Returning to the Royal Capital. I was on Roxy’s opposite side, trying desperately to hold down the backlash from my overeaten soul.
If I made any mistake, my consciousness would be eaten, which made me gush cold sweats. But then, it had already come into the territory since it was Greed we are talking about.
And then, since the day had grown dark, the work for gardening apprenticeship would be continued tomorrow. I had dinner together with other gardeners and went to the bath.
While I soaked myself in the bath, one of the masters said,
Feeling happy, I accidentally rubbed the master’s back too hard.
After defeating the kobold leader, my stats had surpassed even those of the Holy Knights. So I guess it’s time for me to learn how to adjust properly. Well, my stats will continue to rise due to Greed’s strengthening, so I’ll have to make numerous adjustments in the future.
I have so little control over it. It will take some time before I can do so naturally, apparently.
=====
「Kuu….my right eye feels hot」
After about ten more hobgoblins, I began to feel uncomfortable. I saw my own reflection through Greed’s black surface. Under the skeleton mask….
『The state of starvation. Soon.』
I also felt it. Soon, the monsters on the vicinity of the Kingdom won’t be enough to maintain the starvation level of Glutton Skill. I couldn’t just wait for it to wiggle all over my body.
I understand that, so I asked Greed for a way to resist it.
『You have to change your method.』
I put away the skeleton mask after retreating back to the Goblin Prairie where no one is around, then continued on.
I went back to the capital against the wind blowing along the Goblin Prairie.
「I can do it with one eye.」I replied, then he asked back 「Isn’t that overworking yourself?」, even so I’ll still prune the trees as promised.
After the master showed me how to do it using one tree, I tried to do it myself.
This master valued direct practice more than verbal teaching. So there is no other way but to do it.
I wanted to go after her and ask her the reason….. But I shouldn’t.
Roxy was kneeling at the front of her father’s gravestone, and she had the expression on her face that I had never seen before. It was the kind of grim expression as if she is about to fight something.
「Fate, why are you here……is your left eye injured？」
Acting all cool, I showed Roxy the pruning shears.
「My left eye was injured when I slept. Anyways, I’m fairly good at gardening now. Well, I’m about to prune this tree over here.」
Saying that, I placed my hand on a tree that was right beside me. In fact, I was actually told to prune a different tree altogether.
「Ermm……Roxy-sama. Is something wrong？You look different today.」
「It’s nothing. By the way, prune it well or else somebody will be angry at you.」
Roxy pointed toward the master gardener who were staring at me with his arms folded. After all, it’s not the tree I was told to handle.
After I’m done working, getting myself busy with hunting till midnight, I then visited a bar. There, I found the answer I’ve been searching for.
I gulped down the beer to its last drop, then stood up from my seat.
