Chapter 107 - 107: Contemplation

[Back to present Time]

Ludwig finished cleaning himself up and slipped into his new set of clothes, the fresh fabric a stark contrast to the grimy events of the previous day. The tailored fit reminded him of Van Dijk’s meticulous care, but the gesture only deepened the disconnect he felt. As much as he appreciated the gesture, Ludwig couldn’t help but feel like a fraud—dressed in the guise of humanity, hiding what he truly was.

Returning to his shared room, Ludwig noticed Hoyo sprawled out on one of the beds, dead to the world, while Kassandra’s soft snoring filled the quiet space. The sound brought an unexpected smile to his lips, and he lingered at the door for a moment, observing them. There was a strange peace in watching them, a serenity that he knew he would never feel again. Hoyo’s face was smushed against his pillow, while Kassandra, ever the composed intellectual, had let her guard down entirely in sleep.

Though the lies and the camouflage hid his true self, so no one would think of him as anything but human, Ludwig knew that he has long since lost his humanity. A monster in the guise of a man. Standing right between two trusting comrades that don’t know the truth about him.

Ludwig was unable to sleep, not for the lack of trying or even the attempt to do so. The inability to sleep wasn’t new to him; it was simply another fact of his existence as an undead. He could lie down and close his eyes, but rest would never come. His mind, sharp and relentless, had no off switch. Tonight, it was worse. The events of the day replayed in his head like a cursed record, looping endlessly.

The bravery that the Lantern gives him was something he needed to address, he jumped into the fray without caring much for his own wellbeing, trusting the ability to return from death to solve his problems if things go bad. However, deep down there was a small fear that this might just not work. He couldn’t help but have this feeling that if he were to die again, he might actually be gone for real this time.

Ludwig contemplated about what he truly needed to achieve in this world. The longer he spent here, the less appealing his former world became. He thought about many things, if what Necros said was true, if he achieved the Eternal Quest, would Necros truly send him back? And if he did send him back, after god knows how many years it would take him to beat the Seven Usurpers of Death, would he still feel the same about his family?

By then, would he still remember his mother’s face, or his father’s stern but encouraging tone? Would he have the same interest in worldly things?

Questions that had no immediate answers continued spinning and formulating in Ludwig’s mind. Especially when paired against the incredibly tall task of defeating things that even Van Dijk, a mage at the Eight Circle said that it was not something he could handle.

Thinking of which, what is this Gluttonous Death? One of the cardinal sins? Gluttony. What is it? Who is it? And how did it come to be.

More questions, but no answers, and looking at his bestiary didn’t help much. Because under the Gluttonous death input in the bestiary all Ludwig could see was.

***

[Name??? Usurper of Life. The Gluttonous Death]

An entity that currently dwells in the Bog of Tibari. A formerly rich land, that was able to host many beings, a river once flown through Tibari granting its people ease of life and riches unlike any place. But the nature of these people and their voracity soon cursed the lands, which brought existence to the Gluttonous Death. Once it became part of these lands it transformed them to its own image.

Further Information is Unavailable.

Location, Bog of Tibari, at the borders of the Black Tower academy territory.

Appearance… unregistered.

***

Ludwig moved the notification away; the Bestiary wasn’t too helpful sadly. At least he knows the terrain to be a quagmire now.

Time trickled down, slowly as ever, before the first break of dawn and the cries of an overly energetic rooster began waking and bringing life back into the city.

Ludwig peered over the window to see several people coming out of their homes, either setting up stalls or preparing for the day. There was still one more day of the Mage Masquerade event, but from the mess that happened yesterday, Ludwig doubted that people would have the same fun and enjoyment that they did yesterday.

But he was shown how wrong he could be, and how human nature could triumph anything if it meant that they could drink their sorrows away or at least ignore and forget the bad for small joys.

The smell of toasty bread and meals being prepared wafted through the room, even for a skeleton, something inside his organ-less body stirred. He didn’t feel hunger, but he still felt like he should at least have a bite of whatever that was cooking.

Ludwig was light on his feet as he removed himself from his bed and out of the room, he then climbed down the stairs and found out that he wasn’t the first one up from all the customers. Several others were either already up and awake drinking warm ale, or they probably never slept. While the smell of fresh morning food wafted through, Ludwig went to an empty table and sat down.

Just as he took his seat, the busboy from yesterday came in with a loaf of freshly baked and cooked bread and a bowl of soup, “You’re up early,” the busboy said. “Have some of this, it’s our Inn’s special hangover soup and bread, though that doesn’t mean you have to be drunk to have it,” he said and moved away to bus another table.

Ludwig grabbed the crunchy warm bread and began eating. A simple meal, far from anything he’d ever had back at earth, but it was warm, and good.

Even for an undead, he was thankful that he could still taste food and some of the minor joys of life.

Do he didn’t understand where the food went, he wasn’t about to start questioning a favor from Necros such as this.

After all, he owes Necros too much to be ungrateful, another chance at life after a wrongful death, and the taste of food and alcohol, blissful little things that many take for granted.