The Second Coming of Gluttony: 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 **** 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 **** 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 **** . ”
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 **** 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 **** 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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