My Free Will System: Transmigrating Into My Favorite Immersion Game

The streets of Eldoria bustled with the midday rush, the scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats wafting through the market stalls. Elias weaved his way through the crowd, his mind singularly focused on his destination—a small, unassuming food cart at the far end of the square.

It was home to the best lamb bites in all of Eldoria, possibly in all of the Heartland, and it had become Elias' favorite snack since he'd first tasted it during his early days in the kingdom.

As he rounded the corner, the familiar sight of the food cart came into view, but something else caught his attention. A flash of light and energy, subtle but unmistakable, rippled through the market. The aura was powerful, familiar, and oddly comforting, almost as if it radiated warmth and joy wherever it touched.

Elias slowed his steps and glanced around. His eyes caught sight of a woman moving through the market, stopping at every sweet and pastry shop along the way. Her appearance was casual, dressed in common clothes, but her aura—it was too strong to belong to just anyone.

He focused on her more intently, narrowing his gaze. As she moved, the shopkeepers and vendors she interacted with seemed to brighten up, their faces lighting up as if basking in the presence of something divine. That could only mean one thing.

"High-Luminary," Elias muttered to himself with a soft smile, recognizing the familiar energy that could belong to no one else.

He approached the woman quietly, his curiosity piqued. What was the High-Luminary doing in the market, and why was she stopping at every sweet stall?

Elias quickened his pace and tapped her lightly on the shoulder. The woman turned around in an instant, her face a mixture of shock and embarrassment as she locked eyes with Elias. It was Ireleen, the High-Luminary, and despite her plain disguise, there was no hiding her ethereal beauty.

Her features were delicate, her face framed by soft waves of dark hair, and her eyes, wide with surprise, were a striking shade of emerald green.

As soon as she realized who had tapped her, Ireleen let out a small shriek, quickly covering her mouth. Elias chuckled softly.

"I knew it was you," he said with a smirk. "There's no mistaking that aura."

The commotion drew the attention of a few passersby. They hurried over, concerned that Elias might be bothering the woman. "Is this man troubling you?" one of the market-goers asked, stepping protectively in front of Ireleen.

She shook her head, waving her hands frantically. "No, no! It's fine, really," she insisted. "I'm perfectly fine."

The small crowd that had gathered slowly dispersed, muttering to themselves as they left. Elias watched them go, amused, then turned back to Ireleen.

"Undercover, are we, Ireleen ?" Elias teased, folding his arms. "Or should I say… High-Luminary?"

Ireleen's eyes went wide, and she immediately shushed him, glancing around to make sure no one had heard. "Not so loud!" she whispered, stepping closer to him. "I'm trying to blend in!"

"Blend in?" Elias raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Buying sweets and pastries?"

Ireleen's shoulders slumped in defeat, and she let out a sigh. "Alright, alright, you caught me," she admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

"You didn't even try to lie," Elias said, deadpanning, but there was humor in his tone.

Ireleen chuckled nervously, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I'm not very good at that sort of thing," she said, her voice soft. She sighed again, looking down at the bags of pastries and sweets she had gathered. "I… I have a sweet tooth. It's a bad habit."

"I can see that," Elias said, eyeing the overflowing baskets she was carrying. "But what's really going on? Why sneak out here like this?"

Ireleen's expression softened, and she took a deep breath. "It's a long story," she began. "You see, the church has this strict diet for the High-Luminary. It's a tradition, passed down for generations, to avoid anything too sweet or indulgent. The idea is to keep the body pure, so that we remain spiritually connected to the goddess."

Elias nodded, listening carefully.

"But…" Ireleen continued, her voice dropping slightly, "I've spoken to the goddess about it, and she's told me it's not a sin to enjoy sweets. It's not even a true taboo. It was just a misunderstanding from a past High-Luminary who had a problem with gluttony. She placed herself under a strict diet, and the church, in its wisdom, decided to make it a custom for all High-Luminaries after her."

Elias frowned slightly. "So you're saying this whole 'no sweets' thing is just an old rule that stuck around?"

"Exactly," Ireleen said, nodding. "But despite knowing that, I can't just go around eating sweets freely. The priests and priestesses still expect me to follow the traditions, and it would cause a scandal if they saw me indulging like this."

Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, if that's the case, I know something you'll like." Without waiting for her to protest, he took her by the wrist and led her through the market.

Ireleen looked up at him, confused. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

They arrived at the food cart Elias had been heading toward earlier, the one selling lamb bites. He bought a couple of skewers and handed one to Ireleen. "Try this," he said with a grin. "It's not sweet, but it's the best snack in Eldoria. Trust me."

Ireleen hesitated at first, but the savory aroma wafting from the lamb bites was irresistible. She took a tentative bite, and her eyes lit up immediately. "This is delicious!" she exclaimed, her face breaking into a smile.

"Told you," Elias said, biting into his own skewer.

For the rest of the afternoon, the two of them wandered through the market, sampling different treats and sharing stories. Ireleen, despite her high position, was easy to talk to, and Elias found himself enjoying her company more than he expected. They laughed together, swapping jokes and anecdotes, and for a while, it felt as if they were just two ordinary people enjoying a simple day out.

As the sun began to set, Ireleen glanced at the sky and sighed. "I should go. My priests will declare me missing if I don't return soon. They think I'm in secluded prayer."

Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "You really know how to live on the edge, High-Luminary."

Ireleen smiled sheepishly. "I suppose I do."

She turned to leave, but then froze in place. Her eyes widened, and she quickly turned back to Elias. "Oh no," she whispered, pointing across the square.

Elias followed her gaze and spotted two familiar figures walking toward them—Priest Mathias and Priestess Margo. They were heading straight for the market, their expressions were focused and serious