Brand New Life Online: Rise Of The Goddess Of Harvest

——

Elayne sat down, smiling as Mark and her friends brought her the dishes they had prepared. Some looked better than others, but they were all learning how to cook—something very rare for Undead, since they no longer needed to eat as they did when alive. However, Elayne had spread the culture of cooking delicious food among them, and in their long, depressing lives, eating tasty meals had become something that made existence a little better and more worthwhile.

Especially with the accessibility of the Cooking Magic Spells she had shared, imprinted into magic bone tablets that anyone could use by pouring Mana and Nether into them. This made it possible for everyone to prepare their own dishes with Cooking Magic. Even if the results weren’t perfect, the food was still flavorful and nourishing for their souls.

“Thank you so much, everyone. It looks so yummy! I don’t know what to say, honestly,” Elayne said. “You really shouldn’t have… I was just napping. Waking up after a long rest isn’t a reason for celebration, but thank you.”

“Why wouldn’t it be a reason for celebration? We were all worried,” Sailor said angrily, crossing his arms. “Right, guys?”

“Yeaaahhh~!” Dorothy sang. “I sang under the light of the crystals for days and nights, praying to the Nether Gods for your return, dear cult leader!”

“You collapsed after doing so much for everyone. We all felt guilty that you sacrifice so much for us…” Norman sighed. “The least we could do was greet you with a feast to celebrate your return. You also need this meal to nourish your exhausted soul, Elayne.”

“I suppose you’re right… thank you,” Elayne smiled.

“We’ve all endured countless tragedies. None of us here has lived without suffering—both in life and in death. But that pain made us stronger and brought us together today. We’ve endured so much, haven’t we?

Honestly, I may be the one who has endured the least, so it feels selfish to say this. Many of you have lived for hundreds, even thousands of years. I cannot begin to fathom the pain you’ve all gone through…

But that’s why I want to tell you that I built this place for you. I didn’t do it just to escape, to create a safe shelter for myself from the outside world. I wanted to create a new home. And a home can only be a home when there’s a family inside.

All of you—from the oldest to the youngest—are my dear family. I am grateful every single day of my life… or death, to have met you. That we are all here together… I want to bring you safety, happiness. I want to see you smile, because those smiles make me stronger. They remind me that there is meaning in what I am doing.

So… well, that’s all. Thank you, everyone.”

After her moving speech, everyone present was stunned, staring at Elayne, who smiled with a touch of embarrassment.

Throughout their long lives, these people had given up hope of ever achieving happiness again.

The only thing they had known was despair.

And through despair, they had slowly lost their sense of self, becoming unconscious creatures that moved only when commanded.

But everything changed the day Elayne led a revolution no one thought possible—against the Demon King Army, against the Noble Houses.

She did the impossible and created a sanctuary, a safe space for these people to live and to be themselves.

And now she was telling them how much she cared for them, how much their smiles meant to her…

From the most cursed ghostly being to the humblest skeleton, they were moved.

Even though they were cold, heartless beings, they had all once been alive—and therefore, people.

The hearts they believed had rotted away and turned to dust long ago began to beat again, metaphorically.

Deep within their beings, stirred by such strong emotions, many Undead and Ghosts began to wail.

But it wasn’t a creepy, sorrowful wail. It was one full of happiness, moved by their beloved cult leader, who had done so much and seemed determined to continue sacrificing herself for them.

It felt… like they truly didn’t deserve her.

“Cult Leader… thank you…”

“Thank you for being with us…”

“We owe you so much, cult leader…”

“I will follow you until the day my soul is extinguished!”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done… we are unworthy of your love…”

“We don’t deserve you, cult leader!”

“You’re our reason to keep moving!”

“Please, don’t overexert yourself. Rely on us more!”

“We want to help in any way we can, even if small…”

“We love you!!!”

“E-Everyone…” Elayne felt overwhelmed, giggling awkwardly. Not even in the Forest of Beginnings had she felt this way. Perhaps because the people there, although saved by her, were already an established community, with a queen to love and a tree to worship.

Thus, despite how different things were… this place, The Demon Tree Religious Order, truly felt like home to her. Even more than the Forest of Beginnings—something she dreaded to admit, but her heart could no longer deny.

“Hehe… thank you, everyone!” Elayne giggled. “Even though I died so horribly, even though I lost so much…” she began to cry. “You’ve made me smile despite everything! I’m so grateful! Sniff… Let’s eat! There’s nothing better for a weary heart than delicious, warm, comforting food, right?”

Thus, Elayne enjoyed the greatest feast she had ever had in her life—or death—with the people she had saved from despair. The same people she had opened a new path toward a brighter future for, and who had also saved her from her own sorrow, helping her smile even in such a situation, and giving her hope for the future, even amidst the dangers of the Netherworld.

The feast lasted for hours, and nearly every person in the Domain was invited. More tables were added outside her house, spanning a large area. Every skeleton, ghost, shadow, zombie, and even the few noble race members joined together to enjoy food they had never tasted before in the Netherworld—a world without light, without colors, without happiness or joy.

It was a bleak world of despair and sorrow, where the souls of the dead landed, where tyrannical noble races waged war for resources and supremacy, and where a ruthless demon king sought to conquer everything, even invading the world of the living.

But thanks to Elayne and the people around her, there was now a spark of joy—a small spark of happiness, a bright golden light of hope amidst the eternal sea of darkness.

And it was that spark of hope and light that He felt, for the first time in millions of years.

He felt something warm and familiar, and He couldn’t help but cry, his tears filling the Netherworld with rivers.

His old, ancient heart, once believed to be cold and dead, began to glow with faint warmth.

——