The fundamental reason for the collapse of Soma's Familia was the introduction of divine wine to the mortal world.
{T/N: The name of the divine wine is Soma, but it would becoming quite confusing to read.}
The divine wine was never intended to be a mind-control tool or perception-altering poison. Rather, it was meant as a reward — a catalyst to foster the Familia's growth and development.
Yet no one anticipated that the children of the lower world would prove unable to resist it, falling hopelessly into addiction.
As time passed, Familia members began committing unspeakable acts to obtain the God's wine — theft, sabotage, slander, and even assassination. The degradation was utterly disappointing.
These children of the lower world showed no true reverence; they only blindly pursued the divine wine with reckless abandon, sinking deeper into depravity with each passing day.
Witnessing his Familia members' shameful descent, Soma withdrew emotionally. His approach toward these foolish members, who endlessly demanded divine wine, became purely transactional.
The once-flourishing Soma Familia, through his permissiveness, lost all its vitality and became Orario's laughingstock.
But he had no intention of trying to save it.
{T/N: I was using Lily before, but it don't make much sense and the real name shortening is Lili. Sorry.}
And at the same time, relieved. He hadn't been wrong after all. That Pallum — the small-statured girl in whom he had placed great hopes — had failed once but bravely pressed forward, overcoming every trial and obstacle.
Now Lili was shining brightly!
"Lord Bell, Lord Bell, thank you, thank you!"
Lili cried out loud while tightly embracing Bell.
Toward the white-haired youth who had awakened her from the divine wine's enchantment, Lili felt both gratitude and unprecedented happiness.
Welf and Mikoto cheered from the side, expressing their admiration for her passing the divine wine's trial.
Only Hestia watched the embracing pair with gritted teeth, muttering, "How cunning! Taking advantage of this opportunity to get handsy! My pure Bell-kun is being corrupted!"
Though she said this, she didn't intervene. Instead, she quietly observed.
The atmosphere was pleasant. Although she was annoyed at Lili's head start, she was a Goddess and had to be magnanimous. She'd let it slide this time.
With this, Lili's matter had reached its conclusion. It should end here.
The Wine God expressed satisfaction with both Lili's performance and Adam's confidence.
His eyes gleaming, he said, "Adam, as you said, Lili truly made it through."
Hearing his words, Adam gave a slight bow without speaking. This was his way of apologizing for his earlier rudeness.
It was also humility. He had defied a God and made a bet with him. Though Hestia didn't mind, that didn't mean Soma wouldn't.
"Regarding our earlier wager, I shall give you a reward."
"A reward?" Adam raised an eyebrow.
In his view, Lili should be the reward — that was their main purpose for coming here. When she completed the trial, she should naturally be allowed to leave with them.
Could it be that after discovering Lili's potential, Soma didn't want to let her go?
No, that was impossible. The current Soma Familia was rotten to its core. Even with her as a seed, the current Familia couldn't nurture her growth. For her own good, Soma couldn't possibly keep her here.
His mind raced, but he still asked, "About Lord Soma's reward..."
"Divine wine." Soma said, "I am the Wine God, so for a reward, it can only be divine wine, right?"
WTF?! What do you mean the reward is divine wine?!
That divine wine that addicts everyone who drinks it — do you have any self-awareness?!
But to Adam's surprise, Soma wasn't joking. In fact, he had upgraded the divine wine!
Soma retrieved a box from deep within his cabinet. When opened, it contained a small bottle.
The fragrance was intoxicating! The aroma wafted through the room, an enchanting scent that stirred the soul. Even through the sealed bottle, the alluring fragrance tickled their noses like delicate tendrils, beckoning them to drink.
"Ambrosia." Soma said casually, as if discussing an ordinary wine.
Before he could elaborate, Hestia erupted.
Ambrosia — a legendary wine that Soma, the Wine God himself, brewed using materials from the divine realm. Tales spoke of how it could bestow supernatural powers upon its drinkers, even grant immortality.
This divine wine was so potent it drove both mortals and gods alike mad with desire.
Unlike his earthly brews, this bottle contained genuine divine wine!
"Wait! Wait wait wait wait!" Hestia leaped in front of Adam, fearing he might do something rash. She rounded on Soma, "You bastard, why do you possess such wine? We're forbidden from using divine power in the mortal realm! You've violated the divine realm's laws!"
This prohibition against divine power had been established millennia ago under Ouranos's leadership. The gods had descended to the mortal realm for entertainment — using divine power would defeat that purpose entirely.
Yet here sat this bottle of divine wine before them.
"Explain yourself, Soma!"
"Calm yourself, Hestia. I hadn't finished explaining — this isn't true Ambrosia." Soma replied coolly, "Though I used the same materials and method, without divine power, it's merely a half-finished product."
"It's not true divine wine." Soma lifted the bottle, "Adam, your performance has impressed me. This wine is my reward to you."
His offer seemed genuine.
"This feels more like a trial than a reward." Adam said warily.
He had never tasted divine wine — not even the remnants that Zanis secretly sold.
Even with Aqua's blessing, Adam instinctively refused when faced with such an unknown. This wasn't cowardice — it was caution.
"Adam, this reward carries risks. This wine's power to enchant minds far surpasses those inferior products. If it were complete, even the Gods themselves would become lost in drunken revelry. However, where there is risk, there is opportunity. Though it cannot grant immortality, it can bring tremendous enhancement — if you can withstand its trial."
Soma delivered these pros and cons in a flat tone.
"To drink or not to drink, the choice is yours."
He seemed indifferent to whatever choice Adam would make.
"Soma! This isn't a reward at all!" Hestia shouted angrily, "Are you trying to destroy him?!"
In her view, divine wine's effects were far stronger than even Freya's charm. Not a single God who drank it had remained clear-headed!
Even if incomplete, this wasn't something a child of the lower world could handle. This was no reward!
"Hmm... you have a point." Soma acknowledged, but then added, "In that case, I'll add another reward."
"A divine blessing, how about that?"
T/N: Hey! Liked what you read? Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!.. or ten!
For just $1.50 (that's less than your daily meme budget), get extra Chapters! Want more? $2 gets you bonus content, $5 unlocks premium stories, and $10 makes you my hero (and gets you everything I have, including earlier acess to new books)!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)