Chapter 14 - Way Gates

We stood admiring the Leon Kingdom's Gateway. It was a massive structure with two towering arcs, though currently inactive. It wouldn't activate until someone linked it to the higher blocks using a seed.

A seed that will give birth to another gateway similar to a nation's gateway.

Only one Gateway will activate first, the one at the center of the First Block. It's even larger and more imposing; it's called the obelisk of the block, and one day, the Tower will decide to open it.

When that happens, everything will be set in motion.

Nations will flood in, and even the undead will join the race. But not everyone will be after the same thing.

Some will prioritize resources and valuable materials hidden deep in the higher blocks. They'll focus on securing those and bringing them back to strengthen their kingdoms.

Others, however, will make a direct push for the top. Their goal isn't materials, but the power to control. They want to reach the Terminal first, to seize command of the Tower itself.

Either way, they'll all aim to plant their seeds on higher blocks, connecting those paths to their Nation's Gateway.

And when paths overlap... war is inevitable.

But my goals were to simply log out...

To leave this world forever...

---

I tried to recall the environment and creatures of the higher blocks. I remember that each block was its own realm.

But the details escape me, and it's maddening. I can't remember what lived up there.

All except one thing.

I know I died... on the highest block.

And whatever killed me, it's the only thing that plagued my mind.

» [System]: Player, I suggest you focus your mind elsewhere.

I won't make the same mistake, don't worry.

"Luden, one day we'll take our first steps as ascendants, heading toward the Waygates. But… I'm scared. The creatures from the other blocks, they're terrifying."

She had every right to feel that, and soon… she would understand.

The horrors of the higher blocks go far beyond anything she can imagine.

However, one thing piqued my interest. "How do you know that?" I asked. Why does she have an idea of the creatures within the Tower? Where did she learn that?

"Luden, it's been taught to us since elementary. Through the White Codex—it has depictions of creatures from the higher blocks."

Her words were interesting. Why can't I remember this specific codex? It sounds important, something I shouldn't be able to forget, even with memory loss.

"Tell me more, Rayleigh. About this codex… and the creatures depicted in it."

She shared details with me of sea serpents, flying snakes, vampires, grotesque leviathans, and titans. All of them were described within the Codex.

But strangely, the Codex never specifies which block of the Tower holds these creatures.

And more morbidly, it doesn't mention what kind of world the Second Block even was.

Once it opens, we'll be going blind, and that's dangerous.

She wasn't done. She went on to explain that the Codex also contains information on how to create a seed, using ingredients that exist only within the First Block.

It made me wonder... maybe one day, I'll be able to craft one myself.

During this conversation, I learned the hardships the First Block was facing, the constant massacres of the Karthalem against the people of the Leon Kingdom, and the cruel strength of the... Vaxians.

The Vaxians... I braced myself mentally; it was a word that felt too familiar. But it seems I'm fine, the system must've adapted.

But Rayleigh's expression turned somber, akin to an individual reliving a painful memory.

When I asked her about it, she spoke quietly.

"I remember... when my mother died because of the Karthalem. I remember how the ghouls tore her apart, flesh and bone."

"And it happened on the same day you met me... The day we made that promise."

...What?

Her mother is... dead?

Was she lying? Am I being deceived again?

I don't think so. The promise she spoke of—appeared within Luden's memories.

"To make the living meet the dead, and for the destruction of the Karthalem... that's the promise we made, right, Rayleigh?" I said. I gambled, I repeated what I remembered from Luden's cognition.

She went on to conjure the most joyous smile. "You remember—"

An opportunity showed itself.

"I haven't forgotten. I intend to one day fulfill your wish." I lied. Getting out of this world is my priority. Whatever it is she wills, she'll have to find a way on her own.

Am I heartless for that?

After all, it doesn't concern me, so long as I find a way to log out…

"Thank you, Luden. I'll always have your... back." Her eyes met mine—she was genuine.

But now isn't the time to develop guilt, not after knowing what I wanted.

And you, Rayleigh, you're one important ally.

Though I'm starving, I should eat instead of monologuing.

» [System]: The Banshee body operates on minimal biological input. Its metabolic demands are significantly lower than those of a standard human vessel. You are, in many ways, already halfway detached from life.

» This is not a flaw. Please do not be alarmed, Player.

I see, I'll keep that in mind.

Growl—

Rayleigh chuckled upon hearing my stomach.

"Lud, how about we continue later and grab lunch first?"

"Lead the way—"

» [System]: Player...

» You're a hypocrite...

---

However, I'm curious about what we're going to eat in this place, as we're surrounded by war machines and rough-looking men.

But most of them seemed to recognize who Rayleigh was, so seeing a high schooler within the base wasn't all that confusing.

"Rayleigh, don't you have university? What are you doing here?" I asked.

As we walked, she replied, "Lud… why do you keep using my full name? Just call me Ray."

Oddly enough, saying "Rayleigh" felt more natural.

"I'll try, Rayleigh—" I deliberately said her full name again, just to see her reaction. As expected, she looked slightly… concerned.

She completely ignored my attempts to jab at her. "My university? I haven't attended for a whole week."

"I see, but why?"

"You suddenly collapsed, and the officials took you away out of nowhere. My father did everything to intervene and be here. He didn't mind, it's only a week," she explained.

Still… It's highly irresponsible. Although they were there for me, so I'm not entirely complaining.

"What about the Ascendant Trial? Isn't that in… one or two days?" We should be nearing the test, and we've got no time to prepare.

"Lud, don't worry! I'm an upper-grade student. I'm more than qualified to take the exams. Besides, I already sent an excuse letter to the principal. Everything will be fine," she reassured me and it didn't seem like she was ignoring her studies.

"Good to know—"

I kept following her lead. We were stopped by multiple men along the way, each asking for clearance. Thankfully, she had every ID in existence to show for it. And if that didn't work, she had her secret weapon, the King's Letter.

"That thing is unfair," I said.

"I know, right? The moment they see it, they just let us through. I kinda just want to keep it forever—"

Abusing privilege and power? I'm not against it, I would've done the same.

"Why are you smirking?" she noticed my expression.

"…Nothing."

Taking full advantage of the King's Letter, we eventually found ourselves at a field canteen. This wasn't a restaurant, but there was a cook here…

"I don't expect much. This is fine for now, right, Lud?" Rayleigh seemed okay with military food, and I was no different.

"Fine by me," I said.

Rayleigh then headed over to the kitchen, where she found multiple cooks, who were all shocked to see a literal high schooler in the field canteen.

---

Without hesitation, she confidently strolled toward the kitchen window, where a couple of tired-looking cooks were busy resting...

One of them: A bulky man with a mustache, wearing a full white, glanced up, did a double-take, and muttered...

"Is that a high schooler?"

The others thought he was joking, some even chuckled, but their eyes finally caught the high schooler with so much audacity in her mannerisms that they questioned whether what they were seeing was even real.

Rayleigh reached into her pouch and pulled out a small stack of gild, the one thing her father gave her...

There were a total of fifteen of them.

I'm guessing that's a lot of money.

System, how much is a gild?

» [System]: 1 Gild = 1 Gild.

» Gild is Gild.

...What was I expecting...

Rayleigh laid the numerous gilds on the counter. The sound of clink clink clink echoed.

And of course, her unfair King's Letter.

"Gentlemen, I beg of you, my friend here will become a ghost—he's literally starving as we speak!"

I took offense.

The cooks looked at each other.

"Young man, why are you so... pale?" one of the older men asked. It seems they didn't know I was a Banshee.

Before I could speak, Rayleigh chimed in, "He has a condition where, if he's starving, he becomes more white! Look at his eyes—they're red! His blood is gathering there as he starves!" she said, keeping at it with a pleading tone.

I felt secondhand embarrassment.

"Please, can you grant us a simple make-a-wish?"

I just wanna leave... and starve to death somewhere.

They all had a good laugh. Their days must've been stressful. They took the coins and told us to wait; they'd make something for us.

The kitchen was suddenly in motion. We waited on our steel tables. They gave me a glass of water, which I highly appreciated as I chugged it down in an instant.

We heard running stoves and the sound of slicing. The aroma emanating from the kitchen smelled like seafood.

"What are they making?" I asked.

"We don't have to know! That's the fun part!"

Within minutes, we were met with full lobsters. And that's about it.

"Wow! Gentlemen, you all are awesome!" Rayleigh said with genuine praise. The men wore huge, proud smiles on their faces.

They left us alone to dine, giving us a moment of privacy. I assumed some of these men were fathers; that's the only explanation I could think of for this excellent treatment.

"Eat up, Lud!" Rayleigh wasted no time devouring her food...

Well, devouring is a strong word. She had proper table manners. And... by remembering my memory with the Banshee Queen...

The way Luden ate back then suggested he had refined table manners.

I replicated the motion.

Rayleigh watched as I ate, thinking:

"Luden's really changed since last week—"

"He's more lively now, not constantly complaining about hygiene, and way less gloomy to be around."

"What happened to you, Luden?"

"So much emotions on his face."

"Can someone change this much in such a short time?"

"Does he even remember his own wish..."

Chapter End.