Chapter 198 - Cries of the Dead

Even though it’s in the spiritual world, I couldn’t help but feel the heat… it’s weird.

Was it because of the color of the surrounding that looked similar to magma? Or perhaps due to the spirits of the dead who were attacking us incessantly?

『Are you scared now?』

[You are.]

『I’m enjoying myself here. So this is the world of the Gluttony skill』

『There is no end to them』

[It’s useless to cut them down…]

『Because they’re all already dead. They’ve become parts of a single being.』

[Which means…]

『They’ll just reappear after killed. But there is a way to stop them.』

[There is no choice but to erase the whole world of Gluttony skills.]

『Indeed. But that is impossible now.』

『Wailing…..huh』

[That’s…]

Envy’s mumbling piqued my interest. Certainly, some of the souls of the dead were wailing.

『Is it out of pain, or…..meh, I don’t know. Fate, are you ready?』

[What?]

Because I was distracted by the swarming dead, I didn’t understand what Envy was saying. However, it was approaching, wiping out the dead.

[Really now… you’re never gonna give up, aren’t you. You… ]

[Hado Burix!]

{FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE!!]

He was no longer human in shape. So ugly and distorted, that his nightwalker form was arguably much better to look at. In the meantime, he was swinging his log-like thick arm at me..

[Did he just consume them!?]

『Looks like it. Perhaps it’s part of the Gluttony skill, or perhaps its vestige.』

Hado grew uglier the more soul he absorbed.

[Fa…Fate… I… I will devour you. Return… Return it to me.]

『To think such an abomination could happen. What will you do now?』

[That’s…]

『Seems to me he can’t handle the power well. At this rate he’ll end up as just a lump of meat that will be eaten by others. So what will you do?』

[I’ll put an end to this. It will be a real farewell now… Hado Burix.]

This time, my link with Hado will disappear. As I watched him, who would sleep forever in this place, I suddenly heard another familiar voice.

[Oh, what a strange occasion. I thought that you’d never come down here.]

[Rafal…]

Still in his Holy Knight attire, Rafal was still completely human. But he was supposed to be an undead Archdemon after Shinn changed him.

Rafal kicked the mass of meat that was Hado, and said with a disgusted face.

[Until the very end Hado didn’t change… still trapped in his crazy determination to go after you. What a popular guy you are, Fate.]

[How about you?]

[Me? Don’t say something so unpleasant.]

But to be careful, I still brandished the black bayonet at Rafal.

[Fight? You and me? But why do we need to fight?]

[Because I killed you…]

[But you didn’t. The moment Shinn took over my body… I was already dead. My soul was trapped inside my body until you defeated and devoured me.]

[…..]

[In any case, what’s done is done. I still ended up trapped in here though, but regarding that part…]

[That was really entertaining.]

[Ha!?]

[Because you look like an idiot.]

[Shaddap.]

Actually having fun in this hellish place!? Isn’t it you the one who is strange here?

[This is the place where the souls of those who were eaten by the Gluttony skills long ago gathered, and the knowledge they gained is also here.]

[Knowledge?]

[That’s right. You should be aware of how much I like studying ancient histories. I became a Holy Knight only because my family forced me to.]

Of course… Rafal unearthed Shinn who was dormant in the ancient ruins while continuing his ancient history research behind the scenes even after becoming a Holy Knight.

[Here I can live freely. Although it’s a bit noisy.]

The screams of the dead and the soul-burning heat were just a little noisy to you!?

[You’re a weirdo.]

[Right back at you. From my point of view, you have changed a lot. I almost couldn’t recognize you anymore.]

[What are you saying?]

[This… What a surprise. No wonder Roxy never really paid attention to me back then.]

[What!]

[To think I lost to a guy like you… I feel sorry for myself.]

[Why are we even talking about this!]

[You’ve been peeking, aren’t you!?]

[You only realized now? I simply had a look after someone gave me a recommendation. Come on now, do you think there’s anything else that could entertain me down here? It was a good laugh every time I took a peek.]

[Don’t treat it as entertainment.]

[He’s my benefactor. And he wants to see you.]

[Who?]

[You’ll know when you meet him. That’s why I came here to fetch you. Otherwise, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get to meet him. It’s his wish. Even if I hate you, I still have to.]

In comparison, I was still attacked as I tried to follow him.

[So slow. Be a little faster, will you?]

[Look at my situation here. Hey, don’t you look away now!]

[So noisy. Just follow me and be silent. Or else I’ll just leave you here alone.]

[You…]