Chapter 11: I Have No Choice—Neither Do You!

After several probes, Herbert determined one thing.

The gods are not omnipotent.

In his understanding, the gods of this world are not supreme embodiments of cosmic rules.

They are merely individuals who control specific domains of law and wield immense power.

Gods can perish; they can be sealed and suppressed by others.

They are not invincible.

They are not… untouchable.

Theory established—practice begins!

The buzzing in his ears had long vanished; the enraged great being had not struck him down with divine punishment.

“Also, before you answer, have you decided how to seduce me?”

“Wealth? Status? Power?”

“Let me calculate for you—status is out of the question. Even if I leave this monastery, I am still the duke’s son, and I will very likely become the next duke.”

“Wealth is the same—I will never lack money. Even if I don’t become duke, at worst I can retire peacefully as a lord on my estate.”

“The only thing that still holds some appeal for me is power—but I am a sanctioned Holy Knight of the monastery, qualified to access the full lineage.”

“So if you add it all up, haven’t you realized that to me… you’re not nearly as important as you think?”

“No.”

Herbert smiled with deep meaning.

“Perhaps precisely because you know this better than anyone, you’ve avoided mentioning it, pretending indifference, waiting for me to panic and beg you—then you’ll control me…”

“Friend, save your breath. Don’t wait.”

The demon god remained silent, offering no response.

But silence itself is a response.

This is clear to both demon god and mortal alike.

“Of course, I’ve said all this not to threaten you—I have enough self-awareness for that.”

Herbert did not press further; his demeanor returned to its earlier casual, lazy tone as he said casually:

“My request is the same as before—be honest. Let’s talk openly.”

“What do you say?”

We’re all smart people—no need for games.

More sincerity, less trickery.

The god gave no reply; the mortal made no demand. The room fell into stillness.

Click. Click. Click.

With the soft ticking of the clock, seconds slipped away.

【You… surprised me.】

After a long while, words finally appeared on the paper.

【Perhaps I truly shouldn’t have treated you as an ordinary Holy Knight…】

The demon god expressed its generosity, but Herbert cut in without ceremony.

“See? Still pretending.”

“You don’t need to act out this ‘I see through you, now I’m shocked and change my attitude’ routine—it’s pointless.”

“Please, stop acting.”

Still pretending!

Finally, after being exposed repeatedly, the demon god could no longer maintain the act and drew a large angry doodle on the paper.

【…Tsk. You Holy Knight are incredibly boring!】

“Then, thanks for the compliment?”

The trickster god complained bitterly about the mortal’s lack of appreciation.

【Don’t you realize this robs us of so much fun?】

“Rather than indulge your strange tastes, I think it’s more important to clarify our relationship right away.”

“Cut the crap—what exactly do you want me to do for you? And what can you give me in return?”

When Herbert pressed again, the demon god finally stopped posturing and dropped its disguise.

【Alright, mortal, I admit… you’ve genuinely surprised me.】

【This time, you’ve won. You do have the right to negotiate with me.】

【But before we get to that, there’s one thing I still don’t understand… I’m a demon god. Aren’t you the least bit afraid?】

The demon god couldn’t understand.

If this mortal sees through everything, why doesn’t he seek help from others instead of risking a deal with me?

A madman?

But not quite—he showed no signs of self-destructive impulses in his spirit.

“Afraid? Would fear help? More to the point—did I ever have a choice?”

Herbert rolled his eyes, utterly exasperated: “Ever since you personally granted me your blessing, I had no choice left.”

“Since I have no choice, then neither do you.”

Why should I be your puppet?

No.

I won’t let you get what you want so easily.

“Mutual destruction is better than your solo victory! If we die, we die together!”

Herbert sneered, uttering blasphemous words that would drive outsiders mad:

“I don’t care what you want. I can help you—but only if you become my slave.”

Faced with such an unrealistic demand, the god naturally refused, responding coldly:

【You… are joking, right?】

“Joking? Didn’t you originally plan exactly that? To mark me with your seal, turn me into a hidden fallen one, then wait until I’m desperate and beg you—so you can enslave me as your puppet?”

Herbert sneered, asking softly:

“Why is it suddenly unacceptable when it’s your turn?”

Just having the right to negotiate?

Not enough.

Far from enough!!!

Herbert refused to settle for being the demon god’s favored one—he wanted far more.

After a long silence, the demon god finally responded.

【Mortal, I smell ambition in your soul.】

“Enough talk—just answer: yes or no?”

Having stated his demand, Herbert dropped the act and shrugged like a child throwing a tantrum:

“Don’t rush to refuse. If you say no, I’ll just go confess to the archbishop at dawn—he won’t kill me on the spot, right?”

He can erase me instantly!?

【Are you sure?】

“Of course I’m not sure—that’s why I won’t, and won’t try.”

“Let me remind you: I may not be the only one you’ve blessed. Others like me may come later—but I’m likely the most suitable candidate you can find.”

【Why so confident?】

“Because I’m not a proper believer—I’m not bound by dogma.”

【No, you are.】

“Huh?”

To Herbert’s surprise, after his mask was torn off, the demon god did not rage—its mood seemed… pleasant?

【Heh. You’re not a lamb of the gods. You are your own believer. You trust only yourself.】

“Oh come on, I’m trying to believe you now.”

【Mortal, I will no longer underestimate you. Nor do you need to keep performing… and I won’t pretend anymore.】

As Herbert wondered how it would shed its disguise, a soft, delighted voice whispered gently into his mind.

【“Heh.”】

!!?

It could have communicated with him directly all along!

【“Mortal… no, Herbert Albert, young Holy Knight. I acknowledge your qualification.”】

The demon god, who outwardly seemed approachable but inwardly scorned mortal speech, finally withdrew her contempt.

【“Greedy enough. Cautious enough. Mad enough… you are indeed a worthy partner.”】

She extended a personal invitation to the mortal.

【“I invoke my divine name to invite you: become my covenant-bearer. Help me break my chains, and I shall grant you equal return.”】

“...Partner?”

Herbert narrowed his eyes and did not answer immediately.

Is this proposal really so hard to accept?

Of course not!

Rather, this is truly Herbert’s real goal after all this performance.

He has a clear understanding of his current situation: merely avoiding passivity is already difficult; to gain the upper hand is sheer nonsense.

The temporary advantage he holds comes solely from the Evil God’s underestimation of him, allowing him to barely resist through surprise—there is no way to sustain it.

Demanding slavery, a request so absurd it could never succeed, is merely a tactic to achieve his true aim through the “door-in-the-face” effect.

Negotiation, in essence, is simply “asking for the moon” and “meeting halfway.”

“Then…”

Herbert gave no clear answer; instead, he tried to remain silent and asked inwardly:

“Since we’re about to become close partners, shouldn’t you at least tell me your name?”

【“Hehe, of course that’s no problem—but I cannot speak my name now, or some beings will notice.”】

“Fine! Then from now on, I’ll call you Niu Gu Lu Xie Shen Jiang, abbreviated as…”

The Evil God Jiang completely ignored Herbert’s generous naming, and in a nostalgic tone, whispered softly in his mind:

【“But you may call me…”】

【“Nieshna.”】

The weather has changed; I caught a slight cold. After taking medicine, I’m drowsy… ugh.

I have to meet friends tomorrow, so I’ll rush out this update tonight and set it to post tomorrow…

If I can’t finish it, I’ll update tonight—I’ll definitely update.

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(End of Chapter)