"Tinas Queen~ would you like some tea?"
Inside the Puffed Dreamland Guild, Beiya Fuluo carefully served a cup of black tea to the White Elf Queen.
Even though the Queen had asked them to simply call her "Tinas," the elf twins still couldn't shake a habit formed over more than a decade.
After some compromise, the strange but respectful title "Tinas Queen" was born.
"Thank you~"
Tinas accepted the teacup with a gentle smile.
That single smile made Fuluo's heart skip a beat. Flustered, she glanced around hurriedly.
She was looking for Kurose Akira—wanting to tell him everything.
Like a child who had earned a gold star at school and rushed home to show their parents.
"Huh? Guild Master is asleep?"
When Fuluo spotted Kurose Akira sitting quietly on the sofa with his eyes closed, as if in a deep trance, confusion crossed her face.
"He's been like that for almost an hour," Tinas said softly, taking a sip of tea as her gaze drifted toward him.
Even she was curious about what he was doing.
"He's always like that," Lucia said calmly while playing chess. "There are always things we don't know… things he doesn't want to tell us."
Her tone was composed, as if she had long since grown used to it.
"May I play a match with you?" Tinas suddenly asked, interest sparking in her eyes.
"It would be my honor."
And just like that, the two began a game of chess.
Fuluo, however, had no interest in the match.
Her attention remained fixed on Kurose Akira.
"Guild Master…?"
She tiptoed closer, carefully observing him.
She was genuinely curious—how could someone sleep sitting upright like that?
Or… was he not actually asleep?
Just as she hesitantly reached out a small hand, intending to check his breathing—
Suddenly!
Kurose Akira's body trembled violently.
Startled, Fuluo jumped back, panicking like a child caught doing something wrong.
"Guild Master, I—"
She began to explain, only to realize he still hadn't opened his eyes.
He showed no sign of waking.
Which only deepened her confusion.
Was he… having a nightmare?
What she didn't know—
Was that Kurose Akira was currently locked in a life-and-death struggle with a dragon who wielded lightning itself!
"Relax! Just relax, okay?!"
Kurose Akira's strained roar echoed through the sealed space.
This was the first time he had encountered someone who only knew how to tighten—but not how to loosen!
If Mira Aure kept this up, he might actually fall here today!
My holy light—!
It's going to get crushed!
"I—I'm trying! But… how am I supposed to do that? I don't know…!"
Mira Aure's voice trembled with panic.
After all, this was the first time she had ever been "bloomed" by a human.
Nervousness coiled tightly in her chest, making it impossible to control her overly sensitive body.
"Relax! Just relax! Breathe—deep breaths!"
Kurose Akira patted her rear lightly, trying to calm her.
But instead of helping, it only made things worse—
"I am breathing! I'm breathing!"
"Haa—haa—!"
Despite her efforts, the results were… disastrously opposite.
The holy light was compressed once more, forced into a final act of resistance.
"Damn it!"
Kurose Akira's expression tightened.
He had a bad feeling—
And it was already too late.
When the colossal dragon focused all her strength onto that fragile inner layer—relentlessly compressing the holy light—
There was no time left to adjust strategy.
He could only let the fragmented force break through the sacred defense, piece by piece.
And then—
Golden radiance burst forth.
A scorching tide surged endlessly, crashing into the Blue Dragon's vulnerable inner structure in the most primal way—attempting to awaken the dormant Life Law.
"Y-you…"
Mira Aure was left speechless.
Her legs locked straight as she endured the descent of that sacred brilliance.
Even now, she couldn't comprehend it—
That one day, her fate would be seized by something as small as a human.
Pop—
Kurose Akira stepped back, watching the brilliant light flicker.
The process had been rough—
But for some reason, all he felt was the exhilaration of defeating a boss with everything he had.
And not just any boss—
A high-difficulty one.
As the thought settled, his gaze drifted toward his "work."
Perhaps because the effects of the holy light hadn't yet faded—
There was a faint opening-and-closing motion, shimmering with radiant color.
Strangely beautiful.
"Not bad~"
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
This Life Dragon…
Was truly something else.
Not inferior in the slightest to Ivsha's [Death Coil].
"Y-you…"
Mira Aure finally regained some of her composure.
The moment she realized what had happened, she instinctively lifted her tail to cover herself, hiding the embarrassing sight.
"…Sigh."
She let out a soft sigh.
"Next time… can you at least let me finish speaking first?"
"Hm? You still had something to say?" Kurose Akira blinked, caught off guard.
So she had been trying to explain?
"You brat!"
Her tone carried a hint of resentment.
"I've truly been defeated by you!"
"Relax. Don't let something this small ruin your mood," he said with a smile.
"Small?"
"Isn't it?"
His nonchalant attitude made her tail stiffen straight like an antenna.
Originally, she had planned to explain that he only needed to coat her scales with life essence—her body could absorb it through the electrical currents in her skin.
But before she could even say it—
He had charged straight in, spear-first!
And afterward, he still acted like nothing had happened!
This outrageous human!
…Yet, after thinking it through, Mira Aure chose to let it go.
After all, she had been the one speaking ambiguously.
And, from a certain perspective…
She had benefited.
Absorption through internal tissue was, without question, far more efficient than through the skin…
Heh.
Composing herself, she said, "Next time, don't do that. I'm still a dragon who's lived for ten thousand years. If word got out, where would my dignity go?"
"Didn't you say this is a sealed world? Nothing here affects reality," Kurose Akira shrugged. "As long as neither of us says anything, who would know?"
"You—!"
She was about to retort—
When suddenly, her body trembled.
A jolt like a hundred thousand volts surged through her heart, accompanied by a thunderous pulse.
"What was that?" Kurose Akira asked, having heard it as well.
"Um…"
She hesitated.
"…It seems… it's not quite enough yet."
"Not enough of what?" he asked with a faint smile.
He already knew what she meant.
But some things had to be said out loud.
"You wicked child…"
She poked his chest lightly with the tip of her tail, half-annoyed.
Who would've thought—
That one day, she'd have to lower herself before a human?
"Do we really have to do it like this?" she asked reluctantly.
"I'd prefer it this way."
His serious expression made her sigh.
After a long pause, she finally spoke:
"…The life magic isn't enough yet. Could you… give me more?"
Her sincerity earned his approval.
A faint smile curled his lips as his hand rested against her hip, almost like a master rewarding a pet.
"As you wish. Now—kneel."
…
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Kurose Akira sat on the ground, exhausted, wiping sweat from his brow as he tried to recover his nearly depleted vitality.
Once he steadied himself, he looked up.
Before him stood Mira Aure.
Her entire body shimmered with golden radiance, illuminating her blue scales brilliantly.
Of course, this wasn't waste—
It was simply because…
She was overflowing.
The excess life magic had spilled over, soaking her scales when even her internal absorption had reached its limit.
And so, this dazzling sight was born.
Of course, Kurose Akira had kept his promise.
He hadn't touched the Life Lock.
Meaning Mira Aure still retained what mattered most to her…
Probably.
"Y-you…"
She breathed softly, her legs trembling slightly as she recovered.
She hadn't expected him to go this far.
Even after her Life Law had fully awakened—
He kept going.
As if he was enjoying it.
"Did it work?" Kurose Akira asked innocently, climbing to his feet.
His genuine concern made it hard for her to scold him.
After a long pause, she finally replied:
"Thanks to you… my Life Law has fully awakened. It's even stronger than before."
"Really?"
"Fake."
She waved it off casually—
Then her body glowed with a soft blue light.
The radiance flowed across her scales, absorbing the remaining traces of golden energy.
In moments, she returned to normal—only faint golden traces lingering on the ground.
"…Mm~ I do feel much better."
The itching had completely vanished.
"Since I helped you… does that mean—"
Kurose Akira rubbed his hands together expectantly.
"Oh~ you mean spatial magic?"
Mira Aure suddenly laughed, as if she had been waiting for this moment.
"…Yeah."
Her tone made him uneasy.
"Since you want to learn~" she continued with a smile, "I can teach you. But it depends on how long it takes you to learn."
"What do you mean?"
"Spatial magic—and time magic—are among the highest-tier disciplines," she said proudly. "Far harder to master than elemental or necromantic magic."
"Even I needed several months just to grasp the basics of time magic. Do you understand what that means?"
"…Mm."
Kurose Akira nodded.
Then asked, "Is it possible… you're just not very talented?"
"…You're saying I'm not talented?"
She froze—
Then burst into booming laughter.
"Hahaha! You really are amusing. I'm a Life Dragon—born at the pinnacle!"
"And you dare say I lack talent?"
"I don't know whether you're joking or provoking me—but it's ridiculous~"
"…"
Kurose Akira simply smiled.
That subtle smile unsettled her more than any insult.
"…Humans really are troublesome creatures," she sighed.
Then—
Her tail tip gently tapped his forehead.
A flicker of blue light flashed.
"I've implanted a spatial spell into your memory. Try it yourself—you'll understand how difficult it is."
"Alright."
Kurose Akira nodded, searching his memory.
[Spatial Shift (Super-Tier): Instantly teleport within a 100-meter range.]
"Super-tier, huh…"
He murmured.
Then—
He began gathering the spatial law within him.
As the highest form of spatial energy beneath the divine—
It could easily activate spatial magic.
The only issue…
Was proficiency.
And just as he began casting—
Mira Aure watched quietly, waiting to see him fail.
"Hehe~ even I needed a month to learn this," she muttered. "Even the most talented humans would take at least half a year. Your journey is only just begin—"
Before she could finish—
Kurose Akira vanished.
"…Hm?"
Her eyes widened.
When she sensed him again—
He was already a hundred meters away.
Her entire body froze.
Her tail shot straight up like an antenna.
"Y-you… you learned it already?!"