Chapter 194: Determination and the Deceiver

The Silver Mirror Maiden is a neutral-leaning drow and shadow deity.

This is actually quite unusual, as both the drow pantheon and the shadow pantheon have notoriously poor reputations—they've had overly ambitious former chief deities who meddled excessively in the Prime Material Plane.

Lolth and Shar frequently serve as the villainous bosses and ultimate schemers in too many legends, and truthfully, that's largely accurate.

Even though their eras have passed, the inertia of their peoples remains.

There are constant reports of drow surging onto the surface world, seizing districts or stirring up trouble.

Or entire surface regions sinking into shadow, becoming part of the Shadow Plane.

This is often the work of a drow god/mother, or a shadow deity/lord.

Striving for more living space is their essence, but their methods are often extreme, and most are seen by surface dwellers as evil factions—though several are actually neutral or even benevolent, merely outcasts within their own camps.

If the Silver Mirror Maiden were merely a drow or shadow deity, this deal could never have been made, as it would amount to betrayal of the surface folk; precisely because she belongs to both, she belongs to neither—and thus space for negotiation exists.

Many shadow deities and drow gods alike wish for her demise; she is not only an outcast, but even a thorn in the eyes of certain deities—in fact, she fled the drow pantheon and fell into shadow.

Yet after experiencing certain events, she gained standing in the drow world precisely because of her position in the Shadow Plane.

Disloyal members of one's own faction must be purged, but friendly outsiders can be courted—this is the delicate, complex relationship.

Normally she can benefit from both sides, but recently, it seems she's being consumed by both.

"A fence-sitter is welcome in peacetime, able to profit from both sides—but when total war breaks out and you're forced to choose, you're often the first to be eliminated."

Either as a sacrificial offering or to remove a threat—at least in the eyes of Sariman and other intelligence agents, the Mirror Maiden's situation is dire.

"If she were truly thriving, she wouldn't have planted a divine maiden in Mordothil, nor forcibly initiated a divine revelation to save the city. Frankly, repeatedly interfering for a city of this scale is beneath a deity."

Whether her domain lies on the edge of the Underworld (the Wall That Blocks the Way), or whether she must invest a divine maiden and even personally intervene in the campaign, these facts prove she is ostracized by the drow pantheon.

"Can she be trusted?" Dainya still hesitated—becoming a chosen one could mean lifelong, even posthumous binding.

Though it's a chance to leap to the top, it might also drag the kingdom into ruin because of her identity.

"Not trustworthy."

Yet "Sariman" gave a calm reply.

"Li En said—well, a certain Oath Knight said—that no deity is trustworthy, not even benevolent ones. We shouldn't entrust our fate to outsiders."

To be precise, this deity's allegiance has always been to the drow and the Shadow Realms; her interference in the surface world was merely a test.

If she encounters hardship and loss—sacrificing a chosen one's divine power to secure a safe retreat—it's not unacceptable.

Li En's stance is clear: deities are powerful figures to be used and bargained with, but faith and obedience? Not a chance.

This may stem from Su Er's final memories—the battlefield encounter that nearly awakened Li En—or from his Qianshi Easterner's innate distrust of deities.

Or perhaps, from a deep soul-level distrust of the deities themselves.

"But they are the most trustworthy allies we can reach—other kingdoms are all watching us," Sariman sighed. "Those who can make decisions right now aren't us."

For some reason, other orc kingdoms harbor intense hostility toward the Kingdom of Aserin, and over the years have steadily encroached.

Under these circumstances, the royal family truly has no choice—at least this one is a neutral deity willing to expend resources and power.

"My mother is still young," Dainya suddenly spoke.

She sighed, and in the end, revealed her judgment with a seemingly trivial, subtle remark.

If she truly gained the status of chosen one, she might gain potential immortality—but likely lose her original stance, and her heir to the throne might not survive.

After pondering, Dainya sighed and made her decision.

It seems there was never truly a choice—this is already a remarkably favorable turning point.

This is far better than being mysteriously married off to some prince or king; at least she gains the power and opportunity to control her own fate.

Yet now, Dainya still hadn't directly spoken with the drow divine maiden.

Chosen ones come in many tiers—their treatment must be negotiated. Waiting a while, appearing less eager, might secure better terms.

But in truth, she was desperate—she feared the Queen's sudden visit meant she had learned of Dainya's secret dealings with the Mirror Maiden and had come to interfere.

"I don't want to become a powerless political pawn." Recalling her mother's cold gaze when she looked at her privately, and the "daughter's marriage prospect album" in her room, Dainya seemed to find her answer.

"I, too, want this city and nation to endure." For both public and private reasons, she refused to let go of this opportunity.

But thinking of her future—perhaps locked in a battle of wits with a deity—she sighed again.

She needed more allies, more trustworthy people.

"If Heroine Laina were here, it would be better." Heroine Laina was the strongest person Dainya had ever met; in some ways, even regarded as the incarnation of the former Hero—perhaps Dainya also saw her father's shadow in her.

". ould he become my hero, like the father in fairy tales?" Unbidden, a man's shadow flashed before her eyes.

". o no no, why am I thinking of him? He can't possibly be compared to my father!"

Dainya slapped her reddened cheeks hard, angry at her own weakness.

". ait, this isn't an illusion."

She opened her mouth wide, staring at the man who shouldn't be underground, utterly stunned.

"Li En! How are you here?!"

—

"How am I here? Uh, tourism? No—why can't I be here?!"

Li En was the most surprised—he'd merely felt like taking the little one to acclimate to the battlefield.

Continuing downward was just to survey the underground ruins—and yet he'd run into the princess's party again.

He noticed the princess's knights gave him slight nods, seemingly pleased to see him reunite with Her Highness, their smiles hinting at something.

"I really didn't come down here on purpose to meet you," Li En said, speaking a blunt truth—and it sparked laughter, followed by a glare from the princess.

"Ah, friend," Lana suddenly pointed at the princess.

"No way! Does she still remember?!" Li En broke into a cold sweat—Lana shouldn't have met Dainya before!

"Yes, friend. Little Lana, hello," Dainya cheerfully replied to the little one.

Who doesn't love a pure, adorable little sister?

Where Li En hadn't noticed, Lana and Dainya had indeed met before—at Sariman's home.

They'd inexplicably clicked, as if Qianshi friends.

Watching the two "girls" interact warmly, Li En's sweat kept flowing—he regretted coming down so eagerly for the first time.

He knew Lana still bore traces of Laina—if Dainya saw them…

"Li En!!"

And just then, the long-absent snake woman rushed forward and embraced him, rubbing her cheek against him repeatedly.

She seemed half-asleep, dazed from waking, and her warmth made Li En feel even more guilty.

"Ah, Li En?!"

The next moment, fully awake, she realized she wasn't dreaming and quickly let go.

Li En himself, under the gaze of all eyes, felt numb.

Sister, aren't you letting go a bit late? Now all the knights know we're involved.

Uh, we're betrothed? Then it's fine.

But Dainya, why are you glaring at me? I never meant to steal your family's heirloom.

Looking at Dainya before him, and Sariman, who hastily stepped back, embarrassed, Li En sighed.

"Madam Sariman, long time no see." Some things, after all, must be faced.

"Quick, fulfill my contract! Confess now!" The snake, at this moment, wouldn't miss her chance and immediately jumped in to cause chaos.

Li En shook his head, firmly refusing—he'd only just formed a bond with the Purple Rose, and now he was supposed to confess to her relative? He wasn't that much of a scoundrel! Not yet!

"I'll vanish—then you'll be stuck with breach of contract and misfortune!" the snake hissed, threatening.

"No, you won't—you still have time, you still have entertainment to watch, you won't leave," Li En had seen through it all.

He helplessly looked up at the ceiling—delay one day at a time.

Soon after, he received news—a message regarding the alliance contract with the Mirror Maiden.

He thus learned of Dainya's hesitation and unease.

". his isn't very good—is there another option?" Becoming a deity's tool might, if trusted or valued, lead to true immortality—seemingly a good thing.

But Li En saw Dainya's hesitation and unease.

He didn't fully understand that becoming a chosen one meant surrendering one's soul, meaning even after death, one might be dragged from the grave for immortality—but he saw her resistance.

She didn't want it.

But she had no choice.

"Snake, is there a way to deceive a deity? To make her a chosen one, yet allow her to break the pact anytime?"

"There is—but it's expensive," the cheerful snake wagged its tail; it had waited too long for this moment.

If you can't predict, you can't plan? Nonsense—just plan for someone else.

"Name your price," Li En growled, each word squeezed through clenched teeth.

(End of Chapter)