The Archmetamagician: The Weave Collapses Again

”An opportunity?” Anser neither agreed nor disagreed.

This so-called opportunity depended entirely on the whims of the Overgod. Hard work wouldn’t necessarily get you anywhere.

During the Time of Troubles, the Overgod Ao had directly elevated Midnight, Cyric, and Kelemvor into new gods as a reward for their role in recovering the Tablets of Fate. They had essentially ascended to godhood in a single step.

Seen that way, perhaps the gods were merely administrators responsible for maintaining the rules of the multiverse, while the Overgod was the big boss.

The limit for ordinary mortals was probably demigodhood. Without a divine rank or portfolio, they couldn’t absorb faith.

Anser’s first-stage goal was to reach Legendary status. His second was to raise his draconic bloodline beyond the greatwyrm stage—the ultimate path toward perfection and eternity pursued exclusively by true dragons.

By then, he would possess an immortal essence and truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the gods.

And after creating the Spirit Net, his ambitions had begun to grow, giving rise to even more ideas.

Of course, all of that was still far in the future. Right now, he wasn’t even sure he could beat a Legendary Professional.

”You don’t agree? You, of all people, should understand this better than anyone!” Valera said meaningfully.

”I think you may have misunderstood.” Anser had no idea how much She knew, but everything he’d achieved had come from his own efforts. There was no way he was going to admit otherwise.

Throughout Toril’s history, countless legendary figures had emerged during times of chaos. The little commotion he’d stirred up wasn’t even worth mentioning by comparison.

”Hehe.” Valera smiled. ”Mr. Chosen Slayer, I think we can work together.”

”How?” Anser was secretly astonished. What could possibly make a deity lower Herself enough to cooperate with an ordinary Professional?

”Valera will discuss the details of our cooperation with you.” As She spoke, She rose and moved closer, pressing Herself against Anser. Her body felt soft and supple, while scorching breath brushed his neck. ”For now, I can give you part of your reward in advance.”

”Absolutely not!”

Startled, Anser immediately retreated several steps.

”You’re no fun.”

Before the words had even finished leaving her mouth, Valera’s body went limp. She staggered several steps before collapsing to the floor.

She gently rubbed her temples, shot Anser a resentful glare, then climbed back to her feet and slumped into the chair.

”She’s gone?” Anser hadn’t expected the other party to suddenly ”disconnect.” Apparently, divine descent took quite a toll.

Valera reclined with her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Her prominently curved chest rose and fell visibly with her breathing, trembling slightly.

Anser shrugged. Even if he had the choice all over again, he still wouldn’t want to sleep with Eilistraee.

The risk was too high. Who knew what might happen?

Gods weren’t mortals. They were seriously messed-up creatures. Ethics, shame, and gender meant nothing to Them.

Behind Their radiant and exalted facades lurked plenty of sordid things unknown to the world. Even the Neutral Good goddess of magic was no spotless saint.

When a deity inexplicably decided She wanted to mate with a mortal, it might simply be a passing whim—or there might be some deeper purpose behind it.

The room fell silent, with only the clear sound of Valera’s breathing remaining.

Anser stared at her for a moment before the dice displayed her information:

[Eilistraee’s Chosen—Valera, Drow Elf, Level 12 Cleric (Light Domain), Level 5 Wizard (Bladesinger)]

The mark of divine infusion had disappeared. Valera’s level had fallen to 17, though she was still stronger than before.

The only question was whether she’d improved on her own, or whether this was some special effect left behind by the divine infusion.

”Why did She... suddenly descend?” Anser asked tentatively.

Valera still ignored him.

”If you’re not going to talk, I’m leaving.” Anser wasn’t about to indulge her.

Valera abruptly sat upright and snapped irritably, ”We ran into one of Lolth’s Chosen during the operation. I almost died.”

”Oh~” Anser understood.

Eilistraee actually valued Valera highly enough to descend personally and save her. That was even greater favor than Priest Evan had received.

”Did Lolth’s Chosen die?”

”What do you think?”

”Then that really is a shame. What did She mean by cooperation just now?”

”Establishing a realm on the surface!” Valera’s expression turned serious. ”We aren’t very accustomed to life on the surface, but we don’t want to spend our lives constantly hiding from place to place either.”

”I heard that an entrance to the Underdark has appeared in Moonscar Basin, in the central Wood of Sharp Teeth. We want to build an underground city on the ruins of Viheral and gather all peace-loving races there.”

”You help me build the city, and we’ll join the Holrewen Federation and help you guard the entrance to the Underdark...”

Eilistraee had once been a lesser deity. After coming into conflict with Her mother, the Spider Queen Lolth, She had been killed by Her and wasn’t resurrected until more than a century later. She should still be in a weakened state, and might now be inferior even to certain powerful demigods.

Perhaps that was also why She valued Valera so highly.

The majority of Eilistraee’s followers were good-aligned drow elves, but many other peace-loving beings also worshiped Her or agreed with Her ideals, including half-elves, surface elves, halflings, and humans.

Most settlements of these followers consisted of hidden communities and small temples, scattered and lacking any real scale.

Valera’s plan was to model a large city after the drow city of Menzoberranzan, build a temple to Eilistraee there, and gather Her followers together.

The ruins of Viheral in the Wood of Sharp Teeth were undoubtedly the best choice. The location was far from the population centers of both drow elves and humans, avoiding direct conflict with either.

If they built a two-tiered city, races accustomed to darkness, such as drow elves, could live underground, while half-elves, humans, and other races lived on the surface. Neither side would have to accommodate the other’s living habits.

They were willing to join the Holrewen Federation. In addition to gaining military protection, they could help control the entrance to the Underdark and provide various commercial services to human adventurers.

”It sounds pretty good, but I seem to be contributing quite a lot.” Anser pulled over a chair and sat down, looking calmly at Valera.

Building a city presented two major difficulties. The first was money and an enormous quantity of supplies. The second was military protection.

Valera had neither.

They couldn’t exactly have two Peak Professionals become adventurers and run around taking jobs, could they? Even if they wanted to, other people might not dare hire them.

Anser’s Commercial Alliance was already up and running and would soon be earning an unimaginable amount of wealth. For him, building a city in the remote Wood of Sharp Teeth wouldn’t be difficult. He simply had to be willing to pour money into it.

But the Spider Queen Lolth was no easy opponent. Sheltering Eilistraee’s followers could lead to war.

His original goal had been to have Eilistraee keep Lolth occupied. This, however, would amount to an actual alliance. The implications were completely different.

”We don’t have any other bargaining chips. All we can do is place ourselves at your disposal,” Valera said helplessly.

Originally, Eilistraee had been willing to help her pay the price: a blessing from a deity. But Anser had refused it.

Anser weighed the matter for quite some time. Were one Peak Professional and one Chosen protected by a deity worth the cost of a city?

Yes!

He had plenty of money. Besides, building a city wasn’t a one-time investment. With so few drow elves involved, he could easily stretch the project out over several decades.

And he was even less afraid of fighting!

”Be at Dawn Town the morning after tomorrow. Wait for me at the Temple of Tyr.”

”All right.” Valera immediately perked up, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. ”What about the details of our cooperation?”

”I’ll send someone to coordinate with you. Focus on preparing for battle. The enemy we’re facing this time is no ordinary opponent,” Anser instructed.

This time, he intended to capture several more hosts and have Sakkors study them to see whether he could uncover any other value they might have.

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