Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4:

A Reunion with Libra

WE SOARED THROUGH THE AIR on Roxy’s powerful wings and headed directly for Eris and Libra. Suddenly, we saw a gigantic shape on the horizon, and Roxy brought us to a stop.

“Fay! What is that?”

“What the…?! It’s massive!”

It looks like a ship, except ships were typically confined to the seas. This thing, however, floated through the sky, its pitch-black exterior sharply contrasting the bright morning sunlight.

“A black ship,” I murmured.

“I sense the presence of both Eris and Libra aboard,” said Roxy. “What should we do?”

I felt it too. There was no turning back now.

“Let’s go,” I said.

“Very well.”

If we got close and were attacked, we’d be right in the thick of things. But if we weren’t attacked, there was a good chance Libra would be open to parley. We had no idea what he was going to do, however, which made it difficult to settle on a strategy. Fortunately, the black ship was still far from the Hausen domain, so even if battle did break out, we were at least floating over empty wilderness. Nonetheless, I prayed that we could avoid a fight for now. 

I asked Roxy to slow down as we approached. If we came in too fast, Libra might assume we were a threat.

“No signs of fighting,” said Roxy.

“I can sense Eris and Libra, but they’re just standing on the deck of the ship.”

Were they there to welcome us? I didn’t think so—that was probably too much to hope for. Still, they didn’t appear hostile…at least for now.

“I see them!” said Roxy. “And Eris looks safe!”

I had assumed that Eris would be restrained or other­wise held hostage, but she just stood right next to Libra as we drew close. She hated him with almost every fiber of her being, yet there she was, right beside him. It felt unnatural, all the more so because she was wearing a maid’s uniform.

Libra smiled and waved when he spotted us.

“So he’s not here to fight…” I muttered.

“Shall I drop you on the deck?” asked Roxy.

“Yes. While I’m down there, I want you on standby. Stay up high, clear of the ship.”

“Got it.”

I didn’t trust Libra at all. He’d tried to destroy Hausen, so there was no way I was going to put any faith in him. 

Dropping from Roxy’s grasp, I landed on the deck of the black ship. Libra stood there waiting for me, Eris by his side. Something wasn’t right. Her eyes were hollow and empty.

“Why hello there, Fate,” he said. “I’m glad to see you in fine health.”

“Why are you here? What did you do to Eris?”

“Straight to the questions, I see. Not in the mood to celebrate a joyful reunion?”

“How can you say that after everything you’ve done? Think about it for a second.”

Libra put a hand to his chest and thought for a moment. “Nothing especially bad comes to mind,” he replied.

“You son of a—”

I took a step forward, but suddenly found myself blocked. Eris stepped between us, her blue hair fluttering in the wind. She stood silently, as if she were protecting Libra from me.

“Eris?” I asked.

She didn’t reply. I tried to move around her, but she wouldn’t let me get any closer.

“What’s wrong with you? Eris, answer me,” I said.

Still, Eris did not respond.

“That’s enough,” said Libra. “Get back here.”

Eris shuffled back to Libra’s side. She wouldn’t respond to me, but it was clearly a different story with Libra.

“What did you do to her?” I asked.

“I merely returned her to her former state,” replied Libra. “I’d allowed her a certain degree of freedom before, and now she must repay my generosity.”

“Repay you?”

“She is my slave. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call her my adorable pet. I put her out to pasture, so to speak, and she ran wild. She took my airship around the world and founded this kingdom.”

“You’d call a human your pet?!”

“Eris’s appearance is the work of careful breeding. Nonetheless, a pet that bites its master must be punished. It’s only just, after all.”

“Libra…” 

I finally released my grip on the hilt of my sword. Unsheathing it would have been pointless as long as Libra could use Eris as his shield. 

Libra nodded. “That’s better,” he said, walking closer to me. “As you can see, Eris is under my complete control. If I order her to die, she will do exactly that.”

Eris drew her gunblade and pressed the edge against her own neck.

“I believe you,” I said. “Tell her to stop.” 

“Good boy, Fate.”

Libra glanced at Eris and she sheathed her sword.

“So she’s your hostage, then?”

“Oh dear, you make it sound so sinister. I merely restored the status quo.” Libra turned his back on me and looked to the distant south. “Well then, what should we do about that? It is supposed to be grounded, part of the earth. What a pain, having it all floating through the sky like this. Don’t you think it’s a terrible eyesore, Fate?”

“You mean Galia?”

“What else could I possibly mean? Is there anyone around who might bring it down for me, I wonder?”

Libra gave me a knowing look. He evidently intended for me to do the job.

“Don’t make it so obvious,” I said. “You could’ve just asked.”

Libra laughed. “Don’t act so upset, Fate. Our interests align. Besides…” Libra grabbed Eris and placed her in front of me. “If you don’t disappoint me, I’ll give this to you. A fair exchange. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“She is not an object.”

“Half of the blood running in your veins is that of the holy beastfolk,” said Libra. “That is why I am willing to compromise. But I do not recommend irritating me, Fate.”

Eris was Libra’s hostage, and as long as she was under his control, I could do naught but obey. Libra’s help would also make getting to Galia and dealing with the situation that much easier. As far as I was concerned, this was strictly business. I didn’t care for Libra one bit.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll do as you ask.”

“I knew you would. I’d expect nothing less from Dean’s son. I considered him my best friend once. To think he abandoned me and did all that… It truly pains me to think about it.”

“You were friends with my father?”

“A long time ago, yes, but not anymore. But you and I, Fate? I think we’ll get along just fine. I look forward to it, in fact.”

Libra stuck out a hand and, hesitating, I shook it.

“Brothers in arms,” said Libra, his grip firm.

I immediately engaged my Telepathy to read his thoughts.

“You’re a naughty one, aren’t you? But I must confess, I quite like that quality of yours.”

Libra had anticipated my telepathy and hid his true intentions.

“For starters, do you think you could call Roxy down so I can have a word with her? We’ll need to call Wrath here as well. She’s on the ground. I can tell she’s already fuming. She’s so intent on putting her axe in me that I have goosebumps.”

Libra could feel the same murderous intent from all of us—Myne, Roxy, and me—and yet, he didn’t even flinch. Is this what it means to be truly powerful?

“Let’s go, shall we? Onward. To Galia!”

Libra didn’t care how we felt in the slightest. His focus was on Galia, where my father waited. His face was like that of a child’s, looking at a new plaything.