“This [Gate] is to travel the highest possible distance and its actual name is [Spatial Gate] that can connect two points in space.
Though it would require a large amount of energy just to get out of this great forest, it would be complicated in itself.
A special layer of natural energy covers the whole great forest, and that is the reason demonic corruption doesn’t happen here.
That energy interferes with space magic and that’s the reason normal communication or teleportation magic doesn’t work here.
But this gate is special, just like this separate space and this unique tower.
The gate is on the first floor of the tower, but there are conditions for one to pass through it.
You have to have sufficient mental strength, physical strength, and enough energy to start the process.
Though it is easy to come here through this gate without those conditions, getting out is an arduous task.
You are surprisingly strong for your age, but you are still weak.
For someone to pass through this, they either have to have a special physical body structure like this little butterfly, or the strength to stand against the creature that even you couldn’t face.
Eon, I don’t mean to make you sad. And you don’t have to feel disappointed.
You are amazing to have survived in this place for such a long time, but… you can’t pass through that in your current state.”
She finished with a sorry expression and looked at me.
I knew I was weak.
I was so damn weak that even a [Green] ranked monster would kill me without me having a chance to fight.
That slime was too much for me, and I knew it from the start.
The only reason I was alive right now was that this grandma had saved my life.
I had come across many creatures that were life-threatening to me and I knew they weren’t something I could face.
And even after all this, I had survived.
But hearing that you are weak from someone else hurts.
I felt like the efforts that I had put in, the struggles I had been through, the training I did… all were futile.
The way to get out of this place was before me and still… I was so weak that couldn’t even pass through some gate.
This made me feel pathetic but, this was not that much difficult.
Seeing this gate also made me happy.
No, it made me overjoyed and the bright smile on my face was a simple reflection of that.
I was happy, and this was the way. Now… all I had to do was get strong enough to pass through this gate.
Getting here was easy, as she said.
The gates that the demon used weren’t as advanced as the ones before me.
The thing on this first floor was a super large-scale teleportation gate.
Different runes were engraved in each and every corner of this stone gate, where they glowed in different colors.
This was a spectacular room in itself and was filled with different lights and complicated runes I was seeing for the first time.
These were ancient texts that existed at least four to five thousand years ago.
And they had perished thousands of years ago, leaving only the remains of their existence.
But, something of that time was here, in perfect condition.
This was something that could only be found in ancient tombs, ancient level dungeons, or great labyrinths.
I didn’t want to know what she was but, my grandma was someone that held the greatest knowledge and power I had ever seen.
And, even though this was our first time meeting, I knew she had taken care of my sleeping body for the last three months.
And Celes also knew just how strong this lady was because, for the first time since we had been together, Celes wasn’t indifferent to someone.
She had been fearless in the face of that monster but, before her, she was hesitant.
Even though she might not know the reason, she could feel it and so does I.
This grandma was strong, and she had the same idea as me so, it was my duty to start the important topic.
She was thinking about something for some time and just when I opened my mouth to say that, she also said her thoughts at the same time.
“Grandma! will you be my teacher!?”
“Axion Kromet. Will you become my successor?”
“Hmm? Padron?” I instinctively asked as I looked back at her.
This was shocking… or more like weird?
“What did you say?” I asked once again.
This was genuinely confusing.
I thought she was also thinking of taking me as a student.
From all the small time I had spent with her, I was sure she was interested in me.
Not in that way!
But she was interested in me maybe because of my Origin skill that was somehow related to her.
The same Origin skill that was somehow connected to her specialty.
She said the correct use of my passive original skill was her specialty so I was thinking it was something like that white flame.
But… what was this sudden successor thing…?
“Oh! Did you mean your student too, grandma? That confused me…”
Successor also meant the one that learned something from others.
So, she indeed meant for me to become her student.
‘Thank god… for a moment, I thought something really weird.’
Well, her sigh confirmed that those thoughts were wrong.
I had a terrible past with the word successor, but, well, this wasn’t it.
“Yes, Eon, something like that. So? Will you?” she asked while standing up from where she was standing. ．
She stood up and walked by the fireplace and asked me to stand up with her eyes.
“Yes, please.
If it’s you, I know I will become strong enough to pass through that gate in the shortest time.”
I was sure, and there was no doubt in my mind.
A being that had killed a purple-ranked powered, a demonic beast in mere seconds becoming my first ever teacher… what more I can ask from this hell.
This hell showed me the lowest things and… showed the steps of heaven to me.
She was a being that I couldn’t find if I got out of this place, and just meeting her was the play of fate.
I wanted to learn whatever I can from her.
All the things, as fast as I can.
I knew I couldn’t learn everything from her but, I at least knew that her teachings would be invaluable.
And so, I also walked to the fire and nodded my head.
“Very well. Then as the first thing, I will teach you something that all those who have an origin skill can do.”
She said with a smile and a white light started coming out of her hand.
A light that reminded me of my origin skill but, this was somewhat different.
There was something different, but I knew what this was.
And, seeing the light in my eyes, she understood I knew what she was trying to do.
“Yes, this is how you use [Oath of origin], the strongest oath any being can use.
You might have guessed and yes, I’m an origin user too.
Mine is surprisingly similar to yours but a bit different.
It’s called [Sun’s fire]. But, let’s focus.
Axion Kromet, will you become my successor and fulfill my one wish?” she said in a serious voice.
Her eyes were telling me to make the hardest decision of my life, but I didn’t know what this meant at this moment.
But, I fixed my mind on her other words more.
She… was the first being I who had origin different from nature.
Though I still didn’t know what she wanted as her wish, she was my lifesaver.
I would do anything for her.
And so, without thinking too deeply, I got on my knees and accepted the first oath of my life.
“I accept you, my grandma, as my master. Please, take good care of me, and I swear that I won’t fail your trust.”
I didn’t know if I agreed too quickly, but I saw nothing wrong with what I had just done.
I felt happy when the light touched me and for a brief moment; I felt the same way as when I was before the sun during my breakthrough to <Intermediate-mastery>.
As if I was before the sun, this was a warm feeling.
This only lasted for a short time, and she smiled at me.
“So, my dear Eon.
I now pity you more than before.
I won’t hold back and you should forget if you have any thoughts of having a better life than the one you had in that dark forest.
Aside from better conditions, your life’s going to become hell from now.” she smirked.
That was an evil smile, and suddenly I remembered my mom.
A chill ran down my back and I… had to rethink just what I had gotten into.
My thoughts were falling into a chaotic view but, grandma said something that made my eyes widen and my heartbeats wilder than ever.
“Now that this is finished, Eon. How about talking with your family?”