Eris didn't yet know the exact details of the Great Tree Village's regulations, but she assumed the restrictions would not be overly harsh. Still, uncertainty remained, and that alone was enough to make her cautious.
Because of that, she decided the liaison officer must be someone capable of self-reliance under almost any circumstances.
However, this single requirement immediately caused a drastic reduction in viable candidates.
Among the limited pool she had been considering, the female priests were nearly eliminated entirely.
There was no helping it. Most of Eris's priests were scholars trained from childhood within the sect system. They were deeply devoted, well-educated in doctrine, and highly disciplined in religious matters—but in practical terms, they were extremely sheltered.
In essence, they were social novices. Carefully cultivated like greenhouse flowers, they had lived their entire lives within controlled environments.
Without the support structure of the sect, and certainly without the backing of the more aggressive Axis Church factions, many of them would likely struggle even compared to ordinary adventurers. Their theoretical knowledge was strong, but their real-world adaptability was lacking.
Eris frowned slightly as she adjusted her criteria.
"You can't just choose among believers alone. You also need to consider devout followers from outside circles."
Piety remained an implicit requirement. She needed absolute loyalty—someone whose will was firm enough that they would not waver between "heaven" and the Great Tree Village. Betrayal was not something she could afford to risk, not even slightly.
The most dangerous scenario was not simply defection.
It was a liaison officer who, after gaining access, chose to collaborate with the Great Tree Village while deceiving heaven itself.
That kind of intelligence manipulation would be catastrophic. It was precisely the type of risk that had to be strictly prevented from the start.
Eris exhaled softly.
"It's too difficult… a woman with devout faith, proper etiquette, self-reliance, and reliability all at once…"
She murmured while scrolling through the filtered candidate list displayed by the management system. One profile after another appeared, but none fully satisfied all conditions simultaneously.
After a long moment of frustration, a familiar file appeared in front of her.
Darkness.
Real name: Lalatina Ford Dustiness
A highly devout believer in Eris, and also a key figure who had previously helped her exploit a loophole to descend to the mortal world. In addition, Darkness also served as her disguised identity "Chris's" acquaintance and close friend.
In terms of trust, there was almost no doubt. If Eris revealed the truth, the likelihood of betrayal was close to zero.
His background was also suitable. Born into nobility, he had received proper education, meaning etiquette and social conduct were not issues. He understood how to behave in formal environments and would not embarrass the heavenly side in diplomatic interactions.
On top of that, his ability for self-reliance was surprisingly strong.
Despite being of noble origin, Darkness had chosen to work as an adventurer. That alone proved he was not someone who depended solely on status or background. His adaptability and independence were genuinely solid.
From a purely practical standpoint, he was an excellent candidate.
But there was one major problem.
Eris narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…That troublesome hobby makes him unsuitable."
Darkness was good in almost every aspect, but his personality flaw was severe enough that it could not be ignored. His behavior tendencies were abnormal enough that, if exposed in a formal diplomatic role, it could easily damage the image of heaven itself.
For a liaison position representing the heavenly domain, that risk was too sensitive.
Even so, Eris did not immediately remove his name.
Instead, she silently placed Darkness into the candidate shortlist.
Because, after reviewing everything else, she realized something unavoidable—there were simply too few viable options left.
At the very least, Darkness's flaws were known and manageable. His strengths, on the other hand, were reliable and already proven.
If necessary, she could compensate for his weaknesses through supervision. Worst case, she could accompany him personally during the initial phase and ensure proper behavior in the Great Tree Village.
In the end, Eris made a reluctant but practical judgment.
It was better to choose someone with manageable problems but strong capability than someone flawless on paper but completely unqualified in real execution.