NOVPUBMegami brought the Elysium members back to the Sacred Mountain. Still, due to the time difference, the night in the Sacred Sakura Holy Land had passed, and it was already close to sunrise.
Therefore, everyone lit the bonfire and camped at the Sacred Mountain’s peak to watch the sunrise while recollecting the recent events, sharing the stories in various lively chit-chats, and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.
At the moment, Miko had to stay behind in the Chthonic World for several reasons, the Goddess sisters were still in the Nature Realm, and Elysia had not yet returned.
"..." Megami patted the sapling spirit on her shoulder with a faint smile.
"Goddess Master, several disciples sought after Priestess Miko this afternoon. They were confused about several things and wished to seek her for guidance. The Qinlan Sect’s envoys also visited the sacred shrine, led by Disciple Zhuan Mei. Since you’re not around, I ask them to take a proper rest and ask them to come again in the morning." Zi Xuan brought up the topic as she felt the moment was right to convey it.
"Mm, they can meet us in the morning." Megami nodded in reply.
"Rua?" Sakura looked up as she felt someone arrived via teleportation.
*Poof*
Elysia emerged out of thin air with Yuuki in her arms. She carried the sleeping Yuuki in a princess carry.
"Welcome back." Megami stood up to greet Elysia.
"We’re back~" Elysia replied with a radiant smile and a peace hand sign.
"Oh, my~" Luna approached, also feeling happy at Yuuki’s delighted sleeping expression. She asked for permission to move Yuuki to the proper bed, but Yuuki woke up and hugged Elysia tighter.
"Oh, sorry. Did I wake you? I wanted to move you to the comfy bed." Luna raised both hands.
"Master, am I heavy?" Yuuki only stared at Luna for a moment then looked at her master with a meek gaze.
"Your weight won’t bother me." Elysia reassured Yuuki as she knew her snow fox still wanted to snuggle in her arms.
"Mm~" Yuuki coiled her tails around her master’s waist and closed her eyes again. She was pretty tired and wished to sleep in her master’s arms.
"Well, she looks like a little cub." Sylvia covered her mouth as she felt it was pretty funny, but Yuuki ignored her.
"Fufu, that was a long day. What do you think about the summoned heroes?" Elysia sat in an empty seat, holding Yuuki in her arms as if she were hugging a fluffy yet comfortable pillow during the bed talk.
"They’re capable for sure, but they still lack experience and knowledge." Erina shook her head.
According to the original route, it would take several years for the summoned heroes to defeat the Demon King. As for the worst, the Hero Party would be wiped out just like the previous generation heroes. However, the Elysion Church planned to take part.
Megami hugged Elysia from behind, entering the Elysian Realm to take a proper rest and meditation.
"Rest well." Elysia put her hand to her chest, speaking to Megami and Elena.
"Master, please let us know your plan for those summoned heroes. Vann is so curious~" Vanessa crawled closer and rested her head on her master’s lap, occasionally rubbing her cheek like a cat asking for attention.
"Mhm, sure." Elysia then shared her plan with everyone. Her encounter with the Glorious God in the Divine World the day after tomorrow might not be peaceful because she would demand an explanation. After all, he kidnapped the young superheroes from Earth without her permission. Earth recently fell under her pantheon’s protection, so no otherworld Gods were allowed to do as they pleased there.
Moreover, Miko discovered that the summoned heroes never swore to serve the Glorious God. The heroes even suspected the entire Council of Gods’ intentions.
"I see.... so, if we recall what he said, he also did it for amusement, the entertainment for his cause." Ella put her hand to her chin, recalling about it.
"Hmm, the sealed demon city poses no threat at the moment, so he doesn’t have any urgency to eradicate the demons from the Stevia Empire." Evelyn nodded in agreement.
"If so, why did he say this hero’s generation would be different? Why did he send his previous blessed heroes to their deaths then?" Lynn was unsettled.
"It’s probably to glorify his cause. And maybe, something extremely dangerous is brewing in the sealed demon city, and the heroes had to be dispatched to stop, prevent, or delay it." Dory could only suspect the worst.
The girls voiced their own opinions and guesses regarding the Glorious God’s intention toward the heroes, and Elysia listened to them all one by one.
"Mm, the most plausible reason for now is for their entertainment. They are happy to see the blessed children struggle for their causes." Elysia concluded. It was closer to the truth, but she still had to ensure it once she got to meet the Glorious God the day after tomorrow.
She then cleared her throat and continued. "The summoned heroes, especially the White Hero, might be enough to suppress the Demon King of Extreme Evil, yet the Hero Party will still be wiped out, leaving only the fake hero to reap the greatest benefit. We shall play with the Council of God’s game, but they have to be responsible for their previous claims."
"Hum, they need to take part if they really want to eradicate the brewing great evil from their land." Morfina nodded in agreement.
After the matter was concluded, everyone no longer talked about the summoned heroes’ matter. But, they were eager to see how things would unfold.
As the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, the sky was painted with a gradient of soft pinks, oranges, and purples, casting a gentle glow over the land. The sun’s golden rays shimmered across the landscape with a warm embrace and the cool, crisp morning air carried a sense of serenity.
Standing together on the Sacred Mountain’s peak, Elysia and her family members watched the sunrise scene. The quiet moments were filled with contentment and smiles. As the sun continued to rise, its light grew stronger, bathing everyone in a golden glow, symbolizing a new beginning of the day.
Elysia and the girls returned to the sacred shrine for breakfast, and at that moment, the Goddess sisters who had recently been busy helping Fortuna to create a brand new private world finally came out of the Nature Realm to join the fun with everyone.
Gaia and Lifa shared the tale with Elysia while Rhea recharged her energy, sticking close to Elysia, her host.
As for Nell and Fortuna, they had barely eaten anything since yesterday and gulped down everything on their plates. Although they looked like two starving girls, they still paid attention to their table manners.
"Slow down. No one will take away your food." Elysia reminded the two starving Goddesses.
Those who had achieved divine ascension would no longer need to eat or drink to survive. They also would not feel hungry even for years without eating and drinking as long as the energy supply was safe, but she knew this case was different because Nell and Fortuna probably had just missed her cooking, especially Nell the foodie.
"Nom, nom... I missed your cooking so much, Ely. It was only a day and a half, but it felt like two decades. Fortuna is just too much during her world creation." Nell munched her food, speaking like a bullied child.
"We crafted it. Thank you very much for your help, sisters." Fortuna was eternally grateful for all the help and guidance she received. She finally owned her own private world, but it still required the last finishing touch from Elysia and Elena, but it would wait for later.
"Fortuna still hasn’t named her private world. She said it would be an exclusive realm." Rhea looked up, staring at the white sky with relief.
"I can’t wait to see it. You’re all still exhausted, right? How about taking a proper, comfortable rest for a day?" Elysia observed her Goddess sisters, and yes, they required an extra rest.
"Yes, we did require it dearly..." Gaia covered her mouth, yawning as she did feel sleepy.
"May I know what you will do for today?" Lifa couldn’t just take it for granted. She had to catch up with the latest updates before anything else.
"Today is Luna’s turn for her foundation fortification. In the afternoon, we’ll watch the Martial Arts Competition. The heroes from Earth got summoned here to slay the Demon King, and our disciples will test them." Elysia summarized her schedule for today.
"Heroes summoned from Earth?! Please elaborate more, Ely." Gaia gasped and inquired about it with emphasis, evident in her surprise. 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
"Please take a proper rest and recover first. We’ll talk about it in the afternoon at the scene." Elysia replied with a wink.
"Well, alright..." Gaia grabbed some food and then went to the Nature Realm to take a proper rest. Lifa dragged Nell and Fortuna back as well, but Rhea remained by Elysia’s side.
"It’s Luna’s turn? I won’t bother you, but let me tag along." Rhea used her mystical art technique and entered Elysia’s divine bracelet. She had to remain by her host side for her rest and recovery or it would provide no effect.
"Yeah, sure~" Luna gave her consent as she knew there were already several Goddesses who would never leave Elysia’s side.
"Hmm, are you going to be my fox mommy, Luna?" Elysia looked up, meeting Luna’s blue-foxy eyes.
"That would be the best~" Luna put her hands together with excitement. She had made a list of plans for what she would do with Elysia for today.
Yusagi already wore her maid outfit. When her Goddess Master looked at her, she bowed in respect as if she was ready to follow as the servant for both her master, Luna, and Goddess Master, Elysia.
