"Ah, the initial construction is almost done, and so is our contract. Please make sure to call us if you have additional work for us."
The builder looked sad at the thought of no longer being employed by the temple. He and his disciples had done an incredible job restoring the temple’s main hall as well as a few more important rooms.
But more importantly, he had helped Aiden spread word of his goddess’s presence, for which Aiden was even more grateful.
Because the builder had spread the news about the spices, more and more people had started making their way to the temple. Along with them came tributes that Aiden could exchange for items from the shop.
He already had a bed, cooking utensils, as well as cleaning supplies. Of course, buying spices in bulk was a must.
The rest he converted into coins he could use, and he also paid the builders a little to show his appreciation.
"Sir, I will make sure to call for you once it’s time to expand the temple’s grounds. Meanwhile, you are all welcome to come and visit the temple at any time."
The builder let out a laugh and, with a final wave, he left.
As soon as he was gone, his goddess came out and stretched her body. Her snake form had grown longer and even more beautiful with her increase in followers and divinity.
"It seems like this is working. I already feel more powerful than I have in centuries. Aiden, soon I will be able to offer you anything you want."
She promised, but Aiden only smiled at her in return.
The only thing he wanted from her was her presence, which made Apophis feel strangely charmed.
...
[Updating Current Objective: Gather 100 Followers.]
[Reward: +0.5% Divinity]
[Additional Reward: Divine Vessel Form.]
[Divine Vessel Form: Normal attacks from ordinary people will no longer be able to harm the Goddess’s outer body. Recovery for both the Goddess and her Apostle will increase by 500%.]
[Current Follower Count: 50]
The system was quick to count everything and inform Aiden of what he needed to know. Moreover, the current objective had been updated as well.
And Aiden was already halfway there, so he was sure that he would reach the 100 mark soon.
But he waited for two days, and there was no increase in the follower count.
That was not alarming, but it did indicate that something had gone wrong.
Then, on the third day, it finally happened.
Aiden had been dreading this moment the whole time.
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower.]
[Current Follower Count: 49]
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower.]
[Current Follower Count: 48]
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower.]
[Current Follower Count: 47]
The notifications continued until the number finally dropped into the twenties.
[Goddess Apophis has lost a follower.]
[Current Follower Count: 29]
Aiden felt worried and immediately decided to check on what was happening.
Losing followers was a natural phenomenon. People often died or changed their faith midway through life. Moreover, faith was something that was difficult to maintain in the first place...
But all of those were just excuses.
Such a massive drop in followers indicated that something much bigger was going on.
So he decided to head toward the village to investigate.
He intended to sneak out on his own, but he got caught before he could even make it out the door.
His goddess slithered over to him, but she looked tired. The sudden loss of followers had drained much of her strength.
"Goddess Apophis, what are you doing out here? Please head back inside and rest. Your body is too weak—"
"If you are heading to the village, then I want to come as well. Don’t you dare think you are leaving me behind."
The snake goddess pulled herself up Aiden’s leg before wrapping herself around his wrist. She was a little bigger than before, but she still weighed almost nothing, making Aiden sigh.
He wanted to leave her behind for her own sake, but his goddess had no intention of staying behind.
Still, he had to try one more time.
"Goddess Apophis—"
"I am not going to listen to you anymore. I am your master here, and what I say goes."
That was...true.
As much as Aiden wanted to tell the goddess what to do, he was the one weak to her charms.
And as such, he was also the one who gave in to her.
That was how Aiden found himself back in the village, with the goddess wrapped tightly and securely around his wrist.
But the atmosphere around the village was anything but welcoming.
The pressure from last time was still there, but this time it was accompanied by the villagers’ hostile glares.
They looked at him as if he had committed an unforgivable crime, making his skin crawl.
’Why are they all looking at me like I killed their child? Just what the heck happened?’
Aiden wanted to ask, but no one dared to approach him.
They simply continued staring, trying to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
Finally, the silence broke.
One of the furious villagers finally decided he had enough. He stormed toward Aiden and grabbed him by the collar.
"How dare you show your face after selling us poison? Do you think you can get away with it? But since you decided to come here on your own, I guess that means you still have a conscience."
The man gripping Aiden’s collar looked furious.
He was also well-built, and he tried to lift Aiden off the ground.
But he couldn’t.
Aiden’s body had suddenly become far heavier because of Apophis’s presence wrapped around his wrist.
He was currently carrying a being who possessed the potential to become a Divine Vessel, and even his own body was being influenced by her divinity.
It was impossible for an ordinary human to lift him.
Seeing this, the anger in the villager’s eyes only flared even more.
Now they were convinced that Aiden had come to harm them.
"Ah, so you’re a magician? Are you some dark magician who came here to sacrifice all of our souls with that ’poison’ of yours? You shall burn here and now to pay for your sins."