My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Chapter 570: The First Match

Miko replied with a hand gesture, and Myra took a step back. She looked at Yuusha Mashiro, the leading hero. "I’m afraid that’s not quite right. However, you seem confident in your inquiry. Have you ever met me or someone that resembles me before?"

Elysia also heard it and she was not so sure because she had no recollection about everything on Earth. This young man might have encountered her as Miss Ely, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes. So, he was there to confirm his doubt.

"What, no, then, please forgive my rudeness. I mistook you for someone I knew back in my homeworld." Yuusha Mashiro felt a bit disappointed, but he couldn’t dismiss his premonition.

His hunch kept drawing his attention to this shrine priestess. Therefore, he used his right eye’s ability to peer at her info.

[ Class: Shrine Priestess | Strength: None | Realm: 0th Rank | Affinity: Divine Power | Potential: SSS+ ]

"!!!" Yuusha Mashiro widened his eyes in both shock and awe.

It was the highest potential grade he had ever encountered, higher than the most talented geniuses and revered people in this world. Even the imperial family’s ancestor was only at SSS, and this lady possessed the SSS+ potential despite still being at the beginning of power rank classification!

"Your right eye is glowing. Did you find what you wanted to know?" Miko tilted her head, curious about what the leading hero could see with his eye ability.

"Please pardon me for checking up on you without permission, lady priestess. My name is Yuusha Mashiro, and may I ask yours?" Yuusha Mashiro immediately deactivated his eye ability for a proper introduction.

"I’m Miko. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Hero Yuusha." Miko responded politely. She felt this hero could only see the basic kind of information, and that was quite a relief.

"What a lovely name. Are you the Elysion Church’s saintess? May I ask what happened to Priestess Jovee?" Yuusha Mashiro tried to inquire further.

"How bold of you to keep questioning our sacred lady. We’re under no obligation to answer your questions." Daemyx responded with irk and annoyance as the hero became carried away

"I came with a good intention, and I am speaking to your sacred lady, not you. Please behave when she has yet to say anything." Yuusha Mashiro frowned as he sensed a strong hostility from the usually calm priest.

"It’s alright, Daemyx." Miko extended her hand to prevent the unnecessary clash. She then responded as she knew the leading hero would insist on knowing her response. "As for your question, no. I am the shrine priestess of Sacred Sakura and for your second question, Priestess Jovee... she’s unwell. It’s a shame. I’m here to watch the competition with her, but she needs to rest more."

"Is that so... but, Sacred Sakura? Are you from another world, lady?" Yuusha Mashiro felt a chill run down his spine. The name was pretty much Japanese and could be associated with Japan on Earth.

"Fufu, it seems you still don’t know much about this world, White Hero. I will consider answering any of your questions if you manage to defeat my disciples and gain at least one recognition from one of them." Miko waved her hand with a polite smile.

"..." Yuusha Mashiro knew he would offend the Elysion Church if he tried to inquire further. Although there were so many questions in his mind, he could only accept the challenge and paid his respect before leaving, returning to the hero party’s seats.

"Elysion Church, then Sacred Sakura..." Yuusha Mashiro muttered under his breath.

"Heya, my friend! Someone’s being so brave today. Is she your ideal, perfect type? She’s the sacred lady with an ethereal aura and pure, natural beauty. I can see why you fall in love at first sight." Richard Rees put his arm around his friend’s shoulders, speaking excitedly.

"That’s not it. She is beyond mysterious as she can block my ability. I can only she is as weak as an ordinary girl, but her potential is one of the highest of all those I have ever met before, even higher than the imperial family’s ancestor." Yuusha Mashiro sighed. He then shared what he discovered from the brief conversation with Lady Miko with his comrades.

"!!!" Almost everyone gasped in shock at the revelation. They were fully aware that there was always a sky above the sky and the stronger ones out there. However, the Elysion Church became even more mysterious.

"They said that they came to this world to spread their God’s teaching. What world do they come from? Can we get guidance if we manage to defeat one of her disciples?" Mizushima Katsue could tell the Elysion Church was more terrifying than meet the eye, yet she truly wanted to befriend such a hegemon.

"It would be good if we can pull them to our side. I can prophet it, and they are harbingers of the auspicious omen, especially the shrine priestess." Nyla Sharp nodded in agreement.

"..." Liu Kang frowned as he could see Priestess Jovee was so cunning. She might have done something behind the scenes to repay his previous attempt.

The newly arrived sacred lady looked very difficult to deal with. He might still have the chance to manipulate that charm demon, but for this shrine priestess, his hunch told him it would be a dead end if he tried to target her.

Regardless, Priestess Jovee was clever to get away from the stage. However, he received a premonition when he looked at Priestess Miko. It was as if she could see his deepest secrets! Even her gaze seemed like a warning, coercing him to behave!

’Damn! Why do I feel intimidated by her gaze? Who is she really? Did that demon bitch report me to her higher-ups as her revenge? Isn’t she afraid of repercussions as she is also a demon?’ There were so many disturbing and worrying questions in Liu Kang’s mind, but there was no one who could answer them.

"Good morning, everyone! I hope you are all excited and ready for this incredible day! On behalf of the organizers, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the participants, esteemed guests, and spectators joining us today for this thrilling martial arts competition. We are honored to have such a talented group of martial artists here to showcase their skills to compete with the honorable heroes!" The emcee in a fancy dress floated above the main arena, delivering her opening speech with excitement.

A few moments later, the staff set up a large box in the middle of the arena. The participants in the main round happened to be an odd number, 46 people passed the preliminary round, and with the 7 summoned heroes, that made 53 people in total. All participants were called into the main arena to take a match order number to determine their opponents.

"A free pass?" Gabriella felt a little dissatisfied because her first opponent was none. Her paper numbered zero, and she directly advanced to the next round without having to fight anyone.

"Oowie, good for you, first sister! You made it straight to the second round." Remiel was pleased.

"Our team is a quarter of the total participants. We’re bound to face each other, but this is good enough. It will be a pain if my foul luck matches us in the first round." Azrael nodded in agreement.

He had never won even once against Gabriella, and it would be very disadvantageous if he or the other disciples had to face her in the first round as they were bound to be defeated.

"Too bad then." Gabriella sighed and got out of the arena. She went straight to the Elysion Church’s VIP seats, standing by her master’s side.

"Hmm..." Azrael looked at his number and checked it on the placement board displayed on the large hologram screen.

The summoned heroes had just taken their tickets, and none of them would face the Elysion Church’s representatives in the first round.

"Fourth brother, you will face the Water Devil in the third round if you and he are not eliminated during the process." Rafaela spoke in a whisper-like voice.

"Hum, he better not be eliminated before meeting me." Azrael covered his mouth to hide his devious grin. That guy bullied their sixth sister, and he had to teach that jerk a valuable lesson today.

"Ah! No way... Uri, why do I have to face you in the first round?" Remiel felt like crying.

As the youngest apostle, she would lose to her seniors for sure, but at least, it shouldn’t in the first round! She also wanted to show her progress to her master and brought the glory.

"Uh, what can I do? Let’s put it this way..." Uriel brought her face closer to Remiel’s wolfy ears and whispered something.

"Huh?" Remiel was taken aback because her fifth sister would forfeit after putting up a spectacle for a certain reason. All she had to do was put up an act as if it was a fierce battle.

A few moments later, everyone received their ticket and placement in the first round. On the Elysion Church’s side, only Remiel and Uriel had to face each other in the first round.

"The first match of the first round. Alistair Hart from Elysion Church versus Harriet Hunter from the Stevia Empire’s Hero Party!" The emcee announced the first match.

"I’ll do my best." Alistair, the 7th Rank sword mage, took off his priest outfit, revealing his white light armor.

"Our blessings shall be with you." Miko raised her palm, and the first warrior of her team replied with a knight salute. He then leaped from the VIP seats, landing perfectly in the main arena.

"Hm?" Elysia wondered as the priest’s name resembled her former name.

"Master, should we watch the first battle first? We can postpone my turn." Yuuki tugged the hem of her master’s sleeve, feeling a bit guilty. Her master knew her desire and feelings, but she also knew her master wanted to watch the match.

"Hm~ I can watch it through Megami and Miko. We should proceed to the extreme north as planned now. It’s time for me to fortify your foundation, Yuuki. I shall compensate you for all the lost time until you’re satisfied." Elysia tapped Yuuki’s hand as she could tell Yuuki was pretty restless.

So much exclusive time had been used for other things, but Yuuki was too shy to demand for the promised personal time. As a good master, she couldn’t keep her ice fox waiting anxiously.

"Mm!" Yuuki looked at the ground, feeling happy and relieved.

"Everyone, we shall head to the extreme north now. Megami is currently also me. In a few minutes, a certain God will probably come to visit. Please treat our guests well." Elysia waved her hand to everyone.

"Please have a safe journey~"

"Have a wonderful trip!"

"Please rest assured, master. We’ll be here as a group of foxkin and won’t cause trouble."

"Bon voyage~"

"Uhm, Megami is our master’s divine avatar, so can I hug Megami?"

"Hey! Please don’t trouble Megami."

The girls responded variedly. It was Yuuki’s exclusive day, so they should let Yuuki have all the fun and required personal time. Remembering that Megami, their master’s divine avatar, would stay with them to watch the event, they couldn’t ask for more as their master would still be connected with them all the time through Elysium Channel.