Reincarnated as the Hated Villainous Prince, I Thought I Could Live Freely in This Life, but Unconsciously Acted Like a Saint ~Trying to Create an Evil Kingdom, but for Some Reason I'm Highly Respected by Everyone~ - Chapter 45

Afterward.

Queen Clophe and I, led by Yurisia, decided to visit the location where the elves were being held captive.

King Shudrich remained unconscious.

Yurisia herself proposed to guide us, expressing her desire to show us the way.

…I’m not entirely sure why, but it seems she reclaimed something “important” through this ordeal. I really don’t get it though.

Naturally, the conference participants did not accompany us.

Due to clear internal interference, the Virginia Empire and the Aurelia Republic decided not to delve deeper into the matter. Thus, they were asked to wait in the royal castle’s guest room by the staff.

“…Here it is.”

Minutes later.

The place Yurisia led us to was a room within the royal castle.

In the game, it was designated as an “Off-Limits Area”, a place I never managed to visit.

Various enthusiasts had theorized about this room, but who would have thought it held the imprisoned elves?

“Let’s go.”

When Yurisia opened the door, a storeroom-like space spread out before us.

At first glance, it’s just an ordinary storage room with several boxes placed on the shelves.

However, in a corner of the room was a secret small gate – passing through it felt like entering a different world.

Cells were arranged at regular intervals along a central corridor on both sides.

The elves lay prostrate in them, presenting a painfully haunting scene.

“Ugh…!”

Seeing the suffering visages of her kin, Queen Clophe clenched her fists in frustration.

Yurisia, on the other hand, just silently observed Queen Clophe.

Uncertain about how to address the Elf Queen facing such a situation…

“Uh…”

Suddenly, a moan from a nearby elf caught my attention, making me widen my eyes.

What’s this?

I thought saving them was hopeless, but are they really alive…?

Just to be sure, I surveyed the surroundings, but I couldn’t find any dead elves. Despite having their vitality drained to the limit, it seems all the elves had survived.

“I see, so that’s what this is about…!”

Yurisia’s goal was ultimately the “Blood of the Elves.”

Killing them here would make blood collection inefficient.

They were kept alive in the cells, periodically inflicting wounds to harvest their blood…

That must have been how she collected it.

Of course, this was unforgivable, but it was fortunate that none of the elves had died.

“Esmeralda-sama, what’s the matter…?”

Queen Clophe curiously tilted her head at my grinning self.

“Nothing. I just thought this could be put to good use. —The ‘World Tree’s Dewdrop’ I had prepared for mass production.”

“Uh…?”

World Tree’s Dewdrop.

A cheat-tier item that fully restores the HP & MP of the party and cures even brink-of-death status conditions in an instant.

Even I had been healed from the wounds incurred during the Blood Death Dragon battle by this item.

In the game, it was an ultra-rare item that was hardly obtainable…

“Hehe… as it turns out, if you have the right knowledge, it can be concocted. ‘Last Elixir’ and ‘Phoenix Feather’ can be combined if you’ve maximized the ‘Alchemy’ skill.”

Phoenix Feather.

An alchemical material that can be collected from the phoenix residing in the “Elfria Forest Region.”

It’s actually intended as a material for powerful weapons and armor, which was the original purpose of collecting.

However, saving the lives of the elves is currently more pressing.

Elves possess significantly superior potential compared to humans. Letting them die would mean losing valuable slaves.

“Wait. I’ll save everyone here.”

Saying so, I concocted enough “World Tree’s Dewdrop” for all the critically endangered elves.

I had been secretly collecting a significant number of “Phoenix Feathers” to craft a specific weapon…

As for the Last Elixir, many elves are now capable of mass-producing it.

Without running short on materials, I swiftly created multiple ultra-rare items.

“Alright, it’s done. Queen Clophe, sister, can you help distribute this ‘World Tree’s Dewdrop’ to the elves?”

“Yes…!”

“Understood.”

Thus, we divide tasks and first give the ‘World Tree’s Dewdrop’ to the elves on the brink of death.

Despite their breathless state, with this cheat item…

“Ah, what…?”

“Healed…?”

“Why…?”

As expected, the previously prostrate elves suddenly regained their vigor.

“Queen…? Are we saved…?”

One of the elves asked Queen Clophe.

“Yes. Thanks to Esmeralda-sama generously using the ‘World Tree’s Dewdrop’. Your wounds are — completely healed.”

“U, uwaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

The elves burst into tears and plunged into my embrace.

“Thank you, thank you…!”

“I thought we were goners…!”

“You are our savior…!”

“―Fufu, don’t mention it. It’s only natural, something like this.”

Saying this, I flashed a meaningful smirk, but honestly, I was too distracted by the cheat-level soft breasts pressing firmly against me to think about anything else—that’s a secret, though.