Volume Four: Dying in the Human World - Chapter 323: The Gamble (Part One)

What makes people believe in the existence of God?

Religious scriptures? Church?

Miracle? Celestial phenomenon?

I'm afraid no one can explain it clearly.

But if one were to witness this young girl praying in the chapel, even the most staunch atheist would waver.

In the quiet, deserted chapel, the setting sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting a colorful glow on the polished floor and rows of pews.

The distant, drawn-out sound of bells could be heard.

Flocks of White Dove flew over the top of the church, carving out a patch of pure white against the crimson sky.

Time flows slowly through the gaps in light and shadow.

In this hazy, colorful world, a young girl in a white robe kneels on the ground, silently performing a Prayer ritual.

Her long, golden hair shone even brighter in the afterglow of the setting sun, and her flawless face appeared even more ethereal because of her focused expression. Everything about her was so pure that it seemed as if looking at her for even a moment longer would be a desecration of the scene.

The Brother Simon, the Guardian Knight of the Prayer, stood ramrod straight outside the chapel. According to custom, even the Guardian Knight were not allowed to enter the chapel during the Prayer Goddess, as the ceremony was far too important.

Of the three Goddess, the one Prayer seems to hold the highest status, and there's a reason for that.

Prayer Goddess, who is God's spokesperson and mouthpiece.

She is the only person in the entire Divine Law Cult who can communicate directly with the Supreme God; the Heavenly Law and the Sacred Spirits cannot, nor can the Pope or the Cardinals and Cardinal Archbishop. All the Supreme God's oracles are communicated to the world through Prayer, and their importance is self-evident.

Today, Prayer and devoutly offer our hearts to the Most High God, and listen to His teachings.

It was a very strange feeling, as if a person had returned to the fetal stage, floating in the mother's womb, drifting in endless darkness. But if one sensed it carefully, one would feel a sense of harmony with something, as if a certain wavelength had suddenly clicked, giving her a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

Whenever this feeling arises, Prayer is filled with both joy and fear. As the most devout believer of the Supreme God, hearing the voice of the divine is of course the greatest happiness; however, oracles are not always gentle. In fact, according to past records, Prayer throughout history have received far more oracles concerning "punishment and retribution" than those concerning "protection and hope".

The position of the Prayer Goddess Prayer far from the carefree life others might imagine. She has received several rather cruel oracles in the past, sometimes demanding that the Holy Knights exterminate Heretics on the continent's outskirts, sometimes suddenly raising taxes, and sometimes slaughtering distant plague-infected villages. Whenever this Prayer, she feels immense sorrow, overwhelmed by guilt at the thought that the deaths of innocent lives might be due to her words.

However, conveying God's word to the world was her most basic duty. No matter what divine oracle she heard, she had to report it truthfully to the higher echelons of the Papacy. No matter how cruel the oracle was, the Pope would carry it out diligently and gently pat her head to comfort her, telling her that the Supreme God's foresight was beyond what ordinary people could imagine, and that these seemingly cruel commands would ultimately lead everyone to a bright future. Only then would Prayer feel a little more at ease.

But that's all in the past.

No new oracles have arrived in recent months, which is not surprising. Although Prayer daily, oracles generally only come every three or four months, and there have been instances of two or three years without a new one. Most of the time, prayers are fruitless. Sometimes, even when the "wavelength" is right, what is heard is not an oracle, but simply a dialogue. It is encouragement or admonition from the Supreme God, addressed only to Prayer, such as, "You have worked hard all this time, my most loyal child," or "As my representative, you will inevitably experience trials that others cannot comprehend; this is a test of your will." It is a deep baritone voice, like a father who is strict yet gentle. Whenever Prayer hears the Supreme God's words to him, he is so moved that he almost bursts into tears.

These past few months have also seen these father-daughter-like conversations occur frequently, even though the Supreme God has not given any new divine pronouncements.

To her delight, the Supreme God seemed to have become a little gentler recently.

The Supreme God of the past, though his stern words concealed gentleness, still maintained a distant and aloof air. Now, however, his tone had become a little more approachable. While others might have struggled to discern this subtle difference, Prayer heard it clearly. Their conversations had also become richer, more like those between father and daughter.

Today, our Prayer have also resonated with the right wavelength.

"As always, my most loyal child."

It is the voice of the Supreme God!

Despite having heard it many times, Prayer still couldn't contain her excitement. After calming herself down a bit, Prayer continued the conversation.

"Greetings, my most merciful Heavenly Father, Most High God, your most faithful child is also praying to you today."

"Very good, very good..."

The Supreme God's tone seemed more approachable today. Did this mean that my relationship with him was becoming closer? The thought filled me with both trepidation and joy as I Prayer. However, judging from the Supreme God's words, it seemed there was no divine decree this time, just a simple conversation.

"But... today, my dear child, your mind is not as pure as it usually is..."

Prayer was slightly startled.

"How... how could this be? My faith in the Supreme God has never wavered!... Ah, I'm sorry! My apologies!"

"It's alright... don't be afraid, my dear child. I have never doubted your Prayer, but your usually pure and beautiful heart is now slightly dusty, a minor blemish on its flawless surface. Is there anything troubling you?"

"Trouble..."

"You are not me, I am God, and you are a human being. Humans have seven emotions and six desires, and even the strongest faith cannot be completely erased. Speak boldly, my child, let me, whom you revere, hear you."

"Then, so..."

To be honest, this is just Prayer minor troubles in daily life, and it's a bit much to tell the Supreme God... but since I was asked to, I can't refuse.

"Actually... I have some feelings about someone that I don't quite understand, and I can't describe them..."

"I understand. Please continue, my beloved daughter. It will make you feel better if you talk about it."

"I am your representative, the Prayer Goddess, and should maintain purity of body and mind, but... that person is someone else's Guardian Knight, she is my best sister, and whenever I see them being intimate, I have a... indescribable, tainted feeling..."

Prayer heart was pounding; it was the first time she had ever confided her feelings to someone, not even a god.

"As I thought, my beloved daughter. I've always said that everyone has emotions and desires, and you are a young woman in the prime of your life, so it's only natural that you would have such feelings."

"Oh..."

"But you are, after all, my voice, my representative, and the bottom line of maintaining purity of body and mind cannot be violated. Since that 'other' is your best sister, why don't you bless her happiness? Recite my teachings, my beloved daughter, 'When others laugh because of happiness'--"

"--'We should offer our blessings and share in their joy'... So that's it, Your Majesty! I understand!"

"Good that you understand, good child..."

Prayer suddenly felt the dark clouds in her heart disappear. Yes! Since Spirit Sacrifice-chan is her good friend, and Mr. Yu Jie is both Ji Ling's Guardian Knight and someone she... has developed strange feelings for, why shouldn't she sincerely wish them happiness? Having those pointless, tainted feelings is just too awful!

At this moment, the warm darkness around us is fading, the wavelength connections are beginning to break, Prayer that this is a sign of the end.

"Then, Your most faithful believer takes his leave. Goodbye, my merciful Heavenly Father."

"Well, goodbye, my beloved daughter. Go and watch over the happiness of others..."

The darkness grew fainter, as if something was sweeping him backward, just as his mind was about to return to reality—

"... As long as you think it's really a good thing."

"... Huh?"

--A single, understated word from the deity pierced the thin darkness and reached her ears.

"Supreme God, what... did you just say?"

"Grown ups?"

"Sovereign God!?"

I don't understand what you mean--

The darkness finally dissipated completely, and the spirit of Prayer returned to reality. Opening my eyes, I saw the clean floor of the chapel, still kneeling, while outside, night had unknowingly fallen.

"Is it over, Lord Prayer?"

"Thanks for your hard work."

The Brother Simon immediately came over and helped Prayer up; Prayer was still a little dazed.

"As long as you think it's really good" -- what does that mean?

Why did the Supreme God suddenly say this at the end?

"Dice and dice cups are truly traditional games, which can be both vulgar and refined, and the rules are simple, making them suitable for all ages."

The man picked up the three dice cups they pointed to and fiddled with them in his hands.

"Wait! Don't touch it!"

Xiao Wu immediately spoke up to stop him, but the man shrugged and put the dice cup back on the table.

"Didn't I already say? In my realm of supernatural abilities, all cheating is forbidden, and violators will suffer all the penalties of the bet. In this game, it means that every time you lose, you lose an organ, in order from the distal end to the proximal end. But if you break the rules, you will be punished by losing all your organs at once, which means certain death. I don't joke around with my life."

With a wave of his hand, the man swept the mess on the gambling table onto the floor, leaving only the three dice cups and a pile of dice.

"So, which game do you want to play?"

"How to play..."

Xiao Wu doesn't understand any of them.

"Looks like you really are a complete novice... Here, take a look at these, I've listed a small portion."

The man handed over a piece of paper, Xiao Wu took and glanced at.

"Seven, eight, nine, blackjack, bullfighting, double dice, deceptive dice, three palaces, plucking feathers, fifty and one hundred... What on earth is all this?"

"Since you haven't played any of them, it doesn't really matter which one you choose, right?"

"Tsk... how about this one, 'Three Dukes'?"

"Three Kings? Ha, they really chose the simplest game right from the start, then..."

The man placed three dice cups in front of himself, Xiao Wu, and Sin Annihilation respectively, then counted out nine dice and gave three to each of them.

Sin Annihilation picked up the dice and dice cup, looking at them curiously from left to right.

"As you can see, this is enough for three people. The rules are very simple: each person has three dice, each person rolls their dice, and the sum of the three dice is the one with the higher last digit. How about that? Isn't it easy to understand?"

"It is indeed simple enough..."

The simpler the game, the less likely it is to be cheated, and Xiao Wu thinks it's true that the man said, "He himself can't cheat."

"I understand, then... let's begin."

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Good children shouldn't gamble!