The village quieted as dusk settled in. Fires were lit. The salvaged grain was secured. For a brief moment, Eldenroot felt lighter.
Kaito sat alone on a low wooden step near one of the homes, hands wrapped around a cup of lukewarm tea Lily had pressed into his hands earlier. His muscles still ached. His palms were raw.
Someone stopped in front of him.
He didn't have to look up to know who it was.
Captain Shara.
"You work hard for someone who doesn't belong," she said flatly.
Kaito exhaled. "I'm not asking you to like me."
Her gaze was sharp, assessing. Then her lip curled faintly. "There's another matter," she said. "One you humans are always so eager about."
His stomach tightened.
"Our population is dwindling," she continued coldly. "And the queen believes you are… suitable."
Kaito blinked. "Suitable for…?"
Shara's eyes burned with disgust.
"For repopulation."
The word hit like a slap.
"I don't want a pathetic human spreading himself among elf women," she sneered. "Defiling bloodlines. You barely hold yourself together. You're not fit to-"
"That's enough!"
Kaito stood abruptly.
The square stilled.
"I never asked for any of this," he snapped, voice shaking. "I didn't ask to be summoned. I didn't ask to be called king. And I sure as hell didn't ask to be thrown into… into that."
Shara scoffed. "Then what did you want?"
The question hung there.
And before Kaito's brain could catch up to his mouth...
"I just-!" He ran a hand through his hair. "I like elves, okay?! I think you're all beautiful, and kind, and strong, and yes I have thoughts! There's a lot of things I would like to do with you all. For gods sake, I'm human! But I didn't come here to play breeding hero or conquer anything, I-!"
He stopped.
Too late.
The silence was devastating.
Seven pairs of pointed ears slowly turned pink.
Orchid's eyes widened.
Iris stared at the ground.
River covered her mouth.
Cherry made a strangled noise.
Rose looked ready to combust.
Lily's face was crimson.
Sage… sighed, deeply.
The villagers stared.
Kaito's soul left his body.
"…I'm," he said weakly. "I'm going to go now."
The runes beneath the platform flickered and went dark.
Sage's voice was calm. "The Second Trial of Kingship has concluded."
Kaito didn't ask the result. He ran.
The forest swallowed him quickly. He pushed past branches, breath ragged, until he reached a secluded hollow surrounded by thick roots and moss.
He collapsed.
"Idiot," he muttered, fists clenched. "Stupid. Perverted. Selfish."
He pressed his hands over his face.
You stayed because you wanted comfort. Beauty. Desire.
Because you wanted to be wanted.
"What kind of king thinks like that?" he whispered.
He laughed bitterly. "Maybe I should've gone home."
The laughter broke into a groan.
Then...
Footsteps.
Seven sets.
They didn't rush him. They simply appeared, one by one, settling around him like a quiet circle.
River knelt first, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.
"You're hurting."
"I failed," he muttered. "Didn't I?"
Sage nodded honestly. "Yes."
His chest tightened.
"But," she added, "you were honest."
Orchid sat beside him, bumping her shoulder against his lightly. "And very… honest."
Cherry crossed her arms. "You could've kept that part inside."
Rose nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"
Lily smiled softly. "Still… it was brave."
Kaito peeked up. "You're not mad?"
Iris tilted her head. "A little embarrassed."
River smiled warmly. "But not angry."
Orchid leaned in closer, eyes gleaming. "If anything… intrigued."
Seven blushes returned instantly.
Kaito groaned. "Please don't."
Cherry smirked. "Too late."
Rose giggled. "You admitted you like us."
"I LIKE ELVES," he corrected weakly.
Orchid hummed. "We are elves."
Silence.
Kaito stared at them.
Laughter broke the tension at last.
River squeezed his hand. "You're not selfish for wanting connection."
Sage nodded. "A king who denies desire becomes hollow."
Orchid smiled slowly. "And exploring those thoughts… can wait."
Cherry added brightly, "But not forever."
Kaito swallowed.
"…Soon?" he asked, hopeful and terrified.
Seven smiles answered him.
The forest felt warmer. Trial Two was failed. But something far more dangerous had begun.
And Kaito, red-faced and smiling despite himself, realized...
He still wanted this life.
All of it.
The forest slowly settled around them, the earlier tension dissolving into a gentle hush. Fireflies drifted lazily between the trees, their soft glow reflecting in Kaito's glasses as he leaned back against a thick root, finally letting himself breathe.
Lily knelt beside him and opened a small woven pouch. "We thought you might like something sweet."
She offered him a small, purple jewel-toned cube dusted with shimmering powder.
Kaito eyed it cautiously. "This isn't… alive, is it?"
Cherry snorted. "Only if you chew poorly."
He took a hesitant bite and froze.
"…Oh," he said quietly.
Rose beamed. "Moonberry sugar. It melts."
It did. Warm, floral sweetness spread across his tongue, unlike anything he'd ever tasted. His shoulders visibly relaxed.
"Holy crap," he said. "I would eat this until I passed out."
River handed him a slender wooden cup next. "Try this too. It's fermented starfruit nectar. Very refreshing."
He sipped.
His eyes widened. "This tastes like summer."
Orchid leaned closer, amused. "Your world sounds very dull."
"It is," he admitted.
They lingered like that, talking, eating, sharing quiet moments. Kaito felt the weight in his chest finally ease. The forest no longer felt judgmental or heavy. It felt… safe.
At some point, he realized he was smiling without forcing it. He looked around at them, really looked.
Orchid's confidence.
Iris's gentle attentiveness.
River's warmth.
Sage's calm presence.
Cherry's playful spark.
Lily's kindness.
Rose's fiery sincerity.
"You're all unfair," he said suddenly.
They blinked.
"How is one human supposed to survive this many beautiful elves at once?" he added, smiling shyly.
Seven blushes bloomed in unison.
Cherry laughed first. "You're flirting again."
"I warned you," Orchid said, clearly pleased.
Kaito's heart hammered, but he pushed through the nerves. He turned toward Rose, who had gone very quiet.
"Rose," he said softly. "You're… really brave. And honest. I like that."
Her face turned crimson. "Y-You do?"
Before he could overthink it, he leaned forward.
Their lips met, soft, brief, hesitant.
Kaito's brain shut off.
Warmth spread through him, dizzying and unreal. Rose made a tiny sound and immediately covered her face. "I- Oh my- I!"
Kaito pulled back, eyes wide behind his glasses. "I just kissed an elf."
Rose looked like she might float away. "Our very own King Kaito just kissed me..."
The forest might as well have exploded.
Cherry pouted. "Hey!"
Iris looked away, flustered.
Lily clasped her hands nervously.
River smiled but didn't hide the hint of jealousy.
Orchid arched a brow.
Sage sighed. "I knew this would happen."
Kaito laughed, giddy and breathless. "I'm sorry... uh I didn't mean to... heh..."
Orchid stepped forward. "If you start something, my king, you must be fair."
He swallowed. "…Right."
One by one, he kissed them.
Lily was shy and gentle.
River was warm and lingering.
Cherry was quick and bold.
Iris was soft and surprising.
Sage was brief but grounding.
Orchid's made his knees weak.
By the end, Kaito was glowing and smiling like an idiot.
"I feel," he said dreamily, "much better than earlier."
Rose giggled, still pink from ear to ear. "Good."
Orchid leaned close, voice low and teasing. "Careful. If you keep this up, we may not wait very long."
Kaito's face went red again.
"…I am okay with that."
Laughter filled the forest once more, light, genuine, and full of promise.
For now, at least, everything felt right.
The laughter eventually faded into soft murmurs as the sun climbed higher, warmth spilling through the leaves above. The forest floor was blanketed with moss and wild grass, cool beneath their backs and warm where the sunlight touched.
Someone, Kaito wasn't even sure who, tugged him down gently.
"Rest," Iris said quietly. "You've earned it."
Before he could protest, he found himself surrounded, heads resting on shoulders, legs loosely tangled, the world reduced to birdsong and breath. For the first time since arriving in Valeria, Kaito let his eyes close without worry.
Sleep came easily.
When he stirred again, it was to the scent of something rich and sweet. Lily was kneeling beside him, holding a small wooden plate. "You missed lunch."
Kaito sat up groggily. "I did?"
She smiled. "You slept very deeply, we didn't want to wake you."
On the plate were delicate rolls of translucent fruit wrapped in soft leaves, dusted with fine golden powder. Orchid held another dish nearby, steam curling upward.
"Eat," Cherry urged. "Before Rose does."
He took a bite.
And froze.
"…No," he whispered. Rose blinked. "No?"
Tears welled in his eyes.
"No, because this is too good," he said hoarsely. "This shouldn't be allowed."
The elves burst into delighted laughter as he devoured the rest, eyes glassy, hands trembling slightly.
"This is it," he said, emotional. "Human food is trash. Absolute garbage. I've been lied to my whole life."
River laughed softly, brushing his hair back as she fed him another bite. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it," he sniffed. "I feel betrayed by bread."
They took turns after that, offering him sweets, warm drinks that tasted like honeyed sunlight, and soft fruits that melted on his tongue. Every time he reacted, their smiles grew brighter.
Seeing him happy... truly happy... made them glow.
At some point, kisses returned. Gentle at first. Familiar now. Less hesitant.
Then Sage leaned in. Unlike the others, she didn't pause.
Her kiss was confident, slow, grounding and Kaito's breath caught immediately. His mind went blank as she held his face, her presence overwhelming in the quiet way she always was.
When she pressed closer, warmth and pressure surrounding him, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
"S-Sage," he managed, face burning. "W-Wait-" She stopped instantly, searching his expression.
He swallowed, embarrassed but smiling. "I just… um... if we keep going... I might get excited…."
A faint smile curved her lips. "Understood."
He exhaled shakily, then smirked. "Don't worry. Soon."
That earned him several looks, some surprised, some amused and some very interested.
They settled back into the grass, warmth and laughter lingering, and Kaito stared up through the leaves, heart steady for once.
Earlier, he'd doubted everything.
Now?
He felt ready.
Ready to face the next trial. Eager to prove himself and excited for this beautiful new life he'd chosen.
And with a confident little smirk, Kaito closed his eyes again.
"Alright," he murmured. "Trial Three… bring it on."
Sage corrected him, "I think you mean restarting Trial Two." She giggled.
Kaito blushed "Uh, yes that's what I meant to say."
The elf girls all laughed at Kaito's antics.