The dinner lasted for nearly two hours.
The entire dinner was spent with Sharon introducing each of the Archbishops to Syl.
Although they had only met today, Syl could feel their fanaticism toward her.
From their conversations, she also learned the general reason why they were so excited.
She had heard this reason from the nuns in the Monastery before: the other six cults had always had a Holy Son or Saintess to convey the divine gospel.
Only the Church of the Goddess of Hope, one of the Seven Deities Cults, had suffered a break in its lineage for a few hundred years.
Having lost the channel to communicate with the deity for such a long time...
While it wasn't obvious on the surface, the Church of the Goddess of Hope was indeed gradually declining.
The most obvious sign was that fewer and fewer nobles were sending their children to the Monastery, and it became increasingly difficult for the Monastery to recruit fresh blood every year.
Almost all nobles believed that without a Saintess, the Church of the Goddess of Hope would continue to decline.
Some nobles even began to openly or covertly trip up the Church of the Goddess of Hope, causing unrest outside the church.
But now, the Saintess had arrived, so the church would be at peace; the Saintess had arrived, so hope had come.
Everyone present saw the hope for the church's revival.
Everyone enjoyed the dinner immensely, except for Syl, who didn't dare to eat much to maintain her lady-like image because too many people were watching.
Everyone also knew not to pester the Saintess for too long, and after finishing their meal, they took their leave one after another.
However, before leaving, they all told Syl that they would pay a formal visit next time and bring gifts.
Once most of the people had left, Sharon noticed that Syl hadn't touched the food on her plate for a long time. She stood up, bid farewell to the others with Syl, and they walked out together.
"It seems the Archbishops are very satisfied with you," Sharon said. She seemed to have drunk a lot of wine, and her cheeks were flushed with a hint of crimson. "From tomorrow on, you will officially become the Saintess, Saint Syl."
"Huh?" Syl turned to look at Sharon in confusion and asked, "What do you mean 'officially become the Saintess'?"
"Tomorrow, you will take a carriage from the Holy See to the Kos District Cathedral—which is the largest cathedral of the Church of the Goddess of Hope—to hold a Ritual there," Sharon explained with a smile.
"This is a tradition of the Church of the Goddess of Hope. Although I don't know why the Goddess told you to hide yourself before, it seems you can't hide anymore. It's better to tell others that the Saintess is under our close protection."
"This will actually be safer."
As she spoke, Sharon escorted Syl to the room where she had been lying before.
Sharon stopped in front of the door and looked at Syl with some hesitation, asking, "Did the Goddess... criticize my self-assertion?"
"Uh..." Syl didn't know how to explain it to Sharon.
From beginning to end, the Goddess had only said one sentence to her.
"The Goddess didn't criticize you, Sister Sharon," Syl shook her head honestly.
Because the Goddess hadn't even said a word, as if she had gone AFK after pulling Syl into the game.
"The girl with the silver mask... so that was also the Goddess's consideration? I see..." Sharon nodded to herself, muttering some riddle.
"Um..." Syl was about to say it was better to talk inside rather than at the door.
But as soon as Syl spoke, Sharon seemed to realize something and said with a smile, "I almost forgot, I've disturbed you for too long today. Rest early. If you need anything, you can have Sigma come find me; she's in the room next to yours."
After saying that, Sharon waved her hand and turned to leave.
Syl: "..."
Actually, Syl really wanted to say she wasn't full, but after seeing Sharon turn away, she couldn't bring herself to mention such a small matter.
"Sigh..." Syl let out a deep sigh.
She had originally thought being a Saintess would be quite interesting, but now that she was actually doing it, even before it truly began, Syl felt the pressure.
Especially when so many people looked at her with expectant eyes, Syl would involuntarily restrain her nature and force herself to appear more perfect.
Is this the trouble of being a public figure?
Syl shook her head helplessly, reached out to push open her door, and walked in.
As soon as she entered, Syl saw Sigma lying prone on her bed, her slender calves dangling off the edge and swinging back and forth. Upon hearing the door open, Sigma sprang up as if she had been electrocuted.
"Ah... uh... Sister Syl... I..." After getting up, Sigma stood by the bed, her hands waving awkwardly in front of her in small motions, looking panicked.
"Has Sister Sigma been waiting until now?" Syl looked at Sigma apologetically and said softly, "I'm sorry for making you wait until you fell asleep."
Syl spoke while closing the door.
"Eh?" Sigma was a little dazed, clearly not having processed things yet.
"Hmm?" Syl looked at Sigma and asked curiously, "Could it be that you weren't asleep?"
"I... I was asleep!" Sigma clenched her small fists in front of her chest and said loudly.
"If you were, you were. Why are you shouting so loudly?" Syl covered her ears exaggeratedly. "By the way, Sigma, do you have anything to eat?"
"Eat?" Sigma looked at Syl, who had just returned from dinner, her expression somewhat blank.
After eating for nearly two hours, Sister Syl still isn't full?
"I didn't eat enough just now. There were too many people, so I felt embarrassed to eat too much..." Syl shrugged and raised an eyebrow.
Seeing Syl looking just as she used to, Sigma couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. Then, as she walked toward the door, she said with a smile, "I have many snacks in my room. I'll bring them over for Sister Syl to eat."
"Okay~ Thank you~" Syl was not stingy with her gratitude toward the food provider.
After Sigma walked out of the room, Syl rested her chin on her hand and looked at the closed door thoughtfully.
This Sigma... seems to have feelings for me.
But she looks like she's not even fourteen yet, right? Or maybe even younger.
No, that would be a crime!
Wait, am I also a minor?
Then does this count as a crime or not?
Syl's thoughts immediately fell into a cultural desert, running wild in the wasteland of legal knowledge.
"Damn! Who would study these problems for no reason!" Syl muttered inwardly.
"Forget it, raising her as a younger sister is actually quite nice." In the end, Syl gave up thinking and spread her arms, lying back on the bed.
I'm about to become known to everyone. In this situation, how can I find an excuse to leave by myself?
The system said I can't level up too high here in the church. I eventually have to go upgrade my cards, and I have to complete the investigation task, otherwise I won't be able to digest my Holy Medicine.
But as soon as I leave the church's sight, Sharon and the other Archbishops will probably freak out.
Then... can I start with the Ritual?
The side effect of the Holy Medicine, the so-called Goddess's Trial.
I can say that the Goddess wants me to complete the Ritual alone and that no one can help, then I can quietly slip to a place where no one can see and transform.
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
If the people from the Holy See are worried, then set a time. If I haven't returned after that time, the church can start sending people to search.
The more Syl thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. They certainly couldn't disobey the Goddess's words.
The AFK Goddess is truly useful!