Chapter 44: The Goddess's Charm
Faced with so many Amazons, Barbara simply unleashed two Charged Attacks. After knocking several Amazons to the ground, she was directly captured.
After all, Barbara's own Strength wasn't considered particularly great. Most of her time was spent assisting Hyacine and Little Ica, increasing the healing volume recorded by Little Ica; her own combat power wasn't actually that high.
As a Vision wielder, and specifically a healer-type character, Barbara could at most deal with the likes of the Treasure Hoarders. Faced with more powerful monsters, she didn't possess the capability to stand her ground like Hyacine.
Just like when facing the 37th Floor Boss, Udaeus, a few days ago, the only thing Barbara could do was increase her healing output. Those Hydro Charged Attacks hitting the Floor Boss were completely inconsequential.
Even the subsequent elimination of the red-haired Creature Revis and the Corrupted Spirit had relied entirely on Hyacine alone.
When it came down to it, Barbara was still too weak!
Unless there was something that could enhance Barbara's abilities, allowing her to break free from the original constraints of her Roleplay and possess brand-new power...
Then only one answer remained: the Enhancement Card rewarded by the System upon the completion of the previous world's Roleplay.
Although this card didn't explicitly state which aspect of the character it would enhance, it could definitely elevate Barbara to heights that didn't originally belong to her!
'Should I use it or not?'
This was currently Barbara's primary concern. She could completely relay the news of her kidnapping by the Amazons through her other half, Hyacine, thereby drawing the attention of the entire Loki Familia and Ouranos. However, if she did that, she wouldn't be able to "eat" the experience.
That's right—in Barbara's eyes, the Pleasure Quarter was one giant experience pack!
The adventurers here were innumerable. Though most were Level 1, there were also some with decent strength.
Most importantly, the majority of them were not good people!
Even someone like her, who held the title of Deliverer, the Pleasure Quarter dared to kidnap directly, let alone those innocent young girls.
Therefore, as long as the deity behind the Pleasure Quarter was erased from the world, the Pleasure Quarter would surely undergo a massive change. The Guild certainly wouldn't let such a choice piece of meat go and would definitely have a hand in it.
But a deity wasn't so easy to deal with!
As a golden light appeared, Barbara looked at the Enhancement Card in her hand, and her gaze couldn't help but turn determined.
Even if not for herself, but for the sake of those innocent girls who had been kidnapped, Barbara had to do this!
'I hope the tragedies of the Pleasure Quarter won't happen in the future...'
As the outside noises grew quieter, the swaying of the sack increased, and the voices of certain people talking outside reached her, Barbara could confirm that she was nearing her destination...
"Lady Ishtar, the person has been brought here."
The sack was tossed onto the ground just like that. The voices of those Amazons drifted in from the surroundings, causing Barbara to tighten her grip on the Enhancement Card in her hand.
Just as she thought, the mastermind was the goddess Ishtar of the Pleasure Quarter!
"Very well. Since the goods have arrived, you may leave."
"Yes."
The goddess's tone seemed to reveal a hint of joy; she was clearly excited that her subordinates had captured the Deliverer.
The Amazons left, and the sound of the goddess Ishtar's footsteps approached Barbara's side. She easily untied the rope binding the sack, allowing the surrounding firelight to shine upon Barbara's face.
"So this is the 'Deliverer'? Doesn't seem like much..."
Ishtar didn't show any surprise upon seeing Barbara. Although the girl's appearance was decent, it couldn't compare to the very top tier of humanity; even her figure lacked any notable curves...
However, just as Ishtar felt a slight disappointment, her gaze pierced through Barbara's determined face and saw something existing deep within the girl's heart...
Everything changed at that moment.
"A Child of God? She's actually a Child of God?"
Such an obvious thing would be unbelievable to any deity capable of seeing through the heart.
Because this thing was simply too rare!
"No wonder Ouranos made you a Deliverer, and Loki's actions... it all makes sense now!"
"Wait!"
"If one Deliverer is a Child of God, then is the other Deliverer also a Child of God?"
As if anticipating a certain possibility, Ishtar's eyes instantly turned crazed.
"Tell me! Is the other Deliverer also a Child of God like you?"
"..."
Regarding the crazed goddess before her, Barbara had no intention of answering her words. Instead, she looked at the other party with a dangerous gaze, her eyes full of menace.
Barbara's expression seemed to say: 'If you dare try anything else, I won't be polite!'
However, in the eyes of the goddess Ishtar, this expression of Barbara's was completely useless.
"Looking at your face, I think I know... To think two Children of God would be born at once. This world truly is marvelous!"
"As for you..."
"Do you know what it means to show me that face?"
Ishtar tilted her head back arrogantly, adopting a condescending attitude. After all, within the Pleasure Quarter, she was the supreme goddess.
And in the future, Ishtar would become the supreme goddess of all Orario, even the entire world!
"But I'll give you a chance. As long as you're willing to submit to me, leave the Loki Familia, and join my ranks, I can agree to many conditions. How about it, little Deliverer?"
A Deliverer was a trump card!
As long as they didn't die, they were guaranteed to be top-tier adventurers in the future!
Even within the former Zeus and Hera Familia, there were no adventurers who could stand as equals to a Deliverer!
If she had Barbara, the Ishtar Familia would surely be able to reach the pinnacle of the world!
So for a brief moment, Ishtar truly felt a desire to recruit talent. As long as the other party was willing to break away from Loki and join the Pleasure Quarter, Ishtar wouldn't mind granting her the second-highest authority in the district.
As for who held the highest authority?
Ishtar herself, of course!
"I refuse!"
Facing Ishtar's Recruitment, Barbara didn't hesitate for a moment and directly spoke to reject the invitation.
"Though the Pleasure Quarter is a filthy place, there is no deity other than you who has brought it such infamy!"
"You are the source of the evil here. How could I possibly join you?"
Faced with Barbara's threat, Ishtar didn't take it seriously at all. Even if the other party was a Child of God, so what?
How could she be compared to a true deity?
"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Ishtar stepped right in front of Barbara and stared directly into her eyes. A trace of light slowly emerged from Ishtar's pupils...
It was Charm!
Any goddess related to beauty would more or less possess the ability of Charm. For instance, the goddess of the Freya Familia, one of the Two Walls of Orario, also possessed Charm.
And what Ishtar was doing now was using Charm to directly control the other party's heart!
So what if you're unwilling?
What I want isn't your consciousness, but your status!
As long as the Deliverer joins the Ishtar Familia, the entire Pleasure Quarter can seize this opportunity to soar!
When that time comes, wouldn't crushing Loki and kicking Freya aside be a matter of moments?
It was at this exact moment that the Enhancement Card in Barbara's hand vanished. The girl stared straight at the goddess before her, and a thick Killing Intent slowly drifted through the surroundings...
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T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
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Shilling time!
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