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

Epilogue:

Myne’s Smile

THE UNDERGROUND CITY of Grandol was full of structures. I woke up inside one of them. 

Ouch! My side hurt. It had to have been where Fate hit me to quiet my Wrath.

One of the dead hovered by my side, watching over me. Perhaps the ghost was someone I’d once known. Try as I might to see their face, the details never came into focus. This was not surprising; the dead led an ephemeral, uncertain existence. 

If the Door to Distant Lands opened, the dead would return whether or not they wanted to. Then I could come to know this ghost. 

But I no longer wanted to bring back the dead.

“I lost…” I said out loud.

The goal I’d held—the goal that came to form the foundation of my being—had been wiped clean away by Fate. What was I to do now? I didn’t know, and it frightened me. This feeling of trepidation had a tinge of nostalgia, much to my surprise. I’d forgotten that I ever felt like this. It was a feeling I’d given up a long time ago. I’d chosen to live on my own, as an adventurer, a warrior, and yet…now I was scared of being alone.

“It was because of Fate.”

He had said, “What I mean is…we’re in this together!” before he left me here and ran off. I sat for a time, clutching my knees, until huge tremors shook the building.

“An earthquake?”

I went outside and looked up at the ceiling of the underground city. Sections of the rock face were coming loose and falling. Were they still fighting on the surface? The thought of battle reminded me that I didn’t have my black axe, Sloth. I always kept the axe somewhere close, within reach. Usually, I could locate Sloth by feeling for the axe’s energy, but now…I had no idea where the weapon was.

I began to panic, then noticed the ghost from earlier gesture to me.

“What is it?”

I followed the specter and found the black axe stuck in the earth in an alley between buildings.

“Sloth! There you are.”

I picked her up, but even now, she was asleep. Usually, I didn’t mind. A well-slept child is a well-kept child, or so the saying went. But at present, I needed her awake.

“Hey! We don’t have time for a nap!” I said.

I gave the axe a few knocks, and finally Sloth woke with a great yawn. How could she sleep when I’d woken to a situation like this?! Did she want me to unleash my Wrath all over again?! 

“Ah…good morning, Myne,” said Sloth. She was still drowsy, her voice relaxed and free of care. “No need to get angry. Are you done?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

Sloth didn’t feel the need to say or ask anything more than that.

“That’s it?” I asked. “That’s all you have to say?”

“We’ve been together for so long that I can read it all in your face.”

What sort of a face was that? 

Seeing the question in my eyes, Sloth spoke. “You look really happy. Like something really good happened. It did, didn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t seen you looking so refreshed in a long time.”

Sloth was genuinely glad for me. So much so that it made me happy too.

“It has been a while,” I said.

I went to thank the ghost for their help, but they had already vanished.

“What’s wrong?” asked Sloth.

“No… It’s nothing,” I said, wondering if it was just the whims of the dead at work.

The earthquakes continued without end. I couldn’t sense Fate’s presence here in Grandol.

“He’s on the surface?” I asked.

“Then we have to go.”

I nodded. I had a bad feeling about this place, but right now I wanted to help Fate. We headed up. I had entered Hausen for supplies, so I knew a shortcut. The normal route meant passing through a gate that required holy beast authorization, but if Fate and the others had come through that to get here, the gate might still be open. Still, there was one other route that might be even better than the uncertainty of the gate: the path carved over long years by water flowing from above. It was a naturally formed path, meaning it was narrow and difficult to traverse for most people, but it was no problem for someone of small stature like myself.

“The only problem is you, Sloth. You’re too big.”

“I can’t help it!”

“Then we’ll have to make the path wider.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

With a swing of the axe, the path widened. Even Sloth could pass through now.

“I like shortcuts,” I said.

“Here I was, thinking you might have matured after what you’d gone through. Guess that was wishful thinking.”

“I did this to help us get to the surface faster!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I crawled out from between two great boulders a short distance from Hausen. Pillars of light fell upon the city. I had witnessed such a sight before.

“They’re being attacked from above.”

“Those pillars of light… Are those the Arrows of Indra?!” 

“The holy beast Zodiac Aquarius…”

“It couldn’t be anything else. But it’s far too high for us to be able to do anything.”

Sloth and I were frontline fighters, specializing in close-range combat.

“Don’t forget you can’t fly, Myne.”

“I know. Wait, what’s that?”

“It’s quite far away, but there are two large sources of magical energy, and they’re heading for the holy beast.”

“Fate…”

“That’s one of them. As for the other…it’s nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

I looked up at the sky, glowing golden as the pillars of light rained down. Fate was flying straight at them. Somehow, being left to watch as it all unfolded…I felt abandoned. I was also deeply curious about the person who was with him, and these feelings were new to me. I’d never cared about such things before.

“Myne, are you…jealous?”

“O-of course not.”

“I can read you like a book!”

“I’m not jealous!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Grr…I didn’t like Sloth’s attitude. She was never like this! 

“If you asked me, I’d say I’m happy for you,” said Sloth. “I’m glad you’ve regained your feelings.”

“Happy enough to give me attitude, it sounds like.”

“All you ever did was fight. Even now, you still can’t quite reckon with the feelings you’ve recovered.”

“Still?”

“Look, if you’re ever unsure about your feelings, I’m always here to listen. Well, as long as I’m not sleeping.”

Sloth was unusually vivacious for an axe that spent most of her time dozing. She was even known to sometimes fall asleep in the middle of battle if I wasn’t careful. 

“I love talking about this kind of stuff. Ooh, I’m so excited!”

“Sloth, enough!”

Fate was still fighting. I wanted to be by his side, but I had no means by which to get there. All I could do was watch.

“Fate…”

I felt his magical energy grow stronger. It seemed he was using one of Greed’s secret techniques.

“He wants to finish it. That holy beast is slow to act; that’s why they called it the Artillery of God. The problem was always its location. But if Fate can get within range, and with that much power in his attack…”

“He might be able to kill it.”

My pulse quickened as I watched with anticipation. Fate always fought in a way that surpassed my expectations.

We had first met in the regions north of the kingdom. I’d happened to be there by coincidence, following leads to the Door to Distant Lands. It was there that I discovered a crowned beast—a kobold—that was making its way into the lands of a holy knight. I knew a monster like that would fetch quite the bounty. There was a good chance I could earn some money arranging a deal with the local lord to fell it. That was when I first became aware of Fate. Bearers of the Skills of Mortal Sin can sense each other’s presence, and it once was said that this is what brings us together.

In the end, I chose Fate over the crowned beast.

From afar, he seemed less an adventurer and more the portrait of a weak, sickly young man. He had a clear and gentle aura, the type not at all suited to battle. He’d looked at me as we drew closer on that road, and I saw that he felt something. I was sure of it then—he did indeed bear a Skill of Mortal Sin.

That was the reason I chose to test him, and to see if he really had the qualities of one chosen by Gluttony. So I sent him after the crowned beast, and I watched him handle it from afar. He fought entirely alone, and he slew the beast in impressive fashion. From my vantage point, Fate’s movements looked like those of an amateur. Nothing worth praising. However, he never gave up. After that battle with the kobolds, although Fate sometimes went into battle with doubt and fear, he never retreated.

It was because of those qualities that I had Fate help me in my fight against Haniel. And though I appeared as if out of nowhere to make my request, Fate went along with me without complaint. But I knew the reason Fate had left the kingdom. I knew that he had priorities of his own. Even then, however, he followed me into the treacherous lands of Galia. In the battle against Haniel, he overcame his lack of experience and successfully unleashed half of his Gluttony skill. 

I thought Fate reckless. But at the same time, I wondered if this was simply a trait inherent to all who bore Gluttony. They didn’t use their power for themselves, but for the sake of others. That was why he’d fought the Divine Dragon, and it was why he fought now.

“Fate must be exhausted after facing me.”

“But he will still fight.”

“He will.”

I saw the double helix of black lightning from his attack. In an instant, the holy beast weakened along with Fate’s magical energy.

“He couldn’t do it.”

“Myne, this is bad. We must escape to shelter.”

The holy beast began its descent straight toward Hausen.

“We’ll be okay,” I said.

Fate had not yet given up. If he were the type to give up, he never would have made it as far as he had.

“I believe in him.”

“I hope you’re right…”

The holy beast, as large as a city, burst through the clouds. If it were to collide with Hausen, the area around it would face a shock wave the likes of which the world had never seen. It would wipe out everything: the people who escaped the city, the people who didn’t, anyone left in the underground city, and me. Everyone who looked up at it felt a presentiment of death through the clouds. It plummeted toward the earth, but my heart remained calm. I was surprised that I could watch it all unfold with such tranquility.

“That power…”

“It’s Greed’s Fifth Level. Dimension Destruction.”

Black threads cocooned the holy beast. Then in a flash of light, it turned the gargantuan Zodiac Aquarius into little more than ashes.

“He did it. Never bet against Gluttony, am I right?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t need my power any longer. Fate had become a powerful adventurer in his own right.

“Just like that, he’s stronger than me.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“You already know.”

I hurried to him. I ran toward the magical energy I felt, falling from the sky toward Hausen. More than anything else, I wanted to see Fate as soon as possible.

***

Before I reached Hausen, there was another great earthquake. It was on a scale completely different from the aftershocks of Zodiac Aquarius.

“Myne, is that…?”

“Galia…”

I saw it break from the earth, untethered, and float into the air on the horizon.

“Does that mean…?”

“Right now, I have to get to Fate.”

The Door to Distant Lands flashed through my mind. Even then, I had to see Fate first. He knew better than anyone what had happened after I lost consciousness. I shook my head clear and ran toward the city of Hausen.

The citizens were all staring up and shouting joyously. Fate drifted from the sky, carried by a girl who looked like an angel. The sight of him then, even for me, appeared almost divine. No doubt the citizens also felt as though they were witnessing the arrival of a hero, even a holy savior—one who had saved them from the mysterious assault on their home. 

Fate was in the middle of rebuilding Hausen, and to do so he had invited people who had nowhere else to call home to live in his city. These same people praised his name as they saw him. He was already popular with his people; his actions to fend off the Zodiac Aquarius were just the icing on the cake.

“Not going to wave at him?” asked Sloth.

“I can’t… I-I don’t have the right to.”

Even though I’d come all this way to see Fate, I was once again afraid. I was the reason all of this had happened. I had been tempted by Shin’s promises, and I had left Fate’s side. Could I ever look him in the eyes again?

“I don’t know…” I added.

“He said ‘we’re in this together,’ didn’t he? He’s made his feelings clear, if you ask me. Now go on, do something.”

At Sloth’s suggestion, I lifted my hand and waved at Fate. I felt my face redden, just a little. There were so many people, I was sure he’d never notice me. I was so sure. But he found me, there in the crowd, and waved back with a smile.

“He found you too! Great!”

“Yeah!”

Filled with joy, I waved again. As I did, Sloth laughed at me. I growled back.

“Someone’s a bit overeager.” 

“Am not!”

Fate wore a smile the whole time the citizens of Hausen waved and cheered, but at times I caught a brief glimmer of sadness in his features. The angel who was with him seemed to know why, and she was concerned for him. When she felt they had adequately reassured the people, she didn’t land, but rather flew straight for the castle.

“Myne, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

I ran after them. The streets were too crowded, so I leaped up onto the rooftops. Some children nearby cried out with delight when they saw my jump.

“You’ve always been popular with kids,” said Sloth.

“Are you calling me a kid?”

“Well, you are the same height.” 

“I’m not a kid. I’m a grownup!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Do you want to make me mad?”

“I don’t! I don’t! I’m sorry!”

“Then drop it.”

Fate never looked at me like I was a kid. I’d known that ever since the day we spent in the Desert of Extinction. When he saw me standing before him with little in the way of clothes, his face went scarlet and he could only stammer. I found his reaction so amusing that I couldn’t help but tease him about it.

I headed to the castle by the rooftops. When I got inside, I saw that Fate was already fast asleep. The angel by his side saw me as I approached.

“You’re…You’re Myne, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“As I thought. You look just like Fay’s description of you: a petite frame with a massive axe. I’ve seen you once before. It was at my family estate, but I only saw you from behind. I am Roxy Hart, a holy knight serving the kingdom. I assumed this form when Snow lent me her powers.”

Roxy?! So, this is Roxy…

Fate had ventured into Galia by himself for her sake. There was something sisterly about her, and I could see why Fate was drawn to her. Still, I felt a twinge of jealousy when she called him “Fay.” 

Roxy left the sleeping Fate in the care of a maid by the name of Memil.

“Roxy!” Memil said. “You’ve changed!”

“I… Well, Snow lent me her power…”

Roxy once more explained the reason behind her new appearance. As she did, her body began to exude light, and with a blinding flash, her wings and halo vanished. Roxy was now like any other human, but a young girl with red hair appeared beside her.

“Whew!” said the girl. “Snow did good!”

“Snowy!”

So this was the girl Roxy mentioned—the girl who had given Roxy her powers. 

Sloth whispered to me as I stared at her. “Her appearance has changed, but that’s one of the holy beastfolk.”

“What?!”

I felt like I’d seen that form before. So Roxy had used the powers of the holy beast…

But to think that one of the holy beastfolk was on our side—that she would even help the bearer of Gluttony. In the past, the very thought of it would’ve been the height of absurdity.

“They are not the monolithic group they once were,” said Sloth.

“No.”

Snow spoke like a child, and it was hard to get a read on her. However, there was no doubting the truth of the matter: She had fought alongside Fate to destroy the Zodiac Aquarius. Now she looked at the sleeping Fate with concern. I decided that if Fate had faith in her, I would too.

Memil took Fate somewhere farther into the castle, and Snow followed after her. That left me alone with Roxy. 

She took a look around and asked, “Have you seen Eris anywhere?”

“No…”

“Perhaps she’s still in the underground city,” she said as she started to leave. “That magical energy…”

Roxy and I both felt it. It was closing in on the castle. It was an energy I knew well—it belonged to Lust.

“Wait here,” I said. “She has somebody with her.”

“As you wish, but…Myne?”

“What?”

“You… You fought with Fate, didn’t you? I wasn’t with him at the time.”

“I did. We fought. I lost. But it was for the best. And Fate made me a promise.”

Roxy seemed flustered by my words, and she spoke her next words with some timidity. “What promise was that?”

“It’s a secret.”

Roxy was dejected by the answer. Her curiosity couldn’t have been more obvious. If I told her, perhaps she would think nothing of it, but it was special to me. I didn’t intend to tell anyone, no matter who they were.

“I-I see. I apologize for prying into something so personal…” Roxy’s shoulders drooped for a moment, but a smile soon spread across her face. “In any case, we should take a break. Eris will be arriving shortly, anyway.”

Roxy brought me to a drawing room where we would wait for Eris. Eris was annoyingly chatty. She had something to say about everything. If she got too annoying, I decided I would smack her with my axe. 

Eris arrived not long after we entered the drawing room, just as Roxy had said. She looked a bit worse for wear, but she wasn’t seriously injured. A woman I had never seen before stood by her side. She wore a white lab coat and her eyes struggled to stay open as if she hadn’t slept—a researcher of some kind. Roxy was glad to see the woman, Laine, who had apparently been kidnapped by Fate’s father. It seemed that Fate’s father and Shin had some sort of connection.

Eris asked me about Fate’s father and Shin, but I didn’t know what Shin was up to behind the scenes. I’d merely followed him to Hausen and waited for the Door to open. He had used me as nothing more than a tool to stymy Fate, and even though I knew it, at the time, I only cared about opening the Door. I told Eris as much, and the disappointment on her face was unmistakable. She was already annoyed that I’d ditched Fate in the first place, and so she decided a scolding was in order. I only got out of it because Roxy interposed herself between us and said that was enough. I knew the role I had played, but I was tired.

The talk turned to the Door to Distant Lands and Fate’s father opening it. Laine took the lead in the discussion. I listened at first, but my eyelids grew heavy, and soon I was dozing on my feet.

“Perhaps it would be best for you to get some rest, Myne,” Roxy said, her brow wrinkled with worry. “We’ll have a room prepared for you. What do you think, Eris?”

“Yes, well, that was quite the battle she had with Fate earlier, that’s for sure. I haven’t seen that war demon in quite some time. It must have taken a lot out of her.” 

Roxy called for Memil, who gave a polite bow before showing me to a guest room. I didn’t like the idea of missing the rest of the discussion.

“Don’t worry,” Sloth said, “I’ll stay and listen to the rest.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Sloth was the sleepiest of all of us, and yet she was willing to do that for me. I was grateful. I was drained. It was like some part of me that was stretched thin had been cut loose the moment I saw Fate’s face. 

Memil took my hand and led the way as I slipped in and out of wakefulness. I collapsed in a heap on the bed and remembered nothing after.

***

I woke with a start. How had I slept so soundly?! It felt like the first time ever. Until now, I’d always slept with one eye open, always ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Even if I was at the limits of exhaustion, I was ready.

And yet this time I’d slept like a rock!

“I don’t believe it,” I muttered.

A voice responded, “Good morning, Myne.”

I turned to see Fate.

“Wha—?!”

I hadn’t expected to see him. I felt self-conscious, but Fate smiled.

“I’m impressed. You managed to get so close to me without revealing your presence,” I said.

“I came to wake you up, but you were out like a light, so I wasn’t sure if I should.”

“Hmph. I wasn’t sleeping that soundly.” 

“Oh?” said Fate, curiosity in his eyes. “If you say so. I’m glad you woke so peacefully. It’s normally such an ordeal with you. That’s why I’m the one who always has to wake you up.”

I got the sense that rumors were spreading about my sleep habits. I needed to set the record straight, and I started coming up with potential strategies in my head when Fate interrupted my train of thought.

“If you don’t get up soon, you’ll miss out on breakfast.”

“Miss out?”

“I am Gluttony, you know. I might just eat your share. We’ll be in the dining room.”

With those words, he left the room. He seemed in high spirits, and I wondered if I had only imagined the troubled face I saw yesterday. 

“First things first: food.”

I changed into my clothes, then saw Sloth leaning against the wall. Perhaps Fate had brought her to my room earlier. Easiest way to find out was to ask.

“Morning, Sloth,” I said.

“Morning, Myne.”

“You’re up earlier than usual.”

“I woke up when Fate brought me here. More importantly, I’m glad to see you two still talking.”

“Yes.”

Fate and I had fought, but we’d come to something of an understanding. I had started it all. That was why I felt unsure about how to face him when we talked. In the end, it was no different than usual. Perhaps he was simply being nice to me. When he’d come to wake me, he said nothing of our battle or our parting at the kingdom.

“There’s a lot that has to come from you, Myne,” said Sloth.

“Yes.”

There was so much I wanted to say, but I needed time, especially when I remembered that he had seen into the depths of my soul. I was filled with shame. I wasn’t ready… 

In the meantime, I wanted Sloth to tell me about yesterday’s discussion. I wanted to hear about Shin, Fate’s father, and the now-floating continent of Galia. I was curious about all of it. But there was one topic I wanted to start with.

“Tell me about Fate’s father,” I said.

“I had a feeling you’d want to start there. Okay.”

I listened so attentively to Sloth that all thoughts of breakfast slipped my mind. Fate’s father was one of the holy beastfolk. It was a fact I hadn’t known. Now he was just one step away from completely opening the Door to Distant Lands. I thought back to my parting with Luna, the pain of that memory. But through the battle with Fate, I’d been able to talk with her one last time, and she had saved me. She told me to live for her and to live in the present, and I could feel her support pushing me forward.

“Fate…how is he?”

Fate’s goal was the opposite of his father’s: to close the Door to Distant Lands. But he had failed. I wondered if that was why he seemed so dejected.

“I don’t know,” said Sloth. “You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

“Hm…”

“What are you worried about?”

“How do I… I’m not sure how to ask,” I said.

“Oh my, I’d completely forgotten. You’re so powerful in battle and so weak when it comes to this sort of thing.”

“Grr…I’m not weak!”

“Really?”

“Sloth, please.”

“Say no more.”

I only knew how to swing an axe. That was all. In times like this, I needed Sloth’s knowledge of feminine matters. I was glad to have such a reliable partner.

“You’re a good girl, Sloth.”

I massaged the blade of the black axe, and she almost purred with contentment. 

“Oh, yes. That’s the spot. That feels good.”

I didn’t know how true this was, but Sloth claimed weapons could develop stiffness just like humans. I once told Sloth that she was like an old woman and she grew incensed. She didn’t talk to me for an entire week. Jokes about age were off limits.

But having extracted the promise of instruction from Sloth, I started looking for Fate. It was easy, as we both bore Skills of Mortal Sin and thus could sense each other’s presence. I wandered the halls of the castle, feeling for Skills of Mortal Sin.

“This lewd aura is all wrong. Not him. Where’s the Glutton?”

The air was thick with sultriness. No doubt Eris was feeling excitable. She was practically a walking Eros incarnate.

“She’s getting in the way. I can’t concentrate,” I said. “I’m going to knock her out.”

“Calm down,” said Sloth. “Try one more time, and if it still doesn’t work, then you can put her to sleep.”

“Okay, fine.”

I searched once more for the Gluttony skill…for Fate.

“I found the Glutton.”

“Where?”

“North.”

“He must be in the courtyard somewhere.”

“Let’s go.”

I took a deep breath and left my room with Sloth in hand. The maids bowed politely as we passed them. It wasn’t something I was used to, so my responses were awkward. I could tell by their behavior that they saw me as a guest and had likely been told to treat me with the appropriate courtesy. 

As soon as I left the manor and neared Fate’s location, I noticed the Eros.

“Grr!”

“Ah, it’s Eris,” said Sloth. “And it looks like…”

“She’s going where we’re going?!”

“Indeed. What should we do?”

“We get rid of her. I need to talk to Fate today.”

“And so it comes to this. Poor Eris. She just can’t catch a break. Born under a bad star, perhaps…”

Fate was sitting by the fountain in the courtyard. Eris was watching him from afar, hidden in the greenery as I approached from behind. She was so focused on watching Fate that she was caught unawares.

In other words, she was vulnerable. To think she called herself an adventurer. I had my doubts.

Without a sound, I crept up and gave her a light chop to the back of the neck.

“Ow…” Eris groaned.

It was a good, solid strike. However, Eris still had time to turn and face me.

“Myne?! But this was…the perfect chance to…”

“It’s your fault for sneaking around and acting all suspicious.”

“Damn it…” she said as she lost consciousness.

I hid Eris’s body in the grass.

“What did she mean by ‘perfect chance’?” I asked.

“Beats me.”

In any case, I decided to see how Fate was doing. I peeked at him through the veil of greenery.

“You’re no better than Eris,” said Sloth.

“I’m not doing anything like that Eros. This is, well… Hmm… It’s different because it’s me.”

“Flawless logic,” the axe said sarcastically.

I was doing the same thing that Eris had done. It was embarrassing, so I had to have some reason for doing it. I didn’t want to be compared to Eris. But more importantly, there really was something strange about Fate. Even Sloth was worried.

“Ah, so that’s what happened…”

“What? You mean because his father opened the Door to Distant Lands?”

“No, though that’s a problem in and of itself. Actually, there was one more thing that Roxy and the others talked about yesterday…”

“You never told me.”

“Sorry, I just felt it was better that you heard it from Fate himself. But I guess now’s the time to tell you. It’s about Greed…”

In order to unlock his Fifth Level, Greed had sacrificed himself. Which meant…Fate had lost the partner he’d fought with all this time?! They had truly paid a huge price to defeat the Zodiac Aquarius. I couldn’t bear to hear it. Just thinking about losing Sloth filled me with fear.

“Fate…”

I knew, perhaps better than anyone else, how important Greed was to Fate. It was because of the black sword’s ongoing support that Fate had made it this far. The Weapons of Mortal Sin weren’t just important to those who wielded them—they were irreplaceable.

“What do I do?”

“What’s wrong, Myne?”

“What do I even say? I don’t know what to do.”

“Hmm. Then again, even Eris was so at a loss that she hid in the bushes. I think you should just act like you always do.”

If that was what Sloth believed, then I would believe it too. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll try.”

“You can do it, Myne.”

Just to be sure, I made sure Eris was still well hidden, then stood. Even then, Fate didn’t notice me. He simply sat there, gazing up at the sky. 

I approached him. “Fate!”

He was surprised to find me standing next to him. “Ah!” he cried. “Myne! Uh, what is it?”

I wanted to make him happy, so I choked back my tears and held out my black axe.

“I will give you Sloth.”

“Whaaaa?! What? Huh? What are you talking about?!”

Fate wouldn’t take the axe from me.

“You lost Greed. I know you must be lonely. You can have Sloth.”

“No, no, the axe is important to you, right? I can’t possibly take it while you’re standing there all dewy-eyed like that.”

“But…”

“I appreciate the gesture. I do. But that’s enough.”

I had thrown all of my wiles into that attack, but it had failed. Sloth cried out as she was given back to me.

“Myne! Why did you even think that giving me away was a good idea?! What a shock! I was so surprised I couldn’t even speak!”

Upon hearing Sloth’s voice, Fate laughed so hard he clutched his stomach.

“It doesn’t matter who it is. Nobody can replace Greed,” he said. “But really, thanks. I’m surprised, though. Even without Telepathy, I can still talk with Sloth.”

“I don’t really talk to anyone besides Myne,” said Sloth. “She doesn’t like it when I do. Thank you for always looking out for her.”

“No, no. She’s the one who’s always looking out for me,” said Fate, who seemed happy to talk with Sloth like this. “But you know, when I last heard your voice, it was with my Telepathy. You were fast asleep. I think this is the first time we’re actually talking.”

“That’s because I spend most of my time sleeping. I get called lazy a lot.”

“I see… But when you’re awake, you talk quite a bit.”

“I guess. That’s because my wielder doesn’t talk enough. It’s more accurate to say this is just how things ended up.”

Fate nodded and looked at me. I found myself getting annoyed by how much he agreed.

“You’re talking about me like I’m not standing right here!”

“Whoa, whoa! Don’t get mad now!” 

When they finally managed to calm me down, I sat down next to Fate.

“Greed…where is he?” I asked.

“Always straight to the point, aren’t you? He’s in my room.”

“He’s not with you, then?”

“I wanted some time to think by myself,” Fate said. He looked up and chuckled. “He’s gone. I knew how important he was to me, but it hurts to have to feel it like this. To be made to understand it so viscerally. Kairos entrusted Greed to me…”

Fate put a hand to his chest and sighed.

“I feel like a wound opened up in my chest.”

Fate gazed into the middle distance, in the direction of the floating continent of Galia.

“The fight is still so far from over,” he said. “But…look at me. What would Greed say if he saw me like this?”

I took Fate’s hand in my own and squeezed it so he couldn’t run away. “I’m here.”

Fate’s gaze turned from Galia and met my own. “Myne…”

“You showed me something when we met in that world of mine. I was hiding there because I was scared. I found a reason not to look back at the past. To not try and understand how Luna and the others felt. But because you brought me together with Luna, my sister, I finally understood. I wanted to see her so badly, even though I knew I never could. I was selfish.”

“You weren’t selfish. You were doing it for them.”

“Those feelings trapped Luna. They tethered her to this world. I was the reason Haniel was so close to immortality. Luna couldn’t stand to see me left alone in this world, and so she chose to remain as Haniel.”

“But…”

“So, if you still have Greed in your heart, perhaps he’s still here somewhere.”

“There’s still a chance, you mean?”

“Yes.”

What Luna had left me was important. She was no longer within me, but still I thanked her from the bottom of my heart. 

Fate’s features relaxed a little. “Thanks, Myne. I feel better.”

“I’m glad.”

Fate stood and reached his arms up high. “Well, it’s time we did something about Galia! I’m going to grab the black sword. I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

I knew before he asked. I knew the moment he put his hands together in a pleading gesture. But he always asked anyway. It was how we communicated.

“Do some rounds of sparring with me?”

“I knew that’s what you wanted.”

“I unlocked the Fifth Level, the gauntlets, but Greed only showed me how they feel to use. I don’t know if I can actually use them myself yet.”

“So you want to use me to practice.”

“Please?”

I closed my eyes for just a moment and pretended like I was considering his request. But my mind was already made up. “Okay.”

“Thank you! I’ll be back in a minute!”

Fate was like an excited child, and he dashed off with incredible haste. He really wouldn’t need much more than a minute.

“Looks like you don’t need me anymore,” said Sloth, her voice sleepy.

“Even so, no sleeping yet.”

“Right, right. Wouldn’t want to sleep through your oh-so-important sparring session.”

“Grr…”

“I’m relieved, though. I’m glad to see you two together again.”

“Wh-wh-what?!”

“You had said it yourself, back in your inner world. You said you loved him.”

I didn’t reply.

“Even in silence, your face has gone red,” said Sloth.

It was true. I had said it. But since meeting Fate again, he’d seemed no different from usual.

Seeing me lost in thought, Sloth added, “If you ask me, I don’t think he heard what you said. He probably doesn’t know how you feel.”

“He doesn’t?”

“I’m certain of it, after watching the two of you. He’s got no idea!”

“Aaaaaaahhh…”

I fell to my knees. What was this…exhaustion? It was a weight heavier than when I’d fought the holy beastfolk, way back in the past.

It was then that Fate returned, his face filled with a smile, completely unaware of my feelings.

“I’m back! Thanks so much for helping me out, Myne!”

“Indeed. Training will be tough today! Prepare yourself!”

“Whoa! Why are you so aggressive all of a sudden?”

“Does it matter?”

I hefted the black axe overhead and launched myself at Fate. He dodged my attack skillfully and transformed his black sword into the black gauntlets.

“I see you’ve gotten stronger!” I said. “But I won’t lose!”

“Wait! Why are you coming at me so hard?!”

“You get what you ask for!”

I didn’t even give Fate the chance to use his gauntlets. I hit him with the flat of the axe with full force.

“What? Ahhhhhhhhhh!”

I watched Fate fly off far into the distance. “That should give you some time to think,” I whispered.

“I feel bad for him. Makes me kind of worried for your future together.”

I didn’t care that Sloth sympathized with Fate—it wasn’t any of her business. But then, just minutes later, I dropped to my knees as I came back to my senses.

“Oh…I just did that.”

“And what might that have been, Myne?”

I looked up to find Eris smirking at me. The Eros was the last person I wanted to see me like this. Had she seen everything? Was there no time to rest?

“Knocking me out like that… Are you drunk? I’m the most important person in the kingdom.”

“Leave me alone. I’m busy.”

“What are you so down about? Don’t tell me—Fate dumped you?”

I climbed to my feet without a word. My body acted in one smooth motion. I had no choice but to knock her out once more.

“Sorry! I know that was going too far. Wait, wait!”

“It’s too late.”

“Hear me out. All you ever did was fight, but now there’s this new side to you. I just wanted to, you know, bring that out a little.”

“Grr… Is that a confession?”

“Er…what’s the verdict if it is?”

Eris waited with nervous anticipation, but the answer was already decided.

“Guilty.”

“Eeeeek!”

I would hear no more of it, so I knocked her out.

“Finally, some peace,” said Sloth. “I guess that’s what Eris meant by the ‘perfect chance.’”

“Then it was especially mean.” I said, hiding the unconscious Eris once more in the greenery. “She won’t be waking up again for a while.”

With that out of the way, I returned to my room.

***

Roxy was waiting for me at the door to my room. She held a basket in her hands. When I asked about it, she said she’d prepared some food because I missed breakfast.

“Please, help yourself,” she said, handing me the basket overflowing with sandwiches.

“Thank you…”

“I’m still learning how to cook, so I hope it tastes okay.”

We went into my room together. I’d barely talked with Roxy. This worried me, but it turned out she was easy to talk to. She was beautiful, and even though she was a holy knight, she lacked their characteristic arrogance. After talking to her for a little while, I understood why Fate had followed her as far as Galia. At the time, I had been unable to grasp what drove him to such lengths. Now I could see it. Her honesty and integrity were energizing, and I felt a desire to support her.

“I see… I see…” I muttered.

“Pardon?”

Realizing that I had spoken my thoughts out loud, I changed the subject. “These sandwiches are delicious. They are well seasoned and…hmm? Huh?!”

“Myne? What’s wrong?”

That was what I wanted to know! These flavors, these tastes… I could identify them. Why? What had happened? I had lost my sense of taste a long time ago… 

I whispered to Sloth, resting against the wall. “What is this?”

“I think you lost your taste due to trauma. That’s how much of an impact it had. But the events you went through recently seem to have released you from it.”

“Unbelievable…”

Food had become just an exercise in nutritional sustenance. It wasn’t about good, bad, delicious, or disgusting. But to think that the sandwich I held in my hand actually tasted delicious… I was so moved by its taste that I slammed my fist down on the table in front of me, and it splintered with a loud crack. I had completely forgotten to control my stats.

“What’s wrong? Do you not like them? Please, don’t feel obliged to eat them if…”

Roxy’s eyes widened. She had no idea what was going on inside me. I cleared my throat, and then to clear the air, explained my situation. 

“Ah, so you lost your sense of taste,” said Roxy. “It’s so sad to think of a life without the ability to enjoy the taste of food. But it’s so nice to know that your sense of taste has returned. All the more reason for us to enjoy lots of good food together.”

“Yes…” 

Enjoy… The word was odd, because for the longest time, I hadn’t thought of enjoying anything. 

Sloth saw me lost in thought. “Well, how about cooking together with Roxy to start? You can eat what you make. Probably the quickest way to get used to your new sense of taste.”

“Good idea, Sloth.”

It seemed like Roxy had heard the black axe. “Your black axe… Does it speak?” 

“It does.”

“Nice to meet you, Roxy. I’m Sloth. As you’ve already gathered, I’m an axe.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”

With introductions out of the way, we returned to the topic at hand.

“Let’s cook together then, shall we?” said Roxy.

“Okay, but…I only know how to roast. Can we start there?”

“That’s fine. Actually, I’m not so different.”

“Hm? Really?”

“Indeed.”

Roasting was all I knew. It was…surprising to think that Roxy was the same. Now I wanted to try something new. And if I became skilled at cooking, it would make Fate happy too. When we traveled together, he was always excited to see the food that was brought out for us when we ate.

“I will cook, and I will craft the world’s strongest cuisine!” I pumped my fist in the air, just like Fate.

“It seems Myne is getting cooking and fighting mixed up,” said Sloth. “Either way, I leave her in your hands.”

“Understood,” said Roxy. “Very well, let’s make lunch together.”

“Roger!”

I headed for the battlefield known as the kitchen, and of course, I brought Sloth with me.

“Roxy, I have a question!”

“Yes, Myne?”

“Can I cut the ingredients with Sloth? I am most used to wielding her.”

“No, you cannot. Let’s do things properly and use kitchen knives.”

“How unfortunate.”

“This is much more worrying than I imagined…” said Sloth. Then, with encouragement ringing in her voice, she added, “Good luck, Roxy.”

But shouldn’t she be encouraging me? I thought.

And so began my first steps upon the road of cookery. I was certain things would be fine.

***

I crafted an exquisite lunch. However, Fate’s judgement of said lunch was lacking. There was a great commotion, and some within the castle even suspected an attempted poisoning. I was so certain I had made a good meal, but…I was still a long way from becoming the world’s strongest. As a consequence, I was forbidden from making dinner. I was allowed only to watch it being made.

I was bored, but when I tried to do something, the maid Memil turned her strict gaze on me. In the end, Roxy was left a bit flummoxed by it all. It seemed I still had some training to do before I would be allowed to serve any food. I thought about what I wanted to cook next as I went to the castle baths.

“Myne, I really think you should start with the basics.”

“I already know the basics. But my sense of taste isn’t as refined, as it has only just come back.”

“But even just looking at what you cooked, we all knew it was going to be a problem.”

“I was too greedy, that’s all. Next time I won’t overdo it with the ingredients.”

“Roxy was all flustered. The word berserk perfectly summed you up.”

Sloth had been laughing all throughout the process. I couldn’t concentrate.

“Grr…I’m going to become more powerful.”

“Let’s just hope nothing you make kills Fate before then.”

“He’s resilient. He’ll be fine.”

“Where does all that confidence come from? I don’t think that’s a healthy way to put your faith in someone.”

Sloth was worrying too much. Fate would be fine. In any case, I decided a refreshing bath was in order. But as I drew closer, I noticed the Eros again.

“Grr…”

“Oh, it’s Eris again, and she’s peeking into the men’s bath.”

I reached out with my senses and quickly realized Fate was in the bath.

“She just never learns.”

I grabbed Eris by her collar as she tried to walk into the bath. Then I gave her another quick chop to the back of the neck.

“Ow! You again…”

She passed out as soon as those words left her mouth. I left Eris sprawled out on the floor in the women’s bath and was just about to go in myself when I remembered.

“I still haven’t told him.”

“Told him what?” The tone in Sloth’s voice told me she knew exactly what I was talking about.

“You’re a bully.”

“Sorry, sorry,” said Sloth playfully. “But yeah, you should tell him.”

“Yes.”

Fate was rarely alone. There were always girls around him. Today was no different. Roxy, Memil, Laine, Snow…and the unconscious Eris at my feet.

“Myne, I just had an idea.”

“What?”

“Hear me out…”

I listened to Sloth’s idea and realized that she was an absolute genius. With the floating continent of Galia ahead of us, Fate would be very busy. I wouldn’t have many chances to be alone with him. I sensed for his presence once more. Still alone.

“Now or never,” said Sloth.

“Yes.”

“Good luck.”

“This time for sure!”

“That’s the spirit!”

I took a deep breath and left the women’s bath. Then I walked to the entrance of the men’s bath.

“To battle!” I said as I walked in.

The spacious changing room was easily large enough for a group of people. It was built like a mirror image of the women’s bath. As I walked through, I noticed Fate’s clothes, folded up neatly.

“He’s already in the baths. You should take off your clothes.”

“Hm? Me too?”

“Yes. Isn’t this a bath?”

“That’s true…but…”

When I had traveled with Fate in the past, he had seen me naked. I hadn’t been embarrassed in the slightest. But…now was different.

“Myne, you can’t let this chance slip away.”

“I know. Okay.”

“I knew you could do it!”

I took off my clothes. I was completely naked. With Sloth on my shoulder, I calmed my breath.

“Once more unto the breach!”

With that quiet battle cry, I opened the door at the end of the changing room. Steam surrounded me. I saw a young man with black hair ahead. He was humming as he sat relaxed, the bath completely to himself. He did not notice as I entered the water. I wondered how close I would have to get before he would. I suddenly wanted to know. 

I slowly closed the distance between us. I was close enough that even with the steam, we could make out each other’s faces. Still, he did not see me. I wondered why and looked more carefully. It was then that I realized that his eyes were closed. The sound of his humming resonated throughout the bath. I watched him for a time, Fate in a moment of relaxation. 

After I took a quiet breath, I said, “Fate…”

He opened his eyes slowly and peered at me. “Huh?! Myne! What?!”

He was so surprised that he nearly drowned. I ignored his reaction and soaked in the bath with Sloth. Fate’s face went bright red, and he grew all flustered at being caught completely naked.

“This bath is wonderful,” said Sloth. “A balm for these weary bones.”

“Yes. It is good,” I said.

It soothed my nerves as well. Perhaps it no longer brought comfort to Fate, however.

“Wh-what are you doing in the men’s bath?!”

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, there’s a problem!”

“Sloth said the bath is wonderful.”

“Oh, did she? Well… Wait! That’s not what we’re talking about!”

As usual, Fate was at a loss. It was almost as if his melancholy this morning had been a dream. He was perfect like this. 

I looked at Fate in his panicked state and said, “Can I believe what you told me, back then?”

Fate looked bashful suddenly, but he replied with conviction. “Of course. We’re in this together, now and forever.”

Hearing Fate’s words a second time, I threw myself at his chest.

“Myne!”

He was surprised at first, but then he stroked my hair. How long we stayed like that, just Fate and I together, I don’t know. The only sound that filled the bath was the sound of water dripping from the ceiling. I looked up at Fate.

“I have something to tell you,” I said.

Fate said nothing and waited for me to continue. Now I would tell him what I had been unable to back then.

“Fate…I…”

Even though I could find the words last time, now they were trapped inside me as my face turned red. Fate seemed to misunderstand the situation.

“Are you feeling lightheaded? Probably best to get out of the bath, then.”

He took me by the shoulders and began taking me out of the bath. He seemed hurried and had forgotten that we were both naked. But I hadn’t, and in my embarrassment, I resisted. The two of us slipped and fell back into the bath with a huge splash.

“Ouch…” Fate groaned. “Myne, are you oka—huh?!”

I said nothing. Fate said nothing. There were no words. Fate couldn’t get up, because I was on top of him. Sloth probably thought it was hilarious, but for a time Fate and I stayed like that, silent. Water dripped from my hair onto Fate’s cheek. The words flowed from my mouth as if they were entirely natural.

“Fate… Fate, I…love you…”

“Myne…”

We looked into each other’s eyes as a great cacophony could be heard from the changing room. The door opened with a slam and several people flooded into the bath.

“Master Fate, are you all right?”

“Fay!”

“Myne, I bet that was you, wasn’t it?”

“Wow, looks like fun! Snow wants to play, too!”

Memil, Roxy, Eros, and Snow had all come to the men’s bath. And they had found Fate and I in flagrante.

“Fay! What is the meaning of this?! May I ask for an immediate explanation?”

“To think that my own brother, the head of the Barbatos family, would be in a place like this… I expect a full explanation, Brother!”

“Fate…to think you would go to Myne when you have me right here. In the name of the kingdom, I demand the truth!”

“Snow wants to play with Fate too!”

I knew immediately that this was going to be annoying. I climbed off of Fate and walked over to Sloth. “It’s a nice bath.”

“Who cares about that right now?! Help me out!”

“It’s what you get for your behavior. Call it karmic retribution.”

Fate was on his knees, surrounded by the others. It looked like a fierce interrogation was about to begin. As I listened to their voices echo through the baths, I realized suddenly that I was grinning. Sloth did too.

“Myne, you can smile again.”

“Yes. I have Fate to thank for that.”

Along with my smile, my taste had returned, as well as feelings that had once been all but nonexistent.

From now on, I would live in the present, just like Luna had taught me to. Because it was here in the present that I had my dear Fate.