The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 99

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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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Chapter 99. Threads of Fate Woven Together

The note bore characters he’d never seen before, but they soon blurred and resolved into Korean. Seol Jihoo knew the synchronization sometimes lagged by a second or two, so he didn’t give it much thought.

— I heard you entered through the Temple, so I tried to reach you, but you weren’t answering and seem to have stepped out. Leaving you this note.
You remember our promise, right? Dinner this evening….

As Seol Jihoo read through to the end, his expression mingled confusion and delight.
The message itself was casual enough—the kind of invitation a friendly neighbor might extend after a long time, suggesting they grab dinner together.
The problem was who’d sent it: Teresa Hatse. Which meant the place he was being invited to was none other than the Royal Palace itself.
The Haramag Royal House had become famous for abandoning formality after their conflict with the Earthians, but the weight of the word “palace” was not to be taken lightly.
Even with her reassurance to come at ease, it weighed on him considerably.
Yet for Teresa’s sake, he couldn’t very well decline. Besides, he’d been curious to see the place at least once.
Seol Jihoo read carefully even to the postscript: “P.S. Don’t rush off the moment we’re done! Let’s digest a bit and enjoy some special dessert together, or play a round! ♥” The note drew an involuntary laugh from him.
‘Good thing I brought clothes.’
This was, after all, an invitation from the royal house itself.
Wanting at least minimal knowledge before he went, Seol Jihoo headed for the library.

Having finished afternoon training early, Seol Jihoo washed up thoroughly. He’d also eaten enough to be safe. Given where he was going, he couldn’t afford a repeat of losing himself in the meal the way he had with Yoon Seora.
Dressed neatly in clothes he’d selected beforehand,
‘Perfect. Flawless.’
he thought—just as he was about to leave—only to face an entirely unexpected situation. A towering figure appeared at his door.
Well, someone could come. But….
“Are you the Earthian called Seol?”
The man stood nearly two meters tall, his frame packed solid with muscle, a vivid scar slashing across his nose—everything about his physique radiated the aura of one who could stand toe-to-toe with a mutant orc without yielding an inch.
“Yan Santus, ma’am. The princess sent me to escort you.”
The harsh edge to his voice matched his rough features. At the mention of the princess, Seol Jihoo quietly lowered the Ice Spear he’d instinctively raised.
“Will you come?”
The question was cryptic, but he composed himself and answered.
“Of course.”
“Follow me, then. I’ll show you the way.”
And so, with Yan Santus as his guide, Seol Jihoo stepped into the grounds of Haramag Royal Palace for the first time.
‘They’re incredibly busy.’
Even at this hour, the palace was a flurry of activity. People rushed about constantly, and he spotted several shouting urgently into crystals.
The atmosphere was utterly different from outside. It felt as though the world had transformed the moment they passed through the main gate.
‘I never imagined a single wall could make such a difference.’
Though the Royal House existed here, Haramag was known for its strong local character—yet this was still the seat of its rulers. It possessed at least the outward grandeur befitting a palace.
As they walked through a corridor that formed part of the long royal thoroughfare, Seol Jihoo asked quietly,
“Is there anything I should be careful about while in the palace?”
He’d gathered basic information, but asked out of an abundance of caution.
“Nothing.”
Yan Santus answered flatly. He seemed less hostile than simply unsociable by nature.
“Just don’t draw weapons or curse in front of anyone.”
“…That’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“As long as you observe the basics, there won’t be trouble.”
Yan Santus glanced back at the young man.
“Earthians are different from us. My lord has acknowledged and accepted the cultural differences between Paradise and Earth. As long as you follow the courtesy any reasonable person would know, there’s little they’ll find fault with.”
By the time their conversation ended, they’d already arrived at the entrance.
The Haramag palace was designed to be functional and martial, prioritizing communal living over private quarters.
Perhaps because of this, there was a distinct lack of glittering chandeliers—his impression was simply “large and broad, but less impressive than expected”—though he took care not to show it.
Yan Santus’s guidance concluded as they reached the Grand Hall.
Stepping inside, Seol Jihoo saw a middle-aged man seated on a throne attended by two handmaidens, and beside him stood a woman in a pink dress.
Teresa’s face lit with joy at the sight of him, but his attention fixed entirely on one figure.
‘That person….’
Though he appeared calm at first glance, Seol Jihoo met a pair of eyes that held a spark beneath—a man with neatly trimmed golden whiskers to match his hair color.
The king of Haramag, one of seven nations that survived the war.
Priehi Hatse.
“So you’re the Earthian called Seol.”
A clear voice flowed out. With his slender frame, he looked more like a scholar than a warrior.
“There’s no need for that.”
As he moved to lower himself on one knee, a restraining voice stopped him.
“I’ve heard that on Earth, the people are the masters of the nation, and the king serves them as if they were heaven. I respect your culture.”
It was odd that he said “I” instead of “we,” but Seol Jihoo simply ceased his motion without fuss.
“Your generosity knows no bounds, Your Majesty.”
Offering a light bow as he spoke, Priehi chuckled.
“Such magnanimous words. I understand what you mean well enough, but it’s fine. Think of me as a village headman, if you will—just relax a little when you’re with me.”
That “relax a little” was surprisingly difficult. It felt like being told to “add salt to taste” while cooking.
Priehi studied the young man calmly, then spoke.
“First, I owe you my thanks for many things. I hear you’ve exerted yourself considerably for this world.”
“You’re too kind.”
From the way he spoke, it seemed the king was aware of his station. Seol Jihoo had worried he might conduct himself like some back-alley thug, but it appeared his fears were unfounded.
“And thank you for accepting the invitation. My daughter wouldn’t stop pestering me to meet you.”
It sounded exactly like Teresa had insisted on it. Priehi planted both arms on the armrests of his throne and rose slowly.
“Well then—shall we go?”
“Pardon?”
“After all, I invited you under the pretense of dinner. I can hardly let you starve while we exchange meaningless pleasantries.”
He spoke with a hint of playfulness, then walked away with an easy gait. As Seol Jihoo stared blankly after him, Teresa hurried over.
“Hehe. You nervous?”
Was it that obvious? Seol Jihoo touched his face. His facial muscles did seem tighter than usual.
“No need to overthink it. We’re just going to eat and chat.”
As Teresa spoke, her eyes sparkled with inexplicable anticipation. She linked her arm gently through his.
“Come on.”
Though not a feast of delicacies, appetizing dishes were arrayed across the table, covered with white cloth.
Priehi posed a few light questions unrelated to any political matter, but Seol Jihoo found himself so focused on the king’s tone of voice that he could scarcely tell whether the food was going into his mouth or his nose.
Seol Jihoo thought he was managing reasonably well, but Teresa, watching from across the table, wore a wry smile.
Once a queen and apex of high society—a place where petty schemes and intrigues swirled constantly—she quickly recognized that the young man across from her was being somewhat overly formal. Priehi, needless to say, was no different.
“Our hero seems not to be enjoying the meal.”
“Not at all. It’s quite excellent.”
But the king paid no heed to the denial and continued.
“I can’t just sit by and watch. As your host, I have a duty to ease your tension. Let me see… Ah, this story should do nicely.”
Priehi proceeded as though he’d just remembered something.
“Do you happen to know about the incident where we and the Earthians clashed in Haramag?”
To ease his tension, the king was raising the very topic that would make it impossible to relax. Seol Jihoo barely managed to open his mouth.
“If you’re referring to the rebellion, I’ve heard something of it.”
“Yes. To cut a long story short, thanks to Shin Young’s mediation, there was room for negotiation. In any case, it was a meeting meant to settle a peace we’d barely managed to achieve. Yet I still expected the other party to have at least a modicum of common sense.”
“Did something go amiss?”
“And how. The rudeness was beyond measure. Instead of the rebel commander, some stranger I’d never seen before showed up. So I properly introduced myself first, then asked his name—and you know what he said? ‘First time meeting you, Your Majesty of Haramag.'”
The young man’s expression grew curious, and Priehi cleared his throat before speaking.
“My name is Priehi Belly King Belly.”
A stifled laugh escaped.
Cough. After clearing his throat and looking up, he saw Priehi calmly cutting his steak. There was no hint of jest in his demeanor.
“…Truly?”
“I’m no comedy writer spinning falsehoods. Anyone who matters knows this. And conveniently, we have a witness right here.”
He turned to Teresa, who immediately confirmed it.
“That’s right. It was such a shocking thing to say that I remember it crystal clear even now.”
“That’s….”
“And that wasn’t all. What’s more, the woman sitting next to him outdid himself, laughing mockingly and saying this: ‘Nice to meet you. My name is Teresa Pink.'”
“Your Highness.”
Seol Jihoo cut in hastily. But Teresa paid no attention whatsoever.
“Oh, hear me out. Pink isn’t the important part, anyway. In any case, for me it’s Pink.”
“Your Highness!”
Seol Jihoo’s voice rose. Teresa merely shrugged. He pressed his palm to his forehead.
“Were you not going to stop her?”
“He kept insisting that my family name was Priehi Belly and my given name was King Belly, and when I questioned whether he was disrespecting the precious name my parents gave me, he actually got angry. I had nothing to say to that.”
“Those madmen.”
“I agree. Complete lunatics.”
Priehi nodded with elegant conviction.
“In any case, that’s when I got a sense of how the Earthians view this world. Amusement. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Then, quite suddenly, he touched his chin thoughtfully.
“Well… thanks to that, I did manage to obtain some crucial information.”
“Crucial information, you say?”
Priehi continued.
“That there’s a traitor in our inner circle. Someone close.”
Seol Jihoo fell silent, turning the matter over in his mind. A traitor in the inner circle—deduced from Priehi’s bellybutton remark? The logic was absurd by any standard.
“What made you reach such a conclusion?”
“Think about it. Without a traitor in our midst, there’s no way they could have identified my physical characteristics so precisely.”
Priehi answered in a measured tone.
“That’s right. They even discovered intimate details about Father and myself—which means whoever it is must be someone we trust deeply.”
Teresa added shyly.
……
Seol Jihoo abandoned the attempt to think through it.
“I was angry, but… I just laughed it off. One doesn’t fall for such transparent provocation.”
“You were wronged, sire.”
“It’s hardly a pleasant story. Though I must say, it’s surprising. Every Earthian I’ve met until now would giggle like a fool if I told them this.”
“It’s not something to laugh about. I apologize.”
Seol Jihoo spoke plainly. Priehi regarded him quietly.
“…There’s no need to apologize.”
Just as the conversation seemed to reach its natural close, relief washed over him.
“By the way, I hear you and my daughter have been… sleeping together?”
Caught off guard mid-sip, Seol Jihoo carefully expelled the water from his mouth into the cup rather than spraying it everywhere.
“…Your Highness.”
“Hmm? Why the sour expression? According to Teresa—”
Seol Jihoo quickly glanced at Teresa. She sat with obvious discomfort, eyes closed, both hands pressed against her cheeks.
‘Why is her face so red… No. What am I supposed to do if I pretend not to know?’
As he stared, Teresa shook her head vigorously.
“Father, really. Just say co-sleeping and be done with it. You can’t say it like that.”
“What do you mean? I admit the phrasing is blunt, but you’re the one who suggested it.”
He stopped abruptly. Priehi suddenly threw his chin back with a grunt of pain, while Teresa twirled her knife as though nothing had happened.
“That hurts.”
“Haha. Whatever do you mean?”
“Hmm. I should have known the moment you pulled out that dress after eight years.”
“You told me to joke about it to ease the tension. Who asks such a thing out of nowhere? Ugh. This is mortifying.”
An incomprehensible exchange unfolded between them.
‘What was I expecting…’
Seol Jihoo clicked his tongue. He’d witnessed their oddness at his first meeting with the princess, but these two were unconventional in every way.
“I’ve seen quite the spectacle.”
Priehi sighed and picked up a white cloth to wipe his mouth thoroughly.
“In any case… don’t be so nervous. This gathering isn’t to restrain or punish you. Rather, it’s for Merit Recognition.”
The king spoke with measured gravity. Seol Jihoo wanted to point out that he shouldn’t pretend to be dignified now, but instead replied, “I’m grateful for your consideration.”
“At first, I thought the rumors were exaggerated.”
Priehi set down his napkin and continued.
“But hearing Teresa say the same thing, I have no choice but to believe it. I’m not so paranoid that I’d distrust the words of my own flesh and blood.”
“Your grace is boundless.”
“…Could you perhaps stop saying that?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve spent years painstakingly adjusting to Earthian culture. Reverting to formal courtly speech after so long is disorienting.”
In Paradise, the concept of nobility was vague at best. At most, one might find a lord managing a large village—and even that was closer to a village elder. Most of the old aristocracy had either fallen in the long wars or fled in search of refuge.
‘…So that’s why.’
Seol Jihoo suddenly understood, at least in part, why the Haramag Royal Family had abandoned formality.
He spoke quietly.
“Understood.”

The meal concluded in calm silence. The attendants cleared the table and brought tea.
Priehi, savoring the aroma of his tea, set down his cup and opened his mouth.
“The Divine Reward of the Haramag Royal Family is always just.”
……
“Your achievements—yes. You saved Raman Village, devised a rescue plan, participated in the extraction operation, and contributed to the destruction of the research facility….”
As Seol Jihoo listened to Priehi’s recitation, he felt an odd sense of dissonance. The way he was listing achievements one after another… it didn’t sound like praise so much as a careful settling of accounts.
His jokes had broken the moment a few times, but for reasons he couldn’t quite name, the King seemed like someone who had ‘given up’ on something from their first meeting.
“Thus, I have considered your merit carefully and decided what to bestow upon you.”
The moment the talk turned to rewards, Seol Jihoo’s ears pricked up.
“I do hope it pleases you.”
Even as he spoke, Priehi’s tone brimmed with confidence that the young man would certainly be satisfied. At the King’s gesture, the waiting handmaiden brought forth a plate cradled in white cloth. Seol Jihoo’s eyes widened.
“This is….”
An involuntary gasp escaped him.
Pure gold, gleaming with a lustrous sheen, rectangular in shape, shimmered with a reddish radiance. Dazzled by its beauty, he could barely keep his eyes open.
‘A Gold Bar?’
No—it was closer to a Gold Bar proper. Even so, its value defied easy calculation. Remembering how Cho Hong and Hugo had yearned desperately over a piece no bigger than a pinky nail, this reward transcended imagination.
Gulp.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed.
On Earth, the power of Gold Power is absolute. And Paradise would be no different—if anything, its influence ran deeper.
‘With just this….’
It would be faster to count what he couldn’t do than what he could. A slow greed kindled in his two fixed, burning eyes.
Then a thought struck him like lightning.
“…Ah.”
Seol Jihoo’s mouth suddenly closed. The enraptured expression on his face twisted into a grimace as he gazed at the Gold Bar with complicated eyes.
“It’s currency easily converted to Earthian denominations. If calculated in gold coins, it would be approximately…?”
Priehi watched the youth and fell silent.
“Does the reward not please you?”
“…Yes? Ah. No, that’s not it.”
Seol Jihoo shook his head as if such a thing were preposterous.
“You seem unsatisfied.”
“It’s not that….”
“Hmm. Then what? If there is something else you desire, speak freely without restraint.”
At Priehi’s kind voice, Seol Jihoo stared at the Gold Bar with conflicted eyes, his teeth working against his lower lip.
[There’s nowhere else to go. We don’t live outside the city because we want to, after all.]
The village elder who had even offered precious Ludium and laid the groundwork for the operation’s success.
But if he simply bought provisions and sent them back, wouldn’t they be fairly content?
[Come again.]
The ghostly saint who had saved his life and become an tree of endless giving.
But still, but still….
Caught in conflict upon conflict, he instinctively opened his Nine Eyes. The face beholding gold wavered in hesitation.
A moment later.
Seol Jihoo exhaled a long breath. With a slightly subdued air, he opened his mouth.
“There is something I must speak of, Your Majesty.”

(To be continued in the next installment)

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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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