Soren narrowed his eyes slightly.
Had Goria been there, she would certainly have realized that Soren was thinking and was already somewhat tempted.
Yet Soren still could not quite trust the otherworld deity before him, not merely because she was an outsider, but because her portfolios included death and magic, both of which conflicted with his interests to some degree.
Soren considered it for a long while.
Then he slowly raised his head and said, "Your proposal is very interesting. But I'm sorry, I have no intention of working with you. Besides, recklessly challenging the Lord of the Dead is not a wise move for a newly ascended deity."
The expression of Vezesha, Goddess of Magic and Death, gradually froze.
She had imagined all manner of demands Soren might make, but had never expected him to refuse outright. Her voice sank as she asked, "Why?"
"Just because I'm an otherworld deity?"
Soren shook his head. "No. It's because I cannot trust you completely, and trust is the foundation of any cooperation in a matter like this. Besides, given the current situation, this is not the time to move against the Lord of the Dead. Even Naram could not kill him after preparing for so long. That alone shows how difficult it would be to replace him completely."
Vezesha, Goddess of Magic and Death, asked in surprise, "You know about all of this?"
Soren smiled without answering that question. "The gods are not entirely ignorant of this! Unlike your world, this world has already experienced one catastrophe. With the fall of the Dead Three as a precedent, the gods have been able to hold back."
Vezesha, Goddess of Magic and Death, fell silent, but she had no intention of giving up. "What exactly must I do to make you trust me?"