"Strange…?"
A trace of curiosity and confusion flickered across Fuli's face as she cautiously stretched her little hand forward, trying to figure out what was going on.
But when her hand passed straight through—
She froze.
There was no transparent wall. No obstruction at all.
Nothing.
The discovery left her utterly baffled.
Did I… run into a ghost?
Ah—what?!
Panic welled up instantly. Tears shimmered in Fuli's eyes as she turned helplessly toward her mother, desperately hoping for an explanation.
Seeing the child like this filled Kurose Akira with guilt.
Did I go too far?Look how badly I scared her…
At that moment, Beayarella stepped lightly to Fuli's side. She crouched down, gently stroking the girl's hair, her movements tender and unhurried.
"There, there~ Fuli," she said softly, her voice warm and soothing."You've just been working too hard lately and started imagining things. Go eat first, okay? Once your tummy's full, you'll feel better~"
"R-Really?!"
Hearing Beayarella's reassurance, the anxiety gripping Fuli's heart finally loosened.
"Of course it's true~" Beayarella smiled, lightly tapping Fuli's forehead."Come on, dinner's ready~"
"Mhm!"
Fuli nodded eagerly, grabbing Flora's hand as the two girls happily ran toward the pot where hot soup was bubbling away.
At that moment, Beayarella's gaze shifted behind her.
Because she could feel it—
Kurose Akira was standing quietly right behind her.
That familiar warmth pressed close, subtle yet unmistakable. Her heartbeat quickened, and she instinctively brought her hands to her chest, trying to steady the flutter rising within her.
"Mom! Hurry up!""I'm coming~"
Beayarella smiled brightly and walked toward her daughters.
...
Scene shift.
Once again, it was time for the Elven Mother Tree's Baptism.
Beayarella and her daughters were already immersed in the spring, quietly accepting the Mother Tree's blessing.
Kurose Akira, meanwhile, waited patiently for the Elf Queen to appear.
One hour passed.
She still hadn't shown up.
"Strange… did she stand me up?"
Akira rubbed his chin, a hint of confusion crossing his face. Not only could he not sense the Elf Queen's presence— even that green-haired girl was nowhere to be found.
Since there was no sign of her, Akira decided to join Beayarella and the others and receive the Mother Tree's baptism first.
After sitting down, he took out the Dark Elf Fruit.
Nourished by the Mother Tree, the fruit's surface now shimmered with a multi-hued black radiance, dazzling and strange.
Its effect hadn't activated yet, but Akira was filled with anticipation.
He knew very well—there was no life inside this fruit. The birth of a new elf was nearly impossible.
But…
Perhaps it could serve as some kind of vessel?
With that thought, Akira gently tossed the Dark Elf Fruit into the clear spring.
Then he slowly closed his eyes and devoted himself fully to the baptism.
Before his eyes, streams of system prompts flowed like running water:
[You have received the Elven Mother Tree's Baptism. Elemental magic power increased by 1%…][You have received the Elven Mother Tree's Baptism. All-element affinity increased by 0.1%…][You have received a gift from the Elven Mother Tree. All-element resistance increased by 0.1%…]
While Akira and the others were immersed in the baptism—
The Dark Elf Queen descended silently beside them.
Her deep dark-gold eyes were locked onto the Dark Elf Fruit floating in the water, a complex and indescribable emotion churning within her gaze.
As the most peculiar embodiment of malice among the three souls, she had long yearned to break free from the Elf Queen's restraint and become the true ruler of the Elven Kingdom—fuel for her ever-swelling ambition.
Yet the recent chain of events had begun to unsettle her.
Kurose Akira's appearance had once been an opportunity.
Now, it felt more like a threat.
And so—
She had to act.
...
Within the Holy Light Church, Lucia sat upon the solemn Golden Throne.
The night was deep, yet sleep refused to come.
Shame and anger flickered in her gold-red eyes as scenes replayed over and over in her mind, tangling her emotions and tightening her brows.
Even though it was merely a constructed avatar that had experienced everything—
Every sensation it felt was a genuine experience of her soul.
No different from the real body.
The fact that she had been utterly captured by holy light filled her with fury and humiliation.
And what shamed her even more—
Her hips still ached faintly.
"Insolent bastard! (へ╬)!"
No matter how she thought it over, the fire in Lucia's heart refused to die down.
She made up her mind.
Next time I meet Kurose Akira… I will make him pay.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a phantom figure appeared before her.
"Your Holiness~"
The gentle voice of Saintess Winnisan echoed softly.
Lucia immediately composed herself, masking her emotions behind a calm expression as she turned to her.
"Did you find anything?"
"Yes. I found what you asked for."
...
Deep within the Elven Mother Tree.
Kurose Akira quietly felt the spring water nourish him, each drop like sacred dew washing over his skin.
As the day's baptism drew to a close, he slowly opened his eyes—
And instantly frowned.
Because standing before him was the flawless, moon-pale body of the Dark Elf Queen, along with her cold, noble golden eyes.
"Dark Elf Queen?"
Akira paused slightly.
No wonder it wasn't the Elf Queen today—apparently, it was the Dark Elf Queen's turn.
As for this human man who had once "enlightened" her—
She held no goodwill toward him whatsoever.
But to fulfill her obsession, she had no other choice.
Especially after being humiliated by him and the White Elf Queen together.
"What?" she said coldly."Is this king not allowed to receive the baptism alongside you?"
Despite needing something from him, her demeanor remained unchanged—aloof, proud, distant.
Akira shrugged casually.
"Of course you can."
He didn't mind bathing with such a stunning beauty beside him.
With that, he closed his eyes again, as if everything around him were irrelevant.
The Dark Elf Queen frowned slightly, her gaze piercing the water to observe that holy light.
But—
It wasn't shining.
Not dazzling. Not radiant.
Why?
Confusion crept into her heart.
In the past, every time Akira laid eyes on her body, holy light would blaze brilliantly.
So why was he so indifferent today?
Has my allure… disappeared?
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible!
As for her unspoken doubts, Akira had no intention of explaining anything.
His body was already exhausted—he hardly had the energy to indulge a queen.
Unless—
Her Majesty was willing to change something.
Only then might the holy light flicker again.
"You…"
After a long silence, the Dark Elf Queen finally spoke.
"Open your eyes. I have something to say."
Akira didn't move.
"You can speak. I can hear you."
Those words struck a nerve.
Her beautiful eyes widened, emotions colliding violently within them.
But she quickly regained her composure.
Taking a deep breath, she stared straight at Akira.
"I can compromise."
"But I have one condition."
"What is it?" Akira asked.
Her voice turned icy.
"I want a new body—and the position of Executive Elder of the Elven Kingdom.I must be allowed to participate in governance and possess the authority to veto the Elf Queen's decisions."
Akira considered it briefly.
"Fine," he said. "But I also have one condition."
Her brow lifted slightly.
"And what condition is that?"
Akira opened his eyes and met her gaze directly.
"Sign a soul contract with me."
Shock and fury flashed across the Dark Elf Queen's face.
Her golden eyes flared as she snapped coldly—
"You dare demand that this king sign a soul contract with you?!"
…
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