"What's going on?"
Kurose Akira frowned slightly and quickened his pace toward the Snow Porpoise Egg.
Although the egg had regained vitality with the help of the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly and Virola, it was still far from the point of hatching.
And yet—just now, it had shaken.
That wasn't a reaction an egg nurturing life should normally display.
"Guild Master, I think… I heard it speaking."
Virola stepped lightly forward on her deer legs, approaching the Snow Porpoise Egg.
Just like before, when she reacted to the Daughter of the Nature Goddess, Virola possessed the ability to hear voices that others could not.
"What did it say?" Akira asked, curiosity filling his gaze.
This abnormal reaction from the Snow Porpoise Egg was likely caused by resonance with something they had brought back.
And among all the items, the most likely candidate was the Icefield Witch's personal belongings—after all, Snow Porpoises themselves were creations of the Icefield Witch.
"It said…"
Virola leaned closer, tilting her deer ears toward the Snow Porpoise Egg as she listened intently, trying to decipher the faint, mysterious voice.
From Akira and the others' perspective, however, there was nothing but silence.
After a short while, Virola seemed to grasp what the Snow Porpoise Egg wanted.
She nodded, then turned to Akira and relayed its request.
"Guild Master, it wants the egg you brought back."
"That egg?"
Akira wasn't particularly surprised. His gaze shifted toward the Ice Crystal Egg resting inside the treasure chest.
According to the item description, a living being slept within it—one that required a suitable vessel for incubation in order to awaken.
Among a pile of clothing, it was the only truly special item, making the connection easy to guess.
What did surprise Akira, however, was that the so-called vessel… was the Snow Porpoise Egg itself.
"Here."
He handed the Ice Crystal Egg to Virola.
Virola accepted it carefully, then gently placed it beside the Snow Porpoise Egg.
And at that very moment—
The Snow Porpoise Egg and the Ice Crystal Egg suddenly erupted with brilliant white radiance.
The light was so intense that no one could look directly at it.
When the white glow gradually faded, the Ice Crystal Egg had vanished without a trace.
In its place remained a single Snow Porpoise Egg—now crystalline blue in color.
The intricate patterns on its shell shimmered with blue-crystal light, breathtakingly beautiful.
"They… fused?"Ivsha and the others stared in astonishment, unable to believe what they were seeing.
"Mmm~"
Virola smiled and nodded, explaining softly,"This is a very unique way for life to come into being. But it isn't a simple fusion. Rather than 'new birth'… it's closer to rebirth."
"Rebirth?"
Akira was slightly taken aback by her wording.
He had assumed this was the birth of a new life—but now, it sounded more like the revival of a life that had once fallen.
Combined with the earlier phrases 'sleeping' and 'awakening', a bold thought crept into his mind.
Had he… actually brought the Icefield Witch back to the guild?
Tsk—
Akira rubbed his temple.
If that guess was correct, things were about to get very serious.
Could he really keep such an existence under control?
Then again—
Hadn't even the dragon that symbolized destruction, Mare Rhine, already been conquered by him?
At that point, what was truly impossible anymore?
As the thought passed through his mind, Akira's gaze unconsciously drifted toward Mare Rhine, who was lounging on the sofa.
She had one leg crossed over the other—and was chugging from a baby bottle with frightening enthusiasm.
"…Mm."
Akira rolled his eyes.
Ever since this so-called Dragon of Destruction had joined the guild, her image had been in a steady free fall. The awe-inspiring aura of something capable of ending the world felt increasingly nonexistent.
Maybe… she needed to do something truly unforgettable to restore that impression.
"Hm?"
Mare Rhine suddenly noticed Akira's gaze and shot him a suspicious look.
Akira quickly averted his eyes and refocused on the crystalline blue Snow Porpoise Egg.
At that moment, a system notification appeared before his eyes:
[Snow Porpoise Egg (?): Time until hatching — 10 days]
"!"
A glint of golden anticipation flashed in Akira's eyes.
Just ten days.
In ten days, the mysterious life nurtured within this egg would finally reveal itself.
"Chirp-chirp-chirp~"
As if sensing the change within the egg, the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly fluttered happily above it, dancing in the air as though celebrating the imminent arrival of new life.
"You really like this Snow Porpoise Egg, huh?"
Akira chuckled and gently rubbed the little butterfly's head.
Ever since encountering the Snow Porpoise Egg, the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly had stayed close to it, forming an unusually strong attachment.
Perhaps it was because they were both born from eggs.
"Oh, right—now that I think about it…"
Akira suddenly realized something.
"You've been with the guild for quite a while, and I've never leveled you up even once."
Since the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly joined, its level had remained untouched.
Part of the reason was that Akira had been traumatized by having his magic drained before. He worried that raising its level would only increase its appetite for mana.
Additionally, as a magical familiar, it wasn't classified as a guild member—meaning it didn't benefit from guild achievement medals or guild-wide buffs.
As a result, its upgrade priority had been pushed far back, unlike Loserine and the others.
"But now…"
With a thought, Akira injected his stored experience directly into the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly.
"…you can gain a few levels."
After completing the D+-rank commission, his EXP pool—thanks to a Luck critical—had swelled to a massive 150,000 EXP.
That was more than enough to raise the butterfly to level 30 with ease.
EXP −89,900!
As the experience flowed in, the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly's body began to glow with soft white light, its aura steadily strengthening.
[Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly (Legendary)]Level: 30 (0/12000)Race: Insect-type DemonStrength: 358 | Agility: 358 | Mana: 448 | Constitution: 358Growth: 12 (Gains +12 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Traits: [Silver Powder][Phoenix Butterfly]
[Your Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly requires 20 more levels until its first Metamorphosis!]
"Metamorphosis?"
Seeing the notification, a pleased smile spread across Akira's face.
That said, raising it from level 30 to level 50 would require an enormous amount of experience.
And once it reached level 49, advancing to level 50 would demand special materials—no easy task by any measure.
"Chirp-chirp-chirp~"
After leveling up, the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly fluttered joyfully around Akira, clearly expressing its gratitude in its own way.
Then—
It extended its long proboscis and gently touched Akira's forehead.
Oh no—
Slurp!!!
"Wait—stop—STOP!"
Akira's worst fear came true.
A vortex-like suction surged forth. In the blink of an eye, his mana was completely drained, plunging him into total mana exhaustion.
Virola immediately looked worried.
A blue fruit rapidly formed on the branch in her hand. She rushed over and brought it to Akira's lips.
"Guild Master, hurry—eat it!"
Akira opened his mouth and bit into the blue fruit.
Instantly, half his mana recovered—
Only to be mercilessly sucked away again in the very next second.
Thus began a miserable cycle.
Recover mana.Get drained.Recover again.Get drained again.
After several repetitions, all the blue fruits were gone.
By rough calculation, those fruits had restored his mana about five times in total.
Even so, it was nowhere near enough to withstand the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly's relentless absorption.
No matter how he struggled, Akira ultimately collapsed onto the floor—completely depleted.
"Chirp-chirp-chirp~"
Fully fed, the Demonic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly flapped its wings happily.
Its tiny body now radiated brilliant silver motes, shrouded in a dreamlike, magical glow that was strangely captivating.
"Mr. Akira, you really do spoil that little one."
Ivsha smiled as she stepped forward, gently supporting Akira and helping him toward his room.
"Let me help you back to bed~"
"…Thanks, Ivsha."
Akira lay down on the bed, offering his gratitude.
But in the very next moment—
Ivsha suddenly shed her disguise of holy light.
"?"
Akira froze slightly in surprise.
"Mr. Akira~"
Ivsha smiled sweetly, leaning closer.
"Let me help you recover your mana~ It's no trouble at all—no need to thank me~"
"!"
Before he could react, Ivsha pressed her lips to his.
Her fingertips traced slowly through the fading holy glow.
Akira's mind went blank.
He had really given too much to this guild.
...
Stellar Kingdom — Royal Capital
The Violet Snow Ice Emperor Flower had safely arrived in the hands of its client.
Princess Vivian gazed at it carefully with her golden eyes, murmuring softly,
"So this is the legendary Violet Snow Ice Emperor Flower… Such terrifying cold power. I wonder—if it fully bloomed, could it threaten the life of a Stellar Knight?"
She smiled faintly.
"I hope my brother likes this gift…"
"…that traitor who colluded with the demon race."