The wait outside the Royal Palace wasn't long, but for Xia Lian, every second felt like an eternity.
She nervously adjusted her clothes and equipment, unsure what to do with her hands.
"Are... are we really going to meet the Elf Queen?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Isn't this too sudden? I'm not ready..."
"Relax, Xia Lian," Lin Qingyue said, patting her shoulder with a half-joking reassurance. "Just think of it as meeting a top-tier NPC with incredibly detailed modeling, to complete an orange legendary quest."
Despite her words, Lin Qingyue's own heart was pounding.
The Elf Queen... Just hearing her title evokes images of a noble, aloof, otherworldly being.
I need to watch my words carefully. One slip of the tongue could offend her, and we'd be doomed.
As her anxiety mounted, a sudden realization struck her.
Wait! I remember now!
According to Aeldara, the strained relations between humans and elves began just a few months ago, when that Good-for-Nothing Prince stole the 'Youthful Magic Image Diary'—a collection of Magic Images documenting Her Majesty the Queen's scandalous youthful indiscretions!
Thinking about it, Her Majesty the Queen must have been quite the rebellious and wild young woman in her youth. Maybe she was even more down-to-earth than we imagined?
With this realization, Lin Qingyue's mindset instantly flipped 180 degrees.
The tension vanished, replaced by a subtle anticipation of witnessing some entertaining drama.
Lin Xiyue, ever carefree, was curiously examining the two rows of perfectly aligned Elf guards standing at the Royal Palace gates. She whispered to her sister:
"Sis, look at their armor—so shiny and beautiful! But it looks like it would shatter at the slightest touch—all show, no substance."
Su Wan, maintaining her usual Young Mistress composure, stood quietly to the side. But her slightly wavering gaze, avoiding direct eye contact, betrayed her inner unease.
After all, this was the legendary Elf Queen—one of the oldest and most powerful beings in this Dungeon.
After about ten minutes, an Elf Chamberlain in a silver ceremonial robe emerged from the palace and bowed gracefully to the four women.
"Honored guests, Her Majesty the Queen invites you."
The four exchanged glances and followed the Chamberlain into the magnificent palace.
The interior of the Royal Palace was even more breathtaking than they had imagined.
Beneath their feet, the entire floor was paved with massive slabs of Moonstone.
A warm, milky-white light emanated from beneath the floor, illuminating the grand hall like the sacred realm of the moon goddess Artemis.
Above, visible to the naked eye, Magic Power coalesced into a dazzling river of stars, flowing slowly across the vaulted ceiling.
A silent hymn permeated the air, cleansing the spirits of the visitors.
After traversing a long corridor, they arrived before a colossal gate entwined with Moonlight Vines.
The Chamberlain pushed the gate open, revealing a vast, circular hall.
At the far end of the hall stood a throne naturally formed from the gnarled roots of an ancient, thousand-year-old tree.
Aeldara knelt before the throne, poised in a reporting posture.
Seated regally upon the throne was a figure.
Lin Qingyue raised her gaze, and then froze in place.
The one seated on the throne wore a crown woven from Mithril branches, her long, silvery hair cascading down like a waterfall.
Her features defied description—perfect would be an understatement. Her alabaster skin, illuminated by the ethereal glow, possessed a translucent quality, resembling polished jade.
Everything about her perfectly matched Lin Qingyue's ultimate fantasy of an "Elf Queen."
Except for one thing: her figure.
This Elf Queen was anything but "elf-like" in build.
She wasn't one of the slender, delicate elves Lin Qingyue had encountered on her journey. Instead, she was a tall, voluptuous, mature onee-san type.
Visually estimated to be over 1.85 meters tall, her broad shoulders made her waist appear even more impossibly slender.
Her exquisitely tailored, opulent gown did nothing to conceal her breathtaking curves; on the contrary, it emphasized them with ruthless precision.
Even sitting motionless, her queenly aura dominated the entire hall, instinctively causing everyone to soften their breathing.
Damn... Her Majesty the Queen has such an amazing figure! Lin Qingyue thought in astonishment.
This is what a real queen should look like! Those stick-thin elves who could be blown over by the wind have none of this commanding presence.
No wonder she had a romantic affair with the Human King's ancestor three hundred years ago... The human aesthetic in this world seems to favor voluptuous, mature Big Sisters.
The queen on the throne seemed to sense their gaze, slowly lifting her eyes.
Those were wine-red eyes, deep and wise, like two pools of aged wine sealed for a thousand years.
When her gaze fell upon Lin Qingyue, Lin Qingyue felt an inexplicable warmth, as if being watched by a gentle elder. There was no sense of oppression, yet she felt completely seen through, inside and out.
Deep within Lin Qingyue's soul, Miss Pink Elf's Blessing shimmered faintly.
[Effect Four: Pink Charm]
[Effect Description: Of course a pink maiden possesses pink charm! All non-hostile women now have an initial favorability rating of "Friendly" toward you.]
"Aeldara, rise."
The queen's voice echoed through the hall, cool yet magnetic, each word ringing clearly in the ears of all present.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Aeldara rose, respectfully stepping aside.
The queen's gaze swept over Lin Qingyue and her companions, finally settling on Lin Qingyue's striking pink hair.
A barely perceptible ripple disturbed the serene depths of her ageless eyes.
"You are the allies from another world that Aeldara has repeatedly mentioned?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lin Qingyue replied on behalf of the team, trying to make her voice sound less intimidated.
"There's no need for such formality," the queen said, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile, as delicate as water stains under moonlight.
She even gestured toward Lin Qingyue and her companions with a "please" gesture, signaling them to relax and make themselves comfortable.
"I have agreed to this meeting. Aeldara has informed me of everything that transpired in the Silent Forest. Your timely assistance prevented catastrophic casualties for the Silent Watch Knight Order. In the name of the Silver Moon, I thank you for your aid."
"We merely did what was necessary," Lin Qingyue replied politely.
"Aeldara's report mentioned several... remarkably novel abilities."
The queen leaned forward slightly, her interest piqued.
"A pink Healing Spell capable of Purifying the undead, a Cleanse Spell that completely disintegrates the flesh of Abominations, and..."
Her gaze lingered on Lin Qingyue for two seconds.
"...a Transformation Magic that allows you to change your attire and unleash unprecedented forms of attack—'Transformation Magic'."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lin Qingyue admitted, forcing herself to maintain composure. "These are some of my unique personal abilities."
I can't exactly tell her I'm cheating with the System, can I?
Aeldara's reports are far too detailed!
"Does the Holy Light of your world typically possess such... diverse and colorful characteristics?" the Elf Queen asked, her tone shifting from frosty to genuine curiosity.
No! That's just Miss Pink Elf's Blessing!
Lin Qingyue wanted to shout internally, but instead, she carefully chose her words: "Not usually. It's due to some personal encounters that my abilities underwent a minor, beneficial mutation."
"I understand," the queen replied, her wine-red eyes sweeping over the four of them. Her gaze seemed to convey, I get it—everyone has their little secrets when they're young.
"Aeldara's final assessment of you is: 'Your methods are... wildly unconventional, but your hearts are pure, making you trustworthy allies.'"
The queen's tone turned slightly playful as she said "wildly unconventional," and the almost imperceptible smile on her lips deepened slightly.
Clearly, she was recalling Aeldara's bizarre descriptions of a "battlefield concert" and a "Sky AK47."
Lin Qingyue's cheeks flushed slightly.
Aeldara, you thick-browed, big-eyed traitor! Just report the facts—no need for personal commentary! What's this "flights of fancy" nonsense? I call it tactical innovation! Do you even understand tactics?!
The corner of the queen's eye twitched ever so briefly.
The fleeting arc vanished in an instant, so fast that Lin Qingyue wondered if she'd imagined it.
"Therefore, you need not feel uneasy about your status," the queen concluded, withdrawing her scrutinizing gaze.
"In Silvermoon City, as long as you abide by our laws, you are our guests and our friends."
These words were undoubtedly a potent dose of reassurance.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty," Lin Qingyue and her three companions bowed solemnly to the queen.
"Enough with the formalities."
The queen's tone shifted abruptly as she straightened in her seat, her entire demeanor sharpening into one of piercing seriousness.
"Aeldara mentioned you claim to have a matter of utmost importance that requires my personal confirmation."
Her gaze became intensely piercing.
"Now, you may speak."
Here it comes.
The main topic at last.
Lin Qingyue immediately perked up.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Queen. We have come here in search of something, or rather, a 'being.'"
Lin Qingyue swiftly organized her thoughts, striving to explain in terms understandable to the people of this world.
"Its existence is the fundamental reason why we 'outsiders' were able to descend upon this realm."
"It is causing an unnatural 'fusion' between this world and our own."
She paused, then spoke each word with utmost clarity:
"For both our worlds, this is a cataclysmic disaster."
"We call it the Dungeon Core."