Chapter 145. Gatekeeper of Hell
Kinogine Arachne spat out threads.
The thread shot out, wrapping around the snake-shaped door handle.
［Father. Should I open it now?］
I silently nodded my head.
Seeing my response, Arachne gave a brief glance before pulling the thread with all her might.
Ku-gu-gu-guung—
The massive door scraped the ground lightly as it opened.
The scene beyond the door unfolded, filling our view.
An endlessly stretching desolate land.
A crimson sky, as if soaked in blood.
Ash-colored fog drifting through the air, laden with ominous energy.
Though I had never seen hell myself...
I thought if hell truly existed, it would look just like this grim landscape.
“What a brutal sight.”
【Mysticism】─It’s terrifying. 😨
【Mir-Stin】─Just watching through the screen is making me shiver···.
【Rizenova】─It seems like a place filled with dangerous monsters.
【Yumi】─Be careful, Geon.
【Bubble Bubble】─I’m excited to see new monsters.
【Pururu】─ㄷㄷ Isn't that actual hell?
【Luna-chan】─It does look similar to hell. o_O
【Yumi】─Huh? Sage, how do you know that? Have you been to hell before?
【Mysticism】─😮 Since you’re a dimensional magician, you must’ve been to hell too!
【Luna-chan】─I’ve never been, though. OwO?
【Pururu】─?? What the hell, why did you act like you knew then?
The abyss, hell, the demon realm.
I pondered for a moment what to call this place, then simply named it hell.
We admired the scenery of hell as we began walking.
The voice guide kept indicating the direction straight ahead.
After walking for about five minutes.
Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared, blocking our path.
［Halt!］
A dignified voice echoed loudly.
I lifted my head and looked up.
A towering monster, clad in silver armor and draped in a pure white cloak, stared down at us while planting its massive greatsword into the ground.
Its body structure was quite similar to a human.
【Luna-chan】─Oh, a strong-looking monster has appeared.
【Mysticism】─It’s a Minotaur!
【Mir-Stin】─The Bull King has appeared!!!
【Rizenova】─A Minotaur? Bull King? What are those?
【Pururu】─It’s neither a Minotaur nor a Bull King. The face isn’t that of a cow.
【Bubble Bubble】─Pururu is right. There were Minotaurs in Elemencia, but they looked completely different from this one.
【Yumi】─Ah. The horns on its head do look a bit like a cow’s, but looking closely, its face resembles that of a dog.
I also thought it was a Minotaur at first.
But the face was completely different.
It didn’t have the face of a cow, but rather one similar to a dog.
Which meant this was a new monster that wasn’t in my information.
［My name is Infernos, the gatekeeper who manages the gates of hell.］
Infernos.
The monster revealed its name.
It seemed that even the monsters living here referred to this place as hell.
Who would've thought the temporary name I gave would fit so well?
Oh, and by the way, its nerfed danger level was B-rank.
But its actual danger level was S-rank.
“A gatekeeper, huh?”
［Yes.］
“So, there are gatekeepers here too... but shouldn’t a gatekeeper be near the gate? Why did you show up here?”
［I just finished taking a dump.］
【Mysticism】─🤢 Ew! Gross!
【Pururu】─Don’t you poop too?
【Mysticism】─😡
I was wondering why the gatekeeper appeared now.
It seemed like it had just been returning to the gate after finishing its business far away.
And along the way, it happened to run into us who were walking toward the gate.
［Anyway, you have trespassed into this world without permission. This crime is not light, and I cannot forgive it.］
Infernos lowered its voice, speaking solemnly.
It didn’t feel threatening at all.
For some reason, I couldn't sense any hostility from it either.
Infernos scanned us before continuing.
［Hmm. However, that doesn’t mean your crime is severe. If you pay the toll, I might be able to forgive you.］
【Pururu】─ㅇ? Did it just change its words in one second?
【Mir-Stin】─Didn’t it just say it couldn’t forgive us? 😠
【Bubble Bubble】─It seems a bit dumber than it looks.
Infernos demanded a toll.
Well, there wasn’t anything we couldn’t give.
If paying the toll would avoid unnecessary trouble...
No matter how strong it was, even if it were an S-rank monster.
I’d rather avoid pointless fights whenever possible.
As long as it didn’t ask for something too outrageous, I was willing to pay the toll.
“So, if we pay the toll, you’ll overlook the fact that we’ve crossed into this world?”
［Yes.］
What would it ask for?
It wasn’t like it could ask for money.
And it definitely wouldn’t ask for coins either.
Well, I’d know what it wanted by asking directly.
“What do you want as the toll?”
［I’m not picky. I accept anything, but I prefer something edible.］
“So, it doesn’t have to be food, right?”
［···No. It must be something edible. I won’t accept anything else.］
【Rizenova】─?
【Luna-chan】─Huh?
【Bubble Bubble】─Why does it keep changing its words?
【Mysticism】─Didn’t it just say it accepts anything!!! 😠
【Yumi】─It might have short-term memory loss.
【Mir-Stin】─Hmm. Is that really a gatekeeper? Maybe it’s just a slow-witted monster calling itself a gatekeeper?
【Pururu】─It seems more like a beggar using its title as a gatekeeper to ask for food.
I looked at Infernos with an incredulous expression, then slightly turned my head to ask my monsters.
“Hey, guys. Do we have anything to give it? Something edible.”
［Beeep!］
Medical Mushroom sprayed out some pink jelly and handed it to Infernos.
Infernos sniffed the jelly and, without much suspicion, popped it into its mouth.
［Hmm.］
“How is it? Does it taste good?”
［It doesn’t taste good. Give me something else.］
“······.”
【Pururu】─ㅋㅋㅋ
【Mir-Stin】─Seems like it has surprisingly picky taste buds.
【Bubble Bubble】─This guy doesn’t know his place and is being a hassle. Let’s just get rid of it.
As I frowned slightly,
Nyara Nepenthis, who was beside me, stepped forward.
［Mom packed a snack for our son, which I had Merino prepare...］
Nyara tore open space.
From within, she pulled out a handful of snacks made of stone.
［It’s a bit precious, but I suppose I’ll have to give it up.］
【Pururu】─I’m jealous of that spatial pocket.
【Yumi】─I think you should envy another kind of pocket.
【Pururu】─ㅇㅇ? What pocket?
【Yumi】─Never mind. ㅎ
【Pururu】─?
Nyara scattered the stones across the ground.
［Here you go, puppy. Try eating this.］
Infernos, who seemed to have no pride when it came to food, lay flat on the ground, sniffed the stones, then promptly picked one up and began crunching on it.
At that moment, its expression changed.
［Oh! Delicious, it’s delicious!!!］
［Yes, puppy. Eat as much as you like.］
【Mir-Stin】─Looks like that one suits its taste. ㅋㅋ
【Pururu】─Merino’s stone-cooked food is indeed tasty.
【Mysticism】─😋 Merino’s cooking is the best in the dimension!
Infernos buried its face into the ground.
It quickly gathered and devoured the remaining stones.
Seizing the moment, I attached an extra severed arm to its back.
I couldn’t use mind control today.
But since we had given it delicious food and it didn’t harbor any hostility, its transformation progressed quite rapidly.
And while we were doing that,
Artpega Unibicorn was sketching Infernos, and by now had finished the encyclopedia entry.
［Explorer, the encyclopedia entry is complete.］
【Pururu】─Wow, even in this situation, Artpega was drawing.
【Mysticism】─She’s addicted to drawing. 🤭
---
## ■Infernos
- Actual danger level: S-rank.
- Current (nerfed) danger level: B-rank.
---
From the beginning, perhaps Infernos had taken a liking to me. It tamed quickly.
It naturally joined our group.
【Mysticism】─🤭 Another companion added!
Following the voice guide, I glanced at Infernos and casually struck up a conversation.
“But is it really okay for you to follow us?”
［Why, is it not okay for me to follow?］
“Well, it’s not that... but aren’t you the gatekeeper of hell? Don’t you need to go back and guard the gate?”
［What are you talking about? I’m not a gatekeeper.］
“Huh?”
［You must’ve heard some weird rumors. There’s no such thing as a gatekeeper in hell.］
“······.”
［Why are you staring at me like that?］
【Mysticism】─😶
【Bubble Bubble】─What is this guy really?
【Pururu】─He’s nuts. So, it really was a lie when he said he was a gatekeeper.
【Mir-Stin】─He’s a liar.
【Rizenova】─And it seems like he’s already forgotten that he introduced himself as a gatekeeper.
【Luna-chan】─A liar with memory loss···.
【Yumi】─This monster is in urgent need of treatment.
It seemed he really wasn’t a gatekeeper.
He had just lied to get food.
I didn’t pursue the conversation any further.
If I kept talking, I felt like I might lose brain cells too.
So, I ignored Infernos and focused on walking.
And as we continued, focusing on our path.
“Gaaaaah!!!”
“P-Please save me! No, just kill me···!”
“Please, make it stop······.”
Horrifying screams and moans pierced our ears.
Moving toward the direction of the sound, we saw enormous iron pillars.
Countless creatures were chained to the pillars, hanging.
Their skin sizzled as it touched the scorching hot chains, their flesh continuously regenerating and decaying.
Among the many races.
There were also beings who looked almost identical to humans.
“···Infernos, what’s that?”
［They are prisoners being punished.］
“Prisoners?”
［Yes. They committed heinous crimes in other worlds.］
This statement didn’t seem like a lie.
Their danger levels were all F-rank.
In other words, they weren’t monsters born in the Ancient Labyrinth.
Naturally, they weren’t Drifters either.
Drifters had letters displayed above their heads.
While intruders could also appear...
If they had entered the Ancient Labyrinth, there would’ve been an alert like last time.
［There’s no need to pity the prisoners. While the Grim Reaper’s criteria for kidnapping souls is subjective, they don’t bring souls who’ve committed minor offenses.］
“They kidnap them? Does that mean they take souls before they reincarnate?”
［Correct. The Grim Reaper’s role is to kidnap those souls before they reincarnate and bring them here.］
I was surprised.
I thought it was just called hell.
Who knew it was a place that truly judged and punished sinners?
【Mir-Stin】─Wow. Who would've thought a hell that punishes sinners actually existed··· I already live quite a good life, but now I’ll have to live even better······.
【Yumi】─That place is different from the hell we know. The Grim Reaper monster kidnaps sinners’ souls, remember?
【Mysticism】─😮 Pururu will definitely go there when she dies!
【Pururu】─Why would I, you ㅅㅂ
【Luna-chan】─Don’t worry. If Pururu goes there, Gauntlet will come to the rescue.
【Bubble Bubble】─You should start treating Gauntlet well, Pururu.
【Pururu】─Stop talking nonsense. I’m not going to hell.
【Rizenova】─Don’t be so sure. You never know.
【Pururu】─ㄷㅊ
The monsters torturing and overseeing the prisoners showed no interest in us.
Perhaps it was because we were with Infernos, who was from this place.
I slowly resumed walking, observing the prisoners.
I was about to ask what crimes they had committed to be brought here when.
【Bubble Bubble】─Huh?
【Bubble Bubble】─Gauntlet!!
【Bubble Bubble】─That one over there looks like a Fallen Hero!
【Bubble Bubble】─A humanoid monster with two horns, the one being tortured with a whip!
【Mysticism】─🧐
I quickly scanned the prisoners.
Then I spotted the human with the features Elise had described.
“Aaaaaaagh!!!”
［Ohoho. Such a cute scream? It seems you like the feel of my whip, don’t you?］
“Y-You’ll pay for this! Once I regain my strength, you’ll be the first to die!!”
［Want me to hit you harder? Alright, since you asked!］
“Gggh, ggaaah!!!”
［Ahhh! So sweet!］
He was a human of F-rank danger level.
“That bastard is definitely···.”
A familiar face.
He was the man once called the Hero of Compassion in Elemencia.
And.
The one who, during my weaker days, had pretended to accept me as a companion.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he pretended.
Because the very next day, when I went to see him, he ridiculed me with his companions, mocking me for believing him.