Chapter 71 - 67: Divine Wager

Chapter 71: Chapter 67: Divine Wager

Countless chains formed from entries stretched out from the white mist, coiling around Lian, binding him completely, and hoisting him upside down.

A giant Cross made of entries appeared behind Lian.

And there he hung, upside down, like someone about to be sacrificed.

At that moment, the entries once again formed new words.

[HERETIC] [HERETIC] [HERETIC]

Lian’s scalp prickled. ’What in the world is happening to me?’

’It feels like these entries are targeting me!’

’No, that’s not possible. The entries can’t be targeting me.’

’Just like when I encountered the [Eye of Misfortune] in Catherine’s Consciousness World, this presence before me is most likely a projection of Tiger or some other false god.’

Considering he wasn’t experiencing any excruciating pain, Lian guessed this was likely just an insignificant gaze from the God of Tiger.

Because this was the second time he had cleansed a Witch’s red entries that were Bordering on Loss of Control, he had attracted the God of Tiger’s attention.

And he still had the lingering aura of a heretic on him; Father Simo hadn’t yet taught him how to hide it.

’Wrong person, wrong time. I can’t even pretend to be a devout Believer.’

Lian’s consciousness tried to exit the Consciousness World, but he couldn’t.

Each chain of entries seemed indestructible, binding Lian tightly in place.

If he couldn’t talk his way out of this, he would likely be trapped in Sophie’s Consciousness World forever.

’Even as a Three-star Assassin Knight, before the insignificant gaze of a True God, I’m still as tiny and helpless as an ant.’

At the same time, an absurd thought popped into Lian’s head.

’Could I just be a bug that invaded a game, and the so-called god of entries is just code written by some programmer?’

’Impossible, impossible. How could I be a bug?’

’Even if I admit the god of entries is code, I can’t admit that I’m a trojan horse.’

Lian quickly shook off these chaotic thoughts and spoke.

"Great God of Tiger, there may be a small misunderstanding between us."

Lian decided to use his eloquence as a [Master of Deceit], combined with his status as a [High Level Believer], to show Tiger’s projection the value of his existence.

"The [Eye of Misfortune] did indeed find me. It took a liking to my talents and wanted me to become its right-hand man. It despicably and shamelessly tried to make me start a war, to artificially create more [Bodies of Misfortune] and destroy the Order you have built."

"I am merely an insignificant High Level Believer, utterly powerless to resist its invasion. To preserve my sense of self, I made a deal with it, and that is how I was tainted with this heretical aura."

"But this deal will in no way endanger the world Order you have created."

"If you are willing to believe me, I will guarantee that I will be promoted to a Golden Believer within a year and become your Favored One."

"And I will, free of charge, cleanse for you those with the [Misfortune Physique] who seek to destroy your Order."

According to the records Lian had seen in the Holy Scripture, becoming a High Level Believer of the God of Tiger was no simple feat. Even an old believer like Father Simo, who had worked diligently in the Church for many years, was only considered a True Believer.

In the Holy Empire, all High Level Believers were registered by name, enjoying status, honor, and fiefdoms, similar to nobility.

They made up only 10% of all Believers and were the elite of the faith.

This ratio proved that High Level Believers were extremely precious.

Ten percent of High Level Believers could become Silver Believers, an even more precious existence—the elite of the elite.

Above Silver Believers were the Special Level Believers. The Church’s Deacons were generally of this tier. Special Level Believers made up only 10% of Silver Believers, making them a "national treasure" level existence.

Above Special Level Believers were the Golden Believers. This was a Domain that only absolute prodigies could reach. It required not only extreme talent in the field of Theology, but also a certain level of attunement with the God of Tiger, and they were often descendants of long-established Believer families.

In other words, talent, bloodline, and attunement were all indispensable.

The Bishops of the Church were basically Golden Believers. These people were in the upper echelons of the Church, making up 1% of the population within the High Level Believer category, standing at the apex of the Pyramid.

Those who could become Golden Believers were also called the Chosen Ones. Like Legendary Knights, they enjoyed supreme glory. They were more precious than national treasures, second only to the Gifts.

In the entire history of the Holy Empire, fewer than a hundred Chosen Ones had ever appeared. They all had one thing in common: they were absolute geniuses of Theology.

But when they received the title of Chosen One, they were already over fifty years old.

The youngest ever to enter the stage of a Golden Child was the current Pope, who achieved it at the age of 35.

He had used a mere 15 years to accomplish something that took others decades, or even centuries.

And yet, Lian claimed he only needed one year.

This sentence piqued the interest of Tiger’s projection.

The entries rearranged themselves into a line of text.

[Interesting Outsider]

[I will give you one year. Come before me.]

[Otherwise, I will destroy you with my own hands.]

The chains of entries loosened, and Lian fell from the Cross, tumbling into the white mist.

The entries receded like the tide.

Lian nervously called out to them.

"Wait."

[?]

The entries formed a question mark.

Lian swallowed hard and said, "Great God of Tiger, if I come before you in one year, won’t there be any reward for me?"

[Becoming my Favored One. Is there any reward more enticing than that?]

Seeing the words formed by the entries, the corner of Lian’s mouth twitched.

’The God of Tiger really is a narcissist.’

It seemed to sense that Lian wasn’t satisfied with this reward.

The entries twisted to form another line of text.

[It seems you want to die here.]

’Alright, the God of Tiger has an even worse temper than the [Eye of Misfortune].’

’Don’t try to negotiate with a True God.’

’Because They lack for nothing.’

"Yes, there is nothing that would make me happier than becoming your Favored One."

Lian was nothing if not adaptable, and he immediately became the image of piety.

Tiger’s projection decided to withdraw its gaze, but was once again stopped by Lian.

"Wait."

[?]

If the entries could show emotion, they would probably be quite impatient right now.

But Lian still mustered his courage and said, "Great God of Tiger, as your High Level Believer, future Golden Believer, and Chosen One, can I beg for a little bit of your protection? When I face dangers from the remnants of false gods like the [Eye of Misfortune], could you help me resist their attacks?"

Tiger’s projection seemed to dislike greedy people, as the entries all hid themselves within the deep white mist.

Lian thought that even this request, which he felt wasn’t unreasonable, had been rejected. He sighed and began to withdraw from Sophie’s Consciousness World.

However, a notification sound echoed in his ears.

[New Entry Acquired: Divine Wager]

[Divine Wager] You have made a wager with the God of Tiger with a one-year time limit. If you can become a Golden Believer within one year, the God of Tiger will grant you the status of a Favored One. Otherwise, you will be personally obliterated by the God of Tiger.

Additional Effect: When this entry is equipped, you will enjoy a small measure of the God of Tiger’s protection. The [Eye of Misfortune], [Ear of Profanity], and [Enchanting Mouth] cannot directly obliterate you.

Fallen Angels and Evil Gods cannot directly corrupt or cause Erosion to you, but you must still be wary of curses.

Note: Please eliminate your heretical aura as soon as possible, or the additional effect of this entry will be weakened.