"Let's not rush into action," Elysia advised. "Sending investigators might alert our target, and without a precise location, I can't strike directly."
"The White Tower is currently undergoing rapid expansion, isn't it?" Elysia said. "We can consider the Lust issue again once we have more manpower."
"Understood," Baldy Burke nodded.
Of course, Elysia's stated reasons were only part of the truth. Another reason was that she wanted Sparkle to scout the situation first. After all, Sparkle had traveled all the way from the Dragon Nation to White Eagle; her journey shouldn't be in vain.
Then, Elysia turned to the White Tower's entrance with a hint of confusion. A square formation of elderly people stood ramrod straight, chests puffed out like soldiers awaiting orders.
And in truth, they were soldiers.
"What's this?" Elysia asked.
Baldy Burke replied, "I just checked. They're all newly registered believers of the recently founded Church of Elysia, and veterans of the Great Britain War from many years ago."
"Believer?" Elysia heard the word for the second time that day, her expression turning bewildered. "What church?"
Baldy Burke's face remained impassive as he solemnly replied, "The Church of Elysia."
Elysia: "!?!"
Within seconds, her cheeks flushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head like water boiling in a kettle.
This is utterly mortifying!
If she were an ordinary person, like in her previous life, she might have found the idea of a "Church of Elysia" amusing, perhaps even joining in the fun of chanting "Amen" with the others.
But the problem was that in her previous life, "Elysia" was merely a fictional character. In this world, Elysia was real—and that person was her!
The thought of believers enshrining her photo for morning and evening prayers, casually interjecting "Amen" into their conversations, filled her with unbearable shame and awkwardness.
She wasn't some divine being—just an ordinary person!
Inside her high heels, Elysia's ten delicate toes had curled into a tight knot, as if desperately trying to claw out a three-bedroom apartment in the sole.
She felt the same crushing embarrassment she'd experienced in elementary school when a teacher had discovered the absurd story she'd impulsively written and read it aloud to the entire class.
Even though she was outgoing and a self-proclaimed "social butterfly," that didn't mean she was immune to shame!
Stammering slightly, Elysia blurted out, "W-wait... how can you say something so outrageous with a straight face?"
Baldy Burke looked genuinely surprised. "Is it really that outrageous? The Church of Elysia is a legally registered organization, and when I looked into its doctrine earlier, I found it quite impressive. To be honest, I'm almost tempted to join myself."
Elysia stared blankly. "???"
"But I'm not a god! Wouldn't it be weird for people to worship me?"
Burke raised an eyebrow. "Fine, if you say so. But do you think the gods of other religions actually respond to their believers? Besides, who knows? If people worship you, maybe you'll actually appear to save them in their hour of need."
"Besides," Baldy Burke continued, "isn't faith just a spiritual crutch? Believe and it exists; disbelieve and it doesn't. According to my research, many depression sufferers who joined the Church of Elysia, watching your videos and listening to your voice daily, have experienced a remarkable improvement in their condition. That's a tangible benefit."
As he spoke, Baldy Burke even clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and prayed aloud in Elysia's presence: "Miss Pink Elf, please bless me with a joyful day. Amen!"
"Hmm, I think that's a common prayer in the Church. Maybe it'll be more effective if I pray directly to the source?"
"Ugh..." Elysia was too embarrassed to speak, managing only a soft nasal hum as she lowered her head slightly.
Baldy Burke, however, saw through her discomfort. "Lady Elysia, don't overthink it. You don't need to manage the Church yourself. Just continue doing what you do every day and act as if they don't exist."
"Moreover, the very existence of the Church of Elysia is helping countless people. They're embodying your ideals and striving to make the world a better place. Isn't that a good thing?"
Baldy Burke glanced toward the doorway before turning back to Elysia. "So, what are your plans for these people? Should we have them join the White Tower?"
Elysia, still flustered from her earlier embarrassment, murmured softly, "What about their own wishes?"
"They all want to join," Baldy Burke replied. "To be honest, their ability test results weren't impressive. But after reviewing their records, I can confidently say that within the next five years, this group of fewer than a hundred individuals will undoubtedly become the sharpest blade in your arsenal."
Why five years? Because after that, these veterans might be too frail to fight.
Elysia didn't particularly care about their potential as a "sharp blade." When needed, she could always summon SAM for a deus ex machina intervention. Could these old-timers possibly rival SAM's capabilities?
Still, she didn't want to dismiss their goodwill. Elysia nodded in agreement.
After chatting with Baldy Burke for a while longer and confirming there were no further matters to discuss, Elysia practically fled back to her apartment. Kicking off her shoes, she dove onto her bed, buried her face in the soft pillows, and wriggled. Her slender legs, clad in white stockings, swung back and forth.
-
Meanwhile, Sparkle had returned to Elysia's apartment. Through Wrath and Lust's chat logs, she discovered that all seven high-ranking members of The Eldritch Concord were in Florida—the former territory of the Martyr—though scattered across different cities.
Lust was in a neighboring city, not too far away. However, it was late at night, and Sparkle couldn't possibly walk there overnight. She decided to wait until morning.
Sparkle sat on the edge of the bed. Since she and Elysia were essentially the same person, their emotions mirrored each other. A faint blush warmed Sparkle's cheeks, and her toes, painted with red nail polish, curled slightly.
However, she didn't mimic Elysia's cute, girlish gestures. After all, they were the same person; Elysia had already vented their shared embarrassment, making a second display unnecessary.
As Elysia's mood gradually calmed, Sparkle's demeanor returned to normal as well.