The Second Coming of Gluttony Chapter 416:
Nurwasaportcitylocatedinthenorthwestcornerofthehumanterritory,facingtheParasiteswiththeMariposaSeabetweenthem.
Thepresenceofthebodyofwaterhardlymeantthecitywassafefrominvasion.SomeParasiteswerecapableofflying,andtherehadalreadybeenonecaseinwhichtheParasitescrossedtheseatoattackNur.
Havingsaidthat,itwasundeniablethatinrecentyearstheParasiteshadconcentrateditsforcesonTigolFortress,andthatitwasonlyinHaramark’sArdenValleythatithadclashedwithhumanity.
Itwasapitch-blacknight,withoutahintofcolor.
“…Hmm?”
Thecoastguardondutyyawnedbeforesuddenlyblinkinghiseyes.
Hethoughthesawsomethingmovingbeneaththedarkwaters.
Althoughhiseyesightwasexceptionalforamereguard,unfortunatelyforhim,theenemyhadalreadybeguntomove.
Whoosh!
Theshadowjumpedathimwithgreatspeed.
Whentheguardturnedhiseyestothesea,theshadowwasalreadybehindhim,itseyesglowingwithmalice.
“What…!”
Thelightinstantlydisappearedfromtheguard’seyesandhisarmsfelltohissides.
“Uh….”
Hisbodyshookasifheweredrunkandhefelltowardthesea.
Thesuccubusquicklygrabbedtheguardbyhisneckandslowlypushedhimintotheseaasiffeedingthewater.
Carefully,sothatnosoundwoulddisturbthesilence,tentaclesshotupfromtheseaevenbeforethebodyreachedthesurface.Theywrappedaroundthebodyanddraggeditquietlyintothewater.
Whathappenednextwasamysterytoall,butsoonblooddyedthewaterred.
ThesekindsofeventswerehappeningsimultaneouslyalongthecoastlineofNur.
[Good.]
Whenthesuccubifinishedremovingallguardsfromthecoast,VulgarChastitylookeddownattheseawithanodofapproval.
[Comeup.]
Withthat,afish-shapedmonsterthathadtentaclessproutingfromalloveritsbodyappearedabovethesurfaceofthesea.
ItwastheTemerator,thefinalevolvedformofupper-rankParasitesthatgavebirthtomiddle-rankParasites.
WhenVulgarChastitysignaled,hundredsofTemeratorsopenedtheirmouthsatonceandfiredsoundwavesatthecity.
Thesoundwavesquicklyspreadandtookcontroloftheentirecity,successfullydisablingallformsofcommunicationinNur.
[Move.]
VulgarChastitycontinuedtoissueorderswithoutabreak.
Underhercommand,thesuccubisplitintofourgroupsandheadedtothegateslocatedintheeast,west,north,andsouthofthecity,respectively.
Inorderforthefirstphaseoftheirplan,theinvasionofNur,tosucceed,theyhadtoexterminatetheentirecitywithoutallowingasinglesurvivor.
AshortmomentlateraheadappearedabovetheseafromwhereVulgarChastityhadalreadyleft.
ItwasSungShihyun,theFirstArmyCommanderoftheParasites.
“…Fuck,thisiswaytooeasy.”
HesmirkedinthedirectionofNur,stillsleepingwithoutknowingwhatwasabouttohappentothem,andthendraggedhiswetbodyoutofthewaterontotheshore.
“Asexpected.”
Hewasn’ttheonlyone.
TheThirdArmyCommander,AbhorrentCharity,andtheFifthArmyCommander,ExplodingPatience,ledtheirtroopstotheshore.
TheSeventhArmyCommander,TwistedKindness,whohadbeengracefullyfloatingintheair,alsopreparedtodescend.
ParasitestiedtothetentaclesoftheTemeratorsalsoappearedbehindthearmy.
Splat,splat…
Thecoastturnedblackinaninstant.
“Youknowwhattodo,right?”
Standingattheforefront,SungShihyunturnedhisheadleftandrighttoloosenhisneck,andaimedhislongswordatthecity.
“We’rescrewedifwemissevenone.Seizequickly,butdon’tmakeanymistakes.”
Thenhekickedthegroundandshotforwardtowardsthecity.
Atthesametime,theParasiteArmy,ledbythefiveArmyCommanders,rushedatNur.
*
DawnhadalreadybrokenwhenagroupofEarthlingsarrivedatNur.
“Arrrgh,I’msotired.Ineedtogetsomesleep.”
“Weshouldstayatahigh-classinn.Therewardswereprettygoodthistime.”
Itseemedliketheywereontheirwaybackfromanexpedition.
Laughingcheerfullyamongthemselves,theyenteredthecitywithoutsuspectinganything,fortherewereafewotherEarthlingsbesidesthemselvesheadingforthegate,aswellasguardskeepingwatchnearby.
Onlyafterpassingthroughthegatedidtheyrealizesomethingwasoff.
“…Huh?”
“Whatthe…Whyisitsoquiet?”
Thecitywasquiet,andtherewassomethingominousaboutthesilence.
Theycouldevenhearthemselvesbreathe.
Oneofthemenlookedaround,dazedwithhisbrowwrinkled.
Evenconsideringthefactthatitwasstillearlyinthemorning,itwasstrangethattherewasnooneonthestreet.
Anotherthingthatcaughthiseyewasthecollapsedbuildings.Asfarasheremembered,thesebuildingswereintactwhentheyleftthecity.
Andtherewasthisnastysmell.
Itwasthesmellofrottingfleshandblood.
“Whathappened?”
“Hey,didsomethinghappenherelastnight?”
ThemanaskedtheEarthlingenteringthegate.
Butnoreplycametohisears.
TheEarthlingpassedhimwithoutaword.
“Hey…?”
Theman’seyeswidened.
Becausethewomanwhoignoredhimhadsuddenlystopped.
Sheturnedaroundandstaggeredpastthemanagaintowardsthegate.
Shecontinuedtowalkbackandforthlikeacorpse.
Thatwasn’tall.
“G-Guard!”
Despitethedesperatecall,theguardatthegatedidn’tevenlookback.
“W-What’sgoingon?”
Themanfinallyrealizedsomethingwaswrongandbegantobackaway.
Buthewastoolate.
“Look,weshould…!”
Themanturnedaroundandopenedhiseyeswideinastonishment.
Hiscomradeswerelookingdownattheground,theirfacesaspaleasghosts.
Theirankleswereboundbytentaclesstretchingoutfromholesintheground.
Thesamehadhappenedtohisownankles.
Atthesametime,theEarthlingswalkingintoandoutofthecityallstoppedatonce.
Creak,creak.
Theyturnedtheirheadstotheirprey.
“What….”
Themancouldnotgraspthesituation.Still,eveninthemidstofconfusion,heknewinstinctivelywhatwasabouttohappen.
“Whatisthis….”
Tearsbegantowellupinhiseyes.
Thenextmomentthecorpsesrushedathimwiththeirmouthsstretchedtotheirears.
*
OnthedayBaekHaejuarrived,SeolJihuheldameeting.
ThetopicofthemeetingwastheGoradBogaexpedition.
Theirplanwassimple.
First,theyweretomeetthequeenofScheherazadeanduseRoselle’smanatofindoutwhatshewashiding.
Thentheywoulddecidewhattodowiththestele,withtheoptionofSeolJihubringingitwithhimorleavingitinGoradBoga.
SeolJihugotupatthecrackofdawnandstartedpreparingimmediately.
Heputonhisgloves,wrappedthetransparentcloakhereceivedfromVidalifaroundhim,andheadedforthetemplewiththeSpearofPurityinhishand.
ItwasbecausethestoragewherehekepttheDivineElixirswasinthetemple.Healwayscarriedonewithhimbutkepttheothersinstorage.
‘HarmoniaMagicSquare.’
SeolJihustaredatthecubesurroundedbyblackenergy.
ThisboxheobtainedintheSpecialTutorialinfusedtheuserwithpowerfulmanathattransformedthemanacircuitfromwithin.
Moreprecisely,itactivatedthereverse-flowenergyagainstnaturallaws.
SeolJihuhadplannedtouseitassoonashefinishedthe‘PathoftheSoul’trial,butquitbecauseBlackSeolJihustronglyopposedit.
[Quittalkingnonsense.Don’tyouknowhowdangerousthatthingis?]
[Ihatewordslike‘awakening’and‘rampage’.]
[AwakeningSkillitselfputsgreatpressureonthebody.Asifthatisn’tenough,youwanttomessupyourbody’sstructuretoforcefullyincreaseyourinnatepotential?Areyououtofyourmind?]
[What’sthat?Youactuallythinkthatthemagicsquarecanbecontrolled?Didn’tyoureadthedescription?Itsaystherethatit’sunstable.]
[Sure,it’susableiftheuserkeepsitatanappropriatelevel.Butlet’sbehonest,doyoureallythinkyouwon’tstrainyourself?]
[Ifyoureallywanttouseit,thenbyallmeansdoso.Butdon’tlearnBerserkanddon’teventhinkaboutlearningThousandThunderfromme.]
Withthat,SeolJihucouldnolongerbestubborn.
Bothweredangeroustechniques,butitwasmorereasonabletolearnThousandThundersinceitdidnotdistorttheuser'smanacircuit.
‘ItoldhimIwon’tuseit,but….’
Butwhoknowswhatwillhappeninthefuture?
SeolJihustuffedtheHarmoniaMagicSquareintohisbackpack.
WhenhereturnedtotheValhallabuilding,mostofthemembershadalreadyarrivedbeforehim.
Thecarriagesarrivedshortlyafterandinturntheyboardedthecarriages.
“Kkiiing….”
JustasSeolJihuwasabouttoclimbup,hefeltsomethingpullhisfoot.
Thelittlefuzzballshadgatheredaroundhimandwerebitingandpullinghisankle.
SeolJihublinkedoncebeforekneelingdownandfacingtheirsympathy-winningeyes.
“What’swrong?Youdon’twantmetogo?”
“Kking!”
“I’msorry,butyouhavetowait.IpromiseI’llplaywithyouguyswhenIgetback.”
“Kkiing….Kkiing….”
“UntilIgetback,eatwell,playhard,andbegood,okay?”
SeolJihustrokedtheirheadsonebyoneandthenstoodup.
Thenheclimbedupintothecarriageandclosedthedoor.
“Kkiing!Kkiing!”
Hecouldhearthelittleclawsscratchingthecarriagedoor.
“Whyaretheydoingthatallofasudden?NowIfeelbadforthem.Theysoundsosad.”
“Idon’tknow.”
SeolJihushruggedandletoutasmallsigh.
Thenhespoke.
“Let’sgo.”
AmomentlaterthecarriagescarryingthemembersofValhallaswiftlypassedthroughthegate.
*
Aroundthesametime.
TheroadbetweenNurandScheherazademadeforaspectacularsight.
Darknesscoveredboththelandandthesky.
Therewasnoorderorpatterninthewayitmoved.
Itwasrushingforwardasifreachingitsdestinationwasitsonlypurposeinlife.
TheParasiteshadsuccessfullytakencontrolofNurinjustonedayandwerenowheadingforitsnextdestination.
ToScheherazade.
Ofcourse,runningwasn’talltheyweredoing.Theydidhaveastrategy.
InNur,forexample,theywerecarefultoleavethecityasintactaspossible.
Theyalsopickedoutabout100undamagedbodies,turnedthemintoParasites,andorderedthesuccubitohypnotizethem.
ThisdeceptiontacticwasintendedtodelaytheenemyfindingoutthatNurhadbeenattacked.
Inaddition….
“Iseesixinsectsonekilometerahead.”
TheywereusingTwistedKindnessasanaerialscout.
Uponhearingherreport,agroupofsuccubiflappedtheirwingsandhurriedforward.
TheEarthlingswhospottedthemstooddazedforamoment,thenturnedinahurrytoescapewhenoneofthesuccubistretchedoutherarmintheirdirection.
FLASH!
LightexplodedandraysoflightpiercedtheEarthlings’chests.
Itwasphotonmagic.
TheEarthlingsallfelltothegroundatthesametime,andthesuccubiquicklyflewtowardsthemandcaughttheirbodies.
“Dowehavetobethisthorough?”
VulgarChastity,watchingthesightfromafar,loweredherhead.
ShewasholdingSungShihyuninherarms.
“Eveniftheenemynotices,it’sjustonecity.Seizingitwillbeaseasyaspie.”
Herargumentwasn’tentirelyunfounded.
Onlyafewyearsago,threeoutofthetotalSevenArmieswereenoughtodestroyhumanityforever.
TherewerenowatotaloffivearmiesheadingtoScheherazade,amongthemthemostpowerfulArmyCommander,TwistedKindness.
TakingdownScheherazadeseemedlikeapieceofcake.
Nevertheless,SungShihyun’sexpressionremainednonchalant.
HeseemedtooannoyedtoevenanswerVulgarChastity’squestion,butbecausehergazelingeredonhimfortoolong,finallyhespokewithafrown.
Visitlnmao.orgforextrachapters.“Doyouthinkwe’redoingthisjusttoconqueracity?”
“Wearen’t?”
“I’mtalkingaboutourultimategoal.Youthinkwe’regoingthroughallthiscrapjustforapieceofstone?”
“….”
“Ihaterepeatingmyself,sorememberwhenIsaythis.Forgetaboutthecityandthestele.Youronlyfocusshouldbekillingthatbastard.”
“Iknow,butwhatcouldgowrongatthispoint?Evenifherealizesrightnow,it’s….”
Suddenly,VulgarChastitystopped.
BecauseshesawSungShihyun’sfacedistortintoanger.
“Listen,youstupidbitch.Canyoupleasejustkeepyourmouthshut?”
“What?”
“Isaid,shutthefuckup.BecauseI’mhatingmyselfmoreeverytimeyouspeak.Ah,whywasIsoafraidoftheseshit-for-brains….”
VulgarChastity’seyelashestrembled.
“IfeelsorryfortheQueen.Shehastoputupwiththesegood-for-nothingfuckers….”
“Whatdidyousay?”
ExplodingPatience,theBansheeQueen,whowasflyingbesidethemgrowledatSungShihyun.
“Yousee,thisiswhytheysayignoranceisbliss.Stupidfuckersarealwaystooproud.”
SungShihyunshookhisheadleftandright.
“…Whodoyouthinkyouare?”
Withabigsigh,hepusheduphisbangswithhishandandaskedcoldly.
“Aren’tyoutheParasite’sArmyCommanders?Forsomeonewho’sinchargeofanentirearmy,andevenreceivedthedivinity,yourbrainssuredon’twork.”
“You!”
“Didn’tItellyounottoletyourguarddownduringthismission?Toalwaysassumetheworst?”
SungShihyunsaidinableakvoiceandExplodingPatienceflinched.
“TheworstassumptionatthispointisthattheyfindoutwhothetraitorsareandarriveatScheherazadebeforeus.”
SungShihyuncontinuedinanannoyedvoicelikehewasdoingtherestafavor.
“Ifthathappensourplanwillbecomeuseless.That’swhy,nomatterwhathappens,wehavetogettoScheherazadebeforethem.”
“Still….”
“Still?There’snowayhe’llnotice?There’snowayhe’llarrivebeforeus?It’sbecauseyoukeepthinkinglikethat,thatyoukeeplosing.”
“…”
“What?Youdon’tagree?ButI’mright.‘There’snoway~’Ibetthat’swhatyouthoughtbeforeyougotbeatupbytheBrightestStar.Likeafreakingpunchingbag.Isn’tthatwhywe’reinthisshitrightnow?”
SungShihyun’ssarcastictonecausedtheArmyCommanders’bloodtoboil.
Thesecriticismswereunbearableforsomeoneasproudastheywere.
“Admitit,youretards.Youlost.Tohim.Becauseofyourcomplacency.”
TheatmospheregrewhostilebutSungShihyunonlysnorted,notevenflinching.
“What,youwantthesamethingtohappenagain?AreyougonnalethimdriveyouintoacornersothatyoucangorunningtoHerMajesty?YourMajesty~I’msorry~Ididn’tknowthiswouldhappen~YourMajesty~WhatshouldIdo~YourMajesty~Saveus~YourMajestyyyy~…Areyouafuckingchild?”
VulgarChastityalmostloosenedherarmsholdingSungShihyun.
She’dfeltthiswaywhenhewasstillherenemy.Thisguyhadarealtalentformockingothers.
Herangersoaredbutshehadnochoicebuttokeephermouthshut.
BecauseSungShihyun,whosuccessfullylearnedtocontrolhisdivinity,hadrisentothesamerealmasTwistedKindness.
Andfrankly,whathesaidwasn’twrong.ThatwasinfactthewayithadbeenduringtheArdenValleyWar,theSpiritRealmExpedition,andtheTigolFortressWar.
Mostimportantly,SungShihyunwasthechiefcommanderofthisoperation.
Forthismissionalone,theFirstArmyCommanderpossessedthesameauthorityastheParasiteQueen.
“Ifourgoalistodrawhimout,couldn’twehavedonesoinScheherazade?”
TwistedKindnessaskedafteramomentofsilence.
“There’sapossibilitythatcouldhaveworked.”
SungShihyunansweredwithanonchalantexpression.
“ButItoldyou.Heexcelsatcreatingvariables.I’msurethistimeagainhe’llcomeupwithanideathatnoone’severthoughtof.”
“…”
“Moreimportantly,theenemyisn’tstupid.EvenifwesuccessfullytakeoverScheherazade,heisn’tgoingtocomerunningtous.”
“Evenifheretreats…couldn’twejustfollowhimandkillhim?”
VulgarChastityinterrupted.
“Jesusfuck,he’llfindoutaboutNursoon.AndScheherazadeisinthemiddleoftheenemyterritory.Doyoureallythinkhe’llcomealone?”
SungShihyunsnappedagain.
“And,ifweweregoingtodothat,don’tyouthinkwewould’vegatheredasmanysoldiersaspossibleintheHiralMountainRangeandattackedEva,insteadofcrossingtheMariposaSeaandattackingNur?Hmm?”
VulgarChastitypoutedbecauseSungShihyunseemedirritatedonlywhenshespoke.
“Ah,whatever.I’mthechiefcommanderofthismission.Ifyoudon’tunderstandwhat’sgoingon,justshutupanddoasIsay.Disobey,andI’llkillyoumyself.Idon’tcareifyou’reanArmyCommanderornot.”
“…Okay,okay,Igetit.That’senough.”
VulgarChastitymumbled.
“Thenshutupandgetmoving.”
SungShihyunsnortedandcontinued.
“Remember,you’remypuppetsinthismission.”
“…”
“Ifwewin,clapyourhandsandpraiseme.Ifwelose?Thenyoucanswearorthrowafuckingtantrumorwhatever.”
Basicallyhewassayingtheyshouldblindlyfollowhisorders.
“Yousoundveryconfident….We’llseehowitgoes.”
TwistedKindnessremarkedcalmlyandrecitedaDragonicSpell.
AbhorrentCharityalsocastaspell.
Aviolentgustofwindblewpastthem.
WHOOOOSH!
WithSungShihyuninherarms,VulgarChastityflewacrosstheskyatjetspeed.
*
OnthethirdnightafterleavingEva,SeolJihurealizedsomethingwasn’tright.
Inthemiddleofthenight,PhiSora,whowasonanightwatch,wokeSeolJihuupashesleptinatentatacampsitetheyhadsetup.TheyhadstoppedtoresttheHorusesthathadbeenrunningnonstopfortwodaysinarow.
ApparentlyhegotacallfromKimHannah.
“…What?”
SeolJihu’sbrowfurrowedashelistened.
“WelostcontactwithNur?”
—Yes,thecallisgoingthrough,butnooneisanswering.Noteventheroyalfamily.Fortunately,theJapaneseBusinessFederationmanagedtogetintouchwithacoupleofEarthlingsnearNurandsentthemtothecity,butsoonlostcontactwiththem,too….
Dazed,SeolJihulistenedtoherquietly.Hiseyesslowlybegantofillwithanxiouscuriosity.
Nurhadsuddenlystoppedrespondingtotheircontact.
SuchathingwillbeimpossibleunlessmorethanhalfoftheSevenArmiesattackatonce….SeolJihuthoughtsobeforegaspingindisbelief.
Whyrightnow?
Itallfelttoostagedtobeacoincidence.
“…KimHannah.”
Thecornersofhismouthtrembled,butheswallowedonceandcontinued.
“Listentomecarefully.”
—O-Okay.
“ContacttheorganizationinScheherazadetocaptureRoeScheherazadeandherattendant.Tellthemthatwhateverhappens,theymusttakeawaytheRoyalOath.I’lltakeresponsibilityforeverything.”
KimHannahseemedmorethansurprised.
Itwasariskymoveasthesituationwasn’tclearyet.
ButsoonsherealizedSeolJihu’sintentionandaskedcalmly.
—Whatifthetwohavealreadyvanished?
“WhereelsewouldtheygobesidesGoradBoga?I’llaskYuhuiNoonatheexactcoordinatesandgiveyouamap.”
—Iunderstand.
“ContacteverysingleroyalfamilyandrepresentativeorganizationsexceptforScheherazade’s.HavethemissueadraftcallandsendallavailablesoldierstoScheherazade.Thishastohappentoday.Hurryup!”
SeolJihuendedthecallwithashout.
Hegotuptowakeuphiscomrades,butthecampgroundwasalreadybustlingwithnoise.
“Isaid,I’llpayyouenoughtobuy100newHoruses!”
PhiSora,whooverheardtheirconversation,hadalreadyawakenedtherestofthemembersandwasbargainingwiththewagonerwhoclaimedhewastootiredtomove.
SeolJihuquicklytookoutanothercommunicationcrystalfromhispocket.
ThecrystalwaslinkeddirectlytoSinyoung.
‘Iwasn’tgoingtocontactthem,but….’
Thesituationhadchanged.
Hewasn’tsure,but—
No,hewassure.
Nowwasthetimetoexhausteverymeanspossible.
‘Comeon….Whyisn’tshepickingup?’
SeolJihuchewedhislipswithhishandoverthecrystal.
Withanervouslook,heraisedhischinuptothesky.
Thenightskywasdimmernowasablanketofdarkcloudscoveredthemoon.
Hethoughtheheardcrowsinthedistance.
SeolJihuletoutagruntoffrustrationasalltheseseemedlikeabadomentohim.
Thesituationwasrapidlydeteriorating.Pleasegotohttps://www.novelupdates.cc/The-Second-Coming-of-Gluttony/toreadthelatestchaptersforfree