The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 104. The Village Chief’s Gift

It was a clear, cloudless morning. The sky lay serene and blue, like a refreshing seashore that opens the chest of all who behold it.
Yet the Carpe Diem Office was in turmoil over Jang Maldong’s bombshell announcement.
“You’re staying!?”
Cho Hong sprang to her feet in shock, and Jang Maldong scowled.
“I’m not deaf—lower your voice!”
Cho Hong looked around in bewilderment.
Hugo was dancing with glee, chanting triple hurrahs. He didn’t seem to have known beforehand.
Nor could it be said that Seol Jihoo had persuaded him—Jang Maldong’s stubbornness was tougher than leather.
By any measure, he’d simply changed his mind on his own.
“…You’re serious?”
Jang Maldong tapped the floor with a wooden stick at her bewildered gaze.
“It’s not that I’m rescinding my retirement. It’s just….”
“Just?”
“Whether you like it or not, I’m the one who built the predecessor to Carpe Diem. If I leave it as it is, it’ll disband or be absorbed—plain as day. I can’t pretend not to know and ignore it.”
“You worry too much. We’ll handle it ourselves, we said.”
“You’ll handle it?”
Jang Maldong let out a dry laugh.
“Keep your wits straight even if your mouth is twisted. Here you are, spouting off when you can’t even manage the leader’s burden!”
“That’s right!” Hugo threw both arms up in agreement.
“Can’t you be quiet? What have you got to brag about?”
Crack!
Jang Maldong’s stick came down mercilessly on Hugo’s crown. Despite the blow, he rolled on the floor shrieking with laughter, thrilled.
“Here’s what I’ll do.”
Cho Hong spoke.
“What exactly will you do?”
“I’ll serve as the team’s advisor for the time being.”
Jang Maldong smacked his lips and sighed, eyes moving between Cho Hong and Hugo.
“If I hadn’t known, that would be one thing. But now that I do, I can’t sit by and watch Carpe Diem fall to ruin. I’ll stay at least until we find a new Archer—remember that.”
“Oh, honestly! You’ve been saying we’ll go under since earlier.”
“And we’re going under—it’s obvious as fire! Don’t nitpick, you fool!”
In truth, considering Carpe Diem’s current plight, Jang Maldong’s interim return was something to celebrate. His long experience and seasoned judgment would surely anchor the wavering team.
Cho Hong’s eyes spun, and she collapsed onto the sofa. The fact that she’d stripped off her suit and changed into athletic wear made clear she’d made her decision.
“Fine! Do as you like!”
“Good. I’ll do as I like.”
“Hmph. You’ll regret it, mark my words. I told you to go back.”
“Quiet. And while we’re at it, let me say this once more: haven’t I hammered into you over and over to develop your eye for reading situations? What good is climbing to the Upper Rank if you still can’t—aside from combat, you’re hopeless at—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”
Cho Hong flailed her hands wildly. Jang Maldong stopped belatedly, but it was too late.
Seol Jihoo and Hugo were staring at Cho Hong with wide eyes.
“Is it true? Upper Rank?”
“Why’d you have to say that! I was trying to surprise you!”
At Seol Jihoo’s question, Cho Hong snapped irritably. Jang Maldong snorted.
“Secrets are meant to freeze to death. Nothing to be shocked about anyway.”
Cho Hong sighed and scratched her head helplessly, then flashed a smug grin at Hugo.
“Hey. Didn’t I say I’d rank up first?”
Then she looked at Seol Jihoo and made a V-sign with her index and middle fingers.
“I made Upper Rank!”
“Yay!”
Seol Jihoo rushed over with a cheer. The two of them embraced and even danced the Liber Tango in their joy.
Catching their exuberance, Hugo bounced along with delighted fervor.
“What is it? What Class did you get?”
“Templar.”
Seol Jihoo let out an admiring groan.
Templar. What a magnificent ring to that word!
Some got stuck with some pathetic name like Mana Spear-wielder, while she got….
As Seol Jihoo looked envious, Cho Hong wiped her nose smugly, satisfied. Joy multiplies when shared—and suddenly, the thought of a gift came to mind.
“Wait.”
Cho Hong retrieved a shopping bag from the corner where she’d stashed it and promptly forgotten about it.
She cleared her throat.
“I’ve brought you a gift. That’s what I’m saying.”
“Really?”
Seol Jihoo’s eyes widened. Hugo, who’d squeezed in beside them, said “What about me?” but the two of them were already lost in their own world and didn’t hear him.
“Yeah, exactly. I knew you liked training—”
“That’s funny. I have something for you too.”
“Hm?”
“Hold on.”
Seol Jihoo grinned and trotted into the Lodging. When he returned carrying something with both hands, Cho Hong’s eyes went wide.
“Here. A gift for rising to the Upper Rank. Congratulations.”
Cho Hong stared at the iron mace with its darkly lustrous sheen as though enchanted.
The enormous metal sphere at its end and the sharp spikes jutting out all over it looked terrifyingly impressive.
“It’s called the Thorn of Steel. Forged from solid meteorite.”
“Wow—running metal, no less.”
Even Jang Maldong let out an admiring whistle.
“And it’s got double enhancement. Double the power!”
He spoke like a merchant hawking wares, but Cho Hong, captivated by the weapon’s formidable presence, stood slack-jawed.
“So, do you like it?”
She liked it. How could she not.
Reaching Level 5 was already grueling, and getting there was only half the battle. You needed gear that matched your tier to truly claim the title of Upper Rank.
The problem was that from Level 5 onward, equipment costs skyrocketed exponentially.
A complete new outfit was out of the question—instead, you spent years scraping together funds to replace one or two key pieces at a time.
With what Cho Hong had saved so far, she could barely afford to upgrade a single weapon. A +2 Thorn of Steel was nothing short of the perfect weapon for someone stepping into the Upper Rank.
Better still, it meant she now had enough left over to invest in armor.
“How… how did you…?”
The shock was so great her voice trembled.
“Remember when I got invited to the royal palace? They told me to take whatever I wanted, so I grabbed one.”
Hugo kept insisting “What about me? What about me?” in a bid for attention, but Cho Hong paid him no mind, standing speechless before this gift beyond imagination.
“No… I should’ve brought something for you… I can’t just take yours like this…”
Her words said one thing, but her body betrayed her. The trembling at the corners of her mouth proved it.
“It’s fine, it’s done… Just ask them to swap it if you don’t like it…”
She was even saying things she didn’t mean.
“No. I picked it myself because I liked it. How could I change it?”
“Still…”
“Don’t be like that. Come on, our girl has good manners, right? Go ahead—”
“No, no. Why are you doing this? Don’t…”
As Seol Jihoo tried to force it into her hands, Cho Hong demurely withdrew both arms behind her back, twisting her body this way and that.
The moment she finally relented and took it, she trembled as though struck by lightning.
How perfectly it fit in her grip.
The Thorn of Steel’s allure was irresistible—once she held it, she couldn’t bear to let go. She was certain this weapon had been forged for her alone, and she gazed at it in rapture.
“Oh.”
Cho Hong suddenly snapped back to awareness, breaking from her daze.
The young man’s flushed cheeks and eager expression made her stomach sink slightly. His anticipation was plain to see.
“Where’s my gift?”
“…Um? I…”
Seeing him smile so brightly, she couldn’t muster the courage to show it.
After receiving something this magnificent, what she’d bought seemed utterly paltry…
That wasn’t all. When Cho Hong noticed the Sand Weight wrapped around Seol Jihoo’s wrist, her pupils rippled like water.
“Come on, don’t keep me in suspense. Show me already.”
“Just… just a moment.”
Cho Hong instinctively hid the paper bag behind her back and began backing away hesitantly.
Seol Jihoo tilted his head, activated Festina Earring, and in a flash claimed the space behind her, snatching the bag from her grasp with the speed of light to peek inside.
“Ah!”
Cho Hong’s face crumpled—a rare sight. She chewed her lip, fidgeting miserably.
Even Jang Maldong, seeing Cho Hong so distressed, was curious about what she could’ve brought to make her act this way.
“This is…”
What Seol Jihoo pulled from the paper bag was a Sand Weight. Cho Hong’s eyes dropped away.
“I bought it to help with your training…”
I should’ve cut ties long ago if I’d known it would come to this.
The timing for exchanging gifts wasn’t ideal.
Of course, I spent hours agonizing over what would make him happy, but I couldn’t exactly admit that out loud.
There was no hiding the awkwardness, no matter how hard I tried.
“Oh. Perfect timing. I was thinking I didn’t have quite enough.”
But Seol Jihoo’s joy was genuine. Not a trace of disappointment crossed his face.
Cho Hong muttered under her breath, looking deflated.
“Don’t lie. You brought four of them.”
“Four isn’t enough—that’s the problem. And since they were cheap, wearing one on each limb didn’t make any difference. Now I can wear two on each side.”
Seol Jihoo clutched the paper bag to his chest. It had been so long since he’d received anything that the simple fact of getting a gift delighted him.
Watching his genuine gratitude, Cho Hong’s expression softened just a little, her earlier skepticism fading.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Thank you. I’ll wear these every time I train from now on.”
His earnest words hit like a punch to the heart. Cho Hong’s ears flushed red.
“I, well… okay then.”
Jang Maldong turned away with a grunt, then watched the flustered Cho Hong admiring the mace with an expression of genuine curiosity.
He’d taken her for just another reckless fool, but this unexpectedly shrewd side of her threw him off balance.
At the same time, seeing the grinning youth, he let a faint smile cross his lips.
Because during the past few days of training, he’d noticed that the Sand Weights Seol Jihoo had brought weren’t four—they were eight.
‘That boy.’
He was musing warmly when he caught sight of the large Black man standing quietly in the corner, his back turned, huffing audibly in a way that made his sullenness painfully obvious.
For someone with such a massive frame, his behavior was unmistakably petulant, and Jang Maldong couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

Word that Jang Maldong had returned to active duty spread like wildfire in moments.
In truth, the weight carried by those three syllables—Jang Maldong—stemmed not only from his image as a veteran who’d worked longer than anyone else, but above all from the accomplishments of every Earthian he’d trained.
While not every renowned Earthian could claim to have studied under Jang Maldong, every single Earthian who had received his guidance—without exception—had made a name for themselves, whether modest or grand.
This both testified to his eye for talent and served as undeniable proof of his skill as a trainer.
But if asked whether his fame rested solely on those two merits, the answer would be no.
After Jang Maldong’s return was confirmed as fact, the first to seek him out was Ayase Kazuki, leader of Umitsubame, one of Haramag’s elite teams.
Though once teacher and student, their relationship wasn’t particularly strained, yet for some reason Kazuki’s expression was thoroughly reluctant.
It was plain he’d come against his will.
Reading his face, Jang Maldong’s gaze grew cold. He was well aware that Keizai Dantai, a massive Japanese economic coalition, stood behind the Umitsubame team.
Kazuki, despite having come, struggled to open his mouth. A man so ruthless he could dispatch even his beloved sister without hesitation—and yet he seemed to be wavering? Seol Jihoo’s curiosity was piqued, but Cho Hong and Hugo, sensing the underlying tension, remained silent.
After prolonged hesitation, Kazuki finally spoke: “It is the wish of the Liaison Director.”
“To congratulate you on your return, and to express Keizai Dantai’s desire to support Carpe Diem as much as possible.”
“Get to the point of your visit.”
At Jang Maldong’s blunt tone, Kazuki calmly laid out the proposition.
“He asks that you accept a skilled Archer and make use of her as you see fit. And he requests—just one person in exchange—the privilege of receiving your renowned Acupuncture Therapy.”
“I refuse.”
Before Kazuki could finish, Jang Maldong shut him down instantly.
“As you’ve likely guessed, I have no intention of ever picking up a needle again.”
Kazuki closed his eyes. There was nothing left to say.
“Is that all you came to tell me?”
“I was prepared for your refusal and instructed to present alternatives. He also wished, if you would permit it, to visit you personally—”
“Tell Tsuji Yuki this.”
Jang Maldong waved his hand dismissively, as if the rest wasn’t worth hearing.
“From this moment forward, the instant anyone dares mention acupuncture needles in my presence—”
He gripped a wooden staff tightly, arms crossed, his sharp, piercing eyes fixed in an unwavering stare.
“I will sever all ties with you.”
‘Needles?’
What was so significant about acupuncture that it warranted such a reaction? Seol Jihoo tilted his head in confusion, but swallowed hard as he felt the crushing weight of pressure Jang Maldong was emanating.
Simply sitting on the sofa, he’d transformed the atmosphere of the office entirely—palpably different from before.
“Lift your head.”
Seeming to find Kazuki’s bowed head unsatisfying, Jang Maldong’s voice softened slightly.
“Old memories stirred me up just then. I harbor no ill will toward you.”
“…Thank you.”
Kazuki slowly raised his chin.
“Still, I don’t understand. Tsuji Yuki should know my temperament better than anyone.”
As Jang Maldong rested his chin in his hand and posed the question, bitterness flickered across the man’s refined features.
“He sent me deliberately.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re asking me to do something you know I dislike.”
Kazuki exhaled shortly, then opened his mouth.
“If it suits you, I’d like to present Umitsubame’s position as leader starting now.”
Jang Maldong nodded, and Kazuki continued at a measured pace.
“I wish to propose cooperation between Umitsubame and Carpe Diem in preparation for the upcoming Banquet.”
“What? The Banquet already?”
Cho Hong interjected suddenly. Jang Maldong’s brow furrowed, then his eyes widened at the word Banquet.
“Now that you mention it… it was around this time, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. In six weeks, the fourth Banquet will conclude, marking exactly two years.”
“They’re still holding it, even after that disaster?”
“Quite fervently, I’m afraid. Many are already restless with anticipation, moving about in preparation.”
Kazuki answered with precision.
“Tsk, tsk. Human greed knows no bounds, and mistakes repeat endlessly, they say.”
“There’s only been one incident worthy of the name disaster… but this Banquet is special regardless.”
“And the Haramag Royal Family? If memory serves, I heard they were considering designating the Banquet itself as forbidden after that incident.”
“That plan fell through. The recent deaths among the Upper Rank seem to have influenced the decision.”
Listening to the exchange, Seol Jihoo could only scratch his cheek.
Cho Hong and Hugo seemed to know the details, listening intently, but to him everything—the Banquet and all the rest—was entirely new.
‘There’s still so much I don’t know.’
The one thing he could piece together was the atmosphere of Haramag he’d felt on his first day back in Paradise.
Some strange excitement had hung in the air, and he suspected this was the reason.
“But why? I understood Umitsubame—or rather, Keizai Dantai—had already secured a couple of Entrances.”
“Umitsubame’s circumstances aren’t particularly favorable at present.”
“?”
“Yuki assembled an elite team for Banquet participation and requisitioned half the team members.”
Jang Maldong’s expression turned skeptical.
“Has Keizai Dantai’s strength declined so much? Wait. You’re saying you were left out when assembling the elite team?”
Kazuki remained silent. Jang Maldong, lost in thought, let out a hollow laugh.
“Did you fall out of favor with Yuki somehow?”
“Yes.”
Kazuki answered plainly.
“An order came down not to participate in the rescue operation… but I didn’t comply.”
“Ah. You did say you’d taken part.”
Jang Maldong nodded as if understanding at last.
“Right. Someone whose creed is absolute obedience wouldn’t look kindly on disobedience. But you know Yuki’s temperament, don’t you?”
“There was a younger sister among the captives. I had no choice.”
The sound of Jang Maldong clicking his tongue followed.
After a brief silence, Jang Maldong spoke again.
“I don’t like this one bit. Keizai Dantai has two Entrances, but taking Umitsubame’s team members means Yuki won’t grant you permission to participate.”
“That much is clear. However, I received no direct order forbidding participation.”
“What are you planning to do, then?”
At Jang Maldong’s question, Kazuki’s eyes lit up.
“Because there isn’t only one Entrance. To be more precise, I’ve received a commission from someone in circumstances similar to mine who possesses an Entrance.”
This suggested the possibility of a three-way alliance rather than mere bilateral cooperation.
At the unspoken question, Kazuki readily revealed the client’s identity.
“A mid-level officer of the Triad—a man named Ha-O Win.”

(To be continued)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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