"..."
Under everyone's gaze, the Elven Queen quietly squatted there, as though she had become the unquestioned focal point of the room. Even the Spirit Dragon widened its bright, watery eyes and stared straight at her, as if silently questioning—
Are you trying to steal my master's affection?
Faced with the sudden silence and awkwardness, the Elven Queen merely smiled calmly. She bent down, picked up a pure silver spoon that had fallen to the floor, and said to Flora,
"The spoon accidentally fell. Could you help me rinse it off?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Flora nodded and quickly took the spoon, hurrying off to wash it clean.
Meanwhile, the Elven Queen unhurriedly returned to her seat, still as graceful and composed as ever.
Kurose Akira's gaze sharpened slightly.
He was certain of one thing—this silver spoon had definitely been conjured by the Elven Queen using magic. After all, all the utensils in Beyarela's home were made of wood.
But why had the Elven Queen suddenly squatted down just now?
Was it the influence of corrupt thoughts?
After all, the Elven Queen's corruption still carried the [Fallen] trait…
"Your Majesty, it's clean now."
Flora handed the spoon back.
"Thank you."
The Elven Queen accepted it, and dinner resumed—but the atmosphere had subtly changed.
...
About an hour later, the dinner came to an end. The Elven Queen and Elena prepared to depart.
Just before leaving, the Elven Queen cast Kurose Akira a meaningful glance.
His heart trembled slightly—like being gently tugged by a pair of warm, jade-like hands.
"Then, we shall take our leave."
Elena dragged the Spirit Dragon by its tail as she bid farewell.
"Mmm~"
After they were gone, Beyarela turned to her daughters and suggested,
"Fuli, Flora—shall we go to the Elven Tree Pool tonight?"
"The Elven Tree Pool!?" the sisters exclaimed in unison. "Yes!"
The moment they heard those words, Fuli and Flora burst with excitement, joy written all over their faces.
"The Elven Tree Pool?" Kurose Akira asked, puzzled. He had no idea what that was.
Beyarela explained gently,
"The Elven Tree Pool is formed where the mana of the Mother Tree seeps into the earth. It's where elves bathe."
"A bath?"
Kurose Akira immediately grasped the general idea.
"Then… I'll head back first."
Just as he was about to leave, Beyarela suddenly wrapped both hands around his arm, pressing close—soft, snowy skin snug against him.
"Guildmaster~ Why not return after bathing?" she asked expectantly. "You don't have anything urgent tonight, do you?"
"This is where elves bathe… isn't it inappropriate for me to go?" Kurose Akira hesitated.
"It's fine~" Beyarela shook her head softly. "The princesses and the queen all have separate bathing areas. At this hour, Elena and Yulusi won't be bathing—there'll only be the few of us~"
!?
The scene shifted.
Kurose Akira had already removed his clothes and was soaking in the fragrant waters of the Elven Tree Pool, a cup of fruit juice in his hands.
Thick tree roots intertwined around the pool, blocking the view of the other bathing areas and creating a private space. In this roughly ten-square-meter pool, he alone enjoyed the quiet and comfort.
Not far away, in another Elven Tree Pool, Beyarela and her daughters were bathing. Though the view was blurred, he could faintly hear their conversation.
"Flora, you seem to have grown?"
"Really?"
"Mom! What about me?"
"Fuli is just as cute as ever~"
"..."
Kurose Akira didn't pay much attention to their chatter. He opened the player interface and checked the World Channel.
In the past day or two, after one player successfully broke through to an A-rank guild, several more followed suit.
Out of the original ten thousand players, after nearly three and a half months, a total of nine had reached A-rank. More might appear in the coming days—but not many, at least not in the short term.
Because in this game, meeting the level requirement alone didn't guarantee promotion. Only by completing special commissions could a player's evaluation improve. If a guild lacked sufficient strength and forced those commissions, annihilation was a real possibility.
"About three and a half months to reach A-rank…"
Kurose Akira compared it with his own pace. He wasn't sure whether reaching D-rank in half a month was fast or slow—but he believed that with another three months, advancing from D to A wouldn't be difficult.
After a quick scan of the World Channel, he closed the interface, leaned lazily against a tree root, spread his arms, and looked up at the night sky.
The bright moon hung high above, stars scattered across the heavens, lending the land an air of mystery and romance.
"The moon on the Magic Continent…" he murmured, sipping his juice, "is even bigger than the one in reality."
Just as he was immersed in the scenery, a slender figure suddenly blocked the moonlight.
Kurose Akira focused—and saw Beyarela.
For reasons unknown, she had come over from the other pool, wrapped only in a thin towel. Bathed in moonlight, her jade-like skin looked even more alluring. The damp towel clung to her full curves, displaying every line with breathtaking clarity.
Kurose Akira froze, disbelief written all over his face.
He never expected Beyarela to come here.
"Y-you—"
Before he could ask why, she lightly stepped into the pool.
Water splashed, a few droplets landing squarely at the corner of his lips—but his attention was entirely on her.
"Guildmaster~ I was helping the children wash earlier, so I kept you waiting~"
Beyarela pressed close beside him, soft snowy flesh brushing against his right arm—an intoxicating sensation.
"Cough… I don't mind," Kurose Akira said, trying to steady himself.
So the Elven Tree Pool… is mixed bathing!?
"Well then~"
Beyarela raised her hand. In her palm rested a tender sprout of the Mother Tree.
"Let me help you~ Fuli and Flora both love it when I wash them~"
"This…" Kurose Akira's heart rippled, stirring buried memories. "Then… I'll leave it to you."
"Don't worry~ I'll be very gentle~"
She crushed the sprout softly, squeezing out fresh sap. The liquid served as a bathing cleanser, carrying a light, leafy fragrance.
Under her careful touch, the sap spread evenly across Kurose Akira's body.
The fresh scent mixed with her tenderness, filling him with an unprecedented sense of comfort. He closed his eyes, letting fatigue and pressure melt away—
Until her fingertips suddenly touched the forbidden zone of holy light.
!?
"Please don't move~"
!?
Faced with the awkwardness, Kurose Akira desperately sucked on his straw to distract himself—but the cup was soon empty.
Beyarela looked at him sucking an empty cup in confusion, then smiled gently.
"I'll refill it for you~"
(What follows is an extended description of bathing in holy light. The next ten thousand words are omitted…)
...
Elsewhere, the Elven Queen returned to her bedchamber.
"Go rest," she said softly to Elena.
"Yes~"
Elena withdrew.
Once alone, the Elven Queen stood before a mirror, gazing at her reflection.
"What was that power?" she murmured. "Why could it even affect the real me?"
The reflection smiled.
"Who knows? They are blessed by the world. Perhaps it's a force beyond our understanding. Even beings like us… sometimes have need of them, don't we?"
The Elven Queen nodded, blue eyes lifting to the moon.
"What a beautiful night~"
"Indeed," the mirror replied softly. "A pity you have no one to share it with."
"Don't I still have you?" the Queen smiled.
"But I am you. We are one."
"…Has that little one returned yet?"
"Not yet. I can still sense him within elven lands."
"His relationship with Lela is quite good?"
"Mmm~ Very… intimate."
...
"Lady Lela… are you finished yet?"
Kurose Akira asked awkwardly, eyeing the pool water that was nearly white—and his empty cup.
He'd already downed three cups of honeydew!
"Just a little longer. Every part must be cleaned thoroughly," Beyarela smiled.
Especially that blazing holy light—it required extra care.
"Mom, where are you?"
Fuli and Flora's voices drifted closer.
"We'll be right there~"
Beyarela answered quickly, a hint of panic in her tone.
"Are you with the Guildmaster?" the sisters asked, voices approaching.
"Wait—"
Her cheeks flushed. She hastily gathered the towel and stood gracefully.
Kurose Akira sensed danger immediately.
"Cough—Lady Lela, I have something to take care of. I'll head back first!"
He grabbed his clothes and bolted from the pool, holy light still blazing. Any longer and the sisters would definitely discover their little secret.
"Mmm~"
Beyarela smiled gently and waved.
"I look forward to our next meeting~"
A flash of white light—
Kurose Akira safely returned to the guild.
He took a deep breath as a notification appeared.
[Bathed in the Elven Tree Pool: Mana Recovery Speed +30% (3 days)]
"So bathing there actually has such an effect…"
He murmured and headed for the training room.
Though it was already past nine, the sound of sword swings echoed inside.
When he entered, the sight stole his breath.
Loserine danced with her Oathbound Sword, white blade-light blooming like falling moonlight. Her blue-glowing soul form moved through the air like a living painting.
"I think I've gained a new insight," Loserine said, stopping.
"Another one?" Kurose Akira's eyes lit up.
After refining Water Moon into Falling Moon last time… was she about to grasp a transcendent technique?
"But—"
She raised her sword and pointed it at him.
"I need your help."
A notification appeared.
[Favorability reached 120. New character quest unlocked — The Undead Knight Wants to Give You a Sword!]
..
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