CHAPTER 609

【 MAY THE GODDESS BE WITH YOU 】

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The live broadcast viewing in the tavern continued on with the announcer passionately narrating what was happening on the battlefield until his voice was nearly hoarse.

If Evé had heard correctly, the announcer seemed to be a rather well-known streamer from Earth who was particularly good at stirring up the crowd and delivering humorous jokes.

Seeing how energetic and professional he sounded, she briefly wondered how Little Salty Cat had managed to put such a guy in charge as the MC.

Though knowing how the petite rich girl usually operates, it most likely involved the power of money.

Meanwhile, while the spectators cheered and discussed the ongoing events with growing excitement, the battlefield mission raged on, showing no signs of ever slowing down.

Everyone in the tavern had their eyes fixed on the massive screen, fully absorbed in this otherworldly live broadcast.

This was especially true of the native elves, who, for the very first time were witnessing such a large-scale battle in a public setting.

As a result, in contrast to their usually reserved demeanor, their expressions this time were far more animated than usual. They would cheered wildly when a player performed heroic feats, gasped in shock at sudden twists, murmured anxiously when danger loomed, and erupted into exhilarated shouts whenever someone managed to slay a powerful enemy.

Seeing their behavior unconsciously reminded Evé of sports fans back on Earth, shouting and gesturing as though their passion alone could sway the outcome of the match. For a brief moment, she could not help but find such parallel amusing.

She chuckled softly and shook her head, then picked up the cup of floral tea from the table and drank it in one go.

The mixture of floral fragrance and sweetness spread through her mouth, leaving behind a refreshing and delightful aftertaste that seemed to brighten her senses.

A wave of clarity and relaxation washed over her, easing both her body and mind. Narrowing her eyes with satisfaction, Evé set the wooden cup down with a faint smile playing at her lips.

She had to admit, this elven floral tea was indeed quite excellent. No wonder it had become the most popular beverage in the game. Rumor even had it that some people were trying to recreate its flavor back on Earth.

Of course, no one had succeeded so far, since many of its ingredients were unique plants that only grew here in the Elven Forest.

Whilst Evé was lost in thought, a gentle and cordial female voice sounded beside her.

“Miss Chosen One, would you like a refill?”

It came from a beautiful elven maiden.

The waitress wore a reserved smile and carried a tray laden with fruit and drinks, her graceful movements drawing the attention of several nearby patrons.

Evé cast her a calm glance, then smiled slightly and gave a small nod. At the same time, Little Salty Cat leaned over and raised her hand high, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Me too! Give me one too! Another fruit platter and a mousse cake!”

Evé paused in surprise.

Mousse cake?

Have the players already managed to recreate such complex desserts these days?

“Very well, Lady Little Salty Cat,” the elven waitress replied with a gentle smile.

She replaced Salty Cat’s floral tea with a fresh cup, set down a delicate fruit platter, and added, “I will bring the mousse cake shortly.”

“OK! Thankies!”

Little Salty Cat made an “thumbs up” gesture with her hand, brimming with satisfaction.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

The elven waitress bowed slightly before withdrawing, her figure soon blending back into the tavern’s lively atmosphere.

As Evé watched the waitress disappear into the crowd, she turned her gaze back toward Little Salty Cat, curiosity flickering faintly in her eyes.

“Is this your property?”

Little Salty Cat’s eyes curved into a smile.

“Oh, you noticed?”

“Yeah. She addressed me as ‘Miss Chosen One’ but called you ‘Lady Little Salty Cat,’ and she was far more respectful toward you.”

Evé raised her brows slightly as she spoke.

“Hehe, Sister Féng, your observation is quite sharp,” Little Salty Cat replied with a light laugh.

Evé gave no immediate comment. Instead, her gaze drifted once more across the tavern, taking in the busy scene and briefly settling on the native elven servers weaving gracefully among the patrons. Then she lifted her cup, took another sip of floral tea.

“These servers, are they all from Ouros?”

“Yep, they are all elven NPCs from there. What do you think, Sister Féng? Not bad, right?”

Little Salty Cat proudly puffed out her well-endowed chest.

Yet Evé, who knew her real-life identity, was aware that this girl was actually just a first-year high school student with a completely flat chest.

“Indeed, not bad at all.”

Evé nodded.

It had been going on for quite a while already, but the trend of players hiring native elves seemed to be accelerating more than ever. In hindsight, it was to be expected, since the natives were far more patient and disciplined than the players, which made them especially well suited for such line of work.

Some players who had purchased “mansions” in the game even went as far as employing native gardeners, maids, and butlers to tend to their estates.

In fact, even in restaurants run by players, the chefs had gradually shifted from being players themselves to native elves who had received proper training from the former.

Overall, it was a win-win situation.

The elves gained employment and stability, while the players were freed from such tedious and repetitive chores.

This trend also allowed the blood-purified elves from Ouros to settle down much more quickly. Not only did they benefit from the abundance of resources in the Elven Forest, but they also found no shortage of work opportunities provided by the players.

The wages, of course, were paid in gold coins.

These mainly came from the profits players earned through trade with merchants from the underground and the human nations. By leveraging the unique resources of the Elven Forest, the players established a steady stream of commerce.

They sold herbs, rare timber, enchanted materials, and other forest specialties to the underground and to the human territories in exchange for gold coins, which were then used to pay the elves’ salaries.

It is worth noting that as the population of both players and elven NPCs continued to grow, the use of gold coins for daily transactions became increasingly common.

This trend was primarily driven by the influence of the native elves.

Naturally, this did not mean that contribution points had been replaced, but rather that the two currency had diverged into different functions.

Contribution points were primarily tied to the enhancement of players’ personal abilities, including equipment exchanges, acquisition of magical materials, and forging of magical tools, and thus circulated mainly amongst the players themselves.

Gold coins, on the other hand, became the main currency for transactions between the players and NPCs, while also increasingly covering players’ daily needs such as food, clothing, housing, and travel.

Nowadays, whether it be dining at taverns, staying at inns, or even hiring carriages and magical beasts as mounts, everything could be settled with gold coins.

This reminded Evé of certain martial arts games on earth, where there were both “chivalry points” and silver coins as currency.

Of course, gold coins and contribution points could still be freely exchanged, depending on one’s needs.

However, as the players gradually integrated into this world, and as the community they built within the Elven Forest began to connect and intertwine with other civilizations of Seigües, the importance of gold coins only continued to grow.

After all, gold coins were the universal currency of Seigües, recognized and valued by every race and nations.

However, if one were to ask who possessed the most gold coins in the entire server, it was neither Demacia, who was preparing to expand his Amway Trading Company into the Dwarven Kingdom, nor Little Salty Cat, the real estate tycoon nicknamed “Half-Owner of Chosen City.”

It was actually the great Goddess of Life, Evé herself.

Nonetheless, no matter how much gold coins grew in importance, contribution points remained irreplaceable in the field of the players’ personal development.

Especially in the aspect of buying equipment, they were still the main mode of currency since the players continued to exchange gold coins for contribution points through offerings on a daily basis.

Over time, the gold coins accumulated in Eve’s divine kingdom had almost piled up into mountains.

Of course, to Evé, such things were meaningless. As a true god, her needs were entirely different from those of mortals.

If she so wished, she could easily manifest countless gold coins with divine power and project them directly into Seigües.

However, such endeavor would not be worth the effort.

Evé leisurely continued watching the live broadcast while sipping her floral tea, the floral sweetness lingering faintly on her tongue.

Currently, Evil God Barolte had not yet appeared, and the decisive moment that required her intervention had not arrived.

For now, it was enough to sit back and enjoy the spectacle of the players showing off their strength on the battlefield.

Of course, she also could not help but feel a trace of gratitude toward the hardworking Fairy King Feynir. That little one’s tireless efforts in handling mundane affairs had freed her hands, thus granting Evé the rare opportunity to relax and indulge in this moment of leisure.

Before long, the elven waitress returned with her tray.

She gently placed a plate of delicate mousse cake before Little Salty Cat, announcing in a polite tone, “Lady Little Salty Cat, here is the mousse cake you ordered.”

Little Salty Cat’s eyes lit up with delight. She casually dropped a small handful of gold coins onto the tray, raised her petite hand, and said with satisfaction, “Much appreciated.”

The elven waitress’s face brightened as she joyfully accepted the coins, bowed respectfully, and quietly withdrew into the crowd.

Evé’s gaze naturally shifted toward the mousse cake.

It was a fruit-based mousse, reinterpreted with the unique ingredients of Seigües. Cut into precise cubes, its base displayed a soft yellow hue, delicately garnished with thin slices of fruit and topped with a smooth layer of cream that shimmered gently under the warm tavern light.

With a single glance, Evé was able to discern its composition.

Most of the ingredients could be sourced directly from the Elven Forest. The primary gelling agent, however, appeared to be derived from a type of plant gum native to the forest, while the fresh cream had clearly been produced from milk originating in the human territories.

Although its preparation varied slightly from the methods used on Earth, the overall process seemed to have remained largely the same. Moreover, since the fruits used came from the Elven Forest, the dessert naturally carried with it a subtle trace of mana.

As for the taste, it was bound to be exquisite.

Even before tasting, Evé could already smell the rich fragrance of milk mixed with the enticing aroma of fruit.

“Would you like to try some?”

Little Salty Cat handed her a spoon.

Evé hesitated for a moment, then accepted it.

In her previous life, she had quite enjoyed such kinds of desserts.

She scooped a small portion and gently placed it in her mouth. The cake melted instantly as the rich and silky cream spread across her palate. The sweetness was perfectly balanced by the slight tartness of the fruit, teasing her tongue.

The exquisite flavor made Evé narrow her eyes in delight.

This cake… truly was delicious!

Perhaps it was because the ingredients here in the Elven Forest far surpassed those of earth, but Evé felt it was even better than the finest mousse she had ever tasted in her previous life.

“Excellent!” she praised.

“Right? Right?!” Little Salty Cat clapped her hands with a bright smile.

The petite girl then scooped up a spoonful of the cake and savored it with a blissful expression. Even as she ate, her words came muffled through a mouthful of sweetness:

“I’ve already looked into it. Seems like the humans in this world have yet to develop desserts like these. I plan to introduce all kinds of pastries from Earth, and that will become another major source of income.”

“Magic truly is remarkable. A simple third-circle Preservation Spell completely solves the problem of food storage.” Salty Cat added contently.

Eve: “…”

This girl really could not go more than a few sentences without talking about money. No wonder her in-game assets had grown so rapidly.

At this rate, she was bound to become a formidable businesswoman in real life as well.

Silently voicing this complaint in her heart, Evé could not resist taking another spoonful.

Delicious.

As the two of them enjoyed the exquisite dessert, a sudden commotion erupted in the tavern.

At the same time, the announcer of the live broadcast abruptly raised his voice:

“It’s here! A new Demon King has entered the battlefield!”

“Wait, wait, what’s this? Looks like All-Stars party is already on the move! At the front is none other than ‘ILoveRamen,’ a silver-ranker and one of the lucky chosen players of the Goddess herself, and currently holding the number three spot in All-Stars Guild combat strength! The question is—can he and his squad bring this powerful monster down?”

His voice rose higher with every word, whipping the tavern into a frenzy. Players pounded tables and leaned closer to the broadcast, while even the elves found themselves holding their breath, swept up by the electric tension.

But then, before the cheering could even peak, the unexpected happened.

“W-wait! What’s this?!” the announcer’s voice cracked mid-sentence.

The tavern fell silent.

And then came the roar.

“NO WAY! INSTANT KILL! ILoveRamen is DOWN! The Demon King just obliterated him in ONE HIT—ONE HIT, ladies and gentlemen! This is unbelievable! Even with the Goddess’s blessing, he couldn’t survive a single strike! This—this might just be the strongest opponent we’ve ever faced so far!”

The announcer’s voice rang out, hoarse with excitement and disbelief.

Hmm?

Hearing this, Evé lifted her gaze toward the large crystal screen.

There, a terrifying and grotesque demon could be seen rampaging through the players formation.

His appearance was also somewhat familiar as well.

“Ah! It’s the same Demon King that escaped last time! I knew it… he must be a high-ranking demon!”

Little Salty Cat’s voice came from beside her.

Evé nodded slightly, recalling it as well.

Indeed, it was the very same Demon King who had escaped during the first battlefield mission.

He was now rampaging as though no one could stand in his way, swinging a massive demonic blade and slaughtering players left and right.

“Oh come on! Why are those guys acting so dumb?!” Little Salty Cat shouted, nearly jumping from her seat. “Don’t just charge in one by one to die like that! If you can’t beat him, then use Divine Judgment Bombs! Didn’t anyone bring a holy statue with them?!”

She groaned in exasperation as another squad was wiped out in seconds.

“No statue? Then at least use high-grade magic scrolls! Don’t tell me no one prepared scrolls! They can even be bought on the human black market!”

Little Salty Cat watched the broadcast with mounting frustration, openly voicing her criticisms at the poor performance of their side.

Eve: “…”

Do you really think everyone is as rich as you?

The chosen players suffered heavy losses. The elves in the tavern grew visibly anxious, but the players watching only became more animated, the atmosphere growing even more heated.

“Ugh, those idiots are so useless! It’s making me crazy! I wish I could jump in and fight already!”

“If I could get in there, I could take that Demon King down all by myself!”

Little Salty Cat stomped her foot impatiently, her cheeks puffed up with indignation as she struggled to contain her excitement.

Solo him?

Evé gave Salty Cat a strange, almost amused look.

“It should be your turn soon. Quite a few players have already fallen,” Evé remarked calmly, lifting her teacup and taking another slow sip of floral tea.

She herself didn’t think the situation was that dangerous.

It was only a gold-rank Demon King, after all. Even if that particular foe was unusually fierce, so long as she granted enough divine favor, the players could eventually grind him down through persistence and sheer numbers.

Still, efficiency mattered. If they failed to coordinate and wasted too much strength, the cost she had to expend in divine power would far outweigh the value of the battle.

Alas, the players currently summoned were not particularly strong as most of them were from the public beta, and even those who had received her divine favor possessed only limited power.

Little Salty Cat’s eyes lit up when she heard Eve’s words. She quickly checked her summoning queue status.

“Ah, it’s almost my turn! You’re right sister, only five people are ahead of me!” she exclaimed with delight.

Then, leaping to her feet, she began preparing her equipment.

“Sister Feng, I’m about to enter the battlefield and unleash a massacre. I’ll talk to you later. Wish me luck in getting the Goddess’s favor!”

“Don’t worry. With your luck, I’m certain you’ll easily receive ‘Her’ divine favor,” Evé said with an amused knowingly smile.

Little Salty Cat strapped on her gear, grabbed her staff, and dashed toward the tavern’s exit.

She had only taken a few steps when a golden teleportation array suddenly appeared beneath her feet.

Amidst the envious gazes of the surrounding players, Little Salty Cat’s figure flickered and vanished.

Seeing that her little feisty friend had already been summoned, Evé smiled faintly and snapped her fingers.

“Consider this your reward for sharing your cake with me,” she murmured softly, her tone half amused, half indulgent.

On the large crystal screen, the battle raged on, the clash between players and demons shaking the ground. Suddenly, the announcer’s voice spiked, practically exploding with hype:

“Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your seats! A new challenger has entered the battlefield and what’s more, this newcomer has also received the Goddess’s favor!”

A beat, then he roared as though calling the finals of a world championship:

“Wait… it’s HER! It’s Little Salty Cat from Moe Moe Committee! That’s right, folks, the NUMBER ONE ranked mage in the ENTIRE server! Known for her insane spending, devastating spells, and zero fear playstyle—the half owner of Chosen City has arrived!”

The tavern shook with cheers, and even the elves leaned in, eyes wide with anticipation.

“She’s charging in—oh my GOD, she’s going STRAIGHT for that Demon King! No hesitation, no retreat—look at that confidence!”

“Wait, what? she’s closing the gap… is she really doing this?! She’s priming an Explosion Spell at point blank range! THIS IS ABSOLUTE MADNESS!”

Boom!

The screen went white as a colossal mushroom cloud billowed upward, the blast wave making the crystal screen tremble as though reality itself was shaking.

“UN-BE-LIEVABLE! I have NEVER seen an Explosion Magic of that magnitude! That sheer destructive force could wipe an entire raid boss in one shot!”

The battlefield cleared. Dust and smoke lingered, and the announcer’s voice cracked as he shouted:

“HE’S GONE! That Demon King is down! Ladies and gentlemen, SHE DID IT! She soloed that Demon King!”

The crowd roared—until the announcer’s tone dropped dramatically, becoming solemn and heavy.

“But… but wait. Where is she? Where is our hero?!”

The screen zoomed in on the scorched earth with only a half broken staff laying amidst the crater.

“…My fellow comrades. Grim tidings from the frontlines. Our champion, our fearless Little Salty Cat… fell alongside that Demon King. A true martyr. A hero who gave her all for victory.”

“She died honorably. She died gloriously. And we shall remember her name forever.”

The announcer’s voice wavered, then rose like a preacher’s final blessing:

“May the Goddess be with you to all eternity, Miss Little Salty Cat!”

“Amen—”

Then his tone snapped, incredulous:

“…Wait… what… WHAT ARE THOSE GUYS DOING?! They’re—no, this can’t be real—they’re actually brawling over the remains of her BROKEN STAFF?! Have you guys no SHAME?! She JUST died! Oh my—this is absolute carnage!”

“Pfft—”

Evé spat out her floral tea as the tavern dissolved into chaos.

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