It was only an empty shop; there was nobody else inside. Only Eris and I.
We each sat down on one of the twenty chairs that surrounded a round table..
Eris focused her jade colored eyes to me, smiling silently.
[So…..are you the owner of this tavern?]
[No, I'm not. I'm just a part-time worker here. Master opened the bar because he needed to restock. By the way, he's a 40-year-old virgin, and is currently seeking a wife――]
[I don't need that kind of information. Anyways, why were you waiting for me?]
I accepted the invitation to find out why Eris was waiting for me. Not to talk about the owner of this tavern.
Seeing that I was waiting for her answer, Eris tucked a lock of her blue hair behind her ear, and stood up from her seat.
[Well, don't be so rushed. I'm finally able to see you. This calls for a celebration.]
She walked back to the counter and took two glasses out from the shelves as she said that. She then poured wine into both glasses.
Looking at the label, it wasn't the cheap brand that I was familiar with. I guess it's an expensive brand.
She returned with two glasses of red wine in her hands.
[Now, please. I've kept this bottle for this very day. Just for you. Perhaps it's too old for your taste, but please bear with me this time.]
[…..Thanks]
Judging from her saddened face, apparently the wine used here was something memorable for Eris.
To put out such thing for me….what on earth was this all about? I was perplexed by this one-sided situation.
But as per Eris' request, I took a sip of the red wine, then downed the glass. Indeed, it was a rather old wine, and quite delicious too.
Eris looked very pleased upon seeing me drinking the wine.
[A good drink, isn't it? Would you like a refill?]
I shook my head. I didn't come for this in the first place after all.
[Aren't you impatient? Well that's fine. Originally, I planned to contact you when you first awakened the Gluttony skill, back in the Kingdom. However, I unfortunately missed my chance. Before I could reach out to you, you'd already left the kingdom to pursue Roxy Heart.]
[It was from that far back?]
[Yes, of course. Oh, I forget to tell you, I'm the owner of the Mortal Sin skill Lust, and also the guardian of the kingdom. I knew about both of you, including Greed here. I was the one who put Greed at the flea market at the commercial district back then, and sure enough, Fate came across it. So I just let it happen.]
I could hear Greed clicking his tongue via "mind reading". He probably didn't like the feeling of having danced on Eris' palm like that.
[Are you an acquaintance of Greed?]
[I'm afraid not. I'm a second-generation, so I don't really know about the first generation that much. By the way, that girl who travelled with you until you returned to Babylon was the first-generation Wrath. To put it simply, Myne and I don't get along so well. Look, my breasts are bigger than hers, right? She doesn't seem to like this.]
Though Eris said so, didn't mean that it was true. Myne just doesn't like over-familiar people.
Other than that, first-generation, second-generation….. Before I knew it, Eris was getting close to touching my chest.
Che. Everything she does, it's all to flare up my dirty thoughts so I that can't think well. What…is this aura that forces others to be fascinated in her?
When I drew my face away to resist it,
[Ah, my bad. This is the harmful effect of Lust skill. Its enchanting power will leak out arbitrarily from time to time. Once affected by it, anyone, regardless of age, can't help but to love me. Compared to Fate's Gluttony skill, the equivalent would be when you feel starving.]
Eris didn't seem to mind it that much, she laughed.
Because of Gluttony skill, not only was I forced to keep killing monsters, I also had to maintain my focus, lest I'll lose myself….. Eris's skill, on the other hand, didn't seem to have any drawbacks like mine did. Probably…..
I gave Eris a look of scorn out of jealousy.
[Now now, don't give me such a face. I'm also struggling here and there too. Ah, right right, I remember now that Myne got mentioned. You two defeated the chimera angel Haniel the other day. I'm really thankful since that one was the most troublesome among the 7 types. Thank you.]
[7 types?]
[Un, that's right. They were the ancient biological weapons created during ancient Gallia era. There were 7 types of them. Haniel was known as the machine angel of barrier, so it's especially difficult to get close to it. With the currently weakened Holy Knights, it would've been very hard to subdue it.]
[I don't actually want to think about it…but there are 6 more of that thing…?]
The weather is really nice, isn't it…..I tried to think that way, as I asked for confirmation, which Eris answered with a nod and bitter smile. I put down the empty wine glass, feeling weary all of a sudden.
[Well, no need to feel bothered about that. Most of them are inactive in the capital of Gallia. There is one which is kind of worrisome….that's Haniel, but it's already been defeated.]
Haniel's cocoon somehow ended up on that desolate ruin of an ancient town. That thing shouldn't have been there originally, someone must've brought it there.
Because I was involved in Haniel's case, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't care. However, once I get involved further, I wouldn't be able to achieve my original goal.
While drinking another glass of wine to quench my parched throat,
[Let's stop talking about that, shall we? Even I don't want to stick out my neck out for the problem of the first generation. Now then, onto the main topic.]
[Main topic!?]
I first thought that the conversation would end with that info about the machine angels. However, Eris didn't seem to consider them as something important. I wonder what problem is greater than those strong enemies?
And the next sentence Eris said enraged me.
[It's about the Holy Knight Roxy Heart. She'll die in Gallia.]
[What the! Are you kidding me!!]
I hit the glass in my hand on the table. Ignoring my show of anger, Eris calmly continued.
[It's important for the kingdom, no, for the future of the kingdom. Her death will certainly lead the kingdom to a better state.]
[Are you kidding me! How would the kingdom go in a better direction if she dies!? Roxy is one of the few Holy Knights who actually cares for the people. Even for me, that's why…]
I grabbed Eris' sleeve. Even then, she didn't get mad, which made me feel awkward.
[Do you know, what the Hate phenomenon is?]
[When you kill monsters, hate will accumulate on you and you'll be more likely to be targeted. In any case, it will reset after a day.]
[That's correct. But not entirely. It doesn't actually reset. It'll accumulate over the years, and in the end give birth to a monster with unique name――the crown tier. Like that Crown-tier kobold you fought back at the Hearts' territory.]
That's right...Greed did said that it was born out of the hate from Heart family continuously killing kobolds for many generations…..Now that we're talking about this, Eris knows about what I did to that extent?
Did someone monitor me? I didn't even notice at all.
An unknown force separated my hand from Eris' sleeve.
[It's good since you've calmed down a little. Now let's continue. That hate phenomenon occurs even to humans. Tyranny, discrimination, and poverty caused by the Holy Knight…..people have accumulated hate throughout their sufferings. Adding to that, the death of Roxy Heart――the last heir of the only Holy Knight family that was adored by the people. Moreover, it was a death caused by the other fellow Holy Knights, which will make the hate even more intense.]
[What are you talking about…]
[Roxy Heart's death will be a sacrifice so that immense hate can be accumulated, and it will bring the rise of a new generation of humans. People with better skills than the Holy Knights will start being born, and they will become the pillar of the future kingdom. Isn't that wonderful?]
[Someone dies….how can that be wonderful?]
Just to artificially create people with powerful skills, there is no way I'll allow them to use Roxy.
[Of course. It'd be hard for you to lose Roxy Heart if you only looked at your short term interest. However, if you look at hundred years ahead, thousand years ahead, the story will be different. I want you to understand this. We are the owners of similar skills. But Fate had just awakened recently. I'm sorry for saying a bad thing. As for me, I only want you to avoid following your emotions and try to fight Tenryu.]
I stood up from my seat, not wanting to hear any more. Then, when I was about to open the tavern's door, Eris said,
[I've already told you what I need to say. Please understand…..I'll leave that part to you. I promise. I will not disturb you anymore, and I'll only watch as a bystander. I'll be glad if you'll return here one day, that time as a regular customer. At that time I'll give you proper service.]
Eris' voice carried a hint of loneliness. Just like Myne, Eris may also be living under some inhibition. Unexpectedly, I may be the only one who is free.