Chapter: 400
While I blankly stared at the message, it hit me that there were eyes on me, so I hastily shut my eyes.
If I just kept staring at the void, surely someone would think it was weird.
That message I just saw—it was definitely sent by the Crow Goddess, right?
…How on earth did the head of the perverted sect of the Arts Church send me a message?
I know you can send messages.
Even if you’re a sloppy and unimposing pervert, you’re still a god. Just like in the game, you could probably convey messages to people on Earth.
But sending a message directly is limited to your own apostle. Isn’t it impossible for you to send a message to me, another god’s apostle?
Lost in such thoughts, I wondered if I was mistaken and turned back to recall my memories before possession.
The core of the game called Soul Academy is ultimately the duel between the Good God and the Evil God.
The Evil God uses his followers to somehow achieve resurrection, while the Good Gods do their best to stop him.
Once you become a second-year student in the academy and start going outside, you can feel this through various quests.
You help the apostles of the Good Gods who are doing their best to stop the forces of the Evil God or follow the traces left by the few true clergymen of the Jushin Church who risk their lives.
Eventually, you naturally catch the attention of the Good and Evil Gods, and by fulfilling certain conditions, you can become an apostle of the Good God.
Once you become an apostle, you can receive various quests directly from the god, like the messages I’m getting from Lord Jushin now.
Of course, the quests in the game weren’t as spontaneous and playful as those given by the god.
Anyway, if my memory serves me right, it’s normal for the Crow Goddess not to be able to send me messages.
Not that it should matter, though. Since there’s a perverted apostle right next to me, it would be just fine to relay messages through him.
But trying to contact me directly while ignoring the Shoddy God looking at me? Is that even reasonable?
Shoddy God. Is it because I’m so shoddy that you’ve turned into a complete joke? You’ve become so pathetic that you’re looked down upon by someone beneath you?
Ding ding.
Ding ding.
Ding ding.
While I was thinking such thoughts, a series of notification sounds rang in my ears.
I don’t know if it’s the Shoddy God or the Crow Goddess, but whoever it is, can we please keep it reasonable?
Can’t you see the solemn atmosphere around you? You could send messages after everything is done, you perverted bastards!
Ding ding.
Ding ding.
Ding ding.
Eventually unable to bear it, I cracked my eyes open and was met with several messages lined up before me.
[Ah. Why?! I’m not trying to do anything bad!]
[I’m saying I’ll give you a blessing?!]
[I’ll give you something good!]
[Why are you being so petty?!]
[I think monopolizing such a work of art is a bad thing!]
[Lord Jushin, stop your tyranny! Stop it!]
…What is this?
[What is the matter?]
I was so astounded that I forgot about my surroundings and stared blankly when Grandpa spoke up with a worried voice.
“Um. Well…”
As I contemplated how to explain this, I soon realized I had no answer and shook my head.
“…It’s nothing much.”
I could accept that the Crow Goddess had spoken to me, but how could I convince them that she was protesting in a ridiculous manner towards Lord Jushin!
[Hmm. In that case, I understand for now.]
Fortunately, Grandpa did not probe further.
Ding ding.
[Isn’t that a bit too much? No matter how you look at it, it’s Lucy Allen.]
[Can’t it be something else? There are plenty of reasonable options among my blessings!]
[Ugh. I understand. I’ll be understanding for Lucy Allen.]
While I was relieved not to have to explain, it seemed the Crow Goddess was negotiating something with Lord Jushin.
Hey. Shoddy God. Don’t you think it’s a bit wrong to deal with the Crow Goddess without asking for my intention, which is at the center of this transaction? At the very least, you could at least ask for my opinion!
If you had let me negotiate, I would’ve squeezed everything out of that crow!
Ding ding.
[…Huh? Are you joking? Lucy Allen was watching all of this? No way.]
[Um. Lucy? If you can see this message, could you please close your left eye?]
I’m not sure what’s happening, but I did as instructed, and silence followed.
I wondered why they had thrown away all dignity and grace, but it turns out they didn’t know I was watching.
Ding ding.
[Apologies, Apostle of the God. I’m sorry for the disturbance.]
Now that you’re trying to act dignified, I raised an eyebrow, which led the Crow Goddess to send a message full of lament.
[Has it already become too late…?]
Sigh. Well, then can we just speak comfortably now?
Realizing that there was no turning back, the Crow Goddess immediately resigned. She perfectly matched the image I knew her to have.
How can there be so little difference between her in the game and reality? The church has grown this big; can’t she have a bit more dignity to match?
…No, thinking about it again, I’m not sure if it’ll be scarier if she changes. It’s better for me if she remains the idiot I know.
[In any case, I promised to give you a blessing, didn’t I? Lord Jushin did mention that, but since you’re the one getting blessed, if you want something, tell me.]
The Crow Goddess talked about various things she could give me, but most were related to my appearance.
She spoke with an overwhelmingly personal desire, asking if I didn’t want to be more beautiful than now.
Of course, I ignored every word. It’s perverts like you that care about looks, not me!
There are so many other reasonable offers, why should I have to accept something so inefficient?
[Are you not interested in body shape? If you want, I could make you a bit taller!]
…Is that even possible?! For real!?!
Can my height actually increase?!
Could it be that I could finally look down at Frey?!
In a moment of pure excitement, I almost nodded vigorously, but the rotten logic rooted deep within me held my instincts back.
Calm down. Calm down.
In the trials yet to come, my height isn’t a significant matter.
Even if I grow a bit taller, it won’t help me escape from crises.
But the various rewards I could rip from the Crow Goddess would directly help me.
No need to think.
I need to move on.
But if my height increases, won’t my arm reach be longer, and I could fight better?
After all, size matters in battles.
Right? Doesn’t it?
Everyone can see this as a rational choice…
Isn’t it!?!
As I barely managed to hold my rationality by biting my tongue, I realized I shouldn’t be toyed with by the Crow Goddess any longer.
Right now, I’ve somehow managed to resist the temptation, but there’s no guarantee I can continue to do so.
I need to quickly state what I want and negotiate!
With that decision made, I infused magic into the jewel Karia once gave me to block the sound between myself and my surroundings before I spoke.
“Crow Goddess, the more you talk, the more disgusting it gets. Would you kindly stay quiet for a moment? If you don’t want to be looked down upon, I think it would be better that way.”
Having been severely treated by the Sloppy Fox and the Perverted Apostle, I worried if I should ask for contempt, but thankfully, the Crow Goddess closed her mouth to maintain a minimum level of dignity.
“To be honest, I don’t particularly wish to receive something from you, Crow Goddess. I feel like if I receive your blessing as the leader of perverts, it would gross me out like bugs crawling on my skin.”
[W-wait! Would you listen to my story?! There are plenty of better options than what I just mentioned! Really!]
“You’re still babbling on. Are you that eager to hear contempt?”
[No, um… that’s not it.]
“Alright. I don’t want to talk anymore, so let me say what I want. Please give me Aesthetic Sense. That’s about the only decent thing out of your useless abilities.”
The moment I mentioned Aesthetic Sense, the Crow Goddess fell silent again.
I had anticipated this.
The passive skill called Aesthetic Sense is something that takes a long while to gain after becoming an apostle of the Crow Goddess.
She had already shown off when giving that skill, so there’s no way she would just give it away to someone unrelated.
Even knowing this, the reason I mentioned Aesthetic Sense was more of a buildup for the next step than its usefulness.
The moment she rejects this, I’m planning to catch her and rip off multiple blessings.
I already have a few things in mind.
While most skills from the Crow Goddess are useless, if correctly combined…
[…Ugh. I guess in the end, I have to give that.]
Huh?
[I can’t help it. Since it’s an agreement I made with Lord Jushin, if you want it, I have no choice but to give it.]
Huh?
No.
No, wait a second.
What I truly want isn’t this!
What I want is something different!?
As I stumbled in confusion, I desperately tried to raise my voice, but the crow was quicker to grant the blessing.
[Aesthetic Sense skill granted.]
[You will naturally come to understand beauty.]
…
Refund!
Refund me!
Give me something else!
What am I supposed to do with a skill that’s utterly useless outside of making money?!
I have more than enough money right now!
[It’s the most valuable thing I can give you, so please use it wisely.]
No! You don’t even have to give me the most valuable thing! Just take it back! Exchange it for something else! Please! If you can still change it, I’ll pray for you specially!
[I’ll support your path from the sky. Hang in there! You can do it!]
Trying to sound warm at the end won’t make it matter!?
And what do you mean you’re going to be watching me closely?! Don’t tell me you’re seriously intending to stalk me?!
No matter how much of a perverted crow you are, you’re not that deep in the rabbit hole!
[The God of Beauty and Art blesses you.]
[Her energy empowers you.]
Crazy. So you were that much of a mess? To openly declare that you’ll be watching me while trying to butter me up!
Aaaah! Seriously! Is it not enough with the Scummy God, the Sloppy Fox, and the Perverted Apostle? Now even the Crow Goddess is latching on!?
Why are there so many perverts in this damn world!?
Is it because the God itself is a pervert?!
That must be it! Damn it!
I was grinding my teeth in irritation when I started to feel a strange atmosphere around me and slowly dispelled my magic.
“Whoa!”
“The goddess has bestowed her blessing!”
“How can someone be that beautiful!”
“Is that person truly the embodiment of the goddess?!”
As I blankly watched the ambiance filled with both sorrow and excitement, I couldn’t take it anymore and chose to flee.
I’m never coming back to the Arts Church again!
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