Finally, Celestia reached the outskirts of the arena. She approached a massive wooden gate, its surface reinforced with dark iron bands. She placed her palm against the heavy door and pushed. It groaned faintly as it swung open, revealing the bustling interior.
The arena's registration hall was far larger than she expected. The vaulted ceiling arched high overhead, supported by beams of aged oak. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the stone floor. The space was filled with rows of desks where elven men and women stood, smiling warmly as they assisted the growing line of participants.
Clusters of adventurers sat on benches, some nervously fidgeting with their weapons or armor, while others leaned back confidently, chatting with their peers. Several coaches roamed the hall, offering last-minute advice and battle tips to younger or less-experienced fighters.
The atmosphere was lively and charged with excitement.
A sharp voice rang out across the hall.
"We have only three hours left until sign-ups close for the tournament!" one of the elven officials announced, her voice clear and commanding.
Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly. She clenched her fist lightly, her jaw tightening with subtle determination. Without hesitation, she made her way to one of the desks.
An elven man with sharp, golden eyes and short silver hair greeted her with a warm smile. "Welcome, miss. Here to sign up for the tournament?"
Celestia nodded. "Yeah."
The elf grabbed a quill and slid a parchment toward her. "Name?"
"Celestia Solara."
The elf's hand froze briefly, his fingers tightening slightly around the quill. His smile faltered for the briefest moment—a flash of recognition in his eyes—but he quickly recovered, clearing his throat and jotting down her name.
"Excellent. You're all set," he said smoothly, handing her a small, circular token with a rune carved into its surface. "This is your participant badge. Keep it on you at all times within the arena."
Celestia took the token and slipped it into her pocket before turning to leave. She glanced briefly over her shoulder, catching a faint, lingering tension in the elf's eyes.
Without another word, she made her way toward the training grounds, her steps steady, her eyes focused.
Far above, Leo lowered his binoculars, watching her with narrowed eyes.
"This will be interesting… let's see how she trains."
Celestia arrived at the training grounds, her boots kicking up dust as she stepped forward.
Leaning against the cracked stone wall, the medic stood motionless, the weight of his towering frame pressing into the worn surface. A wisp of smoke curled from the long wooden pipe between his fingers, the ember glowing softly in the dim light. His expression remained unreadable, his crimson gaze holding an intensity that felt both detached and all-consuming.
He took a slow, final drag, letting the smoke linger in his chest before exhaling it into the cool evening air. Then, without a word, he slipped the pipe into his sleeve. His eyes finally settled on Celestia. A quiet moment passed between them before he spoke.
"We'll have a spar… some day."
Before she could even form a response, he moved. No step. No sound. Just—gone. Not a flicker of mana. Not a shift in the air. One moment he stood before her—the next, nothing remained.
Celestia blinked, tightening her grip around the hilt of her rapier. "Was he always like that?" she murmured to herself, frustration seeping into her voice. She let out a long sigh and got to training.
High above, concealed within the thick canopy of trees, Commander Leo remained frozen. His fingers clenched so tightly around his enchanted binoculars that his knuckles turned white. His breathing was shallow, controlled—but his heart pounded violently in his chest. It wasn't just the ease with which the medic had moved. It wasn't even the way he had humiliated Celestia without breaking a sweat.
Nothing. Not a trace of movement. Not even a shift in weight where he had stood. As if the ground had never even held him in the first place.
Leo swallowed hard, whispering under his breath, "He's not a damn medic."
Three hours had passed by the time Celestia entered the hotel lobby. Without breaking stride, she made her way up the stairs, her mind still racing from what she had witnessed earlier. Reaching her room, she knocked lightly before pushing the door open.
Inside, Rosaline lay comfortably in bed, a book in hand, her violet eyes scanning the pages. She barely glanced up before asking, "Where have you been?"
Celestia exhaled as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "I signed up for the tournament a few hours ago. Trained for the past three. And... something's up with the medic. He seems stronger than anyone I've ever seen. Do you know anything about that?"
She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Despite the long training session, not a trace of sweat lingered on her skin—she had showered at the arena before heading back.
Rosaline arched a brow, setting her book down. "What do you mean by that?"
Celestia didn't respond immediately. She closed her eyes, rolling her shoulders before stretching her arms. Then—suddenly—it appeared.
For the first time in months, the system gave a quest.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
New Major Pathway Quest Available
Title: Bring Genocide to the Elves.
Task: Kill at least 70% of the elven population.
Rewards:
+67 Levels
+24 Levels for [Tempest Arts]
+18 Fear Immunity
+20 Levels for [Dragon's Gaze]
Enchanted weapon made from the skin of Serakaris
Element: Ice, Blood, Flames
EXP: 8,593
Bounty: 30 Gold
Fear Rating: +990
Warning: Accepting this quest may lock you out of other quests in the further, Nature element, and possibly several other items. Declining this quest will forever lock you out from obtaining the weapon made from Serakaris, Blood Element, and the rest of Fear Immunity.
[Accept/Decline]
Celestia's eyes widened the moment she read it.
Celestia's voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it when she spoke. "Rosaline. I need to ask you something."
Rosaline met her gaze. "What is it?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, confused by Celestia's sudden shift in tone.
After a few moments of nothing, Celestia spoke.
"Is... killing 70% of the elven population a good idea?"
Rosaline's expression darkened. Her book slipped from her fingers, hitting the mattress without a sound. "What? Why the hell would you even ask that?" Her voice rose, laced with disbelief as she sat up abruptly.
Celestia simply held her gaze, unreadable.
Rosaline pushed off the bed, pacing toward the open window, gripping the frame as she stared outside. The cold night air hit her face, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart.
"Celestia... Didn't you say you wanted to create a world without criminals?" Her voice was quieter now, strained. "If you even consider this… you'll be no better than them. You'll be a criminal yourself."
She inhaled deeply, but her breath was shaky. The weight of what Celestia had just said pressed against her chest heavily.
Celestia's voice barely rose above a whisper. "Can I close this... and come back to it another day?"
As if responding to her hesitation, the system faded from her vision, its presence retreating into the depths of her mind. She exhaled slowly, turning to Rosaline, who remained by the window, her back tense.
Without another word, Celestia stepped forward, reaching out. Her fingers wrapped gently around Rosaline's wrist, pulling her away from the window and turning her to face her directly. Their eyes met—Celestia's unreadable, Rosaline's filled with unease.
"Should I not do it then?" Celestia asked, her voice calm, almost too calm.
Rosaline didn't hesitate. "Don't do it."
But the moment she spoke, her breath hitched, and she winced, gripping her head as a dull pain bloomed behind her eyes. A faint emerald glow flickered within her irises—[Manipulation]. Strands of her dark green hair lifted slightly, swaying in the breeze from the open window.
"Would it be good to do it?"
Her own voice betrayed her, her tone eerily questioning, almost as if something had twisted her thoughts.
Celestia's eyes glinted at the shift. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"The rewards are good… no, they're beyond good considering everything with this damn system." She muttered, voice laced with a strange amusement. "The first quest I've seen in months… and it's this? Maybe I should accept it. Though, I never considered wiping out an entire civilization."
Her grip loosened, and she let go of Rosaline, stepping away as her thoughts tangled into a mess of conflicted reasoning. She slumped into a chair, her hands running through her damp hair before resting on her forehead.
"What the hell do I do?"
The words hung heavy in the air.
She wasn't asking Rosaline. She wasn't even asking herself.
She was asking everything.
Her fingers clenched into fists. "I never actually wanted this. But those rewards… after all this time, they're just within reach. And all I have to do is accept and... just slaughter all of them."
Her eyes darkened as she stared ahead, unfocused.
For the first time since she was born into this world. She began to question herself.
And more than anything—she questioned what she was truly willing to do to achieve her goal.