In the capital of the Arclesia Empire, the largest and most significant structure was not the Imperial Castle, but rather the Temple of the God of Fertility Erne.
Given that the Arclesia Empire was not particularly blessed with a favorable climate or fertile soil, the presence of Erne, the Goddess of Fertility, was of paramount importance. Countless people visited to offer their prayers, and because the calendar was filled with harvest-related events, the temple was vast—the largest of any temple in the Human Realm.
Deep within that temple, in a private room within her residential quarters, Erne set a cup of tea down on the table.
"Here you go," she said.
"Thank you. Your skills are as exceptional as ever."
"Cooking is just a hobby of mine. Still, it’s rare to see the God of Life visiting my temple."
"Yes. I am here for confirmation... and because there were a few things I wished to ask you."
"Things you wish to ask?" Erne repeated.
Kaito’s birthday party had only just concluded. Before returning to the God Realm, Life had expressed a desire to stop by Erne’s temple, which was why the two of them were now alone in this room.
"Following the God of Fate and the God of Space-Time’s lead, I have decided to increase my own interactions with humankind. Tell me, are you familiar with a noble named Elis Dia Hamilton?"
"Yes, she is the heir to the Hamilton Marquis House, one of the Four Great Noble Houses. She is renowned for her intellect and is a very talented woman. Lately, since she’s been on friendly terms with Kaito, I’ve had many opportunities to hear rumors about her. I haven’t heard anything about her plotting in the shadows, and I believe her character is quite excellent."
"As expected, you are well-informed."
"Many people come to my temple to worship, and I often travel to various locations for ceremonies myself, so rumors naturally find their way to my ears."
Erne was a subordinate whom Life trusted implicitly. In fact, Life frequently remarked that if Erne’s role in the Arclesia Empire weren't so critical, she would have made her a direct subordinate. Among the Gods, Erne was exceptionally well-versed in the affairs of the Human Realm.
"Having spoken with her myself, I judged her to be someone worthy of trust. With the added weight of Kaito’s recommendation, I bestowed a temporary blessing upon her. That leads to my question: regarding my future interactions with her, is there anything you think she might desire to ensure our relationship proceeds smoothly?"
"Let’s see... based on the recent rumors, I believe what Elis-san wants most is a powerful backer. People have been gossiping about her connection with Kaito, even claiming she’s his favorite... though that particular part is likely nonsense, the frequency of their meetings is a fact. However, compared to the sheer scale of that connection, Elis-san lacks any overwhelming power of her own. There is a high probability she could be looked down upon or become a target of envy."
"Come to think of it, people said similar things about Kaito at first—that he was just some youngster who happened to catch the Underworld King’s eye."
"Yes, that sort of jealousy is inevitable. In Kaito’s case, while people looked down on him for only having connections at first, he eventually gained the support of the Phantasm King and the Earth God. By pushing those connections to their limit, Kaito has reached a point where he possesses tremendous authority in his own right. Even without the Earth God’s threats, no one dares to look down on him anymore."
Erne took a sip of her own tea as she noted that such contempt and envy were bound to arise when someone’s social circle far outpaced their individual strength.
"Therefore, the God of Life’s temporary blessing is a massive advantage for Elis-san. The connection itself is a tremendous gain, so I believe that alone should be sufficient."
"I see. A relationship similar to the one between the God of Space-Time and Lilia Albert would be ideal, then. That is helpful... Oh, one more thing. Regarding my meetings with Elis, I intend to find a place where we can speak regularly, but my position makes frequent visits to the Hamilton estate problematic. It would cause quite a stir."
"I see. So you stopped by to see if you could use my temple as a meeting ground. Yes, I agree it would be better to meet here rather than at the Marquis House. I can provide as many rooms as you need, but... if the God of Life is going to be using them, I should probably make some special adjustments to the interior design."
Indeed, Life’s primary goal in visiting Erne today was to secure a room in this temple for her future meetings with Elis.
Sensing Life’s intent, Erne nodded, though she noted that a room meant for a Supreme God would need to be furnished appropriately.
"I shall leave those details to you. I evaluate your abilities and your taste very highly. I am certain that you will prepare a magnificent room fitting for my meetings with Elis—one that will satisfy me at a single glance."
"Eek! Why do you always put so much pressure on me...? No, I’ll do it! I’ll do my best! But please, don't set your expectations quite that high!"
"I am looking forward to it from the bottom of my heart."
"Eek..."
Though she understood this was a sign of Life’s absolute trust, Erne couldn't help but let out a pathetic squeal at the relentless demand.
Serious-senpai: "In a way, Erne might be a rare stomach pain character whose suffering isn't directly caused by Kaito..."