Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 7 - Chapter 18

Chapter 18:

Luna’s World

IN THE PAST, I had devoured Luna’s soul. Afterward, the spiritual plane she created for me had saved me again and again. She gave me succor from the effects of Gluttony, so much so that I could never thank her enough. Now Luna’s wish was the same as my own: to stop Myne. These shared feelings allowed me to discover a new power of Gluttony.

My Gluttony didn’t just steal a soul’s powers—it also allowed me to negotiate with them. In this way, I could channel the powers of a soul as if I were a medium. It differed from the skills that were considered gifts of the Gods. In Luna (or Haniel’s) case, I could access a power unique to her. The sensation was similar to that of Crossing with Greed. 

Asking a soul you devoured for its help and powers was usually a foolish waste of time. The only soul to agree to such a compact was Luna, whose goals and wishes were aligned with my own. When she told me about Myne’s past, we had made an agreement that she would lend me her powers. According to Greed, this new power—that of summoning souls to fight alongside me—was one that not even the previous bearer of Gluttony had acquired.

You know, it’s just like you to care about the souls you devour. You’re full of surprises, I’ll give you that. Haniel’s power will be a real boon here, so let’s get on with it!

Haniel’s flaming spheres circled close, protecting me. I was also surrounded by a barrier that could withstand even Myne’s Noir Destruction.

We don’t have much time, Fate. Luna’s soul won’t last long.

Using this power eroded Luna’s soul, and overusing it could extinguish her soul entirely. That made it different from the Crossing; I was literally consuming the soul in order to fight with it. The more I used Haniel’s power, the more the light of Luna’s soul waned. But Luna was willing to accept this risk wholeheartedly to fight alongside me.

Myne was shaken by the sudden appearance of Luna’s powers. I knew I only had one chance. I focused the fireballs surrounding me on Myne’s black axe and fired them from my hand. Then I expanded the barrier around me to catch Myne in it, pulling her close so she couldn’t escape.

“Luna! Now!”

The area inside the barrier filled with blinding light. At the same time, I felt my consciousness grow distant. 

When I opened my eyes, a world of pure white stretched out in all directions. It was the spiritual plane. Myne lay on her side, unconscious before me. We had chosen this place to talk to Myne, and to stop her. Greed and Luna had formulated this plan, anticipating that Myne’s Wrath would prevent our words from reaching her in the real world. Because Shin had pushed her over the edge and turned her into a demon of battle, that was exactly what had happened.

Myne, unconscious at my feet, looked no different in this place. She still had a pair of horns sprouting from her forehead. If we woke her, our battle might well have resumed in the spiritual plane. Though I was worried, a reassuring hand clapped me on my shoulder.

“I don’t know how, but you did it. Honestly, I think it was all thanks to me and the Crossing.”

I turned to find Greed standing behind me in human form. He ran a hand through his red hair and smirked in a self-satisfied way.

“This isn’t the time for your gloating!” I said. “Out there in the real world, Shin is trying to sacrifice the people of Hausen!”

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Greed poked me in the chest. “How many times have you been here without noticing? The flow of time is different in this place.”

“Oh? Really?”

“Good grief, you’re unbelievable. Luna created the rules that govern this plane.”

“Even the flow of time?”

“Even that. Besides, time in the physical world has always behaved differently from that in the spiritual realm.”

I was so worried about Myne that I didn’t truly register Greed’s words. I wouldn’t understand what he meant until much later.

Looking down at Myne, I found that Luna had appeared and knelt beside her.

“I finally got to see you again, Sis,” said Luna, gently cradling Myne’s cheek in her hand. “You never did know when to stop, did you?”

Tears fell from Luna’s eyes, and a pained expression crossed Greed’s face.

“We pushed you too hard,” he said.

“It’s fine. I made my choice. I asked Fate for this.”

“Luna…you…”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m a phantom from the past. What matters to me is my sister. She’s still among the living. Fate, thank you.” Luna rose to her feet and took hold of my hand. Even here in the spiritual plane, her hand was warm.

“I… All I did was hold her still,” I said. “You’re the one who brought her here.”

“That wasn’t all you did. It’s because of you that we managed to get her here without injury. You should be proud of yourself. Don’t you think so, Greed?”

“She’s right, you know. You did good. Much better than I thought you would. You went head-to-head with a demon of battle and you didn’t back down. Not a shred of fear. And I saw it all in the Crossing, so I know better than anyone.”

It was embarrassing to hear Greed praise me that much, so unlike his usual complaints and insults. 

“But this is only the beginning,” Greed said. “Luna…are you sure you’re all right?”

“You’re going to ask me that after we’ve come this far? Of course I’m okay. Anyway, the only one who can open the door to my sister’s heart is me.”

“But Luna…you know what that means.”

“I am always well aware of my capabilities. But what about you? Time to decide, Greed. You’re always so boastful, but you haven’t changed one bit.”

“I…”

“All that bravado, but really you’re a scaredy cat,” Luna teased. “I know I was a crybaby, and I could never make up my mind, but…I’ve decided. My sister is alive, here and now, and I’m going to use my power for her.” 

“Fine. Do what you will…”

“I will. Now let us begin. Fate, I’m counting on you.”

Luna held her hand above the still unconscious Myne. I put my own hand above hers.

“The delve into my sister’s heart starts here. I’ll lead the way, so don’t let go. A person’s heart is a labyrinth, and if you get lost, you may not be able to return.”

I wished she hadn’t said that, but I was determined not to let go. I couldn’t let myself get stuck forever wandering, trapped in Myne’s heart. I only wanted us to live together once more, back in the real world.

“Ready?” asked Luna.

“Ready,” Greed and I said in unison.

I looked at Luna and Greed and nodded. These two were irreplaceable to me. They were the reason that I had come so far. I felt the same about Myne—perhaps she was even more important.

And so, with Luna in the lead, we took our first steps into Myne’s inner world—the world of her heart.