“…” Xero saw the girls relaxing while talking about something light. The critical meeting was unlikely to be held soon. The Goddess of Light was also doing something on the second floor.
Therefore, he should wait by doing something useful, like checking the world’s latest information. He turned on the TV and watched several news channels.
“…” Lynn glanced at the cat and the body-tailed fox in Elysia’s lap. She heaved a subtle sigh and walked away to the stairs. “I’ll get some fresh air first.”
“Oh, hurry back and join us.” Yuuki waved her hand as an invitation.
Lynn only replied with a nod. She went to the balcony on the second floor to gaze at the starry night sky. “Similar night sky, but it feels like something’s missing. This is a different world…”
“I feel that way too.” Elena muttered from the side. She was amused because this soul fox girl failed to notice her presence on the side balcony.
“!?” Lynn gasped in surprise when she realized she wasn’t alone there.
“I think it’s because of the moon. It emits a distinct sacred aura in Vrelenia, but not here. Is something bothering you, Lynn?” Elena observed some things in the distance. Some unknown party was spying on this house, but her barrier tricked them well.
It was just a house left vacant by its owner for a while when viewed from the outside.
“Uhm, may I know what you are doing here, Goddess Lina?” Lynn felt a little awkward.
“Hmm-mm, you’ve become eloquent and less formal when you talk to me. Look over there. Some people are spying on us.” Elena pointed in several directions.
“Is it okay to let them spy on us?” Lynn squinted her eyes and found that several groups of people were indeed monitoring this house from hidden places.
“As long as they don’t do anything stupid, we’ll leave them alone for now. Their surveillance can’t penetrate my barrier. They can’t even see us here.” Elena rested her cheek against her hand while looking at the night sky. “So, what’s bothering you, Lynn? If you want, I will listen.”
“…” Lynn was silent for a moment as she contemplated a few things.
Elena just waited in silence. She knew something was bothering Lynn because of Rhea. Therefore, Elysia and herself needed to do something about it.
“I thought, is it okay for me to be with all of you? I feel confused about what I can achieve and what I can give as a contribution and my gratitude.” Lynn twiddled her thumb.
“I see… Feeling confused, hmm? Can you answer my question first?” Elena glanced at Lynn with a subtle smile.
Lynn nodded slightly and looked up at the Golden Goddess.
“Are you having fun with us?” Elena asked in a gentle tone.
“!?” Lynn widened her eyes.
It was simple, but she overlooked it for the complicated stuff. She was confused because she overthought things, including pros and cons, but ignored what she felt. Honestly, she felt happy, safe, and comfortable in this group.
“Isn’t it fine if you feel happy? Our journey will be so long. Will you stay with us to the end? I wonder… This is just the beginning. Where should you belong? And why do you stay with us? Build trust and faith to yourself to determine your own choice. When the time comes, you will smile at the end.” Elena held her hands behind her back and turned around. She walked away to give Lynn some quiet time.
“…” Lynn watched the Golden Goddess back in silence. She pondered on her situation and everything over the past few weeks.
She joined this divine group because of her mother. It was probably caused by political matters, but it was not that simple.
Her country and continent depended on her for the Goddess’s favor and protection. However, she felt doubtful and confused after all her sincerity.
Elysia was the first to receive her in the group, and everyone else followed shortly afterward. She even received a divine-grade artifact as a token of friendship.
‘The most important thing in a relationship and bond is trust. I was such a fool to feel confused. I should have worshiped the Goddess of Light as my Goddess in the first place.’ Lynn mocked herself.
She knew the Goddess of Light was already worshipped by her race. She should have put absolute trust and faith from the first time she joined the group.
“…” Lynn thought about a few things in her mind and decided to perform the allegiance ceremony right away. That way, she would no longer feel out of place.
“W-wait, please wait.” Lynn immediately chased after the Goddess of Light just before the other party descended the stairs.
“Hmm?” Elena stopped in her tracks and glanced at Lynn.
“This may be too late for me to say this, but allow me to kneel before you. I, Lynn Evroria, the Sole Princess of the Evroria Royal Family, Soul Fox Clan. Please allow me to devote myself and worship you as my Goddess. Your order is my duty, and your will is a rule.” Lynn knelt down and put her hand on her chest.
“Hmm, is this like what your mother did? The dwarves are like that too. They worship me at will to gain protection from me? I can’t see their sincerity despite their seriousness. But, do you want to offer your whole being to me?” Elena heaved a subtle sigh.
“Yes.” Lynn lowered her head closer to the floor. Several flashbacks of the dedicated girls, such as Ella, Yuuki, and Vanessa crossed her mind. She thought it was much better if she were like them for the good of all things.
“I see. Raise your head.” Elena smiled faintly and rubbed Lynn’s head between the fox’s ears.
Lynn raised her head with a slight flush on her cheek. She looked in awe at the Goddess of Light’s heavenly appearance from below. The moonlight seemed to radiate a golden glow from the Goddess before her.
“I will see your performance from now on. You must do the same to my precious disciple if you worship me. Most of my wishes, I convey to her.” After saying that, Elena went down the stairs.
“Yes, according to your order!” Lynn felt excited from the bottom of her heart. She needed to build trust and faith to become a dedicated girl. All for the sake of her race.
“You’re back. How about the important meeting?” Xero stood up from his seat.
“Let’s have a meeting now.” Elena nodded and went into the living room and sat next to Elysia.
“Lynn, join us here.” Yuuki waved his hand from Elysia’s lap.
“…” Lynn glanced at the Goddess of Light sitting next to Elysia. So, she didn’t have any reason to refuse the invitation anymore.
She went behind Elysia and transformed into a little soul fox. After she put her outfit into her Space Bag, she jumped on Elysia’s lap to join her fellow fluffy friends.
“Are you feeling better?” Elysia gave a head pat to Lynn.
“Mm.” Lynn lay there. She wondered why Vanessa and Yuuki were so fond of nesting in Elysia’s lap.
“Want a little grooming?” Elysia picked up a special comb for pets.
“Grooming?” Lynn was stunned for a moment. She didn’t understand what Elysia meant by that.
“Your fox fur will be combed and treated with care. We just finished getting our grooming.” Vanessa nodded once.
“Oh, okay… I’m in your care.” Lynn didn’t doubt Elysia. They used to be said to be foster sisters, but she was now a little pet.
“Oh, oh~” Lynn trembled a little, but she soon sank into a sense of comfort and peace as Elysia’s fingers caressed almost her entire body.
The comb movement was expected, but somehow she was content to get something like this ‘grooming’ treatment.
“Alright, everyone is here. Those who cannot participate in this crucial meeting will only accept the final decision without the slightest objection. Today, we have obtained twenty-nine king pieces. Twenty-nine deities are currently imprisoned in our respective prisons. We’ll put them in one place, but that’s for later.
The problems we face today are the powerful deities that may be difficult to deal with. We will move only in two teams from tomorrow until our mission is complete for effectiveness.” Elena opened the discussion.
“Hah, that’s too many individuals in one team, and the battle won’t be fun anymore. It’s like we’re bullying the weak.” Xero frowned. He didn’t like the decision.
“No, our focus is on conserving as much power as possible for the real chaos in the Heaven Realm. I believe you’ve thought about it too. It would be a disaster if we were exhausted or ran out of aces when we needed it most.” Elysia shook her head.
“…” Xero opened his mouth to argue, but he swallowed back his words.
He honestly didn’t think about it since he had abundant self-confidence. However, it was still an excellent choice to save more strength to guarantee his victory at the main event in the Heaven Realm.
“Well, then every participant will be hunted down in no time.” Xero rested his chin on his hand.
“The sooner, the better. As Earth Mother requested, we’ll just beat them up and imprison them before sending them to heaven for justice.” Nell raised her fist.
“Mm, I’m worried because the powerful evil deities are already planning something against us, the executioners. It will be much safer and more effective if we move in sufficient numbers.” Rhea nodded slightly.
“I was surprised that this important meeting was over in an instant. The decision was taken, and no one objected. I thought there was at least someone who would argue.” Lifa covered her mouth while glancing at Xero.
“Hmm, what do you expect, old granny? It’s still tiring if I have to face a lot of troublesome deities when I’m about to join a party in Heaven Realm. They can be considered little insects, while the big fish wait for me in heaven. I will eradicate that hateful Alashor with my own hands!” Xero smirked and pressed his fist to his palm.
“Is that all the important meeting? If the decision has been made, then I better use my time to meditate.” Xero stood up.
“Yeah, that’s all.” Elena nodded slightly. She thought Xero would vehemently reject the decision, but apparently not.
“Alright then.” Xero raised his hand and went to his room on the second floor.
“It seems that he has also faced a powerful deity and knows it will be difficult for us to conserve strength. Not to mention the ambushes and traps…” Nell sighed. She was tired of imagining such an annoying thing to happen despite her vigilance and thoroughness.