Arthur smiled, his eyes never leaving Sakura.

"All right," Arthur said. "What’s at stake here?"

Before Sakura could answer, a hand clamped down on Arthur’s shoulder.

Yuna.

She pulled him back half a step, her gray eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing?" Yuna said. "Isn’t that Yuchi’s daughter?"

Sakura’s gaze shifted to Yuna, and her lips curved into a polite, almost nostalgic smile.

"Long time no see, Miss Yuna," Sakura said. "I’m happy to see you’re as healthy as ever."

Yuna’s expression did not soften.

"Can’t say the same after seeing what kind of person you’ve become," Yuna replied.

Sakura’s smile sharpened.

"It’s all for the greater good," Sakura said lightly. "You wouldn’t understand, even if I told you what kind of threat that dear disciple of yours poses to this world."

Yuna sighed.

"Every self-absorbed maniac I’ve met who thinks they’re the savior of the world says the exact same thing," Yuna said.

Sakura’s mouth twitched.

Arthur had to suppress a laugh.

Yuna exhaled slowly, then looked directly at Sakura.

"Your mother and I were good friends," Yuna said. "And I promised your father that I wouldn’t harm you."

She raised a hand and pointed directly at Arthur.

"But the moment I deem it necessary—when this idiot is about to die because of you—" Yuna continued, killing intent leaking from her body like cold mist, "I will not hesitate to eliminate you."

Sakura licked her lips, her eyes gleaming.

"My, my," Sakura said. "I’m trembling in my boots."

Her voice turned cold beneath the playful tone.

"But the moment you attack me," Sakura continued, "thousands of people here will die. Will you allow a massacre for that beloved disciple of yours?"

Yuna smiled faintly.

She turned her gaze toward Erica, who was still sitting upon the throne, silently analyzing every word and movement.

"You’ll find out when it happens," Yuna said.

Erica immediately understood the meaning behind those words.

If things went wrong, if this escalated, the people of the nation her father had once ruled would be dragged into a bloodbath.

She could not allow that.

Erica rose from the throne, her expression calm yet resolute.

"What do you want?" Erica asked, her eyes locking onto Sakura. "State your demands."

Sakura smiled as though she had been waiting for those words.

"It’s like I said before," Sakura said. "I just want to play a game."

She spread her arms slightly.

"The Game of Thrones."

She turned her eyes toward Arthur.

"The rules are simple," Sakura said. "Arthur will fight for Erica Lysindra Lunaris, and I, Sakura, will fight for Freya Valtor."

Freya stiffened beside her, her eyes widening.

"The one who wins the game will sit upon the throne," Sakura continued. "This way, Erica can also prove that she’s worthy."

Her smile deepened.

"And if I lose, I’ll let Arthur absorb me."

Yuna blinked.

’Absorb... what exactly?’

She glanced at Arthur with a look that clearly asked, ’What did you do, and why does this sound so bad?’

Arthur felt her stare and deliberately ignored it.

"What happens if you win?" Arthur asked.

Sakura’s eyes gleamed.

"If I win," Sakura said, "you die, Arthur. And neither Miss Yuna nor that vampire lady will interfere."

She tilted her head slightly as she studied him.

"We’re both putting our lives on the line," Sakura said. "Are you man enough to step onto the stage and fight like I am?"

Yuna immediately stepped forward.

"I don’t know what she’s talking about, but you don’t have to say yes," Yuna said quickly. "She’s obviously trying to—"

"How dare you challenge my manhood!" Arthur shouted, cutting her off. "I accept."

Yuna’s mouth twitched.

Without saying a word, she smacked him on the back of the head.

Arthur winced.

"What was that for?" Arthur hissed.

Yuna grabbed his ear and tugged.

"You really are an idiot, aren’t you?" Yuna said.

Arthur pulled himself free while rubbing his ear.

"I can handle myself," Arthur said. "I’m not a kid, you know."

Yuna looked away, crossing her arms.

"Do whatever you want," Yuna said.

Her tone was cold, but the slight puff of her cheeks and the way she refused to meet his eyes made it obvious.

She was pouting.

’How cute—’

Arthur immediately corrected himself.

’I mean, how rude.’

Sakura burst out laughing.

"You two are amusing to watch," Sakura said, wiping away an imaginary tear.

Her expression softened slightly as she turned toward Dominic.

"I’ve fulfilled my promise, Dominic," Sakura said. "Your granddaughter is safe, and now she has a chance to become queen."

Dominic nodded slowly, satisfaction flickering across his worn features despite his injuries.

"That is enough," Dominic said.

Sakura clapped her hands once.

"So," Sakura said, "what do you say we use the trial that was originally prepared for those forty idiots earlier?"

She glanced toward the side doors, where some of the surviving candidates had been brought back after receiving treatment.

"They can still participate," Sakura said. "Assuming any of them are still alive."

Arthur shrugged.

"I don’t have a problem with that," Arthur said.

Sakura turned toward Dominic.

"Dominic will make the announcement to the people of this nation," Sakura said. "The contenders have now been reduced to only a few. From this moment onward, Erica will be officially recognized as the princess of this nation and the daughter of the previous elven king."

Her voice rang clearly throughout the hall.

"She will take the trial in two hours," Sakura said. "You don’t have a problem with that, right?"

Arthur looked toward Erica.

Erica met his gaze and nodded once.

Arthur nodded back before looking at Sakura.

"No problem," Arthur said.

"Good," Sakura replied.

She turned on her heel and began walking toward the exit.

"You all have two hours to prepare," Sakura said over her shoulder. "Do whatever you want until then."

With that, she left the throne room.

The soldiers, having received no contradictory orders, slowly withdrew as well. They whispered among themselves, glancing back at Erica with newfound uncertainty and respect.

Dominic pushed himself to his feet, using his staff for support.

He began walking toward the exit but paused at the steps leading to the throne.

He turned toward Erica.

"Princess," Dominic said, "I know you believe that I orchestrated the assassination of the previous king."

Erica’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"But whether you believe me or not," Dominic continued, "his death has nothing to do with me."

His voice was weary, but firm.

"I chose to rebel because you are too weak to lead this country," Dominic said bluntly. "You would be crushed before you even realized what had happened. There are matters far more concerning than you realize."

Erica’s expression remained calm, but her hands tightened around the armrests.

"Even if you’re telling the truth," Erica said quietly but firmly, "you could have supported me. Guided me. Prepared me to become a proper ruler."

She looked down at him from the throne.

"But you still chose to rebel," Erica said.

Dominic closed his eyes for a moment.

"I know it’s cowardly of me to say this," Dominic said, "but I chose the most efficient option available at the time. We don’t have the luxury of waiting for you to grow up."

He opened his eyes again, meeting her gaze directly.

"If you win this competition," Dominic said, "I will tell you everything you want to know."

His lips curved into a tired, self-mocking smile.

"And if you choose to execute me," Dominic added, "I will accept it without complaint."

He bowed his head slightly before turning and leaving the room.

Erica remained standing there, stunned.

Her fingers curled into fists, her knuckles turning white.

She wasn’t sure whether she felt anger, hurt, or something else entirely.

Yuna’s voice cut through her thoughts.

"Arthur," Yuna said, "what about your friends? Are you just going to leave them there? I doubt those Imperius bastards are treating them well, even if they’re nobles."

At her words, Arthur’s expression changed.

He turned toward Erica.

"Don’t worry," Arthur said. "The reason I agreed to fight and make her queen, even if I have to beat up these noble elf bastards, wasn’t for nothing."

Erica blinked.

He looked directly at her.

"This nation has an abundance of memory crystals, right?" Arthur asked.

Erica tilted her head slightly.

"Yes, it does," Erica replied. "In fact, our nation is the largest supplier of them. Only we possess countless mines and the ability to refine them."

Arthur’s eyes lit up.

"Perfect," Arthur said. "Then I just need to find a mage who can extract my memories and store them inside the crystals."

Erica stepped forward immediately.

"That won’t be a problem," Erica said.

She placed a hand over her chest.

"I may not look like it," Erica continued, "but during the year I spent on the run, I did nothing but train. I learned countless magical arts."

Her blue eyes shone with quiet pride.

"Extracting and storing memories is one of them."

Arthur, Yuna, and even Elizabeth turned toward her, genuinely surprised.

’She can do that too...?’ Arthur thought.

Inside his mind, the familiar mechanical voice of his system spoke.

[ She truly is a genius mage, Host. Even you cannot hold a candle to her in magic. ]

[ The mana I sense within her is like a vast sea that cannot be easily exhausted. What is truly frightening is that she knows this and possesses the talent to use it to its fullest potential. ]

[ I advise that you do not make an enemy of her. ]

Arthur’s respect for Erica rose even higher.

"All right, Your Highness," Arthur said. "I’m going to put my life on the line for you."

He pointed toward the courtyard outside.

"So now," Arthur said, "it’s your turn to gather as many memory crystals as possible for me."

Erica smiled faintly.

"Leave that to me."

Now that she had been officially recognized as the princess, the entire palace staff was obligated to obey her commands.

She gently clasped her hands together.

Almost immediately, several beautiful elven maids appeared at the doorway and bowed deeply.

Erica stepped down from the throne and quietly gave them instructions.

The maids’ eyes widened slightly, but none of them hesitated.

"It will be done," one of them said.

They bowed again and departed at a brisk pace.

Ten minutes later, in the massive royal garden, Arthur stood before a sight that even caused him to pause.

An enormous pile of memory crystals had been gathered in the center of the garden—blue, green, and faintly iridescent stones piled into a glittering mound that caught the sunlight and scattered it in countless directions.

Arthur released a slow breath.

’With this,’ Arthur thought, ’I can control the Imperius family... at least to some extent.’

He raised his hand to his shoulder.

Black was already perched there, his feathers rustling.

"You already know what you have to do," Arthur said.

Black tilted his head.

"Caw."

As if saying, ’Obviously.’

Black leaped from Arthur’s shoulder and shot into the sky.

A minute later, the air above the garden darkened as a massive flock of black-feathered crows gathered overhead, circling in formation.

Each crow carried a memory crystal within its claws.

Arthur smiled and looked toward Erica.

"Let’s begin."

Erica nodded.

"Okay."

From that point onward, everything proceeded smoothly.

Arthur poured his memories into crystal after crystal under Erica’s precise magical control while Black’s flock carried them away—toward cities, borders, and skies far beyond Elvania.

───────────────

Exactly two hours later, the time had come.

At the edge of the royal city stood a massive stone structure partially embedded within a mountainside—a towering ancient tomb covered in carved elven runes and guarded by statues of armored warriors.

In front of the entrance stood two groups.

On one side stood Freya Valtor alongside Sakura and Bobby, her blond hair braided neatly behind her, her repaired armor polished, and determination burning within her eyes.

On the other side stood Erica, her silver hair fluttering in the wind, with Arthur beside her.

Behind them stood Yuna and Elizabeth, silently observing.

Several other candidates—the ones Arthur had deliberately spared and who had received treatment in time—stood a short distance away.

Their faces were pale, but their eyes burned with stubborn determination.

They had not come this far only to turn back now.

The rules had been made clear to everyone.

The one who cleared the tomb first would be declared the winner.

And the person connected to that victor would become the next king or queen of Elvania.