"Help him? What exactly are we supposed to do?"
The dark elves exchanged confused glances, clearly at a loss. They didn't possess Pasloe's terrifying perception—there was no way for them to see what Kurose Akira had been doing in the darkness, nor did they recognize the function of the Elven Ruler. All they could sense was that the object in his hand carried a certain oppressive force over them.
"Just listen to him~" Pasloe replied with a gentle smile, her tone brimming with indulgence.
Her attitude toward Akira was… unusual. It was as though no matter what he asked, it had to be obeyed. Even Akira himself felt a bit overwhelmed—Pasloe seemed almost too doting.
"..."
The dark elves hesitated, glancing at one another. Though they didn't understand, they trusted Pasloe.
And so, the six dark elves tasked with guarding her stepped forward, knelt before Akira, and said respectfully,
"Please command us as you wish, Lord Kurose Akira."
"Uh…"
Akira awkwardly looked toward Pasloe. Was this… really okay?
Pasloe simply smiled and nodded, silently granting him permission to act as he pleased.
"Ahem~"
Akira cleared his throat, then said to the six dark elves,
"Turn around… and lift your hips."
"Ah?"
The moment they heard his request, they froze, unable to comprehend his intention.
Pasloe immediately reassured them, "Do as Guildmaster Akira says. He won't harm you."
"…Understood."
They obeyed at once—turning around and raising themselves as instructed.
Akira stared at the scene before him, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Then he drew the Elven Ruler.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Six crisp strikes rang out in succession.
Progress +6!
Unlike the regular elves, the dark elves endured pain far better. Instead of screaming, they merely let out muffled, restrained sounds—biting down and bearing it.
Of course, Akira hadn't struck very hard. It was simply that the Elven Ruler itself had a suppressive effect on elves.
"…Is that all?"
They turned back toward him, their expressions filled with confusion, still unable to grasp what had just happened.
"Yeah, that's it."
Akira nodded, then shifted his gaze to Pasloe.
The desire in his eyes was unmistakable—and Pasloe caught it instantly.
She smiled faintly, her voice soft and teasing. "Even me? How greedy you are, little one."
"You're the last one."
Akira replied with slight embarrassment. The progress had already reached 999/1000—only Pasloe remained.
"In that case~ we should change locations."
Pasloe rose slowly and began to lead the way.
"Change location?" Akira didn't think much of it and followed.
She guided him to the base of the World Tree, to a region where thick roots intertwined. Strangely, the tangled roots formed a passageway that extended deep into the tree's interior—pitch-black, like a bottomless abyss.
Akira frowned.
He didn't remember this passage existing before.
Was it time-dependent? Or triggered by some condition?
Before he could dwell on it, Pasloe turned and said,
"Come in with me? There's something I'd like your help with as well."
"Happy to help."
Akira nodded and stepped into the darkness.
Before entering, Pasloe instructed the dark elves,
"Do not let anyone enter."
"Yes."
Only then did she bend slightly and follow him inside.
The passage was nearly six meters tall—unsurprising, considering the sheer scale of the World Tree, which towered thousands of meters high. It could easily serve as the foundation for an entire city.
As Akira ventured deeper, the darkness gradually gave way to color.
Floating throughout the interior were countless points of light—glimmering like fireflies in a vast, luminous void.
"What is this…?"
He looked around in awe.
"Elemental magic particles released by the World Tree," Pasloe explained. "When their purity exceeds 99.99%, they condense into these visible light forms and gather within the roots."
"I see…"
Akira reached out, curious, and touched one.
"—Hiss! Hot!"
He jerked his hand back instantly. The red light he touched burned with intense heat—pure fire element.
"Are you alright?"
Pasloe quickly took his hand, gently blowing on his finger to ease the pain.
"I—"
Before he could finish, she suddenly pressed his finger to her lips, coating the burn with her saliva.
In an instant, the pain vanished, replaced by a lingering warmth and moisture.
"…Thank you."
"You're welcome~"
"What do you need me to do?" Akira asked.
"I need you to place these elemental lights… inside my body."
"Inside? You mean eat them?" Akira frowned. "And why do you need my help?"
"Because only the Queen and Elina can touch these elemental lights. Not even the elders can—let alone us dark elves."
"Then why can I?"
"Because the World Tree has acknowledged you."
"…I see."
"So I just… feed them to you?"
"Not exactly," Pasloe said softly. "These energies are extremely pure. There's only one place in my body that can store them…"
"…Where?"
She pointed to her lower abdomen.
Akira froze.
For a moment, he was completely speechless.
It suddenly felt like he had walked straight into a carefully laid trap.
"…You're unwilling?" Pasloe asked gently, her expression understanding. "I won't force you."
"No, no!" Akira quickly waved his hands. "I'll help!"
"That's good~"
Relief flickered in her eyes.
After all… this was, in a sense, quite an awkward request.
"Then~"
Pasloe removed her black robe, then slowly unwound the bandages wrapped around her body, revealing her full, breathtaking figure.
She sat down, parting her legs.
"Please begin~"
"Ahem…"
Akira coughed, steadying himself.
Even the second time, the sight still shook him.
Her starry-toned skin, her flawless elven beauty—it struck straight at his soul.
And that exaggerated, overwhelming physique…
Gulp.
The radiant "holy light" surged to life.
"…Alright. I'm starting."
He reached out and grasped a pale yellow light—earth element, perhaps—then approached her.
Given Pasloe's towering five-meter frame, space was hardly an issue.
Still—
"…Excuse me."
"It's alright~"
He placed the light inside.
Pasloe remained calm, watching him with a faint smile, a subtle blush coloring her cheeks—though it was difficult to notice against her complexion.
"…Done."
Akira withdrew his hand, glancing at his fingers. They shimmered faintly, carrying a starlike glow and a soft fragrance.
But more importantly—the earth element left a lingering tremor in his hand.
"Good job~" Pasloe praised. "But this is just the beginning. I need… many more."
"…How many exactly?"
"Hundreds, maybe~"
"…Alright!"
Akira gritted his teeth. He had agreed—he wouldn't back out now.
Half an hour later—
His hands trembled violently.
The pain from the elemental lights was becoming unbearable—especially the fire ones.
Thankfully, Pasloe continued easing his pain, but even that had limits.
Even in his half-dragon form, he had only managed a few dozen.
"…Can you still go on?" Pasloe asked softly.
"I'm fine!"
But as he reached out again, the pain surged.
Then—
"Wait!"
Akira's eyes lit up.
His tongue.
After absorbing the Blood of the Death God, it had become strangely resilient.
Maybe it could withstand the elemental energy!
After a moment's hesitation… he leaned in.
Another half hour passed.
They had made progress—but it was far too slow.
At this rate, they'd be here until dawn.
And while Akira could endure it…
Pasloe couldn't.
"…Do we need a break…?" she asked, her voice slightly unsteady.
"I want to speed things up."
"If that's the case…"
Pasloe stood, but after a few steps, she collapsed into his arms.
Her massive frame pressed against him—but in his half-dragon form, he could still support her.
"I do have a method."
As she spoke, she gently parted the "clouds."
The radiant light surged forward.
Akira blinked in confusion—
Until he saw it.
The surrounding elemental lights were being drawn toward the surface of that radiant glow.
His eyes widened.
"How is this possible?"
Pasloe only smiled faintly.
"Rather than worrying about that… shouldn't you hurry?"
"…I…"
"Don't worry~"
Her gaze turned hazy, laced with allure—and something deeper. Something almost mad.
Her fingers brushed lightly across the brilliant light as she whispered in his ear:
"The great World Tree accepts everything… understands everything…"
"And forgives everything."
"Under its witness, we'll convey our feelings to one another."
"Guildmaster Akira… come. Let me experience what the Elf Queen once endured…"
"…No—what she called happiness."
As her words fell, threads of dark magic coiled around the radiant light.
Akira's pupils trembled.
His heartbeat thundered.
That single, subtle movement—
pushed the already swelling brilliance even further beyond its limits.