Returning to Adrian's side, Freesna repeatedly emphasized her identity as the Church's Saintess, ensuring everyone confirmed her stance as an ally.
"Is she really a Saintess?"
"Indeed, a Saintess." Freesna glanced at Adrian.
Adrian had once told her: when venturing out, protect your identity and don't reveal it carelessly, or it will bring unnecessary trouble.
Now, mimicking Adrian's concealment of his Aeon identity, she fabricated two layers of identity for herself! One as an intern at the Neverwinter Workshop, and another as the Church's Saintess!
"I see, Saintess does sound much nobler than a priestess!" March 7th asked again:
"So, how does one become a Saintess of the Church?"
"Uh…" Freesna faltered, but Adrian quickly stepped in to save the moment:
"Embracing a devout faith in Eternity is the most basic requirement to become a Saintess. In other words, as long as you're an Emanator of Eternity, you can be a Saintess of the Church."
Stelle suddenly pointed at Adrian, realization dawning: "I get it! So you're the Church's hidden Saint!"
Adrian: …
His lips twitched slightly, but he played along: "Hahaha… an Aeon stooping to be an Emanator? That's quite the idea."
"Huh?" Freesna was stunned. Did they all know Adrian's true identity? Then what was the point of her painstaking efforts to conceal it?
Seeing Freesna's confusion, Stelle explained: "Let me formally introduce this fine elf lady. The black-haired, purple-eyed gentleman before you is none other than the newly ascended Immortal's Delight Tea Aeon of the cosmos!"
"Because of his overwhelming love for drinking Immortal's Delight Tea, he forged the unique Path of [Immortal's Delight Tea]!"
"Why are you so hung up on this Immortal's Delight Tea Aeon nickname? It's going to distort Teacher Adrian's true identity."
"Miss March, you're too kind." Adrian clutched his chest dramatically, as if tears of joy were about to spill from his eyes.
Drinking Immortal's Delight Tea… had become a stereotype about him. After hearing the moniker "Immortal's Delight Tea Aeon," the Aeon of Eternity couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. HE felt the need to consult the Aeon of Erudition.
In a way, his Aeon disguise had slipped… yet it hadn't.
It slipped because the Astral Express crew thought he was an Emanator of Eternity. It hadn't because Stelle kept teasing him as the Immortal's Delight Tea Aeon.
By the end of the month, when the scores were tallied, oh my— the Aeon of Eternity won MVP! Adrian was the ultimate freeloader!
"What did you say…"
Freesna was displeased. This gray-haired girl dared to insult the Aeon of ETERNITY in her presence! To her, calling Adrian the Immortal's Delight Tea Aeon was blatant slander!
Indeed, anyone tied to the Path of Destruction was no good! Stelle's previous impression points were now completely nullified in her eyes!
Just as she was about to use physical means to "reason" with her, the door to the Neverwinter Workshop was pushed open. The newcomer was none other than Serval Landau.
"Huh, why are there so many people here now…"
…
After everyone explained the situation to Serval, they shared their experiences in the Underworld and the information regarding the Stellaron Core, as well as delivering Bronya's letter.
"No wonder I haven't heard from Bronya lately. So there's this whole story. That's how things are in the Underworld…"
"You believe us?" Seele double-checked.
"I believe your experiences. It's too wild and bizarre to make up, especially with Miss Seele here as a witness. The Stellaron Core… hmm, I understand why Bronya wanted you to find me."
"I'm still a member of the Architects. Back when I worked in the research department, my focus was on the Stellaron Core. I never thought I'd hear that term again after being expelled from the Architects… Come on, big sister's going to tell you everything I know."
"But before that, let me just say—this girl isn't one of your companions, is she?" Serval chuckled, patting Freesna's head.
The way this girl spoke was so peculiar, and the blond guy nearby didn't bother translating seriously. He left after a few words, even though she wanted him to help tidy up the workshop.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph… My heart belongs solely to Eternity. Even in a company aligned with Preservation, I'll correct those hyenas' misguided thoughts!"
"I can tell the Church and the company don't exactly get along."
"Alright, alright, let's get to the serious stuff," Serval waved everyone over:
"The existence of the Stellaron Core—few in Belobog know about it. Even those who do wouldn't connect it to the source of the Fragmentum and the Eternal Freeze."
"But based on the data stored by that machine, Svarog… the Architects actually uncovered the truth long ago. The research results were deliberately concealed to keep them from the outside world."
Serval's expression grew a bit somber:
"I was just unlucky… Out of all the topics, I picked the Stellaron Core. From Cocolia's perspective, anyone trying to touch the truth about the Stellaron Core would be expelled or dealt with."
"Perhaps I should thank Cocolia. She only banished me and didn't take more… permanent measures."
"Hmm… since you were in the research department, how much do you know about the Stellaron Core?" March 7th asked.
"I figured out the Stellaron Core was linked to the Fragmentum, getting close to the truth. Unfortunately, before I could prove it was the origin of the Fragmentum, I was sacked from the Architects."
"Before my dismissal, I was applying for on-site observation of the Stellaron Core. It was my research topic, but I'd never seen it with my own eyes."
"All my research was based on historical data and simulated scenarios in the lab. Not long after submitting my preliminary report and application, my punishment came down. Clearly, someone didn't want the research to continue."
"The Supreme Guardian—it's definitely Cocolia," Stelle declared. "All my dreams are about turning into her… Isn't it obvious what that means?"
"Cocolia… It's been years since we last spoke. We used to be best friends, sharing everything with each other."
"But ever since she became Supreme Guardian, she changed completely. The beliefs she once held, that passion in her… it's like some force drained it from her body."
"She personally issued the order to exile me, refusing to even meet me face-to-face… I don't really understand her later actions and gave up trying to make sense of her with normal logic."
"Sometimes, I even wonder if she's actually someone else… Is that possible? Maybe the Supreme Guardian is a consciousness passed down through generations, and the real Cocolia is already gone."
"Whoa… don't say something so terrifying so casually!" March 7th shivered, goosebumps rising. That's way too creepy!
"Is it one Supreme Guardian after another driving her to make those incomprehensible decisions? I don't know…" Serval paused, then mused:
"Maybe I could write a song about this idea."