"?"
Kurose Akira's bold challenge drew a cold glance from Idiss. A subtle light flickered in her beautiful eyes, as though she were quietly evaluating his worth.
At that moment, Akira himself couldn't help but feel a hint of tension rising in his chest. His gaze locked tightly onto Idiss.
Just how high were her standards?
He was genuinely curious.
Moreover, she was the original succubus who had created Ivsha using a fragment of her own lustful magic.
In a sense, Ivsha and Idiss were deeply connected.
Strictly speaking, they weren't mother and daughter, nor did they share a conventional blood relationship. They were simply two independent beings born from the division of the same soul.
As for how that relationship should truly be defined… even Akira wasn't entirely sure.
But one thing he did understand—
Idiss was someone who had to be conquered as well.
"You?"
After a brief moment of scrutiny, Idiss's lips curled upward into a meaningful smile.
She had no idea where Akira had found the courage to challenge her.
Still… youthful arrogance had its own charm.
With a tone that brooked no refusal, Idiss said coldly,
"Lie down."
"Lie down?"
Akira blinked in surprise at the request.
"Stop dawdling. Lie down."
As she spoke, a faint gleam flashed through her crimson eyes.
Immediately, Akira felt a powerful force surge into his body. It was as if invisible hands had seized control of him.
Before he could resist, his body was compelled to fall back onto the ground.
Seeing this, Ivsha's eyes flashed with anger.
She rushed forward bravely, attempting to stop Idiss.
"Bad woman! What are you planning to do to Mr. Akira—ah!?"
Before she could finish speaking, two pink chains materialized out of thin air, locking tightly around her wrists and restraining her in place.
"When adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt."
Idiss cast Ivsha a cold glance.
Toward this "clone" of hers, she always felt an inexplicable unease deep in her heart.
The vessel she had created to store a portion of her lustful magic seemed to be gradually slipping beyond her control.
It had even begun to defy her… for the sake of this man?
Idiss turned her icy gaze toward Akira, who was lying on the ground.
Complex emotions flickered within those beautiful crimson eyes.
Ivsha had been created from a part of her power—yet this human had completely captivated her mind.
The thought sparked a faint but undeniable irritation within Idiss's heart.
Then—
She raised her leg and angrily stepped down onto the Holy Light.
"?"
Akira's expression instantly became complicated.
His eyes shifted back and forth between Idiss's high heels… and the shimmering Holy Light.
Hiss…
Was this also part of the lesson?
Those two light steps—
Were they serious?
Watching this unfold, Ivsha's heart ached terribly. She couldn't bear seeing her Mr. Akira treated this way.
"Stop! Bad woman! Let Mr. Akira go!"
Ivsha shouted in distress.
Idiss merely chuckled softly, the corner of her lips curving into a smug smile.
She glanced sideways at Ivsha, then slowly lowered her gaze to her own rose-red high heels.
Under the glow of the Holy Light, the heels shimmered with an alluring brilliance.
"Little Akira," Idiss said calmly, "I know you've experienced quite a lot recently. It seems to have given you… an excessive amount of confidence in your own strength."
As she spoke, she slowly rubbed against the flickering Holy Light, the sensation producing an almost mesmerizing rhythm.
"However~"
With the slightest increase of pressure, the brilliant light suddenly flared intensely—like a star on the verge of bursting.
"You dare challenge someone you cannot possibly defeat."
Her voice grew colder.
"Is that confidence… or simply extreme arrogance?"
The moment those words fell—
She waved her hand lightly.
A wisp of magic slipped from her fingertips like a living thread.
Under its influence, the high heel instantly bloomed with a dazzling crimson glow.
In the next instant—
Brilliant radiance spilled forth, bleaching the vivid red rose petals white.
!!!
Akira's expression froze.
His mind went completely blank.
What just happened?
Why had he lost control of the Holy Light in that instant?
What had Idiss done?
Even Ivsha, with the [Death Coil] ability, had never made him feel this powerless.
Yet Idiss… had done it with nothing more than a single high heel.
Wait…
Did that mean something deep inside him actually preferred this kind of… uniquely styled life ritual?
Huh?
Does that mean…
I'm a pervert?
"Look at you. So weak. Defeated by something like that."
Idiss smiled with faint disdain.
But the moment her words ended—
A brilliant dawn rose once again.
The sudden resurgence made Idiss raise an eyebrow slightly.
She hadn't expected Akira to launch a counterattack so quickly.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
But it quickly vanished as her calm expression returned.
"So you refuse to accept defeat?"
Her crimson eyes glimmered faintly.
"In that case…"
With elegant grace, Idiss removed one of her high heels, revealing a jade-like foot wrapped delicately in black silk stockings.
She tossed the shoe casually aside.
Then—
She gently stepped onto the radiant light.
Looking down at him from above, her posture cold and confident, she declared,
"The real test… is only beginning now."
…
No one knew how much time had passed.
At last, Idiss's test came to an end.
"Now do you understand how weak you truly are?"
Idiss elegantly picked up a handkerchief and lightly wiped the corner of her lips. Her eyes drifted toward Akira, who was being supported by Ivsha nearby.
"Mm…"
Akira nodded slowly, his gaze unfocused.
He felt as though something within him had been lost—yet he couldn't quite describe what.
The feeling Idiss gave him was far too strange.
If Ivsha with [Death Coil] was an opponent he could defeat through effort…
Then Idiss…
She felt like an insurmountable chasm.
At least in his current state, he couldn't see even the faintest possibility of victory.
Like a child falling into the abyss—able only to struggle blissfully within endless desire.
"Mr. Akira, are you alright?" Ivsha asked worriedly as she helped support him.
At the same time, she shot Idiss a wary glare, as if silently blaming her.
Seeing this, Idiss raised an eyebrow slightly.
A thought flickered through her mind.
Perhaps it's time to remind Ivsha… who the most important person in her existence truly is.
"Put your clothes back on. We're leaving."
Idiss spoke calmly.
She casually burned the handkerchief soaked with Holy Light into ashes, then picked up the high heel she had discarded earlier and slipped it back on with graceful elegance.
"We're leaving?" Akira asked, stunned.
He glanced around in confusion.
Had they really come all the way to the Origin Land of Succubi just to test his limits?
"What? Do you feel reluctant to leave?" Idiss glanced at him indifferently.
"Other than amplifying succubi desires… does this place have any other purpose?" Akira asked curiously.
He had a feeling the place wasn't that simple.
Hearing the question, Idiss's lips curved into a barely noticeable smile.
"Do you truly want to know what this place is for?"
"Uh…"
Although Akira sensed the subtle shift in her tone—like a hidden trap—his curiosity still won out.
"Since you're so curious, I'll tell you its true purpose."
Idiss extended her jade-like hand and beckoned lightly with her finger.
Akira immediately understood. He stepped closer and leaned in.
Idiss moved near his ear and whispered softly,
"This place is the Violet Palace of the Mother of Demons."
"It is also the incubation ground of every generation's Succubus Empress."
"Now… do you understand its true purpose?"
"Ah?"
Akira froze instantly.
For a long time, he couldn't say a word.
"Hehehe~"
Seeing his reaction, Idiss covered her mouth and laughed softly, genuine amusement in her voice.
"What an interesting reaction."
"But it's getting late. We should go."
She raised her hand and lightly tapped Akira on the head like an elder scolding a child.
Then she turned around, opened a portal, and stepped gracefully inside.
After a brief moment of daze, Akira snapped back to his senses. He exchanged a glance with Ivsha, and the two of them silently followed.
When they returned to the Kingdom of Starlight, Lucia and the others were already waiting eagerly in the royal capital.
Meanwhile, most of the players had already claimed their event rewards and begun leaving the city.
"Guild Master!"
The moment Akira appeared, the elf twins rushed over joyfully like excited little birds.
Lucia also stood up to greet him. Though she seemed slightly dissatisfied seeing Idiss and Ivsha beside him, she still walked forward—rolling her eyes almost imperceptibly.
"How did things go?"
The first thing Idiss did upon returning was ask the Second Princess, Katerin, about the situation in the capital.
"With Aremos present, the Starlight Knights under Vivian didn't dare act recklessly," Katerin replied.
Idiss shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course he would side with the heir most likely to win the throne. He can't just watch the kingdom he protects collapse."
Then she asked,
"Have the Adventurer Guild rewards been distributed through you?"
"Yes."
Katerin nodded.
"I personally handed out the rewards to the top ten adventurer guilds."
She then retrieved an exquisite gift box from a spatial storage and handed it to Akira.
"Guild Master Akira, this is your reward for the event. Thank you for your outstanding contribution to the Kingdom of Starlight."
"Thank you."
Akira accepted the box, wondering what kind of Epic-grade item it contained.
However—
The moment he opened it, his expression suddenly stiffened.
Inside the box wasn't an epic item at all.
Instead, there were seven flower petals, each a different color and faintly glowing.
These petals…
Could they be the legendary Valkyrie petals?
A ripple of shock passed through Akira's heart.
According to the event rules, the Valkyrie petals were supposed to belong to the guild with the highest contribution.
So why were they in his hands?
Noticing his confusion, Katerin immediately explained,
"Guild Master Akira, because you assisted in killing the Demon King Lankai, your contribution score increased by 10,000 at the final moment."
"You surpassed the previous first-place guild, Xianfei Guild, becoming the top contributor of the event."
"?"
Akira simply smiled faintly.
He hadn't expected to snatch first place from Xu Feiyan at the very last moment.
However…
As he looked at the seven petals, he suddenly recalled the private petal of the White Rose Valkyrie.
Those were completely different from these seven petals.
Even the fragrance here perfectly matched the Seven Valkyrie Flowers.
As for that private White Rose Valkyrie petal…
Well.
That was… complicated.
Cough.
Akira suddenly felt like these petals had turned into a scalding hot potato.
If the White Rose Valkyrie were truly summoned—
Wouldn't the fact that he stole her private petal be exposed?
Mm…
Well.
Too late to worry about that now.
For the time being, he could only accept the reward and think about it later.
Akira placed the box into his inventory, preparing to return to the guild with Lucia and the others.
Just then—
Wynesan rushed into the hall.
She approached Lucia and whispered something into her ear.
Lucia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
Wynesan nodded firmly.
"I confirmed it myself."
"I understand. Return to the Church with them first."
"Understood."
Wynesan turned and left.
But as she passed Akira, her cold eyes shot him a fierce glare, leaving him completely baffled.
Why does the Saintess of the Holy Church seem to have such a huge problem with me?
"What happened?" Akira asked Lucia once Wynesan had gone.
"The truth of the Night Witch hasn't completely dissipated," Lucia sighed.
"It still exists somewhere within the royal capital of the Kingdom of Starlight."
"Where?" Akira frowned.
Even after being dead for many years, the Night Witch still had influence over the entire kingdom.
But historically speaking, witches were exactly that kind of existence.
Destroying the world was their ultimate goal.
A bunch of lunatics.
Their actions couldn't be judged by normal logic.
"It's inside Vivian's soul."
At that moment, Idiss walked over and spoke calmly.
"The Night Witch betrayed the Witch Church, betrayed the King of Starlight, betrayed everyone who trusted her."
"And now she won't even spare the daughter she created."
"What a madwoman."
"In her eyes, friendship, family, love… they're all just tools to achieve the Truth of Night."
Idiss glanced coldly at Akira.
"If you ever become like that, I'll personally extinguish your Holy Light."
"…"
Akira shuddered slightly.
"You don't need to worry about this matter anymore," Idiss continued. "I'll handle it."
"Alright."
Akira nodded.
Since Idiss had made that promise, he was willing to trust her.
Besides, judging from their interactions so far, Idiss's level seemed far higher than that of the Night Witch.
"Let's head back."
Akira opened a portal leading back to the guild and stepped through. The others quickly followed.
Idiss remained standing in place, silently watching them leave.
However—
Just as everyone was about to disappear completely into the portal's glow—
Ivsha suddenly seemed to hear something.
She turned back and glanced at Idiss.
That single look made Idiss freeze.
Her heart gave a rare, sudden thump.
Because she had the strange feeling that Ivsha might have realized something.
Realized…
The connection between them.