Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter 19

Chapter 19:

Black and White 

A MONTH HAD PASSED since we returned from our expedition to the great canyon, but not a quiet month. The Divine Dragon had yet to cross the border toward Babylon, but on a number of recent occasions, it had come very close. When it did, my Gluttony awakened, urging me to act, to slay the beast, to devour it. I was left struggling to control this wild hunger as I waited for the dragon to return to central Galia. 

I still didn’t have enough power to face the Divine Dragon. Not just because of our huge stat differential, but because something else in me was also lacking. This lack was related to the Domain of E, I knew that much. But because I didn’t know how to reach that place, there was nothing I could do but watch the time as it passed. 

“Something on your mind, handsome?” 

Eris sidled up to me where I sat at the counter in her saloon. Her luscious blue hair seemed to float around her shoulders as she directed her charming smile at me. 

I turned to her, exasperated, and pointed at my skull mask. “You can’t tell a thing I’m thinking while I’ve got this covering my face.” 

“You really think so? Well, I have my ways.” Eris gave me a self-assured smile as she took a seat next to me. 

Are you allowed to slack off this much on the job? I thought. 

“The owner of this place is practically in love with me,” Eris said, as if reading my mind. “I can do pretty much whatever I want.” 

“Keep that up, and this place is going to be in a whole lot of trouble.” 

I looked around at the unbelievable sight that was the saloon. It was filled near to bursting with all the unsuspecting people Eris’s Lust had charmed. Behind the counter, the barkeep rushed from station to station, struggling under the sheer weight of all the orders. 

“He’s going to kill himself from overwork,” I said. 

Eris laughed. “But he says he can’t bear to make me do that kind of labor…” 

She batted her eyelashes. Her eyes were rich with interest as they met mine. 

I forced my gaze away. That was bad… She almost charmed me . 

Eris clicked her tongue in mild annoyance. “Almost had you. Hey, look me in the eyes when I talk to you, won’t you?” 

“Think I’ll pass. Don’t like the idea of being charmed.” 

“Oh, come now. Just a little wouldn’t hurt. What do you say?” 

“No! No means no! I don’t think you’d stop at just a little, anyway.” 

If she charmed me even in the slightest, it was all over. I could just feel it. All in all, her Lust struck me as an especially nasty Skill of Mortal Sin. 

A lot had been said between Eris and myself the first time we met, not all of it positive, but in the end, I’d decided she wasn’t my real enemy. After all, she had warned me Lady Roxy was in danger, and she’d promised she would remain a bystander, no matter what I did. Still, I couldn’t trust Eris, not really, so I’d come to the saloon. I wanted to see whether she was up to anything. 

Eris smiled as I peered at her with suspicion in my eyes. “You’re here so often, sweetheart,” she said, “what’s a girl like me supposed to think?” 

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not here because I’m looking to see you.” 

Eris moved up to me again, and I pushed her away. She gave me a bold grin full of cheek and leaned forward. “Oh! Don’t tell me…you’re playing hard to get?” 

My face flushed under my mask. “What? You’re out of your mind. You’re never going to ‘get’ anything!” 

“Boys can be so cruel…” Eris played her shock with a large helping of melodrama, slumping across the counter in limp dejection. She buried her head in her arms, then glanced at me just slightly as she whispered, pursing her full lips. “A little charm would do you some good, honey. Imagine it, Fate. You could be totally lovestruck.” 

“Yeah, that sounds terrifying.” 

Despite my ice-cold rebuke, Eris sprang at me as if wrapping her arms around me would change my mind. I struggled, trying to peel her off me, when I heard someone clear their throat. 

You must be kidding… 

I turned and saw, facing me, the holy knight who governed the sentinel city of Babylon: Lady Roxy Hart. She looked as dignified as ever, her white light armor only making her presence more radiant. 

Despite her firm stance, her face twitched as she spoke. “I’m sorry to bother you while you’re, er, having such fun, but may I have a word with you, Mr. Corpse?” 

“Yeah, just, uh, give me a minute—” 

I finally pried Eris loose and pushed her away, then sat her down. She clearly didn’t like Lady Roxy’s interruption, as she pouted and drank the rest of my wine. 

First Myne, now Eris—why do I always find myself with these girls who take my things without a second thought? 

However, I had more important concerns. Mainly, what business Lady Roxy had with me. 

“You said you wanted a word?” I asked, as I turned back to face her. 

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it, Mr. Corpse. Do you have any idea what I’m talking about?” 

“Uh, no. Not at all.” 

Even when I thought hard, nothing came to mind. The problem couldn’t be Eris; everyone in town knew she was just like that. Judging by Lady Roxy’s face, however, I was clearly missing something. I scratched vacantly at my skull mask and tilted my head in confusion. Lady Roxy sighed and took a piece of paper from one of the soldiers behind her, then read its contents to me. 

“Fifty-six counts of violent behavior. Twenty counts of wanton weapon destruction. And these are just the reports filed in a single month. It’s unbelievable!” 

Ooooh… So that’s what she’s talking about… 

Taking out the jealous gang was such a regular part of my everyday routine that I no longer really thought about it. I’d even had to crack a few adventurers’ skulls on my way to Eris’s saloon today. 

“I didn’t have a choice,” I explained. “It’s those guys, they just like me too much. They come at me every single day. And they don’t listen to reason, either. You know that.” 

“It’s certainly true that Babylon seems particularly full of that very kind of stubborn adventurer,” Lady Roxy agreed. 

“Right? They’re like ants to a skull-masked pile of sugar!” 

“However, I warned you about this last time. I cannot support or defend a person who solves their problems through violence.” 

Wait, did this mean she was finally sending me to the dungeon to, I don’t know, reflect on my actions? I felt a cold sweat under my skull mask. 

Lady Roxy shook her head. “Do you know why the other adventurers keep attacking you?” 

“Uh, because I’m a great sparring partner?” I tried to grin confidently, but it came out sheepish. 

“No! It’s because you refuse to join a party. They’ll attack you if you’re alone, but if you’re part of a group, a community , they’ll have to back down. They’ll start a fight with one man, but not another party. It’s group dynamics. You need to join one.” 

“You really think that would get me out of these pointless scuffles?” 

Lady Roxy nodded. What she said made a kind of sense. The adventurers who attacked me were always in groups of at least five. Not a single one would have come at me on their own. In other words, even if the annoying adventurers still hated me, if I had backup, they’d be forced to back off . 

“So, I have a suggestion,” said Lady Roxy. She took a scroll from the soldier behind her and passed it to me. 

I unrolled the scroll and read its contents quickly. The words written upon it surprised me. “This is…” 

“Indeed. How about it? You’re certainly qualified to work as a mercenary for the kingdom’s army. As a bonus, you’ll keep those hot-blooded fellows off your back.” 

“Hm… Are you trying to buy me, Lady Roxy?” 

Lady Roxy coughed in surprise, her expression suddenly awkward. “You’ve taken down a number of small-scale stampedes on your own. I’ve heard the reports and verified them with the trading post employees. Your actions in the great canyon of Galia were also admirable. There is no doubting your strength. And at the moment, the army is in dire need of additional support. I uh, also happen to think it’s best to keep a bit of a collar on loose-cannon adventurers like yourself.” 

It seemed as though I’d played it a little too wild in Babylon. My relationship with Lady Roxy had been fine at the great canyon, but the events of the last month had officially placed me on her list of municipal dangers. 

I chuckled wryly behind my skull mask. “You realize I’m not a dog, right?” 

“You’re right, I apologize. It was a poor choice of words. It just looks to me like…” She glanced at me, apologetic and kind. “All I see is that you’re living hard, fast, and reckless.” 

I heard genuine concern in her words. It reminded me of the last time she’d offered to hire me, as a servant of Hart Manor. But I wouldn’t allow myself to depend on her protection again. I had decided that long ago, when I left Seifort. 

Also, I had Northern to worry about. If he knew I’d joined the kingdom’s army, he would take some kind of action. He’d gone out of his way to tell me there’d be no second warning. It was imperative that I move quickly if anything happened, which meant I needed to be well out from under Northern’s thumb as well. 

“I am grateful,” I said. “Really, I am. But I have no intention of joining your army.” 

I expected a harsh response, but Lady Roxy took my words with a nod. “I understand. Somehow, I expected you might respond like this. In that case, will you accompany me to the yard for a moment?” 

She pointed outside the saloon. It didn’t feel like a question. I knew exactly what she intended without her having to say another word. I felt it in the change in her aura. 

“And if I refuse?” 

“Then we have a solitary cell waiting for you in the Military Sector. If you don’t want that, you won’t mind joining me for a short sparring session, will you? I am very curious about your true strength, Corpse.” 

With that ominous statement, Lady Roxy exited the saloon. I didn’t know what I’d just gotten myself into. I wanted to avoid this confrontation if I could, but that didn’t seem like an option. I was stuck. I had no choice but to cross swords with Lady Roxy herself. 

Eris waved from her seat. “Well now,” she said encouragingly, “isn’t this a most exciting development!” 

“Really happy-go-lucky, aren’t you?” I grumbled. 

“Don’t mind me, I’m merely a bystander.” 

Of course she was. I bet that was her excuse for not saying anything to help me during my conversation with Lady Roxy. She’d just sat there with that cheeky smile, batting her eyelashes. Eris was quite the character. 

When I placed my hand on the black sword, I was reminded yet again that he was quite the character too. “Well now,” said Greed encouragingly, “isn’t this a most exciting development!” 

“Could you please not repeat her?” 

Greed burst into laughter. “Well, when you think about it, I’m merely a bystander too. I’m simply a weapon, you see. In any case, better get on out there, Fate. Keep Roxy waiting too long, and it’ll be solitary confinement for you!” 

This isn’t a joke! It’s not funny! I thought as I followed Lady Roxy outside. She’d called this a sparring session. It couldn’t get too far out of hand. Right? 

All the same, I wasn’t incredibly enthusiastic about this. But I didn’t have a choice.