Higashino Makoto looked at her, at the earnest, unadulterated light in her light blue eyes.
"Ako."
"Exist."
"Come over."
Ako shifted her body and leaned against him.
Higashino Makoto put his arm around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Ako."
"Exist."
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
Thank you for keeping me company.
Ako remained silent for a long time.
"It's what I should do, subordinate."
Higashino Makoto chuckled softly.
Let's leave it at that.
Ako didn't speak. She just leaned against him, listening to his heartbeat, and closed her eyes.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a silvery-white glow.
That was Novas Etier's night.
Calm, peaceful, warm.
This is unlike any other night before.
Because tonight, someone is with him.
On the twenty-third day, Muninn returned.
Higashino Makoto was sitting in an armchair by the window, drinking tea, with Ako standing behind him.
A raven flew in through the open window, landed on the table, and cawed.
Its feathers gleamed black in the sunlight, and its golden eyes stared at Higashino Makoto, his face reflected in its pupils.
"Lord Amon."
Muninn spoke, her voice hoarse yet calm.
Good news.
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup.
"Explain."
"A new World Item has been found: the Seed of the World Tree."
Higashino Makoto's fingers stopped.
"The Seed of the World Tree"? That item that can change races?
"Yes."
Muninn nodded.
Was it really this specific prop?
Higashino Makoto excitedly stroked his chin.
In addition to World Item, there are also items in the game that can change one's race.
But this is the only item that can transform an undead into another race.
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time. He looked at Muninn, a certain light gleaming in his dark eyes.
"Where?"
"In the center of the continent, within a forgotten ruin. The ruin is guarded by powerful guardians, but they are insignificant to you."
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring at the ceiling.
"The Seed of the World Tree... can change race... the Undead..."
He repeated the words in a low voice, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Ako stood behind him, her light blue eyes looking at him.
"Sir, are you planning to go and fetch it?"
"Certainly."
Higashino Makoto stood up.
"These World Item are all mine. They're just temporarily stored with someone else."
He paused.
Half a day later, Higashino Makoto stood before that forgotten ruin.
The ruins are located in a desert in the center of the continent, surrounded by endless yellow sand. When the wind blows, it stirs up clouds of sand.
The sky was overcast and the sun was nowhere to be seen; only a thick layer of clouds pressed down overhead, making it hard to breathe.
"Grown ups."
Ako stood behind him, her long blue hair fluttering in the wind, the hem of her short trench coat rustling.
"The entrance to the ruins is two hundred meters ahead."
"Um."
Higashino Makoto strode forward, with Ako following behind him.
The entrance to the ruins is a massive stone gate, inscribed with ancient runes that gleam dimly in the light.
Higashino Makoto reached out and gently pushed. The stone door slowly opened inward with a dull rumble, and dust fell from the door frame.
The room inside was completely dark.
It wasn't ordinary darkness, but a deeper kind of darkness, one that seemed capable of swallowing all light.
Higashino Makoto raised his hand, and a golden light appeared in his palm, illuminating the path ahead.
Let's go.
He stepped into the darkness.
Ako followed behind him, her hand on the weapon at her waist, her light blue eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
The ruins are larger than Higashino Makoto had imagined.
The corridor meanders and twists, with ancient murals carved on the walls on both sides.
War, sacrifice, death, rebirth.
Every so often there is a stone door, with different runes carved on it.
"My lord, there is a demon ahead!"
Ako's voice rang in my ears.
"Yes, I can feel it."
Higashino Makoto stopped in his tracks, his dark eyes gazing into the darkness ahead.
Something is moving in the darkness.
There are many.
Their eyes gleamed red in the darkness, like burning embers.
"Come out."
Higashino Makoto's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed in the empty corridor.
From the darkness, those things emerged. They were humanoid, but their skin was grayish-white, the color of a rotting corpse.
The eyes were red, without pupils, only an empty, gleaming light.
Its mouth opened, revealing sharp teeth, and it emitted a low growl.
Immortal.
They are not high-ranking, but there are many of them.
Higashino Makoto didn't move. He just stood there, watching the undead rush towards him.
Then, he raised his hand and waved it gently.
Golden light surged from his palm, flowing forward like a tide.
The moment those undead were engulfed by the light, their bodies began to melt.
Skin, muscles, bones... everything evaporated and disappeared in that golden light.
A few seconds later, the corridor fell silent.
The undead vanished, leaving only a few puddles of grayish-black debris on the ground.
Let's go.
Higashino Makoto continued walking forward.
Ako followed behind him, her light blue eyes fixed on the debris.
"Grown ups."
"Um."
What kind of magic did you just use?
"It's not magic, just a simple application of energy, or rather, magical power."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Yes, what I just used was extremely pure light-attribute energy."
Ako was silent for a moment.
"This subordinate... has never seen it before."
"Of course you haven't seen it, because I created it myself."
Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly.
He was happy to be able to use things that weren't in the game.
I am constantly growing.
When I'm bored, I always like to study random, random things.
Ako looked at him, a certain light gleaming in her light blue eyes.
"My lord, you are truly powerful."
"It's not about being powerful, it's about being bored. When people are bored, they always need to find something to do. Besides, I'm quite interested in magic."
After all, how many people living in modern times could resist the temptation of magic?
He continued walking forward.
At the end of the corridor was a stone door that was larger than any of the previous doors.
A tree pattern is carved on the door.
A massive trunk, lush foliage, and roots that are deeply embedded in the earth.
At the very top of the tree, there was a glittering seed, its golden light shimmering in the dim light.
"The Seed of the World Tree."
Higashino Makoto uttered the name, the light of that seed reflected in his dark eyes.
He reached out and pushed the door open.
Inside the door was a huge circular hall.
In the center of the hall, there was a stone platform, on which sat a crystal box.
There is a seed in the box.
It is about the size of a thumb, entirely golden, with a faint sheen flowing across its surface.
It floated in the box, slowly rotating, like a miniature sun.
Four figures stood around the stone platform.
Guardians, or rather --
The final boss.