Back at the guild, Kurose Akira immediately submitted the final D+ rank commission.
[Quest Successfully Submitted!][Gold +10, EXP +100,000][Congratulations on completing all D+ Rank commissions with outstanding evaluation! Processing C-Rank Guild Certification!][C-Rank Guild Certification will officially begin tomorrow at 12:00. Upon successful completion, your player rating will advance to C-Rank. You will formally establish your guild and unlock a series of new functional permissions!][Please prepare thoroughly. May your banner fly victorious and your fortune in battle be strong!]
Kurose Akira stared at the system messages hovering before him and muttered softly:
"C-Rank Guild Certification…"
According to the game's rules, only upon reaching C-Rank did a guild truly count as established.
At that point, the number of guild emblems that could be equipped would increase. All guild permissions would unlock. The guild ranking system would activate.
"Still some time before tomorrow at noon. I can push our strength a little further."
He had no idea what the so-called C-Rank Guild Certification entailed in terms of process.
But strengthening himself before it began? That was never wrong.
And the most efficient way right now—
Was to help Rosalin break through to Level 50.
Her bond trait [Knight's Loyalty] halved the experience required for leveling. It allowed him to extract maximum value from minimal resource investment.
In addition, two unused bonus traits were still sitting quietly in his trait inventory:
[Lightning Flash][Death Coil]
Originally, he had considered assigning [Death Coil] to Rosalin.
But after weighing it carefully, he felt [Lightning Flash] suited her better.
Without hesitation, he assigned [Lightning Flash] to Rosalin.
[Trait 'Lightning Flash' has been added to your Adventurer Rosalin!]
[Lightning Flash: Rosalin moves with the swiftness of lightning. Agility +50%! Action Speed +100%! Her body can store lightning-element energy and release minor electrical currents!]
"…?"
Kurose Akira raised an eyebrow at the description.
Rosalin's body could now release electrical currents?
That piqued his curiosity.
She was technically a soul-form entity.
Did that mean her physical configuration possessed far greater plasticity than ordinary beings?
For example—
The water spirit coiled around her waist functioned almost like a natural extension of her body, fluid and obedient.
After assigning [Lightning Flash] to Rosalin, Kurose Akira turned his attention to the remaining trait:
[Death Coil].
His gaze drifted toward Iphesa, who was seated in the guild hall.
A faint anticipation stirred within him.
He wasn't entirely sure what a succubus would become after receiving [Death Coil]…
But he had a strong feeling.
The results would be… extraordinary.
Among all his adventurers, aside from Rosalin, Iphesa was unquestionably the best fit for it.
He made his decision.
[Death Coil] was assigned to Iphesa.
[Death Coil: Darkness coils, death surges! Grants High-Tier Dark Magic—Death Coil. Portions of her bodily structure undergo subtle alterations, allowing you to lose yourself within her even more deeply, unable to extricate yourself.]
"…?"
Kurose Akira's expression stiffened slightly at the final line.
What did that mean?
"Allow you to lose yourself more deeply" referred to—
Before he could finish the thought—
Iphesa appeared soundlessly behind him.
Her slender arms slid around him from behind, pressing gently against his back.
In a voice thick with velvet temptation, she whispered:
"Mr. Kurose Akira~ I can feel it~ the new power you've bestowed upon me~ Would you like me to demonstrate it for you?"
"…?"
His brow lifted subtly.
Curiosity.
Anticipation.
His gaze swept across the guild hall.
Everyone else was resting, recovering their stamina.
Notably—
Rosalin had also sensed the power of [Lightning Flash].
She raised her skeletal fingers, wrapped in faint blue soul-fire.
In her palm, arcs of deep-blue lightning flickered and danced.
Seeing this—
A smile tugged at Kurose Akira's lips.
Then, with an arm around Iphesa's waist, he led her into the bedroom.
He needed to see for himself—
Just how terrifying this so-called [Death Coil] truly was.
—
Five minutes later…
"Iphesa, I just remembered I have something important to take care of—"
"Mr. Kurose Akira~ Don't run~ The Holy Light has only blossomed six or seven times~"
"Wait— Iphesa!"
"Hss~"
…
On the other side—
Within the royal capital of the Kingdom of Stars—
Princess Vivian finally emerged from her earlier dazed state.
Yet the image of that brilliant, searing Holy Light lingered in her mind.
It refused to fade.
When that radiance had bloomed deep within her soul—
She had nearly lost consciousness.
It felt as though every hollow within her being had overflowed with dazzling light…
"So frightening…"
Vivian curled up on her bed, her delicate body trembling faintly.
She was utterly confused.
She had fully mastered the power of the Dominating Demon Eye.
So why—
Why had it completely failed against Kurose Akira?
"His eye…"
She suddenly recalled it.
His left eye had shone with golden brilliance, just like hers.
"…Could it be…"
The realization struck her like ice.
She finally understood how he had nullified her Dominating Demon Eye—
And why he had tormented her so thoroughly.
"Mother's Counter Demon Eye… Why is it in his hands?!"
Her expression hardened instantly.
Her small hand clenched into a fist.
Though she could not comprehend how Kurose Akira had obtained it—
At least she now knew where the other eye was.
"Your Highness."
A blue-armored female knight stepped quietly into the chamber, frost gathering at her feet.
"Iceblue? When did you return from the tundra?" Vivian asked.
This knight ranked third among the hundred Star Knights of the Kingdom of Stars—the Frost Knight.
She was also the only subordinate Vivian truly trusted.
"After recovering the relic of the Icefield Witch, I immediately returned," Iceblue replied calmly.
A spark of curiosity flashed across Vivian's eyes.
"Did you gain anything?"
"Yes."
Iceblue nodded faintly.
Her voice remained cold, but her gray-blue eyes held unwavering loyalty.
"I have deepened my understanding of the Icefield Witch's Truth. Even against that one… I now have confidence in battle."
"That's wonderful~"
Vivian smiled brightly.
"But Iceblue, I have something I need you to handle for me."
"What is it?"
"I need you to…"
…
"Iphesa… my life force is really going to run dry…"
Kurose Akira groaned weakly.
Within a single hour—
Twenty. Thirty bursts of Holy Light.
He now fully understood the terror of [Death Coil].
His radiant Holy Light, brilliant and overwhelming—
Before her boundless darkness—
It was like the sun being swallowed by a cosmic black hole.
Insignificant.
Devoured.
He regretted it deeply.
Assigning [Death Coil] to Iphesa was, without question, the worst decision he had made so far.
"But, Mr. Kurose Akira~"
Iphesa leaned over him, her eyes shimmering with playful desire.
"You see… it's still bright outside~"