"Damn it~"
The Dark Elf Queen trembled as she slowly forced herself upright, a faint trace of blood seeping from between her tightly clenched crimson lips.
The White Elf Queen's magic hadn't inflicted much actual damage on her—and that surprised Kurose Akira. The spell just now had clearly reached the level of a pseudo–forbidden-class spell, and not a simple one at that. It was a fusion of multiple elemental powers. With that kind of force, leveling an entire town would have been effortless.
And yet, aside from the disappearance of her jet-black ceremonial gown, the Dark Elf Queen appeared completely uninjured.
Kurose Akira couldn't help but ponder just how terrifying the Elven Queen's elemental resistance must be to remain unscathed under such an attack.
Eighty percent resistance or higher?
Once she managed to stand, the Dark Elf Queen immediately flicked her fingers, releasing dazzling magic once more. She clearly had no intention of yielding and was still trying to resist.
"Enough."
Kurose Akira issued a cold command, forcibly stopping her.
"This queen will never—"
Even as she resisted his order, the Dark Elf Queen ultimately couldn't withstand the overwhelming influence brought on by 95% Corruption. Reluctantly, she dispersed the magic she had begun to cast.
Her body sagged as she collapsed back to her knees, breathing heavily as she struggled to calm the corruption gnawing at both her mind and flesh.
Seeing this, the White Elf Queen nodded in quiet satisfaction. Light shimmered in her eyes as she looked at Kurose Akira and spoke softly,
"Let's stop here for today~ As for disciplining the evil thoughts… we can continue next time."
"?"
Disciplining?
Before Kurose Akira could ask what she meant, the scenery of the dream suddenly warped. His consciousness was abruptly yanked back—
"Haah—"
Kurose Akira jolted upright in bed, drawing in a sharp breath. He glanced at the time.
Just past five in the morning.
"The Elven Queen's magic is terrifying…"
He muttered under his breath, the dazzling clash between the two queens still replaying vividly in his mind. As the sole ruler of the elf race, the Elven Queen's mastery over elemental magic was undoubtedly unrivaled across the entire magic continent.
After all, she was an elf blessed directly by the Goddess of Elements.
"…Hm?"
Suddenly, Kurose Akira caught a strange fragrance lingering in the guild's air.
"This is… Roxia's curse scent?"
The cursed aroma was dozens of times stronger than usual. He immediately realized—
Roxia's curse had flared up.
He sprang out of bed and hurried over.
When he stepped into the hallway, he found the Magic-Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly fluttering excitedly in front of the bathroom door, beating its wings in delight.
"Roxia, are you in there?"
Kurose Akira walked up and knocked lightly.
"Su—Kurose Akira… I'm inside."
Roxia's voice came from within, tinged with nervousness, accompanied by the sound of running water.
"Are you okay?"
He asked with concern. He didn't understand why her curse would suddenly erupt—she'd been perfectly fine before going to sleep.
"I'm fine…"
Roxia answered, but her condition clearly wasn't normal.
At that moment, the Magic-Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly displayed an astonishing level of intelligence. With a gentle flutter of its wings, it deftly pushed the bathroom door open.
"!?"
The sudden turn of events stunned both of them.
Their eyes met.
The air instantly became awkward.
Especially for Roxia.
She was wrapped in nothing but a thin bath towel. Because of her overly voluptuous figure, the soaked fabric clung tightly to her curves, barely concealing her body. Snow-white skin peeked through as the towel struggled to hold its place.
"Y-you—"
Just as Roxia was about to speak, the Magic-Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly fluttered toward her.
The cursed fragrance was extremely attractive to magical beasts. Drawn by it, the butterfly circled Roxia curiously, flapping its wings as it spun around her.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Hey—little one! Get out!"
Roxia clutched the towel tightly with her left hand to keep it from slipping, while her right hand waved weakly, trying to shoo the butterfly away. Embarrassment and helplessness filled her expression, her eyes silently pleading for help.
But the butterfly was completely intoxicated by the cursed scent, utterly absorbed.
Though it didn't touch Roxia and merely fluttered drunkenly around the bathroom, it caused her no small amount of distress.
"I'll help you!"
Kurose Akira stepped into the bathroom to help catch the Magic-Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly.
But the little creature was far faster than expected, weaving around them like a swimming dragon.
"Got it!"
Finally—
Kurose Akira caught it.
Just as he was about to leave the bathroom with the little troublemaker, the butterfly suddenly transformed into a burst of flame, shot out of the bathroom, and even slammed the door shut behind it.
"Whew…"
Kurose Akira let out a sigh of relief and turned to Roxia.
"Sorry about that. It was just curious about your curse scent—it didn't mean any harm."
But when his gaze fell on her, he saw Roxia clutching her towel shyly, her snow-white skin flushed a deep red, like a ripe apple.
"I'll step out so you can continue."
He reached for the door—
And froze.
"Roxia, did something happen?"
Loserine's voice sounded from outside. Disturbed by the commotion, she had come out of her room.
"Aunt?!"
Roxia suddenly grabbed Kurose Akira's hand, stopping him from opening the door.
"Shh—"
She quickly raised her other hand and gently covered his mouth, whispering urgently,
"Please… don't make a sound."
"..."
Though confused by her actions, Kurose Akira silently complied.
He was just about to remind her that her towel was slipping when he suddenly realized how intimate their current posture was.
Her neck was only a few centimeters from his face.
All it would take was a slight parting of his lips—
And he could pierce her skin and taste that sweet blood.
The thought sent ripples through his mind.
No.
He forced himself to stay calm. This wasn't something he could allow himself to do.
Eyes closed. Deep breath.
Endure it.
Roxia, unaware of his internal struggle, spoke to Loserine outside.
"I'm fine, Aunt."
"Your curse flared up, didn't it?"
Loserine asked directly.
"…Yes. I'll figure something out. Don't worry."
"Was it because the conversation before bed stirred your emotions and triggered it?" Loserine continued."Sorry, I don't really understand these things. If you want answers, I could ask the Guild Master for you. He might know more about emotional matters—"
"D-don't! Please don't continue!"
Roxia hurriedly cut her off, terrified that their private conversation would all be overheard.
"Aunt, I—"
She was just about to make an excuse to send Loserine away—
When she abruptly stopped.
Roxia stared in shock at Kurose Akira's eyes.
They had become eerily abnormal—completely veiled in crimson, fixed on her with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine.
"K-Kurose Akira…?"
Her voice trembled as she instinctively took a step back.
He looked terrifying.
Those eyes held a feral gleam, his breathing heavy—like a beast about to pounce on its prey.
Her heart raced.
Was he being affected by her curse?
Was he… actually a humanoid magical beast?
Before she could think any further—
Kurose Akira lunged forward, pinning her down.
He bit into her neck.
Sharp fangs pierced her delicate skin, greedily drawing her blood.
"It hurts—!"
Roxia clearly felt the pain surge through her neck. She bit down on her lip, desperately suppressing a moan.
The faint noise immediately alerted Loserine outside.
She kicked the bathroom door open—
And froze.
The scene before her left her momentarily stunned.
She didn't understand why Kurose Akira and Roxia were together in the bathroom—
Yet both of them were simply standing there quietly.
Confusion filled her eyes.
Kurose Akira felt a jolt of panic.
Fortunately, the instant his teeth pierced Roxia's skin, he had managed to restrain himself.
Still—
He had tasted her blood.
Exceptionally sweet.
Like the ripest strawberries.
"What were you doing in the bathroom?"
Loserine asked Roxia, puzzled.
"N-nothing."
Roxia shook her head, eyes darting away.
"Mr. Kurose Akira was helping me suppress my curse."
"I see."
Loserine turned to Kurose Akira—and surprisingly, showed no suspicion.
"Then carry on. I won't disturb you."
With that, she left, even grabbing the Magic-Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly that tried to sneak back in.
"Cough—sorry about that."
Once the door closed, Kurose Akira cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I've been cursed lately too. It's been hard to control myself."
Judging from how often he'd been unable to resist the urge to drink blood, he had to find a solution fast—or the consequences would be disastrous.
"It's okay. I understand."
Roxia gently shook her head, sympathy in her eyes. To her, they were both victims of curses—kindred in suffering.
"I'll head out now."
Kurose Akira smiled faintly and turned to leave.
"Mr. Kurose Akira…?"
Roxia suddenly spoke.
"Don't you feel like my curse has eased a little?"
"…Hm?"
He paused, then sniffed the air.
Indeed—the cursed scent around her had weakened noticeably.
Was it because he'd just drunk some of her blood?
Her curse did originate from her bloodline…
"That actually makes sense," he murmured.
"So… if you drink my blood, it can suppress the curse?"
Roxia asked, hope flickering in her azure eyes.
"Possibly. I can't be sure."
"Then…"
A trace of yearning surfaced in her gaze.
"Can we try once more?"
Kurose Akira fell silent for a moment.
"…All right."
"P-please… be gentle."
Roxia swept her golden hair off her shoulder, tilting her head to expose her snow-white neck. She trembled slightly, eyes closed, bracing herself.
"Cough…"
Kurose Akira cleared his throat.
"It doesn't have to be the neck. Somewhere else works too."
The neck had more blood flow, but for testing purposes, it wasn't necessary.
Besides—he'd clearly felt how intense her pain reaction had been when he bit her earlier.
Likely because of White Rose's Blessing, which amplified pain perception by 100%.
"Then… where?"
Roxia looked confused.
"How about your finger?"
"A finger…?"
She hesitated, glancing at her slender hand. As a knight, she valued the hand she wielded her sword with.
"If that won't work, then maybe… your toe?"
The words slipped out of Kurose Akira's mouth before he could stop himself.
"M-my toe?! No, no way!"
Roxia waved her hands frantically.
"A knight's feet are always trapped in steel boots—and I train constantly! That's absolutely not okay!"
"…Then the finger it is."
After a brief hesitation, Roxia finally extended her hand.
Kurose Akira gently took her palm, selected her index finger, and bit down softly.
"Mmm—"
Roxia bit her lip, a muffled sound escaping her nose.
With her doubled pain perception, her reaction was far stronger than the Elven Queen's. The sharp pain from her fingertip made her legs draw together involuntarily, her body tilting forward.
Fortunately, Kurose Akira caught her by the waist in time.
As he drew her blood—only a small amount—he could clearly feel her curse easing.
At the same time, system notifications appeared before his eyes.
[Bloodlust (Active): All Attributes +270% (3 min)][Blood Curse from the Vampire Progenitor temporarily suppressed. Blood craving reduced. (24H)]
That did it?
Kurose Akira's eyes flickered.
Just a few dozen milliliters of blood—and the craving was suppressed.
Roxia's curse showed suppression as well.
He immediately checked her status.
[Magic Liquid Fragrance: Curse Suppressed (5 Days)]
Oh?
Kurose Akira was genuinely surprised.
One feeding suppressed her curse for five days—far more convenient than bathing three times daily.
"M-Mr. Kurose Akira…"
Roxia's soft voice reached his ear.
He snapped back to reality, lowering his gaze—
And realized he was holding her tightly by the waist with one arm.
His hand was gripping her snowy softness.
The sensation was so soft that—
He squeezed slightly.
Roxia's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, red enough to bleed.
"S-sorry—!"
Kurose Akira was about to let go—
When the bathroom door suddenly opened…
...…
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