Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter 9

Chapter 9:

Eris Reconfigured

WE JUMPED FROM LIBRA’S AIRSHIP and landed on clean, green land. Fallen monsters slumbered beneath us as we trudged through the forest. The scenery hadn’t changed at all since the last time I was here. The only difference was my traveling companions.

“We head south from here, yes?” asked Roxy.

“If what Libra said is true, then, yeah.”

“What’s to the south?”

“Mercadia, the imperial capital of Galia,” Myne answered. She knew far more about the location than I did. I’d only seen it once from afar. “It will have recovered its original functions by now, meaning everything there has awakened.”

“Do you mean the chimeras?” asked Roxy.

They were one of Galia’s lost weapons. Roxy had fought one in the past, so it was probably the first thing that came to mind. It was the first thing I thought of, too.

“Yes. The chimeras are one of Mercadia’s defense systems,” Myne said as if this were no big deal.

Roxy and I were shocked, though. “Just one?!” we cried.

“The ones you and Fate have fought were mostly power­less and imperfect. Think of them like juveniles. The imperial capital has fully evolved chimeras, as well as even more powerful defenses.”

“Ones surpassing the Domain of E, you mean?”

“No. That’s all there is. I’m sure Greed told you already. The Domain of E is just a threshold.”

“Yeah, he did. But now I understand what he said about Galia being absolute and reigning supreme over the world.”

“Ordinary people looked upon Mercadia as a holy land. All they could do was kneel in supplication before its authority.”

If anyone entered the imperial capital without permission, it was very likely defensive systems would activate.

“I will take the chimeras and other monsters,” said Myne. “I’ll clear a path for you and the others.”

“Will you be okay by yourself?” I asked.

The look in Myne’s eyes told me I didn’t need to worry. She was the strongest being I had ever known.

“We’re counting on you,” I said. “But don’t be reckless.”

“I’ll do my best.”

My biggest worry was that Myne would turn into a war demon again. I’d fought her in that form once before, and the horned beast she’d become put me completely on the defensive. They say the best defense is a good offense, and that describes Myne’s fighting style to a T. I only ever managed to hold her off with Luna’s help, and I wasn’t about to forget that her insurmountable strength had even penetrated my black shield.

Myne’s war demon form manifested whenever she used her Wrath to the point of physical transcendence. However, there was a cost. Endless Wrath consumed the wielder’s heart over time. It was similar to Gluttony in that sense. Past a certain point, she would become a mindless berserker. That was why Myne always worried about the state of my Gluttony; she knew the costs involved all too well.

“But our real problem is Eris,” said Myne.

“Eris?”

I watched Eris as she followed us silently, showing no signs of joining our conversation. Her black gunblade rested at her side. Snow pulled at Eris’s clothes and poked her in the butt, but there was no response. Under normal circumstances, Eris wouldn’t have tolerated such impishness. 

“Snow’s doing whatever she wants,” I muttered.

“Yep,” said Myne.

“Don’t just stand there. Stop her!” said Roxy, lifting Snow and pulling her away. “Have you both completely forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?” I asked.

“What are you talking about?” asked Myne.

“Eris is our queen!”

Oh, yeah. That’s right.

In that respect, Eris was the most important person in the kingdom. All holy knights served under her. In other words, Roxy and I were expected to revere her, being holy knights ourselves. Roxy had been raised to become a holy knight, so I knew where she was coming from. Me, though? I’d been on guard from the moment I’d met Eris, because she used her Lust on me whenever she had the chance. That made up, like, 80 percent of my impression of Eris, so no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t see her as the queen of our kingdom.

“She’s being poked and prodded while trapped in her own body, and you’re just treating her like you always do. It’s beyond pitiful,” said Roxy.

“Kind of like karma, isn’t it?” I said.

“Agreed,” added Myne.

“You two!” shouted Roxy.

Eris was Libra’s proxy. Walking around unarmed wasn’t safe—Galia was an extremely dangerous place, ­after all—so I’d given her the gunblade. However, we still had to consider the possibility that Eris had been given secret orders. This didn’t seem to be the case, though, and I hoped that she would remain calm and obedient until we closed the Door to Distant Lands. At the very least, I wanted to make sure we’d be able to fight confidently together. 

“Eris,” I said. She had the appearance of a lifeless doll, but I tried speaking to her all the same.

“Yes,” she replied.

It seemed she was at least allowed to speak to us while we were here in Galia.

“How comfortable are you with the gunblade?” I asked.

“My focus is on support duties. I will buff you all during battle to increase your abilities.”

I’d fought with Eris in the past and knew just how ­effective her gunblade buffs were. She only needed to stay within firing range, making her support radius huge. She could lock onto magical power even when it was out of sight and fire homing bullets that delivered buffs.

“My powers have returned since my reconfiguration,” said Eris.

“You got them all back?”

“Yes. Envy, too. I am now more capable than you are with that sword.”

“Ouch. Hit a guy where it hurts, why don’t you…”

With Greed gone, I couldn’t wield the black sword at full power. My Fifth Level gauntlets were particularly difficult to control. They were so powerful that they required a much higher level of focus than anything I’d ever handled.

“You will need my assistance when you face off against Dean,” said Eris.

“That I will.”

“I will be there when you need me.” Eris grasped the hem of her skirt and curtsied politely. 

“Well then, would you mind giving us a demonstration of your special powers?”

We’d felt the presence of a magical power outside of the great canyon for some time now.

“Are those…people?” asked Roxy.

Myne was quick to respond. “No. Those are lamias, monsters that were once human.”

The top half of a lamia resembled a beautiful woman, but the lower half was that of a gigantic snake. They must have spotted us. Their piercing gazes tracked our movements. If I wasn’t careful, they would burst my eyes the moment I tried using my Identify skill.

“Roxy, Snow, you two preserve your strength. Myne and I will act as our vanguard with Eris as support.”

Myne was off and running before I had even finished issuing my command. She knew how quick lamias were and just how fast they’d close the distance between us. I sensed three approaching from straight ahead and two more from underground.

“Fay!” shouted Roxy.

I was already aware of the other two lamias beneath the earth. I leaped aside as the ground split open at my feet, then sliced at a jumping lamia. I didn’t hear Gluttony activate, which meant I hadn’t dealt a killing blow. I wanted to pursue it, but the remaining lamia dove straight at me. I had to kill this one first.

At least, that was the plan.

Just as I was about to move, I heard a gunshot ring out from behind me, and the lamia’s head exploded as a black bullet pierced its skull.

Didn’t she say she was just support? Eris is more than powerful enough to handle herself…

Now I knew that Libra hadn’t been lying. I quickly took out the remaining lamia.

Gluttony skill activated. Stats increased: Vitality +1.8E (+8), Strength +2.5E (+8), Magic +2.0E (+8), Spirit +1.2E (+8), Agility +2.5E (+8). Skills added: Poison Attack, Poison Resistance

These seem like common monsters in this area, but their stats are crazy! Poison?!

I didn’t even want to consider what would happen if I took a special attack from a monster in the Domain of E. I was glad I told Roxy and Snow to hang back. Myne seemed to know these monsters fairly well, but I figured I’d tell her what I’d learned, just in case.

“The lamias have poison attacks,” I said, heading over to her now that she’d slain the first three lamias. “Be careful.”

Myne tilted her head quizzically at my words while she easily cut down a few more attacking lamias.

“I didn’t know that,” she said.

“I thought you were an expert.”

“These monsters are weak,” she replied. “They’ve never gotten close to touching me. New info!”

Myne’s eyes lit up at the knowledge she’d gained. It was a strange sight contrasted with the gore-splattered monster remains behind her. She was a warrior through and through, but she quickly ran over to me with a worried face.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Hmm? You mean my Gluttony?”

“Yes. Whenever you devour a monster in the Domain of E, it always looks painful.”

“It’s weird, but I didn’t feel that at all,” I said. “I feel great.”

“I don’t think that’s a good sign,” said Myne. “It’s odd, especially now that Luna is gone.” I thought it might be a good chance for me to raise my stats, but Myne quickly shook her head. “Let me handle fighting. Try not to devour anything, Fate. Not until we reach Mercadia, at least.”

“But that will leave all of the battles on your shoulders.”

“It’s fine. Besides, it looks like you have other problems to deal with,” Myne said before walking on ahead.

Roxy and the others caught up with us. It was clear that something was bothering Roxy. 

“Are you okay?” Roxy asked. “I can transform.”

“You have to hold off for now,” I said.

“But, Myne…”

“Do not worry. I will support her,” said Eris. “Libra’s orders.” She readied her gunblade before firing again and again. “All enemies within attacking range have been slain. Area clear.”

Roxy and I searched for enemies but sensed nothing.

“Huh…”

“What the…?”

“Wow! You killed all of them!” Snow cried excitedly.

Myne was almighty, but Eris was no slouch. She spun the gunblade until the barrel cooled from all the firing, then slid it into her sheath.

“Shall we keep moving?” she said. Her voice was cold, as though what she’d just done meant nothing to her. “I promise to be the perfect escort to the imperial capital.”