1044. Shirou Drinks the Wine of Ruin / 1045. The God of Wine's Trial ...

Sunnis kicked her again, and Lili's body slammed against the wall.

Her trembling, thin legs and bound hands rendered the girl powerless to resist.

"That god wouldn't even bother with you! Our supreme god is only interested in brewing wine! To him, you're nothing but noise! Even if you pester him relentlessly, it won't change anything!"

"Ugh... cough cough... please let me see Lord Soma..." Lili coughed, in so much pain she felt like she was going to vomit her liver.

Sunnis stopped and looked down at her as if watching a good show.

Sunnis burst into laughter, as if he had witnessed a rare and exotic creature.

"You've changed, Artie! I thought you'd be smarter! The only thing I liked about you was that cold look in your eyes, as if you resented everything in the world!"

The dark past, the curse of the faction that repeatedly dragged her back into the darkness as she tried to escape, now sneers at Lili, disguised as Sunny.

The tears welling up in my eyes were, yes, the price of enduring physical pain. They were not tears of regret; I would never shed tears of regret. It was only when facing the past that bound me that I no longer wanted to cry.

Lili once successfully escaped from the Soma Familia. She was very lucky that time and thought she could find hope. She met a Beastkin couple who owned a flower shop. They said they were willing to adopt her. Lili lived a very happy life in that ordinary family.

But a few days later, the Soma Familia came knocking. They were all thugs and hooligans. In front of Lili, they smashed up the entire flower shop. The ordinary Beastkin couple had no way to deal with the adventurers and could only hug each other and cry.

At that time, Lili was utterly desperate. The Soma Familia was hell; once you entered, you would never be able to climb out.

Lili is a burden, a scourge; anyone who tries to help her will become unhappy.

"What fools! You're given something nice to drink, so enjoy it! I crave the Divine Wine brewed by Lord Soma, I crave money and women, and I want to taste even more delicious food! I want to enjoy all the pleasures in this world! And you lot, if you want the Divine Wine, you should work for me!"

Sunnis's face, which perfectly displayed his inflated desires, was more terrifying and grotesque than anyone Lili had ever seen before—more so than anyone addicted to the Divine Wine.

"I love this [familia]. No matter how many bad things I do, the main god won't blame me. As long as that guy who's busy brewing wine doesn't interfere, I can do whatever I want. This environment is simply fantastic."

"Oops... I let it slip, hehe."

Upon hearing Lili's accusation, Sunnis covered the corner of his mouth, which revealed a sinister smile, with one hand, pulled away from the fence, and straightened his posture as if nothing had happened.

More than disrespectful, Sunnis was even showing contempt for the gods (Soma), and Lili felt a strong sense of disgust towards him.

She finally understood that the reason why the 'Soma Familia' had become such a twisted faction was not only because the main god was indifferent to the operation of the Familia, but also because the leader in front of her had played a huge role.

Lili looked up and stared intently at Sunnis, who was wearing a frivolous smile. Just then, a commotion arose outside.

"...?" Lili raised her head listlessly.

"The sound of alarm bells... Could it be an enemy attack? Who is the enemy?" Sunnis asked in surprise.

Chapter 1044 Shirou Drinks the Sake of Depravity

"Hey! What's going on outside!" Sunnis shouted to the second-rank dwarf guarding the prison.

"Hmph! Don't you have legs? Can't you go out and see for yourself?" The dwarf uncle, who was also a level two dwarf like Sunnis, didn't give Sunnis any face and said angrily.

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me right now! This is the commander's order!" Sannis roared.

"A group of people broke in, and one of them has already run to the main god's room," the dwarf uncle said.

"No! We have to stop him! I'll organize the men!" Sunnis rushed out anxiously.

"Lower-level adventurers are no match for him. Oh well, it's none of my business." The dwarf uncle watched the other person rush out, unable to be called back. So he simply sat down, pulled out his gourd, and took a few more gulps.

Shirou found this place through his investigation. The Soma Familia had fallen into depravity, so there were no powerful high-level adventurers. The evil deeds of the guild leader, Sannes, were abhorrent, and any member who could reach Level 2 disliked him. However, the inactive gods left them only able to watch from the sidelines.

Rescuing Lili was simple, but the Soma Familia would still come knocking. They were like ordinary thugs, living like cockroaches—you could chase them away, but they'd always come back. They weren't particularly powerful, but if left unchecked, they would cause significant environmental pollution.

To solve the problem once and for all, Shirou decided to go and see the local deity.

Soma, originating from Hindu mythology, is the lord of the stars, the god of sacrifices, asceticism, constellations, and herbs. He also extracted a liquid from a herb called hummus and brewed a delicious wine that could make people ecstatic, thus being revered as the god of wine.

In this ancient civilization that was constantly being invaded and assimilated, even the fate of the gods was full of ups and downs. Often, the status of the chief god would change depending on the power of one side.

Before being ruled by the British Sun Never Sets Empire, the Indian subcontinent had never been truly unified, yet it shared a common civilization due to its unique social characteristics.

Religious figures, Brahmins; warlords and the ruling class, Kshatriyas; Vaishyas, merchants; Shudras, commoners; the Indian subcontinent, centered around these four elements, was never fully unified.

Yet they possessed the foundation for cultural exchange: Brahmins studied profound scriptures and gained many followers; Kshatriyas expanded territories and governed towns; Thayas sold various handicrafts and spices, which were sold all over the world; and Shudras cultivated crops to serve the lords.

Powerful militant factions have emerged in various regions, annexing and conquering each other, only to split again. As a result, cultures have circulated among them, and even the oldest Hinduism mythology has become known throughout the continent.

The free religious atmosphere has attracted many monks of different faiths, among whom are many extraordinary individuals. There are wise and capable sages who are compassionate, ascetics who have starved themselves to the point of being emaciated, masters who are proficient in some kind of miraculous ability, yoga masters with flexible bodies, Bodhidharma who is proficient in martial arts, and even beings born with deformities who are worshipped as gods.

Based on these outstanding figures, major religions are further divided into various sects, and there is even a saying of three thousand heretical sects, of which Buddhism is just one.

According to legend, Soma was the first King in India to hold a sacrificial ceremony. He was appointed by Brahma as the god of the moon and the ruler of the stars. He married the twenty-seven daughters of the great god Daksha, who correspond to the twenty-seven constellations in the lunar sky.

Daksha demanded that Soma give equal love to all his daughters, but Soma only favored one of them, which aroused the jealousy of his other wives. As a result, Soma was cursed by the great god Daksha, and he became increasingly emaciated and his life was nearing its end.

Soma eventually passed many trials and finally gained the forgiveness of the gods, washing away his sins in the river. However, the lingering effects of the curse caused his body to change over time, from thin to full, and then back to thin. The moon also changed with his changes, which is why the moon seen by humans has its phases.

With the Demon Sword: Cold Ice, Shirou swung his sword, covering the corridor with slender, sharp ice pillars. The sharp ice spikes made it impossible for the pursuers to attack; the ice pillars were surprisingly sturdy, difficult to break, and impossible to jump or climb over.

Shirou calmly walked up the stairs and headed towards the room at the top.

"Soma God, I have a request to make of you."

"I don't care about trivial matters. Go find the people below," Soma said without even looking at Shirou.

"No, only you can help me with my request. I want you to attend the Divine Assembly and cast your vote in favor of my proposal," Shirou said.

"What's there to talk about with humans who can't even control themselves after a cup of wine?" Soma said in a low voice. He walked to the shelf in the corner, took out a pottery jar, which contained the purest original wine, a true divine object that Soma brought down from the upper realm.

Soma scooped a spoonful of wine from the glass, poured it into a glass, added some other ingredients and liquids, stirred it to create a deep purplish-red color, and then handed it to Shirou.

"This is a demonic wine known as the Mara of Wines, capable of turning righteous gods into wanton and unrestrained demons. Drink it, and if you can still maintain your original heart, then I may agree to your request," Soma said.

This is not ordinary, diluted Divine Wine sold in bulk to the human market; it is pure, unadulterated liquor that would intoxicate even the gods. It is overflowing with a rich aroma imbued with Divine Power.

Shirou accepted the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp...

After quite a while...

Sunnis finally managed to climb the stairs and arrive at Soma's room. When he opened the door, he saw a young man sitting with the god Soma by the window, chatting amicably and drinking wine.

"Lord Soma! I will arrest this burglar immediately!" Sannis burst through the door, shouting urgently.

"Step back! I'm having drinks with a guest," Soma said.

"Hey? But!" Sunnis had a bad feeling; the gods seemed to have undergone some unknown changes.

"Step back, Sannis! Don't repeat yourself!" Soma shouted.

"Eh...yes..." Sannis was startled by Soma.

Just then, Lili ran up and bumped into Sunny, who was about to leave.

"Artie! How did you escape! Get her back in the cage! Looks like you need some education!" Sunny said.

"Lili, come in," Shirou said, beckoning to the girl.

"Let her in. Sunnis, don't stay here and get in the way," Soma said.

"Yes..." Sunnis, his face deathly pale, felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave and retreated. He realized that he was ultimately just a mortal; if he angered the gods, countless people would tear him to pieces. His good days were over...

Lili, still panting from running, walked inside with a mix of anxiety and excitement.

Chapter 1045 The Trial of the God of Wine

"Lord Soma, Mr. Shirou." Lili entered the house and respectfully greeted the man and the god.

"What is your name?" Soma asked, looking at the little girl.

Because the Soma Familia has always grown wildly, possessing characteristics of pyramid schemes and theft groups, it has many members. Some are brought in by force, and some may have been deceived, but as long as they drink a cup of the Divine Wine, they will no longer have any desire to resist.

Soma had long since grown disgusted with such fellows, so he didn't even want to waste a glance on them.

"I am Lili Arti," the Little Folk girl whispered.

This was actually the first time Soma had looked at his familiar with her properly. She was petite and fragile, with nervousness and unease in her eyes. Her hands bore the marks of being bound, and her body had bruises from being thrown around.

Of course, he wasn't heartless, but he wouldn't show leniency just because the girl seemed pitiful, because he felt it was all meaningless. If you can't even resist a glass of wine, then whatever you do, the outcome of your life is already predetermined.

"Shirou told me that there are still many humans outside who can resist my sake. What do you think?" Soma asked.

"Wine..." Lili's eyes flickered, her heart wavering, because it was demonic wine, something like poison to lower-level adventurers. Once touched, they would lose control, become corrupted, and turn into the very thing they hated most.

Shirou looked at the little girl and said:

"Lili, Bell originally wanted to come and save you himself, but if he doesn't train hard, he will be defeated by the Apollo Familia in the Game War and forced to leave the Familia. So he entrusted this matter to me."

Hestia also said that without you, they would not have been able to defeat the Apollo Familia. Wielf felt very guilty; he hadn't protected you and had you taken away.

Now that I'm here, I can take you away. None of the Soma Familia members, including that leader, can stop me. But you must persuade the main god to break the contract yourself."

"Lili wants to drink! Lili will prove she's not a burden, but someone who can help Bell!"

The little girl picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Let's return to the Divine Assembly.

Hestia capitalized on the gods' desire for a spectacle and a thrilling duel, getting them to pressure Apollo and maximizing the advantage for her only servant, Bell.

After all, Apollo's family was vast and powerful. Although the combat strength of his Familias was only mid-tier due to their focus on aesthetics, his wealth was undeniable. While some Familias were forced to join, Apollo's affection for them was genuine. Upon each new member joined, he would use a large sum of money to create equipment that matched their appearance. Therefore, overall, the Familias possessed considerable combat strength, at least in terms of adequate equipment.

Bell is only level 2 now; how can he possibly fight against more than a hundred people?

Therefore, a one-on-one duel is best! As long as Bell can raise his strength to the point where he can fight a level 3 opponent, he will have a chance to win.

What do you think, Apollo?

"The other party is that little newbie who broke the latest record for leveling speed, you know?"

"If you encounter a skilled opponent, you might suffer in a one-on-one fight?"

"..."

The gods sitting around the Round Table all wore wicked grins. For them, who were neither friends nor enemies, simply looking at the silent Apollo was enough to amuse them.

The blond god Apollo, wearing a laurel wreath made of olive leaves, tossed his red cloak high, forced himself to remain calm, and shouted with a forced smile:

"The fact that your clan has so few members is due to your laziness, Hestia! You've brought this upon yourself; it's your own fault for not putting in more effort to recruit members."

"Ugh..." Hestia's heart was struck a heavy blow. The reason she had no enthusiasm for recruiting members was indeed because she wanted to create a world just for herself and Bell. Ever since Bell-kun became her familia, she had been working at the potato ball shop without a second thought, and hadn't even considered recruiting members.

"Even if you complain that you have too few children, I have no reason to cooperate with you! As the chief god who governs the factions, what responsibilities should you bear! Your small number of followers is your own problem, Hestia!"

Refuted by Apollo's righteous argument, Hestia's next outburst was truly speechless.

"Why don't we decide by drawing lots, the fairest method available?" Apollo suggested.

Hestia, from her position, couldn't refute this, so Apollo's suggestion was accepted. The god, who had made thorough preparations beforehand, somehow produced a box and placed it on the table with a "hey!"

Next, each of the gods present received a piece of parchment and was allowed to write down a plan for a Game War, which was then collected together. Unsurprisingly, Hestia put the piece of paper with "one-on-one" written on it into the box.

As for the person who drew lots Hermes, one of the chief Olympian gods of Greece, was chosen. He had a deep friendship with both sides and maintained a neutral stance.

Apollo nodded solemnly to Hermes; Hestia, too, gazed intently at the elegant god with her bright eyes.

"I understand..." Hermes accepted the arduous task, stood up, and walked towards the box placed at the corner of the Round Table. The eyes of all the gods present followed his movement.

"Don't blame me, everyone..." Hermes muttered, reaching into the box and rummaging around.

Bathed in the gaze of Hestia and the others, who were involuntarily swallowing, he looked at the parchment he had taken out... and couldn't help but exclaim "Ah!"

His movements froze for a moment, then he let out a hollow laugh as he showed the unfolded parchment to the gods.

Siege warfare.

--Thump!!

Hestia gritted her teeth in hatred and slammed her fist into the Round Table.

"Hahahaha!? This result was decided by a sacred and fair draw, so don't you dare cheat!" Apollo burst into laughter.

Hestia clutched her head in frustration. Hermes had drawn a lot that required a large number of troops for both offense and defense. It must have been Apollo who wrote this lot.

To the gods, seeing Apollo's displeased face or Hestia's displeased face made no difference.

"As expected of Hermes."

"You're really capable!"

The other gods joined in, praising the gods one after another.

Hermes looked up at the sky, both amused and exasperated, while Hestia was so angry that her face turned red and she trembled all over.

Apollo, in a cheerful mood, feigned indifference and said, "It's impossible for one person to defend the city alone. Let Hestia be in charge of the siege."

Therefore, the attackers were decided to be Hestia Familia. Faced with this already terrible situation, Hestia gritted her teeth and her jaw dropped...

Chapter 1046 The Siege Battle