I don't want to be an elf!

The moment she stepped into the castle, she could feel the chaotic and chilly atmosphere filling the air.

It's like stepping into the castle of a true demon king; once you're inside, your body's instincts will automatically reach their peak.

Not only the outside scenery, but even the inside of the castle gave her a completely different feeling than when she last came.

Something bad has definitely happened here.

However, Tohka Yatogami showed no sign of backing down.

After all, if something really happened between Swan and Black Candle when they were researching the Spirit Crystal, she was the only one in the entire floating continent archipelago who had the ability to handle it.

Yatogami Tohka gripped the Executioner tightly in her hand and walked step by step into the depths of the castle.

Chapter Fifty-Eight Forbidden Experiments

As a former earth god, the Black Candle Lord's castle was naturally quite large.

Yatogami Tohka explored the complex interior of the castle for a long time, more than twenty minutes before finally reaching the top floor.

At the same time, it is also the source of the chaotic atmosphere.

Looking at the gate leading to the top floor, Yatogami Tohka sensed an extremely strong ominous aura.

Without a doubt, the anomaly on the second floating island must have originated from here and spread outwards.

Taking a deep breath and preparing herself for whatever might happen, Tohka Yatogami placed her hand on the doorknob.

Her hands were wreathed in spiritual energy, just like before at the city gate. The black mist wrapped around the doorknob dissipated automatically upon contact with her spiritual energy.

"Click."

Carefully pushing open the door, Yatogami Tohka raised her vigilance to the extreme, ready to unleash the sword energy she had stored up at any moment.

The room was filled with thick black fog, so thick that you couldn't see your own hand in front of you.

Just as she was hesitating whether to go in, two lights, like will-o'-the-wisps, suddenly began to illuminate the depths of the dark room.

"!"

Without hesitation, Yatogami Tohka raised the Sword of Destruction, and the purple light on the blade shone brightly.

Just before she was about to strike, a somewhat familiar, hoarse voice, tinged with obvious urgency, rang out from the darkness.

"No, no, no! It's me!"

Upon hearing that it was the voice of Kuroshiro, Yatogami Tohka paused, forcibly stopping the sword energy she was about to unleash.

Why are you scaring me!

Yatogami Tohka's question was tinged with anger.

But I felt a sense of relief.

She had been walking around the castle for so long without seeing a single living person, and neither Swann nor Black Candle had come out to greet her.

Coupled with the eerie scene outside, she thought something bad had happened.

However, Black Candle Duke's voice didn't sound weak, so even if something had happened, it shouldn't be anything serious.

"Haha, please forgive me."

Black Candle Master knew that his skull and the soul fire in his eyes were indeed somewhat frightening in the darkness, so he didn't refute anything: "I had no choice. There was an accident during the experiment, so this is the only way."

"What's the purpose of this black mist? I can't see anything in the room!"

"It's used to stabilize the curse here. I'm sorry, the black mist can't be taken back for the time being," Black Candle Master said calmly. "Otherwise, the entire second floating island, and even the surrounding floating islands, could be polluted and become barren, dead lands."

"The curse has spread?" Tohka Yatogami frowned. "What exactly happened? Weren't you and Swan researching the spirit crystals?"

"Well... that's a long story."

Black Candle Master let out a somewhat embarrassed hum, pondering where to begin his explanation.

However, he seemed to think that summarizing it in a few words would not be enough for Tohka Yatogami, so he decided to start from the very beginning.

“We are indeed researching spirit crystals, specifically, the refining technology of spirit crystals,” Black Candle Master said. “To achieve this goal, after you left, Swan and I immediately began various experiments and trials, and obtained a lot of data.”

"Hmm...that sounds normal?"

"Yes, up to this point, everything is normal."

Black Candle Master's tone was somewhat annoyed, as if he were recalling something he didn't want to remember: "Until we entered the second phase of the experiment."

Before Yatogami Tohka could ask what the second phase of the experiment was, Kurozuki continued, "The first phase of the experiment was to obtain the internal structure and power circuits of the spirit crystal. Although we cannot analyze the power of the laws contained within it, we can still analyze the structure. We spent two whole weeks on this. The second phase is to conduct human experiments based on the first phase."

Human experimentation?!

Upon hearing this word, Tohka Yatogami's eyes widened.

In her view, the keywords "spirit crystals" and "human experimentation" could only lead to bad outcomes.

After all, she knew that in the original story, Mio Takamiya used human lives as refining materials without any mercy in order to purify the spirit crystals to a stable state.

Kurumi Tokisaki's best friend was an unfortunate person who was used as material.

All Swan and Black Candle Lord needed was the method for refining the Spirit Crystals, which they then used to purify the Star God's soul fragments. In the end, Mio Takamiya's original power and the Star God's soul fragments were not the same thing at all. Tohka Yatogami never expected that these two would actually copy someone else's homework.

The exam papers were all different, but the answers were never changed.

She gave them the spirit crystals only so that they could use them as a reference and then forge their own path!

"Is it really only through human experimentation that we can obtain data on refining methods?" Tohka Yatogami asked in a deep voice. "With your level of expertise, shouldn't you be able to find other methods?"

“It’s possible…it should be possible.” Black Candle coughed awkwardly twice. “But you know, Swann is even more stubborn than the Donkeymen. If there’s the most efficient option, he won’t choose any other method.”

"So, you became his accomplice?"

“No, no, no, you misunderstand,” Black Candle quickly said. “I’m not the kind of person who would sacrifice others for my own goals. To be honest, I’m only slightly interested in the refining method of spirit crystals. Originally, I was prepared to withdraw when I reached the second stage, but Swan proposed an alternative plan.”

"An alternative plan, what plan?"

He said he was willing to use his body as material for human experiments.

Black Candle Master's tone was somewhat complicated, and he sighed deeply: "As I just said, he is a human who always chooses the most efficient method. If we use ordinary orcs for experiments, it would take anywhere from a few months to several years. Moreover, considering that orcs do not have magic, even if we really use them as experimental subjects, the data we collect is very likely to be incomplete."

"So... he used himself as a test subject?"

Tohka Yatogami's tone was somewhat incredulous.

But on second thought, Swann does seem to be that kind of person.

Five hundred years ago, he did not mind sacrificing himself for humanity.

Five hundred years later, sacrificing oneself again for one's ideals doesn't seem like much.

Perhaps it was precisely because of his indifference to life that he was able to remain unmoved by the sacrifice of the Golden Fairy.

However, she no longer has the time to think about what kind of person Swan really is.

"He put the spirit crystal into his body?" Tohka Yatogami asked anxiously. "Where is Shiwan? Where is he now?"

"He..."

Inside the room, Black Candle Master gave a bitter laugh.

“He’s everywhere.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine: A Combination of Curse and Spiritual Power

Everywhere...?

Upon hearing Kurokawa's description, Yatogami Tohka looked bewildered.

This was the first time she had ever heard such a description used to describe a person.

After trying to imagine the scene, her expression changed slightly, and she couldn't help but step back.

Their gazes toward the room turned astonished.

"Swan, could he have blown himself up while trying to fuse with the spirit crystal?" Tohka Yato asked with a grim expression.

“Hmm? No, he didn’t tell you that the guy is a collection of curses?” Black Candle looked at her strangely. “That old guy lost his flesh and blood five hundred years ago. After fighting with my old friend, Green Nail Marquis, he tried to change his life form with curses. Although he still looks like a human, what’s hidden under that skin is a twisted curse.”

"Um... what do you mean?"

"Sigh, I've explained it so clearly, don't you understand?" Black Candle Master's tone became helpless. "Shortly after fusing with the spirit crystal, the spiritual power of the spirit crystal reacted violently with the curse in his body, causing the curse in his body to go berserk and dissipate."

"Oh! I see!" Yatogami Tohka seemed to finally understand. "So, the black mist shrouding the castle and the rooms was all to prevent the curse from leaking out?"

"That's what I said from the beginning."

"But you didn't say the curse was Swann's!"

Tohka Yatogami's expression grew even more unpleasant.

Realizing that the chilling aura in the air was actually the curse within Swan, she wanted to cover her mouth and nose even more.

With every breath, I inhale a part of Swan into my body, and it feels awful!

But she ultimately suppressed her inner impulse and forced herself to refocus her attention on the conversation.

"Is Shiwan dead or alive now?" Yatogami Tohka asked, puzzled.

“It’s hard to say. Cursed and twisted life forms are rare to begin with. I’ve only ever seen one life form in my life that has been able to stabilize the curse within its body and live for five hundred years. I have to say that guy is indeed a genius.” Black Candle Master replied helplessly. “Moreover, your spirit crystal is also made up of unknown power and technology. I don’t understand either the power of the curse or the spiritual power of the spirit crystal, and I’m even less clear about the principle of their interaction.”

"So... what should we do now?"

“Fortunately, before the spiritual power and the curse reacted, Swan had already cooperated with me in conducting many experiments, and these experiments provided a lot of valuable data,” Black Candle Lord comforted him. “Give me a few more months, and I will definitely be able to find a way to refine Eluko’s soul fragments.”

"A few months? That's way too long!"

"Instead of worrying about that, don't you think we should deal with the immediate crisis first?" Black Candle said speechlessly. "The second phase of the experiment started six days ago, and his curse went out of control three days ago. I've been waiting for you to come back for the past three days. In the floating continent islands, only you can help me solve this mess."

"Me?" Yatogami Tohka pointed to herself in confusion. "How can I help you? I don't know anything about curses or anything like that."

"But you know a lot about spirit crystals, don't you?"

"Um..." Tohka Yatogami said hesitantly, "To be honest, I don't know either."

"Huh?" Black Candle Master asked in surprise, "Your source of life is the Spirit Crystal, and you're telling me you don't understand it?"

“Even if you say that…” Yatogami Tohka said with difficulty, “The ability to manipulate the power of spirit crystals is a talent I was born with, and no one has ever taught me anything more detailed.”

Just as Black Candle Master was about to ask how this was possible.