MMORPG: Rebirth as an Alchemist

     Elena took a deep breath, trying to diffuse the tension. "Stop it, all of you. She's just scared."

"I don't know Goddesses could get scared," Vivi muttered to Malifira.

Malifira shrugged. "Is what they do, apparently."

"No its not!" Pamela snapped, wiping away the snot on her nose.

Elena moved to Pamela's side, offering comfort with a gentle hand on her back. "Sorry about these guys, but they don't mean any harm."

Pamela looked up from her tear-streaked face, surprised by Elena's kindness. "R-really?"

"Yes," Elena affirmed, her gaze softening before she looked away. "At least, not all of us."

Pamela let out a shaky breath, her once bubbly demeanor reduced to that of a shrinking cry baby in the face of everyone's harshness.

These souls are truly impudent and mean! Pamela seethed, silently wishing they would never get reincarnated and rot in the Netherworld forever.

"Enough, let's move before it gets dark," Ren urged, his voice cutting through the tension.

"Good point. My beauty doesn't deserve to be sleeping outside in this damp," Desira remarked, flipping her hair as she swayed ahead.

As the group journeyed onward, they never strayed from the road, following Pamela's hesitant guidance with alertness in their eyes. Most of the group kept their senses sharp, scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger or surprises that the Heavenly Realm might have in store for them.

Azazel, however, seemed to be in his element, darting here and there with boundless curiosity, eager to discover new things and explore every nook and cranny of their surroundings.

On the other hand, Iraelyn expected a lot of enemies to appear, her muscles tense with anticipation, prepared to spring into action at a moment's notice should trouble appear.

The landscape stretched endlessly before them, with towering trees casting long shadows across the path as the sun began its descent.

Every now and then, a fork appeared in the road, prompting the group to halt and consult the map along with Pamela's opinion. Ren would furrow his brow in concentration, studying the map intently, while the others gathered around, exchanging whispered remarks and pointing out various landmarks.

Meanwhile, Pamela couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at her insides. With each passing mile, the desire to escape grew stronger within her, but she knew she had to bide her time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed.

However, her attempts at escape were always foiled by the keen eyes of her companions. Once, she attempted to sneak away while they were distracted by a passing flying horse only to be caught by Ren, who had been casually leaning against a tree, his eyes never leaving her.

Another time, she tried to blend into a group of passing travelers, disguising herself with a makeshift cloak of leaves, but Desira spotted her instantly, her sharp gaze cutting through Pamela's feeble attempt at deception.

Then, there was the time she attempted to feign illness, hoping to gain sympathy and slip away under the guise of needing rest. However, Malifira, ever observant, quickly saw through her ruse, her keen intuition leaving Pamela feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Not even the cover of darkness could shield Pamela from her vigilant companions. One night, as the group settled down to rest, Pamela seized the opportunity to slip away under the cover of nightfall. But Iraelyn, with her keen senses, caught wind of Pamela's escape attempt and swiftly alerted the others, resulting in a comical chase through the forest, with Pamela stumbling over roots and branches in her desperate bid for freedom.

And then there was Vivi, whose innocent curiosity often led her to stumble upon Pamela's hiding spots by accident, her exclamations of surprise giving away Pamela's whereabouts before she could even attempt to flee.

Despite her best efforts, Pamela found herself continuously thwarted at every turn, her escape attempts becoming nothing more than a source of amusement for her relentless companions. And as they journeyed onward, Pamela couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find a way to break free from their clutches and reclaim her independence once more.

"I wonder how the others are doing." Evie inquired, breaking the silence as they journeyed on through the unfamiliar landscape.

So far, their adventure had been relatively uneventful, with only occasional encounters with beasts and angels who were oblivious to the threat they were up against.

"Surely they're doing fine," Ren responded confidently, his eyes then narrowing. "Especially with the artifacts and items I gave them. I expect nothing less than perfection."

Evie chuckled softly. "That's so you, always striving for perfection."

"Hey, look! I see a town over there!" Vivi exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the distant buildings dotting the horizon.

"Finally, a city," Desira sighed in relief. "I'm tired of sleeping in villages and small inns."

"Be careful," Pamela warned, her voice tinged with caution. "That's Smiling Town, ruled by the Goddess of Smiles and Happiness."

"Smiles and happiness?" "Seems like a peaceful town," Azazel commented, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Elena giggled. "I wonder what it's like there."

"What should we be careful about?" Iraelyn questioned. "The name of the town already sounds weak."

Pamela sighed inwardly, perplexed by the carefree attitudes of these blasphemous souls. "It might seem that the town is peaceful and always happy, but there are rules that you must strictly follow."

"Like what?" Ren inquired, his interest piqued.

"You have to smile and be happy even if you're not," Pamela explained matter-of-factly.

Everyone exchanged uncertain glances, trying to comprehend the strange requirement.

"How do you even do that?" Evie asked, laughing like it was a joke.

Pamela gestured towards her lips and forced a smile, lifting the corners of her mouth upward. "By smiling all the time, of course, and always saying happy things and thinking happy thoughts."

Evie looked at Ren with a deadpan expression. "That would be a challenge for the both of us."

Ren nodded in agreement. "Let's avoid that town for now then."

"Ugh?" Desira complained. "But I want to shop and check out the stores."

"We don't have time for sightseeing. We're going to Whispering Peak, so no detours," Ren declared firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.