"How could this be?"
Kurose Akira's brows knit tightly as he listened to the Elf Queen's account of the Death Goddess. The revelation left him deeply shaken.
He simply couldn't comprehend it—how could a sealed god cause multiple deities, along with all their followers, to vanish from existence as though they had never been there?
"This happened long, long ago. I only know it from legend," the Elf Queen continued. "But one thing is certain—it is real." She paused briefly, then her tone softened. "Still, matters of gods are far beyond us for now. We should focus on what's in front of us. Tell me… are you hiding something from me, Guild Master Kurose Akira~?"
Her eyes, gentle as flowing water, locked onto him—waiting expectantly.
"…Alright."
After a moment of silence, Akira let out a quiet breath and gave in. "Your Majesty… the truth is…"
He told her everything—about Mare Rhein and Mira Ori—without leaving out a single detail. Even the Elf Queen couldn't hide her surprise.
"You're saying… a demigod dragon sealed a god? And not just any god, but the daughter of the Death Goddess?"
Disbelief flickered in her gaze. She had never heard of anything like it—how could a mere demigod seal a deity?
"To be precise… she should be considered a pseudo-god," Akira added. After all, Mira Ori possessed a Life Divinity—she hadn't fully ascended.
"Even so, that is still beyond belief." The Elf Queen smiled faintly, then turned her gaze toward the pitch-black cave. "So, we're going inside?"
"Not yet. The death aura inside has mutated—we can't—"
Before he could finish, she had already stepped into the cave.
At that moment, her body erupted in dazzling, multicolored radiance. The suffocating death aura that had previously been untouchable was instantly dispelled the moment it drew near her.
"…What?"
Akira froze, unable to process what he was seeing.
Even Lucia's holy magic had failed to suppress that deathly presence—yet in the Elf Queen's presence, it dispersed as effortlessly as mist beneath sunlight.
It was as if the hierarchy of power itself rendered the death aura inferior to the elemental forces emanating from her…
"What are you standing there for? Come in~"
Her voice snapped him out of it.
"Right!"
Akira shot Loserine a glance, and the two of them quickly followed.
Within minutes, they reached the deepest part of the cave.
Now that the corpse had left, the chamber stood empty.
"If this is a seal…"
The Elf Queen stepped forward. In her hand appeared the black rune left behind by the Death Devotee.
She tossed it lightly into the air.
In the next instant, a magic circle materialized out of thin air.
Raising her delicate hand, multicolored mana gathered at her fingertips and flowed into the formation.
As the circle lit up—
A jet-black spider lily bloomed into existence before them.
"…!"
Akira's breath caught.
Its beauty was haunting.
Alluring.
An irresistible urge surged within him—to reach out… to touch it.
"That won't do~"
The Elf Queen gently caught his wrist, her touch soft yet firm.
"This is a flower of death. If you touch it… how am I supposed to explain that to the others~?"
"…Ah."
Akira blinked, startled.
Only then did he realize—his mind had been slipping, drawn in by something beyond his control.
"What… just happened to me?"
He shook his head, forcing himself back to clarity.
"The allure of death. Even demigods cannot resist a god's power, little one~ let alone you~" the Elf Queen said with a gentle smile, lightly patting his head.
Then she stepped forward once more. With a casual flick of her hand, the black spider lily vanished into her sleeve.
"You cannot withstand the corrosion of the Death Flower yet. I'll keep it in the Elf Kingdom for now. If you wish to uncover its secrets, I'll help you."
"…Alright."
Akira nodded. With his current strength, resisting that pull was impossible—entrusting it to her was the safest option.
His gaze swept the surroundings.
That black spider lily wasn't the core of the seal. There had to be something else hidden deeper within.
Just as he focused on searching—
A voice echoed in his mind.
"No need to search~ I'm already inside you."
"…When?"
Akira's expression tightened as Mira Ori's voice rang out. His eyes dropped to his chest.
He hadn't sensed it at all—when had she entered his body?
"The moment you stepped into the cave, I took residence within your heart," Mira Ori said with a soft laugh. "Take a look at the back of your hand, child."
"The back of my hand…?"
Half-confused, Akira raised his hand.
His pupils shrank.
An unfamiliar mark had appeared on his skin—a strange rune, etched into his flesh. Its ancient patterns pulsed with a mysterious, unfathomable power.
"Now, I reside within you," Mira Ori continued gently. "Using your life force as a spirit realm… to seal the Daughter of Death~"
"…You're saying… the Daughter of Death is sealed inside my body?"
Cold sweat broke out across Akira's back.
Sealing a god… inside himself?
"Relax. I won't harm your body. On the contrary, I'll bring you benefits," Mira Ori reassured him softly. "The only one you should worry about… is that child, Mare Lena."
"Why?" Akira pressed.
"Because~" Mira Ori's tone turned teasing, almost playful. "You'll be drenched in my aura~ child~"
"…?"
The moment her words fell—
A streak of blue lightning shimmered across Akira's palm.
He frowned slightly, staring at his hand.
He could feel it—an electric current coursing through his body, weaving through every cell. The power of the Life Dragon pulsed within him.
"So the source of destruction is flame… and the source of life is lightning?"
The realization caught him off guard.
He had always assumed the Life Dragon's power would be tied to water.
He never expected… electricity.
"Is something wrong?"
The Elf Queen noticed his expression and asked with concern.
"I've found the seal, but…" Akira hesitated. He had no idea how to explain that Mira Ori had suddenly taken up residence inside his body.
"No need to explain~"
The Elf Queen simply shook her head with a gentle smile.
"Since your goal is achieved, let's leave."
"…Alright."
Akira nodded, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
Explanations had never been his strong suit. Thankfully, the Elf Queen was a remarkably understanding ruler.
In the next instant, she activated a teleportation spell, bringing Akira and Loserine back to the Elf Kingdom.
"Wait here a moment. I need to change," she said as she departed swiftly—her dress had been tainted by traces of death aura and needed to be replaced.
"Whew…"
Akira exhaled deeply and collapsed onto a sofa within the elven palace.
The moment he sat down, several elves approached, offering him wine and fruit, even kneeling to massage his legs with practiced care.
The indulgence—like that of an emperor—made him sink into bliss, a satisfied smile creeping onto his lips.
Meanwhile, Loserine refused all of it, standing quietly at his side. Her clear eyes remained fixed on him, devoid of emotion—save for a faint trace of confusion.
A short while later—
The Elf Queen returned, completely renewed.
She wore a flowing sky-blue dress, its hem swaying lightly with each step. Yet even such attire struggled to conceal her breathtaking figure—her snow-white curves threatening to spill free…
As she appeared, the elves attending to Akira immediately withdrew.
"Guild Master Kurose Akira~"
She approached him gracefully, her smile warm and inviting.
"Thanks to you, the first batch of 'magic potions' promised by the Rose Duchess has arrived in the Elf Kingdom. Tell me~ how should I reward you?"
"…Magic potions?"
Akira fell silent.
He had never expected that the deal between the Elf Queen and Idice would involve… potions.
A bad premonition stirred in his chest.
"Your Majesty… may I take a look at one?" he asked, stepping forward, unable to hide the urgency in his voice.
"Of course~"
With a gentle smile, she produced a pink vial from her sleeve and handed it to him.
"Here~"
"Thank you."
Akira accepted it and examined it closely.
The bottle was decorated with pink heart patterns. Inside, a pale pink liquid shimmered like starlight.
[Life Potion (Epic): A special potion that enhances combat power, but only effective on females! (Contains a portion of your power!)]
"…???"
Akira froze.
His mind went blank.
This… was made using his life force?!
Though he struggled to accept it, the truth was undeniable.
That day—when Idice had taken him to the succubus palace…
It had all been for the creation of these Life Potions!
"Your Majesty… are you certain this can help the Elf Kingdom through the crisis?"
He tried to keep his tone steady, though his thoughts were in chaos.
"Rest assured. It's already been tested," the Elf Queen replied calmly. "It can increase an elf's combat power by 50% to 200%. The quantity is limited, but it's enough to face the coming crisis."
"…I see."
Akira forced a response, his emotions tangled.
There was no way he could tell her… that the key ingredient was his own life force.
After a brief pause, he asked, "Have you… tried it yourself?"
"Me?"
The Elf Queen smiled, then produced another vial—this one a deep crimson.
"The Rose Duchess said the standard version wouldn't be very effective on me, so she prepared a special limited edition."
"…What?"
Akira was struck as if by lightning.
A limited edition… for the Elf Queen?!
Idice… you've really outdone yourself this time!
"What is it?" the Elf Queen asked curiously, noticing his strange expression. "Do you want to try it too?"
"No, no!" Akira waved his hands frantically. "I'll pass!"
The Elf Queen gently swirled the vial and chuckled. "The Rose Duchess said it only works on women, so~ it's useless to you."
"Ahem…" Akira cleared his throat. "Then… how many bottles were delivered in the first batch?"
"About three hundred," she replied. "Another batch will arrive in three days—around one thousand bottles, according to her."
"One thousand…?"
Akira frowned slightly.
Given how much life force he had provided… could it really produce that many?
He had his doubts.
At the same time, he desperately hoped the Elf Queen wouldn't actually drink it.
After all…
Having a regal, dignified queen consume something like that—
Cough.
Though… considering what had already happened in his dreams, perhaps it wouldn't be that damaging to her image after all.
As long as he and Idice kept things discreet… her noble elegance would remain intact.
"Now~"
The Elf Queen's voice drew him back.
Her eyes, soft as flowing water, gazed into his as she stepped closer, gently cupping his face.
"Everything is ready. This time… I will bring this war to a complete end."
Then, in a softer voice:
"Little one~ will you help me?"
"Of course!"
Akira answered without hesitation.
He was more than willing.
After all, he had always harbored a grand ambition—
To become the man behind the Elf Queen.
He had already achieved that… physically.
Now, only the emotional side remained.
"Then allow me to rely on you once more~ little one~"
A pleased smile curved her lips. Then her expression turned solemn.
"I hereby grant you the title of Elven Honorary Advisor. You are permitted to command any elf in the kingdom—except the princesses and elders. I entrust you to stand with me… and safeguard the Elf Kingdom."
As her words fell, a crown woven from five elemental flowers materialized in her hand.
[Elemental Flower Crown (Epic): A symbol of the Elven Advisor. Grants a 10% combat boost to allied elf units.]
"Thank you… Your Majesty!"
Akira accepted it without hesitation.
From this moment on—
He could walk the Elf Kingdom with unchecked authority.
Aside from the elven princesses and elders…
His status stood above all others.