Thanks to Aiden’s spices, the villagers began to get better and those who once criticized the goddess slowly started to recover.
And just like that, Aiden met the system’s goal of gathering 100 followers.
[Updating Current Objective: Gather 100 Followers. (Completed)]
[Reward: +0.5% Divinity]
[Additional Reward: Gaining a Divine Vessel form.]
[Divine Vessel form: Normal attacks from ordinary people won’t be able to harm the Goddess’s outer body. Recovery for the Goddess and Apostle will increase by 500%]
[Current Divinity: 0.63%]
The snake goddess stopped moving immediately once she sensed the new power surging through her, which made Aiden feel worried.
"Goddess Apophis, is everything alright?"
Aiden was sure that the system would not hurt her, but he could not be certain. That was why he was so cautious of the goddess’s every move.
But Goddess Apophis looked pleased and her body began to tremble. She tapped Aiden’s wrist where she was resting and quickly spoke.
"Take me inside my room. I can feel that my power has increased. I can likely form a Divine Vessel for myself now."
The goddess sounded pleased and Aiden quickly took her inside before placing her on the bed.
He watched in fascination (as he did every time) as his goddess changed from a snake into a humanoid form. But her form had evolved as well.
Instead of her previous humanoid form that was a mix of a snake and a human, this one was completely human.
She was barely shorter than Aiden in her fully human form and her body still had scales on it. But the scales shone when the light hit them, making the goddess look even more beautiful.
In Aiden’s eyes, she was the most perfect creature he had ever seen. But the goddess did not seem to think the same because she frowned as she looked at the reflection in the mirror Aiden had placed in their room.
"Hmm, this body is not bad. What do you think, Aiden? Do I look like the goddess you imagined now?"
The goddess asked as she turned around. Her hair twirled around her and her bare breasts bounced lightly with the movement, showing off how voluptuous this body was compared to the last one. Her white, almost translucent hair also made her body seem to glow, making Aiden almost miss her question.
"My Goddess, I have never seen a more perfect being than you."
Goddess Apophis was everything he imagined and more. So he did not tell a single lie when he told her this.
His goddess let out a chuckle before her expression hardened. She stepped toward Aiden before pushing him back onto the bed.
Aiden was taken aback, but the goddess gave him no time to gather himself before she leaned over him.
"So you can even lie to yourself now? This is not the form you imagined your goddess to take. It does not even have the features you prefer. Why would you lie to me?"
Goddess Apophis cupped his face in her hands and her voice sounded soft and melodic. But there was a threatening undertone that warned Aiden not to lie to her.
This felt unfair because Aiden had not lied to her even once.
He had grown up in the modern world where he had seen all kinds of people. And as a human, he had naturally grown to like some features more than others.
But why would any of those preferences matter when the woman looming over him was the most perfect being he had ever laid eyes on?
"Goddess Apophis, I have never lied to you. To me, you would be beautiful no matter what form you take. I even like you in your snake form."
Aiden confessed and the goddess’s smile grew brighter.
"This is reassuring to know. However, if I am going to take a human form, then I want it to be one which my first follower prefers. Now, show me how you imagined me looking."
Goddess Apophis placed her forehead against Aiden’s and Aiden felt a gentle sensation probing his mind.
He showed no resistance as he felt his goddess’s power seep into his thoughts.
His eyes closed without him meaning to and when he opened them again, his goddess had changed her appearance. Her hair was pitch black and her eyes were a piercing golden color. Her body shimmered with scales, making her look even more ethereal than before.
Seeing his goddess change her form just for him made Aiden’s heart beat faster. He could feel how close the goddess was to him and he almost did something rude.
Luckily, he held himself back and his goddess pulled away with a delighted expression.
"There will come times in the future when I might need to change my outer appearance. But this one shall become my primary form in your honor. Aiden, how do you feel about it?"
The goddess asked him and Aiden, her humble servant, could only reply with the truth.
"My Goddess, I feel like I have fallen in love with you all over again. I vow to spend my life serving you with my heart and soul."
Aiden was willing to sell his soul to his goddess if it meant that he got to be by her side. And if he was ever separated from her, he would even fight death to get back to her.
This was just how much he loved her.
"I see. What a devoted follower I have found for myself. What else can you offer me? Maybe I will offer you something more in return as well."
Goddess Apophis asked in a teasing voice.
There was nothing Aiden wanted from her, but since she was in a playful mood, he decided to humor her.
"I will give you anything you ask for, My Goddess. You just have to name your price, and it shall be yours."
"Hmm, in that case..."
Goddess Apophis made a thoughtful gesture, but the next second, she staggered and her form started to lose power. Soon, she reverted back to her snake form and let out a sigh.
"It seems I do not have enough power to maintain that form yet. But slowly, with enough followers, we shall be able to keep this form..."
But the bad news came one after another.
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower]
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower]
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower]
And just like that, Goddess Apophis was in danger of dropping below 100 followers once more.
[Updating Current Objective: Search for the abnormality in the decrease in follower count.]
[Reward: Follower Count will no longer decrease because of this incident.]