Chapter 127. Liliana
Fwoosh—!
The elf screamed and fell from the burning World Tree, blazing like a campfire.
'Uh...'
Fortunately, the elf had fallen, but didn't seem seriously injured.
That meant bringing Elise and Lucy was worth it.
"Go! Elise, Lucy, Lumi!"
"...?"
Elise and Lucy looked at me like I was talking nonsense.
"Sorry. I'm out of mana, so I can't fight."
"And you tell us now, you idiot!"
"It's fine. You guys can do it."
-Kyaaaaah-!
The High Elf, now on the ground, picked up its bow and ran to protect the burning World Tree.
Being what they are, elves treasure the World Tree as dearly as their own lives.
That instinct is why the tree must be destroyed first before you can take down the elf.
Doing so grants you the Elf Essence.
Of course, if someone asks why there's an elf and a World Tree in a survival test... I don't know either. That's just how it was in the original game, okay?
Shhhhk—
While Lumi blocked the arrows with her shield and Lucy fired support spells, Elise rushed the elf.
"I'm going in. Cover me."
Elise requested backup from Lucy and Lumi as she dashed between arrows.
The High Elf loosed arrows in all directions with a chilling glare. The arrows curved impossibly, aiming at me, the one burning the World Tree.
It was more concerned about me than Elise.
Thump.
I squeezed out the last of my mana to activate 'Clairvoyance' and dodge the arrows.
Keeping the flames on the World Tree consumed so much mana, I didn't have enough left to even use Cotton Guard.
-Grrrrrrgh-
Luckily, the elf stopped firing at me. Elise had closed the distance and was swinging her sword. Lucy and Lumi were supporting her with magic from behind.
Crack!
"Watch out! Roots are coming up from the ground!"
Thud— Thud— Thud—
Roots from the World Tree surged from the ground under the High Elf's magic and slammed down toward Elise. Thankfully, Elise reacted to my warning and dodged to the side.
"Aagh! Why are there so many!"
Lucy and Lumi weren't spared either.
The overwhelming number of roots attacked us, but this was like a dying flash.
Because I had nearly burned down the World Tree.
-Kyaaaaahhh!
The elf realized it too and screamed, but it was too late. Thanks to focusing my firepower on the tree before the battle began, it was already beyond salvation.
Elise noticed the elf's weakened state and pressed the attack to buy time.
Her swordplay, slicing rising roots while pushing toward the elf, was impressive even in my eyes.
Time was on our side. The elf tried to aim arrows at me in a panic, but Elise didn't give it a single opening.
Eventually, the World Tree was completely reduced to ashes in just a few dozen minutes.
Thooom—!
With a massive sound, the World Tree fell to the side, its strength gone.
The roots that had attacked us vanished, and the elf stood there holding its bow, stunned as it stared at the fallen tree.
If we wait about ten seconds like that, the elf will scream and awaken.
And if you kill the awakened elf, you get the Elf Essence... but do I really have to wait for that?
I approached the elf, its mouth agape in shock at the tree, and stabbed a Spiral into its stomach.
-Ugh... ugh... GRAAAH...!
Crunch!
Just as it was about to scream and awaken, the elf's body was ripped apart by my Spiral.
"Ugh... that was grotesque."
Tearing apart a humanoid monster felt disgusting.
I casually snatched the glittering orb near the elf's heart and turned around.
"Hey guys~ it's done."
I happily announced my victory, but the girls didn't look too thrilled.
"It just dropped dead after the tree burned...? Is that a racial trait?"
"Something about that felt... off."
"You did great, Hoyeon...!"
Elise and Lucy, who had directly fought the elf, seemed a bit unsettled by its behavior.
Still, I was glad Lumi backed me up.
"Thanks... ugh."
My head throbbed and my vision spun. I was dizzy.
I was almost out of mana—mana exhaustion was just around the corner.
When I checked the point ranking, thankfully, fewer than 10 cadets remained.
"Take care of that... please."
I pointed at the elf.
Reading the elf's code awarded a massive 350 points. Not that it mattered much now with so few cadets left... but still, couldn't let those points go to waste.
The cadets visible on the minimap were all far away, so there shouldn't be any danger.
"Guys... I'm gonna nap."
I pulled a tent out from subspace and slipped inside, closing my eyes.
"Hey... you okay?"
"We'll keep watch."
"...."
"Mm... thanks."
I slowly drifted off to the sound of Lucy and Lumi's concerned voices.
*
"Wake up."
Tap. Tap.
Someone was nudging me.
"Mmm..."
I cracked open my eyes to see Elise looking down at me.
"You're the last one. It's your turn for watch."
"Ah..."
There probably wasn't any danger left... but still, better to be safe.
I cleared my head and sat up. Lucy and Lumi were curled up on either side of me, sleeping soundly. After watching them for a moment and straightening my clothes, I stepped out of the tent.
Outside, it was bright daylight.
"Go get some rest. Thanks."
"Yeah."
Elise couldn't hide her fatigue either as she yawned and entered the tent.
It was already past noon. The three of them must have taken turns standing watch for a long time so I could sleep.
"So sweet. I raised my heroines well."
Mmm. Satisfying.
I pulled the Elf Essence out of my pocket.
────[ Elf Essence ]────
▶ Grade: High
▶ The essence of mana gathered by a High Elf to protect the World Tree.
▶ When absorbed, increases Charisma and makes you more handsome.
────────────
The Elf Essence increases Charisma.
Charisma is a stat that doesn't even show up on the status window.
And becoming more handsome might sound useless at first, but it's different when you have protagonist buffs.
Basically, Charisma means your face gets better looking. The higher it gets, the more handsome you become.
But what if you're already at the peak of handsomeness before increasing Charisma?
Not just decently good-looking, but so absurdly perfect that even the slightest change could ruin it.
For example... someone like me.
So what happens when someone like that boosts Charisma? Other things become more attractive.
First, the body. Your physique becomes more beautiful and ideal.
Second, the interior of the body.
Blood vessels, mana circuits, and organs become more efficient.
'Wait a sec... if Elise took this, her mana disorder might be cured.'
In the original story, the essence was consumed right away, so no one ever thought of this development.
Of course, even if it could cure her, I'm the one who's taking it. Elise can be cured later.
"I'll take it once I get out."
This isn't a game, and I can't just chug a rare item mid-exam. I returned the Elf Essence to my subspace pouch to slowly absorb it at home after the exam.
*
[Special Exam Complete. You will be teleported back to the Academy shortly.]
Sunday, 10 PM. The damn special exam was finally over.
My goal was the Elf Essence, but I also made progress in my relationship with Elise, so it was a worthwhile outcome.
The results haven't been announced yet. But with the overwhelming point gap, I was surely first.
Elise didn't seem too concerned with the grades anymore. She was probably more focused on the possibility of curing her mana disorder.
"Yeah. Sebas-chan. I need to find a mana masseur..."
Elise was already deep in a phone call in the corner of the lecture room.
The other cadets were all slumped over their desks.
I heard that the ones who were eliminated early had been kept in dorms on academy grounds until the exam ended.
"Ughhh... it's finally over. I'm never leaving my dorm bed again..."
"You're not going to walk around during the festival, Lucy?"
Lucy looked completely worn out.
"Ugh... I do want to have fun during the festival. What about you, Lee Hoyeon?"
"Me? I dunno."
Honestly, I had no plans for the festival.
I was tired too, so I wanted to rest in the dorm... but there were too many people I had to meet.
Come to think of it, I was supposed to have a duel with the vice president during the festival. I completely forgot while focusing on the survival exam. We said we'd do it at the start of the festival... when exactly was that?
I also needed to check on Liliana soon. Hopefully she'd been eating properly?
Creak—
Just then, homeroom professor Kim Jinhyuk entered the classroom.
The cadets, who had been slumped over, slowly began to raise their heads at the sound of his firm footsteps.
"Your faces look good. The exam is over. It's late, so those who live in the dorms, head back. Starting tomorrow, enjoy the festival. That's all."
'Man, what a half-assed wrap-up.'
Sure, the medical checkups were done, so it wasn't a problem... but it still felt sloppy.
The other cadets dragged themselves out of the classroom like zombies, too exhausted to complain.
"I'm going to rest... See you later. Come on, Lumi."
"Okay. See you during the festival, Hoyeon."
"Yeah. I'll message you."
Lumi guided the exhausted Lucy out of the lecture room.
I also quietly exited and approached Elise, who was finishing her call.
"Yes. Please take care of it, Sebas-chan."
Perfect timing—she just finished.
"Elise. Good job out there."
"You too. Thanks for everything this time."
"Be sure to find a really good mana masseur... and if you ever have questions, ask me anytime."
"Got it."
I gave Elise a proper goodbye and left for the dorms, casually hinting she could always rely on me.
'Wonder when she'll reach out.'
Probably not right away. She'll want to try a few masseurs first.
It was past 10 PM, and the road back to the dorms was dark.
After being in the forest so long, walking on a lit street again felt a little surreal.
"Whoa... so many messages."
My smart watch was flooded with unread messages. I'd check them all after some rest.
I sent a message to Liliana saying I was on my way.
'Her broadcast probably went fine... hopefully she's been eating well?'
Ding—
The dorm I returned to after a week was exactly the same.
But strangely quiet...
"Haa... Haa..."
Squish Squish
Wet sounds and soft moans echoed from inside the room.
"...."
I slowly approached and opened the door.
"Haahk... ngh...!"
The room was a total mess.
Instant meals torn open and strewn across the floor.
Soda that had gone flat, no idea when it was opened.
The bed soaked like a sponge.
And... a perverted succubus twitching with a wet pussy and a tail shoved inside.
"Liliana...?"
What the hell kind of state is this?
Her eyes weren't even focused. Was she even conscious?
"Master..."
"Liliana!"
I rushed to her and hugged her tightly as she struggled to speak.
So the issue wasn't whether she was eating properly—she was in heat.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think... Liliana?"
Heh. Heh.
A small chuckle came from my arms.
Feeling something off, I gently pushed her away and checked her condition.
"Master... it's all your fault..."
Liliana, who had been trembling, suddenly stared straight at me and grinned.
Crack!
At the same time as I felt fear rising from the base of my spine, something slammed into my head, and my consciousness went dark.