“Oh, you’re awake”

When I woke up, the back of my head felt like it was on a cloud and in front of me were the hopes and dreams of men.

Huh? Where am I? What ha-

“Ara, you do you dislike my lap pillow?”

“Mguhfghuhfgh?!” [Lan]

I removed myself from the woman’s lap and did the best I could to mouth my words to ease the tension but to no avail.

“Pft haha relax, I’m not going to eat you or anything… unless”

I could feel the blood rushing through my face…

Blood… face…

?

…

!

“You finally noticed huh?”

I was too surprised when I woke up that I didn’t notice…

“It’s back… how…” [Lan]

“You don’t have to thank me”

“You did… back then… your blood!” [Lan]

“Correct however, I’m not a saint”

“… what do you want” [Lan]

“I see that you're quick to catch on, that's good. I only have one very strict condition, break it and I’ll personally slaughter you myself”

My head went blank and my throat was dry… I was completely healed but I can’t move… this intent, this bloodlust is just too much for me-

“Wh-what condition?” [Lan]

The woman showed a dangerous smile then in an instant, she was in front of me as she leaned to my ear-

“Live”

“Eh?” [Lan]

“That’s my condition. Fulfill it or else”

“B-but you c-can’t kill me if I-I’m already… dead” [Lan]

She then leaned back then showed a genuine smile… no, this could be fake, whatever-

“True, well… doesn’t matter. Don’t die”

I forgot the tension for a moment then replied with confidence-

“Of course” [Lan]

“Hooo, I’ll be watching”

.

.

.

After out exchange, we got out of the crevice, oddly, the commander’s body inside had disappeared but this question was answered as soon as I got out

“What the-!” [Lan]

“Do you like my new garden?”

It was a sight to behold…

Dozens of elves were lined up and they were all… well…

Crucified

“Y-you did this?” [Lan]

“Correct”

“I-I know that they were hostile but isn’t this a bit much?” [Lan]

“Ah, you really aren’t from around here are you-”

As she was about to answer, a scythe appeared out of thin air. She swung the scythe with sonic speed that even my eyes couldn’t follow; slicing the upper part of the cross, right above the heads of the ones crucified-

“In this place. It’s killed or be killed”

If this woman was my enemy, I would totally not be here right now…

“W-why did you s-save me?” [Lan]

“Save you? That’s a bit of an overstatement, considering you only lost an eye”

“Why?!” [Lan]

“Alright, alright… because-“

I suddenly felt a strange sensation from my eye

“What is this feeling? What did you do?” [Lan]

“About that… that’s why I saved you, out of all the years I’ve lived and out of all the individuals I’ve met, you are who I deem worthy”

“Worthy? Worthy of what?” [Lan]

The woman let out a smile-

“My power of course”

Power? What is she talking about?

“You won’t feel it immediately, let it kick in. I can’t really help you use it since it differs from each person… I guess”

“W-What kind of-“ [Lan]

“Hoooo, faster than expected.”

I could feel the pupil of my eye stretch, it didn’t hurt but it felt weird-

“WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!” [Lan]

“HUH?!”

Ah… I forgot what kind of person she was as I was caught in the moment…

“Umm… I apologize for my sudden outburst, could you please explain what you did to me, miss?” [Lan]

“Hmm? Pft HAHAHA miss? You don’t need to be so formal, you were already lying on my lap moments ago”

Aaaahhh that was so embarrassing…

“Hosea. Hosea LeBlanc, the Avatar of Greed” [Hosea]

The what?

“L-Lantern Venick…” [Lan]

“Venick? Are you really?” [Hosea]

The woman… Hosea’s eyes widened, is Venick an uncommon family name or something?

Wait… Come to think of it, these are people…

Why are there people inside purgatory? On top of that, there is actually a person that is this strong?

My common sense seems to be getting messed up the longer I stay here, I have a lot of questions and hopefully Hosea will give me answers-

“Yes, why? … Is there something wrong?” [Lan]

Hosea let out a really suspicious smile-

“Lantern Venick… ah, it all makes sense now… it’s been that long huh?” [Hosea]

“Excuse me?” [Lan]

“Nothing, just talking to myself… so you’re “L” huh…” [Hosea]

“L?” [Lan]

“And on top of that you have my power… you’re gonna be one hell of a monster” [Hosea]

“M-monster?!” [Lan]

“Ah, that was a figure of speech… anyway, I saved you so that you’ll take my place” [Hosea]

“Place in what?” [Lan]

“As the next Avatar of Greed of course” [Hosea]

...

Huh?