Thud!
A streak of dark-violet light plummeted from the sky—Jielan descending with Kurose Akira in her arms—before landing in a city nearest to the Dark Forbidden Forest.
What had seemed like a hundred-kilometer journey took her only a few minutes.
"We're here."
Jielan set Akira down and gave his shoulder a firm pat.
Akira, meanwhile, still looked slightly dazed.
Not because of her speed.
…but because during the flight, the back of his head had repeatedly knocked against the solid armor over her chest.
If that armor wasn't just for show, then her figure was just as outrageously overpowered as her speed.
"…Thanks."
Akira brushed aside his messy bangs and offered his gratitude.
"Human. Pasloe already told me everything."
Jielan crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over him as she spoke.
"I hear you're trying to bring the dark elves back to the Elf Kingdom—and that you've earned the Elf Queen's trust."
"…More or less."
Akira nodded calmly, meeting her eyes without flinching.
"As I thought. The Elf Queen's lapdog."
Jielan muttered it under her breath.
"?"
Akira frowned slightly but didn't bother arguing. Instead, he said,
"Oh right—Elena asked me to pass along her greetings."
"Elena?"
At the mention of that name, Jielan's expression visibly softened.
After a brief silence, she lifted her head, a faint smile appearing on her chocolate-toned face.
"Elena may also serve the Elf Queen, but she's different. She has something the others don't."
"Something?"
Akira's curiosity was instantly piqued.
What exactly made Elena so special?
"…No idea. But she's special."
Jielan shrugged.
"She writes to me often. One of the very few elves willing to build a friendship with dark elves."
"Elena…"
Akira thought it over carefully.
Her reputation among the dark elves was indeed unusually high.
Not just because of Jielan's recognition—but also because of how warmly the other dark elves had treated her when she first arrived in the Dark Forbidden Forest.
Everything pointed to one thing:
Elena held significant standing among them.
But that only made it stranger…
As an elf created directly from the Elf Queen's origin magic—unlike the other two princesses—and even her sole heir…
Why was she so close to the dark elves?
It was hard not to suspect she had her own agenda.
"And…"
Jielan suddenly lowered her gaze, her voice dropping into a murmur.
"Her personality… is almost identical to my deceased friend…"
"What did you say?"
Akira didn't quite catch it.
"…Nothing."
Jielan lifted her head again, the fleeting complexity in her eyes already gone.
"Tell Elena this: once I obtain the Heart of Dark Desire, I'll challenge the Elf Queen again."
"…?"
Akira blinked, confusion rising instantly.
Challenge the Elf Queen—again?
Had she done it before?
But just as he was about to press further—
"I'm leaving."
Jielan unfurled her elemental wings once more and shot into the night sky, vanishing without another word.
Akira let out a helpless sigh.
Then, opening a portal, he returned to the guild.
—
By the time he stepped through, it was already ten at night.
Yet the guild hall was brightly lit.
Ivsha and the others were still there—waiting.
"…You were all waiting for me?"
Akira asked, surprised.
Aside from the vampire progenitor Kanlutia and Mare Rhine, every guild member was present.
And all of their eyes were fixed on him.
"Where did you go?"
Lucia shot him a sharp glare, her tone brimming with interrogation.
"…Didn't I already tell Ivsha? I just went to the Elf Kingdom for something."
Akira looked puzzled at the sudden hostility. He was certain he'd made that clear.
But Lucia set down her coffee, a trace of something… suspiciously like jealousy flickering across her face.
Her voice turned cold.
"That's not what Ivsha told us."
"She said you were out selling your soul—indulging in the temptations of dark elves."
"And worse… you fought ten dark elves at once."
"???"
Akira snapped his head toward Ivsha, silently demanding:
When the hell did I say anything like that?
Ivsha, in response, flashed him a mischievous smile—one that clearly said not my problem~
"…Haah."
Akira sighed, exasperated, then turned back to Lucia.
"I was helping the dark elf leader stabilize a seal. That's it. Nothing else."
"Really?"
Lucia narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him as if trying to peel apart every layer of his thoughts.
"Of course it's true! If you don't believe me, I can show you my inventory!"
"??? I don't want to see that!"
Lucia shot him a vicious glare, then stood up and headed straight for the teleportation array.
"I'm going back. The Holy Church has a mountain of things waiting for me."
"…Alright."
Akira nodded, watching her leave until her figure disappeared into the light.
Then he turned slowly toward Ivsha, his gaze carrying equal parts accusation and resignation.
"…Ivsha."
Seeing that look, Ivsha instantly put on a pleading smile.
She knew she might've gone a bit too far this time.
"Mr. Akira~ I know I was wrong! I was just joking!"
"Don't run. Accept your punishment."
—
Meanwhile, in the Elf Kingdom.
The Elf Queen sat quietly within her chambers, a mountain of administrative documents piled before her.
Recent unrest had forced her to extend her working hours.
Even as a demigod, fatigue and weariness were not so easily dismissed.
"…Mmm~"
She set down her pen and stretched lazily, her graceful body arching slightly as she eased the stiffness from her muscles.
"…It's already night?"
Glancing out the window, she saw a bright moon hanging above the treetops, casting a gentle silver glow.
Taking advantage of the brief respite, she rose and walked to the window.
Her gaze lifted to the night sky—
…and, unbidden, fragments from a dream surfaced in her mind.
Wait—
"…Am I just overworked?"
She touched her slightly flushed cheek, quickly using magic to steady herself.
Ever since the dream created by the World Tree ended…
Strange scenes had begun to resurface in her mind again and again.
For example—
Under the Elf Mother Tree… with someone…
She couldn't understand why these fragments appeared so frequently.
Like scattered memories, flickering through her thoughts.
What unsettled her even more—
Was that within those visions… there was also the disheveled figure of the Dark Elf Queen.
And herself—
Watching, with unmistakable pleasure—
As the Dark Elf Queen and Akira…
…Hm~♪
"My Queen~"
Elena's voice cut through her thoughts as she returned from the Dark Forbidden Forest to report.
"Did you deliver my message to Pasloe?"
The Elf Queen turned and asked.
"Yes…"
Elena began, then paused.
She noticed—just for a moment—that the Elf Queen's face carried a faint blush?
But she didn't dwell on it.
"I've delivered it. She will send someone to return the demigod artifact to the Elf Kingdom."
"Good~"
The Elf Queen nodded in satisfaction, then stepped closer, her voice softening.
"And Akira?"
"He chose to remain in the Forbidden Forest. Voluntarily. As a mediator."
"…Voluntarily?"
The Elf Queen seemed slightly surprised.
But she didn't question it further.
It did fit his usual way of doing things.
"Then…"
After a brief pause, she asked,
"Did Pasloe have anything for you to pass on to me?"
"No."
"…I see."
A faint, nearly imperceptible trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
After a moment of silence, she turned away.
"Understood. You may leave."
"Yes~"
Elena bowed and departed.
Left alone, the Elf Queen returned to the window.
Moonlight washed over her porcelain-like face…
…tinting it once more with a soft blush.
—
Back at Akira's guild.
"Mr. Akira~ I was wrong~ Please forgive me~"
Ivsha's pleading voice echoed—but it did little to extinguish Akira's irritation.
"No."
"Master~"
"…"
After a round of "discipline," Akira finally vented his frustration onto Ivsha.
When it was over, he sat at the edge of the bed, reaching for some water.
But suddenly—
A sharp pain surged through his mind like crashing waves.
"…What the hell? Why does my head hurt this much? Have I been praying too often lately?"
He frowned, clutching his head in confusion.
And then—
A line of text appeared before his eyes:
[The Power of Lust and the Power of Corruption are merging…]
To be continued.