Chapter 13 — The Price of Hope

Roland's body trembled, his fists clenched so tightly that the leather of his gloves creaked.

"...No..."

His voice was barely audible.

"...You're lying."

Greed tilted her head innocently.

"Hm?"

"You..."

"...You're lying."

Roland took one slow step forward.

"Taichi would never say those things."

"He would never laugh while innocent people suffer."

"He would never threaten children."

"He would never..."

His voice cracked.

"...He would never become this."

Greed simply smiled before skipping another step closer.

"You know..."

"I think that's what makes this sooo much fun."

She clasped her hands together.

"You all keep looking for Taichi."

"But every time you do..."

She placed one finger against her own chest.

"...you only find me."

Roland's breathing became heavier.

Behind Greed, his wife desperately shook her head.

"Roland..."

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"Don't listen to her..."

"We'll find another way..."

His little daughter cried uncontrollably.

"Daddy..."

"I'm scared..."

The sound pierced Roland's heart, and he instinctively stepped toward them.

Immediately—

Grrrrrr...

Every goblin surrounding them bared its teeth, their sharp claws resting only centimeters from his daughter's shoulder.

Roland stopped.

His entire body froze.

Greed giggled.

"There we go."

"Much better."

She walked in lazy circles around him.

"I knew you'd behave."

Roland lowered his head.

"...What..."

"...do you want?"

Greed stopped walking, her delighted eyes sparkling.

"What do I want?"

She tapped her chin dramatically.

"Hmmmm..."

Then she beamed.

"I just want my besties close to me again."

Roland slowly raised his head.

"...Besties?"

Greed nodded enthusiastically.

"Mhm!"

"Just like the old days!"

"We'll all stay together forever!"

She reached behind her back, and black shadows rippled around her hand. Something slowly emerged from the darkness.

Roland's eyes widened.

It looked like clothing: an oversized black sweater with a white shirt visible beneath it, a green ribbon neatly tied at the collar, and a black skirt barely visible beneath the long fabric. Its empty sleeves dangled lifelessly.

Then they moved.

Long black tendrils slowly slithered from inside the sleeves like living serpents, while the fabric itself seemed to breathe.

Roland instinctively stepped backward.

"...What..."

"...What the hell is that?"

Greed lovingly hugged the empty uniform.

"Awwww..."

"Don't be rude."

She gently stroked one sleeve.

"This is the newly awakened..."

"...Embodiment of Sloth."

The living uniform twitched softly, almost as though it understood her praise.

Greed smiled proudly.

"Isn't she adorable?"

Roland felt genuine horror.

Unlike the goblins or the trolls, this thing felt alive. Its presence was quiet, heavy, and oppressive, filling the warehouse with an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion.

Even breathing suddenly felt more difficult.

Greed happily looked back at Roland.

"You don't have to fight."

"You don't have to run."

"You don't even have to think."

She hugged the sweater tighter.

"Just stand perfectly still."

Roland looked past her.

His wife met his eyes, tears streaming down her face, while his daughter clung desperately to her mother.

He closed his eyes.

"...If I do this..."

His voice was calm.

"...Will you let them go?"

Greed answered immediately.

"Of course!"

She smiled as brightly as ever.

"I'd never lie to one of my besties."

Roland remained silent.

He knew he shouldn't trust her. Everything about her radiated deception.

But he also knew something else.

If he fought, the goblins would reach his family before he ever could.

He slowly opened his eyes, then lowered his head as his arms fell to his sides.

"I..."

"...understand."

His wife immediately screamed.

"ROLAND!"

"No!"

"Don't do it!"

His daughter cried even louder.

"Daddy!"

"Please!"

Roland didn't look at them, because if he did, he knew he wouldn't have the strength to continue.

He whispered only one sentence.

"I'm sorry."

Greed clapped happily.

"Yay!"

"I knew you'd make the right choice!"

She gently released the Living Uniform.

The empty sweater floated silently toward Roland as black tendrils stretched outward like welcoming arms.

Roland remained completely still.

The sleeves wrapped around his shoulders, and the moment the fabric touched his skin, a freezing sensation spread throughout his entire body.

"...Ghh...!"

The tendrils tightened.

His military uniform began dissolving into black particles as the oversized sweater slowly replaced it. The green ribbon tied itself neatly around his neck while Roland gritted his teeth, his body refusing to move.

The tendrils crawled across his arms, his chest, and his legs until every inch of his body disappeared beneath the living uniform.

Pain unlike anything he had ever experienced surged through him.

He dropped to one knee.

"...AAAAAGH!!"

His scream echoed through the warehouse.

His wife desperately struggled against her restraints.

"ROLAND!!"

His daughter sobbed uncontrollably.

Greed simply watched with sparkling eyes, her delighted smile never fading.

"Hehehe..."

"It's starting."

Black darkness exploded outward from beneath the sweater and swallowed Roland completely.

The warehouse disappeared.

The voices disappeared.

Even the pain slowly faded...

As endless darkness consumed everything.