Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger-Chapter 15: First Gate!
Inventory?
Soren raised his brow in confusion.
’What does that—’
Before he could finish the thought, another flux of information flooded his mind.
Soren gripped the counter, taking deep breaths to stabilize himself.
After a few seconds, the information settled.
His expression shifted in a myriad of emotions.
’The Investment Authority has... more functions?’
It seems like he still had more to discover about this mysterious ability of his.
Soren glanced around the kitchen cautiously, making sure he was alone.
Then he closed his eyes and thought clearly:
’Status, open.’
Immediately, a translucent window materialized in his vision.
════════════════
[PERSONAL INFORMATION]
Name: Soren Valmere
Age: 22
Circle Rank: First Circle (Early Stage)
Hunter Rank: F
[CORE STATUS]
Mana Capacity: 3,124 / 10,000
Core Stability: Excellent
Pathway Integrity: Excellent
Affinity: Ice (Grade 7 - S Rank) | Wind (Grade 5 - B Rank)
[INNATE ABILITIES]
• Accelerated Regeneration (C-Rank)
• Fortified Body Constitution (D-Rank)
[TECHNIQUES & SKILLS]
• Glacial Emperor Scripture (Foundation Stage)
- First Star: Frost Palm Strike (0% Mastery)
• Heaven-Treading Flash (Stage 0 - Theory Only)
- Quick Step (0% Mastery)
• Cooking Mastery (Intermediate Lv. 5 (53% Mastery))
[EQUIPMENT]
• Tether Bond (Bound to: Ethea Valmere)
• Hunter’s License (Standard - Grade F)
[INVENTORY]
• Moonlight Tree Leaves (50g)
• Frost Whisper Petals (30g)
• Starlight Ginseng Root (20g)
[CREDITS]
Personal Account: 34,147
[INVESTMENT AUTHORITY - PRIMARY TARGET]
Target: Ethea Valmere (Wife)
Bond Status: Marriage Contract
Investment History:
- First Investment: SUPREME
- Second Investment: LOW-MODERATE
- Third Investment: LOW-MODERATE
Total Investments: 3
Total Returns Received: 10
════════════
Soren stared at the display, his heart pounding.
’This is... amazing!’
All the necessary info was displayed in an organized and detailed manner.
He could easily track his personal progress and his investments.
And it seems like Ethea had already been recognized as the primary target for his investment. Was it because he had yet to invest in others? Or was there really a special connection between his awakening and his wife?
Soren wasn’t sure, but he was happy to have this advantage either way.
He dismissed the status screen and turned back to the stove, humming a light tune as he finished cooking.
The eggs came out perfectly this time. He plated them along with some bread and vegetables, then carried everything upstairs.
_____ ____ _
Ethea was awake, staring at the ceiling.
Soren helped her sit up slightly and began feeding her breakfast.
She ate in silence, as usual.
After finishing feeding her, he headed back to the kitchen.
Ding!
The familiar sound echoed.
[Investment detected.]
[...]
[Returns granted: Recipe Collection - Five Dessert Recipes]
[...]
Soren smiled faintly as the knowledge settled into his mind. He has gotten used to it by now.
After breakfast, he helped Ethea back into the wheelchair and brought her downstairs to the living room.
He checked the time. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
7:42 AM.
Clara would arrive at 8 AM.
Soren sat down and mentally planned the day.
’Training session at the dojo this morning. I booked it yesterday for 8.30 AM. After that, I need to buy a proper weapon.’
’I should also sell one of the herbs. The Starlight Ginseng Root, maybe. That’ll give me funds to buy the spear and still have money left over. It’s not included in the recipes anyway.’
’Then this afternoon, I’ll practice at home.’
’Evening session at the dojo again.’
At exactly 8 AM, the doorbell rang.
Soren opened the door. Clara stood there with her warm smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Valmere."
"Good morning, Lady Clara. She’s in the living room."
Clara nodded and stepped inside.
Soren grabbed his jacket. "I’ll be out for a few hours. Don’t hesitate to call me if anything happens."
"Take your time. She’ll be fine." Soren glanced at Ethea one more time, then left.
The day went as planned.
After the morning training session, he went to the market to sell the ginseng. It was sold for 2.800 Credits, making him quiet satisfied.
Then, he bought an F rank Steel Spear for 2.000 Credits and basic Hunter Clothes for another thousand.
After lunch, he practiced the first move of the Heaven-Treading Flash and trained his spearmanship.
In the evening, he went to dojo for another session and ended the day with a 6 hour cultivation session.
_____ __ _
The next day followed the same pattern.
Morning session. Afternoon practice. Evening session.
Two more investments in Ethea. Two more returns.
By the third morning, Soren stood in front of the mirror, spear in hand.
Marcus had said he was already ready after three sessions. But he still went for another two sessions, successfully learning a basic spear technique.
Soren checked the Hunter Network app.
[FIRST CIRCLE GATE - AZURE SLIME FOREST]
[Status: OPEN (Solo permitted)]
He stared at the listing and tapped "Reserve."
[Reservation confirmed. Entry time: 9:00 AM today.]
Soren set the phone down.
’Finally!’
Today, he would challenge his first-ever Gate!
Although it was one of the weakest and easiest, he wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest.
In fact, he researched about slimes and that gate for almost 30 minutes yesterday.
He received strange stares from Ethea but chose to ignore it.
Well, how could he not research?
Sure, slimes were weak. Sure, everyone said they were beginner-friendly.
But Soren wasn’t everyone!
He was a guy who’d awakened at twenty-two after being a dud his whole life. A guy who’d nearly died fighting one assassin. A guy who’d only started holding a spear three days ago.
So yes, he researched slimes.
Their movement patterns. Their weak points. Their attack methods. How they reproduced. What they ate. Whether they had intelligence.
He’d even watched tutorial videos on the Hunter Network.
"Top 5 Mistakes Beginners Make in Slime Gates!"
"How to Clear Azure Slime Forest Solo - Complete Guide!"
"Slime Core Harvesting Tips - Maximize Your Profit!"
Ethea had watched him scribbling notes with an expression that clearly said, ’Is this man serious?’
Yes. Yes, he was.
Because embarrassment was temporary while death was permanent.
When Clara arrived, Soren was already dressed in his new Hunter clothes. His steel spear rested against the wall by the door.
"You’re going to a Gate today?" Clara asked, noticing the gear.
"Yes."
Clara smiled warmly. "Then good luck, Mr. Valmere. I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully."
"Thank you."
Soren then turned to Ethea, who sat in her wheelchair nearby.
She was staring at him.
Then, just as he was about to leave, she gave a faint nod, as if expressing her own encouragement.
Soren’s chest tightened slightly.
He nodded back. "I’ll be back soon. Stay safe."
Then he grabbed his spear and left.
_____ ____ __
The taxi ride took exactly twenty minutes.
Soren watched the city pass by through the window, his grip tightening on the spear resting across his lap.
’Don’t overthink it. You’ve trained. You’ve prepared. You can do this.’
The taxi pulled up to a cordoned-off area in the Industrial District.
Soren paid the driver and stepped out.
The area was quiet. A simple checkpoint barrier marked the perimeter. A single Bureau official sat at a folding table, looking bored.
Beyond the barrier, the Gate stood alone.
A vertical tear in reality, about two meters tall and maybe a meter wide, its edges shimmering like heat distortion, rippling constantly. Pale gray energy swirled at the rim, casting faint light across the cracked pavement.
Soren went to the checkpoint and confirmed his reservation.
Then he made his way toward the Gate.
The closer he got, the stronger the pressure became. It pushed against his skin like invisible hands trying to hold him back.
The hum grew louder. His ears popped.
He stopped directly in front of it.
Up close, the Gate was mesmerizing and terrifying. The pale gray energy swirled hypnotically. Beyond the rippling surface, he could see vague shapes and shifting colors, but nothing distinct.
Just the promise of another world.
Soren took a deep breath.
’Alright, here we go.’
He tightened his grip on the spear and stepped forward.
The moment he touched the surface, reality twisted.
The world lurched.
His vision blurred.
And then...
He was inside.
