"This crown…?"
Kurose Akira's gaze locked onto the golden crown, his eyes filled with unmistakable surprise.
He had assumed that as the Undead Monarch's favored consort, Rodra must have been guarding some dark secret tied to his master.
But instead—
It was the Medusa Queen's crown?
And its effect was even more bizarre—it could directly transport him to the Medusa Queen herself!
But the Medusa Queen currently resided in the Silent Domain—a place no one could enter or leave freely. Without absolute preparation, even a demigod could perish there.
"…Why would it be this?"
Elina's expression, however, was one of disbelief. Clearly, this outcome diverged from what she had expected.
Yet after a brief moment of thought, her eyes flickered—as if she had pieced together the reason.
"I see… so that's what it was."
"…What are you muttering about?" Akira turned to her, confused.
"The Queen sent us here to eliminate Rodra," Elina explained with a faint smile, gently lifting the floating crown into her hands. "Naturally, it was because we suspected he was guarding something that could either threaten the elves—or restrain the Undead Monarch. And now… we have our answer."
"Oh?"
She extended the crown toward Akira as she continued, "A being capable of threatening the elves' safety—and… no, not merely restraining. One that could potentially destroy the Undead Monarch."
"You mean… the Medusa Queen?"
Akira accepted the crown, examining it closely as he spoke.
At that moment, he understood.
The Medusa Queen had once ascended to the Divine Realm. Based on historical records, her power likely surpassed even that of the Elf Queen.
"Exactly." Elina smiled. "Though we can't confirm whether she's still alive. So for now… it remains an unknown."
"Then should we make use of that unknown?" Akira asked.
"Let the Queen decide. For now, we should return to the main battlefield."
With that, Elina casually snatched back both the Sword of Eulogy and the crown from Akira's hands.
But just as she was about to lead everyone back, she noticed Akira hadn't moved.
"…What are you standing there for?"
"Wait."
Akira replied simply, then strode toward Rodra's severed head lying on the ground.
"…What are you—"
Before Elina could finish, Akira raised his foot—
And crushed it.
The head burst apart with a sickening splatter, blood spraying outward—but none of it stained his dragon-scale armor.
[Rodra defeated. EXP +1,000,000!][Acquired ultra-rare additional trait — Super Crystal Turtle!]
"Let's go."
Akira turned immediately, ready to return.
At the same time, he released Marle Rhine from their fusion.
But the moment she reappeared—
She leapt onto his shoulder and started pounding his head angrily.
"You damn human! You've become Mira Orei's lackey, haven't you!? Traitor!"
"Hey—stop! Stop that!"
Akira quickly pulled her off his shoulder.
But when he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks—
He froze.
He gently rubbed her hair, soothing her.
"Don't worry. I've never betrayed you. I've always been on your side."
"…Really?"
She wiped her tears, looking up at him for reassurance.
"I swear, alright?"
Akira raised his hand to make an oath—
But Marle suddenly broke into a bright, cheerful smile.
"Then I'll believe you, human! Don't think you can escape my Dragon King Eye! I'll be watching you—always watching! Stare~"
"…."
Akira paused for a second, then smiled faintly.
Her thoughts were even simpler than he'd imagined.
Or rather—
She was just a single-minded little idiot dragon.
"Alright, let's—"
Before he could finish—
A strange sensation suddenly surged through him.
At the same time—
Elina froze as well.
"…What's happening?"
Akira felt dizzy, clutching his head as his body swayed.
"Human! What's wrong!?"
Marle rushed forward, trying to catch him—
But just as her hand was about to touch him—
He vanished.
Completely.
As if he had never existed.
"Human!? Where are you!? HUMAN!"
Marle shouted frantically, searching for him.
But the empty battlefield offered no reply—only her desperate cries echoed through the air.
Lucia and the others rushed over as well, their expressions filled with worry.
Not only could they no longer find Akira—
Even their connection to him as adventurers to their guildmaster had been severed.
"Don't worry. He's just been teleported to the Silent Domain."
At that critical moment, Elina spoke calmly.
"It seems the Undead Monarch left something behind on that crown. No idea who it was meant for… but whatever. I'll go take a look."
She glanced at them, then added,
"No matter what happens—I'll bring that man back safely."
The moment her words fell—
She too disappeared.
And silence fell over the battlefield.
…
"…Where am I?"
Akira pushed himself up from the ground, looking around in confusion.
He had no idea where he was.
All around him—
Broken stone, raging storms, and crackling purple lightning.
The entire space felt like a shattered world—no intact land in sight.
"This is the Silent Domain—the place where the Medusa Queen slumbers."
Elina's voice suddenly sounded beside him.
He turned—
She had appeared without a trace.
"You're here too?"
Compared to his own situation, that surprised him more.
"Probably because we both touched the crown," she replied casually, scanning the surroundings.
"…How do we get out of here?"
Akira frowned. He had no intention of staying.
"Simple," Elina said lightly. "Just defeat the Medusa Queen, and we'll return safely."
"…."
Akira's expression darkened instantly.
That wasn't simple at all.
Ignoring his reaction, Elina focused on a distant point.
"…There."
"Follow me."
With that, she spread her elemental wings and flew ahead.
Akira followed closely.
Moments later—
They landed on a relatively intact rock platform, only a few hundred square meters in size.
At its center—
A throne stood.
Facing away from them.
"…What is that?"
Akira's brows furrowed. He didn't dare act rashly.
Because he could feel it—
A presence.
Something at least above demigod level.
The Medusa Queen?
Or something else entirely?
As he hesitated, Elina turned to him with a faint smile.
"Isn't this where you show your charm as a man?"
"…What?"
"She's right there. Go on." Elina shoved him forward.
"Hey—"
Before he could react—
The throne slowly rotated.
Turning toward them.
But—
It was empty.
No figure sat upon it.
"…What?"
Akira frowned.
Had his senses been wrong?
"…The Medusa Queen isn't here?" he asked, turning to Elina.
But—
She wasn't looking at him.
Her gaze was fixed behind him.
Her pupils trembled—
Filled with shock.
…!
Akira's expression hardened instantly.
Something was behind him.
Something that could make even Elina react like that.
Gulp.
He swallowed.
Slowly—
He turned.
And—
The throne was still empty.
"…."
Akira immediately realized.
He'd been played.
"Hahahaha! That reaction was priceless!"
Elina burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
Akira turned back slowly, staring at her with a complicated expression.
There was definitely something wrong with her.
At a time like this—
She was joking?
"Enough. Let's figure out how to get out of here."
"Su… Su Xuan…"
Suddenly—
Elina's expression froze.
Her pupils shrank.
Her smile vanished.
She raised a trembling hand—
Pointing behind him.
"Look… behind you…"
"…You're not seriously—"
Akira was about to accuse her again—
But something felt different this time.
She wouldn't repeat the same trick twice.
Which meant—
Gulp.
He swallowed again.
And turned.
This time—
Someone was there.
Seated upon the throne.
Her hands rested lightly on the armrests, her slender waist straight, pressed against the back of the throne.
Her pale brown eyes gazed at him calmly—
Enchanting. Dangerous.
But what drew his attention most—
Was her lower body.
Below her slim waist—
There were no legs.
Instead—
A crimson serpent's tail, nearly three meters long, coiled around the throne. The faint pink hue at the tip only added to its allure.
The Medusa Queen.
Akira instinctively stepped back.
His heart leapt into his throat.
Since entering this world, he had never felt such pressure.
She wasn't even showing hostility—
Simply sitting there—
Yet an overwhelming, irresistible presence pressed down on him from within.
"Don't speak."
Elina's voice echoed in his mind.
"…Got it."
Akira responded silently, his gaze still locked on the Medusa Queen.
"Also—don't look into her eyes."
"…You could've said that earlier!"
His brow tightened.
"…"
The Medusa Queen's crimson lips parted.
"Why… have you come?"
Her voice was cold.
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time."
Elina stepped forward, her composure restored.
"My name is Elina, a princess of the elves. We arrived here by accident."
"Elves…"
The Medusa Queen seemed to think for a moment.
"…Ah. A race created by that tree. I remember."
Then—
Her gaze shifted to Akira.
"And him? Human? Dragon? Or elf?"
"…Or perhaps—a thief?"
…Thief?
Akira immediately understood.
She knew about the Blood of the God of Love.
But that blood had already evolved into the [Blood of the God of Lust]—
And had been given to Canlutia.
Returning it was impossible.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to explain—"
Elina tried to intervene.
But—
"Did I permit you to speak?"
The Medusa Queen's voice turned cold.
"…You—!"
Anger flashed across Elina's face.
She respected the Medusa Queen—
But if it came to it—
She wouldn't fear a fight to the death.
"A mere holy spirit dares oppose me?"
The Medusa Queen showed her no regard.
"Who do you think you are, you old—"
Before Elina could finish—
Akira covered her mouth.
If she said that last word—
There would be no turning back.
"First of all, I'm not a thief," Akira said calmly. "Second… Your Majesty, you're currently nothing more than a fragment of a broken soul. Do you really think you can crush us so easily?"
"…A broken soul?"
Elina's eyes widened slightly.
Because to her—
The Medusa Queen's aura felt complete.
But no matter how well she concealed it—
She couldn't hide it from player perception.
Her panel was full of question marks—
But her status clearly showed:
[Fragmented Soul]
After being exposed—
The Medusa Queen said nothing.
She simply stared at Akira.
Silence fell.
The two locked eyes—
Neither backing down.
Minutes passed—
Before she finally spoke again.
"Your purpose here… is not simple."
"…Correct."
Akira answered calmly.
"I came… for you."
"…For me?"
Her expression didn't change.
But—
Her serpent tail swayed slightly.
As if revealing a subtle, hidden emotion…
…
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