Volume 5 Chapter 0091 The most fundamental contradiction between gods - I, The Dragon Overlord

"Esteemed guest, His Majesty's triumph ceremony will take a while before it begins. Here is the best wine from our tavern, a rarity across the entire continent, reserved only for distinguished guests like yourself." A man dressed in an extravagant manner, adorned with various gemstones and metal jewelry, gently pushed open the door to the third-floor balcony. He carried a tray with a crystal bottle of wine, entering with a respectful and ingratiating smile. This man was the owner of the tavern. Upon hearing the owner's voice, Louie turned his head to glance at him, noticing that he was a follower of the Goddess of Wealth. Many wealthy merchants, particularly those who frequently traveled across the continent, worshipped the Goddess of Wealth, hoping to earn more wealth and be protected by the goddess during their travels to avoid danger. This tavern was located on the bustling street of Dragon Song City, spanning three floors and known as one of the most famous taverns in the city. Judging by the owner's appearance, he didn’t seem to be of noble birth. To run such a notable tavern in such a location, it was evident he was not only wealthy but also possessed high emotional intelligence. Louie scrutinized him, making the tavern owner feel as if his soul were being observed by something terrifying, causing him to break out in cold sweat and lower his head in fear, assuming he had encountered a notable figure on the continent. The best view on the tavern's third-floor balcony had been reserved by a group of young noblemen and women, eager to witness the great emperor’s triumph ceremony. However, this man, unfamiliar to the tavern owner and appearing suddenly, easily persuaded these prideful noble offspring to vacate the spot, indicating a significant background. A person as shrewd as the tavern owner would naturally try to establish a connection, even going so far as to bring out his prized wine collection for this potential ally. Louie understood the tavern owner's intentions. As any group of merchants operates, those without a bit of cunning or social skill could hardly achieve such enterprise. He did not expose the owner's small schemes but instead smiled and said, "Your business acumen is remarkable, structuring your tavern across three levels with an added basement. Using the basement for commoners, the first and second floors for wealthy merchants, and the third for influential nobles, you earn from all classes. Truly the heart of a capitalist." The tavern owner did not comprehend the term "capitalist," but he could discern the teasing tone in his esteemed guest's words, prompting a sheepish smile, "It's all the teachings of the goddess." "Alright, I hold no disdain for merchants; on the contrary, they fall within my realm of protection." Since the Goddess of Wealth was a subordinate deity to Louie, his statement about merchants being under his protection was truthful, though the tavern owner likely wouldn't comprehend it. "What kind of wine are you introducing to me? Seeing how much importance you're placing on it." Upon hearing this, the tavern owner was invigorated, almost like a promoter, as he expounded, "Esteemed guest, this is a rare treasure found only in the Dragon Nation. The main ingredient of this wine is dragon's salivation, complemented by an alchemist’s potion-making process with numerous precious herbs. It doesn't only bolster physical strength but also enhances mental focus." The tavern owner eagerly introduced his treasure, but Louie’s face had already darkened. Dragon’s salivation? Wasn't that just dragon's saliva? If he really wanted to drink it, he just needed to swallow his own! The thought of drinking another dragon's saliva was revolting, though if it were from a beauty like Heloise, the benevolent Dragon Goddess by his side, Louie wouldn’t mind. The observant tavern owner noted Louie's change in expression and promptly stopped speaking, frowning in contemplation over where he could have gone wrong to displease such an esteemed guest. When his peripheral vision caught sight of the female companion of this distinguished guest, he was taken aback, eyes widening in realization. The lady had dragon horns! The tavern owner, worldly as he was, knew that such physical traits indicated her true form was definitely a dragon, implying that the esteemed guest’s companion was a dragon! Finally understanding why the noble youths vacated quietly, someone close to a dragon could only be an absolute powerhouse. Despite the governance of power in the San Soliel World, the existence of extraordinary strength, like that of legends and demigods, transcended some worldly laws and powers. The tavern owner now realized why the guest was displeased with the wine — they had a dragon companion, meaning dragon's salivation must be an everyday affair for them. On further thought, maybe it wasn’t just salivation; they could potentially experience more intimate aspects of a female dragon. Astute as ever, the owner swiftly put away the wine on his tray, laughing obsequiously, "Esteemed guest, it seems this bottle of wine does not satisfy you. No worries, we have equally excellent alternatives — fruit wine from the Silver Moon Kingdom's Raymor, scarce in annual production, favored by the nation’s aristocrats and His Majesty. I've secured a bit for you as well." "Please wait a moment; I'll fetch it for you right away!" The tavern owner hurried away, eyes showing faint fear mixed with deep envy... Previously unnoticed, his quick glance now revealing just how beautiful the dragon lady was — a genuine dragon woman! Although love between different species was common in the San Soliel World, romances between dragons and other species were exceedingly rare. Here, in the Dragon Nation, where dragons held lofty status, anyone with a dragon companion was a subject of much gossip. Of course, male dragons didn’t count — their engagements were not romances but acts of reproduction. "This tavern owner is truly an amusing individual." Seeing the owner leave, Heloise, the benevolent Dragon Goddess, smiled, her gaze towards her principal deity containing a hint of playful teasing. Before Louie could respond, Heloise sighed, “The nation you’ve established is exactly as I’ve always dreamt; dragons coexisting peacefully with all species under the same sky. Why does His Highness Drexler fail to understand? He continually asserts that dragons require absolute power, that all species should merely fear the dragons.” "Lady Heloise, you must understand that it’s precisely the existence of malevolent dragons, believers of His Highness Drexler, that underscores the extraordinary preciousness of the benevolent dragons who follow you." Louie smiled, "As the deity of all dragons, I am concerned not with the relationships between dragons and other species but with the survival and continuity of dragons. Nothing else matters to me, be it their malevolence or benevolence, as long as they continue to exist in this world." "I can understand your perspective, but I will never accept His Highness Drexler’s view." Heloise's words carried a profound aversion toward the God of Evil Dragons. "Thus, you are the Goddess of Benevolent Dragons while His Highness is the God of Malevolent Dragons; it's an eternal conflict of virtue and vice, a divine struggle wherein reconciliation is impossible. That’s just the nature of deities." Louie remarked with a sigh. Once mere mortal dragons, they were the best of friends in their youth. But grown-up differences in ideals set them on divergent paths. As they ascended to become gods embodying their respective beliefs, the closest of friends turned into irreconcilable foes. Such is the fundamental discord among deities. “These are matters you’ll ponder over tens of millennia, even a million years. For now, put aside the quest for divine understanding. Look, there is my daughter; she is so beautiful and vibrant, the most brilliant gem among dragons." Louie pointed to Alexia, who led her legion triumphantly into the city, as Dragon Song City erupted into a sea of cheering.