How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 745: A Goddess’s Advice to Godhood 2

After getting over my initial surprise at seeing Vanessa dressed in church robes, she led me away from the main hall.

The cathedral was packed today.

Pilgrims, students, nobles, and believers from all across the continent filled every corner of the building, making it impossible to have a proper conversation.

Fortunately, Vanessa seemed to have quite a bit of authority here now.

The moment she gave a small nod to the nearby sisters, they quietly excused themselves without asking any questions, leaving us with one of the private rooms reserved for the nuns.

The door closed behind us.

The outside chatter immediately became a faint murmur.

Vanessa took a seat across from me before tilting her head curiously.

"So... you’re looking for Emmy, Senior?"

"Yeah."

"That’s unfortunate..."

She smiled apologetically.

"Emmy left the cathedral not too long ago."

"...Where’d she go?"

Vanessa let out a small laugh.

"Honestly?"

"I have no idea."

"..."

"...That doesn’t inspire confidence."

"It shouldn’t."

She giggled.

"Before she left, she was going on and on about some secret bread shop she found somewhere in the hidden outskirts of the commercial district."

Vanessa cleared her throat before suddenly mimicking Emilia almost perfectly.

"’Fufu~ Just wait and see, Vanny, Anna, Amon! You’ll all be amazed by the exquisite taste and freshness of that wonderful bread~!’"

She even copied Emilia’s proud little smile.

"..."

"...That sounds exactly like her."

"I know, right?"

Vanessa covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"She was so excited that she rushed out the moment morning mass ended."

"Thankfully, Anna and Amon secretly followed her."

"So she should be safe."

She paused before letting out another helpless sigh.

"Though she’s been getting a little too relaxed lately."

"At this rate, someone is going to figure it out."

"The Saintess of the Church of Light wandering around the academy buying bread instead of staying inside the Holy Church isn’t exactly the image people expect."

I couldn’t help smiling.

"...For a saintess, she’s surprisingly carefree."

"Fufu."

Vanessa’s expression softened.

"That’s just how Emmy has always been."

"I actually hope she never changes."

"For someone carrying that much responsibility..."

"...I think she deserves to enjoy little things like this."

There was a brief silence before she looked back at me.

"But enough about Emmy."

"What did you need her for?"

"It’s about divinity. And... the goddess."

Vanessa blinked.

"I wanted to ask her a few things."

"If it’s about divinity and the goddess the clergy members her should suffice, no?"

"She’s the saintess."

"If anyone in this cathedral has a direct connection to the Goddess of Light, it’s her."

"The priests and clergy can teach doctrine. But they can’t explain history and origin of said divinity They can even tell me what the scriptures say."

"But Emilia’s..."

I leaned back slightly.

"Her advice carries a different kind of weight. She’s the only one who directly speaks with the goddess. And right now... I need answers that only someone like her can give."

Listening to me Vanessa lightly twirled her green hair, before looking at me all serious.

"Does this have something to do with the question you asked me last time... about your curiosity regarding the World Tree?"

I shook my head.

"No. This one’s mostly... personal."

"I see."

Vanessa didn’t press the matter.

Instead, she quietly studied me for a moment before speaking again.

"You try to hide it, so most people probably don’t notice... But you really do give off an aura of divinity, Senior."

I instinctively looked down at my hands.

"I do?"

"A little."

She nodded.

"To ordinary people, it’s almost impossible to sense. But elves are naturally more sensitive to mana and spiritual energy."

"And..."

She hesitated.

"Yours feels different."

"It’s difficult to explain."

"It isn’t oppressive."

"It isn’t overwhelming."

"It simply... exists."

"As though the world itself quietly acknowledges it."

"..."

That was a strange way to describe it.

"Honestly," Vanessa continued, "it’s still hard for me to understand how you’ve reached this level at such a young age."

"I know humans mature faster than elves, and many of your strongest figures reach their prime much earlier than ours..."

"But even considering that..."

She smiled wryly.

"Your growth is unprecedented... Though, I suppose monsters like Senior Rose, Seo, Alice... and Lucas exist. So perhaps that’s just... how humans are?"

I couldn’t help laughing.

"Haha... I think it’s safer to treat us as exceptions."

I was an Anomaly, Lucas is the protagonist of this world and girls are simply cheat like characters with fate’s tied to the world, comparing us to ordinary beings of this world would just be pointless.

"I’d rather not have the entire human race judged by people like us. Otherwise, everyone’s expectations would be way too high."

"That’s true."

Vanessa laughed as well.

"I suppose thinking of you all as rare exceptions makes things easier."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she added,

"Oh and before you ask... Nothing unusual has happened around the World Tree. I figured you’d want to know."

"That’s good."

The World Tree was still one of my biggest concerns.

Anything happening there usually meant something much bigger was about to happen somewhere else.

"Please let me know immediately if anything changes."

"I will."

She gave a reassuring nod before smiling.

"But please stop saying things that sound like you’re expecting a disaster every other week."

"Sorry..."

Vanessa stood up from her chair and brushed the wrinkles from her robes.

"Anyway...If you’re waiting for Emmy, you might as well stay here."

"Knowing her, she’ll probably come running back in a little while carrying enough bread for everyone."

"...That does sound like her."

"I’ll let the sisters know not to disturb this room."

She walked toward the door before resting her hand on the handle.

"That way, you and Emmy can talk without anyone interrupting."

"Thanks."

"You’re welcome~"

She slowly opened the door.

Just before stepping outside, she suddenly stopped.

She turned back toward me with an oddly mischievous smile.

"Oh..."

"The two of you can take as much time as you want. Fufu~"

"...Sure."

I already knew what kind of misunderstanding that smile was trying to imply.

Choosing not to dignify it with a response, I simply waved her off.

Vanessa giggled one last time before quietly closing the door behind her, leaving me alone inside the silent room to wait for a certain carefree saintess who had somehow prioritized buying bread over her duties.

....

"Hehehe~"

A cheerful giggle escaped Emilia as she happily skipped through the academy’s commercial district.

The afternoon breeze gently swayed her hair while two paper bags filled with freshly baked bread rested comfortably in her arms. Warm steam drifted from the bags, carrying the rich aroma of butter and freshly baked dough through the busy streets.

"I’m sure everyone will love these."

She smiled to herself.

"I bought enough for everyone this time."

"Vanny’s definitely going to be surprised. And Mr. Baker even gave me a few extra pieces. Hehe~"

Her pace became a little lighter.

Thanks to the magic item she wore, no one paid her any special attention.

Her long ebony hair had become a soft brown.

Her sapphire-blue eyes now carried a greenish hue with hints of gold.

Even a few freckles decorated her cheeks, completing the disguise of an ordinary academy girl.

To everyone passing by...

She was just another student enjoying her afternoon.

If only they knew.

If the countless worshippers surrounding the cathedral realized that the Saintess of the Church of Light was casually walking among them carrying bags of bread...

Half of them would probably faint on the spot.

...

Not far behind her...

Two figures silently followed.

Anna and Amon.

Neither of them made a sound.

Neither took their eyes off Emilia for even a second.

The academy appeared peaceful.

Students laughed.

Merchants called out to customers.

Visitors admired the bustling streets.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

Which was exactly why they couldn’t afford to relax.

The Continental Grand Festival had opened Lumen Academy to people from every corner of the continent.

Nobles.

Adventurers.

Merchants.

Foreign delegates.

Even individuals whose identities remained unknown.

There were simply too many variables.

As Emilia’s personal guards, they couldn’t allow even the smallest mistake.

Whenever someone looked a little too interested...

Anna would subtly redirect them.

Whenever someone unknowingly wandered into Emilia’s path...

Amon would casually interrupt their route.

The two worked with seamless coordination.

Invisible.

Efficient.

Emilia, meanwhile...

Remained blissfully unaware.

She simply hummed to herself, completely convinced her walk back to the cathedral had been wonderfully peaceful.

....

Everything was going perfectly.

Until—

"Hello."

"Hm?"

Emilia stopped walking and turned toward the unfamiliar voice.

Standing before her was a beautiful young woman with snow-white hair flowing past her shoulders and brilliant crimson eyes that seemed capable of seeing straight through people.

"...Ah."

Emilia blinked.

"Hello."

"I’m sorry... do I know you?"

The woman offered a gentle smile before giving a graceful bow.

"My apologies for approaching you so suddenly."

"My name is Liyana Heavens."

Behind Emilia...

Anna’s eyes narrowed.

Amon subtly shifted his footing.

Neither of them had sensed her approach.

Not until she had already spoken.

"..."

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Liyana slowly raised her head.

"As a devoted follower of the Goddess of Light, Eris..."

She smiled with impeccable elegance.

"...I was hoping we could have a brief conversation."

There was a brief pause.

Then...

She spoke the next words so naturally that Emilia’s entire body froze.

"Saintess Emilia."

"...!"

The paper bags nearly slipped from Emilia’s hands.

"H-Hic—!"

She let out an involuntary hiccup as her eyes widened in complete shock.

Her disguise...

Had been seen through.