A pure white world spread before my eyes.

  It was a familiar sight. The spiritual world that Luna had created.

  As it turned out, after discussing things with Seto, I fell asleep in the middle of Roxy’s class session.

  Perhaps I unknowingly leaned on the table and fell asleep right then. Honestly, I think Roxy must be feeling irritated right now.

  I really shouldn’t wake up anytime soon…
[Luna.]

  I called the owner of this space, but there’s no response. Only the silent white space replied back to me.

  [Greed.]

  Along with Luna, I also called out to my one partner who had been assisting me in my training inside the spiritual world.

  But the result was the same. There was no prideful voice that I’ve come to be familiar with replying to me.

  Have I somehow become lost in this spiritual world?

  No, no. That shouldn’t be the case. This world was created by Luna to protect my heart and soul from the Gluttony skill. Luna should be here, somewhere.

  I repeatedly called her name, but no reply came back to me still.

  [What is going on here…]

  Stumped by the unexpected situation, my eyes wandered downward. And there, I saw my own shadow.

  Weird… this is the spiritual world here. How come my spiritual body cast a shadow here?

  [Why… do I have a shadow?]

  I crouched down, trying to touch the shadow,

  [Don’t touch!]

  The shadow distorted and escaped from my touch.

  So intently it tried to escape, it separated itself from where the shadow should’ve begun.

  As if it has a will of its own,

  [You are…]

  The shadow rose and took shape. The silhouette of someone I knew.

  It’s like looking at a mirror. But the shadowy form had a few distinctions that tell it apart from me.

  It has a pair of repulsive bright red eyes.

  Its index finger was pointed at me, as an ugly smile formed in its face. The shadow expanded and formed a greatsword in its hand. A greatsword, but it looked weird.

  The body of the blade extended down to where the pommel should be, making it so as if the greatsword was just a piece of iron slab without any hilt at first glance.

  A jet-black greatsword seemingly specialized for powerful strikes. The sword’s features reminded me of mortal sin weapons such as Greed, Sloth, and Envy.

  The shadow seemed to be hostile. Its gaze seemingly filled with extraordinary hate, as though I was an obstacle to its greatest goal.

  This might be dangerous.

  The reason is simple. I was unarmed. And facing this kind of enemy while unarmed is like looking for death.

  Even so, the shadow already moved in to attack me while letting a guttural beastly roar.

  While I was still hesitating, the jet-black greatsword already rained down on me.

  [Wha!?]

  I managed to evade the downward swing. But then black aura burst out from the sword, painting the white floor where it landed earlier with its color instantly.

  At the same time, my body was wrecked by pain.

  [I still took damage… what did it just do?]

  The shadow didn’t even care to reply to me. Already moving in again for a second strike.

  This time I had no time to evade. I needed a weapon to block this attack.

  But I don’t have any right now.

  Am I going to die…
『Sorry for the wait.』
[Greed!]

  My partner appeared within my grasp in a flash of light.

  Encouraged by his appearance, I moved to block the Shadow’s attack.

  『You seemed to be struggling there.』
[This fellow, what in the world is he?]

  『You should be able to tell』
[…..]

  Borne from my shadow, with a form that resembles me.

  『Yes, you guessed it right. He is the other you……that has been corroded by the Gluttony skill. It is finally strong enough to force its way to the spiritual world that Luna created.』
[That is.]

  『Until now, it has been waiting until you got devoured by the Gluttony skill. But now, it is trying to take you out by its own power. Remember that dying in this place equals to the death of your soul.』
[That means, if it managed to kill me here…]

  『The Gluttony skill will take over your body and run rampant in the real world』
Dammit, I inwardly thought as I pushed the greatsword back.

  If I get done in right now, the rampage will most likely destroy Hauzen.

  I jumped as far as I could away from the shadow.

  『That was why Luna lost control of this spiritual world. She asked me for help, so here I am.』
But Greed was in his sword form this time. He always appeared in his human form while in the spiritual world before.

  And yet he’s using his real life form.

  『Moreover, its power spiked up for some reason. I do not know why.』
[Ah, I wonder if it has something to do with me]

  『So you have an idea why?』
With the black sword already in my hand, I felt most assured.

  [Let’s go, Greed]

  『Go.』
I deflected the attack from the shadow, and countered from the opening.

  But the shadow managed to twist its body to minimize the damage it took.

  A shadowy arm fell near my feet.

  With that, it should have difficulties in handling the greatsword.

  For the first time since it started attacking me, the shadow actually pulled away.

  I didn’t miss one little fact.

  [What was that?]

  『It’s this form’s secret technique. There is no limiter in this world, remember?』
[Yeah, I’ll do my best then.]

  Changing Greed into bow form, I immediately used Bloody Ptarmigan, this form’s secret technique.

  We’re in the spiritual world. There is no need for me to sacrifice my status.

  I could basically use the technique as if I’ve sacrificed 100% status. Thinking so, I changed the secret technique into its mutated form, the 《Bloody Ptarmigan Cross》.

  Normally, sacrificing 100% of my status to Greed would’ve killed me though.

  A huge black lightning split into a double helix and struck the shadow.

  The shadow shrieked and tried to block the arrow with its greatsword. However, before the overwhelming power, its attempt was in vain.

  What was left was tattered pieces of shadow as it was no longer capable of maintaining its shape.

  And for once, it actually said something that I could understand.

  [You…are…mine.]

  After hearing that, I launched a coup de grace on the shadow. I could no longer stand seeing its hatred-filled face.

  When it lost its shape, it melted into a black pool on the white floor. The pool, along with all other black stains that the shadow left behind with its attacks, disappeared after a while.

  [Somehow, we defeated it.]

  I could hear Greed’s voice. But it’s coming from behind me, not from the black sword in my hand.

  Turning around, I saw him in his human form. Luna was also there standing next to him.

  [I’m glad that things worked out. I was worried for a moment there.]

  [Luna, that shadow, can you prevent it from attacking me again?]

  Those last words the shadow left behind still lingered in my head.

  [Impossible. After all, it’s also part of yourself, except that it has been tainted by the Gluttony skill. As long as you have the Gluttony skill, there is no escaping it. For now, it’s easy for Fate to defeat it since your heart and soul isn’t that eroded yet. However…]

  [One day, it might get stronger than me.]

  [Yes. I made this wall to prevent the Gluttony skill from devouring Fate. But at the same time, Gluttony skill is also trying to find a way to overcome this wall. I’m sorry…]

  From the looks of it, there’s nothing else Luna could do about it.

  [There is still time, you’ll still have the advantage until then.]

  Greed added in as he tapped my shoulder.

  I nodded to him, then spoke to Luna.

  [Please don’t make such a face. It’s thanks to Luna that I could go this far.]

  [Thanks, Fate.]

  [I should be the one thanking you. So, thanks, Luna. Mmm, by the way, can I ask you one thing?]

  [Yes, ask away.]

  [If Gluttony skill manages to devour me, what will happen to you?]

  The girl smiled as a response,

  [Then I’ll fall into the infinite hell below.]

  Her expression simply didn’t match the gravity of what she just said. Even Greed who was also listening next to me had his mouth agape.

  These two sisters… They tend to be indifferent about themselves, don’t they?

  In any case, all the more reason for me not to lose to that shadow.

  [Alright, it’s almost morning. Fate should leave the spiritual world now. In the meantime, I’ll repair the damage left by the battle earlier.]

  Luna said that before sending me back to the real world.

  Episode 157 - Waking up in the Morning

  Translator: Raizu

  Editor: Mirp

  Episode 157 – Waking up in the Morning

  [Morning, Fai!]

  A pleasant and gentle voice entered my ear. At that moment, it felt as if any damage I took on my heart from the fight last night instantly healed.

  When I slowly opened my eyes, there was the smiling face of Roxy right in front of me, bathed in the morning sunlight.

  [Morning.]

  [You slept so soundly. You did not even wake up once no matter how many times I prodded your cheek. Could it be because of the evening study?]

  [Probably half of it.]

  [You!]

  The private tutoring…recalling back on how strict Roxy was when tutoring me, I suppose it’s only natural if I got tired.

  I was just trying to be honest, but still got myself a light poke in the forehead anyway.

  It wasn’t hurt actually, more like a playful one.

  [Sorry.]

  [No need to apologize. I also think that Fai’s schedule yesterday was too hectic. But it is fine as long as Fai learns everything I have to teach you very quickly. If you can keep that up, I believe you will soon hold an important role in the capital!]

  [Ahahaha…I don’t think that I’m suited for that kind of position.]

  [What are you talking about? Fai is the current head of Barbatos family. You need to be more knowledgeable as a part of the five great families. No need to worry though. I am going to teach you everything!]

  [……please be gentle to me.]

  Roxy was already in high tension this early in the morning as she raised her fist up to the sky.

  There’s no stopping her now. Today’s lecture would most likely be even harsher than yesterday.

  And I would probably fall asleep on the desk again. Ah, right!

  [Thank you for yesterday.]

  [Nn? What do you mean?]

  [I mean, I fell asleep on the desk last night, right? But I woke up in my bed. Roxy must’ve carried me, haven’t you?]

  [That is right. I may look like this, but I am actually pretty strong.]

  Of course. She is after all, a Holy Knight.

  Back when I was still working as a Heart Family servant. I still remember….how she split the gemstone I gave her as a present in two with her bare hands. She’s also more than capable of fighting monsters on her own.

  Of course it’ll be easy for her to carry my body.

  I chuckled from imagining the sight of Roxy carrying me from the desk to the bed.

  [Now that I think about it, where did Roxy sleep last night then?]

  [Why of course, I slept here!]

  [EEEEeee!! For real!?]

  [Yes, I did. It was really rough!]

  [No way… don’t tell me]

  In my head, the faces of Eris and Mimir immediately came to mind. Moreso, they had a fearless smile on their faces.

  [It was just as Fai expected. The battle last night was fierce.]

  Looking around, I only realized how messy my room was. Seeing me looking around, Roxy immediately apologized.

  [Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin Fai’s room…]

  As I started to pick up the stuff piling up on the floor and returned them to where they belonged, something suddenly popped out from under the pile. This is… The scorpion tail… Could it be!?

  Before I knew it, Snow already grabbed on me.

  She appeared to be still half asleep, as she started to open her eyes with a yawn.

  [Morning!]

  [You…why are you here?]

  [Everyone was playing around happily, so I joined in.]

  [They weren’t playing though!]

  According to Roxy, last night was a rough three-way battle. Snow apparently sneaked into the room without their notice.

  [But Fate was asleep, and everyone ignored me, so I decided to sleep here.]

  [Buried in all that stuff? You really are a deep sleeper, aren’t you…]

  I pinched Snow’s cheek playfully, then turned back to Roxy as I noticed that she’s staring at me.

  [Ermm, what is it?]

  [Even if you say that, Fai is also the same. No matter how tired, you should’ve at least woke up once with all the fuss last night, but you didn’t.]

  [Now that you mention it… You’re right. Ahahaha….]

  I was trapped in the spiritual world, forced to fight off my shadow. Of course I couldn’t wake up.

  [Nn? Is there something wrong?]

  [Nah…I was just really tired.]

  Roxy had enough trouble as it is. I don’t want to burden her with more.

  That’s why I told her a white lie.

  [Many things happened even before we reached Hauzen, so I suppose it cannot be helped. Especially with Fai meeting your father.]

  [My Dad, huh… Honestly I don’t know if I should be happy or not to see that he’s alive.]

  [I think I could relate a little. My father is also revived… I am happy, but at the same time I wonder if it is a good thing or not. In Fai’s case, the mystery behind your father’s actions really did not help either.]

  [From stealing the philosopher’s stone to kidnapping Raine… He really went wild.]

  But Roxy was quick to remind me.

  [But he helped us back in the desert, did he not?]

  [….Un.]

  At that time, it felt like the Dad I knew from my childhood had returned to me. However, him trying to open the door to his land had made us enemies.

  [Since their purpose is similar, I think Dad will also be here just like Myne.]

  [I think you are right… I am also worried about that Libra we met at the oasis.]

  In the discussion with Seto yesterday, I asked him if there were people who resembled Libra or my Dad coming to Hauzen. Unfortunately, after the reconstruction was over, too many people had come to visit Hauzen to take note of a particular person.

  Due to the lack of manpower, the checkups had been kept light.

  It was a stroke of luck that there is a report of someone resembling Myne entering Hauzen.

  Letting Snow sit on the bed, I continued with cleaning up my room.

  [Alright, looks decent now, doesn’t it?]

  [Looks good. Alright then, go change your clothes. When Fai is ready, let us have breakfast.]

  [Yeah…..Nn? Don’t tell me, Roxy is the one cooking the breakfast?]

  [Why of course. Fufufufu…]

  Taking Snow with her, Roxy winked at me.

  That was a sign of confidence. She must’ve put her mind and soul to prepare this breakfast.

  [Fai, I will catch you later.]

  [Bye bye, Fate!]

  [Breakfast, huh.]

  Holding hand with Roxy, Snow waved her free hand at me as they walked away. I guess she had gotten used to Roxy along the way to Hauzen.

  After this, I wish she can also get along with Eris… Although I felt that it would be difficult.

  Snow was a Sacred Beastkin. On the other hand, Eris had a past grudge to the Sacred Beastkin. Libra for the most part. Snow’s presence might cause her to recall all the bad memories of the past.

  Like during yesterday’s dinner. Eris was all smiles when Snow was around her, but she’s also sweating profusely at the same time. Most likely because her trauma flared up.

  The unusually dull expression that appeared on Eris’ face back then came to mind. Can she actually fight Libra under this condition? It worries me.

  I quickly changed my clothes and left my room. Not to forget bringing Greed with me as well.

  『It was tough on you yesterday.』
[At some point I was wondering what will I end up with.]

  『Luna said that she’ll strengthen the defense of the spiritual world. That shadow will not attack again tomorrow.』
[Good to hear that. I was worried that I’ll have to face it everyday.]

  Now then, after breakfast, maybe I should head out to the town?

  I need to check the location where Myne was last seen according to the report. I also wanted to see how far the city has been developed.