“Rumble…”
As Shien and lika stepped into the temple, the heavy stone door closed behind them with a loud boom, plunging the temple into darkness.
However, the darkness didn’t last long.
“Clang!”
A soft light blood from within the temple, dispelling the darkness.
Shien and lika blinked as their eyes adjusted, taking in the scene before them.
“This is…?” Shien murmured, stunned.
The interior of the temple was a beautiful garden, filled with colorful flowers and lush vegetation. Butterflies fluttered, and fairies chased each other. This beautiful scene, within a temple, was surreal.
At the garden’s deepest point was a massive statue, situated in a large fountain, clear water flowing from its sleeves, a glowing tree behind it emitting a soft light.
The light that dispelled the darkness ca from this glowing tree, illuminating the temple’s interior like a warm sun.
Shien and lika’s arrival didn’t disturb the tranquility. They seed to blend seamlessly into this scene, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
“It hasn’t changed at all,” lika said, her nervousness and unease fading as she looked around with nostalgia and joy.
“You’ve been here before?” Shien asked, then realized it was a silly question. Of course, lika had been here.
“After I transford into an elf, Sister Carol brought here once, and I received the goddess’s blessing here,” lika said, a mix of joy and nostalgia in her voice. “But I haven’t been back since.”
In other words, lika had only been here once, and that was over a hundred years ago.
“This is my first ti,” Shien said, shrugging. He looked up at the statue in the fountain.
It was the statue of a goddess. Although not intricately carved, its outline still conveyed a sense of divinity and majesty.
“Is this the statue of the Goddess of Nature?” Shien wondered.
At this mont…
“Welco to my temple, my dear child, and honored guest from another world.”
A clear, refreshing voice, like water and a gentle breeze, echoed, reaching Shien and lika.
“Hum!” Before they could react, a dense, natural magic power surged within the temple. It was the magic of nature, the power of the surrounding plants and trees. Strands of magic power flowed from everything around them like green streams, converging towards the fountain.
The water in the fountain rose, forming streams that gathered above. Shien watched as the streams intertwined, forming a streamlined body of water that gradually solidified into a graceful figure.
Thus, the goddess appeared, erging from nature, taking form amidst the flowers and trees.
“Nalue, the Goddess of Nature…” lika murmured, as if in a trance.
One of the Three Goddesses, Nadue, the Goddess of Nature, descended at this mont.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
The goddess slowly descended from the sky, landing before the fountain, her back to her own statue, and smiled at Shien and lika.
It was an elegant, beautiful smile, full of dignity and grace.
“Goddess Nadue…”
lika, forgetting her nervousness and anxiety, overwheld with excitent and emotion, instinctively knelt before Nadue.
However, as soon as lika moved, a gentle force, like a breeze, lifted her up.
“There’s no need for such formalities, my child.”
Nadue looked at lika with a kind and gentle gaze, like a mother looking at her daughter.
“I’ve been watching over you for a long ti, lika, a timid and shy, yet determined, elven girl with unwavering beliefs. It’s wonderful to finally et you like this.”
Nadue’s kind words made lika even more excited and moved.
“I… I’ve also always wanted to et you, the goddess of our faith, Goddess Nadue!”
Admiration and reverence filled lika’s eyes, her voice choked with emotion.
She was overwheld with excitent.
“I know, child. I can feel your faith and devotion.” Nadue said softly, as if comforting lika, “Don’t worry, I’m here, always watching over you, with you. Now, take a deep breath, and let’s have a good chat.”
lika nodded vigorously and obediently took deep breaths, trying to calm down.
Shien watched all this, looking at the dignified, beautiful, and approachable goddess, and suddenly understood why everyone said she was the most perfect being.
She was, as her title suggested, a flawless goddess.
Her beauty was impeccable.
Her deanor was impeccable.
Her voice and aura were impeccably polite, pleasant, and captivating.
If it weren’t for the natural aura around her, telling others that she was the Goddess of Nature, Shien believed that everyone who saw her would think she was the goddess of beauty, etiquette, and the most flawless femininity.
“So, this is the last of the Three Goddesses…?”
Shien murmured unconsciously.
Nadue turned her gaze to Shien, a beautiful smile on her face.
“It seems Lildas and Anima have been under your care, Hero from another world.”
Nadue greeted Shien.
Shien wasn’t surprised.
“It seems you already know my identity, Goddess.”
Shien shrugged.
“Yes.” Nadue admitted frankly, without hiding anything, “Anima has already told , so I’ve been watching over you.”
“Watching over ?” Shien raised an eyebrow, recalling the strange presence he had sensed during his battle with Aldia. “That presence I felt at that ti, it was you, wasn’t it?”
Nadue neither confird nor denied, just smiled.
“I’ve been observing you for a long ti.” Nadue said, “I know what kind of person you are, and I also know that you’re afraid of unnecessary trouble. Therefore, there’s no need for you to be wary of . I won’t harm you.”
“Oh?” Shien looked directly at Nadue. “Even though my appearance as the Hero is inexplicable and unnecessary for the current three races, even a seed of chaos, it’s still the sa?”
Shien tested her.
But Nadue’s smile didn’t waver.
“It’s the sa.” Nadue t Shien’s gaze. “No matter how you ca to this world, or how you were summoned, as long as you are the Hero, our Divine Race will never harm you.”
This was the foundation of trust built between the Divine Race and Heroes over a long ti.
Anima had also said more than once that the Divine Race held respect for Heroes.
“After all, strictly speaking, you are not only our most valued helpers, but also the saviors of this world.”
Nadue gave Shien the highest praise.
Of course, Shien wouldn’t forget who he was just because of a few flattering words.
“I hope so.” Shien smiled casually. “At least, I don’t want to be enemies with the Divine Race.”
This was the truth.
Not only because the Divine Race’s power wasn’t sothing the current Shien could contend with, but also because Shien sincerely didn’t want to be their enemy.
It wasn’t that he was afraid, but there was no need for it.
Otherwise, becoming enemies with the Divine Race would be too troubleso.
“We feel the sa way.” Nadue said sincerely, “Being enemies with the Hero is unimaginable.”
This wasn’t just because Heroes possessed terrifying potential, but also because the Divine Race and Heroes had always been allies. Suddenly becoming enemies would be unsettling.
Nadue was certain that if they beca enemies with the Hero, it would cause great unrest within the Divine Race.
As long as they were gods, they never thought the Hero would beco their enemy.
This was a deep-rooted belief.
Even though…
“A thousand years later, the Hero who suddenly appeared in this world not only distanced himself from the Divine Race, but also established a close relationship with a Demon Lord of the Demon Race.”
Nadue’s words made the atmosphere in the temple subtle.
Especially Shien, whose expression turned strange.
“Could this be… jealousy?”
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