Chapter 247: Banquet of the Gods (3)

The mystical power possessed by all priests and paladins in

MID Online

was holy power, and the principle behind their ability to use it was simple. It was granted directly by the gods to their chosen followers.

In other words, none of the gods here lack holy power.

While the amount of holy power they possessed varied greatly depending on the number of their followers, holy power itself was different. It was the inherent power of the gods. A god without holy power would have long since been stripped of their divine status.

“A very small amount of holy power will suffice,” Kai said.

“

Hmm

, holy power.”

“It’s certainly not something I can’t spare.”

“It does feel a bit wasteful, though...”

Some gods grumbled about having to give up a bit of their holy power, acting like misers unwilling to give it up. However, with a month’s worth of their favorite food on the line, they couldn’t resist joining the bingo game.

“Here you go.”

Glowing in various colors, holy power appeared above the gods’ hands. Though its shape varied depending on their powers and abilities, the essence of all the holy power was the same.

Ding!

[God of strength, Gauss, has paid 10 Holy Power.]

[God of water, Haku, has paid 10 Holy Power.]

[Solarian god, Helik, has paid 10 Holy Power.]

.

.

.

The entry fee Kai collected was only 10 Holy Power per god, but even small amounts could add up to a mountain!

With seventy-three gods, that’s a total of 730 Holy Power collected.

For a regular player, it would take dedicating all their stats to Holy Power over 146 levels to achieve that amount! Yet Kai had secured it easily by appealing to the gods with food and introducing the high-stakes bingo game.

Honestly, even if I fed all these gods as much as they wanted for an entire year, it wouldn’t be a loss.

But if one gave everything away too generously from the start, gratitude was easily forgotten. It was always more efficient to grant wishes bit by bit, just enough to keep them eager.

“Now, let’s get started with this bingo game,” one of the gods said.

“If I’ve understood the rules correctly, you draw numbers from that box, and if they form a line on my card, I win, right?”

“You’ve understood perfectly. As expected of the god of wisdom,” Kai responded.

“

Haha

, this is nothing.” Yanir, the god of wisdom, scratched his head shyly.

Looking at the gods, Kai picked up the first ball.

“Forty-seven!”

“

Ooh

, I have it!”

“I have it too.”

“Darn, forty-seven isn’t on my bingo card.”

The number forty-seven brought both joy and disappointment to the seventy-three gods.

“Now, drawing the second ball...”

The second, third, and fourth numbers were called.

As the game progressed, Helik puffed out her cheeks and raised her hand.

“Yes, Helik? What seems to be the problem?”

“Kai! This game is unfair!” She pointed directly at a man and continued, “Look at the god of luck! Every number you draw matches his card!”

“

A-ahem!

That’s just my ability.”

The god of luck, who appeared as a young man, was sweating nervously like someone caught cheating.

“

Hmm

... indeed.”

As the god of luck, he governed all fortune in the world. Naturally, no one could compete with him in a game that relied on luck.

“Alright, then. The god of luck is disqualified from this game.”

“W-what! You can’t do that!” the god of luck immediately became furious.

However, Kai calmed his anger with a single statement. “In return, I’ll give you a free one-month meal voucher.”

“

Hmm

. Well, in that case, I have no complaints.”

Instead, he broke into a wide grin.

Of course, the other gods protested against Kai’s independent decision.

“Wait a moment! How can he get first prize without even playing?”

“This is completely unfair!”

“Then shall we allow the god of luck to play? If anyone thinks they can beat him and claim first place, raise your hand,” Kai said.

“

Ahem.

”

“Well, I didn’t mean it like that...”

The gods, who had spoken up out of jealousy toward the god of luck, quickly fell silent and backed down.

“Alright, let’s continue the game. Twenty-three!”

As the game progressed, the gods grew more and more engrossed.

“

Ughhh,

please, just draw forty-one already!”

“Twenty-five! Twenty-five! Twenty-five!”

“Number three! It has to be three! If it’s three, I’ll complete two bingo lines!”

The atmosphere became as intense as a gambling hall. Even Kai hadn’t anticipated how much the gods would immerse themselves in a simple bingo game.

“Oh, congratulations! The next number is three.”

“

Ahhh!

Thank the heavens!”

The god of war, who was the first to complete three bingo lines, raised their hand high, tears of joy streaming down their face.

The other gods looked at him with eyes full of envy.

“Now, let’s proceed with the next draw.”

As Kai drew the ball, the second and third places were quickly determined.

“

Huh

... If just one more number had been called, I could have won too...”

“

Ugh

, I’m so unlucky. How could I not complete even a single bingo line?”

The gods who didn’t win any prizes stared sullenly at their bingo cards.

At that moment, Kai’s voice caught their attention. “Well then, the winners of the first game have been decided. Shall we move on to the next round?”

“

Huh?

The next round?”

“

Oh

, did you think we’d stop after just one game?” Kai asked.

“

Oooh!

That’s right! We can just start a new game!”

“

Hahaha.

I won’t lose this time.”

The gods showed their enthusiasm again at the mention of a new round.

Then, Kai extended his hand with a warm smile. “Well then, you’ll need to pay the entry fee again.”

This time, excluding the god of luck, who couldn’t participate, Kai collected Holy Power from the remaining seventy-two gods.

***

1,450 Holy Power, huh...

This wasn’t a bug exploit, but if someone called it a cheat, Kai wouldn’t have much of a defense.

And there’s an unexpected bonus as well.

This realization came when the total Holy Power surpassed 3,000 during the second game’s entry fee collection.

Ding!

[Special title acquired: Infinite Holy Power.]

The Infinite Holy Power title granted a 25% boost to the effects of holy skills.

With the titles of Saint of Glendale, Saint of Whitehall, and now Infinite Holy Power...

Kai could now enhance the effects of skills that consumed Holy Power by a staggering 50%.

It’s been a day of bountiful rewards.

The winner of the second game was also decided. Kai could have continued the games, but he decided to stop for the day.

Too much is as bad as too little. I need to keep the line.

As the game’s host, Kai was able to observe all the gods closely. Among them, some gods, frustrated with their lack of success, seemed likely to grow angry if another round were suggested.

If the atmosphere turns sour like that, even the gods who were eager to play might hesitate.

The result would undoubtedly be a decline in their affinity toward him. For that reason, Kai decided to simply wrap things up.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in the game. As a small token of appreciation, I’ve prepared gifts for you to take on your way out.”

“

Oh

, gifts as well?”

“

Haha

, thanks to you, I ate delicious food and had great fun today.”

Even the gods who weren’t very pleased with how the game went brightened considerably when handed bundles filled with delicious food.

“If you host another banquet, please make sure to invite me again.”

“Let’s meet often!”

“

Haha,

of course, I’ll send you an invitation. Don’t worry about that.” Kai smiled, and bowed repeatedly as he bid farewell to the gods.

[The god of strength, Gauss’ affinity increased.]

[The god of wisdom, Yanir’s affinity increased.]

[The god of love, Roby’s affinity increased.]

.

.

.

Kai was polite, offered an entertaining game, and even gifted them delicious food. It was only natural for the gods to view Kai favorably.

Then, in that moment...

“

Hm?

”

Perhaps tired from the rather lengthy banquet, Helik, who had been dozing off in her seat, suddenly opened her eyes wide and stood up.

“Helik, this presence is...?” Roby said.

“... Yes, it seems so,” Helik nodded heavily.

What’s happening all of a sudden?

Regardless of Kai’s confusion, the gods who sensed the same energy as her began murmuring among themselves.

“If it’s this presence... then it seems her divine status hasn’t been revoked yet.”

“

Huh.

I heard she lost her followers after giving a false oracle and went half-mad.”

“Really? I heard she couldn’t endure the despair and chose to fade away.”

“Wasn’t she best friends with Helik?”

“They once were, but not anymore. It's been centuries since she’s had any contact with other gods.”

What on earth are they talking about?

Unable to understand the situation, Kai tilted his head and followed Helik’s gaze.

Crack.

As with the arrival of other gods, the air was split. Through that crack emerged a girl dressed in a reverent white dress. She appeared to be around Helik’s age, but her face was gaunt to the point where it was hard to believe she was a god. At first glance, one could easily mistake her for someone very ill.

The girl glanced around nervously before spotting Helik, and then staggered toward her. “Helik...”

At the girl’s call, Helik, who was usually bright and cheerful, took on an uncharacteristically serious expression. Carefully lifting the end of her dress, Helik ran toward the girl.

Smack!

Helik’s sudden, forceful slap left Kai stunned, prompting him to intervene immediately.

“H-Helik!”

“... Foolish as always.”

Helik’s eyes were filled with sorrow as she looked down at the girl.

After watching them for a moment, Kai decided to first help the girl, who had collapsed. “Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?”

The girl waved her hand at Kai, signaling that she was okay. Then, she wobbled as she stood up, and with great effort, parted her cracked lips and raised her head. She was crying.

“Helik...”

“That’s enough. Say no more. The weight in my heart has lifted with that slap.” Just like the girl, Helik’s eyes brimmed with tears, and she spread her arms out. “Just come cry in my arms, my dear friend, Cal Rashya.”

“... Okay.”

At Helik’s words, the girl, Cal Rashya, collapsed into her embrace and began to sob for a while. The sight of the two cute and beautiful girls hugging and crying together stirred a strange, heartwarming emotion, even without fully understanding the situation.

Wait a second. Cal Rashya? Isn’t that...?

It was the name of the god once worshipped by the dullahans he had encountered in Lynel’s Dungeon.

If I remember correctly, her power was transformation.

Kai’s question was answered by the system.

[You have witnessed Cal Rashya, the god of transformation.]

[Special title acquired: Witness of Transformation.]

Transformation, huh...

Transformation signified the changing of a thing’s nature, form, or state. At times, it could refer to a person’s outward appearance, their heart, or, as with Helik and Cal Rashya, the restoration of a broken relationship.

Truly, are there any other crybabies as troublesome as these two?

Kai pulled out an extra handkerchief than usual and approached the two girls.