Monarch of Gluttony: System of Sin

The man before Azekiel turned around, surprising him. The man... He was none other than the person depicted in the status.

He was still wearing that beautiful Armor that complimented his beautiful golden eyes. The only difference was that the man wasn't holding any sword this time. Instead, there was only one book in his hand here.

"King Osiris?" Azekiel let out.

"You know me?" The middle-aged man smiled in response.

"I know someone who knows you," Azekiel responded. Even though he knew that he shouldn't tell the man that he knew the Witch of Famine, but he also didn't feel like he could lie here for some reason. He didn't know what it was about this man, but only the truth came out of his mouth.

"Oh?" The man tilted his head in confusion. "Who might that be?"

"The Witch of Famine, Lia," Azekiel explained. "I know she did wrong by bringing Famine into your Empire."

"Lia?" As soon as the man heard the name, some inexplicable emotions flickered through the man's eyes as he let out a deep sigh. "The only regret of my life."

"How do you know her? She was killed by my men."

"I know her Spirit," Azekiel answered.

"Next time you meet her, can you give her a message from me?" King Orisis asked.

Hearing his demand, Azekiel was sure the King was going to ask him to give some scolding to Lia for what she did or cursed, but the King's words shocked even him.

"Please tell her I am sorry." The King glanced at the bright sun. "I was wrong."

"You are sorry? For what? She was in the wrong. She killed your citizens for her entertainment. Shouldn't she be sorry instead of you?" Azekiel didn't understand why the man was asking him to say sorry. Was he an idiot? He was saying sorry to someone who deserved it?

"So she didn't tell you yet," the man flashed a sad smile, hearing Azekiel's response. "You are just as naive as I was."

"What do you mean?" Azekiel asked, still not understanding a single thing. "What did she not tell me?"

"Lia was a dear friend. When I was young, she even saved my life once. However, as I became King, I gained so many responsibilities of the Empire that I had to leave all friendships behind."

"As you said, she brought the Famine. An entire town died in the Famine because of her. In my rage, I also thought that she did it for entertainment. I commanded for all Witches to be burnt."

"I watched my friend burn right before my eyes, but I didn't feel bad. I thought I was a just and righteous King who was working for the wellbeing of my citizens, but I was wrong," the man explained.

"How were you wrong?"

"I didn't even give her a chance to explain, and nor did she try to explain. It was only after she had died that I learned of the reality."

"Could there be something that can justify what she did?" Azekiel asked.

The young man shook her head. "I had forgotten that she was also a citizen of this Empire, and it was also because of us she was forced to take such a step. If the Empire had been just, her life would've been saved along with that town..."

King Orisis observed Azekiel's confused expressions. He further explained, "Did you know about her Sister?"

"Who was killed with her father? I heard."

"But did you know how many times she came to the Royal Guards for justice and for the culprit to be found and punished? You don't, do you?"

"It was only after her death that I found out she came to the Royal Guards seven times, asking them to find the killers of her family and have them punished, but the Empire didn't do her justice. The Empire didn't listen to her pleas."

"How is her sister's death related to the Famine? She was trying to punish you for not listening?"

"No. That's what I thought, but I was wrong. The Famine... It wasn't for us. It was for that specific town where her sister and father had died. She didn't know who killed them, but she knew that whoever it was, they lived in the town."

"After getting no help from the Empire, she brought forth the Famine and sealed the town. Many innocents died, but some of the fault in it lies with me too. If only I had listened..." King Orisis let out a deep sigh.

"Even though I still believe she did wrong, but she didn't kill them for entertainment. Or maybe the thought of the killer dying was entertainment for her. In any case, most of the blame lies with me. I only found out the truth about her actions from her mother a few months after her death. By then, it was too late. I couldn't say sorry."

"So if she is a Spirit and she is with you, tell her. Tell her Orisis is sorry. Tell her I should've listened. Tell her I was wrong, and there hadn't been a single moment where I didn't regret how the events unfolded."

"Will you tell her?" The man asked.

Azekiel affirmed. "I will tell her. Thank you for telling me the reality. That girl... She never told me the truth. She acts to be cruel, yet she is still a child on the inside. Just like you, I've been wrong about her as well. I will tell her everything."

"Thank you." The middle-aged man smiled in response. "Oh, I suppose you came here for this. Take it; this might be helpful in your journey ahead. Take good care of my dear friend."

The man raised his hand as if offering the book in his hand to Azekiel.

Azekiel subconsciously reached out his hand and took the book.

"Wait a minute. I still had more questions. Why is your status there? What happened to you? What is this tower? Do you know anything?"

Azekiel shot so many questions at Osiris, who only smiled in response.

"Who knows. All those answers are for you to find out. The book should help you though. If you can, get the second part as well. I wish you luck, young man."

The man disappeared, and so did the surrounding. Azekiel found himself back at the blood pond with the golden book in his hands. He gazed at the statue above blankly before glancing back at Lia.