Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 5 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Not Your Ordinary Goblins

AFTER SEEING SAHARA to the orphanage, Roxy and I headed for the western gate, located in the busy Merchant District. The gate was originally where Roxy, Miria, and I had all planned to meet, but because Roxy and I had bumped into each other on the way, that left Miria waiting for us when we finally arrived. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be pleased about it. Indeed, I expected the entirety of her rage to be focused directly at me.

I asked Roxy about Miria as we walked, while Roxy gazed with great interest at the variety of goods on display in the various stalls.

“I’ve been wondering this for a really long time,” I said, “but why is Miria so fixated on you? I don’t know whether to call it protective or possessive.”

Roxy grinned. “She’s always been like that, going back to when we met.”

“Sounds tough…”

Miria glued herself to Roxy’s side given the slightest opportunity. She’d been like that for the five years they’d known each other. It had to be because Roxy was so good to the people who worked for her. I worried that perhaps Miria was taking advantage of her good-natured heart. I must have frowned without realizing, because Roxy surprised me by playfully gripping my nose between her fingers.

“Don’t tell me… Are you actually jealous, Fay?”

“Huh? Uh—no, I don’t mean it like that, but…”

I felt my cheeks reddening and my face growing hot. Miria was always with Roxy, and I often watched them with a little envy. That must have been why my thoughts weaved the path they did. Roxy had shone a light on the feelings at the bottom of my heart, and I was a little bewildered. Roxy looked satisfied with herself, though, so I decided that was fine. After all, I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t lie to her anymore.

“But yes, I am a little jealous, actually,” I said.

“What?”

“Well, I want to spend more time with you too!”

“Fay! Don’t say such things so loudly—not here on such a busy street…”

The people passing by on the street suddenly stopped and their stares zeroed in on us. Even though she was used to being stared at by the citizens of the kingdom, Roxy’s face turned red. Mine was no different. I was as embarrassed to say it as Roxy was to hear it.

“Your face is red, Roxy,” I said.

“You’re one to talk.”

We nodded in agreement, then fled the scene as quickly as we could. We must have looked like a couple of crazy, inexplicable holy knights to the people on the street. It was such a ridiculous sight that Roxy and I burst into laughter.

“If you want to be with me more, Fay, then I’d be more than happy to give you your first private lesson today at Barbatos Manor.”

“You’re talking about studying, aren’t you?”

“But of course!” Roxy said, her chest puffed up with pride, “I’ll make sure you get a thorough, all-encompassing education!”

Today? Does that mean…I might not actually be allowed to sleep?

My stats were much, much higher than they had once been. Since reaching holy knight levels, my stamina was off the charts. I could go a night without sleep and be absolutely fine. However, the idea of being made to wade through studying all my worst subjects for a whole night without sleep was utterly terrifying. 

“Really, Fate, there’s no need to worry,” Roxy said, clearly discerning my apprehension. “Indeed, things will go exactly as you fear: No sleep for you tonight.”

Then she winked at me. It was overwhelmingly cute, but the difference between her expression and the words she spoke was almost too cruel. I realized then that the more we talked about it, the more she’d make me study. With that in mind, I decided to run to the western gate, but Roxy caught my left arm and pulled me close with a giggle.

“Don’t think you can run off that easily. I’ve let you get away for much too long.”

She put an emphasis on those last words. Too long. Was she talking about Galia? Was she talking about before that? I wanted to ask, but there was a seriousness in Roxy’s eyes. It was all too much for my brain to handle. I resigned myself to my fate, and Roxy patted me on the head with a satisfied smirk on her face. 

“There, there,” she said. “But I must say, you certainly have gotten taller, haven’t you? When you were a servant, you were shorter than me. But now, here I am, looking up at you.”

Roxy put a hand on her own head and brought it toward me for comparison. When we’d met in Galia, I realized that I’d gotten taller than her, but it seemed like I’d grown a little taller since then as well. It was funny to think that even though it was my own body, I didn’t notice it changing until somebody else pointed it out.

“Back when I was working for the Vlerick family, I was barely able to feed myself. But since then, I’m eating much better. I’m even eating meat now.”

“Hm, yes. I see, I see,” said Roxy, suddenly feeling my left arm as if to confirm what I was saying.

“Huh? Roxy!”

“It’s true; you’ve grown very strong. It’s likely thanks to all the training you do with Aaron every day. You’ve really developed a true adventurer’s body.”

“Roxy, you’re touching me too much!”

“Ah, my apologies,” she replied with her tongue poking out just so. “I lost myself for a moment there.”

But I knew that cheeky expression on her face, and it meant she was going to do it again.

We walked until the gate came into view. Past that, the lands stretched into wide, grassy plains. They were home to the goblins who harassed our traveling merchants. The western gate was the hub of trade in the city, and second in size only to the gate into the Military District. It was easily big enough for ten caravans to pass through side by side.

The western gate was usually a meeting place for adventurers. They got in the way of passing merchants as they created or joined hunting parties. However, there were no adventurers there anymore, and the stores that usually bustled with adventurers looking for equipment were desolate.

“It’s worse than I thought,” I said.

“Indeed. Oh, look, there’s Miria.”

We spotted Miria by her chestnut-colored hair. She gestured wildly with her hands as she argued with a merchant at an outdoor stall. Even in the early morning, her energy levels were as high as ever. It looked as though it was a food stall of some kind—the merchant passed Miria a big loaf of bread. Miria looked very pleased with herself, but the merchant looked broken. It seemed pretty clear that Miria had won that particular haggling battle.

Miria saw the two of us while she stuffed her face with bread. She waved her hands and ran over. “Lady Roxy! Lady Roxy!” she said, struggling to speak through the chewing. “Good morning!”

“Good morning, Miria.”

“Are you eating or talking?” I asked. “Pick one, would you?”

“Ugh, it’s you again. I was so taken by the divine Lady Roxy that I didn’t register your presence.”

“Hey. Surely you knew it was a team investigation. You had to know I’d be here.”

“Oh, I heard. I just choose not to acknowledge your existence.”

“Why, you—”

Miria hadn’t changed a bit. She was always a handful. Just then, Roxy grabbed Miria by both cheeks.

“Ow! Lady Roxy, owww! Please stop!”

“Miria, please listen to me carefully. Today you and Fate are going to get along. This is very important work we’re doing.”

“Okayyy… Understood.” 

Miria had nowhere to retreat and no way to react after being scolded by her beloved Roxy. Her shoulders slumped and her spirits low, Miria tentatively reached her hand out to me—a peace offering in the form of a handshake. I was surprised, because I’d never seen this side of Miria before. I reached out and we shook hands, but…

“Uh, Miria, no need to put so much power into it. If I were a regular adventurer, you would have completely crushed my hand.”

“I should have expected as much from the Domain of E. But with this gesture, we’ve made an important connection, so just like Lord Aaron, I’m headed for the Domain of E too!”

“It’s not as easy as that, you know.”

“Oh? Really?” Miria frowned at me, an earnest furrow creasing her brow. “It isn’t?”

If there was one thing you could say about Miria, it was that her strength of spirit dictated her way of life. Did she really think it was possible to create a bond with someone by trying to crush their hand? I’d have been shocked if that were all it took.

“Ugh, how disappointing,” said Miria. “I officially regret shaking your hand.”

“Oof, talk about cruel…” I said. “It’s like all you want to do is hurt my feelings.”

But Miria simply bounded toward Roxy, the person she revered above all others. We would have to find a way to work together. Mugan had asked me to keep an eye on her. Being that I was older, I figured I just had to grit my teeth and bear it.

“I’m so glad to see such a friendship blossom,” Roxy said, smiling as she strode toward the Goblin Grasslands. “Well, let’s get to it, shall we?”

“On my way, Lady Roxy!”

I knew precisely what was going to happen. It felt exactly the same as when we had traveled together to the great canyon of Galia. In short, Roxy would alternately scold and dote on Miria as we traveled. Miria was used to this now, so she wouldn’t try to change at all. It was a self-perpetuating cycle, and I gained a renewed appreciation for Mugan’s suffering.

“I haven’t forgotten that you saved me in Galia, so…today I’ll be a good partner,” said Miria.

Maybe she’s growing up after all, I thought. “Happy to hear it,” I said. “Glad to have your support.”

“But just so we’re clear, don’t bother trying to be kind to me or anything like that.”

“What do you mean?”

I didn’t get an answer. Miria simply ran back to Roxy’s side. I had no idea what she meant about “being kind.” As I walked on, thoroughly confused, Greed spoke up through my Telepathy skill.

“That girl,” he said, “she’s got her reasons, just like you did.”

“She doesn’t look like it.”

“She just doesn’t want to show it. Eerily similar to somebody else I know…”

“Ouch. Low blow, Greed.”

Greed cackled. “I’ve been with you from the beginning. I know you inside and out.”

Greed had been my constant companion ever since I bought him from a weapon stall in Seifort. We’d been together for less than a year, but a lot had happened in that short span of time. I didn’t know exactly what kind of life Miria had lived before she joined the kingdom’s army, but I knew that she’d grown up in an orphanage. Perhaps she’d gone through her own trials and tribulations, just like I had.

Past the gate, heading toward the grasslands, Miria acted as Roxy’s loyal guard dog. Every time I wandered too close, she’d snap at me. She said she’d be a good partner, but that only seemed to apply to how she acted around Roxy. Not that I cared, really. I had a whole night of private lessons to look forward to…just Roxy and me, alone together. 

Miria would be so jealous she might even cry tears of blood. I wore a devilish grin as the grasslands came into sight.

It had been a long time since I’d seen them, but I remembered the grasslands vividly. It was the very place I had first tested my powers of Gluttony. The long grass hid goblins of all types, and they multiplied fast. Or at least, that was what I thought. The fields we encountered now were different. Aside from the gentle, undulating waves of grass, we saw no movement in the fields. There was no trace of any kind of goblin at all. The grasslands were empty. 

“How can this be? The goblins are nowhere to be seen,” said Miria. “Lady Roxy, the reports claimed that the goblins were lower in number, but…”

“It’s certainly strange. Unbelievable, considering their breeding habits. It hasn’t been like this since the founding of the kingdom.”

I nodded in agreement.

“Fate,” said Greed. “Look to your feet. There are goblin footprints, and they all lead to the Hobgoblin Forest.”

“You’re right…”

I told Roxy and Miria, and with a shared nod, we turned our eyes to the dense outline of the Hobgoblin Forest.

“I don’t know how to say it, but…I’m getting worse vibes than usual from that place,” said Miria.

“There’s a magical power emanating from it, and I don’t like the feel of it,” said Roxy. “What do you think, Fay?”

“We don’t have a choice,” I said. “We won’t know what’s happening in there unless we check it out for ourselves.”

We unsheathed our swords and readied ourselves for a battle at any moment. Then we walked toward the Hobgoblin Forest—and the ominous magical energy that emanated from within.