## Chapter 1117
"This is truly exquisite..."
Gluttony popped the entire ice cream sandwich into her mouth, declaring the flavor to be beyond belief. Rather than a quick gulp, she masticated with extreme deliberation, resembling a cow working through its cud as she extracted every ounce of joy from the experience.
"A multitude of sensations are dancing in my mouth in flawless unity. I have never encountered anything quite like this."
Gluttony let out a frantic breath, appearing as though she had never even conceived of such a culinary outcome.
"H-how was this constructed?"
Gluttony fixed her wide-eyed gaze on Raon, her voice faltering as she demanded the method—a rare lapse in composure for her.
-Hmph! Given that it was potent enough to make me lose consciousness, that reaction is only to be expected.
Wrath tilted his head back, suggesting that Gluttony’s awe was the only logical response.
-A bottomless pit like you could never replicate such a profile even with a century of dedication!
'Why are you acting like the mastermind here?'
Raon let out a dry, incredulous laugh at Wrath’s expense. He couldn't wrap his head around why someone who contributed nothing but an appetite was acting so self-important.
"To begin, the small spheres of ice in the center are vanilla, which grounds the dish in sweetness. I took that timeless vanilla and introduced North Grave Mountain rock salt to provide a savory contrast."
He illustrated the process by retrieving the components and assembling a fresh one.
"I utilized fresh loaves for an earthy undertone, searing the exterior to provide a crunch that adds a layer of tactile enjoyment."
Raon inquired about her thoughts while plating the toasted bread and crowning it with the salted vanilla spheres.
"That does not account for everything."
Gluttony moved her head side to side as she tracked the assembly of the sandwich right in front of her.
"I detected the presence of tart and sugary fruit notes as well."
She squinted, asserting that the items shown thus far were insufficient to explain those particular highlights.
"You have a sharp palate, don't you? It seems your senses are sharpening."
Raon smirked and signaled toward Dorian.
"Coming right up!"
Dorian fished a container of thick syrup from his specialized gear.
"That is..."
"It’s a preserve. A blend of apple, strawberry, and kiwi."
Raon detailed the components as he smoothed the jam across the seared bread.
"Ah!"
Gluttony let out a cry of realization, finally identifying the origin of the fruity complexity.
"So the preserve is applied to the crust, not the frozen center!"
"Precisely. Because the ice cream is already seasoned with salt, I apply a very light layer of jam only to the bread to prevent the profiles from becoming muddled."
Raon flipped the container and caught it, clarifying that the jam was intentionally crafted to remain distinct from the ice cream.
"Provide another. I require more."
Gluttony waved her arms like an impatient youngster, pleading for another finished sandwich.
"As you wish."
Raon wore a bright grin as he passed the newly prepared treat to Gluttony.
"My thanks!"
Gluttony accepted the sandwich and drew in its scent first. She inhaled deeply before nibbling at a corner.
"The profile evolves with every single mouthful..."
She trembled with pure bliss while losing herself in the flavor of the creation.
"Is this the motivation behind the culinary arts?"
Raon watched Gluttony’s face with a faint, satisfied smile.
"This isn't a bad feeling at all."
Witnessing someone find such profound joy in his handiwork provided a unique satisfaction, different from the thrill of advancing his combat skills.
"I share that sentiment."
Dorian bobbed his head, seemingly moved by the same spirit.
-Hmm...
Wrath’s expression soured as he observed Gluttony’s ecstatic consumption of the sandwich.
-I—I wish to partake as well!
His tail whipped back and forth, begging for a portion. He bore a striking resemblance to a pet pining for a scrap of human dinner.
'And what have you done to earn such a reward?'
Raon's brow furrowed as he began work on a third sandwich.
'Besides, you’ve already had your turn.'
He dismissed the request, remembering that Wrath had been the first to sample it before it was offered to Gluttony.
-I demand more! Hand one over!
Wrath began a mid-air tantrum, insisting on his share of the dessert.
'Absolutely not. I'm not interested.'
Raon shook his head firmly and presented the third sandwich to Gluttony.
"..."
To his surprise, Gluttony remained completely still, ignoring the food placed before her.
"Ah!"
Raon gasped as he realized Gluttony was frozen, her pupils shimmering with a vacant light.
"Is something wr— hup!"
[She is in a state of enlightenment.]
He projected a message of internal energy while clamping a hand over Dorian’s mouth as the latter tried to approach.
-En—Enlightenment?
Wrath’s lower jaw wobbled as he stared at Gluttony, whose eyes were as hollow as a landed fish.
-What sort of high-ranking demon achieves a spiritual breakthrough by consuming dairy!
He couldn't manage to close his mouth, utterly floored by the development.
-And if anyone was due for a revelation, it should have been me! Think of the sheer volume I have consumed!
Wrath struck the air with his fist in a fit of genuine outrage.
-This is blatantly lopsided!
---
"Ah..."
A heavy sigh drifted from Gluttony’s mouth. She rubbed her temples, looking like someone returning to the physical world after more than twenty-four hours in a trance.
"I believe I grasp it now. That which was manifested within my soul."
Gluttony gave a slow nod, her gaze now burning with a crimson intensity.
"What exactly was it?"
Raon remained seated, watching her closely.
"The path of Gastronomy."
Gluttony pressed a hand to her heart and nodded again.
"Inside my raw urges that once knew only hunger, a refined yearning for the pursuit of flavor has emerged. This is your doing."
She acknowledged that she had attained a novel power because of his intervention.
"I am grateful."
Gluttony voiced her appreciation, noting that he had granted her both a sensory experience and a surge in her fundamental nature.
"It was a small thing."
Raon gave a casual wave of his hand, though he continued to scrutinize Gluttony.
'How much has her ceiling been raised?'
While Gluttony had clearly ascended, it was nearly impossible to calculate the gap, considering she was already vastly more powerful than he was.
-This is truly something...
Wrath’s jaw continued to twitch in shock.
-That gluttonous woman! She has undeniably surged in power! To reach a plateau that usually requires an aeon of feasting in just a single day...!
He bit his lip, admitting he hadn't foreseen such a radical shift.
-Confound it!
Wrath balled his hand into a fist as he glared at Gluttony.
'You aren't worried she’s surpassed you, are you?'
-Utterly ridiculous!
'Then why the foul mood?'
-Because it is maddening that she achieved such a state from a mere ice cream sandwich!
He ground his molars, seething because Gluttony had reached a new height after two sandwiches while he had only received one.
-When I inhabit my true form again, I shall force nothing but stones down that glutton’s throat!
Wrath fumed with the petty jealousy of a child.
'Good grief.'
Raon brushed past the fuming Wrath, who was performing an angry jig in the air, and moved toward Gluttony.
"Gluttony. You have a commitment to honor."
Raon stood before her and looked down.
"Yes. I am aware."
Gluttony nodded and reached toward Dorian. With a brilliant shimmer, a snowy radiance erupted from her palm and latched onto Dorian’s arm, forming a bracelet of white petals. It bore a slight variation from Raon's own mark.
"I have infused it with more than just hunger; it carries a fragment of the Gastronomy I just discovered."
Gluttony explained that this was a special token.
"Uuuurgh!"
Dorian’s eyes vibrated as he stared at the floral band on his wrist.
"I am officially bound to a demon sovereign! My limb! My limb is being shredded!"
He wailed while clutching his arm, once again terrified by Gluttony’s presence.
"Be quiet."
Raon delivered a sharp smack to the back of Dorian’s head and turned back to Gluttony.
"In what manner does this power evolve?"
"He simply needs to persist in his obsession with hoarding items, just as he does now."
Gluttony noted that the authority would mature naturally if he continued his current lifestyle.
"Then we shall leave it to its own devices."
Raon smiled and gave a nod of approval.
"And furthermore..."
Gluttony rose to her feet and met his eyes.
"I, Gluttony, pledge my sword to the conflict against the Archangel whenever you call upon me."
She solidified her vow with a gravity that was uncharacteristic of her. Peculiarly, though she had looked like a young girl initially, she now carried the air of a young boy.
"My thanks."
Raon grasped Gluttony’s hand, confirming he would seek her aid when the clash began.
"Now, I would ask for one final ice cream sandwich."
Gluttony held up a single finger, requesting one last treat.
"Certainly."
Raon signaled to Dorian, noting that they still had supplies.
-You claimed we were out! You denied me a sandwich by swearing there were no components left!
Wrath stared at him with pure betrayal.
'Ah, I was simply feeling lazy at that moment.'
-You absolute scoundrel...
Just as Wrath prepared to launch an angry strike.
[A magnificent accomplishment has been reached.]
[You have secured immense favor from <Gluttony>.]
[You have innovated a legendary confection.]
[All stats...]
[Traits...]
[Titles...]
The notification windows surfaced, seemingly mocking Wrath’s fury.
-Haaah...
A hot breath of rage steamed from Wrath’s mouth.
-The glutton gains an awakening and dessert, you gain attributes and traits, and the walking storage unit gets a sovereign’s blessing...
He glared with bloodshot eyes.
-I have walked away with nothing! I will lay waste to everything!
He surged upward with a scream of frustration.
'Knock it off.'
Naturally, it took less than sixty seconds to bring the fuming Wrath back under control.
-Gack!
---
"I appreciate you seeing us to the exit."
Raon glanced back at Wendy, who had guided them to the front gates of House Arianne.
"I shall make a return trip in the future."
He gave a polite bow, promising to revisit before the outbreak of hostilities.
"Then I shall endeavor to attain the rank of Grandmaster before your return."
Wendy nodded with resolve, inviting him to witness her progress.
"The threshold of a Grandmaster is dauntingly steep. Are you certain of your path?"
Raon looked Wendy in the eyes with a playful glint.
"Having received your guidance on multiple occasions, I must strive to break through even at the cost of my life."
Wendy gripped the handle of her blade, vowing to shatter the limit based on the intense training he had provided over the recent days.
"That is the correct mindset. I look forward to it with great expectation."
Raon nodded, his expression showing genuine confidence in her.
"Until next time."
As they prepared to depart House Arianne following their final parting words.
"Line up!"
At Wendy’s sharp command and the stamp of her boot, the warriors behind her snapped to attention, chests out and heads high.
"Show your respect to the Light Wind Palace Master, the savior of House Arianne!"
She shouted as she unsheathed her blade and pointed it toward the heavens.
"Respect!"
The warriors of House Arianne mirrored Wendy, lifting their steel toward the sky and offering their collective honors and well-wishes to Raon. With a sharp ring of metal, Raon turned and unsheathed Heavenly Drive. He held the blade low and extended it in the traditional Zieghart salute.
"May House Arianne be draped in eternal honor!"
He offered a heartfelt blessing for the continued growth of the house. With a crisp sound, Raon and Wendy concluded the martial farewell, sheathed their weapons in silence, and went their separate ways.
"I simply adore this kind of warrior's sentimentality!"
Dorian beamed while fiddling with his storage bag.
"So you actually have a soul. I assumed you were just a buffoon who only thought about inventory."
Martha smirked as she landed a heavy blow on Dorian’s shoulder.
"I am a warrior before I am a logistics officer!"
Dorian raised his hand, asserting that his martial identity preceded his administrative duties.
"Hmm..."
Evelyn moistened her lips while eyeing the white floral band on Dorian’s arm.
"I wonder if it would be removed if I simply severed the limb?"
A chilling light danced in her eyes as she made a statement that hovered dangerously between a prank and a threat.
-Ughh...
Wrath stared at Evelyn in horror.
-What kind of humor is that! She is dead serious! Just as I thought, there is no such thing as a harmless lunatic!
He hammered on Raon’s shoulder, urging him to flee immediately.
"Evelyn."
Raon walked toward her with steady steps, ignoring her disturbing comment.
"Because you provided the bread, I was able to construct the dessert. You have my gratitude."
He gave Evelyn a nod, acknowledging her vital contribution.
"Then take hold of my wrist."
Evelyn held out her arm, suggesting he grasp her skin rather than the bracelet.
"Hmm..."
Under normal circumstances, he would have declined instantly, but given her assistance and her obvious desire for the mark, he wrapped his right hand around her wrist.
"Heh, hehe, hehehe."
An unsettling giggle escaped Evelyn as she stared down at Raon’s hand gripping her arm.
"Th-that should suffice, shouldn't it?"
As Raon’s jaw tightened and he attempted to withdraw, Evelyn’s fingers laced through his like tightening vines.
-Uuuurgh!
"Hup!"
Raon and Wrath both let out a stifled cry, their eyes wide with alarm.
"A bit longer."
Evelyn shook her head firmly, insisting that the moment hadn't reached its conclusion.
"Ah..."
Just as Raon scrambled for an exit strategy, Gluttony walked up from behind.
"I shall be taking my leave now."
Gluttony raised a hand, indicating she would be traveling on a different path.
"Oh? To where?"
Raon leaped at the chance to escape, pulling his hand free from Evelyn and pivoting toward Gluttony.
"Tsk."
He caught the sound of Evelyn’s disappointment but chose to ignore it.
"Now that you have shown me the world of Gastronomy, I wish to discover my own personal flavors."
Gluttony bowed, stating her intention to seek out her own culinary identity.
"I understand."
Raon gave her a soft smile.
'She has the potential to become even more formidable.'
If Gluttony honed her new path through her own volition, she could potentially undergo another metamorphosis, much like her recent awakening.
-Hmph! That assumes everything goes according to plan.
Wrath scoffed, attributing her recent success to blind luck.
"Take these."
Raon produced two heavy bags of gold from his dimensional storage.
"As you've learned, currency is vital in this realm. Use these instead of resorting to violence or theft."
"Very well."
Gluttony nodded her thanks and dropped the gold into a spectral mouth that manifested in the air.
"You possess a certain flair. Keep it up."
She gave a nod toward the bracelet on Dorian’s arm.
"Ah, right!"
Dorian snapped to attention and took a shaky breath.
"Farewell!"
Gluttony vanished into the white void of her own power after a lighthearted goodbye that didn't fit a demon of her stature.
"Hardly fits the image of a demon king, does she?"
Martha chuckled, finding the existence of such a strange entity entertaining.
"What is our next move? Are we returning home?"
"The Unyielding Blade of the Five Divine Orders."
Raon announced their goal without a second thought, as if the path were already carved.
"If we are targeting the Five Divine Orders, wouldn't the White Whale be more logical? The Thespian Emperor is their supreme leader."
Dorian tilted his head, confused by the choice of the Unyielding Blade.
"The Thespian Emperor is currently stationed at the Unyielding Blade."
Raon reached into his tunic and revealed a dispatch from the Shadow Agents.
"We cannot pass up the opportunity to secure the allegiance of two of the Five Divine Orders simultaneously. Furthermore..."
A small smirk played on his lips as he scanned the report.
"It appears they are hosting quite a fascinating gathering at the Unyielding Blade."
-
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