My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Chapter 565: Request’s Regulation

Under the overcast dawn sky, the villagers of Mirstone Town knelt before the outermost gate of the Sacred Sakura Holy Land. They were clad in tattered clothing, each person bearing the marks of hardship and mistreatment. Their faces were etched with sorrow and desperation

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint sobs of the elderly. Mothers held their children close, shielding them from the biting cold wind, while men, with furrowed brows and clenched fists, fought back tears of helplessness. For a full night, the villagers remained on their knees, expressing their pleas to the passing Sacred Sakura’s disciples.

"Please, show us mercy!" The village chief cried out. His voice was hoarse from repeated cries for justice.

He and his fellow villagers begged for the Sacred Sakura’s intervention against the corrupt mayor who recently ruled over the Mirstone Town, wielding violence and indulging in wickedness and depravity.

As the sun began to rise, several Sacred Sakura’s disciples came to meet the villagers’ pleas. A hush fell over the crowd as a group of robed sect members arrived with varied expressions. The villagers held their breath as hope flickered in their eyes, praying that their cries had finally been heard.

"Sigh, I’ve told you, but why are you so stubborn? Our sect may make a direct move if it is about the great evil or the matter that shall greatly harm the world. As for your plea, you should plead it to the Righteous Alliance. Any righteous and orthodox sect will surely help you out to enforce the justice." Lucius felt troubled about these desperate villagers.

It wasn’t the matter to be resolved by a small team, and he put the matter forward last night. Sadly, the senior mages refused to make a move. They didn’t even give the permit to take the unidentified quest. He also climbed the Sacred Mountain to seek the sacred shrine priestess, but the higher-ups couldn’t meet anyone at the moment, not even the core disciples.

Since the Sacred Sakura’s location was exposed, some people kept coming to visit the Sacred Sakura Holy Land’s region. It was whether to register as new disciples through the notoriously hard entrance test, or some random people begged for Sacred Sakura to resolve some problems. The righteous and orthodox sects existed, and these people should come to the closest sect, not here!

"I’ve contacted the Righteous Alliance. The closest one to your town is the Qinlan Sect, and they will dispatch their team to resolve the cruelty in your town and the villages around it this afternoon." Bai Yuchen gave a wooden plaque to the village chief. The Qinlan Sect’s insignia was carved there, signifying the validity of his claim.

"But, esteemed sir, the mayor is backed up by the Flower Gate Sect. The Qinlan Sect won’t dare to uphold justice if the benefits don’t align. They will just return once they discover that they might offend the Flower Gate Sect." The village chief explained with a hint of despair.

"Benefactors, please help us! If it’s Sacred Sakura, they will never dare to be arrogant."

"Our harvest was forcibly seized due to unreasonable taxes. All the girls were forcibly taken to the mayor’s mansion as well. We’ve no hope left but plead to the strongest righteous one!"

"We just want to live, but the mayor will drive us to our death. Please uphold the justice, immortals!"

"We will be executed once we return to the village. Not even Qinlan Sect can save us! Please, please have a little mercy to the common folks!"

"We take such a long, arduous journey because we’re already at our wits end. Isn’t the Sacred Sakura the strongest, and the justice? We desperately beg you to help us!"

The villagers soon voiced their pleas. They were desperate and it pushed them to the situation where they couldn’t return to their village without the greater help to save them. If they couldn’t receive Sacred Sakura’s help, they planned to stay in this forest because they would have nothing if they had to return to the village.

"Fufu, that’s interesting. You came to us because we’re the strongest? That’s not wrong, but that doesn’t mean we should solve all the world’s problems." Elysia in her nine-tailed shadow fox disguise descended from the sky. She noticed the problem at the Sacred Sakura’s outermost border and decided to take a look with Yuuki by her side.

"We greet the elders." Sacred Sakura’s disciples clasped their fists to pay their respect.

"Say, villagers, what would you like us to do and what would you like to offer for it? Write the details here." Elysia handed out an empty paper and a pen to the village chief. If these villagers were so desperate, then she would lend a helping hand, but that would be through the quest.

"This, yes, please wait a moment, esteemed lady. We won’t be so shameless to ask for it empty-handed." The village chief responded with a beaming expression. He turned around to discuss it with the other villagers.

They owned some magical stones obtained from the mines, and they hid them from the mayor only for this request. Since the Sacred Sakura’s elders already graced their presences, then as the ones who demanded something, they had to pay the price for their request.

After the village chief wrote the details, he returned it to the nine-tailed shadow fox lady. He didn’t even dare to look up to gaze upon her beauty because anything about the foxkin became so sensitive right now.

"Hmm~" Elysia summarized the written details for a proper one for a quest. It was the bounty mission because the villagers wished the corrupt mayor to be executed, but it still required investigation first.

After creating a new quest, Elysia turned around to enlighten the disciples. "Disciples, I don’t think this is the first time it happened. Regardless of the task and reward, if you accept the unidentified quest, you bore the risk by yourself. There is already a proper procedure. If this matter arises again, guide the requestor to put their request into a quest and post it into the quest house. Understood?"

"Obey." The disciples nodded in reply.

"Good. Lucius and Bai Yuchen. We have yet to know the truth and the situation, and you let these villagers kneel for a whole night. We have the new rules about the quest house, and it’s improper to consider anything before we identify it." Elysia looked at the two young heroes. They were capable and smart, but they still didn’t seem to know about the new rules yet.

"I-" Bai Yuchen didn’t know about it, and it shocked him. Furthermore, he already informed Zhuan Mei about it and Qinlan Sect’s team would be dispatched because of him.

"Please forgive me for my lack of knowledge, Elder Kitsune. This won’t happen again." Lucius bowed slightly.

"It’s good that you understand. Since I’ve identified this bounty quest, Sacred Sakura will back you up. You two, please take this quest and form a team. Bring at least four disciples to resolve this matter." Elysia handed over the bounty quest to Lucius.

After that, she grabbed Yuuki’s hand and flew away from there. They visited the quest house to update something and inform Ranee about several things. And then, they returned to the sacred shrine as it was the time for them to cause trouble and chaos in the Chthonic World.

"..."

"..."

Lucius and Bai Yuchen looked at each other. They only tried to put the matter forward, but it seemed that some disciples took the unidentified quest without following the procedures.

By doing so, they were at risk and Sacred Sakura wouldn’t do anything regardless of their situation. The warning came from the elder herself, and it was obviously the truth.

"Since Elder Kitsune has already identified the quest and granted it to us, should we head out to complete it now?" Bai Yuchen rubbed his head. He was not that interested in the quest’s reward as it was just a few tier 3 and tier 4 spirit stones, but he cared about the Elder Kitsune’s impression.

"We haven’t had breakfast yet, and these villagers have no strength for a return trip to the Mirstone Town. Let’s camp here. Since you are also here, so join our team to kill the corrupt official." Lucius pointed to the nearby disciples.

The impromptu team of six was immediately formed. They opened a public kitchen and shared their breakfast with the villagers. Once everyone’s stomachs were filled, the villagers’ horse-drawn carriages headed southeast with a team of Sacred Sakura’s disciples.

"Will they be okay? Their team only consists of six disciples. It might lead to a war between sects." Yuuki felt a little worried because the disciples left with minimal preparation.

"They should be fine. If that sect is wise, they won’t dare to offend us just because of a rotten person." Elysia was not worried as she trusted her disciples. After all, they were the descendants of the heroes from the past, and the team also included two children of destiny.

"Mm, if you say so, master." Yuuki nodded in understanding.

"Everyone is waiting. Let’s bully some old monsters and arrogant demons in the Chthonic World." Elysia grabbed Yuuki’s arm and flew down.

"Mm." Yuuki faintly smiled as it was pretty amusing. They would prey upon the predators and bully the arrogant demons soon.