God Of Velmoryn [ LitRPG, Progression, High Fantasy ]

Visit my kingdom?

It was speaking directly to me. That alone was beyond my expectations, but what unsettled me even more was its manner of speech - theatrical, like how I once imagined nobles of the Renaissance period would talk. Was the creature from my world as well? Theatrics was not unique to humans, of course, but I still couldn't shake off that feeling…

Should I draw this being into my realm? Would it even be safe?

I knew Pintres's divine power had been restricted within my dominion, and so far I'd had little reason to fear letting deities visit me there. But this one had sought me out deliberately; this was no chance encounter. And that was making me doubt everything.

What if there are ways to wield divine power within another god's dominion? No… I can't take that risk.

Yet silence felt equally dangerous. The creature hadn't shown hostility, but what if ignoring it made me its enemy?

In the end, I chose to try Guidance first and then decide what to do.

[Warning: Guidance consumed 1 Divinity Points!]

Once again, the information granted by the System was precisely what I needed to set my mind at ease and allow the creature into my dominion. The cost of Guidance had been surprisingly low as well, even though it concerned another god.

That only reinforced my suspicion. Either Guidance drew its answers from what I already held in mind, tailoring them to increase its usefulness, or it fed me what it wanted, steering me further along the path the System had already chosen for me.

Speculating about conspiracy theories won't help me right now. Better to focus on what's before me.

Not bringing the creature in made no sense anymore. Ruining a possible relationship with another god when I was certain there was no danger would be stupid. But before that, I swept my gaze across the dominion, confirming that everything was in order. Karla was well hidden, tucked away from sight and shrouded by heavy mist - no small concern, considering I was about to admit a full-fledged god's avatar. Pintres's perception had been limited here, but there was no guarantee this one's would be the same.

Divine Kingdom!

Before I could fully stir my power, the creature's white radiance surged outward, flaring so bright its form vanished entirely. Then, in an instant, it stood within my realm, bowing low.

"I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for Your Lordship's permission to enter," it said.

Half-shocked, I made the figure on my throne nod its head in slow acknowledgment.

Now that the being was under my dominion's influence, I saw more clearly through its guise. What had appeared as a smoky silhouette, just like my own true form, gave way to its reality. Its face was lizardlike but not stretched or grotesque, its scales smooth and restrained across its lean body. If I had to describe it in a single word, it would be refined. For all its reptilian features, there was a strange grace about it.

"Your Excellency, allow me to first introduce myself." The creature remained bowed, its voice flowing without pause. "I was given the name V, though Your Lordship may call me otherwise, and I shall remember it. I am one of many avatars of the God of Merchants, and I come to offer You our full service. Information, artifacts, even souls - whatever You desire, as long as the price is met, we will procure it.

"Now, I confess, I do not know Your name or title. May this humble one be told how to address the God before him? By doing so, our trade relationship shall be established."

He spoke quickly, words polished smooth from endless use. His habit of flattering the god before him while humbling himself was clearly designed to stroke a deity's ego. But for me, it had the opposite effect - it only sharpened my wariness.

Perhaps it was instinct, or perhaps it was the way V spoke, but I found it difficult to believe he had come here without knowing who I was or that he had no hidden agenda.

"If you are truly unaware of my identity, then why have you come?" As my manifestation on the throne clasped hands together, my voice echoed through the dominion. I chose to address him casually, without using honorifics. If V had been a true god, I wouldn't have dared, but he was only an avatar. I thought that no deity would be using honorifics unless they were facing a true god.

"I apologize for not clarifying my rudeness!" V practically shouted, though I could sense there was no fear in his voice. It was an act, nothing more. "Your Lordship, as the God of Merchants, we are not allowed to heed mortals' speech; however, my liege is always notified whenever a new powerful god emerges…"

Nice try. I'm no powerful god.

I thought I had caught him in a lie, but his next words stilled me.

"…Or whenever a god has moved against another deity. Now, Your Grace, I must mention that regardless of the price You may offer, we may not take sides in any future strife You might have with…"

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V suddenly stopped, snapping his right hand over his mouth. His head lifted slightly, his expression betraying both guises at once. The Velmoryn mask and the scaled face beneath shared the same look: eyes wide, nostrils flared, jaw parted in shock.

"I… I was not supposed to reveal that information…"

"I don't mind," I replied, masking my curiosity with the ease of a noble host who had just been handed a complimentary gift. "You were speaking of that other god."

"Your Grace, I apologize, but that information is not free. We are more than willing to sell it, but first, Your Lordship must directly allow us the means to address Him and officially establish a trade pact."

I hesitated. Outwardly, I acted as though I had bought his performance - this supposed slip of information dangled to bait me into a purchase - but even if it was an act, I did want to know the name of that god. As a newly risen deity, though, I wasn't certain I could afford the price. Still, even if I couldn't buy anything from V, perhaps I could at least sell what he clearly desired.

"Information for information, then," I said at last. "I'm certain you intend to sell news of me, including my title, to other deities in the future - perhaps even to the very one whose name you're now offering. In that case, I shall sell you the name by which you may address me."

The mask of shock V had diligently maintained melted away. His lips curled - not the lips of his Velmoryn guise, but the scaled face beneath. There was no chance a dealer of divine secrets didn't know that I could see through his disguise. No, this was deliberate, a gesture of approval at my attempt to bargain like a merchant with only one piece of stock in hand.

"Your Grace," he said, his tone still rich and theatrical, though his posture had straightened and his expression gone blank, "while we respect Your reluctance to part with even the slightest chance at profit, I must point out that putting a price on the name by which we, or others, may address You is… difficult. To assign value to something we may never sell…" He paused, as if expecting me to acknowledge the absurdity of my own offer.

I was not impressed.

"Or," my manifestation leaned forward slightly on the throne, feigning interest, "...perhaps you will find that the identity of the god you speak with, minor information as it may seem, could yet prove to be a jewel in disguise. But I take your meaning. It would be unfair of me to demand payment for something you may never profit from."

"Thank You for Your understanding, O Grace of mine," V replied, bowing deeply. His tone remained practiced and there was still no trace of emotion despite sounding to me like he was celebrating a victory with that last remark.

"And that is why," I continued, "I have a better proposal. I will give you the information you seek, and in return, you will grant me two-thirds of whatever you earn by selling it."

I had never been happier with myself than in that moment, especially when I saw the faint twitch of V's brow beneath the guise. Perhaps because this was the first time since becoming God of Velmoryn that I was truly having a conversation, but nevertheless, I found myself enjoying every bit of it.

"Your Lordship, such an agreement is unheard of…" V muttered, his tone carrying genuine confusion this time. Still, I forced myself not to trust either his expression or his voice.

"There is always a first time." My manifestation leaned back on the throne, hands clasped, as if the matter had already been settled and there was nothing more to discuss.

I saw V open his mouth several times only to close it again. His eyes remained shut from the moment I made the proposal, making me think he was communicating with the God of Merchants beyond my dominion. If he actually could do that, then who knew perhaps he could use his divine power too.

At last, he spoke.

"We have decided to accept Your proposal. We are intrigued to test such an arrangement. But there are conditions. First, the nature of our deal must never be revealed in any form - to mortals, to deities, to spectrals, or to living or unliving."

He paused, waiting for my answer. I made my manifestation nod its head in acknowledgment.

"And second," V continued, "the two-thirds share is… unfair. We are the ones doing the work. Without our services, the information would remain only information, useless and unprofitable to Your Grace. We offer one-third."

He really agreed?

The moment I voiced the proposal, I wondered if I had crossed a line. Despite my enjoyment of the haggling, the thought that I was bartering with a god, likely stronger than myself, never left my mind.

But now… perhaps I had been mistaken and needed to reconsider my idea of how gods behaved in this world. Perhaps deities were not as unyielding as I believed. Perhaps I could afford to be bolder.

"It is true I could not sell the information alone," I admitted evenly. "But it is also true that without me, you would earn nothing. And beyond profit, you gain something else - you establish a trade pact with me, which you desire."

There was a reason I laid my terms so openly. In any game of negotiation, when someone revealed their cards without restraint, it meant only one thing - they were done playing.

I made God of Velmoryn tap on the throne with his index finger, making the atmosphere more tense.

"I will agree to secrecy. I will even lower my share to three-fifths. But in exchange, I want the names of those who purchase this information in the future."

V froze. For a moment, I thought he might refuse outright and leave. The suppressed snort on the lizard's face beneath the Velmoryn guise didn't escape me. Yet he hesitated.

And even if he had left, I wasn't sure it would have cost me much. Besides, by coming here the very moment the System warned me my presence had been revealed to some unknown deities, I was fairly certain that securing a trade pact with me held its own importance for the God of Merchants.

"That last part is non-negotiable. We are not permitted to reveal the names of certain Gods. Doing so would by default violate our agreement, should they be among those to purchase Yours. We will, however, agree to half of the profit," V said at last, his tone less theatrical than before. I had managed to dampen his enthusiasm, or perhaps that too was an act.

Well, this deal is already good. That last offer was overshooting anyway.

I was about to give my consent when a scroll suddenly manifested in his hand, and I instinctively understood every word upon it - he had learned my title, and the pact was established. Still, I was impressed that he had received my agreement the very instant I resolved myself.

"Splendid!" he rejoiced, bowing with renewed vigor. "We are overjoyed to be in the presence of the mighty God of Velmoryn! Should Your Excellency wish to trade with us, You need only will it, and we shall appear. However, we may not return for the next two months, as Your domain lies within a region where even our presence is restricted."

He straightened, his figure already beginning to fade, turning translucent at the edges.

"Your Grace, we are being forcefully banished for the time being, for it would be discourteous to consume our host's energy in order to remain." He paused deliberately, clearly hoping I might volunteer to pay the cost.

I did not.

After a brief silence, he carried on as if nothing had happened. "I bid farewell, God of Velmoryn. May fortune ever favor Your Lordship."

Just as he vanished, a small scroll remained behind, suspended in the air.

I froze as I noticed the faint white divine energy still clinging to it, fading slowly.

So he could use divine power after all.