The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 8

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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 8. Awakening

The Guide remained speechless for a moment, caught off-guard. Then his philtrum twisted, and he reached hastily for his monocle. In that instant, Seol didn’t miss the way light flickered across the lens.
“Damn it. Who invited that man? Are you seeing this?”
His voice came out low and threatening.
“What is this supposed to be? If you’re going to do things like this, what’s the point of having a Guide?”
Han appeared furious.
“Are you joking with me? Do you have some bad memory from the Tutorial? Is there something here worth smashing to pieces? How could you possibly know what that person needs—!”
Suddenly the light vanished. The Guide winced, his jaw clenching.
Regardless, the blonde woman picked up the bag and presented it carefully to Seol. Han didn’t stop her, but her expression remained troubled.
What was this bag? Seol found himself genuinely curious. Yun Sera was craning her neck to sneak a peek as well.
The tag listed a total of six items by count.

– Necessary Box (X3)
– Survival Points 5,000
– Mark of Survival (X1)
– A Student’s Diary (X1)

What caught Seol’s attention was the Necessary Box. The copper and silver Marks were apparently random boxes, but the name was different.
“Please open the special privilege here.”
Her tone was coercive this time, unlike before. Since that was his intention anyway, Seol obediently pulled the bag toward him.

[Survival Points 5,000 are granted.]
[You acquire the Mark of Survival.]
[A Student’s Diary is updated.]

The phone buzzed, but Seol didn’t notice. His attention was fixed on the three boxes inside the bag, each covered in intricate patterns.
“There should be three boxes in the bag. Just open them. Nothing complicated about it.”
Han added this explanation with feigned courtesy, though she couldn’t quite hide her impatience for him to open them.
“Man, this is killing me with curiosity. Hey, mind if I take a look too?”
It was the moment Kang Seok, who’d been eyeing Seol’s bag, started to rise stealthily.
“Sit down.”
That characteristic weighty resonance struck Kang Seok’s ears like a whip.
“Wait, what—”
“I said sit down.”
The voice was frost-sharp. Kang Seok swallowed and plopped his half-risen buttocks back down into the seat.
The Guide snorted and touched his monocle again.
“…That privilege belongs to that person. Kang Seok, you must neither look at it nor covet it.”
And once more, the Guide’s gaze fixed on Seol.
The Hall fell silent as a tomb. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
The visible boxes were the size of a fist. Under the weight of that silent pressure, Seol reached out and carefully opened one box.

[Opening Necessary Box (X1).]
[Searching for what is most needed in the current situation. Please wait a moment.]
[Awakening of the Innate Ability ‘?’ has begun.]

The moment Seol blinked, new messages began to appear in sequence.

[The Innate Ability ‘Future Thought’ resonates with the awakening of the new ability!]
[The Innate Ability ‘?’ evolves into ‘Nine Eyes’.]
[The center direction (1) of the Innate Ability ‘Nine Eyes’, green—standard observation, is now unlocked.]
[Please check your Status Window.]

‘Green? Standard status?’
At the instruction to check his Status Window, Seol lifted his eyes. That’s when he spotted the crown of Yun Sera’s head, which had been peeking forward.

[Yun Sera’s Status Window]
[1. Information]
Summoning Date · Month · Year: 2017. 03. 16
Mark Grade: Silver
Gender · Age: Female · 20
Height · Weight: 166.2cm · 53.4kg
Condition: Good
Occupation: LV 0. Invitee
Nationality: Republic of Korea (Area 1)
Organization: –
Alias: –

[2. Traits]
① Nature
Composed (thought and action unswayed by emotion, maintaining calm composure), Detached (shows little interest or curiosity)
② Aptitude
Exceptional intellect (sharp mind and remarkable talent), Keen observation (examines matters and phenomena with meticulous attention)

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Yun Sera lifted her head, and Seol nearly cried out. Her reflexive turn away did nothing—Yun Sera’s Status Window remained visible. Not merely information and traits, but her physical condition, capabilities, even her level of consciousness.
Unaware of the situation, Yun Sera tilted her head in confusion. Yet to Seol, it was a contradiction. Hadn’t she been told that a Status Window cannot be seen unless the person permits it?

[Seol’s Status Window]
[1. Information]
Summoning Date · Month · Year: 2017. 03. 16
Mark Grade: Bronze
Gender · Age: Female · 18
Height · Weight: 160.6cm · 49.8kg
Condition: Good
Occupation: LV 0. Invitee
Nationality: Republic of Korea (Area 1)
Organization: –
Alias: –

[2. Traits]
① Nature
Virtuous (noble character and righteous heart), Compassionate (deep in love and affection), Dependent (exists through reliance on others)
② Aptitude
Versatile (skilled in many pursuits), Focused (brings full attention and dedication to any task)

To be safe, Seol checked Yun Sera’s window again, and as expected, hers too was visible.
Thinking something was wrong, Seol started to raise her hand, then caught herself and lowered it.
“Yes. What would you like to know?”
But the guide didn’t miss it.
“Have you opened the box?”
“…Yes.”
Her throat went dry. For reasons she couldn’t explain, something told her not to speak further.
So she changed the subject.
“A message appeared telling me to check my Status Window.”
“Ah, the Status Window….”
The guide’s anxious expression cleared at once.
“Which part was updated? Traits? Abilities?”
When Seol stared directly at her, the guide let out a small laugh. From that reaction alone, it was easy to infer what had happened.
“My goodness, I apologize for my rudeness. Please don’t worry. Unless you grant permission yourself, neither I nor anyone in this world can see your Status Window.”
Even as she spoke, the guide quietly released a breath of relief. The Necessary Box, after all, contained absurd items for whoever opened it—whether traits, abilities, or physical enhancements. If it was merely a Status Window update, that was manageable.
Of course, this was only possible because she had no idea what ability Seol had awakened.
The moment the guide’s gaze finally lifted, Seol hastily opened the remaining boxes. Both of them at once.

[The Innate Ability ‘Nine Eyes’ is evolving.]
[The left direction (3) of the Innate Ability ‘Nine Eyes’ is opening: Yellow—proceed with caution, Red—avoid approach, Crimson—evacuation recommended.]
[You have obtained an Incantation Script.]

The Incantation Script acquisition went unnoticed. But from the ability’s second evolution, and because Seol—who thought green was all there was—had to experience the shock of a sudden blow to the head.
What lovely eyes.
Yes. Beautiful. Seven-colored rainbow light.
Why was that? A memory from childhood, nearly forgotten now—the whisper of a woman whose face he couldn’t recall struck his mind like a shaft of light.
‘Wait. Red, orange, yellow, green….’
“Excuse me.”
While Seol was lost in thought, someone from the right side of the Hall spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s hum.
Fortunately, the guide’s eyes—which had been brushing off his chest—turned toward the cluster of Contractors. A short-haired woman was dusting off her rear end as she stood.
“Um… I was wondering….”
“What is it. It’s about time we got started.”
Different from how she addressed the Invitees. Her tone was like swatting away an annoying mosquito, and displeasure flickered across the woman’s face.
“Don’t we get something like that?”
“?”
“Like the Bag that person received.”
The guide let out a hollow laugh.
“No. You don’t.”
The answer was immediate.
“Why? Why not?”
“Those are privileges reserved for our invited guests.”
The explanation was clear, but the woman’s brow furrowed.
“What’s the difference?”
“Simple.”
The guide smiled slightly, her right hand gesturing gracefully to the right.
“These people were invited after rigorous screening.
Next, her left index finger pointed accusingly to the left.
“You lot were dragged in by contract.”
“No, what I meant was—”
“And hasn’t Shin Sang-ah already received compensation in the real world?”
The woman who’d asked the question, Shin Sang-ah, became silent as if she’d swallowed honey. Her face flushed red as she sat, but this wasn’t the end.
“Are we done here?”
A man from among the Contractors suddenly stepped forward. His eyes blazed with anger, and his sturdy frame suggested he had strength to spare.
“And who are you?”
Finally, irritation showed on the guide’s face.
“Contract or no contract, at least explain things properly. You gather people and then do this? What is this?”
Several people murmured softly in agreement.
It was a complaint that could have come up sooner. Since arriving in the Hall, the guide had been paying attention only to the Invitees.
Anxiety was already running high, and being treated like a sack of grain left out to air naturally stoked grievance. The problem was simply that this place, and this person, were the wrong targets for such complaints.
“How about you bring out some chairs? My legs are aching from standing all this time.”
“That’s right! You look young enough, but already discriminating between people like this? Is that how you’ll behave?”
As one, then two, then more chimed in, the man’s face lit up with glee as he stared at the guide.
The guide was smiling.
“Sometimes… people like you come along. Not understanding your position, just speaking loud.”
“What?”
“I understand. Some charlatan got to you and didn’t explain things properly, so you came charging in without thinking. Blinded by money, by compensation.”
The man flinched.
“Either way, you signed the contract, didn’t you? As long as you’re here, you follow my guidance. If you want to lodge complaints, save them for the Contractor later.”
“So it’s shut up and do as you’re told?”
“Correct.”
“Stay ignorant and just obey?”
Exactly. Well put.
“Ugh, I can’t do that.”
“Well, if you insist.”
Seeing such defiant behavior, the guide moved her index finger toward the entrance.
“You’re free to leave.”
“This is ridiculous. You think I can’t leave if you tell me to?”
The man spat out the words in anger and turned to his group, shouting.
“They’re telling us to go, so let’s go! Do whatever you want with them—cook, simmer, whatever!”
Four or five people stood up hesitantly. But only a minority moved.
“What’s everyone doing? I said let’s go!”
Despite the man’s urging, nobody budged. As the majority stayed put, even those who’d stood began to settle back down, reading the mood. Part of it was the atmosphere, but it was also true that not all Contractors had heard the explanation yet.
“Damn cowards.”
The man who’d spat those obscenities shuffled toward the exit, his footsteps heavy. The quick-witted Maid cracked the door open, and he hawked and spat into the Hall before disappearing through it.
“Is there anyone else who wishes to leave?”
The Invitee’s question hung in the air. No one moved. The Maid shut the door firmly and locked it.
He said nothing more. He simply stood there, gazing at the entrance as though amused by some private joke. In that strange, suffocating silence, everyone’s eyes kept darting between the Invitee and the door.
One minute passed. Then two.
Then came the sound of footsteps—wild, panicked footsteps pounding toward the entrance from outside,
Clang! Clang!
—Open the door! Open it!
A voice rent the air, barely short of a wail.
—Open the door! Hurry, please!
Bang! Bang!
—You goddamned bastards! Please, I’m begging you!
Then—silence. Complete. The man’s screams stopped. The pounding on the door ceased.
“I thought as much. Well then, shall we begin? It’s getting quite late, after all.”
The Invitee smiled broadly and pressed his mobile phone.

[A message from the Invitee has arrived.
[Tutorial First Mission: ‘Hall Escape’ begins.]
[A Student’s Diary has been updated.]

“I do hope you all enjoy your time here.”
He placed one hand over his heart and bowed deeply,
“Then—good luck to you all!”
He vanished as suddenly as he’d first appeared, the Maid at his side.
The people left behind rose to their feet in confusion.
Just as someone was about to cry out,
Crash!
A blow struck the door with such force that it silenced the entire Hall in an instant.
The hinges, unable to bear the impact, came loose with a metallic shriek. Despite being locked securely, the door swung open fractionally before slamming shut again.
Quiet chaos.
These people, paralyzed by uncertainty, could only gape helplessly.
“…….”
With such commotion, Sera too stirred from her seat. She slung the empty Bag over her shoulder and fixed her gaze on the trembling entrance.
The door was no longer its usual green—it glowed an ominous orange.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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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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