The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 194

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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 194. High-rank Sequence (2)

The navy and violet hues that had remained veiled all this while finally revealed themselves.

[The omnidirectional opening of the innate ability ‘Nine Eyes’ has been completed.]
[The innate ability ‘Future Sense’ and the innate ability ‘Nine Eyes’ are merging into one.]

The Nine Eyes, now embracing Future Sense, begins its evolution.
As the sequence of processes unfolded, Seol Jihoo found himself genuinely bewildered, glancing about uncertainly.
His pupils flooded with radiant light, and his vision dissolved into nothing.
At the same time, an indescribable, strange sensation swept across his entire body like a tangled thread slowly unraveling.
As though he alone were frozen in place while the world’s currents rushed swiftly past him.
By the time the edge of sensation finally withdrew from his body and the light faded, his vision gradually recovered.
Seol Jihoo gazed at the messages filling the void before him and fell silent, rendered speechless.

[Evolution of the innate ability ‘The Nine Eyes That Measure the Future World’ has been completed.]

The two innate abilities had merged to manifest as a new power.
Several more messages appeared, but Seol Jihoo, as if entranced, read through the description.

[The Nine Eyes That Measure the Future World (Grade Unranked)]
An ability to measure the Future World, one of the Three Worlds.
Future Prophecy that reads Heavenly Fortune, Future Prediction based on high-dimensional cognition and advanced information processing that penetrates all information of the present world, and Future Vision through superhuman senses and extrasensory perception.
A special case that corresponds to none of these three.
An entity that has experienced the next world converts thought into emotion, storing it in the realm of the unconscious—remembering what has already “happened.” In the present world, it functions as something closer to “measurement.”
The more accurately one remembers the affairs of the Future World, the more the resonance of latent emotion shifts.

Faced with this sudden turn of events, Seol Jihoo asked even in his bewilderment.
‘Gula. The Future Sense—’
[It hasn’t disappeared.]
Gula answered at once, as though he already knew the question.
[It has merely returned to its true place.]
Which meant that the Future Sense, which until now had been incomplete and shown only fragmented abilities, would at last display its proper function by merging with the Nine Eyes.
[By now, you must already perceive it dimly.]
Gula’s voice pulled Seol Jihoo’s muddled mind back to clarity.
[That your entry into Paradise in this present life was no accident.]
The dream was not a lie.
It was a definite truth experienced at some point in the past.
[I speak from an abundance of caution: you must not become too blindly faithful.]
Gula continued with conviction.
[Through the occurrence of what should not have been.]
For instance, by preemptively executing Kang Seok in the Neutral Zone—he who will one day become infamous as the Constellation Killer.
Or by Evangeline Rose, who would gain renown as Eva’s Guardian, dying far too early at the Banquet.
[By the occurrence of events that should never have happened.]
And by Undying Diligence vanishing in war.
[The future has begun to change.]
A violent shift has struck the designated current that should have flowed onward unchanged.
And so the streams that Seol Jihoo had been gradually altering all this while also gained momentum from the turbulence, beginning to surge like waves.
[Even so, I can still serve as a compass to light your path ahead.]
Gula reached out once more, his hand gently stroking the crown of Seol Jihoo’s head as he stood like a stone memorial to a waiting wife.
After lingering a while in that drowsy haze, Seol Jihoo barely grasped at his wits and gazed into the emptiness.

[The rightward direction (2) of the innate ability ‘The Nine Eyes That Measure the Future World’ opens: Navy Blue – Fate Pioneer, Purple – Star Number Evolution.]

The direction after blue.
Dark navy and violet.
Perhaps the Seol Jihoo of old would have let it pass as nothing remarkable.
But having experienced the first, relatively lighter shade of navy after opening the rightward directions, and knowing now just how intricate and formidable even that single ability was, Seol Jihoo felt his shoulders grow heavier still.
Even choosing the path of good fortune isn’t easy to perceive.
As for the remaining two directions—how one could possibly attain them, or frankly, I can’t even grasp what they truly mean.
Still, there’s one thing I think I understand.
If I connect it with Future Sense, the final two directions I’ve opened seem to possess a power and ability fundamentally different from anything I’ve cultivated so far.
Fate Pioneer, and Star Number Evolution.
Just as Gula and Ian said, perhaps these two abilities are the very weapons and shields that could stop what the Parasite Queen is doing to humanity.
The thought flickered through his mind and was gone.
“Sigh.”
In the end, there’s nothing he can know now.
It’s something he’ll have to learn through trial and error, as he always has.
Seol Jihoo exhaled his held breath and began clearing the messages one by one.
As he did, the list of techniques available at high-rank—which had been hidden by the messages—came into view.
Perhaps because he’d reached high-rank and was now counted among the relatively strong.
Beside Sword Qi, several uncommon techniques appeared,
‘Hm?’
Two or three particularly exceptional techniques caught his eye.
‘Curse… and vengeance…?’

[Nemesis: A Curse’s Spear That Brings Misfortune]
A spear that twists the law of causality to transmit reversed fortune to an opponent, warping their luck. It can be called a kind of curse in that an unknowable calamity befalls the designated target.
However, since it reverses and forcibly executes the law of causality, the caster must endure a boomerang effect of equal intensity returning upon themselves.
It can be used continuously, but as curses stack, they grow powerful enough to lead the caster to death, so great caution must be exercised.

[Nemesis: A Retribution’s Spear of Reckoning]
An ability that delivers divine punishment befitting what one should rightfully receive according to the law of causality. It is a technique developed by Gula, the god of gluttony, drawing inspiration from Graft Transference, the ability of the military god.
During combat, when struck by an opponent beyond what is reasonable, it ensures that—at minimum—one repays exactly what was received, making it a kind of counter-technique.

The surprise was brief.
Seol Jihoo’s expression soon turned anxious.
It was obvious as daylight that acquiring each of these extraordinary techniques and abilities would present enormous obstacles.
[What troubles you so?]
As if reading his thoughts, Gula spoke to him.
[Do not worry needlessly. From here forward, simply apply yourself more diligently to training. It is not only the future that has gained momentum.]
Seol Jihoo tilted his head in confusion.
This was the first time Gula had spoken to him like this.
He doesn’t think a god would speak empty words.
He felt there must be some secret he hasn’t yet grasped, given that so many abilities evolved at once this time.
‘I understand. And I am truly grateful.’
Seol Jihoo bowed respectfully to the stone statue, expressing deep gratitude, then hurried out of the temple.
As Gula gazed steadily at the space where Seol Jihoo had been, suddenly a sensual voice echoed through the air.
[See? I told you he’d like it.]
It was the voice of Lushurea, the Goddess of Lust.
[Truly grateful, he says. And now that I think about it, isn’t this the first time he hasn’t complained about his class name?]
[I simply cannot comprehend it.]
As Lushurea preened, Gula spoke curtly.
[What’s good about such a name… Upper-rank Mana Spearmaster would be far better.]
[How crude.]
[Hmph. I only refrained specially because you insisted so strongly, but when he reaches Level 6, the mana will again—.]
It was something Seol Jihoo would have thrown a fit over if he’d heard it.
Lushurea, alarmed, quickly interjected.
[Don’t do that. What if my child’s path becomes twisted?]
[Why call him your child? He is rightfully my child now.]
In the temple, the sound of the two goddesses bickering echoed for a while.

Seol Jihoo, who had emerged from the temple, stopped in his tracks and tilted his head back.
White clouds drew long beards across the blue sky, a sight so refreshing just to behold.
Seol Jihoo gazed up at the heavens and smiled softly.

[Personal Status Window]
[1. Information]
Summoned Date · Month · Day: 2017. 03. 16
Mark Grade: Gold
Gender · Age: Male · 26
Height · Weight: 180.5cm · 68.6kg
Status: Good
Class: LV 5. Lance of Nemesis
Nationality: South Korea (Area 1)
Organization: Carpe Diem
Epithets: Shabby Fool, Adversary, First Seat, Useless Thing, Crybaby, One Star, Troublemaker, Shabby Fop, War Hero of Haramag, Training Masochist.

At last.
At last he’d reached Level 5.
He’d been promoted to the ranks of the high-tier fighters who could walk through Paradise with their head held high.
Now it was fair to say he deserved to be called a force no one could dismiss.
Recalling the days when he was a Level 1 warrior who couldn’t even form a team and had worked as a porter, his heart filled with newfound emotion.
But what made him truly happy wasn’t just the promotion.

[Class: LV 5. Lance of Nemesis]

Seol Jihoo’s mouth spread wide at the sight of the class name.
He could look at it once, twice, a dozen times and never grow tired of it.
Because it was magnificent.
Truthfully, he’d never dared hope for anything like this.
He would have counted it a success just to drop the word “Magic” from his title.
If even a single character of “Magic” appeared again, Seol Jihoo had been prepared to swear allegiance to a different god no matter what anyone said—so the fact that Gula had finally heard his plea filled him with extraordinary joy.
“Heh.”
His eyes were filling with tears.
All those wretched days when he couldn’t properly reveal his class name anywhere came rushing back.
But now things were different.
Just thinking about introducing himself—’Hello. I’m Seol Jihoo, Level 5 high-rank, Lance of Nemesis’—filled his chest with pride.
Suddenly thoughts of Fate Pioneer and Star Number Evolution flickered through his mind, but Seol Jihoo shook his head vigorously.
For today, he wanted to be purely happy without a care in the world.
As divine light seemed to bless his path ahead from the heavens, he wiped his tears and descended the stairs with a light, buoyant step.
[That wretched Magic, Magic. Really…!]
[What exactly is so important about Magic anyway?]
He had no idea what conversation the two goddesses were having in the Temple.

Normally it took a good ten minutes to reach the office, but today he arrived in five.
As Seol Jihoo pushed through the door, his posture straightened.
He held his chin high and scanned the room from side to side, then his expression faltered slightly with disappointment.
Jang Maldong wasn’t here.
‘Did no one come back yet… Is Pi Sora at the Quarters?’
As Seol Jihoo peered about, something dark suddenly caught his eye.
The moment he tried to look closer, it vanished in the direction of the Quarters.
Sensing something odd, Seol Jihoo followed it inside, and there he saw Black Smoke huddled in the corner.
Color returned to Seol Jihoo’s face.
“Floné!”
He called out with genuine delight.
[Hmph.]
What came back was a spiky, hostile sound.
And then the upper part of the smoke twisted sharply away.
“Floné?”
[Hmph!]
With a sharp snort, Floné slipped entirely under the bed as if she couldn’t bear the sight of him.
‘Ah.’
Recalling how Floné had always huddled weakly at his side whenever no one was around during his coma, Seol Jihoo understood belatedly what he’d done.
She must have been hurt.
No matter how much pain he’d been in or how roughly he’d been driven away and brought back, he’d left without a word and then, when he returned, hadn’t even greeted her before carelessly tossing her aside and going about his business.
And thinking of how hard she’d fought to protect him during the war, and how she’d saved the princess in his stead, he felt all the more apologetic.
“Floné.”
Seol Jihoo apologized profusely, urging Floné to come out, and began jabbing a burlap sack into the bed when a furious cry erupted—”Screech!”—and a sharp crunching sensation transmitted through his hand.
Seol Jihoo stared blankly at the burlap sack, snapped cleanly in half with distinct bite marks gouged into it, and scratched his head.
A moment later, inspiration struck and he opened his mouth.
“Floné. I brought you a gift.”
There was no response, but Seol Jihoo rummaged through his pile of luggage nonetheless.
Since Floné was a specter and couldn’t use the same gifts he’d bought for the others, he’d taken considerable care to prepare something special.
Shortly after, seated at the desk, Seol Jihoo glanced over his shoulder.
Sure enough, the word “gift” had piqued her interest—the black smoke was barely visible at its edges now, peeking out shyly.
When he caught her looking, he sensed her about to retreat hastily, so he spoke up at once.
“That Pendant—you mentioned it was your mother’s keepsake, didn’t you?”
At the word “keepsake,” the smoke froze.
[Yeah.]
A flat, guarded tone.
Seol Jihoo gestured for her to come over.
“I’ll show you something neat.”
[Something neat?]
“You’ll like it, Floné. I promise.”
Persuaded by his confident tone, Floné hesitated before slipping out, drifting forward slowly.
[Hmph. I’m just looking.]
“Come on, don’t be like that. Not between us. I was just frantic and careless—forgive me, please?”
Seol Jihoo smoothly massaged what he took to be her shoulder, coaxing her gently, then carefully placed the Pendant in the center of the desk.
No matter how often one looked at it, the Pendant was a thing of beauty—clearly wrought with a master craftsman’s devotion—yet after centuries, its luster had inevitably dulled in places.
“Watch carefully.”
Seol Jihoo first mixed three-quarters water with one-quarter ammonia in a cup, then submerged the Pendant and let it soak.
After waiting roughly thirty minutes, he retrieved it, transferred it to a bowl of gentle neutral soap mixed with lukewarm water, and rolled it gently, washing with utmost care.
When he began softly brushing it with a toothbrush to dry it, a small gasp escaped her.
[Whoa…!]
There was nothing difficult about the process.
Yet wherever the toothbrush passed, corrosion and discoloration vanished, and the Pendant recovered its former gleam moment by moment—how could it not be wondrous?
[Wow, wow, wow….]
“Now just rinse it thoroughly in lukewarm water and let it dry in the sunshine.”
Floné, now partially visible, watched the Pendant emit its crystalline brilliance as if by magic, utterly mesmerized, and nodded in awe.
“How is it?”
[Fresh. Like I just stepped out of a bath.]
Watching Floné stretch herself luxuriously, Seol Jihoo broke into a warm smile.

At that same moment.
Two rooms over, in her Lodging, Pi Sora sat on the edge of her bed, staring intently at a box in her hands.
All anger had evaporated, leaving only bewilderment in its wake.
“Good grief. That cheeky bastard.”
Pi Sora ran her fingers irritably through her hair.
“What the hell is this?”
Muttering to herself, she pinched the object inside the box between thumb and forefinger and lifted it up.
“Why did he give this to me?”
The object dangling from her fingers was nothing less than intimate apparel.
More precisely, a Brassiere and Panties.
Rather luxurious ones at that.
To be fair, judging the gift in isolation, it was rather nice.
The rich crimson base suited her well, and the embroidered pattern of red roses was hardly offensive.
The texture was soft and pleasant enough.
‘Insanely expensive….’
At a glance, they were clearly from a high-end lingerie brand.
When she confirmed the price printed on the label—”210,000″—her eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
‘He does have an eye for quality.’
That much was true.
She’d grant him that, and everything else about it was fine.
“But why give me this? Seriously?”
The problem was that she couldn’t fathom what he meant by it.
If they were lovers, well, that would be different.
It wasn’t exactly a joke, and it didn’t seem malicious either.
Besides, she’d never mentioned her size in the first place.
Truth be told, it was just thoughtlessness—the reasoning that if Yu Seonhwa praised it, others would like it too.
It wasn’t surprising that Pi Sora, who hadn’t yet written off Seol Jihoo so harshly, found herself in a quandary.
After fretting over it for a while, Pi Sora held the brassiere up to her chest on a whim, just to check.
A moment passed.
“…Huh?”
Pi Sora’s eyes widened slightly as she looked down at herself, then blinked rapidly.
“It fits perfectly.”

(Continued in the next part)

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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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