I don't want to be an elf!

Because his ambition was hundreds of times greater than that of the Black Candle Lord, he not only wanted to protect the floating continent islands and defeat the Sixth Beast, but he also wanted to find a way to defeat the Seventeenth Beast and reclaim the ground.

Therefore, they would spare no expense, no matter how many golden fairies they had to sacrifice.

If it were possible to sacrifice one person to secure the future of the world, Swan would do it without hesitation.

Even if the person is innocent.

Seeing Swan's fanatical appearance, Black Candle felt inexplicably angry.

"It's like this again..."

Black Candle's voice turned low, and even the soul fire in his eyes subsided: "Swan, even though you are no longer human, your nature is still unchanged."

Shi Wan paused for a moment, stopped trying to persuade Yatogami Tohka, and looked at his collaborator.

Normally, this would definitely sound like a compliment.

Even though Swann's body is no longer human, he is still proud of his former identity and firmly believes that his heart is still human.

But hearing the coldness in Black Candle Master's tone, he keenly sensed that this time, Black Candle Master was not praising him.

“What are you trying to say?” Swan asked, frowning. “You should know I’m doing the right thing.”

"Heh, that's right, the right thing to do." Black Candle's tone carried a hint of mockery. "Just like what you did to Eluco, right?"

"I......"

Swan opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he couldn't say anything at all.

Because what Black Candle Master said is an indisputable fact.

Eluco, that is the name of the young star god, who was also the star god slain by the human hero.

It is also the name of the person to whom the Black Candle Lord served.

"For the sake of what is right, you can abandon morality and righteousness, sacrificing the lives of innocent people for the benefit of the majority," Black Candle Lord asked coldly. "The last person to sacrifice himself was my master, Elco, who was punished for the continuation of humanity. Now, for your ideals, are you going to repeat the same mistake?"

"What's the point of saying all this now? I am human, and I can't just stand by and watch humanity perish."

Swan flicked his sleeves with a hint of annoyance.

"Now that the hope of reclaiming our homeland is before us, how can you expect me to let this precious opportunity slip by?"

Chapter 45 The Second Spirit Crystal

Looking at the Great Sage and the Black Candle Master who were vaguely clashing with each other, Yatogami Tohka's expression was somewhat puzzled.

But soon, after understanding why they were arguing, her expression changed from confusion to helplessness.

I originally thought that five hundred years of cooperation had turned these two former enemies into partners. Unexpectedly, these two guys did not put aside their past grievances at all. They just had to hold their noses and ignore what happened in the past for the sake of the bigger picture.

Now, the tragedy that happened in the past has been brought up again, and the two have suddenly changed their positions from collaborators to adversaries.

This is not what Yatogami Tohka wanted to see.

After all, she was still hoping that the Black Candle Lord and the Great Sage could continue to cooperate, combining their wisdom and abilities to study their own spirit crystals and decipher Mio Takamiya's spirit crystal manufacturing technology.

Yes, this was the plan that Yatogami Tohka devised last night.

Swann and Black Candle were inspired by her spirit crystals to decipher the technique for creating them, and then applied this technique to the fragments of the Star God's soul.

If the two of them can succeed in purifying the [Soul Fragment of the Star God] into [Soul Crystal], then all problems will be solved.

The fate of the Golden Fairy can be changed, the floating islands can still be protected, and it may even provide an opportunity to launch a counterattack on the ground.

However, to her surprise, the two not only failed to reach an agreement, but also started arguing.

It seems that Kurozuki saw the shadow of his former master, Seigami Eluko, in Yatogami Tohka, which caused him to feel resistant.

Thinking about it carefully, that's indeed the case.

Five hundred years ago, in order to continue their lineage, humans formed a team of heroes and killed the young Elko.

Five hundred years later, for the sake of this world's future, Shion once again wants to use the sacrifice of Yatogami Tohka to put everything back on track.

Perhaps he saw Yatogami Tohka as one of the same kind as Eluco, an innocent person who sacrificed herself for the benefit of many. The anger that Kurozuki had hidden beneath his laughter for five hundred years could no longer be suppressed at this moment.

If he agrees to assist Swann, it would be tantamount to admitting that the atrocities committed by humans against his master could be forgiven.

And this is precisely what he would never admit.

He was willing to cooperate with Swan, the accomplice who murdered his master, not because he had forgiven Swan, but because the past could not be changed, and all he could do was make amends for the future.

He will never compromise on this matter.

And Swan understands this.

But it was precisely because he understood this that he was annoyed by the stubbornness of the Black Candle Master.

He doesn't think humans have done anything wrong.

Civilization, morality, and justice are all qualities that arise from the foundation of being able to survive.

Five hundred years ago, humanity faced imminent extinction, an irreversible crisis.

As long as they can survive, a drowning person will desperately grasp at any straw, even using the lives of others as a lifeline.

This is not a sin, but rather the survival instinct that any living being possesses when facing death.

As long as we can survive, we will do whatever it takes to stay alive, no matter the cost.

Right or wrong is meaningless.

Only those who survive have the right to discuss right and wrong.

However, the Black Candle Master could not understand this.

No, it shouldn't be said that it's incomprehensible.

It should be said that it is unacceptable.

"Don't argue anymore."

Seeing that she had become the source of the conflict, Tohka Yatogami felt extremely troubled.

She truly hadn't expected that studying the structure of spirit crystals would require taking out her own spirit crystal.

However, upon closer reflection, it's not hard to understand.

The power system in this world is completely different from that in the Date A Live world. Just because Mio Takamiya can easily create spirit crystals doesn't mean that others can reverse-engineer the method of making spirit crystals.

Even sages who have lived for five hundred years, and Black Candle Lord who is a low-ranking deity.

"Is this the only way...?"

Although it was extremely painful, in order to complete the mission and for the future of the Golden Fairies, Tohka Yatogami had a thought and opened her spatial backpack.

Inside the backpack, the four item cards obtained from completing the mission in the previous world were displayed in their respective compartments.

After scanning the cards, Tohka Yatogami subtly clicked on one of them and took it out of her inventory.

The next moment, a prop card appeared in her hand.

Nightmare Spirit Crystal Summoning Ticket

This is the reward she received after perfectly completing side quest three in the previous world.

Its function is simple: it can summon the spirit crystal belonging to Tokisaki Kurumi. Once any spirit absorbs this spirit crystal, it will gain all of Tokisaki Kurumi's abilities, including Zafkiel, Shadow Dimension, and Time Eater.

Just like in the original work, when Tokisaki Kurumi absorbed Honjou Nia's spirit crystal, she gained the ability to use the omniscient and omnipotent Whispering Scroll.

Moreover, it's not just for personal use; you can even give this spirit crystal to others.

Of course, if you intend to give it to someone else, and the user does not have the aptitude to become an elf, it is easy for them to turn into a berserk monster after fusing with the spirit crystal.

Since she couldn't give away her own spirit crystal for them to study, she had no choice but to hand over this spirit crystal as a substitute.

Although... using this item card here is really a waste.

However, for the sake of Nephren and the Golden Fairies, wasting a little is acceptable.

“If the power crystal you’re talking about is the spirit crystal, then I actually have one that I don’t need, which I can give you to study.”

Tohka Yatogami's voice drowned out the two's argument and also drew their attention.

With a thought, she used the prop card in her hand.

[Nightmare Spirit Crystal Summoning Ticket Confirmed for Use]

[Spirit Crystal Materialization]

As the system notification sounded, a rhombus-shaped black and red crystal appeared in her hand.

As the new spirit crystal appeared in Tohka Yatogami's hand, Shion and Kurozuki, whose argument was escalating, fell silent, their eyes and soul flames practically bulging out of their sockets.

They exchanged a glance, and the two old men tacitly put the unpleasantness from their minds.

The item that Yatogami Tohka took out was substantial enough to resolve the conflict.

This spirit crystal is of particular significance to Swan.

He had been trying to persuade Yatogami Tohka to hand over the Spirit Crystal for the sake of the world's future, but all he could do was persuade her.

If she's unwilling to give it, there's nothing Swan can do.

As for stealing it, that's impossible.

Anyone who has witnessed Tohka Yatogami's unparalleled fighting prowess on the battlefield would never consider engaging her in combat.

He is called a great sage, not a great fool.

Therefore, upon seeing that Yatogami Tohka had a second spirit crystal, he immediately abandoned Kurokatsu, his aged face beaming with smiles.

However, with a clench of Yatogami Tohka's hand, the spirit crystal vanished before their eyes.

"Why did you take it back?!"

Swan stamped his feet in frustration, like a child whose toys had been confiscated: "Didn't you promise we'd be able to study it?"

“I did say that, but it’s not without conditions,” Tohka Yatogami said matter-of-factly. “I can grant your wishes, provided that you grant mine.”

"That's fair, isn't it?"

Black Candle Master nodded hurriedly, afraid that she would change her mind: "What do you want from us? We'll give you anything we can get!"

Upon hearing Kurokawa's promise, Yatogami Tohka smiled with satisfaction.