"Guildmaster, are you all right?"
Beiafri and Beiafro worked together to help Kurose Akira up from the floor, their voices filled with concern.
"I'm fine."
Kurose Akira shook his head lightly and wiped the saliva off his face with the back of his hand, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes.
The [Soul Lure] trait truly had no effect on Loserine herself—but the water sprite was a fragment split from Loserine's soul. It, too, was a form of undead.
This only deepened the water sprite's infatuation with Kurose Akira. It liked wrapping itself around him even more, and had even left behind its saliva—its symbol of affection—right on his face…
"Oh, right~ Guildmaster, this is what the Queen asked us to bring you!"
Beiafro handed five emerald-green leaves to Kurose Akira.
The moment he accepted them, he immediately recognized them—these were the very same leaves the Elf Mother Tree had given him in the dream.
Although items from a dream couldn't normally be brought into reality, the Elf Mother Tree was clearly capable of using special means to manifest the gifts it had bestowed once again before him.
Wait—
A sudden thought flashed through Kurose Akira's mind.
Who was the true creator of that dream?
Was it really the Elf Queen… or was it the Elf Mother Tree?
"Please convey my thanks to the Elf Mother Tree."
Kurose Akira carefully stored the leaves away and said sincerely.
"Mhm~"
"And there's one more thing~" Beiafro looked at him with anticipation. "Guildmaster, Mom asked when you'd be free? She made your favorite milk jelly and wants to invite you over to enjoy it together."
"Milk jelly?"
The words stirred a memory deep within Kurose Akira's heart.
After a brief moment of thought, he replied, "I'm free tonight."
"That's great~ Guildmaster will be at tonight's dinner table~"
"?"
As they were speaking, the guild's teleportation array suddenly lit up.
Lucia stepped into the guild, her feet lightly tapping against the wooden floor, her movements elegant and composed.
[Current Personality: Affluent, Generous]
"Anything special planned for today?"
Lucia asked softly, handing a bag of candy to Beiafri and Beiafro.
"These are specialty sweets from the Sun Church State. They taste very good."
"Thank you, Saintess Sister~"
Kurose Akira glanced at the bag of candy, and information immediately surfaced in his mind.
[Maiden's Candy (Elite): All attributes +30 (1 day)]
Whenever Lucia appeared in her affluent and generous state, she always brought valuable items with her.
Even if she showed up next time with legendary-grade items, no one would be surprised.
"Today, we'll start by clearing some D-rank commissions," Kurose Akira said to Lucia.
The experience provided by the demon nest event was limited. If they wanted to rapidly raise the guild members' levels, D-rank commissions were by far the most efficient method.
With Lucia's Affluence authority granting an additional 50% task rewards, gold and experience accumulation would accelerate dramatically.
Based on the earlier encounters with lower-risk demon nests, it was almost guaranteed that future battles would involve demon races above level 50. Yet the highest-level member in the guild—Loserine—was only level 28.
For safety, leveling up took priority.
Additionally, after successfully destroying three demon nests, Kurose Akira's contribution points had reached 1450.
Among the 355 participating players, he was currently ranked 29th.
Out of the 50 demon nests, 16 had already been destroyed—12 low-risk, 3 medium-risk, and 1 high-risk.
Although all three danger levels awarded the same 300 contribution points, the number of demons inside varied drastically.
There were even rumors that the high-risk demon nest had been destroyed by two C-rank guilds working together, each gaining over 2000 contribution points.
If Kurose Akira could destroy a high-risk demon nest alone, his ranking could potentially jump straight into the top five.
"Let's move out."
"Yes~"
After everyone prepared, Kurose Akira led the guild members to carry out D-rank commission tasks.
...
Within the Crimson Maple Leaf Territory—
Idice lay leisurely on a sofa, savoring black tea.
At that moment, a woman with blue curly hair entered the room.
"I've obtained information," she said. "The Blood Jasmine in Padley City has begun to wither as well."
A faint glimmer passed through Idice's eyes. She gently placed her teacup down.
"Just as expected."
"Blue Lily, Violet, Blood Jasmine… the protections of the three Valkyries are withering one after another," the blue-haired woman said softly. "My terminally ill father has gone to great lengths to ensure Vivian ascends the throne."
"Perhaps."
Idice narrowed her eyes slightly, a subtle smile forming.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was already 4:00 PM.
Kurose Akira and the guild members returned to the guild. He submitted the three D-rank commissions completed that day and received 8 gold coins and 90,000 experience points.
Seeing the massive surge in experience, joy filled his heart.
This meant he could inject a huge amount of experience into the guild members once again!
However, before leveling anyone up, Kurose Akira took out the Soul Crystal Ball.
He examined it carefully—there was no reaction at all.
Judging by the description, the detection speed seemed to be related to the target's distance?
Just as he was thinking, the Soul Crystal Ball suddenly emitted a pale purple glow.
Immediately after, a woman's figure appeared before his eyes.
She was no ordinary woman, but a half-dragon—with dragon horns and a crimson dragon tail trailing behind her.
Kurose Akira glanced at her. The red dragon's humanoid form perfectly embodied a maternal presence.
The red dragon scales on her cheeks and arms gave her a distinctly otherworldly beauty.
"The Soul Crystal Ball's search may take some time," Kurose Akira said, rubbing his nose.
"That's fine. I can wait."
The red dragon mother shook her head gently, smiling tenderly.
"Good-hearted one, you're already helping me search for my child. I wouldn't dare ask for more."
Kurose Akira nodded.
She was a sensible one—she understood that urgency would change nothing.
"By the way, what's your name?" he asked.
"I… don't remember."
"..."
Kurose Akira frowned slightly.
It seemed the red dragon mother remembered only her child—she had even forgotten her own name.
"But I can feel it," she suddenly said, her emotions stirring. "My child is calling for me! It must still be alive!"
Then she smiled again.
"As long as you help me find it, I'm willing to do anything for you~"
As she spoke, her massive red dragon tail swayed gently, as if expressing her joy.
"Let's wait until we find it," Kurose Akira said, carefully storing the Soul Crystal Ball back into his inventory.
As the red dragon mother's soul gradually began to dissipate, she handed him a bright crimson dragon scale—constructed from her soul's power.
"Please take this. It may help you."
Kurose Akira accepted it. A prompt appeared in his consciousness.
[Crimson Dragon Scale Imprint (Epic)]: A mark of a great dragon. Contains records related to red dragons, along with ancient draconic secret arts.
"Draconic secret arts?"
Curiosity flickered in Kurose Akira's eyes as he immediately focused his mind on the crimson scale.
However, as he delved deeper into its contents, his brows knitted tightly.
Draconic secret arts?
This was clearly Ivsha's Ecstasy Art!