"Yeah, I was actually thinking of going back this time.... I tried to do what I learned, but it didn't work out well."

Jeremy said with a smile, then walked into the crowd.

"Phew..."

Finally relieved, she exhaled a breath and bumped into Haewonryang's back.

"Oof!"

"Hey! Why did you fight with him? Even if you belong to the Magic Tower, there's nothing good about getting involved with Skalben, right?"

"... Edna."

Haewonryang looked back at Edna with a bewildered gaze, and she blinked her big eyes.

"Uh, why are you staring at me so awkwardly?"

"The Crown Prince is dangerous. If he wants something, he won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to get it. And you have become the 'most desired object' for the Crown Prince."

"No, well..."

She knew that guy was dangerous.

But, since there was a part of her which believed that there were heavenly angels behind her, so no one would be able to touch her.

However, that fact was a secret and she couldn't tell anyone, so she tightly sealed her lips.

Haewonryang casually asked as he was about to walk away.

"... Do you trust him?"

"What? Him?"

"No, I'm sorry. I misspoke."

Haewonryang furrowed his brow and grabbed his head.

"What's wrong? Do you have a headache?"

"... I've been getting them a little recently, but it doesn't affect my daily life."

"Come here. You know I'm an expert in that kind of thing."

He wanted to ask Edna for treatment from the bottom of his heart. However, Haewonryang realized that this was not a physical issue but a mental one, so he couldn't do it.

"... Ask me next time."

With a slight cold sweat and a heavier breath, it was clear that something was wrong, but Haewonryang forcefully shook off Edna’s arm and quickly hurried away.

"Hey, wait!"

He felt Edna chasing after him in a rush, but be couldn't stop.

"Darn it…”

The symptoms were getting worse. Even though he thought it would get better soon, he couldn't afford to stay in the hospital.

If he started going to the mental health department, he would have less time to invest in his studies, and if the symptoms became severe, he might have to take a forced break from the academy.

'I just have to hold on until the vacation...'

It would be okay to seek medical treatment at that time. There was someone he knew who was very proficient in this field.

Haewonryang moved to an alley that wouldn't attract much attention from passersby and leaned against the wall, gripping his sweat-soaked shirt.

"Huh... "

The condition was gradually improving.

Like this, he would be engulfed in a terrible pain, as if a giant insect was crawling inside his head, but if he endured it and persevered, it would somehow settle down.

'With this level of improvement, I should be able to proceed with the Familiar Contract Ceremony somehow...'

"Oh my, who do we have here?"

"..."

A voice came from behind.

It wasn't a familiar voice.

He had only heard it a few times when they crossed paths.

Haewonryang slowly turned his head to confirm the person.

"... Professor Maizen Tyren?"

With half of his face covered by a black robe, his appearance was concealed in darkness, but Haewonryang could still recognize him clearly.

"I wondered where my 'seeds' had gone... and here was one? Hoo hoo, how lucky I am."

"What... are you talking about?"

"It's okay if you don't understand."

Ah. Finally.

Haewonryang realized it.

This man was the culprit that constantly gnawed at his head.

'It's dangerous. But it’s already too late.'

One step, two steps.

He approached, but Haewonryang couldn't move as if his legs were rooted to the ground.

"It's fortunate timing. The corruption process has progressed this far..."

Maizen smirked as he observed Haewonryang, who had completely frozen.

How lucky.

Truly, it couldn't get any better than this. It felt as if a stage was being set just for them.

Enjoying the ecstatic sense of happiness that sent shivers down his spine, he absentmindedly reached out his hand towards Haewonryang, whose pupils had dilated.

"Now, don't resist."

Like that, Maizen reached out his hand to touch Haewonryang’s head.

"Because you have already become a slave to emotions."

Haewonryang's consciousness went black.

The Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree had a different atmosphere from the Dwarven kingdom or human nations.

Among the elves, those with the closest affinity to the Heavenly Spirit Tree were called 'High Elves' and were treated similar to nobles in elven society.

Among those High Elves, there was a title bestowed upon the one who was closest to the World Tree, 'King' (王).

The Elven King did not rule over the people or engage in politics. They merely reign from the highest position. The king's mere existence serves as the vitality of all Elves, connecting the World Tree and the fairies, and acting as the source of life in this land.

Of course, it was an era where they couldn't completely avoid politics and diplomacy, so the 'Council of Elders' took care of those aspects...

"Your Majesty, if you don't make an appearance even on this day, it seems that the Council of Elders will firmly take control."

"Sigh..."

Florin, the king of the Elves and the pillar of the Heavenly Spirit Tree, let out a deep sigh.

The king had no real power.

The practical authority and power were all held by the Council of Elders.

The cunning and scheming of the elderly members of the Council, who were unbelievably greedy and corrupt for Elves, posed a great challenge even for Florin.

"Perhaps... they're using this incident as an excuse to take control of the gate leading to the 'Garden of Sacred Spirits.' That place can only be accessed by Your Majesty, who supports the World Tree, so how dare they...!"

"It's okay. Please fulfill your duty as a knight. There's no need for you to get involved in politics."

"... I have spoken out of turn. I apologize."

"No, you're already a great help with just your presence. I'm just... sorry for involving you in this dirty and sordid power struggle."

“Understood.”

As the voice of the knight faded away, Florin rose from her seat.

The dimly lit chamber, where only a handful of sunlight barely seeped in, was strangely bright. It was as if light emanated from Florin herself.

"I suppose I should dress up..."

This celebration couldn't be missed. It was the duty of the Elven King.

Moreover, there were other matters to attend to while going out this time.

Until Stella's students finished their Familiar Contract Ceremony in the white palace, Florin had to remain in her position.

And afterward, she planned to visit her long-time friend Celestia, who had fallen asleep in the garden.

"Sigh."

Florin let out a sigh mixed with concern as she swiftly removed her clothes.

Androgynous.

Elves who had not experienced the emotion of love did not have a gender.

Florin, too, had a feminine form, but she lacked secondary sexual characteristics that women typically possessed.

Suddenly, she found herself staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror.

A manifestation of beauty bestowed by the gods.

She was exquisite, graceful, alluring, and ethereal. Some described her as enchanting, others as refreshing, and some admired her radiance. However, such appearance meant nothing but shackles to her.

‘When was the last time I sat face-to-face with someone and shared a meal? When was the last time I looked into someone's eyes and engaged in a conversation? The days when I freely walked the streets.’

’The days when no one necessarily liked me, but anyone could have liked me. Those days of fully enjoying freedom, when were they exactly? Now, all I could do was hold on to fading memories that were melting away into the realm of forgetfulness, making sure they didn't dilute.’

Dark emotions were like ink, as soon as they fell into clear water, they tainted the whole thing.

Florin sensed a drop of ink trembling in her own heart.

Was it depression or loneliness?

"... Pull yourself together. You can't afford to be like this even at ascension."

Florin made an effort to calm her mind. As someone with the ability to communicate with the Heavenly Spirit Tree, if she felt depressed, the entire Elven forest would become melancholic.

For the sake of the forest, where emotions were influenced by her, she had to maintain a bright appearance.

"What about the clothes...?"

Since the curse, she had always worn the same outfit. A pure white dress that was tightly wrapped, not revealing any trace of skin. It could be considered more like a giant bag than a dress.

In addition to that, she wore a mask and covered herself with a muslin cloth.

Despite all this, she still felt uneasy.

During her last outing, even though she had tightly wrapped herself like this, there were numerous victims who suffered from "shell shock."

No matter how much she covered her body, she couldn't be exposed to the sun for more than an hour.

Keeping that in mind, she closed her eyes and prayed.

"Please, may this time pass without any incident."