"Hmph!"
"This is all your fault! I was this close to smashing that bastard's—!"
"All right, all right, my mistake. Can you just fly faster already?"
Kurose Akira shot Marei Rhine a sideways glance, thinking that this dragon might genuinely be losing it. How could someone take something that happened in a dream so seriously…?
Cough.
…Then again.
Maybe not entirely impossible.
"Our mission this time is to locate and collect the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower, correct?"
Loserine turned her head slightly, confirming with Akira.
"Yeah."
Akira nodded.
According to the quest description, the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower grew at the very peak of a snow mountain—an environment so frigid it was nearly uninhabitable.
But with Marei Rhine, a living heat source in the form of a giant dragon, the cold was hardly a concern.
"Legend says the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower is a creation of the Icefield Witch," Loserine said, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "It grows by feeding on her blood. The frost mana contained within it is powerful enough to obliterate a small town."
She paused.
"Even if this is only a gathering quest, we should still proceed with caution."
"Don't worry. I've already prepared a special container designed specifically for harvesting the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower."
As Akira spoke, he produced a transparent vessel.
He knew this mission carried risks, so he'd made thorough preparations to ensure the guild's safety.
"Mmm. Caution is always wise."
Seeing the container in Akira's hand, Loserine nodded approvingly.
"We're almost there."
Marei Rhine spoke up.
Akira lifted his gaze.
Ahead of them stood a colossal snow mountain, towering into the sky. Its height was impossible to measure precisely—but it was definitely over twenty thousand meters.
Soon after, Marei Rhine beat her wings and landed steadily atop the mountain's summit.
The thin air made Akira feel slightly uncomfortable, but after repeated in-game physical enhancements, the sensation was negligible.
"Um… Master~"
Alice stepped forward through the snow, looking around at the endless white landscape.
"So… where's the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower?"
"According to the intel, it should be nearby."
Akira scanned the surroundings.
All he saw was endless snow.
No sign of the flower at all.
"Let me try~"
Ivsha raised her fingers, releasing a faint violet magic that condensed into a small glowing orb.
During previous F-rank quests, Ivsha had experience gathering Purple Snow Flowers. The Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower was a mutated variant—one that had evolved after being tainted by the Icefield Witch's blood.
Because of that, Ivsha could rely on her memories to condense a trace of magic and search for it.
"Found it!"
A gleam flashed through Ivsha's eyes.
The magic orb shot off in a specific direction.
"Follow it."
Akira led the group after the orb.
Moments later, they arrived at a relatively flat area.
At its center lay a massive purple flower bud, resting silently.
It wasn't as gigantic as the White Rose Guardian Flower—but it still stood four to five meters tall, large enough to contain a person within.
Clusters of Purple Snow Flowers surrounded it, swaying gently in the icy wind.
"So big…"
Akira stared at the distant bud, unable to hide his surprise.
He glanced down at the palm-sized transparent container in his hand.
…Can this thing really hold that?
As the thought crossed his mind, his gaze returned to the giant bud.
At that moment, a system prompt appeared in his vision:
[Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower Fairy (Epic)]Level: 65 ( ? / 45,500 )Race: Flower FairyStrength: ? / Agility: ? / Magic: ? / Constitution: ?Growth: 10 (Gains +10 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Trait: [Flower Fairy]
"Flower Fairy…?"
Akira stared at the panel, memories surfacing.
He remembered that the White Rose Valkyrie's race information also listed Flower Fairy.
That realization made one thing clear—
His true objective wasn't this gigantic bud itself.
But that led to another problem.
Aside from this Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower Fairy and the surrounding Purple Snow Flowers, there was no sign of an actual Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower.
Just as Akira was feeling puzzled—
Marei Rhine had already silently approached the flower fairy.
She crossed her arms beneath her chest, eyes filled with curiosity as she examined the massive bud, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"This thing's packed with destruction. Interesting~"
She smiled and reached out, about to touch it.
In that instant—
A piercing cold wind burst forth from the bud.
The massive petals slowly unfurled, and a white-and-violet figure emerged.
The moment Akira saw the woman standing within, his pupils shrank.
She wore a dress woven from enormous petals. Her figure resembled that of a human woman, but her skin—like the White Rose Valkyrie's—was petal-like in texture, not flesh and blood.
As soon as the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower Fairy appeared, she spoke coldly:
"Outsiders. Why have you come?"
"Why else? To take you home, of course!"
White steam vented from Marei Rhine's dragon-scale armor.
She was fully prepared to uproot the flower fairy and haul her back to the guild.
"Wait!"
Akira stopped her immediately.
"Hm?"
Marei Rhine turned back, confused.
"She's not our target."
Akira pinched the bridge of his nose and explained.
"Isn't she?"
Marei Rhine looked back at the flower fairy again, her dragon tail swaying as she evaluated her.
After a moment, she said slowly:
"Still… planting her in a pot back at the guild wouldn't be bad. She'd make a fine addition to my treasure vault."
"Impudent half-dragon!"
The flower fairy erupted in fury.
"How dare you speak such nonsense! Leave this place at once!"
A freezing aura flooded the area.
The biting cold cut across everyone's skin like blades.
Akira immediately activated Half-Dragon Transformation, stepping in front of Ivsha and the others.
The cold was brutal—but piercing dragon scales was no easy feat.
Even Marei Rhine, standing closest, remained completely unfazed.
Cough…
A soft cough suddenly caught Akira's attention.
It came from the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower Fairy.
His eyes narrowed.
She's injured?
"Rhine, back here."
Akira ordered immediately.
"Tch. Just wait—I'll carry you off later."
Marei Rhine shot the fairy a warning, then spread her wings and returned to Akira's side.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"She can't be brought back," Akira explained. "Even the frost mana inside a single Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower could destroy a small town. Bringing her back would turn the guild into ruins."
"…Huh."
Marei Rhine planted her hands on her hips, thought for a moment, then shrugged.
"You're right. Fine. I'll let her go."
Akira smiled in satisfaction.
This rebellious dragon was finally becoming more obedient.
He turned back to the flower fairy.
"Our purpose here is simply to harvest one Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower. We mean no harm."
Though the names sounded similar, a Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower Fairy and a Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower were fundamentally different.
Only flowers that awakened intelligence and were granted true meaning of life could ascend into the ranks of flower fairies.
Clearly, this one had once received the Witch's blessing.
Others, blessed by the Flower God, were born intelligent and only needed to bloom to become fairies—like Liu Xue's flower fairy, or the Seven Valkyries of the Starfall Kingdom.
"There is no Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower here," the fairy said coldly. "Look elsewhere."
"If there isn't one here, then there won't be one anywhere else either."
Akira saw through her excuse immediately.
"I ask that you part with one willingly. If you need help with anything, you can say so."
Cornered—and injured—the fairy hesitated.
At last, she spoke honestly.
"I do possess several Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flowers… but I was wounded in a recent battle."
"I need an item rich in life force to recover. Can you provide that?"
[Hidden Quest Acquired — Heal the Flower Fairy's Wounds]Objective: Find an item imbued with life energyReward: Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower ×1Player Title: [Flower-Plucking Bee]
"?"
Akira frowned.
"'Flower-Plucking Bee'…?"
That title sounded… odd.
Still, he didn't dwell on it.
As long as he didn't show it to anyone, it didn't really matter how questionable it was.
If he had a choice, he'd rather have something like Dragon Knight…
Cough. Probably.
"Fine. I agree."
Akira accepted immediately.
As for life-filled items—
His blood overflowed with life force.
After all, it was something even a Vampire Progenitor craved.
He sliced his palm lightly.
Fresh blood welled up.
"My blood should suffice."
The flower fairy's eyes flickered with barely concealed delight.
Such vitality… exactly what I need.
"In that case…"
She lifted the petal-woven skirt gracefully.
The scene within was hazy and indistinct, obscured by layers of petals.
She extended an invitation:
"Come inside. Use your blood to nourish my body. Once I recover, I will personally offer you the Purple Snow Ice Emperor Flower you desire—with both hands."