Chapter 317
Chapter 317
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 317
Chapter Title: God of What #4
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“Hasan, your father can’t be some evil god. I can tell just by looking at you.”
By looking at me, she could tell about my father?
For a moment, I wondered if this was some newfangled pad lip unique to people of this world.
But it didn’t seem like that was what Hippolyte meant.
Where had I heard something like this before?
A long time ago, dragged along by a friend to some Christmas service or whatever, wasn’t it?
I recalled a sermon saying that non-believers imagine the image of gods and saviors by observing the faithful, so believers must always discipline themselves to appear righteous in all they show.
Hippolyte’s words aligned perfectly with that.
People envision the gods their followers serve when they see the devotees and priests.
That must be why Hippolyte always sharpened herself so keenly.
So that anyone who saw her would picture Mars’s blade.
And that could apply to me too?
Hippolyte continued.
“Hasan, I never thought I’d say this, but you’re soft. A warrior who hesitates to swing his weapon for fear of hurting the enemy? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“...”
“But people also call that kind of softness kindness. Hasan, when I look at you, I can see your father, Pluto. He must be no different from you. There has to be some misunderstanding or circumstance behind him being branded an evil god. But the kingdom won’t see it that way. They might persecute you, even try to eradicate you. They’ll become your greatest enemy.”
“Enemy? Are you saying I have to fight the kingdom?”
“...No, that was a slip of the tongue. I got carried away talking. Truth be told, I don’t know the details of why the kingdom’s laws branded Pluto a heresy. It’s all just speculation.”
Hippolyte hurriedly reined in her words, glancing around as if worried someone might overhear.
But I could fully understand her attitude.
The kingdom as an enemy?
That was tantamount to calling for the overthrow of the state.
In any history, in any world, making a nation your foe was one of the gravest and most horrific crimes.
The punishments were severe, and those connected were relentlessly rooted out in chains of implication.
Especially in a kingdom on Gaia continent, where a real king existed—turning against the royal castle and the state was utter recklessness.
“Behold! The blasphemer who mocked the kingdom and Jupiter’s earthly proxy, the Thunder Emperor, stands before the tribunal! Let us show this vile criminal the fitting retribution...!”
Back when I was a slave, I’d seen rebels or insurrectionists executed, and it was a scene of such horror I’d never witnessed before.
Even though I’d done nothing wrong, seeing their families and acquaintances suffer under collective punishment had me terrified that someone might burst in yelling, “Samaritan, you plotted a rebellion—!” and start swinging a club at me.
I was the rightful heir to Pluto’s cult, the very heresy the kingdom persecuted.
I could guess without looking what treatment I’d receive, what rumors would spread through the kingdom.
It might be incomparable to the days when I was just shunned as a barbarian.
The days when I knew nothing.
The days lost in shallow chaos.
I felt a twinge of nostalgia for them, but it was like I’d crossed too vast a river to return now.
What should I do?
As I pondered that, Hippolyte added casually, as if passing by.
“First things first, Hasan—build your temple. Gather people who believe in you, those who can become your strength, and build your power. In that sense, this invitation will be quite helpful.”
Srrk—.
Hippolyte reached into the soft, ample valley of her bosom and held something out to me.
What was written there was straightforward enough.
*We pay homage to the newly born young god. It would be our honor to welcome you as a guest in our home and treat you well. Please grace us with the opportunity anytime.*
On the back was the seal of a wolf with its maw open.
“That’s an invitation from Marquis Karvillgas. I got it as a favor while sending messenger birds to the capital.”
Her explanation brought back the first day in Delphi—the fireworks exploding everywhere.
The massive mansion in the city center.
The eccentric Karvillgas, who gathered demigods and candidates for lavish festivals and banquets.
The real power handling Delphi’s affairs wanted to meet me.
“Sponsors and patrons play a big role in building temples. It won’t hurt to meet him, Hasan. Gather patrons and believers.”
With that, Hippolyte washed her face at a nearby well.
Beside her, I muttered softly in a voice no one else could hear.
“Chaos forever.”
Ding-.
『Name: Hasan Lv. 31
Strength: 15
Agility: 6
Vitality: 10
Karma: 60
Blessings: Shining Hand》 Night’s Armor》 Dark Eyes》 Scorched Skin》』
『Tools Collection』
The usual text appeared.
Even without the Blessing of Chaos, seeing the letters was a relief.
The vitality stat I’d raised recently seemed properly applied too.
But there was one difference from usual.
At the very end, the newly added “Tools Collection” item.
I casually moved my hand and pressed it.
With a quirky *squish-* sound effect, more text popped up.
『1. Hasan’s Faith Status Board』
『2. Conditions for unlocking not met.』
『3. Conditions for unlocking not met.』
Hasan’s Faith Status Board?
What kind of naming sense was that—like something tacked to an office wall?
The details were even weirder.
Pressing the first item brought another *squish-* and more text.
『Items Held by Hasan
Religion Name: The Heretical Cult I’ve Been Illegally Squatting with in Another World
Number of Believers: 3
Number of Foundations: 0
Number of Temples: 0
Number of Priests: 0
Number of Blessings: 0
Overall: A young and fragile boy god - The believers have fallen and are not upholding their faith.
Notice: Granted the blessing Squirrel Storage》 to believer Paranoy.』
“Oof, shit.”
The religion name—The Heretical Cult I’ve Been Illegally Squatting with in Another World?
Who the hell names a religion that?
I tried swiping to edit it, but it demanded 10 karma, so I held off.
Next, I tried the ununlocked items.
『A foundation or temple must be constructed to unlock this item.』
Guess I should build a temple first.
I was getting pretty curious about what I could do next.
“What’re you grinning about all alone?”
“Nothing.”
“Go back to the inn first. I have a lot to prepare.”
*
*
*
“Oh my god, another noble invitation?”
“Yeah.”
“Hasan, you’re amazing! What if you end up invited to the palace next?”
Luna was purely thrilled, gasping in delight at the invitation from Marquis Karvillgas.
“We can pack up tons of side dishes again!”
“Yeah.”
Luna and I had once stuffed ourselves with rare foods from a noble banquet and lived luxuriously for days.
So in our minds, a noble invitation meant raiding a treasure trove for days’ worth of provisions.
“Since it’s Delphi’s marquis, there’ll be heaps of delicious seafood, right? Like sea snails!”
I had no idea what sea snails were, but watching Luna fuss with her pink hair in excitement lifted my mood too.
“Hasan, do you know how sea snails cry?”
“Nope.”
“Uwoong-uwwoong-!”
But unlike the bubbly Luna, someone was curled up in bed, face completely hidden.
“Luna, Elfriede still not up?”
“I’ve given up!”
It was Elfriede.
Two days since coming down from Delphi’s mountains, and she’d kept the blanket pulled over her head without a word.
Elfriede had always preferred staying home over wandering outside, a classic homebody.
But she’d never been this much of a shut-in.
Burrowing into her blanket like a cave meant something serious was wrong with her.
And I had a vague idea what.
“We’re all invited, but leaving Elfriede behind feels kinda off, doesn’t it?”
“Leave her be, Hasan! Dragons naturally hole up in caves or ruined castles for months without coming out! Pfft-.”
Puheheh—dragon!—Luna burst into laughter at her own words, finding it hilarious.
Ssk.
As if reacting to the laugh, a small movement came from Elfriede’s roundly bundled blanket.
She pulled it tighter, ensuring not a single strand of hair showed, hiding herself completely.
The reason Elfriede hid under the covers like this was the same as why Luna laughed.
“Puh, she’s a, yo, dra—puhahaha. Long live the great and beautiful dragon Elfriede! Puhaha-!”
“...”
She was ashamed of blabbing about being a dragon while gassed up, hiding for days.
If it were me, what would I do?
If I’d spouted nonsense to everyone in a delirious state, I might’ve wandered the streets yelling for days.
Just thinking about it was mortifying, so I stopped.
Good thing it wasn’t me.
To clear my head and give Elfriede a chance to escape her shame-cave, I spoke to the blanket.
“Elfriede, we’re heading to the mansion now since we’re invited. You gonna stay like that?”
“...”
No reply, of course.
“Alright, then guard the inn well. I’ll grab some food on the way back.”
And so, leaving the cave-guarding dragon Elfriede behind, we headed to the mansion in central Delphi, midway up the mountain.
A structure carved broadly into the mountain and cliffs, offering a full sea view.
It was artwork in itself, priceless.
“Wow, Hasan, look! Aquamarine!”
Luna’s eyes sparkled at the gems embedded in the mansion’s pillars.
Looking where her finger pointed, smooth, oddly textured stones glittered mystically in the garden and throughout the interior.
Aquamarine?
Blue gems, so like aquamarine?
“Lady Luna, look over here...! Ammonite shells too...! Ancient primordial shells from eons ago, displayed as ornaments in the garden...!”
Shit, ammonites?
Gems didn’t excite me much, but Paranoy’s mention of ammonites piqued my interest.
Sure enough, in one garden corner, a strangely curved round object stood proudly on a marble pedestal as decoration.
“Ancient species from primordial seas—surely invaluable in sorcery too.... At least ten gold, I’d say.”
“The marquis must be filthy rich...! I need to strive to become a marquis myself...!”
Luna and Paranoy seemed utterly charmed by the opulent garden.
Stepping inside revealed a vast interior blazing with all manner of glowing stones.
Less a mansion, more a temple.
“Welcome. We knew you were coming today and prepared accordingly.”
Greeting us was a gentleman with long ash-gray hair slicked back with oil.
A cane in hand, impeccably dressed in a suit.
The epitome of nobility and refinement—no mistaking this man for Marquis Karvillgas.
I’d expected a fat festival-lover, so this was a bit unexpected.
But the biggest deviation from my mental image was his face.
Precisely, the X-shaped scar running from forehead to eyes.
“This humble castle’s master, Karvillgas, at your service.”
Gleam.
Like his hair, Karvillgas’s eyes were a dull gray.
Maybe due to the scar, they seemed sightless.
A blind marquis.
As I’d once thought, a marquis was like a permanent governor.
What could scar a man of such stature from forehead to eyes, robbing life’s light?
I couldn’t imagine.
“Please, come inside. Many guests have already gathered to welcome the newly born god.”
Hippolyte, in a red dress clinging taut to accentuate her poise, asked.
“Early guests already?”
“Naturally—.”
Karvillgas merely turned and replied curtly, without looking back.
“Naturally. A new god’s birth means Hypnos, silent for so long, has begun issuing edicts at last. People have come from far and wide to celebrate this historic moment. I hope it’s not an imposition?”
Hippolyte glanced at me, brow slightly furrowed.
Being invited to Karvillgas’s mansion was fine, but I hadn’t considered who might be waiting.
But more people should be good, right?
I’d come to this fancy noble haunt to scout sponsors—key to building my temple.
Karvillgas seemed to read my mind, leading us smoothly down the red carpet–lined halls.
“Hasan, was it? Great expectations ride on you, the newcomer. Depending on what you do, some here may become your fervent patrons.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Nothing in particular. Just be yourself. If you have time, perhaps share the tale of slaying that fearsome hydra.”
Hydra.
Wasn’t that supposed to be a secret from the Delphi temple?
Knowing that classified incident showed the extent of this Karvillgas’s influence.
Patrons, huh.
In other words, I was like a young entrepreneur pitching to investors.
Selling my wares or plans at a premium for backing.
“There—the banquet hall.”
But all my fretting shattered the moment we entered, as someone lunged at me.
“Oppa! It really was you, oppa!”