First Steps into the Golden Kingdom

Although when Jerros and Stephanie arrived in the "Golden Kingdom" over a decade ago, they had not met this unforgettable, radiant young girl.

Neither did they have the slightest doubt about Evan's judgment. Their expressions turned solemn as they prepared to bow with him.

But the "Goddess" standing in the giant spirit's palm lightly shifted her feet and dodged aside like a startled fawn. She cutely stuck out the tip of her pink tongue and explained to the three bewildered people:

"Don't misunderstand. At this moment, I am not a Goddess, merely Vinia, a servant who attends the great Goddess. I was only able to part the sea of clouds by borrowing an insignificant sliver of the Goddess's authority. It was not my own power."

Then,

she turned to Evan again, looked him up and down, and greeted him separately with striking familiarity:

"Mister Garratt, it's been a long time. I never expected that in less than ten short years, you would become a fourth-rank extraordinary person—oh, and a saint of a true god as well. That is truly impressive."

Jerros and his wife had no idea what was happening, but Evan immediately understood. His body relaxed considerably as he gave her an impeccable gentleman's bow, smiling as he said:

"Miss Vinia, I hope you have been well! I'm very pleased to see you again."

Back then, in Water City Nieske of the Tairo Kingdom, they had shared a highly "unexpected" encounter.

Setting aside that small incident at the end, the first part of their exchange had been quite pleasant. Evan had even kept the painting she had given him.

Yet it was during that final little incident that he had used Spiritual Vision for the first time in his life, recklessly gazing directly upon a demigod's Mythical Form.

Though