Monarch of Gluttony: System of Sin

The smell of alcohol was filling up the place. Chattering could be heard everywhere as people didn't bother to keep their voices low, even when they talked about something completely random. Occasionally, the clinking of glasses could also be heard amidst the conversations.

A woman dressed in skimpy clothing walked with a jug filled with alcohol to one of the tables in the bar that was filled with people.

She stopped before one of the tables and poured some wine into the empty glass on the table.

"Are you new here?" she asked, glancing at the man who was sitting there. "I've never seen you here before. Granted, I haven't seen you even now because of your hood, but still, you don't look like a regular here."

The blue-haired woman seemed quite intrigued by the man before him. It was a bar that was only visited by the most powerful people. Normal people on this floor didn't even dare to come here, so seeing new people here wasn't usual.

The man who was sitting on the table placed a gold coin right beside the glass.

The woman was slightly surprised at the sight of a gold coin. On this floor, the gold coins held immense values. She picked up the gold coin.

"Thank you. I understand." The woman didn't ask the question about the man's identity anymore. To her, the gold coin seemed more like a price that was paid for her silence.

The man didn't take off his hood as he picked up the glass of wine, taking his first sip.

However, as he noticed the woman still hadn't left, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you not leaving?"

"It's alright. Others can handle other tables. You might need more." The woman placed the jug on the table and took the other seat, right in front of Azekiel.

"You seem quite rich," the woman mentioned. "Not many people in this world are rich enough to pay a spirit gold coin to a waitress. Then again, who will be rich if not Kings?"

"Many people," Azekiel answered. "I'm sure many people in this bar hold immense wealth."

Azekiel took another sip as he answered while taking a subtle glance at a particular group in the distance.

"That's true for sure. But even they don't go around giving coins to us. By the way, the group you're looking at is certainly one of them. They are quite strong but also regulars here. I'd say they are quite stingy for people with their strength," the charming waitress answered.

"How do you know how strong they are?" Azekiel placed the empty glass back on the table.

The woman already had the jug back in her hand by now as she started pouring. "Because I've seen them right. It wasn't long ago when another group got into a conflict with them. I suppose that was also the time when these people showed their strength and their wealth."

"The battle was completely one sided," she stated. "However, in that battle, our bar was thrashed as well. These people paid for the damage without even flinching. Quite rich for sure."

"Who will be rich if not them," Azekiel muttered, shaking his head. "Getting spirit coins is easy for them on higher Floors."

"Hmm? Did you say something?" The waitress asked, not hearing Azekiel properly.

"I didn't say anything." Azekiel went back to drinking as the woman just glanced at his face, which was somewhat hidden by the good. She could still see his lips and his nose but not his eyes."

"How long do they usually stay here on this floor?" Azekiel asked the young lady, who kept bringing her head down as if trying to look at his entire face from under the hood.

"Not long. I think they come here once or twice every month. And every time they come to this bar. I think today should be their last day here. Next, we should see them next month if everything moves at the usual pace.

"I see."

"Do you know them? Are you all from the same place high up?" The woman asked Azekiel.

Azekiel again deflected the topic. "What is your name?"

"I am Yulia," the woman answered. She smiled as she continued, "I am twenty-five years old, and I am single."

"I didn't ask for your entire bio data," Azekiel responded, quite amused that she went on to tell her relationship status. "Still, Yulia is a pretty good name. I used to know something with that name."

"Used to...?" Yulia asked, understanding what it implied.

"Yeah. She died in the past," Azekiel said. He noticed that Yulia seemed distracted by his words. She had even forgotten to fill up his glass which was again empty. He picked up the jug himself and poured the wine into his glass.

Yulia also came out of a stunned phase and reached out her hand. "I'm sorry, I will fill it."

She reached out her hand and placed them over Azekiel's hands to take the jug as it was her responsibility to be a nice hostess.

"Don't worry. I won't die from lifting up a jug of wine." After filling the glass, Azekiel placed the jug back on the ground, only to notice that Yulia's hands were still on his hands.

"Yulia, how am I going to drink if you don't take your hands off?"

"Oh, sorry." Yulia retracted her hand.

Azekiel got back to drinking. "What more do you know about them?"

"You mean about their group? Not much. I just heard them mention a few times recently that they are close to clearing their last floor. They seem quite excited that they'll get to enter some higher world. I have no idea what that means, but it's good for them."

"Oh? They are about to clear the 80th floor? It seems they certainly progressed quite a lot in time. They again, it would be quite good as well. If more people go up, that should keep everyone there distracted for a little while."

"You don't drink on duty?" he asked, noticing Yulia still trying to peek at his face.

"I would, but we would have to pay for it as well. And it's quite expensive for people like us. So it's better to just stay away from it," Yulia answered, shaking her head. "If it was cheaper, I might've been able to afford it."

"You can try some," Azekiel pushed the jug toward Yulia. There was quite a lot in it.

"I can't drink from the jug." Yulia didn't know if she should laugh or cry as she saw Azekiel pushing the jug to her.

"Get another glass for yourself."

"No. If I go back, they'll give me another order, and I'll be stuck." Yulia shook her head after glancing back. She didn't want to leave as she was quite happy where she was. She was out of sight of the manager. "I have a better idea."

Yulia slid her chair closer to Azekiel's chair to sit right beside him, with such closeness that her shoulders kept touching Azekiel.

She placed her hands around Azekiel's hands and made him bring the glass closer to her lips, taking a sweet sip before releasing his hands.

"Ah, heavenly taste. No wonder you all like it so much."

"The taste is good for the middle world, but there are definitely better tastes than this in the higher world."

"May I ask a question as well?"

"What question?"

"Higher world... I hear many people talk about that place. And recently, the talks about that place are only interesting as if something is about to change. Just what is that higher world?"

"How come you didn't ask anyone else this question?" Azekiel could understand why talks about the Higher World were increasing. If a group was going to clear the 80th floor, this was definitely quite big news for the Kings of Middle World as it had been a really long time since that happened last.

However, what actually made him surprised was that Yulia chose to ask him instead of others before, even though she probably had lots of chances.

"Because you seem more approachable and nice," Yulia explained her reasoning.

"Really? A loner in a hood who you never saw before seems more approachable to you?" Azekiel asked as he took another sip before sliding the glass back to Yulia. "Tell me the real reason."

"I'm not lying. You actually seem more approachable in the way you talk. You seem like quite a nice person. That's a big reason I feel comfortable asking you."

"I? A nice person?" Azekiel couldn't help but laugh. Just because he gave her a coin and he looked like a nice man, she was willing to consider him one?

"I'm afraid almost all would disagree with that statement about me," Azekiel clenched his fist. "Let me guess the real reason. "Is it because I am the only one here who wasn't in a group?"

Roaming his gaze over everyone, he was able to see that almost all the people here were in groups which definitely made it hard for them to be approached by strangers. Meanwhile, he was alone here, which gave them more access to him.