My Goddess is Good at Pretending

The pantheon members from Vrelenia got their turn to return to their homeland, accompanied by Elysia. Still, it didn't mean everyone wanted to bid their farewell or meet with people they would leave behind.

Yuuki, Morfina, Yaereene, and Lyla refused to see their family or acquaintances for personal reasons. Yuuki had cut all ties with any strings to this world; Morfina was reluctant to see her disgraceful family members who sold her off; Yae literally condemned her village for similar reasons to Morfina, and as for Lyla... she didn't want to see anyone since she was close to nobody in this world.

Therefore, they took advantage of their respective turn and opportunities for private quality time with their master.

"Are you sure you don't want to meet anyone?" Elysia put her hand on Lyla's tiny shoulder.

"I don't need to tell them anything. I'm already happy with our new family. I don't wish to return to that kind of life." Lyla shook her head, but she showed no remorse or complicated expression. It was simply a pure relief and blessed joy, enjoying her master's company.

Elysia heaved a subtle sigh, knowing Yuuki, Morfi, Yae, and Lyla had come to an agreement and tacit understanding for exactly the same reasons. She then extended her hand. "If you say so, then fine. Let's leave this place and return to the Human Continent."

"Mm, thank you for bringing me around. It was fun, master." Lyla replied with a bright smile.

Her quality time with her master was almost over, but considering the next in turn would be Dory, she chose to return early because she wanted to give Dory more time with their master.

"..." Dory faintly smiled at Lyla, appreciating the kindness. She stepped out of the realm portal clad in an all-black dress.

She also brought a large bouquet of flowers in her hands, filled with ylang-ylang, jasmine, roses, orchids, gladioli, chrysanthemums, carnations, tuberoses, daffodils, and frangipani.

"Master, will you accompany me on a pilgrimage?" Dory asked to make sure. Instead of using her time to seek a joyful moment, she asked for something that was the opposite of what the other sisters wanted.

"I will always be by your side, Dory. Let's go on a pilgrimage and pray for them together." Elysia replied with a tender expression as she offered her hand to Dory.

"Mm, thank you, master." Dory held her master's hand, feeling relieved and grateful.

A few seconds later, they arrived in the former deadly zone affected by the destruction caused by the fake Sea God. Their destination was Dory's homeland, but unfortunately, everything was already destroyed, leaving nothing but ruins.

In their previous visit, the fake Sea God was slain, and the deceased was liberated, but unfortunately, the dead couldn't be revived, so they made a mass funeral to remember all the fallen warriors, especially the Lolerei Clan, Dory's family.

In the depths of the ocean, where sunlight barely touched, Elysia descended with Dory to pay homage to the fallen warriors. The sea was silent and mournful as if it also remembered the tragedy that had unfolded here.

Lorelei was one of the merfolk clan who fought valiantly during the fake Sea God's confrontation, a cataclysmic battle where they had given their lives to protect their home. Though their names had faded, their sacrifice was eternal.

Dory, though dressed in all black, already resembled a mermaid queen. By the time she and her master arrived, the essence of the sea carried them toward the sacred resting place, the Tomb of Tides, the burial ground for so many merfolk heroes, including her fallen family members.

The great monument crafted from ancient coral and enchanted pearl stood amidst the deep trench.

Elysia extended her hand, releasing a soft glow of divine light, illuminating the dark water. "Brave warriors of the deep. Your sacrifice is not forgotten. You may have arrived at the paradise of the afterlife. Your names are never forgotten as the tides still whisper your tales."

Dory approached the grand altar, bowing her head. "Your people live on, guided by your bravery. Today, we honor you."

There was no response, resonance, or other supernatural occurrence. Dory smiled faintly, knowing the deceased had been sent to eternal rest by her master that day. No lingering spirits remained in the realm of mortals. They were already in the afterlife...

"I will not let their deaths be in vain. If war comes upon our ocean, we will stand strong. I won't let my family suffer ever again..." Dory clenched her fists.

Elysia placed her hand on Dory's shoulder. "Then let it be your strength, not your sorrow."

With that, the pilgrimage ended, but the memory of the fallen warriors would live on, carried by the tides and immortalized in the hearts of those who remained.

Since there was still plenty of time for Dory, Elysia invited Dory for a tour of the newly repaired ocean. Considering the original Sea God was responsible for restoring the sea caused by the fake Sea God's destruction, they wished to see how far the ocean environment had been repaired.

"My pink mermaid, what do you think of this newly repaired sea?" Elysia held Dory from behind, wrapping her arms around Dory's tummy.

"Uhm, it's not that bad. At least 80% of the sea has been restored, and there is no more pollution or dangerous contamination. Fish and other marine life can live their lives." Dory touched the nearby fish, but they quickly ran away in shock.

She then noticed her master suddenly hugged her from behind, or rather, latched onto her back.

They would soon go to the divine war next week. Although that war was not for them, not even their responsibility, her master couldn't ignore or shrink from the promise. Therefore, she would do anything to protect her family because Elysium Pantheon was her everything now, the only thing she had.

But, well... her master was so close to her, and her master's fragrance was too much. It put her mind aside because she couldn't focus on anything else but her master at a time like this.

"Hm?" Dory just realized it. Her master was currently in the exotic mermaid form, but her master latched onto her back because her master didn't want to swim. She literally carried her master on her back.

Out of curiosity, she stopped her fishtail's movements. Yet, her master took over the swimming, carrying her like a baby fish under the care of a mother fish.

"Hm, what's wrong?" Elysia smiled softly as Dory stared at her in surprise. "Take it slow. We should enjoy this moment to go sightseeing together. We take turns swimming."

"Yes..." Dory looked down, hiding her shy, embarrassed face. Their lower half moved in sync, and she was at the bottom, but it felt like something else.

Given the polyvalent cultivation method and the night of the retreat, she already became so inseparable from her master, just like her fellow sisters, as they had formed an advanced soul bond relationship with their master.

"Fuiyoh! We found a huge harvest and encountered two wandering mermaid beauties! Ladies, where are you going, just the two of you?" A frogman approached with a giant pickaxe on his shoulder.

"The deep sea is dangerous for girls to wander around unguarded. How about you go to this big bro's place?" Another frogman tried to hit on the girls, but his hand was dishonest and tried to touch the beautiful purple mermaid's hips.

"Get lost!" Dory stared at the frogman with heavy killing intent, intimidating the frogman like a predator to its prey.

"!!!" The two rogue miners paled as they jolted back, unable to breathe, and soon fainted.

"Fufu, you're so fierce. I hope your mood isn't ruined by them." Elysia rubbed her cheek with Dory's.

"Heehee, how is that possible, master? They're just presumptuous, nobody." Dory licked her master's cheek, mimicking what her fluffy sisters usually did to their master, thinking her master was fond of it.

"Hum, you naughty girl, see how your master teaches you a lesson later." Elysia poked Dory's cheek with a teasing giggle.

"Ah, Dory is honored to receive master's guidance." Dory chuckled along. What her master might not realize is that she snapped because those lowlifes tried to touch her master, not because they tried to hit on them.

For the next moments, they spent their quality time together for many things. They intentionally hid their presence so that no one would disturb their time together, even if it was from another god.

The joyous opportunity passed so quickly, and they had to return to the mainland because it was Evelyn's turn. Dory returned to the Nature Realm, and Elysia took Evelyn to the Ariatha Kingdom's imperial palace.

"A-ah?!" Evelyn tripped over her own feet while going down the stairs, falling onto Elysia's back.

"Oh? Do you want me to piggyback you? Sure." Elysia carried Evelyn on her back, sticking their bodies closely.

"U-uh, thank you..." Evelyn hid her face on Elysia's back, feeling a bit embarrassed because of her clumsiness. She was a bit too excited to meet her father, mother, and brother, but, well, she tripped. "Ely, do you think I'm silly and clumsy?"

"Fufu, you're an airhead, silly, clumsy, and your mouth can easily spill the secrets. Sometimes, I want to tie you up and seal your lips. However, that's what makes you so attractive and cute. I can't take my eyes off you, Eve." Elysia laughed, honest with her feelings.

"Do, do you think so? Thank you for your commitment." Evelyn covered her mouth and turned her face away, blushing but happy.

"???" Elysia realized Evelyn had misinterpreted some of her words, but she didn't bother to correct her.

In many situations, Evelyn made her worry because this girl's brain juice and nutrients mostly went to one's breasts, and Evelyn's trait, sometimes could easily leak secrets, and this one would make her anxious. Because of that, she paid extra attention to Evelyn, her silly but cute sister.

"Huh?" A black knight passed by and was stunned by the presence of two unexpected girls in the inner palace. He froze for a few seconds when he realized it was actually Goddess Elysia and his little sister, Evelyn!

"Yo! Long time no see, Billie. I hope you have become a good and accomplished ranger hero." Evelyn raised her hand to her big brother.