Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren woke up from his peaceful slumber and found out that he had received 1742 more Menaka's Runes.

Menaka's Market was always open and people could buy and sell the items available in the market at any time, at any place. Unless there were some special circumstances, people could buy stuff from Menaka's Market even while they were in transit or doing something really crucial.

Eren had never experienced an economy that was always on, always churning. He couldn't blame the goddess for being capitalist anymore after he got his cut from the system.

After being included in the profit margin, the butcher couldn't complain about a system that worked for him. He was sure that he would have turned the Mesh into a profit-generating machine as well if he had given the reins over it.

As such, he was pleasantly surprised to find out that his decision to turn his spell creation into a Skill had given him this much profit overnight. He had to say that he couldn't have asked for a better start to a new day.

He freshened up before heading downstairs. The inn he had stayed in for the time being was less of an inn and more of a monastery sponsored by the Ishgaar's Temple. As such, there was no room service. He had to go to a food court where he could reserve a table and get local cuisine for himself.

Soon, he found a table for himself and sat down. Reen was seen sitting beside him, observing the crowd around them.

At the food court, the atmosphere shimmered with magical hues, as if the very air was infused with the essence of mystic spices and ethereal flavors. The scent of exotic herbs and enchanted ingredients wafted through the air, creating an olfactory symphony that teased the senses.

Eren settled at a small wooden table adorned with celestial motifs, beneath a canopy of enchanted vines that sparkled with tiny, dancing lights. The food court was aglow with an otherworldly radiance. Like always, it induced feelings of tranquility and solitude in one's heart.

For some reason, Eren was not affected by the feelings the place was trying to induce in him. His thoughts were fully focused on getting something really good to eat. This would be his first proper food in a foreign world. He wanted this experience to be perfect.

Unbeknownst to him, it was his emotions, and his food cravings that were affecting the patrons around him. The Domain of Gluttony had subtly started to show its effects, affecting others around him on a subconscious level. The intent-based magic the inn had worked so hard for failed to isolate others from Eren's demonic influence.

"Reen darling, what would you like to have?"

Eren asked his partner while looking at the spectral menu in front of him. The screen was nothing but the food court's menu. He could order anything he wanted from his position and the food would appear right in front of him after some time.

"Um… you order it for me."

Reen didn't need to eat anymore. However, she could still enjoy the taste of food with her current status as an artifact. So she let Eren order anything he wanted and chatted with him like the chatterbox she often was from time to time.

The menu listed an array of dishes that transcended the ordinary. Eren's curiosity led him to order a dish known as "Stardust Delight." After a few minutes, when the dish finally appeared on his table, Eren marveled at the exquisite presentation.

The Stardust Delight was a culinary masterpiece, a symphony of colors and textures. On the plate, translucent orbs of iridescent jelly shimmered like captured starlight, surrounded by delicate petals of enchanted herbs that released fragrant wisps of magic.

"I… I hate to admit it but this…. Thing… looks better than what he had in Anfang so far."

Reen scrunched her nose as she looked at the dish in front of him. Eren had just placed the same order twice, making Reen eat the same thing he was eating.

"Keke. Why do you look offended that the food in Labh Salem is better than what we had in Anfang? Relax a bit, lass. We are not the representatives of our world and we have nothing to prove here."

The butcher said before focusing his attention on the task at hand.

Eren took a tentative bite, and as the Stardust Delight touched his palate, a burst of flavors unfolded. Each bite seemed to evoke something deeper within him as if he was savoring the very essence of the stars. The dish was a harmonious blend of sweet and savory, with notes of distinct spices that tingled on his taste buds.

Magical elements danced in the cuisine, leaving a subtle, lingering energy that invigorated Eren with each mouthful. The Stardust Delight seemed to transcend mere sustenance, offering a culinary experience that resonated with the enchantment of Serene Solitude itself.

As Eren enjoyed the magical feast, he couldn't help but notice the diverse crowd in the food court. Patrons conversed in hushed tones, their faces illuminated by the radiant glow of their dishes. Some wielded small orbs that levitated above their tables, casting a soft, ambient light that added to the enchantment of the space.

For some reason, it felt like they were trying to eat more than usual. It was as if they had not had food for quite some time. And all of their feelings of hunger had kicked all at once, forcing them to devour the food in their sight.

'Hm? This… this is weird. Why are they all so zealous about having their food?'

Eren narrowed his eyes at the patrons of the inn present at the inn. He could tell that something was odd about the way they ate their food. He could understand if some of the patrons ate their food as if they were starving.

'That hunger… It's the Sin of Gluttony.'

Eren quickly figured out what was causing the odd behavior of the people around him. He quickly accessed the Spectral Screen and found a way to stop it.

[ Greater Skill: Domain of Gluttony's passive effect has been boosted by the user's mental state. Due to the user's lack of experience in handling his demonic powers, the passive effect can not be turned off. ]

'Lack of experience? That's strange. I did not have this problem while I was in Anfang. Then why…'

Eren quickly figured out the reason behind this odd incident. The inn was specially enchanted to amplify the effects of the intent-based magic. Plus, the Mesh itself reacted to the Greater Skills differently. Plus, it didn't help that Eren himself harbored strong feelings of hunger in his heart after indulging in the taste of the food.

All of these things were not available in Anfang. So he could wield his demonic powers without any worry. However, Labh Salem was different.

'My weaknesses… The things that I lack have been highlighted for me one after the other ever since I stepped foot in this world. I guess I need to establish a firm control over my demonic powers. And I need to do a better job at it than I did in Anfang.'

'Is it possible to control Domain of Gluttony's passive effects?'

Eren asked in his mind, knowing full well that the Mesh would process his question.

[ Manual intervention to control the passive effect of the user's Greater Skill is possible through the use of the Mesh. Do you wish to proceed? ]

'Yeah. Do that. The sooner the better.'

Eren quickly responded in his head.

[ 30 Menaka's Runes would be spent every hour for as long as the Greater Skill's passive effect is active. The user will be given complete control to turn off the effects of the Greater Skill or to amplify its effects. Do you wish to proceed? ]

'Damn it. Nothing is free here. Yes– proceed.'

Eren sighed as he turned off the effect of the Greater Skill manually using the Mesh. It wasn't apparent right away but he knew that the people around him would soon assume their normal behavior without anyone being the wiser.

The butcher breathed a sigh of relief after he avoided a potential inspection speck on him by the Ishgaar's Templar. He didn't have to celebrate his small victory. Reen was doing that for him without being concerned by his problems.

It seemed that Reen was not affected by the effects of the Greater Skill. However, it did not stop her from praising the food. While eating, she seemed to be browsing through an invisible screen in front of her.

"Erni, this Menaka's Blessing sure is convenient."

Reen commented as she checked up on the Spectral Screen available specially for her. Reen was not like a normal, living, breathing entity anymore. As such, she could not receive Menaka's Blessing directly. However, she could still access the Mesh through her bond with Eren.

One could say that Reen has access to Eren's sub-panel which was dedicated specially for her. Even the sub-panel of the Mesh had so many options that Reen was impressed with the goddess' blessing as a whole.

Of course, most of the options that she saw were locked for her and required her to fulfill some special conditions. So she could control her excitement to some extent.