Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Festival of Receiving Flesh
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Leading the parade was a standard-bearer hoisting a flag emblazoned with an emblem of a sturdy shield at its center, crossed by a sword and halberd.
"It's the order of the 'Goddess of War and Victory'!"
Someone in the crowd shouted upon recognizing the flag.
Following the standard-bearer came warriors and priests clad in uniforms brimming with dignity, marching in precise formation.
But the eyes of the onlookers were drawn a little further back.
"Whoa!"
Four oxen pulled a massive cart that filled the entire street.
And at the center of that cart sat a skull.
At first glance, it resembled a goat's skull, but its size was anything but ordinary.
The height easily surpassed 3 meters, and its width and length were even greater.
This overwhelming skull naturally evoked images of the colossal creature it once belonged to.
"The War Goddess's order really bagged something monstrous this time!"
"Of course! Lady Thousand Armies is the strongest!"
"There's a reason they're leading the parade again. You have to acknowledge a feat like this."
Apart from the goat skull, the cart was laden with precious metals and rare materials excavated from the dungeon.
The value of its contents allowed the order to flaunt their prestige to the world.
"Looks like that goddess over there will be staying in the lower world for a full week again this year."
Among the orders belonging to the All-Gods Temple, theirs boasted the strongest forces, and every material they'd gathered was impressive.
Not just the owner of that absurdly massive skull—even the auras seeping from behind the cart's side panels suggested Floor Lord-grade cores were in there.
And ones that felt a cut above the Floor Lord cores from the 22nd floor that I'd dedicated to my goddess.
Even trying to put a price on them mentally, most couldn't be quantified in mere coin.
They were spending treasures like these just to keep a god on this earth for one week?
Truly, the spending habits of the big leagues were on another level from us common folk.
-Hmph.
The goddess let out a rare cynical snort, clearly displeased with the situation.
'Even if you're burning with one-sided rivalry...'
One side was an obscure order unknown to 99% of the city.
The other was one of the world's most famous orders—and thanks to their combat-related divine powers, the top pick in the dungeon city.
The gap in their weight class was too embarrassing to even compare.
Telling anyone else would just earn mockery, not even a laugh.
Instead of wasting energy on something so pointless,
"They're here!"
"Whoa!"
The crowd erupted in cheers once more as the second procession followed the 'Goddess of War and Victory' order.
Where the first had boasted feats of valor, this one flaunted sheer wealth.
Eight white horses drew a lavish, massive carriage adorned with gold leaf and jewels.
Behind it trailed a long line of carts brimming with monster materials.
Unlike the self-sufficient 'Goddess of War and Victory' order, they hired Crawler Guild parties and clans to sweep up materials with money.
It was the order of the God of Gold and Scales—the wealthiest not just in the city, but in the entire world.
"Receive the blessings of the God of Gold and Scales!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
Was this what a Roman triumph felt like?
Every time the plump man in golden robes atop the elevated platform on the carriage waved his hand, a shower of gold and silver coins rained down.
People reached out toward the dazzling lights streaking through the air, entranced.
Whoosh-!
"Huh?"
A hand stretched toward a gold coin sliced through empty air instead.
Whoosh-! Whoosh-!
-Even after seeing it every year, what incredible sleight of hand.
The goddess remarked in admiration, but I was too focused on the scene before me to reply.
'Can't grab every gold or silver coin scattered into the air.'
I had to judge instantly what to take as they rained down.
Gold coins took priority, of course.
The ratio of gold to silver seemed about 1:17.
Precise positioning was key to snatching the higher-value gold amid the opportunity cost.
And when moving, I had to do so naturally without bumping other spectators.
Any commotion would draw eyes, naturally.
'That makes eight.'
I stopped after pocketing eight gold coins.
'Busted.'
No matter how careful, you're bound to get caught eventually.
A few sharp-eyed members of the God of Gold and Scales order were already staring my way.
'Guess that's it for this year. They're spotting me faster each time.'
Once caught, pressing for more would incur the order's wrath.
They tolerated it as a minor nuisance before detection, but beyond that, it crossed the line.
I wasn't dumb enough to risk clashing with the parade's number-two order over a few more coins.
Bowing my head low and shuffling against the flow of the parade finally shook their gazes.
"Might not even pull this off next year."
They'd spotted me way quicker than expected.
There weren't that many in the procession sharp enough to track my movements, so getting pegged this fast...
'Am I on a blacklist or something?'
If I wanted to skim gold next year, I'd need a disguise at least.
"Waaaaah!!"
The parade stretched on endlessly after that.
Orders of the Goddess of Hearth and Embers, the God of the Firmament, the God of Roads and Horizons, the God of Anvil and Hammer.
And various other orders led carts loaded with dungeon spoils.
The smallest participating order, the God of Shadow and Key, brought up the rear and finally reached the destination.
At the center of the vast plaza rose a towering altar, surrounded by carts and carriages, with tiered spectator stands lining the outskirts.
The good seats were mostly taken already, though.
"These are the items that will become the goddess's body! Transport them with reverence!"
The massive goat skull and orbs pulsing with mighty power were piled onto the altar.
Once all transport was complete, the warriors descended to join the priests already in prayer, kneeling in pious devotion.
"Oh... ooh!!"
Shortly after every priest and warrior of the order began praying,
a murmur of awe rippled through the crowd.
Starting with the skull atop the altar, all the offerings melted into shapeless goo.
The molten forms merged, swiftly forming a perfect egg shape.
Crack- craaaack-!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the egg's surface in an instant.
As everyone held their breath watching the fractured egg,
Crush-!
The shell finally shattered into shards of light.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Slowly rising from the shattered remnants at the altar's heart was a nude woman with lustrous golden hair cascading to her waist.
As she lifted her head and shook it lightly, waves of gold caught the moonlight and danced across the night sky.
With languid, sleepy movements, she tested her body with slow gestures.
Those subtle motions alone hushed the plaza's clamor as if by magic.
"Mm."
A faint murmur, barely audible.
Yet every soul gathered heard it branded into their ears, regardless of distance.
All instinctively knew, centered on the altar:
That being atop it was fundamentally unlike them.
Her mere presence overwhelmed the assembled masses.
The woman—no, the goddess—raised her head and gazed upon the multitude.
Without a word or grand gesture, those facing 'War and Victory' incarnate knelt in worship of her grandeur.
No matter their faith, every one of them.
At the plaza's heart, with all bowing toward her, the goddess spread her arms wide in a graceful arc, like the star of a vast worldly stage.
"Applaud, children of the lower world!"
A militant smile curved the lips of her nation-toppling beauty.
"Victory has come to this place!"
With the goddess's proclamation, the plaza boiled over in cheers and fervor.