Mystery: My Encounters with the Celestial God

Chapter 177 Why don't you call your god to save you? (3k)

"Butler, then, is it still possible for us to return to the Southern Continent?"

Just then, a timid female voice came from among several carefully selected maids from the Southern Continent, causing the butler, who was giving instructions, to frown slightly.

However, as a respectable gentleman, he naturally wouldn't get angry over such a trivial matter, even though he worshipped the Lord of Storms.

"Hilde, watch the occasion!"

"You people who come from backward places aren't used to the rules of this civilized country yet, but that doesn't matter. As long as you're 'docile' and 'obedient' enough, you'll adapt here quickly!"

"By 'obedience,' I mean not to interrupt when I'm speaking!"

The stern butler did not answer Hilde's question directly. Instead, he used a dismissive attitude to lecture these slaves, no, servants, who came from the southern continent.

Seeing Hilde timidly shrink back, the manor's butler nodded in satisfaction and began the next stage of "taming".

"From this day forward, you must change your beliefs. Whether you worship 'Death,' 'Eternal Sun,' or 'God of War,' now that you've come here, you must follow the ways of this civilized nation."

"However, the Kingdom of Rune is a civilized and conservative country, and even so, you still have three faiths to choose from!"

"This is democracy and justice; these are the excellent qualities that a civilized nation should possess!"

The butler spoke in a serious tone, as if only in this way could he show that he was different from these people.

"You may choose one of the following three faiths: 'Lord of Storms,' 'Goddess of Night,' or 'God of Steam and Machinery.'"

"Of course, I suggest you choose the former, since Duke Mahat also worships the Lord of Storms. If you choose the other two, you will be sent to other manors to do labor."

After the butler finished speaking, he gestured to his assistant to go and register the servants, recording their original beliefs and choices.

"I choose the Lord of Storms!"

Among the crowd, some intelligent people made their choices.

"I choose the Goddess of the Night; I have been a believer in Her throughout the Southern Continent!"

Among the crowd, some fortunate individuals made their choice.

"Alas... I... I choose the 'God of Steam and Machinery'..."

Among the crowd, some who were unwilling to accept their fate made a helpless choice.

The steward and his assistant meticulously recorded the religious information of each of these "servants" in their notebooks, in order to report back to the three major churches.

The three major churches have been working to expand their faith base in the Southern Continent, and although they have already achieved remarkable results, who can refuse the joining of some legitimate servants?

As for why they changed their faith, that's not important; what's important is that they did it voluntarily!

"I don't worship 'Death,' 'Eternal Sun,' or 'God of War.' Can I choose not to change my faith?"

From within the crowd, a timid voice rang out again, having made a firm choice.

"Hilde, it seems you didn't understand what I told you before!"

"In the Kingdom of Rune, the three major churches are all legitimate and civilized faiths, which cannot be replaced by the unrecognized primitive priesthoods of the Southern Continent."

"If you don't break away from them, it means you are still ignorant and barbaric, and unable to integrate into this civilized country."

When the butler saw this carefully selected "servant" jump out again, his face immediately darkened, and he gave him a lecture in the manner of a civilized person.

"Butler, yes, it is Him, not It."

Hilde took a small step back, but remained steadfast in her beliefs.

"Oh, Him?"

"Then tell me, which being do you worship, and what is 'His' name?"

The butler almost burst out laughing when he saw the ignorant "servant," feeling that the other party was so stupid and dull that he didn't understand his current situation at all.

The servants around them, strangers to each other, also subtly shifted their feet, as if Hilde's tactlessness would implicate them.

"He is the ruler of time and space, the ultimate point where all things return to oneness, and the all-knowing and all-seeing infinite wisdom!"

This time, her soft voice was not timid; it spoke of the courage and hope that her arduous journey had given her.

The entire venue was silent for a few seconds, then someone in the crowd burst into laughter.

"Pfft."

"Ha ha ha ha."

The laughter spread like a plague, from one to two, from two to four, from four to eight, until even the stern butler and his assistant couldn't help but smirk.

Hilde's face turned bright red. She kept picking at her fingers, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, but because of her timid nature, she ultimately couldn't utter a word.

Upon seeing this, some clever people immediately amplified their laughter, accompanied by whispered conversations that could be heard in the background.

"I've lived in the Southern Continent for so many years, and I've never even heard of this god."

"This name sounds like a complete fabrication; is it just a bunch of names from several gods pieced together to create a new god?"

"How can a god I've never heard of be compared to the true gods of civilized nations?"

The faint sounds of laughter reached Hilde's ears. She clenched her fists, lowered her head, and felt that these people, who came from the same place as her, had become incredibly unfamiliar.

"Alright, Hilde, you heard it too. This god isn't famous; at least I haven't heard of him in the Kingdom of Rune. It's probably some indigenous belief from your homeland. You don't need to cling to it. A smart person makes a smart choice!"

The butler's smile faded, and he resumed his serious demeanor, lecturing the disobedient "servant" opposite him.

"Plai, what has happened to make these servants laugh like that? It's not in keeping with the dignity of this manor."

Just then, a slightly authoritative and deep voice came, making the butler's expression even more serious.

He immediately turned around and bowed respectfully to the newcomer.

"Duke Mahat, I am explaining the rules of this manor to these new servants and letting them choose their own faith, but one of them is not so 'obedient'."

Upon hearing the butler's description, Duke Mahat couldn't help but smile, seemingly surprised that someone could be so foolish.

As a demigod of the royal family, he was very familiar with this "time-space ruler" who suddenly appeared two months ago. It was the new faith of the Rose School that replaced the "Mother Tree of Desire".

Two months ago, he would have been somewhat wary of this figure who was only a name, but as the situation in the Southern Continent changed, the Rose School did not use this new god to break free from the suppression of the major churches and the military forces of various countries.

Even their gods don't respond at all!

"Play, there will always be so many fools. You removed her name from the list given to the church. Disobedient 'servants' deserve to be dealt with by extraordinary means."

"Oh, and call all the newcomers over too. Let them see what happens in Rune if they don't follow the rules!"

"Yes, Your Grace."

A convincing and authoritative voice came, causing the butler to unconsciously bend his back and respond in a low voice.

"The loyal followers of the Time-Space Ruler, I wonder what the difference would be between them and the followers of evil gods and demons when they are 'judged'?"

Inside the dimly lit warehouse, filled with the stench of blood, the timid Hilde was bound hand and foot with iron chains by members of the Duke's guard.

She struggled desperately, until her hands and feet were covered in purplish-blue marks from the restraints. She raised her head, wanting to ask her companions from the Southern Continent for help, but her pleas were met with indifference and ridicule.

"Let me go."

She mustered her courage and shouted it out loud.

But then, with a sharp "smack," she was slapped across the face by a member of the Duke's Guard. The slap caused a trickle of blood to flow from the corner of her mouth, and her cheek swelled up, showing a swollen, bluish-purple color.

The clanging of chains echoed inside the warehouse, which was used specifically for "judging" the wicked. The cowardly Hilde was bound to a large wooden pillar.

She was tightly bound by chains, and her mouth was sealed shut, like an evil person in a courtroom, unable to resist or defend herself.

Hilde's tears streamed down her face, and her body trembled with fear. She couldn't understand why things had turned out this way. How could such a civilized and advanced kingdom have such a "barbaric" place?

"First, you are guilty of sinning because of your devout belief in an evil god, and sinners should be punished!"

Duke Mahat, whip in hand, looked at the helpless evil before him and solemnly pronounced his judgment.

As soon as he finished speaking those authoritative words, he raised the leather whip in his hand and lashed it fiercely at the helpless followers of the evil god.

With a "splat," blood splattered, revealing white bones. Hilde's eyes widened as she struggled with all her might, but she couldn't move an inch or utter a heart-wrenching scream.

"Secondly, you are guilty because of your lowly birth, and the guilty should be punished!"

With another sharp crack, this punishment, carrying the connotation of "judgment," cruelly tore off a piece of flesh from Hilde's body, causing her to struggle less, her breathing to slow, her pupils to dilate, and her head to droop involuntarily.

"third."

At this point, Mahat paused, seemingly unable to find a suitable reason to convict him. However, after thinking for a few seconds, he slightly curled the corners of his mouth and said with a cold smile:

"Third, why don't you call on your God to save you?"

With a sharp crack, the whip, which had been raised high, came crashing down and lashed out at Hilde, who was nearly unconscious. This time, the whip was aimed at her head.

But at that moment, Duke Mahat suddenly stopped moving, and the whip in his hand froze in mid-air.

An invisible gaze fell upon him, high above, from all directions, watching his every move in his past and future, making this demigod dare not make the slightest move.

Suddenly, a majestic, cold, and authoritative voice, capable of shaking the entire world, rang out.

"First, you are guilty of impersonating me, and you shall be condemned to eternal damnation."

"Secondly, you are guilty of defaming my believers, and your soul will not find peace and will suffer endless punishment forever."

"Third, I will give you three minutes to pray to the gods you believe in. If they do not respond, you will all die. If they do respond, they will die along with you."

(End of this chapter)