My Goddess is Good at Pretending-Chapter 697: Farewell to the Fallen

As the sun broke through the dark clouds that had loomed over the sealed Nacrax City, a serene stillness settled over the demonic city of ruin.

The castle and the surrounding area were reduced to rubble during the final battle against the demon king.

The Sacred Sakura Saintess, Miko, looked up. Her radiant presence was unwavering despite the exhaustion etched on her face.

Holy warriors guarded her and the priestesses as they prayed to the fallen. She raised her staff high, and its divine light illuminated the ruined throne hall, where the demon king had drawn his final breath.

Her soft chants resonated with the air, carrying the prayers of the living to the departed. One by one, the souls of the fallen and innocent victims ascended into the light. Their burdens were lifted as they were guided to the afterlife.

"This victory is yours as much as ours. May you find eternal peace in the realm of paradise." Miko said softly as she could see the fallen heroes of the past among the departed souls.

The heroes, standing nearby, watched in silence. Their hearts were heavy with the thought of the sacrifices of past heroes. Mashiro put his hand on his chest and bowed his head in gratitude. The past heroes sacrificed everything to take down the Demon King of Extreme Evil but failed. For eight generations of the best warriors, no one survived. However, their noble goal was achieved today.

"Please rest in peace, heroes. The Empire never forgets your services and merits." Genevieve clasped her hands in prayer as well, sending off the empire’s brave warriors of the past with gratitude and respect.

With the Demon King of Extreme Evil, Alronuth, exterminated and his cursed army annihilated, Miko knew her role in the battle had come to an end.

She turned to the hero expedition party with a serene smile. "You have achieved a great victory for humanity." Her voice was steady despite the lingering sorrow. "The light of hope shines brightly because of your bravery. But now, we must return. There are wounds to heal and prayers to offer for the countless lives lost in this conflict."

The wind gently blew through Miko’s long hair. She put her hand on her nape, holding back the wind so it wouldn’t tousle her hair. She stared at the sunrise, watching the day change to welcome new hope for humanity in this land.

The Glorious God was satisfied with this result. When the attention was on Saintess Miko, he quietly left the scene to avoid unnecessary attention because his role in this glorious occasion was only as a secret protector.

It was a great experience because he could participate in the glorious battle of humanity. The heroes managed to eliminate the disturbing variables that threatened his roots and believers in the mortal world.

"..." Miko noticed Rhykdohr escape to the void as if he were fleeing from someone. However, he didn’t really leave as he was still nearby to see his summoned heroes if he was so proud of them, especially Mashiro, the White Hero who inherited a fragment of his signature divine power.

"Stunning..." Mashiro was captivated by Saintess Miko’s grace and beauty. He regained his composure a moment later and stepped forward. "Without your aid, we could not have succeeded. Your presence turned the tide of this battle. The Elysian Church will always be remembered as the savior of the world."

Miko inclined her head modestly. "We share this victory. Farewell, brave heroes. May the light continue to guide your path."

With that, Miko and her holy forces began their march back to their parked spaceship, leaving the heroes behind. The hero party watched the Elysion Chruch’s party until they disappeared into the morning fog as their departure marked the end of a chapter in the demon king’s subjugation quest’s arduous journey.

"I wonder how the Elysion Church ended the Demon King of Extreme Evil." Genevieve put her hand on her chest. She felt that she owed her life to Saintess Miko. She hadn’t even expressed her gratitude, but the Elysion Church left just like that. She also couldn’t muster her courage because Saintess Miko looked exhausted.

"Most of us passed out because of that dark wave." Cai Hong shook her head. She was also curious, but everyone she asked answered the same thing because they all passed out.

"I saw it before I passed out. It’s thanks to Saintess Miko’s amulet and protective spell. If it weren’t for her, we might have gone to the afterlife with the souls of the departed..." Nyla looked up. She was still alive, but she knew she had almost died with everyone.

The heroes and warriors exchanged information in case they knew something more than the others. Most of them passed out due to the dark wave, but a few managed to catch a glimpse of how Saintess Miko and her protectors shielded them from harm. It was one of the reasons why she was so exhausted, and nobody dared to question her when she was in that vulnerable state.

"Although the finishing blow was dealt by the Elysion Church’s secret protector, we shouldn’t forget the credit for Mashiro and the secret protector elder..." Richard patted his best friend’s back. He looked left and right, failing to find the said secret protector anywhere. "Wait, where is the secret protector elder?"

"???" Mashiro and everyone just realized it. The cloaked veteran warrior who was apparently the hero party’s secret protector, was nowhere to be seen.

"The senior is probably somewhere. He protected us in secret throughout the journey and carried us halfway while fighting the demon king." Mashiro faintly smiled. He didn’t know where the secret protector went, but his gratitude would not fade.

"We barely did anything." Ash Simpson sighed. The previous battle was truly the final boss stage, so hard even to survive. If it weren’t for the blessing and aid from the Elysion Church, this generation’s hero would be wiped out as well.

"We had our own roles during the final battle, Ash. We handled the demon generals and the summoned demons, giving Mashiro and the secret protectors time to face the demon king uninterrupted. The situation would have been much more dire if they had moved as one." Harriet crossed her arms, nodding at that.

"With the Elysion Church as our support, it boosted our overall prowess greatly, and massively increased our survival rate." Mizushima Katsue nodded in agreement. Everyone had their own roles to contribute during the battle even though they were hard carried by the Elysion Church led by Saintess Miko.

"But, the sacred lady of the Elysion Church only considered this kind of deadly battle as just a mere conflict. The Elysion Church... I wonder what this sacred force is really like." Jensen, the Starlight Vanguard of the Heavenly Manor, put his hand on his chin.

The overall experience he gained in this quest truly broadened his horizons, and the Elysion Church piqued his interest greatly. If the Elysion Church was this strong, then the punishment that the offending factions received after their offenses against the Elysion Church was simply a merciful act. The Elysion Church was more than capable of destroying those offenders with ease.

"..." Mashiro was silent for a moment. He had decided to go see Saintess Miko again in the future.

She said she would help him out, but what she previously said suddenly crossed his mind. She mentioned there would be two people who would fight alongside him to kill the demon king. Sadly, he couldn’t see the second person because he passed out.

---

The echoes of the holy war faded in the distance. Miko used the teleportation talisman to bring her people back to the spaceship. She was completely exhausted because she used too much magical energy at once, and desperately needed sleep. However, she had to double-check her party’s well-being first.

She moved gracefully among her holy warriors, her soft golden aura soothing and calming their spirits. She paused briefly to check each of their conditions, offering words of comfort and healing where needed.

Her disciples were perfectly fine, thanks to Lady Shiina’s preferential treatment. The Elysion Church’s warriors and priests, although somewhat exhausted and covered in war marks, were more or less in good condition.

"You’ve all done exceptionally well." Miko said with a gentle smile.

The words were simple, but they left a big impact on everyone. They were proud of their service as they used their power for the greater good of the Supreme Goddess’ glory.

Miko’s gaze soon shifted to her saintess friends she had brought along. Their faces were still glowing fresh despite the intensity of the previous battle. "My dear friends, you have witnessed firsthand the cost and weight of standing against great evil. Tell me, what is your heart’s truth of this experience?"

Meiying exchanged glances with Mingyue before stepping forward. Her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and conviction. "We are honored beyond words. To stand alongside you and the holy warriors, to face such darkness and prevail... it has shown us the true meaning of our purpose."

Mingyue nodded in response, feeling proud and satisfied. "It is in such moments that we grow stronger beyond our limit, and we wish to continue aiding in the vanquishing of such great evils under your guidance."

"Please, grant us more opportunities like this. This is not the first, and I believe it will not be the last." Feng Xue, the Blood Empress and Mingyue’s elder sister, was exhilarated to participate in more of this kind of task.

Miko listened with a serene expression. Her heart was brimming with pride at their determination. She placed a hand gently on each of their shoulders. "The path of truth, justice, and righteousness are not without its respective trials, but your resolve assures me that the light has chosen well. Rest now, and prepare your hearts for the battles yet to come."

The group bowed their heads in respect. Their spirits were lifted by her words. Miko and her companions prepared to return to their sanctuary, united in purpose and faith.

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As the sun began to set, the hero expedition party was split as the prodigies from their respective factions had to return separately, leaving only the veteran warriors and the summoned heroes to return to the Stevia Empire’s capital city.