Bahrain

Chapter 163: 154 Talking to Deities (Extra Chapters 13, 14)_2

I dare to die.

But you... do you dare to make a move?

"...."

The Ice and Snow Goddess remained silent.

This place wasn't too far from the Mist Monastery.

She was merely an ice and snow avatar here, while the other was the genuine article.

Losing an avatar was no big deal, but if she truly made an enemy, then... would she really seek the protection of the God of Cold Winter over such a matter?

Falling, losing vitality were possibilities, but feeling embarrassed was a certainty.

Moreover, she didn't actually want to harm Herbert.

If she really wanted to harm him, she wouldn't need to appear in person; she could just let him lose his way in the snowstorm and eventually perish in the Mist Mountains.

After silently watching the young man for a long time, she slowly shook her head and said calmly, "Mortal, you seem to harbor intense malice towards me."

You're turning the tables, aren't you?

Herbert didn't care about her little trick; these petty moves didn't provoke him, they even made him want to laugh.

Too amateur, my friend.

He chuckled elegantly, shaking his head, "Respected Lady of Snow, I think there might have been some misunderstanding between us."

"I have always respected you greatly."

Herbert looked at the Ice and Snow Goddess, recalling the knowledge he had supplemented later.

[Ice and Snow Goddess · Hecayas]

This goddess was also called the "Lady of Snow" or "Cold Winter Maiden."

The former carried more respect, whereas the latter, for some reasons, made her somewhat displeased.

Herbert chose this title to express his respect for the Ice and Snow Goddess—at least on the surface, it was so.

He looked at the goddess, noticing the arch of her raised eyebrows, and knowing she was in a good mood, he continued with a light smile:

"Think about it, if I truly harbored malice towards you, I wouldn't entrust the faith of the Frost Crystal Kingdom to your church, would I?"

"On the contrary, I hold the utmost sincere respect for you."

With a sincere face, he clasped Valentina, bowing again:

"I admire all your efforts to protect nature, and I'm grateful for every ice and snow creature you protect."

"Every life has its value, and no life should be harmed. Nature has its laws, and you are one of the guardians of this order."

"You are the protector of frost and snow!"

"You are the sentinel of the icy plains!"

Herbert continued expressing without repeating a single word for a full ten minutes.

After Herbert finished his elaborate speech of flattery, the Ice and Snow Goddess's expression visibly softened—a lot, actually.

She thought she was hiding it well, but her mouth was almost reaching her ears.

Hehehe~

The original cold and taciturn expression was completely gone, leaving a somewhat shy but proud little expression.

She wrinkled her nose, slightly raised her chin.

So, this is how I appear in the eyes of others!

Hmm.

Even I didn't realize I'm this excellent...

"Ahem!"

She averted her gaze, looking to the side, then coughed lightly:

"Hmm... you're quite good; it's been a long time since I've heard a human speak such words."

Although she wished to gain more human faith, the Ice and Snow Goddess was not particularly fond of humans.

Hunters liked to hunt snowfield animals struggling to survive in winter, and she always thought humans disrupted the cycle of the cold winter law.

But for Herbert to say such heartfelt words as a human genuinely surprised her.

Perhaps, hmm, it's time to change her view on humans...

"I'm saying this not because I'm human; humans are also a part of nature."

"I think this way entirely because everything you've done is right!"

Herbert stood straight, speaking passionately, "Not just humans, all living beings need to express gratitude to you!"

The volume of the last sentence was so loud that it echoed across the entire lake.

Finally, the Ice and Snow Goddess couldn't handle it anymore, waving her hand at him awkwardly, "Cough, cough! Okay, okay, you... don't need to say any more."

Alright, enough already.

She herself couldn't bear to listen any longer.

The Ice and Snow Goddess was so embarrassed she almost gouged a hole in the ice beneath her feet.

But Herbert was not planning to let her off.

He clenched his fists, shouting even louder, "No! As long as you still misunderstand me, I'll keep talking! You are the most beautiful creation of nature, the embodiment of ice and snow, the..."

"Alright! Stop talking! I know you have no malice!!!"

The Snow Maiden covered her face with one hand, waving at Herbert with the other, stirring up a gust mixed with ice shards.

Stop, just stop it already!

"Oh, okay."

Confirming the Snow Maiden had been overwhelmed and saying more would go overboard, Herbert decisively stopped, nodding and smiling at her.

Ha.

I only used thirty percent of my power, and you're already overwhelmed?

You're quite weak!

"So, Lady of Snow, now that the misunderstanding is resolved, could you tell me the reason for stopping me here?"

"...."

After Herbert's flood of flattery, the Ice and Snow Goddess could no longer maintain her stern expression.

She first glared at Herbert, then said helplessly, "I am here to grant you a reward."

In this situation, she naturally couldn't say she was here because of Herbert's previous disrespect in the Divine Hall spying...

She could only use this seemingly legitimate reason to explain her actions at this moment.

"You mean... a reward?"

"Yes, although the outcome hasn't been seen completely, the future of the Frost Crystal Kingdom is already foreseeable."

The Ice and Snow Goddess had a vision of the Frost Crystal Royal City, seeing Laila excitedly donning the Legendary Heavy Armor, knowing the final result was destined.

Whether those nobles survived or not had no impact on the outcome.

From today onward, her faith would take root in the Frost Crystal Kingdom, leveraging this opportunity.

The plan advanced by a whole hundred years!

Soon, possibly within ten years, once the faith of the first group of believers is firm, she'd receive a substantial influx of faith.

By then, the Ice and Snow Goddess might seize this opportunity for advancement, even breaking free from the God of Cold Winter's protection.

Though the God of Cold Winter had always been kind to her, his excessively maternal nature was exhausting for her.

She struggled with this but lacked the power to resist.

But now, the Ice and Snow Goddess saw hope.

All this hope originated from this young man.

He orchestrated everything on stage and created this miracle.

In all fairness, she indeed owed him a reward.

"I will grant you a reward."

Herbert thought for a moment, shook his head slightly, smiling, "Can I refuse? I don't actually need you to grant me anything."

Some rewards can be accepted.

But some rewards, once accepted, might not be so simple anymore.

"Mortal, curb your arrogance."

Upon hearing Herbert's refusal, the Ice and Snow Goddess shook her head slightly, saying faintly, "The blessings of the Divine Spirit do not care whether you are willing to accept them."

Hearing this, Herbert sighed softly.

As expected.

It's that forced love again...

Whoo—

The previously calm wind and snow stirred again, restoring the Ice and Snow Goddess's expression to its former aloofness and indifference.

She softly floated up into the air, gazing down at the boy with eyes filled with divinity.

The goddess, with a calm voice, extended an invitation to the mortal, presenting what she believed to be the most enticing reward! ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel{f}

She said:

"Would you..."

"Like to become my devotee?"