I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 97: 0. The Gate of Heaven

It was early morning. Veris brewed coffee with hot water he had boiled himself.

Drip, drip.

The liquid was pitch black. Normally, Veris would find such a task bothersome, but today, he felt restless and compelled to do it.

"Veris-nim?"

"Arwen."

Arwen entered the kitchen, her face weary as she rose like dawn.

She was not the usual composed maid but rather a typical girl. Rubbing her eyes, it seemed she was still half-asleep.

"How come you're up so early? Veris-nim, you usually love your sleep in the mornings."

Arwen quietly approached Veris, her gaze now fixed on the coffee he had made.

The white steam wafting up from the freshly brewed coffee was a common sight. Yet, Arwen seemed to sense something unusual.

"Are you troubled?"

Having spent nearly a lifetime by Veris's side, Arwen possessed a strange ability to infer his current feelings based on his minor actions.

"Troubled, you say."

Her voice was filled with concern. He took a sip of the bitter coffee, and a bitter smile spread across Veris's lips.

"Arwen."

"Yes. Please, tell me."

Veris leaned back.

The kitchen was modest, not fitting the grand scale of the mansion. It seemed there was no corner untouched by Arwen's care.

"What if, just what if..."

"...."

"What if I were to disappear?"

Arwen flinched.

The atmosphere around Veris was different from usual. It was only natural for Arwen's shoulders to tremble.

"Why... would you say such a thing?"

With a surprised expression, Arwen asked. Veris maintained his bitter smile as he spoke.

"Just a thought. Perhaps it's my fate in this world. I feel like I must go to the celestial realm."

"...That must not happen."

Veris spoke calmly.

He had made his decision.

At this moment, he laid bare his tumultuous heart.

What followed was a voice from Arwen, filled with a resolute spirit unlike her usual demeanor.

Her long eyelashes fluttered. Did she somehow know what Veris was troubled about? Her beautiful blue eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears.

"Veris-nim."

Arwen hesitated, as if she had something to say, her lips moving silently for a while.

Finally, she took a deep breath. Then, slowly, she opened her small lips and released her heavy words.

"You are... the reason for my existence. It feels awkward to say this, but it is truly so."

Her delicate shoulders trembled, and it was heart-wrenching to see. Perhaps the spirits she had contracted with were saying unnecessary things.

Veris felt a faint voice ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) echoing in his sharp senses.

"But what if you move forward?"

"Then..."

Arwen stared at Veris with a blank expression, as if her breath had caught. It seemed difficult for her to speak, and it took a long time before she finally opened her tear-filled eyes.

"I will follow you as well."

Her face was resolute, clearly showing her firm will.

Feeling that unwavering determination, Veris smiled faintly and said,

"How many falsehoods exist in this world?"

"Falsehood... you mean?"

"Yes, falsehood. The Pope of that Holy Kingdom said that this world is a false space."

"That is truly hard to believe."

"Indeed, I thought so at first too. But when you piece together the small clues, it becomes a plausible story."

"...."

Veris was subtly revealing his will.

Did Arwen find it shocking? A single drop of transparent liquid rolled down her pure white cheek.

"That unknown existence is said to plant false emotions. It observes all living beings in this world and ultimately forces them to live lives that align with its will."

"...."

It was a brief explanation from Veris. What Arwen did next, while listening to his words in a daze, was quite surprising.

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She reached out.

Then, she grabbed Veris's wrist. After that, she placed her hand over her own heart.

Thump.

He could feel the pounding of her heart. Was she embarrassed?

As Veris found himself at a loss for words in the face of her clearly trembling heartbeat, Arwen spoke with her still quivering lips.

"My... feelings are not false. I could be manipulated by someone. But I am certain. I... like you, Veris-nim. This is a feeling I have nurtured entirely on my own."

It was a blushing confession. If it weren't for this damned situation, it would have been a sweet phrase that made the whole world seem pink.

"...."

Veris could neither speak nor act. Deep down, he had not hidden his feelings, and he was aware of the hearts of the girls gathered around him.

Hadn't he already spoken about it to the children?

"In the great forest where I lived, there is a saying."

"...."

Arwen buried her delicate shoulders into Veris's chest.

A sweet fragrance wafted in. Her cautious actions were unexpected even for Veris.

His heart raced. Even the usually composed Veris found it awkward and difficult to deal with the pure-hearted girl's earnest feelings.

"They say that lovers destined to meet under the heavens are bound by an invisible red thread."

"A red thread?"

He felt like he had heard of it even on Earth. Did such a saying exist here too?

In any case, Arwen slowly nodded her head. Then she continued.

"I dare to be certain. That you, Veris-nim, and the other children, are all tied together by a deep red thread."

"I'll be back. It won't take long. I promise."

Veris's voice was low.

In Arwen's trembling eyes, a fierce determination began to shine.

There had certainly been many times when those deep blue eyes had been directed at him. But... this was the first time he felt so speechless.

In his chest, Arwen was quietly crying with a sorrowful expression.

Yet, Veris could not open his mouth to say anything. No words of comfort, no jokes. He could only lightly wrap his arms around Arwen's shoulders.

And that feeling was similar to what he felt with Maria and Beatrice.

*

It was Sunday.

It was the first holiday since the Light Church had launched their rebellion.

Cecilia sat blankly in her room. Unlike her usual white priestess robe, she wore a fresh outfit for going out.

Since the church had locked its doors, she had lost her light. No, even calling it light now felt quite awkward.

Before her stood Veris, his face stern.

Like in the morning, Veris shared with Cecilia the words he had conveyed to Arwen, enduring the awkward silence.

"...I don't want this."

Cecilia said with a blank expression. The beautiful Saintess of Mercy, who had been suffering greatly lately, twisted her parched lips and struggled to voice her thoughts.

"No, you can't. If you go like that..."

She trembled.

Cecilia, with her sharp tongue, was quaking as if she had heard something terrifying.

Though Cecilia was known for her sharp tongue, Veris knew her inner self was delicate.

Seeing Cecilia burst into tears, he spoke softly.

"I promise. I will return."

"Even so..."

Cecilia approached Veris, crying like a child. Then she buried her small face into Veris's chest.

She was crying so sorrowfully that he could feel his chest getting damp.

"I've already told the other children. Cecilia, you looked like you were struggling too much lately, so I saved you for last."

"Sniff."

Veris's gentle voice. Cecilia pulled her face away from his chest, sniffling.

...Her face was a mess. Anyone who saw her would hardly believe she was the Saintess of Mercy, as she looked utterly ridiculous and cute.

"Why? Can't I just live like this?"

"I felt a pull."

Veris, who had seated Cecilia in the room, spoke with difficulty.

Yes, it was something that could be defined as a pull.

It felt like a strong sense of responsibility, as if he were being drawn to a city where a Lich lay dormant in an underground dungeon.

Just looking at the Pope and the Tower Master, didn't it feel like everything was fitting together too perfectly?

"A pull..."

Cecilia, who had been sniffling, muttered blankly. She must have known. What kind of door Veris was about to open and where it would lead.

And what he intended to do.

After that, Cecilia maintained her silence. However, having clung to Veris like a leech for several hours, Veris could only wear a bitter smile.

*

"Oh, have you made your decision?"

In the central district of the academy stood a tall clock tower.

A clock tower so high that ordinary people would find it hard to even look up at it. Sitting atop it was an old, scruffy mage.

In a blue mage's hat and a blue robe.

The Tower Master, Heimdall. Since his conversation with Veris, he looked gaunt, as if he hadn't eaten or drunk anything.

"Your condition is not good."

Veris, who quietly sat beside him, remarked.

The Tower Master chuckled and said,

"Opening the door is more arduous than one might think. I've made my decision, but what good is eating or drinking now?"

Veris nodded. Connecting to the unseen celestial realm was no small task. It was undoubtedly a dangerous endeavor that would require him to stake everything.

"So, did you have a good talk with the ladies?"

"You old fool. You're annoyingly perceptive."

"Ha ha! When you get old, your perception sharpens. How could I not notice the girls following you around?"

"True. Well said."

"Ha ha!"

The Tower Master laughed heartily. He seemed to find something amusing, laughing like a madman.

Then, suddenly, he stopped. The Tower Master raised his head to look at the sky.

...It was a bright, sunny day, almost sorrowfully so. The absence of a single cloud made it feel rather dreary.

"Prepare yourself."

Was he here waiting for Veris to make his decision?

The Tower Master spoke in a small voice. He then stood up and pulled an old wooden staff from his robe.

"Creating a door requires a significant sacrifice."

The Tower Master smiled again, looking friendly. When Veris nodded, he chuckled again and began to slowly wave his staff.

"Now I understand. The Pope, Liberato, and I have been alive for your sake."

Had he gained some sudden enlightenment in his old age? The Tower Master was spouting nonsense. As Veris stared at him, he waved his arms dramatically.

"Ha ha! What could be enjoyable about someone who lacks fun? Beatrice, that girl..."

── Zing!

Blue mana began to emanate from the Tower Master, releasing an overwhelming power.

Indeed, it was a force worthy of being called the ruler of the tower. That immense mana was directed toward his staff.

"Veris von Vitelbach, was it?"

─ Swoosh.

A shocking event unfolded.

The confident Tower Master extended his staff into the air.

What appeared in the empty space behind him was literally a 'door.'

The door was surrounded by brilliant light. It was a dazzling display that felt almost sublime.

Rustle.

And then, astonishing events followed in quick succession.

The Tower Master, Heimdall.

His body was beginning to transform into small particles of light.

Slowly, starting from his legs, up to his thighs.

"...I see."

So, the great sacrifice required to create a door was this.

Veris finally understood why the Tower Master had not eaten, drunk, or slept.

Death.

The damned door to the celestial realm was mediated by the life of the caster.

"Dear you."

"...."

But.

The master of the Magic Tower was smiling. Having devoted his entire life to opening the 'door', he wore an innocent smile, like a five-year-old child, in this very moment.

"Thank... you...."

Swoosh.

Passing through his legs, his abdomen, his chest, his head.

In the end, it was in an instant that the master of the Magic Tower became a particle of light and disappeared from this world.

"...."

At the highest point of the clock tower.

In an unreal situation where there was no one, only a door stood alone.

Creak.

Veris opened the door. And he moved forward. Immediately, a dazzling light engulfed Veris.