fairies and spirits were divided into ranks from 1 to 9, with 1 being the highest rank and 9 the lowest.

Liora is a Rank 7 Semi-Fairy.

She is not a true fairy, much less a noble fairy.

’Anyway, let’s see what’s here.’

I took some pages that had been neatly stacked together and stored them in my Inventory.

I also stored the books, since I couldn’t see what was written in them anyway, much less read them.

While searching, I noticed a really thick book. It had notes tucked between some of its pages and a small string threaded through certain important pages.

’This is...’

Noticing that it seemed to be the thickest book and the one with the most things inside it, maybe, just maybe, it was the recipe book. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

’Just in case, let’s store all the books.’

I stored the thick book along with its notes inside my Inventory.

Then I used my senses and extended them through the surrounding walls, but there didn’t seem to be any hidden rooms or anything similar.

I stopped using my senses and checked the surroundings once again.

I picked up a few flasks containing some kind of liquid and lightly shook them.

’What is this liquid?’

Using my Mana Sense, there was no mana inside it.

I placed it back where it belonged and continued inspecting the rest.

The more I checked, the more some of them slightly surprised me.

Some contained mana, while others did not.

There were remains of roots, seeds, bones from some kind of animal, literal dragon scales, feathers of different sizes, carefully separated fur, etc.

Many kinds of alchemical materials I didn’t recognize, although some possessed incredible properties.

Then I picked up a test tube filled with a liquid radiating an enormous amount of mana.

’Mhm, it has a mana signature.’

It wasn’t a potion, so it was unexpected for it to have a mana signature.

When I focused my mana on that signature, information about what was inside the test tube soon flowed into my mind, and then...

"Holy shit."

A curse word slipped out of my mouth, but this was seriously messed up.

’T-this is... the blood of a King Phoenix.’

What the hell was I holding in my hands?

One of the races, aside from the Great Ancients, was the Phoenixes, and among them stood the King Phoenix.

A bird the size of half a continent that once soared across the skies in those ancient times.

Its feathers were a dark bluish-purple, similar to the colors often used to represent soul-related powers in games or manhwas.

Anyway, my hands were trembling slightly.

"M-master, what do you think can be done with the blood of a King Phoenix?"

〖A King Phoenix... well, honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never seen nor gotten close to one of those, so I have no idea.〗

It was a shame that he didn’t know what that blood could be used for.

Extract some kind of bloodline?

I highly doubted it, since it came from a creature and not a human.

Use it for some elixir?

I didn’t even know of any elixir that used the blood of a King Phoenix.

Then what could that blood even be used for?

’Maybe the information is in one of the books I took.’

Steadying my breathing, I stored the King Phoenix’s blood inside my Inventory.

Then I focused my attention on where the test tubes were.

There was more. Only three.

’Don’t tell me.’

I picked up one of the test tubes and checked whether it had a mana signature and, unexpectedly, it did.

Shortly afterward, the information flowed into my mind and, once again...

"Fuck, what the hell..."

Once again, a curse slipped out of my mouth.

’Blood of a Great Ancient, and not just any Great Ancient, but a Great Ancient King, second only to an Emperor.’

Who the hell was this alchemist? How the hell did he have this blood?

’If I show this blood to Director Bernice, she’d go crazy.’

I stored the test tube away and picked up the second one. Then I confirmed that it had a mana signature.

Shortly after, the information entered my mind once again.

This time, it was not the blood of some mythical race.

I frowned and murmured:

"Soul Essence... what is this?"

It was the first time I had ever heard of such a thing. I could not feel any mana from it or anything special.

The liquid was like water, smooth and not viscous at all.

’What is this?’

Then, my master’s voice reached my ears with intense shock.

〖Soul Essence? What the hell... how is that possible?〗

"What’s wrong, master?"

〖Do you have any idea what you’re holding in your hands, you foolish disciple?〗

"No, no idea. It’s the first time I’ve heard of something like this, although since it’s related to the soul, I assume it’s extremely important, right?"

My master confirmed my words.

〖It certainly is. Listen, Soul Essence is the only way to obtain a Divine Soul, something only gods possess. Of course, I also had a Divine Soul; otherwise, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now〗

I frowned, and my expression showed surprise.

"A Divine Soul."

〖A Divine Soul is not really that extraordinary when it comes to gaining more power, but it has other far greater advantages. First, it opens the gateway to the Sea of Souls, a space you can freely enter and that can only be opened through a Divine Soul. Another thing is that time there flows completely differently: one month outside is equivalent to ten years in the Sea of Souls, making it a perfect place for training〗

I couldn’t help but feel surprised by his words.

Although I knew nothing about the Sea of Souls, just the idea of using that place as a training ground...

It would save me an enormous amount of time.

"So, I just have to drink this and I’ll obtain a Divine Soul."

〖There’s no need to drink all of it, just take about three drops. Any more than that would cause your soul to be destroyed.〗

The moment I looked at the test tube, I immediately realized there was enough inside for a large number of people.

’This is amazing, isn’t it?’

What if I give three drops to Lumina and the rest of the main characters?

〖Of course, obtaining a Divine Soul would not be so easy. Once you drink the three drops, you must first sense your soul, and that is the hardest part, almost impossible. Second, you must force open the lock on the door that leads to the Sea of Souls. There are only two steps, but both are nearly impossible for most people.〗

I nodded repeatedly at those words.

"Well, I understand the concept."

Shortly afterward, I stored the test tube away and finally picked up the last remaining one.

Honestly, those test tubes contained some insanely crazy things.

’Let’s see what surprise this one has for me.’

The information flowed into my mind, and then...

’The hidden piece.’

Unexpectedly, it was the hidden piece.

The liquid inside the test tube was called <Divine Imperial Blood>, a blood that awakens the lineage of any living being.

’And I’ll give this to Charlotte. She has a Divine Lineage.’

Although it may not seem like it, Charlotte is the incarnation of a Forgotten God.

Not even I know which god the game is referring to, since no information about it was ever revealed.

Anyway, I put away the test tube and searched everywhere.

It didn’t take long for me to find the Fragment I was looking for.

Carefully preserved inside a display case, resting on a cushion.

There was something resembling a crystal, as if it had been broken off from someone’s house.

And right at that moment...

〖Memory Gate Fragment has been obtained〗

〖The Memory Gate Fragment belongs to ■■■■, also known as the Lady of Beasts〗

〖Congratulations, one of the conditions for ■■■■’s Ring has been unlocked〗

"..."

My expression did not change much, but I definitely had not expected that last part.

’Wait a moment... could I unlock whatever the ring does if I obtain the Lady of Beasts’ Memory Gate?’

Of course, I only had one fragment, and judging by its small size...

Roughly estimating, there were still four more Fragments missing.

’Well, I guess I now have even more reasons to search for the Progenitors’ Memory Gate Fragments.’

Although I had already planned to search for all of them, even if there were only a few.

Still, I had to find them. If I used the other Fragments, I might be able to track down the locations of the remaining ones.

Only that way could I gather the Fragments from all of the Progenitors’ Memory Gates and uncover something.

As I thought about it and began searching around me once more...

Something unexpected happened.

〖■■■■ sent a message〗

〖Do you wish to open the message?〗

〖Yes/No〗

"..."

My expression froze mid-step. Countless thoughts crossed my mind, but the only thing I could think was...

’What the hell.’

Something appeared before me that I had never seen in the game.

Something related to the one writing my destiny.