Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 7 - Chapter 10

Chapter 10:

The Old Gate

WATER TRICKLED DOWN from the ceiling and gathered in a small stream that ran beneath our feet. As we walked on, our footsteps splashed and echoed. I was on edge at first, constantly expecting monsters to pop up in front of us, but I sensed no danger. I heard only the quiet burble of flowing water.

I thought about what Eris had said: that those who bore Skills of Mortal Sin were born from the accumulation of human hatred and therefore embodied those emotions. Moments in my past flashed through my mind, hatred in my thoughts and actions. I was surprised by the clarity of those feelings.

At times, I was struck with a feeling as though an unfathomable darkness marked my heart. This feeling had been at its worst when I returned to the kingdom and fought Rafale. Back when I wore the skull mask to hide my identity, it was like I became another person entirely. In front of the castle throne, I wanted to and almost did kill the holy knight, Lanchester. Then in Babylon, I sent merciless adventurers to their deaths using their own cold-hearted cruelty. At the time, I felt no guilt for any of it. I knew it was wrong, but it was as if something had broken loose within me, something that pushed me onward. It had felt like that feeling was on the brink of exploding. Because of Roxy, however, I’d managed to overcome the darkness. As proof, I stopped wearing the skull mask. 

As I wandered through the corridors of my memories, Greed used Telepathy to say, “Back then, you were totally under the sway of Gluttony’s evil influence. Even my magnificent voice couldn’t get through to you.”

“I’m sorry, Greed. I know I was awful.”

“Anyone who bears a Skill of Mortal Sin finds themselves in that place. The best you can do is learn to overcome it, because if you can’t, it’s all over. But I knew you would be fine.”

“Oh? It feels like you’re being more encouraging than usual today.”

“Of course. You wield Greed, the august and mighty black sword. I need you in the right headspace.” 

Greed’s kind words cheered me up, but I had known him long enough to know that his compliments were never freely given.

“I appreciate it, Greed, but you want something, don’t you?”

“You know me too well.”

“Do you have any idea how long we’ve been traveling together?”

Greed cackled. “It has been quite a while, hasn’t it? Even longer than you and Roxy, I dare say.” Greed chuckled again, but continued with a serious voice. “There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Those impulses you felt in the past… They’re not just your Gluttony.”

“What do you mean?”

“Call it a hunch. It’s different from the Gluttony of my previous wielder. In your case—”

Before Greed could continue, he was drowned out by the raised voices of Eris and Roxy. I realized that I had been entirely absorbed in my conversation with Greed and looked to the source of their cries. We stood before a massive gate, larger even than the one into the kingdom.

“This…looks sturdy.”

I would’ve attempted to cut through it with Greed, but he stopped me. At that moment, I recognized the metal it was made from.

“This is adamantite,” said Roxy. “It’s said this is the strongest metal in the world. It’s also used for the outer walls of Babylon.”

“Precisely so, Roxy, Even Weapons of Mortal Sin can’t break through this. It would be a different story if Fate was a true master of the blade, but alas…” Eris finished with a sly grin.

“Yeah, yeah, so I’m still not that strong yet,” I said. “What’s your excuse, Eris?”

“I play a support role, remember? I was never well-suited to this kind of thing.”

“How tragic for your gunblade. It looks like its edge is quite sharp.”

“I could say the same of Greed.”

I didn’t have a retort. “Yeah, I guess you could…” 

Aaron had taught me swordsmanship, and Greed had trained me further on the spiritual plane. But according to both of them, I still had a long journey ahead of me. 

Roxy could see how heavily this fact weighed on me. “Don’t worry, Fay. You’re more the type who really gets going in an actual battle.”

“Thanks…”

“She’s right, you know. When you fought the Divine Dragon, I honestly thought you didn’t stand a chance. You seem to truly thrive in the heat of battle,” said Eris. “So I guess there’s lots to look forward to.”

“Why say that last part?! It’s not like I do this because I want to fight everybody!”

“But that’s what always ends up happening, Fate.”

We were heading directly into the unknown, and Eris had to go and say something ominous. Unfortunately, I had the exact same feeling. But first we had to find a way to open that gate. Eris tried to push it open, but it didn’t budge.

“Wow, that’s not going to work,” she said.

“Giving up so soon?”

“Well, I tried, didn’t I? It didn’t work! Right, Roxy?”

“If you couldn’t do anything, what chance do I have?” said Roxy as her shoulders slumped.

I told Roxy not to worry and stared at the gate. “I wonder if Snow passed through this gate when she came here?”

“It’s quite likely. She’s one of the holy beastfolk, which likely grants her the special privilege to pass through.”

“A special privilege, you say…” I put a hand to the gate. “Huh?”

“No way… But how?!”

“Fay?!”

Eris and Roxy couldn’t contain their surprise. The black gate gleamed with a blue light as a seal I recognized from somewhere began to take shape. Then the seemingly immovable gate quietly swung open. Even I was left speechless. I wondered if perhaps my father was the reason that it had opened to my touch.

“Looks like I have the same privilege,” I said.

“Your father was a Zodiac Knight, after all,” Eris murmured.

“According to Libra, yeah. Based on what my father said in the desert, it has to be true.”

“Hm…so that’s the other half of you, then.” Eris looked somewhat downcast for a moment, but she soon hid that feeling behind a grin. She was still haunted by the horrors that Libra had inflicted on her. Those feelings extended to the Zodiac Knights themselves. Judging by her expression, though, she seemed fine. “Thanks to Snow, I feel like I’m overcoming my prejudice. You’ve always been you, Fate.”

“Huh?”

“We’re all good!” Eris leaped at and hugged me. 

It felt more significant this time, like this was helping her overcome the trauma that had held her hostage for so long.

“It’s been hard for you, hasn’t it?” I asked.

“Maybe, but this is just fine.” Eris pulled me closer as I tried to peel her off me.

“Hey, quit using your Domain of E strength.”

“This is just a warm-up exercise.”

“What are you warming up for?!”

I was completely trapped within Eris’s grasp. Then I felt a gaze upon my back that seemed to freeze me to my very core. Turning around, I found Roxy staring daggers at the both of us.

“You two get along like a house on fire, don’t you?” she said.

“You can’t seriously look at this and think that, can you?!”

“Well, Eris looks like she’s having a wonderful time.”

“Eris, say something! Help!”

“Don’t worry about this, Roxy. It’s just trauma therapy. There’s no deeper meaning to it.”

Roxy looked unconvinced by the explanation. This was inevitable—I wished that Eris would reflect on her recent behavior. She had slept naked in my bed and invaded the men’s bath… Did she plan on claiming that was trauma therapy too? She would be far from convincing.

“Do you mind if I ask something?” said Roxy.

“What is it?”

“How do you feel?”

“I feel wonderful!” said Eris.

Roxy was, as always, kind and gentle, but there was something about her in this moment. It was like my eyes were playing tricks on me. I saw a beast like the Divine Dragon writhing behind her. Her aura was more oppressive than anything I had ever known, which meant one thing: It was time to make use of the getaway dash I’d learned directly from Aaron. It was my only option in these situations.

“Well, at least we’ve got the gate open,” I said. “Let’s head on through!”

“Oh, Fay! Wait just a moment!”

“I can’t hear you!” I cried as I ran pell-mell for the gate.

“Yes, you can! I know you can! How long do you intend to hold on to him like that, Eris? Release him immediately!”

The three of us proceeded through the gate and beyond.