## Chapter 1114
"Approach me."
Raon took hold of Gluttony’s limp arm and guided her to a small stone. She offered no opposition, placing her reliance on him.
"Explain exactly what occurred."
Although he had gathered the gist of the situation from Wrath, he sought the precise details from Gluttony’s own lips.
"I am not entirely certain myself..."
Gluttony perched on the rock, her legs swaying as if she were dangling them in a pool.
"To me, the world was merely a feast. Trees, stones, the soil, the firmament, monsters, and mortals alike."
She exhaled a soft sigh, recounting how she had simply consumed and engulfed everything in her path.
"Flavor was irrelevant. There was only this void..."
Gluttony pressed a tiny hand against her midsection.
"I only desired for it to cease. I merely devoured whatever crossed my lips."
Her eyes fluttered shut and open slowly, as if she were revisiting the ghosts of her former cravings.
"I understand that," Raon remarked, crossing his arms and nodding. "Now, speak of what transpired after our paths crossed in the Human World."
He tilted his head, maintaining his imitation of Wrath’s mannerisms.
'This is the crucial part.'
He was eager to pinpoint the exact transformation Gluttony had undergone since their meeting.
"You introduced me to bead ice cream and instructed me on how to consume it."
Gluttony fixed her gaze on Raon, her head cocking to the side.
"Indeed," Raon agreed, though his eyes shifted toward Wrath.
'Hold on. If memory serves, you were the one who introduced her to bead ice cream, not me.'
-Wait, what...?
Wrath let out a sharp, confused intake of breath.
'After we drove off Greed, you were the one who guided Gluttony to that ruined ice cream parlor. Have you forgotten?'
Following the confrontation with Greed, Wrath had intercepted Gluttony while she was eating dirt and provided her with the frozen treat instead.
-Ah!
Wrath’s eyes grew wide as the memory surfaced.
-That is correct! I was the one who provided the meal!
'And when she tried to gulp it down like everything else, you actually cuffed the back of her head to make her savor the flavor!'
Gluttony had attempted to swallow the ice cream whole as if it were mere earth, but under Wrath’s stern tutelage, she had experienced taste for the first time, marveling at the sensation.
-T-then, the reason Gluttony is in this state is because...
Wrath’s jaw hung slack as he observed the despondent demon king.
'Precisely. This wasn't my doing; it was yours.'
Raon gave a blunt nod of confirmation.
-Curse it all!
Wrath clutched his head, realizing the situation was far from humorous.
"Initially, it was glorious. I could eat ice cream incessantly. It was incredibly tasty."
Gluttony nodded at him, her silent way of offering appreciation.
"However, a localized parching began to take hold."
Gluttony lifted a pale hand to her throat.
"The more I consumed the ice cream, the more intense the thirst grew. I cannot fathom why. Why does a void grow within me when I am consuming such delights?"
She shook her head, unable to reconcile her own internal shifts.
"You have never experienced this sensation before?"
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he adjusted his posture.
"Never. Not when devouring forests, boulders, the ground, the sky, or the denizens of the Abyss. Not even when consuming humans."
Gluttony confirmed that this specific yearning was entirely unprecedented.
"I tried to disregard the tightening in my chest and continued to eat the ice cream, but eventually, I couldn't even bring myself to take a bite. That was when the realization hit. I understood why I felt so empty."
She popped a spoonful of ice cream topped with wild grass into her mouth.
"I yearned for novel sensations, for flavors more exquisite."
Gluttony let out a weary breath, explaining that a new facet had emerged from the primal hunger she had possessed since her inception.
"And I wanted them to be flavors of my own making."
She chewed the unappealing mixture with a sorrowful expression.
"Just as I suspected..."
Raon nodded after listening to her account.
'The instincts of a connoisseur are merging with her hunger.'
Bead ice cream offered enough variety that a typical person wouldn't tire of it quickly. However, truly new variations were rare, and Gluttony—who consumed massive quantities daily—had exhausted the existing menu. She was now hunting for novelty out of sheer stagnation.
"Support me. Help me create new varieties of ice cream."
Gluttony lowered her head, expressing her desire to craft the treats with her own power.
"Hmm..."
Raon hummed, hesitating to commit.
'Am I capable of this?'
While he possessed fundamental culinary skills, creating something as specialized as bead ice cream was a different matter. Furthermore, satisfying the palate of a demon king would be an immense challenge.
'My mother, Helen, or perhaps Judiel might have the skill. But...'
Gluttony clearly wanted to be the creator. She wanted to produce the dessert with her own hands, which explained why she was currently experimenting with weeds, soil, and pebbles.
-These lords of the Abyss are nothing but a headache.
Wrath didn't mock her this time, feeling the weight of his own influence on the matter.
-And now I perceive why that creature has gained such power.
'Gained power? You mentioned that when we first located her.'
He recalled Wrath commenting on her increased strength during their search.
-Even for a demon king like Gluttony, who is already a pinnacle existence, further growth is almost unheard of.
Wrath gestured toward the slumped figure of Gluttony.
-She has undeniably evolved by weaving the soul of a gourmet into her primal, cursed instincts!
He gave a dry laugh, noting that even in his vast lifespan, this was a rarity.
'Could she become even more formidable than she is currently?'
Raon looked at Wrath with a calculating gaze.
-It is a possibility, provided that glutton manages to produce the flavors she desires.
Wrath nodded, agreeing that fulfilling her obsession would lead to further growth.
'Isn't that a positive outcome?'
Gluttony clearly held a strange affection for him. If he aided her, she would surely stand by him in the conflict against the Archangels, serving as a massive asset.
'I must see this through.'
If Gluttony achieved contentment, she might even pass her legacy to a worthy successor. He had to succeed.
"Very well."
Raon reached out toward the dejected girl.
"We shall do it together. We will craft a new kind of ice cream."
---
-Nadine bread...?
Wrath let out a horrified shriek.
-What sort of lunatic mixes Nadine bread with ice cream!
He gripped his hair, questioning Raon's sanity.
'I'm working with what I have.'
Raon rubbed his neck, looking at the bread chunks sitting atop the frozen beads.
'Nadine bread is my only current food source.'
Since a single piece sustained a person for an entire day, he didn't bother carrying a pantry of ingredients.
"Hmm..."
Gluttony studied the mixture before trying a spoonful.
"...It is peculiar."
She masticated the combination for a moment before shaking her head.
"The essence of the bread completely drowns out the sweetness..."
Gluttony grimaced, stating that the rubbery texture and flavor of the Nadine bread were so dominant that the ice cream was lost.
-Ha! Finally, that glutton says something sensible!
Wrath nodded, appearing genuinely touched by her critique.
-She truly has developed the heart of a chef!
He patted her head with a look of pride.
"I wish to consume something fresh and more refined."
Gluttony resumed her chaotic mixing, driven by the urge to discover something new. However, while her palate had improved, her knowledge of ingredients remained abysmal. Watching her grind bark and pebbles into the delicate beads was a painful sight.
-That... that precious treasure...
Wrath’s mouth twitched as he watched the ice cream being desecrated.
-Halt her at once! I cannot witness this desecration any longer!
He gnashed his teeth, looking as though he wanted to physically intervene.
"Am I correct in assuming you came to this forest to find better ingredients?"
Raon looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"Yes. I ventured out to find components for my creation. The woods are full of things."
Gluttony nodded, her logic simple and direct.
"What about this?"
She reached for what looked like animal waste to add to her bowl.
"Stop right there!"
Raon lunged forward, catching her by the wrist.
"This environment won't provide what you need."
He shook his head, thinking of the one person capable of assisting this evolving demon king.
"Follow me."
Raon stood up, keeping a firm grip on her hand.
"I know someone who possesses everything you require."
---
"This is so serene..."
Dorian let out a blissful sigh as he sank into the plush mattress.
"I'm not sure what our mission is here, but it's a thousand times better than Sepia or Habun Castle."
At Habun Castle, he’d lived in fear of shifting monsters and exploding demon kings. In Sepia, the eerie atmosphere had kept him on edge. But House Arianne was a sanctuary of peace, and Raon had gone off to handle the heavy lifting.
He was simply relieved he didn't have to face any supernatural horrors today.
"I'll rest up today, and tomorrow I'll scout for some quality gear..."
Just as Dorian was drifting off, a sharp *thump-thump* echoed from the window.
"W-what was that?"
Dorian bolted upright, his jaw trembling.
"We're on the ninth floor, aren't we?"
His heart nearly leaped out of his chest. Hearing a knock at that height was unnatural. Furthermore, he hadn't sensed a soul approaching, which was even more terrifying.
"A-a spirit..."
"Be quiet and open up."
Just as he was about to let out a yell, a familiar voice cut through the glass.
"Huh...?"
Dorian blinked, scrambled off the bed, and yanked back the heavy drapes.
"Lord Raon? Why are you out there?"
Raon was perched on the exterior ledge, looking back at him. He was the one who was supposed to be hunting a demon king.
"Didn't feel like using the stairs."
He gestured for Dorian to open the window, offering his usual brand of logic.
"R-right. Of course."
Dorian gulped and unlatched the window.
'He really is a bizarre individual.'
Even after a decade of service, Raon’s antics still managed to catch him off guard.
"Hold this for a moment."
Raon reached in with his left arm, passing over a small child with snowy hair and crimson eyes.
"Oh, certainly!"
Dorian took the child reflexively, looking confused.
"Wait... this girl. She looks familiar..."
"That is the demon king. Gluttony, the Lord of Hunger."
Raon introduced the terrifying entity as casually as if he were handing over a pet.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Dorian’s brain finally made the connection. He shrieked and scrambled backward, tossing the child onto the bed.
"W-why are you doing this to me?!"
He shook his head violently, his eyes brimming with tears as he pleaded for his life.
"Hmm."
Gluttony, despite being tossed onto the mattress, simply stared at Dorian with wide, innocent eyes.
"Is this the mortal who will show me the secrets of flavor?"
"Indeed," Raon said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
"N-new flavors? I'm not delicious at all! I swear!"
Dorian waved his hands frantically, convinced he was about to be turned into a snack.
"I thought this trip would be easy, but it's just one nightmare after another!"
He began to weep, mourning his lack of peaceful days.
"Who said you were on the menu?"
Raon gave him a sharp flick to the forehead, telling him to get a grip.
"Ow... then what do you want?"
Dorian sniffled, rubbing his brow.
"Produce the bead ice cream you're carrying."
Raon made a beckoning motion with his hand.
"Oh, right!"
Dorian nodded quickly, pulling ten containers of the dessert from his spatial pouch.
"Oh...?"
Gluttony’s eyes lit up at the sight of the familiar treats.
"Gluttony. What specific taste are you looking for?"
Raon looked toward the demon king.
"Hmm..."
Gluttony tapped her chin in deep thought before looking up.
"I desire something savory and salty."
She blinked, expressing her wish for a salted variety.
"Dorian. Bring out every ingredient you have that fits that description."
Raon signaled to his companion.
"Understood!"
The moment his specialty was mentioned, Dorian’s terror vanished, replaced by professional focus. He reached into his pouch, and in an instant, a mountain of salt varieties, savory herbs, and unique fruits appeared on the bed.
"This is sea salt. It's harvested from the ocean and has a coarse texture; it's perfect for curing and has a slight bitter finish. This here is rock salt, which is far more intense and mineral-heavy. And this variety comes from the high peaks..."
Dorian began placing the different salts onto the ice cream, providing a detailed lecture on each one.
"Aah..."
Caught up in the presentation, Gluttony began sampling the salted ice cream. A faint glow appeared in her eyes.
"You..."
Gluttony reached out and grasped Dorian’s arm, nodding firmly.
"I am fond of you."
"What? No! I’m really not tasty! I’m mostly just soft tissue, no muscle at all!"
Dorian turned as white as a sheet, his body stiffening in fear.
"Hmm?"
Raon, meanwhile, watched the interaction with a growing sense of curiosity.
'Could this actually work...?'
-
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