Chapter 159: The Goddess Insists on Beating Me to My Knees (15)

Within the fog-shrouded mountain range, the deity who ruled over ice and snow extended an invitation to a mortal.

The Ice and Snow Goddess was not as forceful as She had claimed to be, and did not forcibly bestow her favor upon him.

On the contrary, She actively extended an olive branch.

"Become my Chosen."

The goddess gazed at the mortal standing upon the ice and spoke slowly:

"Weak child of man, I shall bless you."

"I shall grant you the power of frost; you shall become an apostle of wind and snow, moving freely among the glaciers."

"You shall call forth wind and snow, merge yourself into the ancient glaciers, and absorb that mighty power."

"Your name shall be sung throughout the mortal world, and your deeds shall become legend among all living beings."

"And in the end, you shall live forever in my divine kingdom, becoming the chief of angels."

"Moreover, I shall grant you even more, so that one day you may become my subordinate god!"

The terms offered by the Ice and Snow Goddess could not be called anything less than generous.

This might have been because of Her appreciation for Herbert's talent, or perhaps out of wariness toward a certain saint.

Or perhaps it was because those earlier "insightful, honest words" had pleased Her immensely…

Coupled with Herbert's prior assistance to the church, She had nearly offered him the highest-tier treatment reserved for a god's chosen.

Become my Chosen!

In life, you shall receive my protection and become a legend of the mortal world.

In death, you shall remain beneath my shelter, shall be reborn within my divine kingdom, and continue to enjoy the supreme bliss of the world.

The Ice and Snow Goddess extended a remarkably sincere invitation to Herbert.

But in response to this kindness, Herbert's expression was somewhat subtle.

"Uh…"

【"Hm!?"】

Herbert was only somewhat bewildered, but a certain someone had completely exploded.

A certain jester-god was enraged.

!!!

What do you mean?

I ask you, what do you mean by this!

Oh, wonderful.

Digging at my wall right up to my head, are you???

You little kitten, you've got quite the nerve!

The shadow beneath Herbert's feet stirred restlessly, with several dangerous, slick tentacles writhing without pause.

Your avatar is only at legendary strength, isn't it?

And its consciousness is linked to the main body, isn't it?

Heh heh heh…

I'll let this blind fool of yours have a proper taste of what fear truly is!

Damn it.

How dare you poach my person!?

At the same time, compared to the Ice and Snow Goddess's ill-considered invitation, She was even more furious at Herbert's hesitation.

【"What are you hesitating about? What's there to hesitate about!?"】

【"Why don't you just reject Her outright!"】

【"My ally! Is our bond truly so fragile? What of the love between us!?"】

And in response to Nie Nasha's mental meltdown, Herbert's reaction was quite calm.

"Stop yelling, I'm thinking."

"I know you're anxious, but calm down first!"

Herbert did not panic.

Neither the Ice and Snow Goddess's unexpected invitation nor Nie Nasha's sense of crisis at having her home robbed caused him to lose composure.

It's just being fancied by several women at once… nothing worth making a fuss over.

Sit down, it's all small stuff.

However, although it was a small matter, given the other party's identity, if he failed to keep it under control, it could easily become a rather thorny situation.

Regarding deities, Herbert had once read three interesting laws from a certain tome in the Archive of Secrets.

The first: do not lightly presume to guess a deity's thoughts.

The second: deities also possess the joys and angers of mortals.

The third: goddesses are mostly the vengeful sort.

He did not know what identity the master who had compiled this tome held—perhaps some legendary figure who had received the favor of many deities.

Still, he guessed that fellow's eventual fate was not a happy one—that book only covered a third of its planned chapters before the text simply stopped.

He could not tell whether the rest had been cut, or whether the author himself had been cut down by angry goddesses.

Perhaps both…

The predecessor's cautionary tale remained vivid before his eyes, constantly reminding Herbert to be cautious in word and deed when facing deities.

The one before him fit the third conclusion especially well.

Although the Ice and Snow Goddess claimed She had come chasing after him to bestow blessings, Herbert could still easily guess why She had originally come.

A goddess's lips — the devil's lies!

Listen to that nonsense.

This fellow really is petty — just because I scared His bishop with the archbishop, He personally tailed me all the way here…

Is that really necessary!

Now that He's being so generous, if I let Him lose face and not be able to come down from the stage, who knows what absurd thing He'll do afterward.

A little scare and He already stalked me — if I thoroughly offended Him to death, wouldn't He beat me to my knees and lock me in the divine kingdom as a star-angry laborer!

This is the middle of nowhere — even if I wanted to call for help, there's no hope.

Even if the archbishop could really avenge me later, by then I'd probably already be turned into a hot weapon that only knows "ah-ba ah-ba."

That kind of thing, no please… Hmm, although it's not entirely impossible, but let's not for now.

That kind of soft rice, I'll wait until my stomach's bad before eating it.

Herbert pondered for several seconds, and after making up his mind, raised his head and sighed: "I never imagined such a day would come."

"To have a goddess personally descend into the mortal realm and extend an invitation to me — for me, this is truly an immense honor."

Hearing Herbert's lament, the Ice-Snow Goddess's expression grew even colder.

She is not the simpleton Valentina is — She can tell Herbert is praising first to set up his rejection.

Anyone who opens with such evasive talk is almost certainly going to refuse.

"Mortal, do you mean to refuse my goodwill?"

The deity's voice was icy, like a fierce gale sweeping violently across a frozen lake.

But the mortal fearlessly raised his head, faced the divine presence directly, and continued:

"To receive such favor, I am immensely grateful."

"But… might you permit me to refuse?"

Whoosh—

The deity did not answer, but the wind on the lake blew even more fiercely.

Her figure gradually vanished into the wind and snow, seeming about to disappear entirely.

The Ice-Snow Goddess did not speak to detain him.

Upon receiving an answer that displeased Her, the Ice-Snow Goddess chose to depart directly.

She is proud ice and snow.

A goddess will not beg a mortal a second time.

"…"

And Herbert, after speaking, felt the wind and snow at his ears growing fiercer and fiercer, his expression utterly calm.

He kept gazing into the goddess's icy eyes and said softly:

"Lady Hekasias, might I ask you to linger here a while longer?"

"Before you tear me apart with furious ice and snow, please first hear my reasons for refusing you."

The deity said nothing, yet the wind and snow gradually stilled.

Her not immediately dissolving into snowflakes was to await his explanation.

Seeing this scene, the corner of Herbert's mouth curved up slightly; supporting Valentina's bottom with his hand, he bowed slightly toward the Ice-Snow Goddess.

"Thank you for your mercy."

"My refusal of your kindness is not out of any malice — I have never thought you unworthy."

"I refuse with a heavy heart because of the oath I have sworn."

With sorrow that could not melt from his eyes, he said softly:

"I… no longer have the qualification to become your chosen."

"It is I who am not worthy of you."

Thanks to the tip from "Clown in a Madman's Eyes"!

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(End of this chapter)