Chapter 20. Gluttony's Banquet (Part 1)
—Second District—
"Ahaha. Calm down, both of you Big Brothers."
Amidst the unrestrained laughter, the boy walked out barefoot from the smoke of the collapsed wall.
"So happy, so happy, I'm really happy! Binging! Gluttony! I've been looking forward to this for a long time! After all, while we prioritize the feeling of fullness, we don't reject fine dining! I won't be shy about the delicacies sent right to my doorstep!"
His brown hair was tied in a braid, and his small body was clad in a long green robe with long sleeves and hem. A sadistic smile was plastered on his youthful face, revealing jagged, sharp teeth like a shark's.
—These features confirmed the identity of the person before Julius.
"We are the Witch Cult's Archbishop of Sin—responsible for 'Gluttony', Roy Alphard."
"You came after all? Julius, is there anything you want to tell me?"
Ricardo asked Julius, who had a serious expression.
"That's rare, Ricardo. You caring about someone like this."
"Of course. After all, I'm about to fight with my life on the line. I respectfully decline having to entrust my back to someone who's lost in thought."
"I was wrong."
Julius slowly shook his head, frowning.
"It's not like you to feel so heavy-hearted when the opponent is a child."
"I am not so unacquainted with resolve. Even if the opponent is a child, as long as they walk the unforgivable path of sin, they must be punished…" His words trailed off, and Julius let out a light sigh.
"I just feel sorry for them."
When they confirmed that the opponent's target was the Council of Ten, Julius and the others had considered having to face Gluttony, who can devour others' memories. Although they acted on Anastasia's command, Julius privately wished that people more qualified like Heinkel, Subaru, or Reinhild would be the ones to settle things with Gluttony.
"There's nothing to be conflicted about."
"Mmh…"
"What needs to be done doesn't change, no matter who does it, right? Defeat the Archbishop of Sin 'Gluttony' and retrieve the memories, right, Finest of Knights?"
Having said that, Ricardo flexed his bicep. Seeing his imposing demeanor, Julius was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"You're right. You truly have the making of a captain."
—My apologies, everyone. The current situation doesn't allow everyone a dignified challenge against 'Gluttony'. Though I overstep, please allow me to shoulder this duty. I have sworn an oath to my master, to my friends, and to this knight's sword. To use the knight's sword in my hands to the best of my ability to exterminate this fiend.
"I've decided. I'll start by eating the 'Rough Food' first."
"Saying 'Rough Food' while looking at someone's face... I don't even know where to begin my retort. I'm not your meal. Watch me split your head in half."
Ricardo yelled full of vigor and swung his greatsword at Roy, who was charging at him.
"Oho, how scary. Mr. Ricardo. Don't let our appearance fool you; we actually kind of admire you, you know? Like how you don't fear strong enemies, and that thoughtless part of you that effortlessly changes the mood!"
"Yeah! I see! That sure is infuriating!"
Ricardo looked at Gluttony, who skillfully dodged his attack and retreated a few steps, causing the interfering wave to fail. The fact that someone who knew him was forgotten by him, and that his enemy understood his true nature, made Ricardo's anger burn fiercely.
"Continuing to converse will only make us dance in his palm."
Julius drew his sword and began to chant. The six quasi-spirits with whom the Spirit Knight had contracted appeared, and a beautiful light enveloped the gleaming knight's sword.
"Though it is presumptuous, allow me to show you."
Julius, the knight enveloped in light, assumed a stance.
"Spirit Knight, Julius Juukulius."
Julius courteously announced his name.
"Evil Food, Roy Alphard."
Roy put on his brass knuckles and looked at Ricardo, who was holding a greatsword. However, Ricardo, who worked as a mercenary, did not engage in pleasantries in a life-or-death battle.
"Yay, good, Gluttony! Fine Food! Rough Food! And then, Satiation! Even a completely uninteresting life can be an unknown flavor that satisfies us!"
"El Clauselia!"
Facing the screaming Alphard, Julius, holding the refined knight's sword, chanted, and a dazzling six-colored light jetted from the tip of the sword, aimed straight at Alphard.
Julius unsparingly used his maximum firepower, a composite magic combining six attributes—a beam of destruction carrying a rainbow's brilliance.
"Olahhhh—!"
Ricardo crushed the stone pavement as he charged forward. His muscles were tensed, preparing to land a fatal blow on Roy after the latter dealt with the aurora.
Faced with this situation, Alphard showed a scornful laugh.
"Big Brother, you really are as wonderful as we imagined."
The rainbow light carrying six attributes was one of the composite magics Julius independently created, inspired by the Chief Court Magician Roswaal. This power, which elevated each attribute's strength to its peak, allowed Julius to become the second strongest in the Royal Guard (p.s. his rank after Reinhild's existence was lost).
A blow that would turn flesh and bone to dust upon impact.
"What!?"
"Big Brother, it's surprising that you have a weakness of disliking the sight of something you hate."
Roy leaned backward, the aurora almost grazing his face.
"Big Brother is our idol. How could we not know the magical trick you worked so hard to create!"
The ability to evade this blow was not solely due to Roy's powerful physical ability; Julius understood that it was more because he knew his trump card too well.
"Shut up with your chirping and squealing…"
Ricardo cursed as he swung his greatsword. Roy threw the brass knuckles from his right hand towards Julius, then gripped a shortsword that slid out from his long sleeve to intercept. The weapons, whose volumes differed by more than ten times, clashed, and sparks flew. The greatsword, wielded with a terrifying, unimaginable technique, grazed past Roy and shattered the stone slab of the ground.
Then, Roy mocked Ricardo while spinning and slicing at him with the shortsword in his hand. Ricardo tensed his body, intending to use his thick coat of muscle and fur to block the blade, but Alphard's attack was unreasonably perfect; a high-speed thrust accurately hit a spot where the fur was thinner and the muscle was not as thick.
"Ricardo, withdraw! Ia! Aro!"
Julius, who had deflected the brass knuckles, rushed to intervene. The Fire Spirit and Wind Spirit wrapped around his sword and attacked Roy from the side. However, Roy seemed to have eyes in his back, delivering a precise back kick to Julius.
"Ugh!!"
Julius cried out in pain and retreated. At the same time, Ricardo, who was in front of Roy, was struck under the chin by an uppercut carrying the brass knuckles, sending him flying backward.
"Cua, In, Nis!"
Julius commanded the minor spirits while charging at the chirping and squealing Roy. [Water] began to heal Ricardo, [Yang] strengthened Julius, and at the last moment, [Yin] weakened Roy. This was a scene Subaru had once witnessed when Julius fought Elsa.
"—Wuh!?"
But unlike Elsa, Roy, who had gained the fighting style of others through his Authority, was kicked away instantly when faced with this change.
"Amazing, amazing! The hardworking genius! The Finest of Knights! You truly are full of unknown charm!"
Roy, with flushed cheeks, looked at Julius with an intoxicated expression. Then, Roy let go of the shortsword in his hand and crushed the stone slab with his back heel.
"Eclipse."
Roy, who closed the distance in the blink of an eye, crushed the ground where Julius stood with one foot, then straightened his bent waist, and a powerful push strike punched through the air between them and landed on Julius's left hand.
"Eugh—!"
Julius's left hand, which he used to block the attack, was pressed against his chest by the massive force. The powerful impact made him feel as if his internal organs were twisting, and Julius was sent flying backward, spitting blood.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting