Chapter 90: The god of gamble.
[Multiple gods have their eyes on you.]
Dorian had a calm look on his face as he focused on the multiple screens popping up in front of him.
Along with that, he could feel multiple points of attention fixed on him from beyond the dome.
’I see. This is not what I expected, but I’ll take it.’
He slowly stood to his feet, his gaze on the transparent walls.
Before he made up his mind to fight the dragon, he had already come to terms with the fact there would be a chance he would die.
That said, he didn’t expect to stay dead, at least not in a literal sense.
Remembering back to when he was in his former world, right when he got sucked into the black portal, he was certain he stood face to face with someone—a god. Back then, he didn’t really get it.
Why would the former Dorian have requested an audience with this god and even given the go-ahead for the transmigration? The former Dorian killed himself, and somehow was able to make another person take his place.
If that was truly the case, then Dorian could just as easily do the same.
If there was anything he had learned from his roommate constantly reading novels to him, it’s that as long as you are reincarnated, the chances of meeting the one who set it in motion are very high.
’Yes. I wish to meet the god who allowed for my reincarnation and offer my own negotiations, with my own terms and conditions.’
[The system approves of your decision.]
[Your death cannot take place before the great return.]
[Your life must be preserved.]
’Figures as much. The question is, which god is willing to grant this dying man a wish?’
Suddenly, a bright purple light shone behind him, its light casting an illusion over Dorian.
[The God of Gamble has appeared before you.]
A small smile appeared on Dorian’s face.
Slowly, he turned around, and there, he could see the god, seated on a huge pile of red cushions, his legs crossed and a fist under his jaw.
This god’s clothes danced as though having a life of their own. Both his arms and neck were arranged with powerful jewels, looking to be more expensive than anything earth could ever make.
He had long red hair, and his lower face was covered with a transparent yellow veil.
Adding to that, the God of Gamble held a tarot card in his hand, a small smirk on his face as he looked at it.
"The Magician, eh... I was right to place you under my radar. Right, Mr. Jacob?"
’So he knows my real name then...’
Dorian began. "I’ll go straight to the point. Are you the god the original Dorian contacted for this soul switch to happen?"
"Now that isn’t such a bad idea. If you were my child, that truly doesn’t sound like a bad idea. However, you’re wrong. Wrongly wrong." The God of Gamble stood up.
"In as much as I meddle in the lives of humans, I would never go as far as to cross paths with the God of Death."
Dorian’s eyes widened a bit. "So you’re saying the God of Death was the one behind my reincarnation?"
There was silence for a while. The God of Gamble looked to the side, beyond the dome, and instantly had a slight frown on his face.
"I am afraid I have been told not to speak about it," he looked back at Dorian.
"In truth, upon your death, many of the gods wished to have this single confrontation: to meet the one who was written neither in the book of existence nor the book of fate. You are an unwritten existence."
"What?"
"A being such as yourself has never been heard of before. Initially, when you first arrived in this world, a god claimed you as their child. It was only because of this that you have that power which you do. What was it called again, a system?"
Dorian kept quiet, making sure the God of Gamble spoke his mind so he could learn as much as possible.
"Once this god claimed you, they refused to inform the others and kept you hidden. Meaning of all the hundreds of gods existing, I know not which must have claimed you.
But what I know for certain is that when you died, they tried to get you back and renew the claim. I was faster, which is why I stand before you here..."
"...Is that so..." Dorian sighed. "I don’t exactly understand what is happening right now. That said, I don’t have the time to think about it either. So I’ll ask, is there any way for me to return to the land of the living?"
The God of Gamble chuckled for a while, then settled back on a red pillow.
"Of course. When a human gets the title of ’child of a god,’ they are cleansed and sent back to the world anew," he then stretched his hand forward.
"If you were to become my child, I can send you back to the living, along with a new blessing to help your journey."
’That is all? No, that can’t be. There has to be some catch to this.’
"What do I give in exchange?" Dorian asked with a frown. "Don’t you think I need to know this as well?"
The God of Gamble grinned. "You were so confident the gods would appear to you after death, and even more confident that you would be revived, and yet you are worried about the price to pay?"
"Yes?" Dorian raised a brow, one hand on his waist. "Surely you know how a negotiation works."
"Hahahaha!" The God of Gamble fell to the side laughing. "Amazing! You wish to negotiate with a god! I’ve never heard that before. Ahh, alright then, sure, I’ll bite. You don’t need to pay anything in exchange. All I ask is for you to entertain me. That is all."
"Entertain you?" Dorian grinned, a smug look on his face. "If that is all you want in exchange, then expect it in a full package."
"Good. Why don’t you come forward so I can insert my insignia into you. Upon doing so, you will be my child, and mine alone."
Thinking back, Dorian was sure the former god who placed him into this body didn’t do anything like this. In fact, Dorian doesn’t remember ever accepting to be that god’s child.
’I don’t have time to think about this.’
Just as he took a step forward to take the insignia, he felt a hand suddenly grow from the ground and grab him.
"What the—"
The God of Gamble’s eyes quickly widened in rage.
"What? How is another god able to enter my space?"
The nails of the hand clung to Dorian’s trousers as the individual slowly rose from the ground, like a ghost walking through a wall.
As their head became visible, all Dorian could see was a female figure, her head covered with a dark veil, while her body was oozing with darkness.
Then she uttered.
"I found you."
Dorian felt a chill run through his spine; it was just like last time. He couldn’t speak, and he couldn’t move either.
"I finally found you."
...
[A/N]
Sorry about the lore dump, I promise it will make sense soon, well, some of you must already be figuring that out ig. We are almost nearing the end of vol one.