Chapter 52: A Foolish Offering and a Divine Gaze

Anna, seeing that Yulim and Eve had both finished their water, wiped away tears of emotion and approached the tree stump. On the stump lay three red fruits, freshly picked from the forest for their sworn sisterhood. Anna took the fruits and distributed them to the two women.

“Once we eat these offerings, we’ll be family from now on!”

Eve was speechless.

[Goddess of Light: …]

‘So these offerings weren’t for the Goddess at all, but for us to eat!’

Noticing Eve’s stunned gaze, Anna laughed and explained, “The Goddess of Light can’t eat them anyway, and they’d just rot if left here. We can’t let them go to waste, can we?”

‘Hey, hey! Anna! Anna!! Look up! Look up, you idiot!! The Goddess of Light is still watching you from above!!!’

‘Don’t court death so brazenly right under the Goddess’s nose!!’

Yet, as soon as Anna finished speaking, she opened her mouth and took a bite of the fruit.

Not content with just one bite, she munched on it with relish. “As expected of a fruit from the Elven Forest,” she praised between chews, “it’s so tender and juicy!”

Clutching the red fruit in her arms, Eve’s gaze shifted from stunned to utterly despairing, as if she were looking at a dead person.

“Anna…”

“Mmm-hmm… Hm? What’s wrong, Luosha?”

“Anna, if one day you die an inexplicable death, I will engrave that sentence on your tombstone as your epitaph.”

“Uh, why are you suddenly saying such inauspicious things?”

Eve shook her head, reaching out to gently pat the shoulder of the bewildered blue-haired girl before her. She left Anna with a look of unbearable pity, as if to say, ‘Take care of yourself.’

‘Sigh… what a wonderfully foolish child…’

Turning to look at Yulim, Eve found the hooded girl already gnawing on her fruit, tears streaming down her face as she did so.

Eve: ‘???’

‘Wait, what’s *your* deal now?!’

Yulim struggled to swallow the fruit pulp in her mouth, her voice trembling as she sobbed and sniffled. “Waaah, it’s the taste of the forest, the taste of mother… This is the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life, I’ll remember it forever, waaah…”

‘So this one has already given up, and is thinking about her last words as her life flashes before her eyes!’

Eve took a deep breath, turning her back to the two women. Taking advantage of their inattention and the cover of the coffin on her back, she quickly offered the red fruit in her hand skyward.

“Most great, most benevolent, most beautiful Goddess of Light in the world, please quell your wrath. I am willing to return this offering to you, and I humbly beg you to forgive my companions. Their disrespectful actions were entirely unintentional!”

Although Eve didn’t know if her actions would be effective, she still hoped to salvage the situation for her saviors.

Even if she couldn’t save them, she at least hoped they wouldn’t die a gruesome death. If they turned to ash, burying them would be difficult.

However, after waiting for a moment, the red fruit in her hand did not disappear.

A new system notification appeared before her.

[Goddess of Light’s Affection +1]

[You have received a message from the Goddess of Light:]

[I am the Goddess of Order in this world. I shall bear witness to the bonds between you. Child of the Primordial, I shall record every trace you leave upon this world. I look forward to the day we formally meet in the Divine Court.]

Between heaven and earth, the divine radiance brought forth by the Goddess of Light slowly faded.

On that day, not only in the Elven Forest, but creatures across almost half the continent witnessed it: a colossal golden eye, suspended high in the distant sky, gazing down upon the entire land.

“It’s a miracle! A divine miracle!”

“The Goddess of Light has manifested!”

“Goddess, I am so hungry, so hungry. Could you grant me a black bread? I beg you!”

“Goddess, please send a great rain to save the crops in the fields!”

“Goddess of Light above, please grant me a girlfriend!”

“Goddess of Light, I wish to die. Can you grant me death…?”

Countless people knelt before the divine miracle, offering their wishes.

Yet, no matter how they knelt and prayed, after the distant miracle vanished, it brought none of the desired outcomes to those who wished upon it.

It seemed as though a deity had merely passed by in haste, casting a fleeting glance at the world on their journey.

Most people shook their heads regretfully and rose. They weren’t truly disappointed; it was to be expected that deities were busy and had no energy to concern themselves with ordinary folk like them.

At most, they would simply lament their lack of good fortune.

“As expected, I am not being watched by the gods…”

Still, some remained bowed in repentance even after the miracle faded, others raged against the gods’ injustice, and some plunged into even deeper despair…

However, the full impact of the Goddess of Light’s manifestation was something Eve only learned about later, from conversations she overheard by the roadside.

At this moment, Eve clutched the fruit that had turned golden in her arms, staring blankly up at the clear blue sky, which had returned to its normal state. A myriad of emotions swirled within her.

There was relief, astonishment, and confusion.

She was relieved that her newly joined adventuring party hadn’t reverted to a duo on the very first day.

She was astonished that the Goddess of Light had actually witnessed their childish sworn sisterhood. It was impossible to discern the Goddess’s true attitude towards it.

Did she find it amusing, a spectacle of human entertainment? Or was it simply part of her divine duties?

Eve didn’t understand, but she knew that confusion was the predominant emotion in her heart.

‘Who is the Primordial? Isn’t my race Undead? How did I suddenly become ‘their’ child?’

‘And where is the Divine Court? From the name, it must be where the Goddess resides, right?’

‘Why does this feel like déjà vu, like when your two mischievous kids misbehave and the teacher calls the parents to the office for a ‘chat’?’

‘As for where Eve’s “mischievous kids” came from?’

Eve subtly averted her gaze, looking at Anna and Yulim, who were devouring the fruit pulp, leaving not even the cores.

One was a girl completely oblivious to what had just happened, acting as if nothing was amiss. The other was a pessimistic girl, weeping tears of joy while muttering that even leaves tasted quite good.

Eve let out a deep sigh.

‘Aren’t these the two?’

“Luosha, why haven’t you eaten your fruit yet? If you don’t, the Goddess might not acknowledge our bond, you know.”

Anna leaned over, patting Eve’s shoulder from behind with a cheerful grin.

It was then that Anna finally noticed the fruit in Eve’s hand looked a little different.

“Huh… Luosha, was your fruit golden all along? I distinctly remember it being red…”

“Oh? Perhaps the Goddess of Light visited just now and kissed this fruit.”

Anna paused for a moment at her words, then burst into carefree laughter. “Hahaha, Luosha, you’re quite the joker! The Goddess of Light isn’t that idle.”

“Alright, hurry up and try it! I picked all these fruits based on my experience of tasting a hundred different kinds – they’re absolutely refreshing and delicious!”

Seeing this, Eve said nothing more. This outspoken, blue-haired girl who dared to court death brazenly right under the Goddess’s nose, had rendered Eve immune to any further surprises.

Finally, under Anna’s persistent urging, Eve had no choice but to take a bite of the fruit.

*Crunch~*

A sweet flavor filled her mouth.

Indeed, just as Anna had said, the fruits of the Elven Forest were exceptionally delicious.