Synchronization of the Gluttony Star
At the words that the Gluttony Star synchronization was beginning, I prepared for the future ahead. Soon, Grayus's memories would flow into me.
"……?"
But no matter how long I waited, I felt no particular change. What, was it just skipped this time? The thousands of souls connected to Grayus. Well, inheriting all those memories at once might have blown my head clean off. But I don't even have a brain to blow up…?
In this awkward situation, I scratched my bare skull and, to check if the inheritance was complete, summoned my status window for the first time in a while.
'Status window!'
A noticeable change had appeared before my eyes. First off, the star next to my name was different! Unlike before, when it was just an empty outline, now it had a fully formed shape worthy of being called a true star. Was this what I'd been chasing all this time? I'd thought it was some metaphorical thing. Way more straightforward than I expected.
And the changes didn't stop there.
'Skill window!'
It was time to check the most important part.
「Eye of Desire lv. 2」
「Gluttony lv. 3」
「Slash lv. 100」
「re:bone lv. 3」
「Dodge lv. 2」
「Scream lv. 1」
「Massacre Charge lv. 3」
「Spinning Slash lv. 1」
「Bone Toss lv. 1」
New changes had appeared in my skills too. First up, Eye of Desire. This must be the old Soul Eye, upgraded. With excitement, I checked its description.
Eye of Desire lv. 2
Allows detailed viewing of the opponent's information.
I was startled reading the skill description. The penalty was gone! It used to require physical contact to activate. But the new description had no such condition. So now I could check info without touching? This is game-changing! Plus, the line about not working on much higher-level foes was gone too. Now I could freely peek at anyone's info without restrictions!
"Clack!"
My joy made my jaw clack automatically.
Gluttony lv. 3
Feel an endless impulse craving desire.
Impulses stronger than reason can sometimes dull emotions.
While the skill is active, physical abilities surge dramatically.
Next, Gluttony—the skill my old cravings had turned into, always a headache. The description was mostly the same. The only difference? A new line: physical abilities rise dramatically while active? "Dramatically" doesn't give a clear sense. Still, getting stronger is always good. I'd take it positively. I just hoped it wouldn't make me black out like the first time I got cravings.
The inherited skills remained unchanged otherwise. Anyway, I'd chased a star and now had one—more changes would come. Satisfied with the improved constitution, I finally looked around.
Grayus's former lair. With the massive flesh blob gone, I could see the details. In the center of the ancient egg chamber, filled with an archaic atmosphere, I spotted the brilliantly glowing dungeon core and approached with glee.
You have become the new ruler of the dungeon!
Placing my hand on the core, it recognized me as its master. Now I could move it freely. I grabbed the core from the Forgotten Shadow Underground and exited the egg chamber.
Wandering the now-empty dungeon felt refreshingly novel, like strolling empty streets at dawn. A strange solitude and chill. Yet I savored the joy of being the sole survivor as I left.
On the way up, I didn't forget to grab the key Torumo left before dying and the warehouse map drawn on the floor.
"Keeek!"
Back in the cave, the shadow bugs' noisy cries greeted me. Everyone inside was dead and gone—why hadn't these horrors vanished? Passing the shadow bugs, I returned to the skeleton knight's room, where Karen spotted me first from afar.
"Guuuu!"
As if she'd been waiting just for me. Karen, who had been sitting blankly with legs stretched out, approached with a joyful face.
"Guu?"
Stopping right in front of me, she tilted her head this way and that, like she was searching for something. You were waiting for me, right…? Karen kept glancing at my hands, wondering if I had anything. Since I always brought back something from outings, she now assumed I'd return with food.
"Here."
Clack. Of course, I'd grabbed a shadow bug head on the way.
"Waaah—"
Grabbing it, Karen finally smiled brightly, mouth agape in satisfaction. Yeah, as long as you're happy. I shook my head, feeling an inexplicable bitterness.
"You've changed quite a bit."
Gular noticed immediately. The star next to my name now shone clearly. I no longer needed to chase a star—I had one!
"Where on earth did you get that star…??"
I knew he'd love it. Beaming proudly at Gular's reliable reaction, I spun an exaggerated tale of my exploits.
"Killed a house-sized monster in one blow? Hah…."
I didn't lie. To a small fry's eyes, Grayus might've looked house-sized. And it died in one strike, so that was true too. As I puffed up with pride, Gular's admiring words flowed. A slight pang of conscience, but I played it cool. Recognition lust is a desire too. What's wrong with the Gluttony Star acting gluttonous?
After hearing my full story, Gular explained what happened while I was in the dungeon.
"Less than an hour passed since you went in."
Only that much? It felt like over a day. Then it hit me. Right, time flows slower inside. Even I couldn't escape the effect. With Grayus dead, was it still active? That'd be jackpot. A time chamber straight out of comics. I'd check later.
So much to verify. Tomuro's royal treasure warehouse. What remained in the unsearched empty Forgotten Shadow Underground. My mouth watered rivers.
Gluttony has activated.
Suddenly, vitality surged through my body. I suppressed the emotions with effort. Why tamp down the Gluttony? To claim the points—that was my biggest reason for entering the Forgotten Shadow Underground.
"Dungeon! Points!"
Clack! Now I could remodel the dungeon! That's why I'd gone in. Building a home in this barren world. What could be more thrilling in a place without entertainment?
"Shall we get started?"
Gular's words brimmed with anticipation, matching mine. My jaw clacked.
"Clack!"
Time to reshape the dungeon.
While Chiron was deep in discussion with Gular about remodeling the dungeon…
"…….."
In the deep underground darkness, golden eyes quietly opened.
"…A new star has been born."
The words, laced with boredom, carried an unknowable power. The world unchanged for nearly centuries. Yet some beings sensed extinction drawing near.
The 13 stars that would destroy the world. The one long-dormant among them had ended its life. And immediately, a new Gluttony Star was born.
Change to the entrenched 12 Lord regime was inevitable.
"Lisid."
"Yes, you called?"
A slothful woman's voice that drained strength just to hear. The shadow appeared without a sound and knelt.
"Go confirm it yourself."
No need for details.
"As you command."
Watching her kin vanish in an instant, the woman pondered quietly. The previous one dreamed of immortality and self-destructed. Gluttons always end that way—unable to control their greed, they crumble easily.
"I wonder if this one will be different."
The star with the greatest potential, shining brightest. Thus, the greatest danger.
Whoever the new master of Gluttony was…
"I'm a little excited."
Her slothful heart, dormant for centuries, began to stir faintly.