"Wait—what?"
"What's going on!?"
Kurose Akira struggled instinctively, trying to break free—but Palos's body was already approaching demigod-level. With his current strength, escape was simply impossible.
"Where do you think you're going, dear~?"
Palos wrapped him gently in her arms. Her towering figure—over five meters tall—made him look like an infant cradled in her embrace.
Akira tilted his head up, looking at her face from below.
She was still in a frenzied state… but something was different this time.
There was no rage.
Instead—
She seemed… excited?
"Looks like today's Palos is even more dangerous than before~" Elena teased with a soft laugh as she watched the scene unfold.
Unlike the other dark elves who had quickly left the room, she casually dragged over a chair and sat down nearby.
Somehow, a delicate teacup and a plate of pastries had appeared in her hands.
"???"
Akira stared at her, stunned.
"You're seriously just going to sit there and watch?" he asked. "Planning to livestream this or something?"
"Livestream?" Elena tilted her head in confusion, but soon smiled. "Last time, I didn't get to witness the sealing process with my own eyes. This time, I won't miss it."
"…?"
Akira frowned.
He was starting to suspect that Elena's tastes were seriously questionable.
Unfortunately, he had no time to dwell on that.
Because Palos—now completely overtaken by her altered state—began to act.
She gently revealed the Holy Light.
In an instant, radiant brilliance filled the entire room.
"Wah…"
Even Elena trembled slightly at the sight, nearly dropping her teacup.
She had seen Holy Light before—but today's display was on an entirely different level.
"…Hm."
Realizing she had lost her composure, Elena quickly took a sip of tea to steady herself.
But her eyes never left the scene, afraid to miss even a single detail.
"This is bad…"
Meanwhile, Akira's expression grew grave.
He was completely restrained by Palos. His strength was sealed—even his Half-Dragon transformation was unusable.
All he could do… was endure as Palos toyed with him at will.
"Look at it~ such a beautiful color…"
Palos gently held the radiant Holy Light in her hands, her movements soft and reverent—as if captivated by its beauty.
Akira couldn't understand it.
This wasn't how she was supposed to act.
Logically, her frenzy should have been fueled by anger toward the Elven Queen.
But now—
She was mesmerized by the Holy Light?
"Dear~" Palos's voice turned teasing, laced with a hint of intimacy. "Last time, you bullied me so much… now it's my turn~"
"…?"
Akira's brows tightened.
Everything he had done before was to help her stabilize the seal!
And yet—
It seemed her distorted state had shifted her focus entirely.
"Come now~~ let me see how long you can endure~"
She guided the Holy Light, forcing it to bloom.
Her technique was clumsy—but gentle.
However—
Her dark elf body carried the corrupted power of the World Tree.
With every touch, threads of that dark, fallen energy seeped into the pure Holy Light.
Even for Akira, this corruption was unbearable.
It was like a venom that devoured everything—eroding both body and will.
In mere moments, he had to grit his teeth, pushing himself to the limit just to slow the contamination.
"…Is he in pain?"
Elena, still observing, noticed the strain on Akira's face.
Curiosity stirred within her.
She stood up and walked closer.
"Do you need help?" she asked.
Through clenched teeth, Akira forced out, "Stay back!"
"But you look like you're suffering!"
Misunderstanding him, Elena stepped even closer—toward the Holy Light.
"Get—back—!"
Akira didn't have the strength to explain further.
Before he could finish—
The Holy Light suddenly surged, rippling violently through the air.
"Ah!"
Elena staggered back, startled.
Golden light scattered across her face, bringing with it an indescribable warmth.
The sudden sensation left her flustered—her eyes flickering with embarrassment and irritation.
She hadn't expected—
Well.
He had warned her.
She just hadn't listened.
Embarrassed, Elena masked it with irritation.
"That was quick—you surrendered already? How useless," she snapped.
Then she turned and stormed out of the room, clearly eager to wash away the lingering traces left on her skin.
As the door opened, curious dark elves peeked inside—
But in that instant, Palos flicked her fingers.
A wave of black mist spread rapidly, obscuring their view.
The door slowly closed again, sealing the room completely.
"Now~ no one will disturb us~"
Palos's fingers traced gently once more, reigniting the Holy Light, making it shine brilliantly again.
"…Gulp."
Akira swallowed.
There was no escaping this.
Then so be it.
Bring it on.
(What followed was the detailed depiction of the sealing ritual—approximately one hundred words omitted…)
…
"Honestly, that guy!"
Meanwhile, Elena had rushed back to her own room.
She immediately entered the bath, hurriedly washing her face and body, trying to remove the lingering traces—and that strange fragrance that clung to her.
She had come into contact with Holy Light before.
But never like this.
Never this intense.
Some of it had even… reached her lips.
Lost in thought, she lightly pressed her lips together.
That strange taste lingered.
…It wasn't bad?
Wait—
Elena snapped back to her senses, covering her flushed face with both hands.
"What are you thinking, Elena!? Have you lost your mind!?"
She fell silent for a long moment, trying to calm her racing heart.
But the strange feeling refused to fade.
"Damn that man!" she finally snapped, stomping her foot, her gaze filled with complicated emotions toward Akira.
Just then, a gentle voice came from outside the bathroom.
"Elena, are you in there?"
"Y-Your Majesty!?"
Her heart skipped a beat.
She hadn't expected the Queen to come now.
Looking down at herself—although she had washed away the visible traces, that faint, sacred scent still lingered.
No.
Absolutely not.
She couldn't face the Queen like this.
"Y-Your Majesty! I'm bathing right now—I can't come out immediately. Is something urgent?"
Under normal circumstances, she would've simply wrapped a towel and stepped out.
But today… was different.
"I see. Then I'll speak from here."
The Queen's silhouette appeared faintly beyond the door.
"The Rose Duchess has assured me that within one month, the situation in the Star Kingdom will stabilize. At that time, Princess Vivian will ascend the throne. I need you to prepare a gift."
"Princess Vivian… ascending the throne?" Elena's eyes widened in shock.
"Why her? Wasn't the Rose Duchess supporting Princess Catherine before?"
"I don't know the reason," the Queen replied calmly. "But that is the outcome. We will simply offer our blessings. The affairs of the Star Kingdom are not for us to interfere in."
"…Understood."
Elena nodded, already wondering whether she should inform Akira.
But before she could decide—
"One more thing," the Queen added. "Do not tell Guild Master Akira. The Rose Duchess will speak to him personally."
"…As you command."
…
"Thank you, Guild Master Akira. You've helped me complete the sealing once again."
Palos looked at him with sincere gratitude.
After an hour-long ritual, Akira had successfully reinforced the seal—but it had nearly drained him completely.
And throughout the entire process…
He had been entirely passive.
Held in Palos's embrace—like a child being gently cradled.
…Ahem.
It was… a novel experience.
But not one he wished to repeat.
If given the choice, he preferred being in control.
Though—
Facing Palos, that was easier said than done.
Her sheer size alone was overwhelming.
Even without going further, he couldn't help but suspect that—even at full Half-Dragon transformation—he might still feel like he'd fallen into an abyss…
…Ahem.
"Do you need help cleaning up?" Akira quickly changed the subject, asking gently.
Her silver-gray skin still shimmered with residual Holy Light.
If left unattended—
"It's alright," Palos smiled softly. "Your power… I can accept it all."
As she spoke, the radiant light began to sink into her skin.
Like rain being absorbed by parched earth, it flowed across her body, gradually disappearing within.
In just moments—
All traces were gone.
Akira stared, stunned.
An abyss?
No—
More like a black hole.
"Thank you again," Palos said as she stepped down from the bed. "Without you, I might have ended up fighting Tinas during the ritual."
Akira smiled faintly. "Just doing my job."
Though, for some reason…
He found himself a little curious about what a fight between Palos and the Elven Queen would look like.
Perhaps that was just… a personal quirk.
After a brief exchange, Akira left and returned to the guild via the teleportation array.
Lucia and the others had already arrived ahead of him, waiting in the guild hall.
"Is everything settled in the Elven Kingdom?" Lucia asked.
"Yeah, more or less." Akira nodded, satisfied.
With Palos assisting the Elven Queen, the kingdom's defensive magic array would be greatly strengthened.
And whatever deal had been struck with Idis—though unclear—would undoubtedly benefit the elves.
With both in place, they should be able to withstand the Undead Lord's invasion.
Now, all that remained was to locate the Undead Lord and eliminate it.
"Alice, make me a cup of coffee."
"Yes, Master!"
While waiting, Akira submitted the quest.
[Elven Kingdom Commission (Completed)!][Rewards: Gold +10, EXP 100,000, Legendary Item +1][Item Acquired — Flower of the Elves (Legendary)]
[Flower of the Elves (Legendary): A unique plant of the Elven Kingdom. It can cure any negative status!]
"…Flower of the Elves?"
Akira frowned slightly.
Cure any negative status?
Then what about Palos's dark corruption?
He quickly shook his head.
That power came from the World Tree itself.
It likely wasn't something as simple as a "negative status."
If it were, the elves would've already used this to resolve the dark elf issue.
"…Still, it might prove useful someday."
He stored the item in his inventory.
Just as he was about to continue organizing—
Mare Rhine suddenly pounced onto him.
Her small body landed squarely on his lap as she grabbed his cheeks with both hands, puffing slightly in irritation.
"Human! I have something to say—I have complaints!"