"...You're going to treat me?"
Kurose Akira lowered his head slightly, looking at Mare Rhine with a hint of surprise.
No matter how he looked at her, she didn't seem like the type of unit capable of providing healing support to teammates. Everything about her screamed pure combat power.
"What's wrong? You don't trust me?" Mare Rhine folded her arms beneath her chest, her brows knitting slightly in displeasure at Akira's hesitation.
With the small movement, the soft white curves beneath her arms swayed faintly—as if voicing her dissatisfaction.
"I…"
Akira hesitated for a moment.
In the end, he decided to give Mare Rhine a chance.
"…Alright. I'll trust you this once."
As he spoke, he began removing his clothes.
"Mmm~ human!"
Mare Rhine stared at Akira's body without blinking, admiration sparkling in her eyes.
After inspecting him for a while, she nodded with clear satisfaction.
"Your body's getting stronger and stronger~ Now that fits the definition of a true warrior!"
"…?"
Akira didn't respond. He simply wrapped a bath towel around his waist.
But relying on a single towel to restrain the Holy Light seemed… somewhat unrealistic.
Even if it was still in a dormant state.
"Human, don't be so stiff~"
Mare Rhine gently patted his shoulder—the highest place her small hand could reach.
Then she added,
"If it's you, I would still choose to forgive it. Even if that impure light were to bloom, I wouldn't blame you."
"..."
Akira had no idea what she was talking about.
Lately this dragon had been acting strange. Something about her behavior felt… off.
Was it because of her period?
"Lie down already. I'll remove the fire's burn," Mare Rhine urged impatiently.
Left with no choice, Akira followed her instructions and lay face down.
However—
The moment he settled into position, Mare Rhine climbed onto his back and sat down.
The weight of a dragon pressing down on him made it impossible to move. Under that pressure, there was no chance to appreciate any softness or elasticity.
"Human, close your eyes and enjoy this moment!"
Mare Rhine's laughter rang out with confidence.
"This is my first time, you know!"
"…?"
Before Akira could even begin to figure out what she meant by "first time," a wet, silky sensation spread across his back.
It felt like a soft towel gently gliding over his skin.
He tried to turn his head to see what Mare Rhine was doing, but her heavy body pinned him down so completely that the movement was nearly impossible.
Wait…
Suddenly, Akira realized something.
That smooth, moist sensation wasn't a towel.
It was a tongue.
His eyes widened as the truth dawned on him.
"Human, prpr~ does it feel better?" Mare Rhine asked softly while continuing to treat his burns.
"..."
Akira found himself unable to say anything.
All he could do was lie there while her tongue slid across his back, sending strange sensations through his body.
If Ivsha didn't already share a similar hobby, he probably would've stopped Mare Rhine immediately.
But right now, he simply lay there quietly, letting the little female dragon soothe the burns.
Honestly…
It felt pretty good.
A dragon's tongue seemed to possess a unique texture—like it was covered with countless microscopic fibers.
As it brushed across his skin, it created a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced.
The motion gently massaged every inch of his body, making him feel as if he were floating among clouds.
The fire burns themselves hadn't actually caused Akira much pain.
But Mare Rhine's treatment…
Made it feel like his soul was trembling.
He never could have imagined such a thing.
Who would have thought dragons had this kind of utility?
Just as Akira was sinking into the blissful haze of Mare Rhine's devoted licking—on the verge of drifting to sleep—
She suddenly grabbed his waist with both hands.
"…? What are you doing?"
Akira snapped his eyes open and asked.
"Time to flip over," Mare Rhine said, patting his butt as a reminder.
"…?"
Before Akira could respond, she simply flipped him over herself.
The moment he was turned onto his back—
The Holy Light instantly broke free of its restraints and bloomed proudly within the steamy air.
"Hey! Hey! Human!"
Mare Rhine crossed her arms, glaring at him with irritation.
"I'm kindly treating you—how can you be thinking such strange thoughts?!"
"..."
Akira didn't even pause before replying.
"Don't you think this just proves I recognize your charm?"
"Recognition?"
Mare Rhine hesitated for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.
"Wahahaha! Of course! With my level of temptation, how could a human like you possibly resist?"
"..."
Akira said nothing.
Privately, he thought to himself—
This dragon was ridiculously easy to fool.
But in the very next moment, he realized he had underestimated Mare Rhine.
"Human! As a reward for your loyalty, I will make a rare exception and give something in return!"
Smiling proudly, Mare Rhine turned around and sat on his chest with her back facing him.
"…Huh?"
Akira looked genuinely confused.
Then he saw it—
Her fiery red dragon tail swayed gently behind her.
Her gaze was fixed intently on the radiant Holy Light.
And then—
prpr~
"!?"
Akira's eyebrows shot up instantly.
The storm of emotions surging through him defied description.
This dragon…
Was actually healing the Holy Light?
Tss—
The strange sensation caused the Holy Light to sway like a candle flame dancing in a breeze, flickering with delicate brilliance.
"prpr~ Human, this part of you is especially hot. Do you feel better now?" Mare Rhine asked while continuing the treatment.
Akira forced himself to reply through clenched composure.
"…It does feel better."
"You still look uncomfortable. I guess I'll have to increase the intensity!"
Apparently misunderstanding his expression, Mare Rhine doubled down on her efforts.
"…???"
"prpr!"
…
An hour later.
"Human! What is wrong with you?! Why couldn't you hold it in?!"
Mare Rhine crouched beside the hot spring, full of resentment.
She repeatedly splashed the warm spring water onto her face, trying to wash away the Holy Light that had accidentally gotten on her.
She even dunked her head underwater and gargled, attempting to dispel the lingering sacred aura.
"I warned you," Akira said while quickly putting his clothes back on. "You just didn't notice."
"When did you warn me?! I didn't hear anything at all!"
Mare Rhine turned around angrily, baring two sharp dragon fangs.
Clearly, she was extremely dissatisfied with his response.
"Ahem…"
Akira awkwardly scratched the tip of his nose before hastily leaving the room, leaving Mare Rhine alone beside the hot spring to sulk.
To be fair—
He had warned her.
He just did it by letting the Holy Light flash rapidly as a signal.
—
Returning to the guild hall, Akira casually submitted the C-rank quest they had completed earlier that day.
Coincidentally, Loserine and the others had also just returned after finishing their three daily missions.
[C-Rank Quest Completed!]
[Quest Rewards: +5 Gold, +500,000 EXP]
[Special Reward: Fire Core ×1 (Epic)]
[Daily Quests Completed!]
[Quest Rewards: +9 Gold, +150,000 EXP]
[Lucky Critical Triggered! Daily Special Reward: Epic Item ×1 (Please Select!)]
"Oh? An unexpected bonus?"
Akira glanced at the reward panel and couldn't help curling his lips into a smile.
Inside his inventory appeared a crimson Fire Core, shaped like a blazing heart and radiating intense heat.
[Fire Core (Epic): A core that radiates epic-level flames. Possesses the power to evolve fire.]
"Evolve fire…?"
Akira studied the description thoughtfully.
He began considering who should receive such a valuable item.
Currently, only the elf sisters and Mare Rhine used fire-element magic within the guild.
However, the elf sisters already possessed pure fire elements, leaving little room for further evolution.
As for Mare Rhine…
Her flames symbolized destruction itself—likely an even higher tier than pure elemental fire.
Which meant the Fire Core probably wasn't suitable for her either.
Then…
Akira's gaze drifted across the hall.
It eventually landed on Xue'er, who was playing with Viola, and the Demonflame Silver Phoenix Butterfly fluttering nearby.
Perhaps…
The phoenix butterfly would be the best candidate.
Besides that, there was also the newly acquired additional trait—Fireworks.
Combining the two might produce an even greater effect.
"Alright. Let's give both to the little one."
Akira muttered to himself.
He immediately assigned both the Fire Core and the Fireworks trait to the Demonflame Silver Phoenix Butterfly.
[Your Familiar — Demonflame Silver Phoenix Butterfly has obtained the additional trait: Fireworks!]
[Fireworks: Flames as brilliant as stars burning at the center of the cosmos!Immune to all fire damage!Fire-element damage gains 100% penetration!]
[Fire Core: Your familiar has fused with the Fire Core! She is evolving…]
"Evolving?"
Akira blinked at the notification that suddenly appeared before him.
According to the Fire Core's description, he had assumed it would simply enhance the butterfly's fire-element abilities.
Instead—
The butterfly itself had begun evolving.
"What's wrong, Phoenix Butterfly?!"
Viola's startled cry shattered the calm of the guild hall, drawing everyone's attention.
When they turned to look—
The Demonflame Silver Phoenix Butterfly was engulfed in silver flames.
The light was dazzling, threatening to swallow her tiny body completely.
"Chirp…?"
The butterfly sensed something strange happening to her body.
With a pitiful, confused chirp, she fluttered toward Akira.
The silver flames followed her like loyal companions.
"Chirp chirp!"
She tapped Akira gently with her wings, clearly asking for help.
Viola and the others hurried over, worried the tiny creature might be sick.
Seeing their anxious expressions, Akira simply smiled.
He reached out and gently patted the butterfly's head.
"It's alright. This is your transformation."
"Chirp?"
The butterfly seemed to understand.
Her worried chirping stopped.
Instead, she gazed at Akira with trusting eyes.
Then she flew back to her small nest.
From there, she began spinning fiery silk, wrapping herself layer by layer.
Under everyone's watchful eyes—
The Demonflame Silver Phoenix Butterfly slowly transformed into a cocoon glowing orange-red.
"The butterfly is…?"
Viola walked toward Akira with worry in her voice.
Even Xue'er, perched on her deer back, looked concerned.
"Don't worry," Akira reassured them. "She'll be fine."
With that reassurance, Viola and Xue'er finally relaxed a little.
Afterward, Akira used the accumulated experience to raise everyone's levels.
Ivsha, Lucia, and Mare Rhine all advanced to Level 49.
The elf sisters, Viola, and Alice rose to Level 45.
Just like that, the experience pool he had accumulated over several days of missions was emptied once again.
As for Kanrutia, there was no need to rush her level growth.
Although she was currently only Level 1, her unique attribute system granted her extraordinary combat power—enough to rival Lucia and the others.
The only drawback was the blood cost.
Every battle required consuming the blood stored inside her body.
And naturally—
That blood came from Kurose Akira.
"Guild Master, Roxia is here to see you."
Loserine approached while Akira was organizing the guild's resources.
"Roxia?"
Akira looked slightly surprised.
"She's already here?"
"Yes."
"…Then bring her in."
The moment he finished speaking—
The teleportation circle lit up with a soft white glow.
Soon, two figures emerged from the light.
Roxia.
And Natasha.
"So this is Mr. Akira's guild?"
Natasha looked around excitedly. It was her first time visiting.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined the guild hall and its members.
"Hello, everyone!"
She greeted Lucia and the others warmly, handing out delicate pastries she had personally made as gifts for their first meeting.
Roxia, however, wasted no time.
She walked straight to Akira, her expression serious.
"Guild Master Akira, I'm sorry to disturb you. There's something important I need to discuss."
"What is it?"
Akira gestured for her to sit while instructing Alice to prepare tea.
Once seated, Roxia spoke with a furrowed brow and clear urgency.
"War has broken out in the Kingdom of Starlight."
"…War, huh? That makes sense."
Akira listened thoughtfully.
With the Starlight Coronation Ceremony ending in failure and Princess Vivian unable to ascend the throne, turmoil within the kingdom was inevitable.
After all—
Both Prince Laps and Duke Tylers coveted the throne.
War had been almost unavoidable.
Akira asked calmly,
"Has the fighting already spread to Sunset City? If it has, I can have the Rose Duchess send troops immediately to defend it."
"The war hasn't reached Sunset City yet… but…"
Roxia shook her head.
After a brief hesitation, she continued.
"It's the new Lord of Sunset City… He has decided to side with Duke Keto and bring Sunset City under Prince Laps' faction."
"The new lord of Sunset City…"
Akira's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
That knight had returned from the royal capital to Sunset City, claiming he simply wished to retire peacefully.
But it seemed—
He had returned with other intentions all along.