Chapter 86: The Banquet of the Gods
"Takema"
Between the two women, the girl with long, fine hair timidly stepped forward.
"Um, this is for you..."
There was no doubt that this was an invitation.
The delicate paper was sealed with sealing wax and engraved with the sender's emblem. The emblem's pattern was a bow and arrow and a sun.
This time, the short-haired girl spoke: "My name is Daphne. This girl's name is Cassandra. You guessed correctly, we are the Apollo Familia."
The emblem that reminded people of archers and light, a bow and arrow and a sun – the Apollo Familia.
Shun now realized the reason.
Daphne gave off a strong impression, while Cassandra, who was shy and exuded a gentle temperament, looked a little naive.
'Both are good candidates to form the Hestia Familia, especially Cassandra. In the original work, she also has the ability of a prophet and is a very valuable talent'
Shun had remembered them both in his heart.
And Cassandra still spoke timidly:
"It's an invitation. God Apollo will hold a banquet. If you want… No, it's okay if you don't come…"
Daphne slapped the back of Cassandra's head and leaned forward.
This time, Daphne pointed to the invitation and said seriously:
"Make sure to give it to your main god. The invitation has been delivered to you."
"I understand, I'll give this to Hestia."
Seeing Shun agree, Daphne pulled back her body. She didn't seem to intend to speak again, and after calling her friend, she turned and left.
However, when she left with her trembling short hair, she suddenly turned to Shun and whispered:
"My condolences."
"Condolences?"
Watching the two girls leave, the invitation fluttered at his fingertips, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of Shun's lips.
Apollo in the Danmachi world was the main god of the golden bow and sun, the Apollo Familia.
He was the god of the sun and had the nickname Phallus among the gods.
Although he declared his love for Hestia in heaven and was rejected, he seemed to prefer teenagers.
Without exception, the adventurers in his Familia were all attracted to Apollo and seduced. If they disagreed, they would be drawn in by various means (including hunting), and most of his members were male.
Yes, his main members were male!
Maybe his taste had changed. He was very obsessed with handsome young people, especially those with good qualifications and brilliant souls.
And when Shun saw the two girls from the Apollo Familia, he already had an inseparable guess in his mind.
A genius who leveled up from a newcomer to Level 2 in seven days. A handsome man with a heroic posture would surely cause a storm in Orario.
So, what would the Apollo Familia with many superior adventurers do against a Familia that only had the useless Hestia and a boy who had just leveled up to Level 2?
Shun discarded the invitation, his eyes becoming colder.
The so-called gods couldn't be called honorable from his side.
For Shun, who had the Myriad Realms Roulette, it wasn't impossible to travel through five, six, seven or eight times towards the so-called realm of gods.
Even saying that surpassing the gods and reaching a higher realm wasn't impossible for Shun, who could Gamble and Add Points.
Since Apollo didn't distinguish between good and evil, don't blame him for being rude.
The worst case scenario was that Shun might waste Izanagi. At that time, the Danmachi world was only a few days away. He might have traveled through several worlds with several God-Killing Powers and come back to kill Apollo.
"Apollo is always distorted by the desire to pursue heroic qualifications by handsome boys, even to the point of becoming a fanatic."
Shun muttered the calculation in a low voice and opened the back door of the pub.
"If used correctly, such an achievement might be achievable in a reasonable way…"
❀❀❀
That night.
With the Apollo Familia's Banquet of the Gods being held, the entire Orario became quite lively.
The Banquet of the Gods was a party held independently by the gods.
This kind of banquet was also meant to show off and show off one's strength and financial resources to hold such a banquet, but it was basically held to entertain various gods.
It was said that the Banquet of the Gods held by the Apollo Familia today was quite special. It seemed that there should be Familia members participating, and the gods and children from each Familia would participate.
Usually, Familia members weren't allowed to attend the Banquet of the Gods, but this time the organizers proposed that Familia members should be invited to participate. The gods were still the same as before, they agreed because it was considered interesting, so they each chose the most satisfying group members to participate together, wanting to show off their children.
Among the perfectly dressed gods and goddesses, you could see many brightly dressed adventurers or artisans.
The main entrance hall was very beautiful and luxurious, with gold and silver lamps scattered on thick pillars and candle holders, their light dazzling and dazzling. The high ceiling gave a sense of openness. The marble statues placed firmly on the walls were probably made to imitate the appearance of the gods, one for each god and goddess.
Unsurprisingly, Shun appeared at the banquet with Hestia.
He stood casually, but no matter his appearance or posture, it was the aura that attracted many eyes just by standing there.
The soft voice of a girl could be faintly heard in the living room. This made Hestia even more proud to hold his arm, showing off her man.
As the two of them entered, Apollo, who had long been impatient, immediately appeared.
"Everyone, thank you for coming today!"
At this moment, a loud and strong voice echoed in the place. Everyone in the room looked in the same direction. At the other end of the banquet hall, Apollo was talking happily.
Apollo had golden hair that shone with the color of the sun. The blond hair looked like concentrated sunlight and shone brightly. The smile that appeared at the corner of his mouth was also very charming, but anyone who had ever seen him knew the disgusting and perverted nature behind that smile.
"This time, I changed the Banquet of the Gods based on my personal idea. Do you still like it? We dress up the children we love very much and bring them to our banquet like this. This will be another pleasure!"
As he said this, his eyes at that time were looking at Shun with very hot eyes.
Apollo dressed up to suit his role as the host, and his voice was very loud. Other gods who were happy to join in the fun cheered and applauded.
"I feel very happy to see many of my own race and beloved children – I even have a hunch that I will be lucky enough to meet again tonight."
"Tonight will be a long night. I will entertain you with fine wine and delicious food. Have fun as well!"
After finally uttering those words, Apollo opened his hands as if to express their approval, the gods with male gods as the center cheered. Many people raised their beautiful glasses to each other, and the banquet hall came alive.
Shun followed Hestia and greeted several gods who had a good relationship with Takemikazuchi and Miach and their followers. Then, before Shun could find traces of Loki and Aiz, the very enthusiastic and bold goddesses rushed forward one by one.
They simply ignored Hestia and turned into an irresistible stream of people to surround Shun.
"Ah! I've been wanting to meet this little brother for a long time!"
"The strongest genius kid in Orario!"
"So handsome, Hestia, how about lending me your Familia member for a few days!"
Such a scene almost became the focus of the entire banquet.
Hestia hated those shameless goddesses until her teeth itched with hatred.
Loki was being arrogant on the sidelines, while Aiz looked calm, but when she saw the scene of Shun surrounded by goddesses, her heart felt a little tight.
Freya on the other side saw this scene, and her face also became very cold.
Before Hestia could refuse the slutty women who were lusting after her husband, the lights in the entire banquet hall suddenly lit up again, focusing on the host of this banquet, Apollo. His greedy eyes swept across the young man's handsome face, and the lust in his heart was almost uncontrollable.
"Everyone, are you enjoying the party?"
Unconsciously, the dance music had stopped playing, and his voice sounded very loud.
"Everyone is having fun, and I'm happy too. It makes sense for me to hold a banquet like this. However, I have big news to announce tonight."
The gods present stopped their movements, and the other guests naturally gathered together, forming a circle with Apollo as the center.
The gods who always loved to have fun were now curious about what was happening to Apollo.
Under everyone's gaze, Apollo's eyes looked at Hestia, and then his face became ugly and twisted.
"Hestia! I want to formally deliver the War Game invitation to you!"
War Game.
Set the rules for inter-Familia battles and inter-faction duels. Just like a board game where Familia members are treated as chess pieces, two opposing gods engage in a general battle to achieve their own divine will.
In other words, this was a proxy war of the gods.
The winning god could take everything from the opponent and issue any orders. Generally, the practice was to seize all the assets of the other faction, including its members.
"Apollo is taking action!"
"It's just oppression."
"On the contrary, I'm very eager to see it."
As for the people around them, they spoke directly after hearing Apollo's statement.
The entertainment-loving gods immediately sneered maliciously and joined in the fun by shouting, "This is fun now." A group of people gathered around him to support Apollo's declaration.
At this time, Apollo no longer hid his interest and looked at Shun with burning eyes.
"If we win… I want your Familia member – Takema Shun."
A disgusting lecherous smile appeared on his face.
"This is outrageous, Hestia, how can you monopolize such a handsome boy?!"
His disgusting gaze made Shun's hair stand on end. Meeting a male god who liked men was truly terrifying.
"Impossible! This…"
Hestia angrily glared at Apollo.
"Shun is my family, it's absolutely impossible for me to—"
Before Hestia finished her words, Shun grabbed her wrist.
Shun was very aware of the other party's deviant behavior. Refusal now was meaningless, and the other party wouldn't give up.
On the contrary, this was the time for him to dig a hole!
Whether the grand goal of killing a god could be achieved safely depended on what Apollo thought next!
"I can see that you really want me."
Shun's eyes were as cold and calm as spring water. Facing many hopeful, joking, and even enthusiastic eyes, he said:
"I can agree to the War Game, but the gap between me as a Level 2 and the Apollo Familia with several high-level adventurers is too big."
When everyone suggested that Shun wanted to demand a more reasonable War Game, he instead said:
"So, I'll bet everything."
"My ownership, my life, my soul, and even my future life after reincarnation from death will be used as a bet. Apollo, do you want this?"
Just with Shun's description, Apollo was already blushing with excitement, panting like an excited bull.
Being able to get entangled with a handsome young man who became a hero of his life, a very beautiful possibility, just thinking about it, Apollo would…
"Of course! Of course, I want to pick you up!" Apollo replied loudly and excitedly.
"Then… bet your life on this War Game!"
Shun finally revealed the purpose of his plan.
The entire place, which was originally bustling with discussions, became very quiet in an instant. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was… very quiet!
A human wanted to bet his life with a god?
For countless years in the lower world, this was the first time they had encountered something so strange!
At this time, Loki, who understood Shun's plan, laughed uncontrollably. It seemed that this was the trigger, and suddenly the entire banquet hall exploded in heated discussions.
According to the contract between the gods when they were in the lower world, the gods were not allowed to use their Arcanum except for certain ceremonies and festivals when they were in the lower world.
When a god's life was in danger, it would automatically be sent back to heaven. At that time, the god who had returned to heaven could still live and continue to live in heaven, but his life wouldn't be as interesting as in the land of the earth.
Only when Artemis in the movie version faced a disaster or was killed would she return to heaven as an unconscious soul to sleep for hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years before waking up again.
It was a long time, even the gods were afraid of it.
And what Shun wanted was to let Apollo die!
Shun ignored the voices of the gods filled with various emotions and still said unhurriedly:
"If you agree, then this War Game will be witnessed by all the gods."
"Today, under the testimony of the gods' oaths, I bet my entire body, soul, and everything as a bet in exchange for permission to kill God Apollo!"
So firm, so frightening, so bold, this young man who had just leveled up to Level 2 made the gods present feel amazed, angry, stunned, and excited.
In such a warm environment, no one noticed that Freya's face was blushing at this time, and even her eyes were full of charm and obsession.
"This is truly a treasure that is impossible to achieve…"
"Such a bold idea, with the power to kill even gods, truly… very beautiful…"
Freya swallowed her saliva and couldn't help but speak:
"I think it's good!"
Freya's appearance shocked many gods.
"Hey, Freya, this is a bet involving the death of gods!"
"If you agree, then where is the majesty of the gods?"
It was unreasonable for a creature in the lower world to bet everything with their lives on a god…
Many gods frowned and retorted, finding it difficult to accept such a bet. Killing a god in the lower world was clearly a great sin, so how could it be done like this?
"But that's just interesting enough. Isn't it?"
Freya accurately understood the desires of the gods who had lived for hundreds of millions of years.
These gods were too bored for years to come down to the lower world to find pleasure.
The point was, these gods who had lived for hundreds of millions of years were almost all happy people.
"Think about it, the story of a handsome boy being forced by the ugly Sun God to bet everything in a desperate situation and fight to the death with a god, it's truly amazing!"
Freya's eyes shone, spreading her charm throughout the place.
"I'm willing to bet my life to get such a beautiful treasure!"
Her tone was very firm, even a little excited to try it.
"Wow, Apollo, if you don't want to, I'm willing to play the War Game with him as a bet."
"What are you talking about!" Apollo immediately became anxious: "How can I give you a chance!"
"Then agree!"
Loki, who had already penetrated Shun's plan, immediately shouted.
She was the God of Trickery in mythology and the God of Mischief. When she saw Shun so boldly cheating to kill Apollo and playing with the gods, she couldn't help but get involved immediately.
"After all, it's Apollo who's going to die!"
Loki spoke the truth and immediately moved many neutral gods.
"After all, if it succeeds, maybe thousands of years later, when the heroic story of this young man who killed a god spreads, you and I will be witnesses to this legend!"
"No matter how bad it is, it's quite interesting to see that poor handsome man entangled by Apollo for the rest of his life."
At this time, most of the gods nodded.
They thought Loki was right!
After all, it wasn't them who were going to die!
If it really succeeded, it would be an interesting story that could be entertained for thousands of years. Maybe thousands of years later, when people read this young man's heroic story, they could still casually reveal that they were present at that time and brag about their greatness to the Familia members.
"I agree too!" The door suddenly opened, and a young man with orange-yellow hair and orange eyes, wearing ordinary casual clothes and a hat with feathers, immediately chose.
"I'm tired of watching ordinary War Games. Let's make some interesting stories!"
"Agree!"
"After all, it's Apollo who's going to die!"
"The Goddess of Beauty is definitely right!"
"Hahahaha, fun to watch!"
Under the guidance and encouragement of the gods, the gods together swore by their real names as witnesses.
[Witnessed by the gods:
The Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia are engaged in a War Game.
Takema Shun bets his entire body, soul, and everything in exchange for the possibility of killing Apollo.
Apollo bets his entire Familia and his own life in exchange for everything in Shun.
Note: Apollo is not allowed to use Arcanum until he dies and returns to heaven. After the God-Killing is successful, the gods of Orario can no longer hold Takema Shun accountable for his crime of killing a God.
The oath has been set!]