Reincarnated With The Strongest System Chapter 3: Finding A Patron God

“Attention everyone, hurry up and don’t be bashful!”

“I never put much stock in love at first sight, at least not until I laid eyes on you.”

“I certainly hope you’re trained in CPR, because you’ve completely taken my breath away!”

“If charm were a criminal offense, you’d be looking at a life sentence.”

“I must ask, are you a talented artist? Because you’ve managed to draw me in so effectively.”

William stared at the scene unfolding before him, utterly bewildered. Upon crossing the temple gates, he realized he had walked straight into a bustling bazaar.

A group of strikingly attractive merchants, clad in exotic attire, were shouting invitations to the crowd that entered alongside him. William’s own companions were instantly ensnared by the smooth flattery emanating from these men and women.

The boy watched in disbelief, amazed that these vendors could reel off such cheesy lines without so much as a nervous twitch. Besides his own party, various others wandered between the different stalls as if they were merely window shopping.

William found the spectacle amusing; several merchants were visibly bickering, fighting tooth and nail to lure prospective “customers” into inspecting their wares.

As he stood there, trying to grasp the nature of his surroundings, a pleasantly plump man dressed in opulent robes approached him wearing a broad grin.

“Greetings, young friend,” the man said warmly. “Would you be interested in becoming the most powerful individual in existence?”

William glanced behind him. Finding the space empty, he looked back at the chubby man and gestured to himself.

“Are you addressing me?” William asked.

“Indeed,” the man responded with a firm nod. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Gavin, the God of all Trades. If you seek the finest Patron God within this temple, you are looking at him.”

Suddenly, an apple struck the back of Gavin’s head, drawing a sharp cry of pain from him.

“You scoundrel, how dare you spout such lies in front of these innocents!” A stunning woman donning a “tree hat” adorned with miniature apples bellowed. “To think you’d call yourself the greatest Patron God here! Listen, lad, pay no mind to that pathetic fool. Come over here and choose me as your Patron God instead.”

The woman signaled for him to approach, and suddenly, William felt his body floating irresistibly toward her booth. He struggled desperately to regain control, but despite his best efforts, he could not even twitch a finger.

Ultimately, he surrendered to his predicament and drifted helplessly toward the Goddess’s stall.

“I am Lulu, the Apple Goddess,” Lulu said, patting William’s shoulder with a mischievous smirk. “Are you familiar with that classic saying regarding apples?”

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” William replied, feeling rather uncertain.

“You’re only partially correct,” she chuckled.

“Hold on, Lulu! I claimed him first! Don’t you dare snatch my boy away!” Gavin marched toward Lulu’s stall with a look of ironclad determination.

The deities within the Temple were fierce rivals. Every time a new cohort of “chosen ones” arrived, they vied intensely to secure them as followers before they moved on to their next reincarnation.

“Scram!” Lulu shrieked, a sound quite unbecoming of her appearance.

She plucked an apple from her headpiece and hurled it at Gavin. Mid-flight, the fruit swelled until it was the size of a basketball, slamming into Gavin’s chest and sending him flying a hundred meters away.

“Did you see that, William?” Lulu smirked. “An apple a day keeps everyone away, provided you possess the strength to throw it hard enough!”

“R-Right…” William stammered, inching away from the Apple Goddess.

“Aw, don’t be like that.” Lulu hopped out of her booth and snagged William’s hand. “Why don’t we get properly acquainted? If you take me as your Patron God, you’ll be showered with benefits!”

“Um, what kind of benefits, exactly?”

“For starters, I can grant you the ability to sprout apple trees anywhere. We're talking deserts, frozen tundras, beneath the ocean, or anywhere your heart desires. Heavens, you could even grow them inside yourself!”

“T-That does sound environmentally conscious,” William muttered.

“Right?! Exactly!” Lulu grinned. “Now, just scribble your signature on this contract and we are all set.”

Lulu materialized a document and a quill out of thin air. She pressed the pen into William’s trembling hands, urging him to finalize the pact.

William had no desire to sign, but the iron grip she had on his shoulders prevented him from fleeing.

Fortunately, Gavin returned, forcefully prying Lulu’s arm away from the boy.

“Hey! Observe the regulations!” Gavin interjected, planting himself firmly between the two. “You are forbidden from coercing anyone to sign!”

“Tch! I was so close… you despicable man,” Lulu hissed under her breath.

Gavin stood beside William, patting his shoulder reassuringly. “Fear not, brother. As long as I am present, nobody can force you into a contract! Since you’re a newcomer, allow me to act as your guide.”

Gavin shot a look at Lulu that essentially asked, “You have a problem with that?”, causing the Apple Goddess to glare daggers in his direction.

Lulu snorted and retreated to her stall, though she called out to William, letting him know he was welcome to return should he fail to find a more suitable deity.

Gavin walked alongside William as they traversed the bazaar, answering his questions and correcting some of the misconceptions the boy held regarding the nature of Gods.

“Gods are categorized into three distinct types,” Gavin explained as they strolled. “The Primordial Gods, the Personification Gods, and the New Generation Gods. The Primordial ones were born at the dawn of the multiverse—you likely know them as the Gods of Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, and so on.”

“Personification Gods emerge from human emotions and occupations. The God of Fear, Lust, Vanity, and Pride are born from emotion, while the God of War, Music, Art, Blacksmithing, and Hunting hail from professions.”

Gavin hesitated briefly before continuing. “As for the New Generation Gods, these are beings born quite recently, often characterized by truly unique traits.”

“Unique traits?” William echoed.

“We shall witness one of these new arrivals momentarily,” Gavin promised. “Do you see that winding queue over there? Those people are lined up to sign a contract with a ‘New Generation God’.”

Noticing William’s curiosity, Gavin offered a wry smile and escorted the boy toward the goddess managing that particular stall.

A young girl, appearing no older than twelve, was smiling brightly as she shook hands with a teenage boy. Her vivid pink hair, ruby-red eyes, and small lips gave her an incredibly adorable appearance.

“Big Brother, I love you!” the little Goddess chirped, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Now, please put your name down right here.”

The boy signed the paper in a ecstatic trance while the crowd nearby chanted slogans like “Flat is Justice” and “Lolita no Touch!”

William froze as he surveyed the girl and then looked at Gavin. He harbored a dark suspicion about who this Goddess really was, though he wasn’t entirely certain.

As if reading his very thoughts, Gavin nodded. “That stall belongs to the Loli Goddess, Lily.”

“The Loli Goddess?”

“Indeed. She is a New Generation entity birthed from the beliefs of… individuals with questionable tastes. William, please tell me you aren’t one of those scumbags—pardon, those individuals with unique tastes?”

“Of course not!” William denied fervently.

Seeming to sense they were discussing her, Lily glanced over at the pair. The cute loli smiled broadly and waved at William.

‘I’m a simple man,’ William thought as he reflexively waved back. ‘I see a cute person waving, I wave back.’

Gavin smirked and pulled a pair of spectacles from his storage dimension.

“Don’t let your eyes deceive you,” Gavin whispered. “Put these on.”

“What are they?” William inquired.

“This is a divine artifact—the Glasses of Truth,” Gavin explained. “They allow the wearer to pierce through any deception or hallucination.”

William gave Gavin a skeptical look before sliding the glasses onto his face. He turned back to the cute girl, only to freeze in sheer horror.

The adorable little girl had vanished. In her place sat a hunched midget with a wrinkled face and a bulbous nose staring back at him. She offered a crooked grin, revealing only three teeth protruding from her gums—one on top, two on the bottom.

The Loli-Granny winked and blew a flying kiss. A pink, winged heart materialized from thin air and drifted toward him. Reacting on pure instinct, William swatted the heart toward the ground.

Determined to finish its task, the pink heart dusted itself off and shakily stood up. It attempted to flap its wings to resume flight, but William didn’t grant it a second chance.

He brought his foot down, grinding it into pieces. Once he was certain the heart was destroyed, he bolted, running as if the underworld were nipping at his heels.

Gavin chuckled to himself while following the panicked boy. In his eyes, William was a truly fascinating soul. If he had his way, he would convince this boy to become his follower.