The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 66

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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 66. Encounter

Until I arrived at the Temple, all I could think about was leveling up.
There were three benefits to be gained from raising one’s level.
First, you could earn points to raise your Physical Stats.
When I went from Level 0 to Level 1, I received 1 point,
and going from Level 1 to Level 2 earns 2 points.
By the same logic, advancing from Level 2 to Level 3 nets 3 points.
In other words, choosing a Level 3 Spear Soldier grants 6 points immediately.
Second, you could learn abilities befitting your level. Third, activities in Paradise became far more manageable—warriors had to reach at least Level 3 to join expeditions, or so they said. Though equipment was important too.
Looking at it optimistically, that was all there was to it.
When I heard about the new choice, Seol Jihoo suddenly remembered the Neutral Zone. At that time, I’d browsed the VIP Shop inventory and, in a rush to gather Survival Points quickly, carelessly attempted a “Difficult” difficulty Mission. As a result, I’d nearly died.
And now I was blinded by the hunger for levels.
Seeing past and present side by side, would it be a mistake to sense something strange in the déjà vu?
‘I can’t rush into this.’
I had to think carefully. This choice in this moment would determine the direction of my future growth.
Seol Jihoo gripped the spear that Teresa Hasse had gifted him. The cold that crept through his fingers cooled his body, which had been churning with tension and excitement. He flicked the abacus slowly.
‘Points?’
If I’d wanted to raise my Physical Stats, I would have taken the Elixir long ago. But the reason I hadn’t used it until now was that Agnes had advised against it. She said there was still room for improvement through training, and using points or Elixirs would waste my potential.
Moreover, raising Physical Stats required more points as you climbed each tier.
For instance, if it took 1 point to go from the lowest to low grade, then 2 points from low to middle, 3 points from middle to high, and 4 points from high to the highest.
But given the nature of the Elixir, which unconditionally raises you by one tier regardless of your current grade, it was far more efficient to use it when your Physical Stats were already high.
That was why Agnes had said that ‘the difference grows exponentially over time.’
‘Abilities?’
The same principle applied. Agnes had recommended awakening them myself rather than acquiring them easily by spending Achievement Points.
‘Paradise activities?’
Joining the Carpe Diem team had already eased that concern.
[Heh, hehehehe.]
Gulla was laughing.
I felt a little embarrassed that my inner thoughts had been exposed, but it didn’t feel bad. I’d been feeling a soft hand gently stroking the crown of my head repeatedly since just before—as if praising me for doing well.
‘Gulla.’
[Mm?]
‘I’d like to understand the difference between the Magic Spear Soldier and the Mana Spear Soldier.’
[Seeing once beats hearing a hundred times. Open your eyes.]
The surroundings darkened in that instant, and my vision changed. A massive screen materialized before me. Though no sound came through, it felt like being in a movie theater.
Standing in the center of the screen was none other than Seol Jihoo himself. He stood at the peak of a hill, staring with an unconcerned expression at a throng of enemies charging up from below.
As he opened his mouth and slowly raised his left hand, several magic circles materialized in the empty air, spinning and expanding their form into circles.
Soon the young man swung his left arm down with force. Dozens of spears crackling with electricity poured out from the circles, creating a brilliant explosion.
About half of them pierced through the explosion. But before they could reach the hilltop, the circles that had been generated descended downward. The light shifted from yellow to blue, and they began spinning around Seol Jihoo as if standing guard.
Each time the approaching enemies attacked, they automatically defended while emitting a sharp, biting cold.
As frost gradually began coating the enemies’ bodies, Seol Jihoo, who had been focused on defense while surrounded, switched to offense. He pierced the vital points of the slowed enemies and brought them all down in short order.
[The Magic Spear Soldier is a combination class that aims for synergistic effects.]
Gulla’s voice echoed.
[In other words, taking the Warrior as your base, you could add the advantages of magic to balance your offensive and defensive capabilities.]
‘So what I just saw was the Magic Spear Soldier….’
Seol Jihoo swallowed hard and murmured.
[Indeed.]
The scene changed. A group was running across a plain.
The difference from before was that Seol Jihoo was not standing still. He was charging across the grassland from the opposite direction.
The way he glared fiercely and lunged head-on resembled an enraged lion. It was almost enough to create the illusion that he was pulling a colossal tempest in his wake.
Both sides clashed savagely. Focused intently on watching, he instinctively hunched his shoulders at the violent collision, then gaped in shock at what followed.
Dozens of enemies bounced into the air in all directions from the point of contact. Seol Jihoo, who had pierced through like a fierce tiger, moved his feet with graceful fluidity. From the spear blade he wielded so vigorously, an enormous aura spanning several meters erupted.
And in the moment the spear’s light flashed once or twice, those who had been standing were cleanly bisected as if by magic.
It wasn’t over. At the instant one lucky survivor made a surprise attack from behind,
‘!’
He vanished. Or rather, he was suddenly in the air. I didn’t even blink, yet I lost sight of his movement.
With a throw of his spear, Seol Jihoo killed the last remaining enemy while suspended in midair, then descended gracefully onto the corpse-strewn plain. The entire battlefield was swept away in a single breath. It was a power bordering on the miraculous.
[In the Awakening Chamber, you wished to walk the path of a Warrior.]
The scene faded, and his vision returned to normal.
[The Mana Spear Soldier is a class that maximizes a warrior’s combat prowess—grounded in physical ability—through amplification, the foundational effect of magical power.]
Seol Jihoo swallowed hard.
[I say this again: your magical power level is a full tier above what you’d expect even from upper-ranked warriors. Once you advance to the same grade, you’ll be capable of superhuman feats that ordinary soldiers couldn’t even imagine.]
Here’s the crux of it: do you chase synergy through combination and catch two birds with one stone? Or do you go the solitary path—dig one well deep—and transcend the summit itself?
‘…I’ve decided.’
After long deliberation, Seol Jihoo made his choice.
[Indeed, so it is.]
Gulla, reading his thoughts, responded.
[Tell me—will you harbor no regrets about your decision?]
‘I will not.’
Seol Jihoo answered without hesitation.
[Then it is good.]
The hand that had been stroking his crown vanished.
After a brief silence, Gulla’s voice resumed.
[By Gulla’s name, I hereby appoint Seol Jihoo as a Level 2 Mana Spear Soldier, effective immediately. I anticipate worthy feats befitting this singular class going forward.]

Dylan, who had been smoking listlessly while leaning against a pillar, straightened when he saw Seol Jihoo stumble out.
“It’s done?”
“Yes. Took longer than expected.”
“The longer it takes, the bigger the gain… Why are you—?”
Dylan stared curiously. Seol Jihoo, rubbing the crown of his head, muttered quietly.
“I got hit.”
“By whom?”
“By Gulla.”
“…What?”
At his question, Seol Jihoo merely smacked his lips.
Seol Jihoo hadn’t left immediately after deciding on his class. He’d posed two additional questions.
The first concerned the Nine Eyes.
He’d asked whether the remaining direction could be awakened using Achievement Points earned from the Aden Gorge battle, but the answer was a flat refusal. He protested—hadn’t he opened directions just fine during the Tutorial and at the Neutral Zone?
But that was only because of the Gold Mark privilege and the special nature of Amrita, Gulla explained. Did he think evolving an out-of-grade ability through normal means was simple? Moreover, since the right direction had three overlapping abilities, he shouldn’t dream of it with any reasonable amount of Achievement Points. Instead, Seol Jihoo got an earful and, in the end, took a blow for his trouble.
If that had been the end of it, he’d have been fine. But he’d timidly asked whether the class name could be changed—it sounded so terrible—and was struck for his rudeness.
“Whatever happened… anyway, hang in there. Levels don’t rise that easily.”
Dylan patted his back with a sympathetic guess. Seol Jihoo’s sullen expression brightened suddenly.
“Oh, my level did go up.”
Dylan’s patting hand stopped.

The two returned from the Temple and promptly gathered their belongings to board a carriage. They had to reach Sheherazade, since while ordinary gems could be sold in Haramag without issue, jewels cut so large and intricately fetched far more than their value in the capital.
“Level 2?”
Once the carriage departed Haramag, Cho Hong—hearing the result—gasped.

[Personal Status Window]
[1. Information]
Class: LV 2. Mana Spear Soldier
Organization: Carpe Diem

[3. Physical Stats]
Strength: Low-High
Endurance: Low-High
Agility: Mid-Low
Vitality: Low-High
Magical Power: Mid-High
Luck: Mid-Low
Remaining ability points: 3.

Seol Jihoo, gazing at his status window, smiled faintly.
“Wow… I kept thinking it wouldn’t happen.”
Hugo’s face showed disbelief as well. Only Dylan, who’d heard beforehand and could maintain composure, spoke up.
“It’s rare, but it’s not unheard of either.”
“Still.”
“I heard some interesting stories from Sicily. Two of them, actually.”
Dylan continued.
“First, apparently a Morning Star has appeared in Sheherazade as well. She’s with Shin Young, same cohort as Seol—March of this year.”
Seol Jihoo’s eyes went wide. Cho Hong made a dismissive snort, her expression saying she wasn’t impressed.
“Shin Young? Nothing surprising about that. They probably pushed her up hard. Not like Seol, who had to claw his way up from nothing.”
“I fully agree.”
Hugo nodded along. Whether he did or not, Seol Jihoo pressed on urgently.
“Do you happen to know who she is?”
“Not sure. I didn’t catch her name either.”
Dylan scratched his head.
“But her reputation is… odd. Apparently she’s prone to hysteria. The rumor is she’s called the Red-Eyed Warrior Woman.”
Cho Hong let out a mocking laugh.
“What? That cringey nickname? Is she some kind of berserker or something?”
“That’s the funny part. Supposedly she doesn’t sleep well—her eyes are always bloodshot. Maybe she has insomnia.”
“…Are you sure that’s reliable information?”
“Cheonji told me.”
Dylan shrugged.
Seol Jihoo remained uncertain. He’d assumed it had to be Yoon Seora, but hearing the details, it didn’t quite fit. The woman he remembered wasn’t the hysterical type—not in the slightest.
‘They might have recruited someone new.’
As he was thinking that, Seol Jihoo suddenly felt his thigh grow warm. Cho Hong was resting her head on his lap.
“Heavy.”
“Hey, come on, just hold still for a second… ah, much better. Anyway, Sheherazade must be buzzing lately too.”
She stretched her legs as she spoke.
“Noisy, yeah. But in a completely different way.”
“What way? Did your boss tell you that one too?”
Dylan hesitated at Cho Hong’s question.
“Well… honestly, it’s hard to believe.”
“Come on. Cheonji isn’t the type to talk nonsense.”
Dylan conceded the point and opened his mouth.
“Apparently the movements of the Lushulia Temple’s main headquarters have been unusual lately.”
“Why? What did she say?”
Dylan was quiet for a moment before speaking softly.
“According to Cheonji, it seems Lushulia’s daughter has returned.”
Cho Hong sprang to her feet.
“What?”
“It’s unconfirmed. But Cheonji seems almost certain.”
Even Hugo looked stunned, which left Seol Jihoo feeling isolated. He carefully sidled up next to Hugo, who was slowly opening his mouth.
“Hugo. What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Hmm.”
Hugo blinked, keeping his mouth shut.
“Ah, the Divine Apostle. In other words, the Guide.”
“The Guide?”
“Right. Lushulia is a deity who watches over priests, and she governs the power of healing in particular.”
“I see.”
“The Guide is basically the top of the hierarchy among them. High rank—that tells you everything.”
Seol Jihoo tilted his head. The explanation wasn’t complete enough.
“Do you know who she is?”
“No personal connection, of course, but I’ve seen her a few times. She’s visited Haramag multiple times to serve.”
Then he suddenly nudged Cho Hong.
“Now that I think about it, isn’t she from Area 1 as well?”
“Yeah.”
At Cho Hong’s confirmation, Seol Jihoo’s expression turned curious. From what he was hearing, she sounded like an Earthian of considerable status. His interest was piqued.
“Tell me more.”
“Oh, here we go again.”
Cho Hong waved him off dismissively, but Hugo answered with his usual earnestness.
“Well, first of all…”
“First of all?”
Seol Jihoo’s eyes sparkled. Hugo, savoring his reaction for a moment, spoke with rare solemnity.
“Her breasts are huge.”
“…Hugo?”
Seol Jihoo’s expression grew cold as he listened intently. Hugo, who had been smiling pleasantly, waved his hand dismissively.
“No, seriously, I’m telling the truth! I saw it myself, and some people were saying size 65, G cup and all…!”
……
“And… she’s really beautiful too. They call her the Incarnation of Lushulia, after all.”
As Hugo spoke in fragments, Cho Hong burst into laughter.
“Come on, that’s not it. Lushulia is the goddess of lust, isn’t she? She’s nothing like some lustful woman.”
“That’s because you don’t know. Men or women, the ones who don’t seem like it often turn out to be quite fiery in bed.”
“You don’t know her nickname? It’s the Iron Wall—Iron Wall. Even that supposedly great Seong Sihyeon followed her around and courted her, and she rejected him. She’s nothing like some lustful woman.”
“You won’t know until you try.”
The two of them went back and forth before launching into an animated debate. Watching them bicker over something so pointless, Seol Jihoo shook his head slowly. Dylan let out a quiet chuckle.
“This is why I recruited you, Seol.”

The carriage arrived in Sheherazade exactly three days later.
Once they reached the capital, the group scattered in different directions. There was no reason to sell together, and how to dispose of their goods was a matter of individual choice.
For instance, if Cho Hong and Hugo planned to use the Auction House, Dylan had his own independent sales network.
Dylan suggested they go with him, saying he got good prices, but Seol Jihoo declined for now. Since there was still so much he didn’t know, he thought this would be a good opportunity to wander around and gain direct experience.
Besides, there was someone he could sell to if needed, and truthfully, he didn’t mind taking the leisurely chance to see the capital.
So the four of them secured lodgings at an Inn and set out, agreeing to meet again in the evening.
Haramag was a fairly large city in its own right, but it clearly paled in comparison to Sheherazade. Crowds thronged everywhere, and the buildings and roads were so splendid it was easy to understand why it was called the capital.
A short while later.
‘Wow.’
After asking for directions and arriving at the Shin Young Headquarters, Seol Jihoo gasped at the grand landscape that announced itself from the very entrance. He’d anticipated as much after hearing it was said to be Paradise’s greatest organization, but seeing it with his own eyes was something else entirely.
‘It’s like standing in front of the Taj Mahal.’
Though momentarily overwhelmed, Seol Jihoo quickly steadied himself.
Originally, this was a place he shouldn’t have come, but circumstances had changed considerably.
Kim Hanna had told him not to come unless necessary, at least not until she reached a position Shin Young couldn’t casually touch. She said if anything urgent came up, she would come to him instead.
He had the conditions. Carpe Diem was one of the top teams in Haramag, Dylan as their leader was an Earthian with deep connections to the Triad and Sicily, and he’d built rapport with Teresa Hasse and Ian. With all that, Shin Young wouldn’t dare act rashly.
‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’
He just needed to see Kim Hanna.
Given the organization’s scale, several people were constantly coming and going through the main gate, so Seol Jihoo managed to slip inside unnoticed.
As he walked, he glanced around cautiously, wondering if he might recognize any faces. Soon he stepped confidently toward the now-closer entrance.

(To be continued in the next episode)

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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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