Chapter 308 – I’m Going to Trust You and Take this Bet. (2)
Flash!
Piote’s closed eyes snapped open, emitting an infinitely divine light.
His hair shimmered with a radiant silver glow, his lips deepened to an even more vivid red, and his skin transformed into a flawless, porcelain white.
It was as if a goddess had descended into Piote’s body, cleansing it of all impurities.
If he had merely been considered handsome before, now he exuded an enchanting allure that was almost mesmerizing.
Seeing this, Alfoi thought to himself.
‘Impo… Impossible! Damn it! Get a grip!’
He gritted his teeth and tried to muster his mana again. The sheer storm of divine power made it difficult to endure.
The surrounding spectators, too, were awestruck, staring at Piote in a daze as they slowly retreated.
No one could comprehend how a simple gamble like “odd or even” had escalated into this extraordinary situation.
Guooooo!
Piote felt a vast, indescribable will connected with him. Along with an almost euphoric mental elevation, he sensed a power capable of achieving anything.
This was a power bestowed purely through a prayer imbued with untainted desire. The enormous will seemed to hesitate momentarily as it felt Piote’s yearning, but ultimately, it delivered a “revelation.”
A solemn and sacred voice echoed within Piote’s mind. Though it was in no earthly language, he understood its meaning perfectly through his connection to the divine will.
― ‘Even.’
Following that guidance, Piote spoke in a voice imbued with holiness.
“Even.”
“Gahh!”
Alfoi groaned. Even. The call was correct. But he wasn’t about to lose so easily.
What is a mage, after all?
If gods create the laws and order of the world, mages are the ones who mock and defy those laws.
He attempted to cast a spell to slip a silver coin into his sleeve.
“What… what’s this?! My mana isn’t moving!”
The spell wouldn’t activate. It was as if his mana had solidified, refusing to budge.
The same applied to everyone else present. Kane couldn’t draw upon his mana, and the mages found their magic completely immobilized.
Everyone near Piote had been rendered unable to utilize their abilities.
“Th-this is insane! What kind of power is this?!”
“Is this level of strength even possible?!”
“Does this make any sense?!”
Terrified, they retreated even further. Remaining within the storm of divine power felt as though their very bodies might shatter.
“Krrrrrrgh!”
But Alfoi refused to flee. He was, after all, a man of perseverance.
Despite his best efforts to summon power, it was futile. Even his body no longer obeyed his will.
Piote, gazing at Alfoi with deep, solemn eyes, issued an undeniable command.
“Open your hand.”
His voice was resplendent and beautiful, yet the authority it carried was enough to crush worlds.
Alfoi’s wrist began to twist on its own, the coin clutched in his hand threatening to slip away.
“Damn it! Do you think I’ll just give up?! Just because you’re some god?! I’m Alfoi, the blazing man! The unbreakable man! You hear me?!”
He absolutely refused to lose his money.
Drdrdrdrdr.
But resisting a god’s will was beyond Alfoi’s capability. His wrist continued to twist against his will, inch by inch.
“Aaaaaagh!”
Bloodshot eyes, gritted teeth, and lips bitten hard enough to bleed Alfoi’s entire body trembled with exertion.
“No, no! This can’t happen!”
His wrist was nearly fully turned, and now his fingers were beginning to uncurl.
If his hand opened completely, he would lose the bet. After creating some of the most powerful spells in existence, this was unthinkable.
He couldn’t accept defeat especially not to someone like Piote, a naive and clueless fool.
“Grrrghhhhhh!”
Alfoi struggled desperately, but at that moment…
Drip.
A thin trickle of blood began to flow from Piote’s nose.
The connection to the goddess was an extraordinary power, one that only a Holy Maiden could wield. There was no way Piote, in his current state, could handle such overwhelming strength.
The divine power rapidly began to drain away, and the heavenly light dimmed.
“No, no…!”
Piote panicked, trying to hold on. He just needed to last a little longer. Alfoi’s fingers were already starting to uncurl.
“Grrrrr…”
“Aaaaaargh!”
Both men pushed their mental and physical limits in a desperate standoff.
And just as Alfoi’s hand was about to fully open…
“Ah… O goddess…”
Thud.
Piote’s eyes closed, and he collapsed. In an instant, the storm of divine power dissipated, and Alfoi immediately succeeded in casting his spell.
Shwik.
A silver coin slipped smoothly into his sleeve. The now-unconscious Piote couldn’t witness the blatant cheating.
“Ha! Hahaha! Odd! It’s odd! Look! I won! I won!”
Alfoi’s face contorted with madness as he laughed. He had won. He had overcome even the power of the goddess and emerged victorious.
This was a feat that defied imagination, one even a great archmage or a dragon couldn’t achieve.
Alfoi roared at the sky.
“I am Alfoi! The man who defeated a god!”
Claude, who had been watching the entire ordeal, stood with his mouth agape.
But he wasn’t the only one shocked. Ghislain, who had sensed the incomprehensible power, as well as the nearby villagers, had all gathered to witness the aftermath.
The clear sky suddenly filling with dark clouds and pouring radiant light was enough to draw everyone’s attention.
Ghislain alternated between staring at the now-collapsed Piote and the wildly laughing Alfoi.
‘What… What is this? Why in the world did that kind of power manifest here of all places?!’
The connection to the goddess was a miracle that even a Holy Maiden could hardly achieve. It wasn’t something that could be activated at will.
Such power required an extreme convergence of faith and desire to even be possible.
Typically, it was said to appear only in moments of great trial, when someone endured unbearable pain and suffering.
In Ghislain’s past life, there was a Holy Maiden who had only displayed that ability after witnessing the massacre of countless people right before his eyes.
Channeling such power was reserved for moments of dire crisis not something as trivial as a game of “odd or even.”
Ghislain stared blankly at Alfoi again.
‘What is this bastard? What the hell did he even do?’
What level of human depravity could Piote have witnessed that would drive him to feel such unbearable pain and suffering, to the point of connecting with the goddess?
Ghislain himself had pushed Piote to his limits before, yet never witnessed even a trace of such a miracle.
“I am the man who defeated a god!”
The madman kept laughing and shouting at the sky, as if the heavens themselves owed him recognition.
Ghislain shook his head in disbelief and turned his gaze to Piote, who lay unconscious on the ground, now returned to his ordinary form.
‘I always knew he was unique… but to think he would actually awaken.’
A Holy Maiden is chosen by the goddess. Once chosen, if that individual succeeds in even a brief connection with the goddess, it is called an “awakening.”
This phenomenon is referred to as the goddess’s favor. Those blessed by the goddess possess divine power so overwhelming that it’s incomparable to that of other priests.
This is the strength and qualification of a Holy Maiden. Why Piote, a man, had been chosen, Ghislain could not fathom.
‘Well, there’s never a reason for divine favoritism in the first place.’
An awakened Holy Maiden gains the ability to act as a vessel for the authority of their deity. For instance, a Holy Maiden serving the Goddess of War could display extraordinary combat prowess on the battlefield.
In Piote’s case, because he served the Goddess of Beauty, his appearance had transformed into something far more divine than usual.
From Ghislain’s perspective, however, it was a completely useless ability.
‘Still, he’ll probably become much stronger now. In times of crisis, he’ll prove to be a great asset.’
Unless extraordinary circumstances arose, Piote likely wouldn’t connect with the goddess again. However, now that he had awakened, his body would be more attuned to using divine power.
His divine strength would grow at an accelerated rate, and as his mastery deepened, he would be able to wield unparalleled power freely.
Even if he abandoned his faith, his body, once transformed, would retain its aptitude for divine power.
‘Later… I’ll need to keep Alfoi nearby. Maybe even Claude too, just in case.’
If a situation arose dire enough to require channeling again… Ghislain felt that pairing Alfoi and Claude with Piote would be enough to push him into extreme mental stress, forcing another connection with the goddess.
Something about the chaotic synergy between Alfoi and Claude made it seem like a plausible plan.
‘Perhaps this entire incident was just a trigger.’
In truth, Piote’s divine power had been increasing at an unusual rate. It was possible that all he needed was a minor catalyst to awaken fully.
‘I still can’t understand why he’d despair so deeply over someone like Alfoi.’
At any rate, that bastard was extraordinary in his own way.
The staff from the estate soon arrived and carefully carried the unconscious Piote away on a stretcher. They ignored Alfoi, who was still laughing maniacally.
The villagers all cleared a path as the stretcher passed, bowing their heads in reverence.
“To think a true Holy Maiden would appear in our territory…”
“To witness such a miracle with our own eyes…”
“Goddess, please bestow your blessings upon us.”
The villagers were unaware that Piote was a man. Judging by his appearance alone, they simply assumed he was a woman.
Piote had always been well-loved in the village for helping those in need, so news of his selection as a Holy Maiden spread rapidly.
The location where Piote and Alfoi had played their game of “odd or even” was no longer accessible. The villagers had turned it into a sacred site, kneeling in prayer and halting all construction in the area.
“Ugh… Well, there is nothing we can do about it. Just leave that spot empty,” Ghislain muttered.
With no other choice, Ghislain ended up constructing a small temple on the site.
When the lord himself built a temple, the people’s faith grew even more devout. They pooled their money to buy large, beautiful marble stones.
Next to the temple, they erected a monument and carefully engraved the following words:
[The place where Saint Piote received the goddess’s revelation. Through “odd or even.”]
Though someone later scribbled on the latter part, tarnishing its dignity a bit, the location became a sacred and significant site for the people of the Fenris territory.
This event also marked the beginning of a massive surge in followers of Juana’s faith within the Fenris domain.
* * *
“So, what business do you have with me, the man who defeated a god?”
Alfoi spoke with extreme arrogance. Claude hesitated, struggling to find words.
‘What’s up with this bastard?’
When they first met, Alfoi had seemed like the biggest pushover in existence. Yet now, he had thoroughly adapted to life in the territory.
It was hard to believe that such a pathetic man had not only endured but triumphed in the face of a literal miracle.
‘Maybe this guy is far more extraordinary than he looks….’
Perhaps there was a reason he had been chosen as the heir of the Magic Tower. Like the saying goes, even a dung beetle has its own tricks.
Despite the absurdity of the situation, Claude realized it had worked out for the best. If they stroked Alfoi’s inflated ego just a bit more, they might be able to drag him into a bet with the lord.
“You’re incredible. Overcoming the power of the goddess? People will call you the greatest magician.”
“Heh heh, of course they will! I didn’t realize just how amazing I was. This talent of mine… it’s just too overwhelming, isn’t it?”
“Well, with all this newfound fame, you’ll probably leave soon. You’ll want to play in bigger waters, won’t you?”
At Claude’s words, Alfoi’s lips twisted in a pout.
“Leave? Are you joking? Thanks to you, I got tangled up in a bet with the lord and now I’m stuck living like a slave here for decades. Where would I go?”
“Oh? You haven’t heard the latest news?”
“What news?”
“The lord is conducting a new experiment. Something bizarre, as usual.”
“And?”
“Well, he said he’s confident it’ll work this time too. He even told me to come find him for a bet whenever I felt like it. So naturally, I thought you’d jump at the chance.”
At that, Alfoi quickly lost interest. Over time, he’d seen Ghislain’s strange experiments succeed far too often.
“Forget it. Betting with him is pointless. He always wins when it comes to things like that.”
“Tut, tut… Is ‘the man who defeated a god’ going to admit defeat to a mere human lord?”
“What? Are you trying to provoke me?”
“No, hear me out. Of course, we’ve lost bets in the past because we didn’t understand what was happening. We were tricked by the lord’s sly schemes. But this time is different. I honestly thought you’d win the bet and move on to greater things.”
“I am great, but… what’s this bet about?”
With a serious expression, Claude explained.
“Do you think a person could survive for a month on just water and powdered food?”
“They could die, sure… but maybe some could survive?”
“Then do you think that same person could still have the strength to use mana or fight after a month?”
“Pfft, impossible. Even if they lived, they’d barely be clinging to life. Their bodies would be completely wrecked. It’s not like they’d have any energy left. Well, except for someone as incredible as me. But for normal people? No way.”
“Well, the lord claims he’s created something that allows that. He’s even saying soldiers could endure for a month on it.”
“If he ground up some rare, expensive medicinal ingredients, then maybe… but that would cost a fortune.”
“No, it’s just regular grains and herbs. Designed for cheap, mass production.”
“You’re telling me people would eat that stuff for a whole month? Pfft, absurd. There’s no way. How would they fight on an empty stomach?”
Even Alfoi didn’t believe Ghislain’s claim.
Humanity had always struggled against hunger. A hungry body loses energy, and without energy, productivity plummets, eventually collapsing society as a whole.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say most people lived just to eat. Hunger was a terrifying enemy.
And now someone was claiming that people could survive a month without proper meals, even maintaining their physical and combat capabilities? For ordinary people, it was absolutely impossible.
Claude smirked at Alfoi’s skeptical expression and whispered slyly.
“So, what do you think? You’re famous now. Why not use this bet as a chance to end your ties to this territory? If you’re in, I’ll help you.”
“Hmmm… but what if it actually works?”
Alfoi hesitated. He didn’t have much life left to gamble. In his current state, he could at least enjoy a relatively free retirement.
But if he lost again, he’d be a slave for life, spending his final years toiling until his death.
Claude raised his voice, as if frustrated.
“Why are you hesitating? Do you really think the lord succeeds at everything? Is he a god? And even if he were, so what? You’re the man who defeated a god!”
“Ugh…”
“Just think rationally! Does this sound reasonable to you? We’re intellectuals, remember? Intellectuals! We’re supposed to judge with cold reason and logic! How long are you going to let yourself be manipulated by someone so ignorant and irrational?”
“Hmm…”
Alfoi nodded slightly. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that the lord had to be wrong this time. Maintaining physical strength and vitality without proper meals wasn’t something to take lightly.
That was why logistics were a priority for every military force.
As a mage, Alfoi had an even deeper understanding of the human body. Eating only dried food would sap one’s strength, let alone relying on nothing but powdered grains and herbs. Without even the satisfaction of chewing, people would feel weaker.
After mulling it over, Alfoi finally spoke with determination.
“All right. This time, I’m going to trust you and take this bet.”
“Don’t trust me. Trust yourself. Believe in the knowledge and experience you’ve built up over the years. You’re the heir of the Magic Tower, the greatest mage in this territory, and the man who defeated a god. You’re the best, bro.”
Claude playfully tapped Alfoi on the chest with his fist. Feeling a sudden surge of pride, Alfoi nodded with a resolute expression.
“That’s right. I’m Alfoi. The man who defeated a god.”
Raising his chin arrogantly once more, Alfoi thought to himself that someone as extraordinary as he shouldn’t remain a slave forever.
This time, he would win the bet and finally reclaim his freedom.
Watching Alfoi’s serious demeanor, Wendy sighed and looked up at the sky.