"So, if I understand correctly, you want to know how to change the world's perception of you?" Victor asked the goddess Cybele while scribbling notes on the mushroom throne next to the mushroom table.
"Most mortals only remember the pleasant aspects of my portfolio," complained the goddess, her face and body hidden beneath a white cloak. "I can't escape this stereotype, and it bothers me. Mortals rarely acknowledge my concern for nature and forests, they only imagine wild orgies in the woods; even my early patronage of Mithras, when he Even when you were a mortal [Paladin], you had been forgotten. I think, as a professional prophet, you might have a way to help my church improve its reputation."
"The stereotype is really common," Victor admitted, which was the main reason he considered idolizing her in the first place.
As expected from Sibley, forests and natural locations make up the majority of her flat fields, with a curious focus on fungi. Victor found their current, woods-like location very relaxing after the previous dimension. Especially after visiting Death Clown's territory.
So many traps…
"What happened?" Sibley asked. Victor shuddered when he thought of that prophecy meeting. "Is it too much to swallow?"
"Nothing," the Prime Minister assured, adjusting his mushroom throne. As he did so, the plant screamed, much to his shock. "Nothing."
"I also want to apologize for the last time we met," the goddess said warmly, her face alone nearly killing Death. "I'm glad you managed to tighten up Kamasi Bailey."
"That's what I asked for, and the (Devil's Rake) course is worth the trouble," Victor replied. "Speaking of your situation, I might have an idea."
"No," Sibley replied with a heavy sigh. "I've tried everything to fix this. But I appreciate your concern, Victor."
“Through the souls captured by Mag Mell, I learned about soulc
est" and "Black c
est" and how they interact with the soul," Victo
explain. "You said you had Ludovic's charm before you ascended to heaven?"
The goddess nodded. "My current charm value is determined by the [god] profession, which enriches my original attributes."
"So it just builds on the original charm attribute." Victor guessed. "In this case, have you tried Ludvik's amulet?"
"Yes, but they cannot affect God. I cannot be weakened by any blasphemous effect."
"Then I believe that with my current knowledge, resources and your help, I can create a version of the artifact that can reduce your original charm value. Perhaps enough to offset the inflation brought about by your [god] profession."
There’s no better way to create a Soulc
est or Black is a more complicated matter. Black Crown isn’t cheating, it’s a loophole in the system. They passively support magic and then enhance the user's soul to trigger a very specific class and set of personal perks. Unfortunately, [Fai
y Beast] prevents the user from gaining any experience in the future, trapping them in their current state.
Taken together, this means that while the rules of the system cannot be broken, they have loopholes that can be exploited.
"I'll be grateful to you if you succeed," Sibley replied, adding sarcastically. "But I'm still skeptical."
Victor liked his odds. "For the sake of your image, I think you need to add more prestige to your pastor."
This offended the goddess. "Are you saying it's not honorable to serve under me?"
"Not at all, ma'am," Victor replied quickly in a respectful tone. Unlike a monk or a winkle, Cybele doesn't need flattery, but she wants respect. "But they're so accessible. The first time I met Alison, we couldn't arrange a friendly date because she was too busy running a werewolf orgy. If you're too tolerant of your admirers, then they will Taking you for granted.”
"But I believe in free love and happiness for everyone," Sibley replied. “I will make them barren except Sarah and her worshipers.”
"Well, I-" Victor frowned. "Wait, can you do that?"
"Victor, I am the goddess of agriculture, that is, the goddess of fertility. I can turn it on or off for any mortal." Her fingers shook slightly in embarrassment. "This is how I curse those who make me angry. Why? I can't make you infertile, Victor; I've staked too much on your family."
"Oh, no. I would have asked before I actually had kids, but now I realize they're cute and nice and I love them and I want as many kids as possible-" Victor suddenly calmed down , before he launches into another fatherly rant. "But, isn't there a way to turn it on and off?" That would eliminate a lot of headaches. "
"I do not understand."
"Mrs. Sibley, look at me." Victor stretched out his arms. "It's easy for me."
The goddess paused, as if he were saying the earth was round. "I know. That's why I claimed you."
"But since I made myself simple, now everyone takes me for granted and wants to know me," Victor argued. "I was flattered at first, but now I literally have to clone myself to do important work. You have the same problem; you and your priests are so nice that you are taken for granted."
Charisma check succeeds.
The goddess shifted in her seat, feeling a little uncomfortable. "My sisters and followers can refuse pleasurable activities. I firmly believe in the right to consent or not. My problem is that people come to my priests only for these activities and not for other services."
"That's why I recommend keeping the various religious ceremonies separate," Victor said. “A time for blessings, a time for offering ancient knowledge, etc… This will allow you to weed out the false admirers who are only interested in indoor activities and cater to potential followers who are interested in other aspects of your portfolio ."
The goddess silently considered the proposal.
"Instead of having the nuns provide pleasant services to everyone all the time, I suggest making the Holy Prostitution a special occasion, once a month," Victor emphasized his point, "and make your religious service a large ceremony with prayers Players must follow a strict protocol, embrace ancient wisdom, bless the fields to encourage fertility, and then there's the weird stuff at the end."
This worked well for the oracles of the Greeks. Cybele just needs to copy them and reshape their thinking like every civilization does.
"So you suggest that I give my chastity something rare and unique to enhance my divine prestige?" the goddess asked, and Victor nodded. "You know, you sound a little too much like Sasha?"
"Maybe, but wouldn't that be less real?" Victor smiled behind his helmet, finding the source of her problem. “Do you want people to like you or respect you?”
Charisma check successful!
Sibley nodded to herself with renewed enthusiasm. "A ceremony that honors all my work, rather than focusing on one area..."
Victor knows that for some it's always about pleasure, but this is her best chance at reshaping her image. "How about naming your ceremony 'Newbie's Party'?"
"How about the Book of Zebra?" the goddess replied, causing Victor to squint his eyes behind his helmet; unfortunately, she mistook his silence for something else. "It's the Book of Zebra."
Rebuilding her image will be a tough, uphill battle. "So on the subject of fertility, it's not that I don't want kids right now; but I want to know when and with whom. Exclusivity and rarity."
"In this case, if you don't want the child, you just have to say a safe word," Sibelli said. "Say my name."
Wouldn't that be embarrassing? But at least it removed a thorn in his foot. "Thank you, Mrs. Se—"
Ping!
Sibley seemed surprised. "But the time isn't up yet!"
"Minion... Minion... Minion!"
Not even the gods could stop Winkle from summoning Victor to him as his body was torn from Cybele's flat kingdom and brought back with him his friend's treasure.
"Minion..." Winkle whispered, sitting on his golden shield. "You are here...you are here, slave..."
"Your Majesty?" Victor frowned, startled by his master's voice. "Why are you so quiet? Is anyone listening to us?"
"I sang for a day and a half..." Winkle said gruffly, massaging his neck. "I have a sore throat……"
A day and a half? Damn it, the gods wouldn't let him do anything.
As if to answer his thought, Chia entered the vault in a flash of bright light, ignoring almost all the magical defenses they had set up. "Thank you for carrying me, Mrs. Leone!" (Paladin) shouted, then turned to the members of V&V. "for you."
"Manling Kia...heal my golden voice..." commanded Winkle as the shining knight cast a [Full Healing] spell on the dragon. After a second, Long was able to speak normally again. "Better. Now I can sing again!"
"No!" Kia panicked, much to Winkle's displeasure. "I mean, His Majesty has trampled the entire planet to the ground!"
After spending so long with dragons, she finally learned how to deal with them. almost.
"Minion, why should I deprive this world of happiness?" Long asked arrogantly.
"If Your Majesty does this again, it will lose its luster!" Victor came to support her. "Please don't turn this eternal memory into a worldly thing! Let the bard sing for you!"
"Good idea, minion," Winkle said. "Command the Pink Ranger to compose a new war song to inspire my troops to press on toward inevitable victory."
That could be worse.
"On that note, we have plenty of time to complete this dungeon side quest before we invade Prydan," said Kia, who remains determined to claim the prize, "and get the [Conspiracy Armor]."
“I also received a sacred mission to be a part of it,” Victor added. “It would be nice to meet a nominee.”
"Then it's settled," Winkle announced, excited at the thought of winning a prize and stretching his legs. "We finish this mission right after I take my golden bath."
Fankle was in a good mood and ready for a last minute exploration.
Not only did he improve the living conditions of his servants around the world, but the conclave listened to his words of wisdom and awakened the sleeping dragons around the world. It was a tiring, tiring ordeal, and the dragon enjoyed the feeling of his treasure against his scales.
His chief of staff and knight Kia are carefully prepared for this adventure, armed and equipped. The vizier knelt before Vankel with his scythe in hand, begging his pious servants to bring them the mission.
"Please, Lord Death Jester, can you summon us to participate in the dungeon competition?" Manlin Victor closed his eyes, as if listening to an invisible voice. The more he heard it, the less he liked it. "Do I have to say that?" You know, she's right next to me. That would be too rude. "
"He wants you to insult Mithraism in front of me, doesn't he?" Knight Kya asked, crossing his arms. "Before you do so, I would like to remind you that my God has graciously granted your selfish request."
"Hey, I have nothing against Mithraism personally: it's not my fault that my patron doesn't get along with your patron."
"Minion, do it." Vacker ordered. This is their last mission before the final dragon battle, not the minion battle.
Manlin Victor sighed and raised his scythe. "Fuck the law, and the Paladins."
As he spoke these words, a bright light engulfed the three men whole.
You were forcibly teleported! (Fixed) Activation…
[Immovable] was replaced by [Death Clown].
In the blink of an eye, Winkle found himself transported to the center of a dune-like arena of solid stone; greeted by the cheers of thousands of people. Knight Chia stood angrily on his left, Manlin Victor on his right.
Separated from the trio by a high wall, the stands were crowded with hundreds of invisible undead, Agartha, orcs, demons, and other creatures. The dragons even noticed the strange naga who originally gave them a mission in the high platoon.
"Greetings to everyone!" Winkle glanced at the promontory overlooking the arena. A raven beast, an armored dwarf, and an elf vampire sat on thrones there, the first of them speaking with a showman's charm. "Finally, I don't think we'll ever have a decent adventuring party this year! Now, I know it's a tough time for the dungeon industry, with dragons destroying them everywhere..."
“Today’s adventure market is changing so fast,” the dwarf said, pumping his fist. "But that just means our engineers have to innovate and adapt."
"I'm very excited about the version we have now," the dark elf added, before blowing a kiss to Manlin Victor; the vizier returned the gesture, much to the annoyance of Knight Kia. "Even more, because our challenger is none other than the powerful V&V!"
"Who else?!" Winkle proudly bared his chest and was cheered by the audience. "Look, this is the greatest dragon in the world and the most perfect servant!"
"And Kia Bekele," the bird added, and the audience booed when they realized she didn't deserve to be a minion.
"Mithras protects us from this madness," Knight Kea whispered, trying to retain a modicum of dignity.
"I'm afraid prayer won't do much here, unless it's for death!" Crow said, clapping his hands. "Can these three survive the Architect's trap? You'll find out as long as you stay tuned for the latest issue of Death Prize!"
The entire stadium erupted in cheers, and Winkel was basking in their adoration.
"Thanks to us for joining us from i
Te
co
p and Mau
eHellco
po
co-sponsored, this race will be shown in real-time to all lower aircraft,” announced Bird Bird, a flying mirror appearing on Vai
queue
around the team. "I am Death's Rigoletto, and these are Camilla and Willan; together, we are the Terrible Three."
"While we are sponsoring the event and making sure everyone follows the rules, the selection of the best dungeon will be left to the judgment of the V&V team," Dark Elf Camilla took over. "So far, only a few dungeons have been nominated this year. If the entire party survives, they will receive a bonus and—"
"How much?" Fankel immediately asked the important question, wanting to hear the magic number.
"A million gold coins!" the dwarf Weylan shouted back, much to the delight of Wacker and the audience alike. "Besides the famous artifacts, everywhere are the terrors of rulers... the terrible [Armor of Conspiracy]!"
"Let us introduce our nominees!" Deathclown snapped his fingers. "Who has recently been reduced to two, disappeared under 'mysterious circumstances' after the game!"
Two pillars of fire erupted in front of Fankel and his entourage, and familiar faces appeared before them. The first is the Dark Shadow of the Forsaken, his nemesis, the evil lich Freebon. The second is a goblin with black nails and a crimson cloak.
The Lich waved smugly to the audience, then noticed Winkle and froze. The goblin just peed under the dragon's gaze. That little animal looked familiar, just like the one they met in the Iron Kingdom...
"Oh, hi Fuliben!" Victor waved friendly to the lich, overcome by the undead's demonic charm. "It's been a while! We need to talk soon." "
"First, our favorite," Death Jester announced in a booming voice. "Lich Fu
ibo
——”
"No," the Forsaken said immediately, shaking his head once and twice more. "It just didn't. I gave up."
"Me too! The red goblin screamed and ran for his life.
“Wise choice!” Vai
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replied that although the public disagreed with him. Everyone in the audience started booing the nominees.
"You gave up your Dungeon Death Award nomination?" Deathclown asked the nominee, very unhappy. "We won't tolerate quitters in this competition. Go back and you won't be nominated again!"
Despite Frippon's suspicions, the goblin persisted. "I give up!"
Winkle narrowed his eyes at him, now convinced that he had seen the monster somewhere...
Skill check successful!
…
His old chief of staff abandoned him while he slept!
"It's you!" Fankel roared, and the entire arena trembled. "You cowardly, good-for-nothing monster! It's always been you!"
"Send me back!" the goblin begged, as Winkle opened his mouth to eat the treacherous creature. "Send me back!"
CHOMP!
Winkle bit into an empty spot, and the goblin was teleported away at the last second.
"Weylan, you could have let him finish his meal," the Death Jester scolded the armored dwarf. "That is appropriate under the circumstances."
"Just kidding, he's my chosen father," Wayland argued. "You know how much I value family."
"Oh, that reminds me, your wedding anniversary is next week, right?" the Dark Elf of the three asked her colleague. "I'm almost done with (Zombie Clown)."
The bird coughed, forcing his two colleagues to pay attention. Winkle himself growled in frustration, but was relieved that he knew where the treacherous goblin lived. "Fu
ibo
, give us your answer. I'm not willing to cancel this contest, so please make the right choice. "
Everyone looked at the Lich, including an angry Fankle. He seemed caught up in an inner conflict, debating with himself. "Knight Grass..." "But it's my prize!" But Knight City... But there are no competitors!"
"Freeburn, if you're relieved, I'm personally here mainly to have a serious chat about the shield you've set up around Gugu's castle." "We can jump right to it without destroying your dungeon first. "
"Really?" asked the Lich, clearly eager to spend as little time in their presence as possible.
"Minion, what are you talking about?" Winkle scolded his chief of staff. "I won't give up a million coins!"
"I want conspiracy armor too," K
ight Kia said.
"In this case, we can discuss this issue when we conquer your dungeon, Freebon." Manlin Victor changed his tone, wanting to keep the one million coin bonus. "Just like when we attacked your castle at the Battle of the Tent."
"That doesn't help your case," the lich hissed angrily. "."
"But we'll get it right this time!"
"We're going to follow the rules," Knight Kia argued. “Quick and efficient.”
"That's what he said." Death Jester chuckled, and the knight glared at him.
"How dare you not give me one million gold coins, Forsaken." Vankel warned. "I may have forgotten your past mistakes, but don't remind me why I looked down on you in the first place."
“Do it! Do it!” the crowd shouted, “Do it!”
In the end, the Forsaken had no choice but to surrender to the will of the people. "Good," Fuliben said, before dramatically waving to the crowd. "But you asked for it. Let's discuss this shield while you are languishing in the Tomb of Freebon...the dungeon of agony!"
