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Chapter 80: The Wine God, Soma
🕑 Added 2025-02-16 13:38:46 +0000 UTC
In a quiet corner of Orario stood a tower-like structure.
Though it bore some resemblance to the towering Sword Mountain, home of the Loki Familia, it was nowhere near as grand. Yet, its presence was still imposing.
Under Lili's guidance, Blake arrived at the entrance. He looked up at the building's peak and spoke without turning back.
"This is the place?"
"Y-Yes…" Lili hesitated slightly, her voice tinged with unease.
"Lord Blake, what exactly are you planning to do?"
"You want to know?" Blake suddenly smirked.
"Then watch closely!"
Without another word, he grasped the hilt of his sword and drew it in a single motion.
A flash of silver light streaked through the air.
CRACK—!
The heavy wooden gates split apart instantly, shattering into pieces and crashing to the ground with a deafening noise. Dust and splinters flew everywhere.
The sudden destruction sent shockwaves through the building.
"What’s going on?!"
"Who dares—?!"
Alarmed voices echoed from within as figures rushed toward the entrance.
"Lord Blake… what are you doing…?" Lili was frozen in place, her mind struggling to process what just happened.
"Just saying hello." Blake casually sheathed his sword, then took Lili’s hand and strode forward as if he had simply knocked on the door.
"Ah! It's him!"
"Blake?! Why is he here?!"
As the members of the Soma Familia rushed out, their faces twisted in shock and fear at the sight of him standing amidst the wreckage.
"You!" A high-ranking adventurer stepped forward, trying to sound authoritative despite the visible sweat on his brow. "Blake, we haven’t offended you! Why are you causing trouble in the Soma Familia?! Do you not fear the Guild’s punishment?!"
The mention of the Guild was an attempt to deter him.
In Orario, adventurers granted divine blessings often let power get to their heads, causing trouble. To prevent chaos, the Guild had established strict laws—attacking another Familia’s base without reason could result in severe consequences. If deemed a major offense, an adventurer could be stripped of their status, banned from the Dungeon, or even imprisoned.
However, cutting down a gate? At worst, that warranted a fine.
The adventurers of Soma Familia clearly understood this. They were bluffing, hoping intimidation would work.
Blake, however, merely narrowed his eyes.
"I want to see Soma." His voice was cold, carrying an undeniable weight. "If you try to stop me, you’re welcome to try."
A suffocating silence followed.
The adventurers hesitated, their instincts screaming at them not to provoke him.
Finally, the orc acting as their leader swallowed hard. "…Understood. This way, please."
Then, as if trying to absolve themselves of responsibility, he added, "However, Lord Soma is not one to welcome guests politely. Please do not blame us for what happens next."
It was an indirect warning—Soma was not a god who cared for visitors.
But Blake didn’t care.
At the highest floor of the tower, inside a dimly lit room, a heavy scent of alcohol filled the air.
Lining the walls were massive cabinets, stocked with bottles of different colors, each containing liquid that shimmered in the faint light. Plant seedlings and alchemical ingredients sat in neat rows on nearby shelves.
Despite all this, the room was surprisingly plain—no unnecessary decorations, no sense of luxury.
At the center sat a single figure.
A tall, slender god, dressed in loose robes, was carefully mixing liquids in a transparent bottle.
Soma.
The moment Lili laid eyes on him, she tensed up and instinctively tightened her grip on Blake’s hand.
Blake’s gaze sharpened.
The God of Wine—a divine being capable of brewing liquor so potent that even gods could fall under its intoxication. Yet, he did so using only the materials found in the lower world.
The drinks that circulated in the market were mere failures of his craft—yet even those were considered unparalleled delicacies.
But the true divine wine he created?
It was a poison of obsession.
A single sip was enough to drown one’s mind in bliss, reducing even the strongest of warriors to desperate addicts. Once, Soma had rewarded his followers with this divine wine, but the result was catastrophic. Those who drank it lost themselves, throwing away dignity, reason, and even their own lives just to taste it again.
For the Soma Familia, devotion to their god was not driven by faith—it was fueled by addiction.
Unable to accept what his followers had become, Soma withdrew from the world, abandoning his responsibilities. He left his Familia in the hands of Sanis Lustra, a man devoid of conscience.
And so, the Soma Familia had rotted from the inside.
It was not just greed that had tainted them—it was Soma’s neglect.
At least, that’s how Blake saw it.
The room was silent, except for the faint clink of glass as Soma carefully poured various colored liquids into his bottle.
A mesmerizing fragrance began to fill the air.
The orc who had guided them visibly relaxed, his expression softening under the influence of the scent.
Lili, on the other hand, looked as though she had seen a ghost. Her face turned pale, her breathing shallow.
The scent of the wine was overwhelming.
It wasn’t even complete yet, and already it had the power to affect those nearby.
But for Lili, this aroma was not intoxicating.
It was a nightmare.
A cruel reminder of the suffering she had endured—of the Familia that had enslaved her, exploited her, and forced her to fight just to survive.
All because of this wine.
