Chapter 31
Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Festival of Receiving Flesh
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheers poured in from all directions.
A god had descended to the mortal world.
The fervor around them boiled over wildly at the proof that ancient myths still existed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Our divine presence is too stimulating for the children of the mortal world.
In stark contrast to the surrounding madness, a voice of utmost serenity.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-That's why our mere existence so easily enchants the children.
The Goddess's voice lacked the usual emotional fluctuations as she said this.
"I see."
With nothing much to say in response, I simply nodded quietly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-In that sense, I think my one and only daughter is truly an oddity.
"Is that so? I thought she was pretty normal."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-...Even if love blinds you to a goddess's eyes, that's hard to affirm. A normal person wouldn't leisurely appraise a descended god's body while gazing upon them from the earth.
"There's just something pleasing to look at, isn't there?"
My gaze turned to the Goddess, standing atop the altar with the majestic air of a great general descending upon the world.
She stood so imposingly that beneath the moonlight, there was nothing she bothered to conceal.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Your daughter's eyes look like those of lecherous drunks in a tavern.
"Oh yeah."
Whoops, that slipped out wrong.
Still, it was a body that was genuinely a feast for the eyes.
From her features to her hair down to her toes.
Even setting aside the divine majesty that didn't faze me much anymore thanks to my familiarity with the Goddess's presence.
The body of the Goddess of War and Victory, manifested in flesh, was so beautiful it seemed designed to teach what the perfect woman's form truly was.
One could be forgiven for mistaking her for the Goddess of Beauty rather than War and Victory.
And certain parts were just... so impressive, it was frustrating how inadequate my vocabulary felt.
As I admired the Goddess's figure over there, a slightly grumpy voice pricked at my ear.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-...My own figure is no less impressive when compared to that fool.
Oh.
At the Goddess's words, I instantly pictured her own body superimposed over the other goddess's in my mind.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-!!
At the same instant, an indescribably powerful intent shook my mind, shattering my focus in one go!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-What are you imagining!!! Blasphemy! Sacrilege!
"......"
No, didn't you just lead me there?
The words circled my lips with a sense of injustice, but I couldn't bring myself to say them aloud.
A complex emotion boiling over like a kettle was being transmitted, and it seemed best not to provoke it further.
"Ah, looks like it's ending."
Priestesses from what appeared to be the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory climbed the altar and created a curtain woven like golden thread, covering the Goddess of War and Victory's body.
At the same time, her overwhelming presence that had filled the plaza began to fade, and the cheers started to die down.
As the Goddess had said, those enchanted by her divinity were gradually regaining their senses.
Moments later, as the curtain was drawn back, the Goddess appeared, now dressed with the aid of her priestesses.
Pure white fabric, fixed at both shoulders with golden brooches, draped in elegant folds, overlaid with a long golden-threaded cloth slung diagonally.
A golden belt engraved with her symbol cinched her waist, and delicate golden chains wound from her ankles up her bare feet.
"Taking more time would burden us with the complaints of the other gods. Children of the mortal world, enjoy this joyous occasion to your heart's content."
The Goddess of War and Victory waved once more to the cheers directed at her, then turned and descended the altar with her priests.
'...Huh?'
For a moment, it seemed like our eyes met and she smiled.
Was that a trick of the light?
'Probably just coincidence.'
There had to be at least tens of thousands gathered here from all races.
I'm not some rabid fan at their favorite idol's concert, mistaking a fleeting glance for "My fave just smiled at me!"
"Next up, the appearance of the Church of the God of Gold and Scales!"
The shout snapped me out of my pointless musings.
I tore my gaze from the departing Church of the Goddess of War and Victory and watched the new church carry their offerings to the altar.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As the priests offered their prayers, the mountain of offerings began to glow and melt away.
Much like with the Goddess of War and Victory, a golden egg formed, took on balance, and finally, from within it...
"Ooooh..."
A boy's figure emerged.
Perhaps around twelve years old?
With golden curly hair and mischievous eyes, he was a charming pretty boy who could melt any woman's heart, though his chubby cheeks, not yet shed of baby fat, were particularly striking.
"Mm~ A satisfying body this year as well."
The God of Gold and Scales, in the form of a boy, stretched and grinned brightly. An overwhelming presence, but in a different way from the Goddess of War and Victory.
Where she dominated and subjugated with her mere existence, the God of Gold and Scales felt like all the world's bright and benevolent energies were condensed into that small frame.
With a snap of his fingers, light enveloped the boy god's body, and when it faded, a golden tunic now clad him.
"Still, as expected, couldn't outdo the war side, huh?"
The boy god's gaze turned toward the passage where the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory had exited moments before.
"Ah, sorry. Don't make that face. I'm satisfied. It's just that one's oversized. Divinity's such a hassle sometimes. Even mutterings carry over."
His muttering made the followers below the altar look apologetic, so the boy god waved it off embarrassedly.
Shaking off the awkwardness, he skipped playfully down the altar even as his attending priests climbed up.
The priests were flustered by the god's frivolous demeanor, but he just laughed mischievously and shouted,
"It's a festival! Loosen up and have fun, everyone."
When it was the turn of the Church of the Goddess of Hearth and Embers, they had a red silk curtain draped over the altar from the start.
The all-female priests of the Goddess of Hearth and Embers quietly carried the offerings inside the curtain.
Soon after, a warm orange light seeped through from beyond the curtain.
Flames danced on the curtain like a projector screen, forming a human shape, drawing now-somewhat-familiar gasps of awe from the crowd.
"Ooooh..."
The Goddess of Hearth and Embers was both the protector of homes and a virgin goddess of purity.
Unlike the exhibitionist tendencies of the Goddess of War and Victory, this goddess never casually bared her skin.
Though humans weren't likely to feel mere lust when overwhelmed by divine presence anyway.
Once the manifestation was complete, the priestesses entered the curtain.
"Ahh..."
Many lost their words at the sight of the Goddess of Hearth and Embers emerging alongside her priestesses.
Downturned eyes, black hair spilling from her hood, simple clothing like that of any city housewife.
Not adorned with the shining splendor of the previous two gods.
Yet the aura she exuded made it impossible to take her lightly.
An enveloping comfort, like she could embrace everything.
It stirred maternal instincts and nostalgia in all who beheld her.
With such an aura from their god, and the church always carrying the same vibe, that must be why the Church of the Goddess of Hearth and Embers was beloved by so many.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-She has long been respected not just by mortals, but by other gods as well.
She didn't hesitate to hurl barbs at the Goddess of War and Victory, but clear fondness colored her words about the Goddess of Hearth and Embers.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Who wouldn't prefer her over that idiot?
The manifestations of the three most popular churches in this world—not just the dungeon city—had concluded.
But many more churches followed, offering tributes to shape their gods' bodies.
Those who faced their manifested gods would surely deepen their faith.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-......
"......"
But unable to join their ranks, we simply watched the other descending gods with applause.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The morning after the gods descended to the mortal world.
I was poking around the eastern district.
If the west had slums and the north workshops, the east was where the temples of the churches mainly gathered.
During the Festival of Receiving Flesh, the descended gods resided in their respective churches' temples.
Thus, participating churches saw droves of visitors wearing down their doorsteps during this period.
Not just locals from the dungeon city, but pilgrims came from afar, hoping to behold a god up close at least once in their lifetime and receive blessings.
Because of that...
"Popular churches definitely have a solid revenue model."
I felt a twinge of envy looking at the long line stretching toward the temple.
They surely bought plenty of dungeon materials to prepare bodies for their gods' manifestations.
But attracting that many customers meant recouping investments wouldn't be hard—it was worth it as marketing spend.
The Church of the God of Gold and Scales would probably profit even more.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Then why don't we do the same?
"That'd probably be tough."
I shook my head at the Goddess's question.
A descended god was indeed a better billboard than a beautiful actress in a liquor ad.
But it didn't directly translate to revenue streams.
Temples relied on donations and offerings from visitors, but our church's entire operation was a tiny prayer room in the slums, renting for 8 silver a month.
With most temples in the east and poor accessibility from the affluent central district, human psychology was tricky too.
Outward grandeur mattered greatly.
Who wouldn't prefer worshiping in a grand temple of hundreds of marble pillars over a god in a shabby prayer room?
Humans were wired with bandwagon instincts, after all.
Not just that—long-held faiths weren't easy to switch.
If switching teams were simple, fans of that baseball team from my past life that never won after the 21st century wouldn't have suffered so much.
I had no idea how time flowed in that other world, but enough time had passed since my reincarnation—maybe they'd won by now?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-...Building a temple would cost a fortune, wouldn't it?
"With what we have left, maybe enough for one or two pillars."
I'd gotten quotes from the northern workshop district before.
Quit when I saw marble pillars went for about 20 gold each.
Factoring in central district land prices and labor, a decent temple would run at least 30,000 gold.
Temple business was impossible for us.
The initial capital alone was beyond what one person could handle.
Even forcing a manifestation for the Goddess, no donors would show, and we'd likely lose the investment.
"If we sold powers to followers like the Church of the God of Shadow and Key, maybe. But for you, Goddess..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Of course not.
The Goddess declared solemnly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Even if children who worship me fill this land in the future, you alone shall wield my power in the mortal world. I have no intention of granting it to others.
"An infinite honor."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Mm! Never forget that I truly cherish only you!
I simply expressed my gratitude at the voice brimming with undisguised affection.
'We have enough specs now to make decent money, so selling spare powers wouldn't hurt...'
The thought crossed my mind, but no need to ruin the mood.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
-Ha!
The Goddess snorted derisively.
Looking toward the source, I opened my mouth.
"...So, the Goddess of War and Victory wishes to see me?"