The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter Pr

Chapter prologue

Chapter 1 – Prologue

Puhak!

Blood splattered everywhere . A woman’s dazed gaze fell to the spear impaling her left chest . When she felt the coldness of the blade penetrating her heart, her pupils shook as her body slowly lost strength .

As the woman collapsed to the ground, an owner of an anguished cry rushed to the spearman’s back . The spearman let go of his spear, startled by how quick the voice was approaching him . But that was it . The spearman quickly spun around, swinging his fist at the enemy behind his back .

The target fell backward from the impact . The spearman didn’t stop and swung down his bloody fist once more .

Pow!

The target’s head burst open in an instant . Even then, the spearman didn’t stop . Once, twice, thrice… . He roared and screamed, bashing the target’s head until he finally smashed the man’s skull and brain to pieces .

Only then did he stop his fists and look around with a pair of bloodshot eyes . He picked up his spear . Then, he kicked off the ground, which was wet with a disgusting mixture of brain matter and human flesh .

The man resembling a demon shot into a swirling fog .

Into a swirling fog of ashes… .

***

Cough . The collapsed woman heaved out a dry cough . She scowled from the smell of ash in the area . But her frown only lasted a moment . She lifted her head and surveyed her surroundings .

“Is anybody there…?”

Only a bleak gust of wind blew by .

“Is everyone… dead?”

She waited, but no reply came back . Kuk . She let off a sudden chuckle and began humming as if she was singing a lullaby .

“Dead, dead, everyone’s dead… . ”

She looked at a burnt corpse near her and thought it looked better than some others . In another spot, a lump of meat that was once a human being floated in a pool of blood . She looked around once more as disappointment emerged on her expression .

Her throat hurt .

She somehow managed to raise her upper body before spitting out her saliva . Her complexion lightened a little before she looked up at the distant sky with her blurring sight .

‘How…’

…How did she end up like this?

One day, an alien race appeared in her world . Although it was only discovered later on, this race had been chased away from its original home world . After suffering a crushing defeat, they had wandered aimlessly in outer space for a very long time before invading her planet .

In order to become its new overlord .

“Those retards . ”

This woman was the princess of a certain kingdom subordinate to the Empire . She was six years old when she heard the news of the alien race’s appearance, and she was ten when she heard the news of the Empire collapse .

Despite being praised as the ‘Never Setting Sun’ for their overwhelming technology and magic engineering, the almighty Empire had fallen in less than four years .

Soon, the alien race devoured the Chief Deity worshipped by the Empire, turning the land into an ownerless wilderness .

That was probably when everything began .

Deprived of its Chief Deity, the planet fell prey to the many other races that had been eyeing the planet for an opportunity to pounce .

The first invading alien race posed its leader as the new Chief Deity and began a bloody invasion throughout the planet . It was around then that new alien races began to appear one by one .

One had appeared in the name of ‘survival’, one under the banner of ‘conquest’… .

Recalling the events of the past, the princess chuckled feebly . The land once ruled by mankind was now a war ground for several foreign races .

Pushed around this way, pushed around that way, the original inhabitants devolved to a candle flickering in the wind .

But accompanying the appearance of these foreign races were the seven unworshipped gods, who were born together during the birth of the planet . The seven gods promised to help the surviving humans, and the inhabitants promised to worship them in return .

And so, the deal was struck . But to the surprise of the inhabitants, help from these gods came in a strange way .

Their method of fighting back was to form an army by summoning another race that most resembled the world’s inhabitants .

There was no other choice . Even the mighty Empire was toppled in a brief four years, so how could the kingdoms that served under it resist the alien races?

Furthermore, the population had fallen drastically due to the war .

“Those damned sons of bitches . ”

The princess spat out a curse as she blankly stared up at the sky .

‘We shouldn’t have trusted them in the first place . ’

In truth, it wasn’t so bad in the beginning . The first Earthlings summoned to aid the inhabitants grew at a shocking speed under the gods’ divine protection .

However, as their influence grew and gradually overwhelmed that of the inhabitants, the situation began to change .

There really were all sorts of reasons . Some formed groups by nationality, some by the color of their skin, some by religion, and some by politics .

In the end, ‘profit’ was the problem . The factionalization among the Earthlings began to cause rifts in the relationship of the once-united kingdoms . The alliance formed under the desire to survive broke into pieces, and the ensuing internal conflict naturally weakened their forces .

There were some who even revolted against the new gods .

It was truly unfathomable .

But was that all?

In the end, the majority of Earthlings refused to participate in the final battle . They coldly ignored the inhabitants’ desperate pleas and returned to their home world .

This was why rage boiled inside the princess .

“Sons of… . ”

She was about to curse once more but quickly shut her mouth .

Splash… splash… .

A soft sound echoed out amidst the gradually-cooling mountain of corpses . The sound approached her, but it stopped a bit to the right of her .

Standing there was a burnt corpse .

[Amazing . ]

In front of the corpse was a large darkness that couldn’t be described with words .

[Truly amazing! I did not place much hope, but to think you survived this bloody battle…]

‘An Earthling?’

As if to answer the princess’s question, the collapsed man raised his head . A powerful emotion surged up within the princess’s heart, but she had no choice but to swallow it back down .

The state of the Earthling was horrific, so much so that she wanted to avert her gaze .

The number may have been extremely small, but it wasn’t as if no Earthlings participated in the battle . The state of the burnt man clearly demonstrated that he had fulfilled his duty in this battlefield .

When the princess thought this far, she began to develop a sense of sympathy . At the same time, she felt it was a shame .

‘If only all the other Earthlings were like him… . ’

[I want to praise your achievements a bit more, but you do not have much time left . ]

A low-pitched voice struck her ears .

[Since you kept your promise, it is time for me to keep mine . Tell me, what is it that you wish?]

As darkness set in the man’s eyes, his weakened eyes looked forward . When he opened his mouth, he spurted out bits and pieces of his organs along with a mouthful of blood . His voice seemed to be lost, as only the sound of wind passing through his vocal cord came out .

[You do not have to speak . I can simply read your mind… So, you wish to be revived?]

The princess almost laughed . Wishing to be revived? What use would it be? Everything was already over .

[No? How foolish, your life is hanging by a rope . Then what is it that you want? Don’t tell me, riches? Honor? In this situation?]

“… . ”

[What?]

Suddenly, the tone of the darkness went up .

[You want to start over?]

An ominous sensation suddenly rose up in the princess’s heart .

[Impossible!]

An enraged voice shook the earth .

[Even with your achievements, how could it be possible to reverse time!? You wanted to return everything to the way it was with only what you’ve accomplished?]

“… . ”

[Impudent! Perhaps if you accomplish today’s feats dozens of times more, but in the current state, I cannot grant your wish . Nevermind your soul, not even a single piece of your body can be sent back!]

“… . ”

[How persistent! Given that your life is about to end and the feats you have accomplished until now, I shall restrain myself . Tell me another wish . ]

Then, a heavy silence descended .

[…Why did you make such a wish?]

Was the darkness moved by the pitiful sight of the man dropping his head? The voice reverberating in the princess’s ears softened slightly .

[Child, hurry and wish for your revival . If that is truly your wish, you can ask again in the future after you’ve accomplished more feats . Though, I can’t say that it will be possible . ]

The man’s shoulders jumped ever so slightly . He seemed to be cackling . It was already a miracle just to have survived this battle . But he had to accomplish feats equaling dozens of what he accomplished already?

The man, the princess, and the owner of the voice all knew it was impossible .

The man raised his head just barely .

His mouth moved slightly .

[Your memories?]

“… . ”

[You want your current feelings to…]

“… . ”

[Since you can’t send back your body or soul, you want to send back the feelings you felt here?]

The darkness seemed to be taken aback, as silence descended once again .

[…Sending back feelings based on memories… . Certainly, feelings are only thoughts of your emotions . ]

After a long silence, the voice answered .

[But even that is difficult . ]

Although it was only for a brief moment, the mouth of the dying man twisted up .

[I am truly sorry . ]

That was it .

The man’s shoulders stopped moving . Plop . His head slumped, never to rise again . Just like that, he stopped moving .

[How foolish…]

Suddenly, a hand-like thing reached out from the darkness . As if it suffered a great loss, it slowly caressed the man’s head .

“I understand . ”

The princess, who had been watching this scene unfold, spoke up . The darkness stopped its hand .

[You are… a descendant of the Royal Families . ]

“That is correct, O Venerable Gula . ”

The princess smirked as if to ask why that mattered .

“The kingdom has fallen . The gates must have been taken over by now too . With everything he’s experienced, wouldn’t it be better to die? Even though the Oath will cause him to lose his memories, that’ll only make for a cleaner ending . He will have a place to return to . ”

[No, this child didn’t wish to return . ]

The heavy tone of the voice caused the princess’s eyes to widen .

[He said he wouldn’t have a place to call home even if he returned . ]

“A place to call home… . ”

Those words moved the princess’s heart . Perhaps, she felt a sense of camaraderie . With the kingdom’s collapse, she also didn’t have a place to call home . Although a few humans would have surely survived, their fate would be no different from that of livestock .

After all, humans couldn’t become the victors of this war .

“Then why didn’t you just grant his wish?”

Her quiet grumbling made the darkness smile .

[Nonsense . All results must follow causes . No matter what, this child’s wish would have resulted in interfering with the past . ]

The princess chuckled bitterly . She couldn’t understand, nor did she want to . It just sounded like an excuse .

[His achievements were simply not enough to become the cause . ]

“You say that, but you look seem to be regretting it quite a bit . ”

[How could I not? This child was originally born with the fate of an Executor . ]

“Executor?”

The princess was surprised . The Executors were the apostles who carried out the will of the seven gods . They were the seven leaders chosen to fight against the monsters threatening the world .

The problem was the only one of them participated in this battle .

[Right, he shone brighter than any of the other stars . If only he didn’t ruin everything with his own hands… Why do humans only learn to regret after everything is over?]

The darkness fell silent . The princess also closed her mouth . She had spoken up because she didn’t want to die lonely . Although she regained her consciousness for a brief moment, she knew from the moment she opened her eyes that she wouldn’t live for long .

The princess’s eyes turned to the dead man . His humble end was all the more pitiful .

She had no way of knowing for certain, but if he wished for the reversal of the time, he must have lived through life-or-death situations of incredible degree . But even that had not been enough to grant his wish .

He had fought like a dog and died like a dog, without receiving any compensation .

“…O Venerable Gula . ”

After a moment of hesitation, the princess rummaged through her pocket .

“Please grant this Earthling’s wish . ”

[Mm?]

“The Royal Oath… you haven’t forgotten about it, have you?”

The darkness’s brief confusion disappeared, and it stopped talking .

Inside the princess’s wide-open palm was a beautifully crafted necklace . Although it was stained with blood, its original beauty couldn’t be hidden, as it shone brightly .

[That is… . ]

“With the oath you made to my father and this man’s achievements, wouldn’t it be enough to grant his final wish? Even if reversing time is difficult . ”

[…Do you have a reason to go this far?]

“Of course . ”

When Earthlings crossed over to this world, the Royal Families also promised to reward them for their efforts . The princess had no desire to even think about the bastards who ran away from the final battle, but the Earthling in front of her had stayed until the end .

Since he had honored his duty, it was time for her, as the princess, to honor the Royal Families’ promise . Plus, this was the final ounce of pride she could keep before dying .

[But I can grant your own wish instead . ]

“What can you do for me?”

The princess laughed out loud .

One thing she learned from this long war was that not even gods were omnipotent . What could she even wish for in this doomed world?

[I will say it again . This child cannot go back . ]

[Only his feelings of yearning and regret… Even those would not be etched into his mind and only pass by like a fleeting dream . ]

[He might end up treating it like an insignificant dream and forget all about it . ]

[One thing I am sure of is that both you and him will die in this place . Are you saying that that is okay?]

The darkness’s voice struck the princess’s ears multiple times as if to reaffirm her wish . It would be a lie if she said she didn’t have second thoughts .

But… she was exhausted .

The war had gone on for too, too long . Although she endured all this time as one of the rulers of this land, she now wanted to rest . Returning to nothingness and falling into an eternal sleep didn’t sound too bad .

‘If only all earthlings were like you… . ’

Then, she wouldn’t have had any regrets .

[You want to grant his wish that much? Even at the cost of giving up what rightly belongs to you?]

A smile formed on her lips for the first time .

“Yes . ”

Finally, the wish had been decided .

[In that case, fine . ]

She could feel something like a pair of wings spread open from the darkness .

[Come closer, my child . ]

Suddenly, her body turned light like a feather . By the time she noticed this, her vision had become half-blurry .

The world spun, and something unknown came up to her eyes .

The last thing she got to see was…

[I cannot wait—]

…a blue fragment rising above the man…

[Until I meet the two of you again . ]

And the darkness laughing in joy .

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