Chapter 1258: Chapter 1258: The So-called Banquet
“At least you are honest.”
Shard acknowledged this as well. Most of the promises he made would be fulfilled, and honesty was one of the few qualities he took pride in.
The next step was for the four of them to mutually select the best poem among them, and naturally, Shard received the petals from the other three. He gave his own petal to Mr. Lyman, whose poetry skills surpassed his own, as the poem he presented was written by someone else.
As before, the Butterfly God could also grant two petals to express Its preferences. Thus, two petals floated across the table, over the gold and silverware and delicacies, stopping by Mr. Lyman’s and Sister Perry’s hands.
So far, Shard had acquired six petals, the Witch Blanchett one, Sister Perry one, and Mr. Lyman four. Although Mr. Lyman was in the lead, six petals remained to be given in the final round, so it couldn’t yet be said that Mr. Lyman would be the final winner.
At the end of this round, the Deity did not individually bestow gifts but directly announced the third activity of the banquet:
“The original plan was to have you recount stories about butterflies, but I have already received such a story.”
The Deity smiled at Shard, and his guess fell through:
“So what shall we do last?”
He asked softly, quite worried that not enough time remained for him to solve his troubles. But the Deity simply pointed to the butterflies swirling above everyone’s heads, spiraling around the underground heavenly light:
“Mortals, finally, show me your understanding of the beauty of butterflies. Here are 178,753 butterflies; each of you will choose the one you think is the most beautiful, and then evaluate among yourselves. You only need to call them, and they will fly to you.”
The three witches immediately looked up but then had to squint because the heavenly light was so bright.
Only Shard looked at the Deity, who smiled and said:
“Foreign guest, you’re not thinking of choosing me, are you?”
“Your beauty indeed surpasses all butterflies, but I don’t have the courage to desecrate a Deity.”
Shard spoke softly, praising the beauty of the Deity’s manifested form. As for what the true form of this Deity looked like, he couldn’t see through the illusions of the so-called “God of Illusions,” the Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly.
The Butterfly Deity maintained Its smile:
“Aren’t you going to pick a butterfly? Soon, the other mortals will choose my most beautiful butterfly.”
Shard shook his head slightly:
“To me, your butterflies are far less beautiful than mine.”
A swarm of red butterflies flew out from his sleeve, splitting into two groups that gathered on each side behind him. The densely packed red butterflies formed a humanoid shape, and with the use of sorcery, they eventually took the form of Grace in a white dress and Helen in a black dress. Naturally, it was their mature appearance in their twenties.
Shard smiled, looking back at the pair, then turned and raised his glass of red wine, saluting the Butterfly Deity:
“Look, O Butterfly Deity, these are my butterflies. Originally, they caught the eye of a respectable wine connoisseur, but fortunately, I took them from the Duke’s hands by the lake at night.”
“From the Duke’s cage, only to be imprisoned in yours?”
The Deity asked softly, also raising a goblet, clinking it in the air with Shard.
Shard sipped the wine, shaking his head slightly:
“I didn’t imprison them; their cage is their mission and the power of that city.”
This was referring to Midshire Fort.
“No, you have indeed already woven a new cage for them. It is far more terrible than the city and mission; it is the cage of emotions. The Duke only wanted ownership of their bodies and souls, but you want more. In the end, they could not escape the boundary; they can only dance in your palm.”
The Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly hinted meaningfully, and Shard did not refute:
“But at least my palm is big enough, and… we mortals, even relics, are still mortal things to an existence like you. Who can truly break free and gain true freedom?”
The Deity shook its head with a smile, not entangling with Shard on this matter:
“However, I admit that your two butterflies are indeed very beautiful. Stories give the ladies charm, and this is common across all races. You have already told their story moments ago, or I wouldn’t acknowledge their charm.”
Shard put down the wine glass, enduring a feeling of discomfort and dizziness, directly looking into the Deity’s eyes:
“They are called Grace White and Helen Black, and you already know where they are. If possible, please help them.”
This had already happened, but Shard had to ensure it continued to happen.
“Tree Father’s favoritism towards you is indeed terrifying.”
The Butterfly Deity said softly:
“I will go and see your butterflies, see how the twin butterflies that have not yet matured currently look. Although they have already accepted the power of the Twin Gods, it doesn’t prevent me from blessing the butterflies I like.”
Shard nodded slightly as Grace and Helen behind him scattered into a swarm of red butterflies.
He picked up the last petal he had not yet given away:
“I always believe that Miss Grace White and Miss Helen Black are the most beautiful mortal butterflies in my heart, and I firmly believe this.”
“So, are you going to give your last petal to yourself?”
“No, their beauty doesn’t need my acknowledgment. Both you and that dignified Vampire Duke have said that unusual stories and experiences make young women more charming. Their charm lies within me.”
He tapped his chest and gave the final petal to Sister Perry. As she took it without understanding, Shard whispered a “thank you.”
Sister Perry completely didn’t understand why.
The deity smiled without commenting, while the other three, squinting to observe the butterflies, also found their respective choices.
“Deity, I choose this one.”
The first to speak was the witch Mrs. Blanchett, whose eyesight was the best of the three.
The butterfly chosen by the witch was predominantly blue and purple, with wings that had a brilliant metallic sheen and a gradient of dark blue, azure, and light blue at the tips of the forewings. The underside of the wings displayed rows of eye-like patterns. It was a particularly luxurious butterfly, which flew around the witch before finally settling in her hair, resembling a lavish blue-purple metallic hair accessory.
“I want to gift the petal to myself; this is the most beautiful butterfly.”
The striking middle-aged witch spoke with confidence.
“Oh Deity, please allow me to choose this one.”
Next was Sister Perry, but surprisingly, the butterfly descending from above seemed like two shriveled leaves. The ventral side of the wings was leaf-colored, with a dark brown horizontal line from the top corner to the bottom corner on the forewing, and several diagonal lines resembling leaf veins.
“Integrating with nature and the Earth, I like this butterfly.”
She spoke, stretching out her hand for the butterfly to rest on her right index finger, and then gifted the petal to herself as well.
Finally, it was Mr. Lyman’s turn. He stared blankly at the butterflies fluttering everywhere and eventually shook his head, choosing nothing:
“Sorry, Deity, the butterfly I admire should have characteristics of human girls, which was my purpose for coming here. I don’t want to violate my inner truth before you by bestowing the title of most beautiful butterfly to one I don’t love. There is no most beautiful butterfly here, so I won’t make a choice.”
He handed his leaf to the witch Blanchett:
“The butterfly chosen by this lady is relatively beautiful… I don’t understand why the girl who appeared behind that gentleman earlier also counts as a butterfly; it looked merely human.”
Thus, Shard possessed six petals, Mrs. Blanchett three petals, Sister Perry three petals, and Mr. Lyman four petals.
The mortals closed their eyes, awaiting the final “verdict,” while Shard looked towards the deity:
“The last two petals you grant will determine who will be favored by your familiars.”
He gently reminded, and the last two petals hovered from beside the deity, spinning around the gigantic, intimidating round table. They did not immediately stop near anyone, and the deity grinned and asked:
“Mortals, you came here for your respective purposes, participating in this banquet that may cost you your life and soul. I allow you one last chance to express your wishes before the final result appears.”
“For greater power.”
The witch remained resolute.
“To touch the transcendent.”
The nun whispered softly.
“To find the beloved girl.”
Although his ambitions seemed small, Mr. Lyman felt no shame.
The deity finally turned to Shard, who came here without a personal wish, only to complete the Tree Father’s task, but now he had a wish:
“To obtain the God Summoning Ritual for calling upon you, and to witness the end of this story and see who gains the favor of the Divine Kin.”
The deity clapped, and the two petals landed beside Mrs. Blanchett and Sister Perry.
Everyone was stunned for a moment.
“Why?”
Shard asked in confusion.
“What are we doing?”
The Goddess of Butterflies gently said.
“Participating in… a banquet?”
“Yes, at the banquet of Earth and Butterflies, everyone should enjoy this momentary time, though I don’t quite understand.”
The languorous lady supported her face with her right hand and looked at Shard:
“Why have you been so wary of me from the very beginning?”
As she spoke, the sound of orchestral music grew louder, and more light streamed in from above the underground cavern, bathing everyone:
“Watching you come warily and leave just as cautiously is really amusing. But… isn’t this a banquet?”