Chapter 88. Gluttony's Fang (1)
"..."
A shabby hut shrouded in thick fog.
Inside, Theon fidgeted nervously, sneaking uneasy glances at Verden. Sitting on a chair, Verden looked out the window and asked.
"Why are you acting like that?"
"N-no, just… wondering why I had to come all the way here..."
Theon had carried out the role Verden had assigned to him faithfully.
He had skillfully deceived Gluttony's host, and even created the chance to reveal the Fang, something he himself had never seen before.
Honestly speaking, hadn't he done enough to be spared?
Surely, after doing this much, he wouldn't be killed… but still, he couldn't understand why he had to come this far, and with no one else but this insane Mage at that.
There was nothing more he could do anyway.
Then Verden turned his gaze.
Meeting those blue eyes, Theon unconsciously took a step back.
"The Fang has not yet been confirmed. Until then, of course you must follow. There's also the chance you colluded with Gluttony to set a trap."
There was no trap. Why would I be crazy enough to do that?
Theon barely managed to swallow back the words that had risen to his throat.
"If it isn't a trap?"
"Then I'll send you straight to the Ark. You'd only get in the way."
"…And if it is a trap?"
"Then you die."
Since the other side had already realized the situation, discovering the Fang was impossible.
Naturally, the value of Theon, who had only been bait, was gone. Furthermore, Verden had no intention of sparing a traitor.
Keeping him around would only be bothersome, or he might betray again.
Swallowing hard, Theon asked one last question.
"Then what if it isn't a trap, but the Fang still doesn't appear?"
"The Doctor came to meet them, and yet they do not show. Then we can only think they've caught on."
In Gluttony, the Doctor was unique.
The Ark, Theon, and Gluttony himself had confirmed that fact many times. And yet, even after confirming the Doctor's mark they had so desperately sought, he still did not appear?
That could only mean the plan had failed.
And who would take responsibility for that? Naturally, Theon. Since he was the one who had contacted Gluttony and arranged the meeting.
"..."
Theon tightly shut his mouth.
Talking any further would only fill his head with dark thoughts. All he could do was quietly hope the Fang appeared.
'But how will this turn out, really.'
Theon found himself wondering.
Would this cold-blooded Mage die, or would the Fang die?
Though Theon had never seen the Fang's shadow, he had understood its danger since childhood.
Neither human, nor demi-human, nor even a mere abnormal species. A special being that had received a transplant of Gluttony's ancient organ and survived.
That presence had been carved deep into Theon's memory.
'But…'
Asher. This Mage was also a monster.
Who could say he had not reached the Fifth Tier? The sight of him annihilating the hosts without even blinking was unforgettable.
If there was such a thing as a Genius Mage, this was it, one could only nod in agreement.
Who would win, Theon couldn't guess. Both were beings beyond his imagination.
But the result would likely be the same.
Even if Asher were defeated, he would not fall easily, and before he died, the Ark that had encircled the area would surely intervene.
The point was only one.
Whether the Fang existed or not.
That alone would decide how the story unfolded.
"They're here."
Verden looked outside.
Through the dense fog, two figures approached.
***
"I am Fargan."
"Valchen, is my name..."
The two who had come from Gluttony greeted Verden.
On the surface, they were no different from humans, but now, even a glance at their eyes was enough to tell.
They were hosts who had escaped human bounds, and even among those Theon had seen so far, they were powerful beings.
'Closest aides, perhaps.'
It might also be a trap.
Verden, his face hidden by the hood of his robe, gave no reply and simply turned his head toward each in turn.
The Doctor was known as a radical, with a bizarre temperament.
If displeased, he would use subordinates for experiments, or even abandon Gluttony and vanish. Because of that, few, if any, knew his face or voice.
This was something Theon had confirmed for him.
Perhaps it was true, for even with no answer, they did not doubt Verden at all.
Verden gestured at Theon.
Theon stepped forward and spoke on his behalf.
"Where is the Fang?"
"We shall guide you at once. But first, we must cross the lake by boat..."
Verden didn't even listen to the rest before walking forward, passing the two by.
A silent pressure to guide him immediately. Fargan closed his mouth and led the way. At Verden's unhesitating behavior, Theon blinked.
'…He really does seem like the Doctor.'
Rude, arrogant, and self-centered.
If the Doctor were alive, that's how he would act. Or else he'd have thrown a glass flask, demanding why they hadn't told him in advance.
So eccentric was the Doctor that predicting his actions was nearly impossible.
Theon followed behind, with Valchen taking up the rear.
***
Valchen rowed to either side.
A small ferry glided across the Dark Lake. The fog thickened so much the sky was hidden. Perhaps because it was so early in the morning before sunrise, the atmosphere was eerie.
Only the bright lamp lit the surroundings.
After a while, an island suddenly emerged from the fog.
It wasn't man-made.
To Verden's senses, it seemed to be a natural formation.
An island hidden on a vast lake.
'It must take something like this to hide from the Ark.'
As befitted the Dark Lake, there were almost no signs of people.
No matter how clean it was, who would live here? Any ordinary person would flee at once, terrified of what might happen in fog so thick you couldn't see twenty steps ahead.
As they neared the island, many gazes were felt.
Members of Gluttony, watching for unwelcome intruders. They exuded killing intent sharp enough to murder anyone who approached.
Of course, it wasn't directed at Verden and Theon.
Rather, it seemed to be meant to prevent any danger from reaching the Doctor.
Soon, the ferry touched the island.
Stepping onto it and following the path, a huge mansion appeared. The only window was on the third floor, everything else was wall.
For Verden, it was a first.
To see a building that seemed so unwilling to be lived in.
'What a taste, truly befitting Gluttony.'
A disgustingly twisted sense of art.
"Please, come in."
Fargan opened the mansion's door.
It was decorated with bright atmosphere and several pieces of furniture, yet, there was barely any sense of human presence.
'For a stronghold, there are far fewer of them than I expected.'
Well, perhaps that was only natural.
Verden alone had killed close to double digits of hosts, and counting overall, the number far surpassed that. Perhaps the losses were severe.
Or, this could be a trap.
Verden heightened his senses and turned his head toward Theon.
Though he spoke not a single word, Theon nodded as if he understood.
"Yes, I shall wait outside."
Theon bowed his head deeply.
Inside the mansion entered only Verden, and the hosts Fargan and Valchen, the three of them. They climbed the stairs and arrived at a chamber in the center of the third floor.
'The room where the window was.'
Upon entering, on the long dining table, neatly arranged on both sides, single portions of dishes and utensils had been set.
Verden sat at one end.
"Please wait a moment. The Fang will be here shortly."
He did not reply, simply remained still.
The two bowed and left the room.
Verden was alone.
From his spatial bag, he drew out the compass of Black Hour.
This was Gluttony's stronghold.
The closer he was to them, the stronger the compass needle reacted.
Then suddenly.
The needle swung with a sharp flick, pointing toward outside the door. Following the approaching sound of unfamiliar footsteps, it moved. And the moment the door opened, it halted.
Without the slightest tremor, it pointed exactly at its target.
"It is an honor to meet you, Doctor. I, the fifth Fang of Gluttony, greet you here."
A courteous manner, a voice full of humility.
The man who sat opposite Verden was already someone he knew. Impossible not to. It was a face he had seen only days ago.
'A noble, yes, but to think from a marquis family.'
Not a mere retainer, but the sole heir of his house.
Rupel Rains di Gardran.
The noble who had led the 3rd Central Knight Order.
***
"I did not know what you might prefer, so I prepared everything. Whatever you wish, simply say the word, and it shall be brought at once."
The dining table was crowded with food.
With no order at all, steak, pasta, seafood, bread, and all manner of dishes had been placed haphazardly. Before long, Rupel had emptied a plate and drank his wine.
Verden, watching him blankly, asked.
"Why seek me out?"
Verden's unaltered voice, his true tone. It did not match the Doctor's age.
Yet, as expected, Rupel paid it no mind. For if the Doctor willed it, he could change not only his face but his voice, even his body.
The most pioneering among Gluttony, having conducted countless experiments on the human body, it was a miracle within his reach.
Wiping his lips with a napkin, Rupel smiled.
"Whether in the world, or in Gluttony, much has changed in the years since your departure. And in that time, we finally found the way to fulfill Gluttony's noble wish."
'Wish?'
Rupel drew out a crimson fragment and set it upon the table.
"This, is a crystal condensed from life itself. To make even one of these, we sacrificed more than thousands of lives, each bearing a certain measure of vitality."
Beasts, magical beasts, demi-humans, abnormal species.
All were materials, hunted without discrimination. Later, when numbers dwindled, they risked detection by the Ark and turned to humans.
"But, from that backlash, the Ark discovered us. We suffered considerable losses. In the end, we failed to secure the fragment we had intended. So───"
Rupel said proudly.
"I used my own subordinates."
As many as were lacking, he ground them down.
This was the very reason why there were so few of Gluttony on this island. It was no waste. By becoming part of the plan, their lives had been used for a great purpose.
It was a meaningful sacrifice.
"Had we time, we might have proceeded more carefully. Unfortunately, this crimson fragment is not complete. After a certain time, it collapses, and the results it produces are lacking. That is why I myself was forced to move, to secure meaningful outcomes in a short span. And that is also the reason I sought you, Doctor. More precisely, for the new humanity you are researching."
The vessel, new humanity.
The organ, Gluttony.
The life force, crimson fragment.
The Fangs of Gluttony were convinced that if those three things were combined, Gluttony, long yearned for, could be revived.
"The Doctor's 'new humanity', whose potential surpasses the old beyond measure. The 'organs of Gluttony', that devour the world. Lastly, the 'completed crimson fragment', possessing infinite life beyond the finite. Of course, they must be attuned, but I assure you it shall not take long."
It was near.
The moment Gluttony was revived to drive the old humanity to extinction, and in that world, the new humanity would reign. When the weak past was shed, and they became the apex of species.
"But then..."
Rupel's gaze shifted to the compass lying before Verden.
It had bothered him for some time… and he could not shake the feeling that its needle was somehow pointing at him.
"What, is that compass?"
"Ah, this thing?"
Verden picked up the compass.
From it, he drew out a black magic stone and tossed it lightly onto the table. It bore the lingering aura of Gluttony's fragment Rupel had made.
Rupel furrowed his brow.
"A magic stone? Doctor, what is the meaning of this?"
"What else."
Verden pulled back his robe.
Gray hair, blue eyes. That appearance. Ordinarily, Rupel might not have reacted, but he had recently heard rumors of a man with those very features.
The subjugator of the Soul Tree, and the young Mage who had taken first place in the Agency's match.
"Asher…?"
Rupel could not hide his shock.
Seizing that opening, Verden moved his knife, and pierced straight through the center of Rupel's throat.