The Second Coming of Gluttony Chapter 310:


Chapter 310 . Preparations (3)

“As a frontline city, Haramark will have difficulty joining the battle . Plus, Taciana Cinzia is someone I don’t feel comfortable dealing with…”

Philip Muller trailed off as he glanced at Seol Jihu .

“You probably cannot guarantee anything either . But I would like you to ask them anyway . The Star of Sloth is a Magician like me . If she helps, she will become a huge part of our battle power . ”

Seol Jihu nodded in agreement . If Philip Muller would go out of his way to talk to two other Executors, talking to Cinzia was the least he could do .

“Alright, I’ll give it a try . ”

“Good . ”

Philip Muller let out a short sigh before taking out a crystal orb and putting it on the table .

“Contact me when you get Haramark’s reply . We can share each other’s progress then . ”

Seol Jihu took the communication crystal as if it was a precious treasure .

“I’m sorry for visiting you out of the blue . I enjoyed talking with you . It was a very hopeful time . ”

Seol Jihu felt a strange sense of déjà vu .

Hopeful time . He felt like he heard the same phrase before .

Was it King Prihi?

“I should get going . ”

Philip Muller got up .

“It looks like things are going to get busy . ”
 

*


The meeting ended .

Philip Muller said he didn’t need to be sent off, but Seol Jihu replied he would at least see him out to the door .

“You don’t have to be so polite . To be honest, I debated talking to you casually several times during our conversation . ”

“I’m more comfortable doing this . ”

The Star of Avarice spoke discontentedly before hurriedly leaving the building . Seol Jihu, who was talking with Odelette Delphine, suddenly shouted .

“Mister Philip Muller!”

Philip Muller stopped, his head turning around and showing his clear eyes .

“What’s up?”

“Thank you . ”

Seol Jihu expressed his thanks . To be honest, that was all he could think of .

He felt reassured for some reason . It was like someone appeared out of nowhere to hold him up when he was wandering around in the darkness with a body that could collapse at any moment . And he was saying, ‘Don’t fall . You got this . You can lean on me if you’re tired . ’

“About what?”

“Just, everything . Take good care of me . ”

Philip Muller blinked rapidly, taken aback by Seol Jihu’s gratitude . He stared for a moment before grinning .

“Well… Don’t be chummy with only Luxuria . ”

He turned back to the front .

“And get a little closer to Avaritia too . ”

He left, leaving behind those ambiguous words .

Seol Jihu drew a heavy breath as he stared at the backs of Philip Muller and Odelette Delphine as they walked away .

Finally . He finally felt like he was making some progress .
 

*


Seol Jihu prepared to leave for Haramark that very day .

What Philip Muller said wasn’t wrong . No one knew what would happen to the Middle World while they were in the Spirit Realm .

They needed to prepare as much as they could before leaving so that the Middle World would hold out until the World Tree’s revival, even if that only meant a futile struggle .

“Jihu~”

While Seol Jihu was busy packing his bags, Seo Yuhui walked into the office .

“Ah, Noona, you’re here . ”

“Mhm . I heard from Miss Kim Hannah . You’re going to Haramark?”

“Yes . ”

Seol Jihu didn’t forget to share how things were progressing . To be more precise, Seol Jihu told Kim Hannah, and Kim Hannah relayed the message to the members .

Given the scale of the operation, he had to tell them early on so they could accept it more easily later .

In truth, most of them had known Seol Jihu’s goal since the moment the Halep siblings and Hoshino Urara came .

Perhaps because of it, clouds of war were beginning to swirl around Valhalla . Some of the sharper members had already gone into intense training or equipment inspection .

“Oh right, have you fully recovered?”

“Mmmn, I’m still holding onto Moirai’s Souvenir . ”

“Ah… You haven’t used it yet?”

Seo Yuhui gave a bitter smile .

“To tell you the truth, there’s something I want to do… but given the circumstances, it looks like I should recover my strength . ”
‘Something she wants to do?’

Seol Jihu tilted his head .

What did she want to do with Moirai’s Souvenir?

“Anyway, look at your face! Jeez . The Neutral Zone’s over, yet it’s become so thin again . ”

Seo Yuhui reached out and carefully grasped Seol Jihu’s emaciated face . The soft, warm touch almost made Seol Jihu fall asleep, but he barely held himself together .

Seo Yuhui was truly a devilish woman . If he loosened his focus and went into her arms, he would forever be unable to escape .

“What a pity . ”

“No, I’m fine . ”

“Fine? I don’t think so . Say, is there anything this noona can help you with?”

Hearing this, Seol Jihu flinched . He would have said he was fine if it was at any other time . But maybe because he met with Philip Muller, a certain thought crossed his mind .

That they had to gather all of humanity’s battle power .

And this naturally made him recall one particular person .

“Um… . ”

“Mhm, anything is okay, so tell me . ”

Seeing Seol Jihu hesitate, Seo Yuhui consoled him by gently caressing his cheek .

Seol Jihu asked with difficulty .

“Can you bring someone here?”

“Hm?”

“During the valley war, there was someone who saved me before I was killed by Undying Diligence . I heard later on that she was one of the strongest fighters in Paradise . ”

Seo Yuhui’s hand froze .

“Are you talking about Miss Baek Haeju?”

“Yes, that’s the name . The Sacred Empress, right?”

Paradise’s first Level 8 Earthling, the Sacred Empress .

In truth, Seol Jihu did not know much about her . All he knew was that she used a spear just like him and that she played an active role in the valley war .

Although his memories became hazy whenever Future Vision activated…

[I don’t know why you’re here… . ]

But he clearly remembered the words she said when she saved him from the brink of death .

“Don’t you know her, Noona?”

Seo Yuhui’s face was faintly stiff .

“I do, but…”

Her voice fell to a crawl as she showed signs of being reluctant .

‘Is this related to the argument she had with her back then?’

“…Do you really need her?”

Seol Jihu had a reason for asking .

[If you’re talking about the spring, don’t even mention it . Are you running your mouth off because you don’t know the military strength needed to ward off a single Commander?]

[I know that the method of using the spring is limited . But if we unite with the remaining forces of the Spirit Realm, we might just be able to…]

That was what the future Eun Yuri said . That the method of using the spring was limited .

Although he would have to go there to be sure, it sounded like there was a limit to how many people could enter through the spring .

This meant he needed to form a powerful team with a small number of people .

“Yes . ”

And so, Seol Jihu made this shameless request .

“I’m sure she will be of great help to my plan . I’m positive . ”

Seo Yuhui bit her lower lip . Thinking about it, it was entirely possible for them to face an Army Commander . She knew how busily Seol Jihu was working in preparation of this plan .

More importantly, there was simply no way she could refuse an earnest request from her cutie pie .

“…Okay . ”

In the end, she agreed .

Seol Jihu’s complexion brightened instantly .

“I’ll talk to her . But I don’t know how she will respond, or whether she will even come… I used the chance I had last time . ”

“Chance?”

‘Did the Sacred Empress make a pact with the Daughter of Luxuria to help out just once?’

As Seol Jihu was thinking this…

“But, mm…”

After debating whether to say this or not…

“If I say it’s your request, she just might accept it . ”

Seo Yuhui said with a meaningful smile .
 

*


Seo Yuhui left Paradise after accepting Seol Jihu’s special command .

Seol Jihu also left Eva that day and arrived at his destination five days later .

He had come home after a long time .

Walking through the streets of Haramark that he was so familiar with, he felt a refreshing feeling spread out inside him .

Eat, Drink, and Enjoy was just as clamorous as always, and the house Seo Yuhui stayed in was still the same .

Seol Jihu stopped in front of the building that used to be Carpe Diem’s office . Looking at the worn-down place, he was reminded of the past .

He wanted to enter but forced himself to turn away . Even if he went in, there wouldn’t be anyone inside .

Jang Maldong was training the three newbies in Huge Stone Rocky Mountain, and it wouldn’t be until late tonight that he would come back .

On the other hand, he didn’t have time to be engrossed in his sentiments . He had to go on this expedition as soon as possible and hasten the World Tree’s revival .

Every minute was of utmost importance .

‘I don’t have the faintest clue how Miss Cinzia will respond . ’

He had already called Teresa on his way and let her know . Although she didn’t hesitate to accept his request, just as he expected, she couldn’t give a definitive answer when it came to mobilizing Sicilia .

This wasn’t a matter of another city, but a matter of another organization . So even if the Haramark Royal Family issued a conscription call, there was a chance Cinzia would not comply .

Seol Jihu thought the same way .

‘I doubt she will mobilize so easily . ’

He needed a way . A method to make the Star of Sloth move .

Soon, he began to see the fluttering flag of Sicilia’s building in the distance .

Feeling parched, Seol Jihu swallowed hard .
 

*


“What a surprise, what a surprise . ”

Taciana Cinzia, boss of Sicilia and the head of the southern war hawks, was the same as always — a thick crimson coat draping over her shoulders like a cloak, the red hair flowing down like the mane of a lion, and a voice tinged with boredom .

“It feels like it was just yesterday that you came to Haramark . Now you’ve gone beyond the position of Carpe Diem’s leader and risen to be the representative of a city . Purely based on position, we are on equal levels . ”

“I just got lucky . ”

“I see you’re still needlessly modest . Well, you were a peculiar one since the Neutral Zone . ”

As Cinzia put a cigar in her mouth and bit down, Agnes, who was standing straight next to her, lit it in a smooth motion .

“I wonder how you’ll be the next time we meet . What do you think, Agnes?”

“I do not have an opinion . ”

Agnes retorted bluntly while retracting her hand .

A languid smile hung on Cinzia’s face .

“My, it’s been a while since you’ve met this child of yours . Aren’t you being a bit cold?”

“I did not mean I had nothing to say . It is just that he is doing fine by himself . ”

“But can’t you say something as his mother? Like encouraging him to aim for the position of an Executor . ”

“Mother? I’m a maiden who is yet to marry . ”

Cinzia cackled at Agnes’ flat denial .

“Try to understand . She might be acting cool, but I’m sure she’s sulking on the inside . ”

“Huh? Miss Agnes is sulking?”

“Mm, who can blame her? You left Haramark without saying a word to her . Agnes was quite heartbroken at the time . ”

“Just to be clear—!”

Agnes raised her voice in a flash .

“I was not ‘heartbroken’ in the slightest . I did not care much . ”

“Hmm, I thought I saw someone snooping around the empty building that night . ”

A short ‘keuk’ rang out . Agnes clenched her teeth as her face began to turn red .

Cinzia burst out into laughter, clapping her hands .

“Sorry, sorry . It’s just that the two of you make for a good picture . I almost want to force you two to marry, just so I can watch your married life . ”

“Please spare me the nonsense . ”

“Alright, alright . ”

Cinzia waved her hand .

“That’s enough joking around for me too . Now, let’s go back to the reason the renowned Valhalla Representative has visited Sicilia . ”

Ssp .  The sound of air being sucked in rang out, and a white smoke flowed out from between Cinzia’s red lips .

As Seol Jihu was preparing to give the speech he prepared—

“Well, I can take a guess . ”

Cinzia seized the initiative .

“The Federation’s visit and the recent visit of the Star of Avarice . Just these two is enough information . Though, I still don’t understand why the Eva Royal Family released Hoshino Urara . ”

Seol Jihu didn’t show it, but he was surprised on the inside . His recent activities seemed to have spread to Haramark .

Considering how Philip Muller knew of these matters too, Paradise’s titans seemed to be paying careful attention to him .

“Don’t misunderstand . It’s not like Sicilia stalked you . You see, the Star of Avarice has been poking around a lot recently . ”

Cinzia clicked her tongue .

“It’s obvious why a couch potato like him would be moving around so busily . ”

Cinzia looked up as she tapped the ashes of her cigar into a wine glass . At the same time, Seol Jihu felt his nervousness rear its head .

In that split second, the atmosphere around Cinzia changed completely . Previously, she had languid eyes that liked to joke around . Now, her eyes were flashing like a predator in front of its prey .

Seol Jihu could feel an indescribable pressure that would make even Hoshino Urara shut up .

“…Come to think of it, I was the manager when you entered the Neutral Zone . ”

“Yes . ”

“Do you remember what I said back then in front of everyone?”

“‘It was a real chore to look after you lot . Let's not meet ever again?’”

“No, not that . ”

Cinzia locked her fingers together and leaned back against the couch . With her chin slightly tilted, she said arrogantly .

“I don’t know how to speak in a roundabout way, nor do I know how to hide true intent behind false words . ”

“Ah . ”

“Since Representative Seol has taken the time to visit despite his busy schedule, I will answer right away . So that neither of us wastes any time . ”

Cinzia then spoke without dragging on any longer .

Seol Jihu had a suspicion—

“We refuse . ”

Which quickly came true .

“Sicilia has no intention of joining hands with Valhalla and the Magician’s Guild to participate in the plan to rescue the Federation . Thus, we have no plans to interfere in this matter in any way . ”

Taking out the cigar in her mouth and flicking it into the wine glass, Cinzia finished clearly .

“This is my answer . ”


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