Volume 1 Chapter 143

Volume 1 + Chapter 143: Packaging

“I hope you can keep this a secret for me.”

Eve’s voice was low and calm, yet the pressure embedded within it sent an involuntary chill down one’s spine. Her voice was naturally captivating, but paired with that icy tone, it made people shudder despite themselves.

Unease immediately welled up in Andai’s heart, and she even began to hesitate—was Eve threatening her, or was she trying to strike some kind of agreement?

No matter which it was, faced with Eve’s gaze, Andai knew that the only thing she could do at this moment was nod in acceptance.

Her heartbeat quickened, yet she still replied carefully, “Mm, mm, mm… I—I understand. I won’t say anything.” Her voice carried a hint of urgency, as if she wanted to quickly dispel her inner anxiety and make herself seem more reliable.

Upon hearing her response, a faint smile appeared on Eve’s face. She nodded gently, a trace of satisfaction flashing through her eyes.

That gaze seemed to soften, completely different from the earlier sense of intimidation. It was as if, in her heart, Andai had already met her expectations…

“Also, I have another job—one that I’m sure will satisfy you. Are you interested?”

Eve’s words carried a touch of lightness and anticipation, as though she were offering Andai an option she would be more willing to accept.

“Mm, mm, mm, I’m interested. I’m interested in anything.”

Andai’s answer came almost reflexively, her tone filled with confusion.

Her mind was a little hazy, muddled and unfocused. No matter what Eve said, she seemed to agree without thinking. She was completely immersed in the relaxed, pressure-free atmosphere before her, to the point that she had even forgotten her original purpose.

“I see. That’s wonderful.”

Eve smiled, her gaze growing gentler. “Actually, this job is far better than living under others’ scorn, exposed to the elements, and enduring a dangerous life.”

Her tone was light yet warm, though to others it might still give off the impression that she was quietly calculating something.

“What you need to do is very simple. Together with Anna, dress yourselves beautifully, act as mascots, and accept the worship of humans.”

Listening to Eve, Andai subconsciously nodded in agreement.

“Mm, I understand… wait, what did you say?”

Only then did Andai realize something was wrong. Eve wanted her to dress up nicely and become a mascot for humans? And Anna had already done it too?

“What do you want me to do? A mascot?!”

Andai’s voice carried a hint of disbelief, and she froze on the spot.

She almost felt that her ears were malfunctioning—or perhaps Eve’s head was. How could that be possible? How could dragons become human mascots? It sounded utterly absurd.

“A mascot.”

Eve’s tone was calm, but her eyes revealed firm resolve. “More precisely, that’s how I describe it here. But in the eyes of the rest of this empire, you will be regarded as a Dragon God.”

The certainty in Eve’s words left Andai momentarily speechless, an inexplicable confusion rising within her.

She even wondered if Eve was joking, but from her eyes, Andai could detect no trace of mockery or insincerity.

“Dragon… God?”

Andai’s brows knitted slightly, yet her heart stirred. While the term “mascot” sounded somewhat unflattering to a dragon, the title “Dragon God” carried a completely different sense of grandeur and authority—it actually sounded rather appealing.

For a moment, her emotions were mixed, feeling both strange and curious about what this title truly implied.

“A D-Dragon God…”

Andai’s voice trembled with barely contained surprise and excitement. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t that mean… I’d receive human worship and offerings?”

A sudden surge of excitement rose in her heart, as though a long-dormant yearning deep within her had been awakened.

Although Eve’s offer of food and lodging did not particularly tempt her, the thought of being regarded by humans as a god and worshipped as a divine being fascinated her greatly.

She couldn’t help but imagine herself bathed in a sacred aura, being venerated by crowds, and a small sense of anticipation bloomed within her.

“Yes. You and Anna will also establish your own temples across the empire. There will be offerings in those temples, as well as donations from all over the empire—and you can accept all of them.”

A glint of excitement flashed in Andai’s eyes as Eve continued, “What I will do is package you as two genuine gods—beings that the entire empire can see and feel.”

Eve’s gaze grew resolute, as though everything had already been planned. “Your existence will bring stability and peace to the empire, unlike those churches that are merely organizations deceiving believers with empty myths.”

Eve’s logic was simple: if people were going to worship a god, that god should at least be useful—capable of bringing real influence and peace, rather than remaining a hollow belief.

If a god were merely something fabricated and exploited by others, why should Eve worship it?

And why should the citizens of the empire devote themselves to it?

These questions swirled endlessly in Andai’s mind. Could it be that Eve was simply inviting trouble upon herself?

If a god existed only to manipulate the masses and become a plaything in the hands of those in power, then such an existence was utterly meaningless, bringing nothing but suffering and emptiness.

Even if one sought spiritual comfort, it should at least be a god that truly existed—one that could genuinely benefit the people and bring stability and prosperity, not a vague illusion serving someone’s private interests.

Eve’s way of thinking seemed somewhat similar to Andai’s. After all, the gods Eve had believed in in her previous life were mostly wealth gods—beings that could at least bring tangible benefits to their followers, not empty fantasies.

By comparison, the so-called gods of curses, magic, and the like in this world were nothing more than roadside dogs—utterly lacking any convincing power or value.

To Eve, a god had to be real and effective, capable of providing actual benefits, to be worthy of faith and reverence.

This ideal had also long been what the ruler of the empire aspired to, which was precisely why he sought to keep the church firmly under his thumb.

Having weathered countless storms and witnessed the cruelty of the world, the emperor knew all too well what truly needed to be done for the sake of the empire and its citizens.

Eve’s intention was equally straightforward: to help the imperial family, find Anna a good arrangement, and incidentally suppress the church’s aggression.

As for how to package these two dragons, Eve had already formed her own unique plan.

Idols.

She would package them using the same approach as idol branding.

A god with a touch of entertainment value was the easiest to accumulate popularity in the early stages.

That was also why Eve had set her sights on Andai in particular—after all, the image of twin beautiful girls was undeniably appealing.

Gods, after all, should be a bit approachable. How could a god without even a single risqué illustration ever gain followers?