As the sun set, the golden light faded into a soft red.
The queen's bedroom was adorned with exquisite jewels, and Nermedia, its owner, sat before the dressing table mirror. Her pajamas gleamed, embroidered with precious, bright materials, yet her expression remained solemn.
"Whoa…"
It was none other than Dayke who caused the queen, already overwhelmed with her country's affairs, to sigh.
Five years ago, the demon lord was defeated, and all the corrupt humans vanished, leading her to believe the future would be filled with peace.
However, she never anticipated that a single human would emerge from the sea.
She muttered, 'If it hadn't been for her daughter, that human would have been kicked back across the sea.'
She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her expression uneasy, and sighed once again.
"Haa…"
Her daughter, Iril, was so kind-hearted that she was even friendly towards humans.
In the past, when a human named Alvin joined the Knights, Iril welcomed him warmly, thinking he would be lonely on his own.
Even then, it had been challenging for her to protect Alvin, but now, with Iril guarding a man named Dayke, it frustrated her as a mother.
'Is there any need to help a race of beasts that are not only in heat all day but have even brought in the devil…??'
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand her daughter's feelings. However, as a mother, she gently shook her head and tried to calm herself.
'It's okay. Agnes just needs to make that person leave the kingdom on his own. If he did that, what can Iril do about it?'
"Queen, Commander Agnes has requested an audience."
Nermedia cleared her throat and responded to the guard's report beyond the door after the knock.
"Ask her to come in."
Moments later, Agnes entered the room and bowed respectfully.
"Knight Commander Agnes!! I have responded to the Queen's call."
"Welcome. How was training today?"
"The knight sisters were very motivated, so it went smoothly."
"It's good that things are going well. But I guess the request I made yesterday didn't go so well? I think the monkey is still in the kingdom."
"…Sorry about that, your majesty."
Agnes lowered her head again and clenched her fists, remembering her sparring with Dayk yesterday.
Humans were a filthy and lazy species, solely focused on satisfying their desires. Losing in a sparring match to someone like that was one of the few humiliations of her life.
However, when she thought about it, Dayke was somewhat different from the humans she knew. Just like yesterday, he had trained diligently today and hadn't caused any trouble so far.
To be honest, she was doubtful of the crude methods he used to remove the poison from her body.
However, since Dayke did not commit any further actions and the poison was truly suppressed to this day as he said, she could not make a rash judgment.
However….
'… Still, I must not let down my guard.'
As Agnes repeated those words to herself, the queen's voice reached her ears.
"Agnes. You know that I hate humans, right?"
"Yes. I understand."
"You know very well that I despise dark elves just as much, don't you?"
"…Yes."
"Even so, the reason I keep you by my side is because you are different from other dark elves. Oh, I'm sorry. I've mentioned this several times before, but here I am saying it again."
The queen said everything she wanted to express but pretended it wasn't meant that way, maintaining her dignity. It was a common speaking method Nermedia used when she was in a bad mood.
"Anyway, what I'm saying is, please don't disappoint me again."
"…Yes. I will certainly live up to your expectations, Your Majesty."
Agnes' steps after leaving the queen's bedroom were heavy with a troubled heart. It was the word "dark elf" that Nermedia had spoken earlier that weighed on her mind.
Dark elves were those who had chosen a different path from ordinary elves. Like humans, elves had sexual desires, but unlike ordinary elves, whose main virtue was self-control, dark elves pursued their desires and pleasures.
Therefore, among white-skinned elves, they were treated like humans or monkeys.
In fact, the ancient dark elves were just one group within the elves, and their skin was not brown and they were not called dark elves.
However, because of their tendency to value pleasure, they were ostracized by other elves and ended up settling in a dark place, such as a cave, where sunlight could not reach.
As a result, unable to live in harmony with nature for long periods, their skin gradually darkened, earning them the derogatory label of "dark elf."
Despite this, rather than dwelling on their circumstances, they focused on enjoying the freedom they had gained.
They formed relationships solely with women and also indulged in sexual intercourse with humans.
The dark elves, who only sought pleasure, were destroyed along with humans by the demon king who appeared one day. Now, Agnes was the only remaining dark elf.
'Okay. I am different from other dark elves.'
Agnes had the same skin color as her compatriots, but her thoughts were different.
Realizing that her alignment was closer to that of a normal elf than that of a dark elf, she left the cave at a young age and knocked on the door of the elven kingdom.
Nermedia, recognizing the uniqueness of her thoughts, accepted her, and Agnes worked tirelessly to overcome the prejudices others held against her as a dark elf.
Through refining herself by controlling not only her sexual desires but also most of her other cravings, including appetite and luxury, she became the most respected knight in the kingdom.
'The Queen is my benefactor. I must never disappoint her.'
For that to happen, Dayke must leave the kingdom. Of course, the queen's orders were not the only motivation behind Agnes' actions.
She viewed both humans and dark elves as filthy races incapable of resisting their beastly desires. For that reason, she didn't want a single one of them in the pure elf kingdom. It was also why she had no hesitation when she stabbed Alvin five years ago.
'If I find the herb today and treat the poison, I will definitely kill him…'
With clenched fists and unwavering resolve, Agnes made her way to the place where she had planned to meet Dayke, carefully avoiding the gaze of the other elves.
—
[MC POV]
As the night deepened, it was getting closer to the time when Agnes and I were scheduled to go looking for herbs.
It would be fair to say the wait had been long, but this was only the beginning of the revenge I had eagerly anticipated.
Leaving the barracks quietly, feeling both nervous and excited, I headed to the place Agnes had mentioned beforehand, making sure no one noticed me.
"You're here."
"Yes. But isn't this the exact opposite of the main gate of the castle wall?"
Instead of answering my question, Agnes pushed her hand into one of the stones of the castle wall.
As the stone sank in, a door suddenly appeared in the floor as if by magic.
"I didn't know there was a passage like this."
"It is an emergency passage created to evacuate the capital's personnel in case of emergency. The royal wizard hid it through magic."
Actually, I knew it from my previous life, but I nodded as if it was my first time hearing it.
"Aha!! That's fascinating."
"Then let's leave."
"Wait a minute."
"What?"
"Let me use my magic one more time before I go."
"Didn't you say that the effect of your magic lasts for three days? Then I should be fine until tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, but since we never know what might happen, there's no harm in being cautious."
"…That's right then. Please..."
I knelt down and placed my hands near Agnes's calves, allowing the pure white light that bloomed in my palm to shine on the wound before rising to my feet.
"That's it. Let's go now."
"…"
She glared at me without responding when I told her to go. Just as I was about to ask what was wrong, her lips parted.
"No matter what you do, my opinion of humans will not change. They are not only filthy beasts incapable of controlling their desires, but also a species that nearly destroyed Elora."
'No, did I call the devil?'
Why is she suddenly acting hysterical?
Did she get scolded by Nermedia for not being able to kick me out yet?
I tried to maintain my composure because I knew that conversation would not work even if I felt unfair.
"Yeah, well… Let's go first."
After going out of the kingdom through the passage, we headed to the location taken by the app with Agnes.
The destination was a mountain that was not high.
After passing through the dense forest and arriving at the top, a field-like place with no trees and lush grass unfolded.
It was obviously deep at night, but the bright moonlight fell on the open space without trees, so it seemed like we could see far ahead without a lantern.
"Are we really going to find medicinal herbs today? When I came here yesterday, there was nothing but weeds."
"Okay, don't worry … Uh… I found it. That's it!"
"Really!?"
Agnes' gaze followed where my finger pointed.
Amid the weeds swaying in the night breeze, a silver flower bloomed. As if imbued with a mysterious power, the surrounding area shimmered like stardust, making it instantly clear that this was no ordinary herb.
"This is it…"
"It is a moonflower that grows with nutrients from the moonlight accumulated in the ground. It blooms only on full moon nights, when the moonlight is the strongest, and when eaten, it removes any poison from the body."
While I was reciting the information obtained through the app, Agnes could not take her eyes off the moonlight flower.
Under normal circumstances, she would have asked, 'How do you know about these flowers? Can I really trust you?'
However, the flower's otherworldly yet distinct glow seemed to erase any lingering doubts she had.
"Can I eat this right here?"
When I nodded lightly, Agnes' trembling hands picked the flowers.
The flower was still shining even though its stem was broken. Then Agnes boldly put it into her mouth and chewed.
"Aah… it tastes a little bitter. No… a lot…"
"But how did you happen to be poisoned by the deer's weed?"
"There was a poisoned trap in the forest. I suspect it might be the work of the mysterious entity we've recently received reports about."
What exactly is this mysterious entity?
These are things I've never seen before since my reincarnation, like deer's weed and moonflower. Do they even exist?
I was curious, but it wasn't something that mattered to me right now.
'I hope it takes effect quickly.'
"Is the poison completely gone now? Maybe it's because I didn't feel any pain before, so it doesn't make much of a difference. Let's go back to the barracks—ugh…!"
Agnes, who had been kneeling to pick flowers, suddenly toppled forward.
The fall wasn't severe enough to hurt her, so she got up, but she flinched and couldn't quite adjust her posture again.
"Captain, are you okay?"
"I'm so weak! What happened? Hmm!"
Despite trying with all her might, her body remained motionless, as though it were completely paralyzed.
"Please help me up first."
At her request, I reached out to her, but instead of helping her stand by her arm, I lifted her in a princess carry.
"What are you doing… Dayke, can you possibly…?"
The dark elf's expression, illuminated by the moonlight, was twisted.
Agnes had always distrusted me as a human, but this time, there was undeniable evidence to back her suspicion. It was my face, smiling down at hers.
"It looks like it's finally working."
"What on earth did you do? Was it not a medical herb but a poisonous herb?"
"Yes...that's it.."
In reality, the moonlight flower was both a medicinal herb and a poisonous one.
This flower contained a unique poison that, when it encountered other poisons, neutralized them and disappeared together—what was known as the Admiral Lee effect.
If a person already affected by poison consumed the Moonlight Flower, they would be completely cured. However, if someone who wasn't poisoned ate it, the poison of the Moonlight Flower would be absorbed into their body as is.
The symptom caused by the Moonlight Flower's poison was an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that lasted for several hours, much like the body falling into a deep sleep under the moon's gaze.
This was the reason Agnes couldn't even lift a finger.
As the explanation unfolded, Agnes' frown deepened even further.
"But the poison from the deer's weed would still remain in my body…!"
"That's why I got rid of all the poison in advance. Before I left the castle."
"At that time…! Was it a lie when you said that treatment was completely impossible with magic?"
"Yes. I've been planning to do this since the first time we met."
Normally, when I read novels or comics, I get frustrated with villains who talk too much.
All they needed to do was defeat the main character while showing off their tricks, but instead, they drag it out with endless explanations and end up getting defeated.
But now, I understand why villains do that.
Watching the other person's expression darken with every word I spoke was so exhilarating that I couldn't look away, and it was almost impossible to hold back.
When I was stabbed by a sword on the cliff, was Agnes feeling this way when she saw me in confusion?
"…Why are you doing this!"
Of course it was for revenge. Revenge for betraying me to death.
In order to resolve my injustice, I will corrupt this woman by committing the crime several times starting today.
And when she falls into her self-loathing, I will reveal who I am and make her regret it painfully.
I will bring Nermedia and all the other elves in the castle who despised me to their knees, and I will watch them cry in front of me with my own eyes.
This place was very suitable for the first start.
Even if the other party asks for help, no elf will come this far.
"Well, think about it. Have you done anything wrong in your life?"
I stretched out my hand with meaningful words.
As the armor covering Agnes' body, unable to resist, was peeled off one by one, a snorting sound was heard.
"Is this the purpose in the end? Dirty little monkey. After all, humans are humans."
There was nothing wrong with the story of a traitorous bitch. What kind of things turn a normal person's mind to darkness?
When I finally took off all of her armor, Agnes' naked body was revealed in front of me.
This was the second time I saw her naked, but it was more fascinating than the first time, perhaps because her body was illuminated by the moon.
As I was massaging her large breasts, which seemed like they would only get in the way in battle, I heard Agnes' provocation.
"Don't hesitate and finish it quickly. Then I'll cut off your head and throw it into the sea."
"Okay, do whatever you want."
"Ugh… ♥"
I touched her thick pussy and gently rubbed her clitoris, which was different to her lean body.
Agnes lowered her moans as if nothing had happened, but the area between her legs was quickly becoming wet following my touch.
"Just like last time, your body is quite sensitive. Is it because you're a dark elf?"
"Aahh.. You are noisy… Ugh ♥"
Contrary to what she said, her pussy was already wet.
The lewd sight of a sexy dark elf was making me feel uncomfortable, so I quickly unzipped my pants.
"Ugh, that dirty thing…!"
She looked at my dick with a disgusted expression on her face as it moved rhythmically, as if to show her how great it was.
"You'll end up liking it after a while, anyway."
When I put the tip of my dick into her pussy, I felt a sticky yet warm texture.
Then I pushed my dick in as far as I could, intending to reach the inside of her pussy in one go.
"Ahhhhh ♥!!!"
Agnes' moans echoed into the night sky.