Gluttony (4)
By now, everyone listening to the story must have figured it out. She was an NPC connected to the sudden Gluttony quest I'd received. So what? There wasn't a damn thing I could do about it right now. Empire this, guardian squad that—it didn't matter. None of it gave me any key info for clearing the quest.
So... what the hell should I do? For starters, I decided to knock out the gloomy girl's commission first. Everyone in that village was a researcher, right? Clearing her request might get me some answers.
As I mulled it over, Idiot spoke up.
"Paura, what're you planning to do?"
"Gather info first."
I flashed her a grin as I said it. Playing it cool. A real pro reassures the client so they don't worry when you've taken on a job.
Idiot pondered my smile for a moment, then pulled a sword from behind her back. Unlike the one from the blacksmith, this had a grade and description.
◈ HP +10
◈ STR +10
◈ DEX +5
◈ A well-made sword, old but in good condition.
"...This was my comrade's sword. Please take it."
Idiot bowed her head and offered it to me. Looked like my promise to help had boosted her affinity big time. If there was an affinity system, it'd probably pop up like 30/100 or something.
Wait, affinity system? It actually exists? In a game that's not even a dating sim...? Well, some old RPGs had them. Anyway, no idea why, but hers was pretty high. That's why she handed over her comrade's sword without hesitation.
This was a good thing. Keeping good relations with NPCs could pay off later—who knew?
I stashed the junk starter sword in my inventory and equipped the one Idiot offered at my side.
"Thanks...."
Then she started crying. What the—?
"No, no, what'd I even do? Sniff."
...I spent the next few minutes wiping away her tears, sweating bullets.
After that, we left the sword training hall and headed back to the hunting grounds. The flies were still buzzing in the same spot, rubbing their hands on nearby grass or shit.
...A gruesome sight. Head-sized flies clustered together—ugly as hell.
But at a glance, their numbers had thinned out. No maggots in sight, and the flies were down to about a hundred. A far cry from the thousands swarming earlier.
No clue what happened, but it was good news. If all those maggots had stayed flies here, it'd be a nightmare.
Most were level 13 or 14, with a few 15s scattered around—not too many.
Shing. I drew my sword.
"Not too few, not too many—ten of 'em."
Just ten. I burst from the bushes and lopped off a fly's head. The headless body twitched its legs for a few seconds before going still.
Nice. Three more levels and I'd unlock the next skill.
"Hrah!"
Horizontal Slash
One skill swing took out four at once. Not even their necks.
"This sword's the real deal."
The guardian sword outclassed the researcher-forged iron one in quality. It had a grade and description, after all. Not every hunk of metal's an item.
Bzzz! Bzzzzz!
A few flies raged at their buddy's death. The rest didn't give a shit, just kept munching away.
"Friends die and you don't even care."
Five charged me. Manageable—I swung without dodging.
Whoosh!Bzzz... The blade cut the air loudly.
Diagonal Slash
Tested if it canceled into another skill. Nope. Physics were strict here. Confirmed combos and basic attacks worked differently, though.
Power increased.
Link: Diagonal → Vertical Slash
Splash! Another one down with the combo vertical slash. But now the others joined in from the start.
Splat! Nearby monsters spewed filth from their mouths.
"Ugh, gross...!"
The stench wrinkled my nose, and my HP dropped.
HP reduced.
Each hit did 90 damage—about a tenth of my base HP. High for beginner hunting ground mobs.
Horizontal Slash
Still, one skill wiped them out.
Splaaash!!
Ten down. I pulled out the gloomy girl's beaker from my inventory to collect the corpses, then paused.
"Hold up..."
Last time, maggots spawned. Why not now? Weird. Same monster, different patterns? Didn't make sense.
Thinking back, the ones turning from maggot to fly had varying levels. Probably some gimmick.
"What kinda beginner mob is this complicated?"
Anyway, I'd deduce on the way back.
1. Level 15 flies spawn maggots on death.
2. Maggots eat the mother's body to level up.
3. Flies eat comrades, shit, or plants to level.
4. Hit 15, repeat infinitely?
One and two seemed solid. Three fit the situation but unconfirmed. Four might have conditions—why no 15s back there if eating just levels them?
...No idea. Next time, observe closer. Or ask the gloomy girl. She wanted fly corpses for a reason.
Lost in thought, I arrived at the commission office.
Knock knock.
"C-come... in!"
Tristis's voice from inside. Creeeak. The door opened to a pungent smell.
"Hehe... I was in the middle of... research. Come in."
She scratched her head, hunched over, clearing her spot. Even assigned here, researchers gonna research. Zeal for it in this tiny shack—impressive.
"D-did you... b-bring the c-corpses?"
I showed her the beaker from my inventory.
"Hee hee... Th-thanks. The reward..."
She grinned creepily, hand out.
"Hold on."
I snatched the quest item back. Couldn't take standard rewards. I'd planned what I wanted.
"About the reward—can I check out the lab?"
"The... l-lab?"
She frowned, scratching arm, head, cheek, hmming before nodding.
"N-no."
The exact opposite of what I wanted.
"...Huh?"
Her face soured too—no fly corpses for her.
...Gotta sweet-talk her.
"You could use these fly corpses for research if you let me in, y'know?"
"N-no..."
"Perfect for dissection or potions?"
"Ah..."
"Fly research material would feel so good..."
"Ugh...!"
She clawed her head in agony, then yelled.
"F-fine! But don't touch anything."
Yes!
But a condition.
"A-and... I'll sh-show you... t-tomorrow."
"Hah?"
Didn't see that coming.
"B-be grateful I even... sh-show you the lab...!"
Then the kicker.
"...Sword bitch."
Was this chick nuts?
"You gloomy bitch, I was nice and—!"
I reached for my sword; she flinched but grabbed my shoulder and shoved me out.
Stronger than she looked—way stronger. Prideful too. Could probably gather her own materials. One punch a fly, easy.
"Sigh."
Now what? "Tomorrow" meant real-world tomorrow? Day done?
Denying it, I paced outside when Treib and researchers appeared. He walked normally; they shuffled humanoid-awkwardly.
Treib led them smiling, then said to me,
"Best not entertain foolish thoughts. What I left till the end—don't cross that line."
"I enjoyed watching, so don't even think it."
Seemed aimed at me but not quite. Shady vibe anyway.
I brushed it off. Obsessing now just screamed "Treib's the villain!"
With the day's tasks done, maybe browse the gallery? Check if my progress was on track.
Yeah, foundation set—early game cleared.
Anyway,
"Logout."
Everything went black.