"Nilu…"
Nilu quietly approached, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "Why have you come here together with Princess Ailina?"
Kurose Akira tore his eyes away from the wooden hut, where Paslow and Princess Ailina were still in discussion, and turned toward Nilu. "At someone's request."
"The Elf Queen?" Nilu asked softly, her voice carrying a faint trace of something complicated.
"Mm." Kurose Akira answered without hesitation, making no attempt to hide it from her.
At that, Nilu lowered her head slightly. Her deep violet eyes seemed veiled by a thin mist, as though she had fallen into thought.
"Do you… still resent the Elf Queen?" Kurose Akira asked, a hint of concern in his tone.
"Resentment?"
Nilu fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. Her voice turned cool, almost indifferent. "Compared to hatred, what confuses us more is why—after using us—she cast us aside so ruthlessly."
"You all think that way? But the truth might not be so simple." Kurose Akira frowned.
He hadn't expected the dark elves to believe they had been used… and then abandoned without mercy.
"I don't fully know the truth either," Nilu continued. "I wasn't among the first generation of dark elves. But… that is the source of Lady Paslow's sorrow. All we want… is to fight for her."
"..."
Kurose Akira fell silent.
Bit by bit, he began to grasp the root of the conflict between elves and dark elves—it likely stemmed from a rift between the Elf Queen and Paslow herself.
They had once been inseparable friends… yet something had driven them apart, eventually splitting them into two distinct races: elves and dark elves.
Of course, the number of dark elves was far smaller—only about three percent of the total elven population.
Yet their combat power was astonishing.
Compared to elves of the same level, dark elves were roughly twenty percent stronger. And as levels increased, that gap only widened.
A dark elf above level 80 could even rival two normal elves of the same level.
But such power came at a price.
Their mental state would gradually distort… until, in the end, they descended into madness.
And that was exactly what puzzled Kurose Akira.
His gaze drifted, almost unconsciously, toward Paslow, who was still speaking with Ailina. A trace of confusion flickered in his eyes.
Because Paslow… didn't match that description at all.
At level 94, she stood just a single step away from the realm of a demigod. By all logic, a dark elf at that level should already have succumbed to overwhelming madness.
And yet—
Paslow was calm. Gentle. Composed.
Her elegance and serenity were so refined that they could rival even the Elf Queen herself.
"Ah! Kurose Akira!"
Nilu suddenly snapped him out of his thoughts. She clasped his hand tightly, her expression earnest. "Could you… do me a favor?"
"What kind of favor?" he asked.
"Lady Paslow still needs the Elemental Divine Fluid from the World Tree for treatment. So… I'm hoping you can help us!" Nilu spoke sincerely, though a trace of unease lingered in her eyes.
It was obvious why.
The dark elves were poor—there was no way they could offer a reward equal in value to such a rare resource.
"I'll do what I can."
Kurose Akira nodded in agreement.
However, no quest notification appeared.
He guessed that Nilu simply wasn't able to provide a reward yet—perhaps she needed time to prepare one.
"That's wonderful!"
Nilu's face lit up with a bright smile. Then, with a hint of apology, she added, "Please don't worry, I'll gather the reward as soon as possible. And if I can't…"
She bit her lower lip, her tone resolute.
"…then I'm willing to become your servant. I'll work like a beast of burden for you!"
"Cough—no need for that."
Kurose Akira quickly waved his hands, declining. That kind of "payment" was far too heavy.
"That won't do. We elves never break our vows." Nilu shook her head firmly—almost as if she was oddly looking forward to becoming his 'beast of burden.'
That only made Kurose Akira more curious.
What exactly was she planning to offer?
"So what is the reward?" he asked.
Nilu smiled mysteriously, confidence glimmering in her eyes. "I won't tell you yet. But I promise—you'll be satisfied."
"…?"
"Kurose Akira!"
At that moment, Ailina approached, interrupting their conversation.
Kurose Akira turned to her. "You've already delivered the Elf Queen's message to Paslow?"
"Mm."
Ailina nodded, her gaze briefly sweeping coldly over Nilu before she let out a light laugh. "Paslow needs some time to consider. We can return to the Elven Kingdom now."
"Then let's head back." Kurose Akira replied, preparing to leave with her.
But just as he was about to move, Ailina suddenly stopped him, a playful smile curling on her lips.
"Ah~ you can't leave just yet~"
"…?"
Confusion filled his face.
"You need to stay behind and help Paslow stabilize the seal." Ailina smiled as she lightly poked his nose with her fingertip.
"Me?"
Kurose Akira blinked in surprise. He had thought he was only here as an escort… and now he was being told to stay?
To stabilize Paslow's seal?
"Of course. You're the best choice." Ailina's smile deepened, a teasing glint flashing in her eyes. "Originally, this task was mine—but since you're here, you're far more suitable."
Still unconvinced, Kurose Akira turned toward Paslow, who had just stepped out of the wooden hut.
She met his gaze with a gentle expression.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Guild Master Kurose Akira."
"…Alright."
Though doubts lingered in his mind, he agreed.
At the same time, he speculated that the seal within Paslow was likely connected to the forbidden power of the World Tree.
And that seal… was probably what kept her sane—preventing her from falling into madness despite becoming a dark elf.
"Then we'll be off~ Good luck, Guild Master Kurose Akira~"
After bidding him farewell, Ailina boarded the World Tree's leaf along with the elven guards, preparing to depart the Dark Forbidden Forest.
Kurose Akira's expression darkened instantly.
Why did this feel like he'd just been sold off?
"Oh, right~"
Just before leaving, Ailina turned back and called out to him, "If you see Jielan, give her my regards."
"Jielan?"
Kurose Akira was about to ask who that was—but the World Tree's leaf had already soared into the sky, vanishing without a trace.
And in the very next moment—
A group of dark elves suddenly surrounded him from all sides.
At that moment, Paslow bent down slightly, smiling warmly at him.
"The sealing ritual will begin at six in the evening. While we wait, how about letting the dark elves show you around our village?"
"Sounds good."
Kurose Akira nodded. It was the perfect chance to better understand the dark elves.
After all, one of the two conditions to save the Elven Kingdom was to bring the dark elves back.
Although he didn't know exactly what message the Elf Queen had sent through Ailina, his instincts told him—
It wouldn't be enough to reconcile the two sides on its own.
Which meant he would need to act on his own… and find a better solution.
"Then let me guide you around the village, Kurose Akira! May I, Lady Paslow?"
Nilu eagerly raised her hand, volunteering herself.
"I'll leave it to you, Nilu." Paslow nodded with a smile, then turned to Kurose Akira. "Enjoy your time."
With that, she was escorted back into the wooden hut by the surrounding dark elves.
"Then~ let's go, Kurose Akira!"
Nilu immediately grabbed his hand, ready to lead him through the dark elf settlement.
"Mm."
As dusk slowly fell, Kurose Akira followed Nilu through the village, observing the daily lives and habits of the dark elves.
They were different from ordinary elves.
Dark elves preferred to dwell in darkness.
Moreover, they frequently suffered from headaches caused by the corrupting power within them.
To ease the pain, they would immerse themselves in the Dark Nether Spring.
This spring was somewhat similar to the Forest Spring within the Elven Kingdom, containing elemental energy from the Dark Forbidden Forest.
However, its waters shimmered with a silvery-gray hue—strikingly close to Paslow's skin tone, though slightly duller.
Kurose Akira asked Nilu about the origin of the Dark Nether Spring, but she knew little.
All she could say was that this place—the "Dark Forbidden Forest"—had been chosen by Paslow as a refuge for the dark elves, and that she herself had led them here.
Aside from that, during the tour, Kurose Akira also explained to Ivsha and the others why he hadn't returned to the guild—and assigned their next tasks.
Lucia and Loserine would lead the group to complete one C-rank quest and three daily commissions.
"The time's about right. We should head back—the sealing ritual is about to begin." Nilu glanced at the sky and reminded him.
"How often does Paslow need to stabilize the seal?" Kurose Akira asked as they walked.
"Every three days!" Nilu replied seriously. "Unless something extremely important comes up, she never leaves the village. But today… is a special case."
"Special?"
"Mhm!" Nilu nodded. "The tribe is preparing Umbral Flowers. Those are only used when Lady Paslow needs to leave the Dark Forbidden Forest."
"…?"
Kurose Akira fell into thought.
So that meant—
The Elf Queen wanted to meet Paslow in person?
But then another question arose.
Why was he being kept here?
To supervise?
Lost in thought, they had already returned to the dark elf settlement.
There, Paslow knelt beneath a massive tree, surrounded by a carpet of Umbral Flowers. Under the night sky, the blossoms emitted a faint glow, lending the ritual an almost ethereal beauty.
Nilu stepped forward and quietly asked the others, "Is the ritual about to begin?"
"Mm."
One dark elf nodded, worry etched across her face. "But Jielan hasn't returned yet… We don't know who can preside over the ritual and stabilize Lady Paslow's seal."
"Jielan still hasn't come back?" Nilu's expression turned grave.
"She may have run into trouble on the way," another elf speculated.
Jielan was the second strongest among the dark elves, just beneath Paslow. Because this sealing was both urgent and unusual, her absence stirred unease among them.
As uncertainty spread—
Paslow's voice drifted over, calm and steady.
"There's no need to worry."
Her eyes locked onto Kurose Akira as she smiled gently.
"Didn't Princess Ailina leave us with a suitable candidate? I believe… Guild Master Kurose Akira can help me complete the sealing successfully."
"Kurose Akira?""That human?"
All eyes turned toward him at once, filled with surprise and curiosity.
Only then did Kurose Akira fully understand.
Ailina hadn't left him behind by coincidence—she had already anticipated that Jielan wouldn't make it back in time.
"Please, come to my side… will you?"
Paslow beckoned softly, inviting him into the ritual space encircled by the Umbral Flowers.
Without hesitation, Kurose Akira stepped forward and came to stand before her.
The moment he stopped—
A surge of pitch-black magic rose like a curtain of night, wrapping tightly around the two of them.
Outside, the dark elves quietly sat down, waiting in silence for the ritual's outcome.
Kurose Akira looked at Paslow and asked, "What do I need to do?"
"Please wait a moment."
Paslow gave a slight nod and stepped back beneath the great tree.
In the next instant, several thick vines extended from the trunk—like chains—gently coiling around her limbs.
At the same time—
The white bandages wrapped around her body began to slip away, one after another… revealing skin that shimmered like a galaxy.
Kurose Akira's brows knit slightly.
Yet even so, a flicker of admiration passed through his eyes.
And along with it—
A question rose in his mind:
Why… does this ritual require her to undress?
Just then, Paslow's voice reached him, tinged with a hint of apology.
"I may become… a little strange soon. During the process, please make sure I retain a sliver of clarity."
"Of course… you may use any method you deem appropriate~"
As her words fell—
A multitude of sharp, gleaming weapons materialized around Kurose Akira…