Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Lilia
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Roar—!
A high elf screamed as she fell from the World Tree blazing like a campfire.
'Uh….'
Fortunately—or not—she hit the ground hard but didn't seem badly hurt.
At least bringing Ellis, Lucy, and Lumi served a purpose.
"Go on. Ellis, Lucy, Lumi!"
"…?"
Ellis and Lucy stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Sorry. I'm out of mana, so I can't fight."
"You pick now to tell us? You idiot!"
"It's fine. You girls can handle it."
-Kyaaaah—!
The high elf who'd tumbled to the base of the tree snatched up her bow and charged to defend the raging World Tree.
As expected of her kind, she valued the World Tree like her own life.
To catch her, we had to burn the tree first, exploiting that instinct.
Then we'd claim the elf's essence.
Of course, if anyone asked why there was a high elf and World Tree in a survival exam… hell if I knew. That's just how it went in the original story.
Sizzle—
Lumi's shield blocked arrows while Lucy fired suppressive spells. Ellis charged straight at the elf.
"Cover me—I'm going in."
Ellis slipped between the arrows, asking the other two for backup.
The high elf unleashed arrows everywhere with cold precision, bending in impossible arcs toward me as I kept the World Tree ablaze.
She prioritized me over Ellis closing in.
Thump.
I squeezed out my last dregs of mana to activate Clairvoyance and dodge.
Maintaining the fire was devouring mana—I didn't have enough left even for Cotton Guard.
-Groooar—!
Luckily, no more arrows came my way. Ellis had closed the gap, swinging her sword.
Lucy and Lumi supported from behind with magic.
Crunch!
"Watch out! Roots coming up from the ground!"
Thud—thud—thud—
World Tree roots erupted via the high elf's magic, smashing down at Ellis. She reacted to my shout, leaping aside in time.
"Agh! There's so damn many!"
Lucy and Lumi weren't spared either.
Countless roots assaulted us, but this was just the last gasp—like a final burst of light before death.
Because I'd nearly burned the World Tree to ash.
-KyaAAAAH!
The elf realized it too late and shrieked, but the fight had started with us focusing fire on the tree. Its massive trunk was beyond saving.
Ellis sensed the elf weakening and pressed the attack to buy time.
Her swordplay—slicing roots while closing in on the elf—was impressive even to me.
Time was on our side. The elf flailed, trying to target me with arrows, but Ellis left no openings.
Minutes later, the World Tree was gone.
Boom—!
It toppled with a thunderous crash, its power spent.
The roots vanished. The elf stood frozen, bow in hand, staring blankly.
In about ten seconds, she'd wail and awaken.
Capturing her post-awakening would yield the essence… but did we need to wait?
I approached the elf gaping at the tree's remains and plunged Spiral into her gut.
-Hic… hic… Kraaah…!
Snap, crackle!
Mid-sob, as she tried to scream her awakening cry, her body tore apart from my Spiral.
"Ugh… grotesque."
Ripping apart a humanoid monster felt nauseating.
I pocketed the sparkling orb near her heart, then turned.
"Girls~ It's done."
I announced our victory cheerfully, but their faces were grim.
"The tree burns, and she just… drops dead? Elf instincts?"
"Feels off somehow…."
"You did great, Ho-yeon…!"
Ellis and Lucy, who'd fought her up close, seemed unsettled by the elf's behavior.
But Lumi had my back—sweet girl.
"Thanks…. Ugh."
My head throbbed, vision spinning. Dizzy as hell.
Mana was critically low—exhaustion loomed.
Points ranking showed fewer than ten survivors left. Good.
"You guys… handle that."
I pointed at the elf.
Scanning her code netted 350 big points. Few cadets remained, but no sense wasting them.
Minimap showed the rest far off—no threats.
"Girls… take care of things. I'm crashing."
I pulled a tent from subspace, crawled in, and passed out.
"Hey… you okay?"
"We'll keep watch."
"…."
"Yeah… thanks."
I drifted off to Lucy and Lumi's worried voices.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Wake up."
Poke. Poke.
Someone prodded me.
"Mm…."
Cracking my eyes, I saw Ellis peering down.
"You're last. Night watch."
"Ah…."
No real danger anyway… but better safe.
I shook off sleep and sat up. Lucy and Lumi curled up beside me, sleeping soundly. I admired the view, straightened my clothes, and stepped out.
It was full daylight outside.
"Go rest. Thanks."
"Yeah."
Ellis stifled a yawn, exhausted, and ducked into the tent.
Already past noon. They'd rotated watch to let me sleep.
"Such good girls. I've raised my heroines well."
Satisfactory.
I pulled the elf's essence from my pocket.
⚔ ITEM INFO ⚔ ────[ Elf's Essence ]──── ▶ Grade: High ▶ Essence of mana gathered by the High Elf to protect the World Tree ▶ Absorb to increase Charm and become more handsome. ──────────── Elf's essence boosted Charm.
Charm wasn't even on the status screen.
Sounds useless at first—'become more handsome?'—but protagonist buffs changed everything.
Charm meant good looks. Higher levels made you handsomer.
But if you were already peak handsome?
Not just decent—impossibly perfect, where tampering might ruin it.
Like me.
What happens when a stunner like that raises Charm?
Other things get handsome.
First: body. Proportions turn ideal, aesthetically flawless.
Second: internals.
Vessels, mana circuits, organs—all optimize.
'Wait… if Ellis took this, wouldn't it cure her mana blockage?'
In the original, instant consumption skipped this thought.
Even if it worked, I'd take it. Ellis could wait.
"Gotta do this outside."
Not a game—no elixirs mid-exam. I'd absorb it slowly at home post-exam, so back into subspace it went.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Special Exam End. Teleporting to academy shortly.] Sunday, 10 p.m. The hellish special exam was finally over.
Target was the essence, but progress with Ellis was a nice bonus.
Scores weren't out, but my point lead was massive—first place, easy.
Ellis seemed less hung up on ranks now. Probably fixated on curing her mana blockage.
"Yeah, Sebastian. Find a good mana masseuse…."
Exam over, she was on the phone in the classroom corner.
Other cadets slumped over desks.
Early dropouts had been confined to academy dorms till end.
"Uwaaa… it's over. I'm never leaving my dorm bed…."
"Not wandering during festival? What about you, Lucy?"
Lucy sprawled, wiped out.
"Agh… wanna play during festival, but… Ho-yeon, you?"
"Me? Dunno."
No festival plans, honestly.
I was beat too, wanted dorm rest… but too many meetups.
Oh yeah, that duel with the vice president during festival. Forgot amid survival. Said at start… when exactly?
Needed to check on Lilia soon. Hope she ate well?
Creak—
Homeroom prof Kim Jin-hyuk entered.
Cadets stirred at his firm footsteps.
"You all look thrilled. Exam's done. Late, so dorm-dwellers head back. Festival starts tomorrow—enjoy. Dismissed."
Real sloppy.
Med checks were done, sure… but felt off.
Cadets shambled out like zombies, too drained for complaints.
"Gonna crash too… see ya. C'mon, Lumi."
"Yeah. See you at festival, Ho-yeon."
"Got it. I'll text."
Lumi dragged floppy Lucy out.
I slipped out, approached Ellis on her call.
"Yeah, thanks, Sebastian."
Just wrapping up.
"Ellis. Good work."
"You too. Owe you this time."
"Find that top mana masseuse… hit me up anytime with questions."
"Will do."
Parting words doubled as planting the 'ask me anything' seed, then dorm-bound.
'Wonder when she'll text.'
Not immediate—she'd try several masseuses first.
Past 10 p.m., path to dorms was dark.
Weird walking lit streets instead of forest for once.
"Whoa… messages piled up."
Smartwatch overflowed. Check later after rest.
Texted Lilia: Heading back now.
'She did her streams fine… ate properly alone, right?'
Ding—
Dorm after a week: unchanged.
But eerily quiet….
"Haa…! Haa…."
Splash, splash.
Lewd wet sounds and low moans from my room.
"…."
I approached slowly, opened the door.
"Haak… kuh…!"
Room was trashed.
Instant meals scattered, packaging half-torn.
Cola gone flat, steam long gone.
Bed soaked like a drenched sponge.
And… a pervert succubus twitching, tail stuffed in her dripping pussy.
"Lilia…?"
What the hell happened to her.
Eyes unfocused—barely conscious?
"M-Master…."
"Lilia!"
Her voice hoarse, strained. I rushed over, pulled her into my arms.
Figured eating was the issue—not heat.
"Sorry. Didn't think it'd be this… Lilia?"
Hn. Hn.
Small giggles from my chest.
Sensing wrongness, I pushed her back to check.
"Master… all your fault…."
Shivering Lilia now stared straight, smirking.
Crunch!
Terror surged from my toes as something slammed my head. Consciousness faded.