Chapter 723: Thank You for Warming the Four Seasons

"Thank you for eliminating the ‘Sea God’ on our behalf."

The maiden offered her gratitude to Lolth with solemn sincerity.

"Now our totem may be altered."

As she spoke, she retrieved from beneath her leaf-woven skirt an animal hide adorned with sinuous patterns in black pigment.

Lolth glimpsed the design—an annulus comprising seven bizarre creatures interlinked head-to-tail.

Four of them had already been smeared with a crimson hue.

The girl before her pierced her palm with a bone dagger, then daubed her blood upon the fourth creature—a scaly, serpentine fish.

Though rendered in crude abstraction, Lolth could discern… this was indeed the beast that had assailed her.

"The Sea God perishes."

Her whisper carried weight as arcane energy emanated from the hide, rippling outward.

Lolth stood bewildered.

"Does your tribe celebrate the death of a deity marked upon your totem?"

At this question, the tribal leader lifted her gaze, regarding Lolth with mild astonishment.

"Most assuredly, honored one…"

"Are totems not meant to designate divinities for execution? What other purpose could they serve?"

The girl stated matter-of-factly, leaving Lolth momentarily speechless, her worldview subtly reshaped.

These maidens’ sacred emblems were naught but death warrants for gods?!

A tribe-like existence composed of maidens devoted to divine hunting…

This revelation birthed fresh curiosity within Lolth.

"Why pursue godly quarry… For sustenance?"

"Or do their very existences endanger your lands?"

The chieftain shook her head at Lolth’s inquiry.

"Nay, such is not our cause…"

"We require no justification for our divine hunt."

"’All gods must die’—this truth we’ve carried since first breath, an innate mission."

"Only through deicide’s completion shall this realm reclaim its serenity."

Her fingers traced the bone blade’s edge as she spoke with glacial calm.

"Legends tell of an age before endless night, when seas knew boundaries and vitality blossomed in every crevice of creation."

"Yet deities of ‘eternity’ and ‘forge’ unraveled this tapestry. Their proliferating spawn deformed the world into this wretched state."

Crimson droplets vanished into the ritual dagger as she continued.

"Even world-shaping gods forfeit the right to unmake—not matter of morality, but necessity. We persist. The world persists…"

"Then we must resist."

The girl’s voice remained calm, yet it left Lolth profoundly shaken.

"How extraordinary."

The words of praise escaped her lips before she could stop them.

"You’re extraordinary and magnificent yourself – single-handedly slaying a ‘divine being’," the girl continued, her gaze brimming with reverence. "You’re the most formidable existence I’ve ever witnessed."

Lolth gave a slight headshake.

"No, I don’t even comprehend my own nature. There’s nothing extraordinary…"

"These abilities might not stem from my own efforts. My motivations warrant no special mention, and ‘magnificent’ is fundamentally mistaken."

After all, her elimination of the divinity-imbued leviathan dubbed "Sea God" had stemmed merely from self-defense… and perhaps

a passing hunger pang.

"For all we know, I might be divine myself."

At this remark, the chieftain girl shook her head decisively.

"We initially accompanied you to verify if you were another deity… but our observations and the totem’s judgment confirm you’re no god."

She lifted the ritual pelt bearing their tribal totem.

Three unmarked symbols remained: a winged avian with elongated beak, a six-clawed simian giant, and a crustacean resembling armored pincers.

Each bore absolutely no resemblance to Lolth’s form.

"Trailing me for leagues just to confirm I’m not kin to these three? That stings a bit…"

Lolth’s dry observation deepened the surrounding awkwardness.

"Prudence demanded confirmation," the leader explained. "Divine entities might alter forms – only the totem reveals truth. Past hunted gods could cast illusionary veils."

"But the totem’s wisdom never falters."

She concluded with a ceremonial half-bow.

"Regardless, please accept our deepest respect and gratitude…"

"To honor your deed, we shall… erm…"

The chieftain’s speech faltered mid-sentence.

She beckoned a girl bearing ritual markings. "Priest! What’s proper recompense for outsiders?"

"Particularly god-slayers?"

The summoned priestess scratched her temple vigorously, features contorting in distress.

"Unprecedented, Chieftain!"

"No outsiders ever crossed our lands, let alone god-slaying ones needing tribute! Perhaps…"

"Gather the tribe to encircle her chanting thanks?"

The chieftain pondered this, then frowned. "For deicide? Mere chanting seems… inadequate."

"Then centuple repetitions?" the priestess offered.

"Or circumambulatory chants?"

"Rotating circles during centuple thanks?"

As suggestions multiplied, the leader’s expression grew pensive.

"Closer… yet still insufficient."

Lolth felt creeping dread at their earnest discussion.

Ten tribal youths hand-linked, orbiting while voicing a hundred thanks? This surpassed awkwardness – it was pure nightmare fuel!

What twisted cognition spawned such ideas?

"Gratitude unnecessary – trivial effort really!"

The chieftain’s demeanor instantly sobered. "Unacceptable!"

"Debts of aid demand repayment – this is fundamental!"

"But your ‘gratitude’ torments me," Lolth protested, massaging her temples. "Couldn’t you… host a feast? Throw a banquet?"

"Ban…quet?"

The chieftain’s features contorted in utter bewilderment.