"I'm but a humble servant of Lord Azekiel. I don't need any gratitude for keeping you safe." Raphael placed one hand on his chest as he answered.
Azekiel smiled in response. This man... He was really loyal. He stepped toward the closest body that was lying before him.
"Soul Snatch."
[Strength +1]
[Speed +1]
[Defense +1]
[Hunger +1]
One after another, Azekiel kept moving from body to body, using Soul Snatch. He only stopped after he had absorbed all the souls here.
"Time to clear this place." He held the legs of one of the bodies and started dragging it inside the tent to make sure no one would see.
As he dragged the body, he could feel it. It was indeed very easy for him now. He had grown stronger.
After dragging all twelve bodies inside, he sighed in relief. He closed the tent from inside and observed all the food that was before him. There was just so much food, even he was amazed.
"I died for one fruit... Whereas they have such a stock." Azekiel smiled, but behind that smile, a lot of anger was hidden. The more he saw, the more he realized that he was killed for barely anything as if he was a toy. Now it was his turn!
He picked a beautiful red fruit and took his first bite. Within seconds, he finished the fruit, but he didn't feel any difference. He was still just as hungry.
He kept eating more and more, trying to satiate his hunger, but it was just too much. Even after he had eaten enough food to fill up three people, he was still hungry!
He had received many advantages by becoming King of Gluttony, but he wasn't immune to the drawbacks either. His hunger... It was also worthy of being the King of Gluttony now. Moreover, that was the case when he was weak. The stronger he got, the more his hunger increased.
With every Soul Snatch, some value of his hunger increased. This was like a drug that he couldn't live without, but the more he used it, the more he damaged himself.
Fortunately, Azekiel didn't need to worry about food, at least not at the moment. While people outside struggled for enough food to survive, this place had enough food to feed thousands of people for an entire month!
Azekiel kept eating, and eating, and eating... He didn't stop. He was like a beast that had received what he craved for, and now he couldn't stop until he was full.
Fortunately, it didn't take much time. After eating enough food to fill up ten people, he finally felt as if he was full for now. He laid on the ground inside the tent, breathing a sigh of relief.
"This feels so good." He gazed at Raphael, who was standing at the entrance like a proper man with his hands behind his back, perfectly straight. "Raphael, aren't you going to eat? Or do you need a Summon for that too?"
"Even if you Summon me, I can't eat," Raphael answered calmly.
"Why not? You don't feel hunger?" Azekiel inquired. Why couldn't he eat?
"I do feel hungry... I've been hungry for as far as I can remember... But I can't eat." Raphael raised his right hand. A beautiful red apple appeared in his hand. "Because of this."
"The apple which was in that drawing on the card?" Azekiel asked, recognizing the apple.
"Yes. The Apple of Eden..." Raphael answered. For a moment, some semblance of emotions flashed through his eyes which instantly disappeared.
"Can you explain more? How is that related to why you can't eat?" Azekiel inquired, still confused.
"The Apple of Eden... It is my Sin. I committed the sin of taking it because I was hungry, only to be cursed for an eternity."
"Cursed? What curse?"
"Curse that I shall stay hungry for as long as I live. I will feel this tormenting hunger, but I won't be able to eat anything. This hunger is my companion who will never leave me, just like this apple which stays with me to remind me how helpless I am..." Raphael smiled, gazing at the beautiful apple. "I can just watch, but I can't eat. This is my curse…the Curse of Eden."
"This... So the hunger I felt before I died... You've been feeling that for an eternity? How is that fair? Just for an apple? Who cursed you? Can I do anything to help you? There must be a way. You've helped me so much already. I don't want you to suffer."
Azekiel was really worried about Raphael. He knew how scary this hunger could be. People often underestimated it, but only when one felt the torment of it did one realize how scary it was.
"Who cursed me... I can't answer that," Raphael smiled weakly. "As for helping you, that's my duty. You don't have to be worried about me. I just want to help you because I see a semblance of myself in you. Only you know what I went through, and I'm sure only you can understand since you went through something similar..."
"Being damned to hunger just because of eating fruit without permission... I did go through it." Azekiel nodded. "But you have it much worse. At least I could die ultimately. But you can't even die, can you?"
"Death... People are often scared of death, but I... I crave for it. Sometimes death is mercy. Unfortunately, death isn't in my destiny..." Raphael let out a sigh. "I couldn't change my life. I can't help myself, but I can certainly help you. If you reach your destination, I'll believe a small portion of me achieved that... So I'll give it my all to help you succeed."
"Thank you." Azekiel was so grateful for Raphael, but he was also sad. Raphael seemed so calm and composed, but only now Azekiel understood what pain and torment he was going through behind that calm composure.
"I won't disappoint you either... I promise I'll find a way to help you somehow. Even if it takes me an eternity, I promise we will share one table and eat together... No one will be able to stop us." Azekiel promised Raphael as determination filled his eyes.
Just like Raphael wanted to help Azekiel, Azekiel wanted to help Raphael back, no matter what it took.
Hearing the words of Azekiel, Raphael couldn't help but smile. Even though it wasn't a proper smile, Azekiel could see the lips of Raphael curved slightly as if he was smiling but didn't want to express it. He maintained his professional persona.
While inside the tent, Azekiel and Raphael were conversing with each other; a new group of people had arrived on Floor Zero from the top, carrying the bodies of beasts that were killed by the King of Pride.
Over twenty people stepped onto Floor Zero, accompanied by three Lord of Sins who was hired by King of Sin, Michael, to escort it back safely.
