Lilith was the first to notice them.

Her crimson eyes widened the moment she sensed the familiar presence. Without hesitation, she released the threads binding Azrynn and rushed forward.

"Adam...!"

She didn’t stop until she reached them. In one swift motion, Lilith pulled both Adam and Ignis into a tight hug, one arm around each of them. Her silver-white hair brushed against their faces as she held them close, as if making sure they were really there.

For a few seconds, she didn’t say anything. She simply held them.

Then, in a voice that was both relieved and slightly scolding, she spoke though her tone was surprisingly gentle.

"...You two really know how to make people worry," she murmured. "Ignis, you reckless girl... Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused?"

Ignis’s golden eyes trembled. She had been prepared to be scolded harshly, but Lilith’s voice was too soft, too filled with relief. The warmth of the hug made something inside her chest ache.

Without thinking, Ignis hugged Lilith back, burying her face against Lilith’s shoulder.

"...I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice small.

Lilith’s arms tightened slightly around her, but she didn’t say anything more. She simply held Ignis for a moment longer.

From the side, Isolde walked over with a small, relieved smile.

"Welcome back," she said calmly. "Both of you. We’re glad you’re safe."

Adam gently placed one hand on Lilith’s head, stroking her silver hair slowly and affectionately. His crimson eyes softened as he looked at her.

"...Sorry for taking so long," he said quietly. "But... what exactly were you two doing just now?"

He glanced toward the still-bound Azrynn, who was glaring at them from the ground with a mix of fear and resentment.

Lilith finally pulled back slightly, though she kept one arm around Ignis’s waist. She followed Adam’s gaze toward the Dark Elf and gave a small, elegant shrug.

"...We had a visitor while you were gone," she said calmly. "She tried to attack us. So I captured her."

Her crimson eyes gleamed faintly as she looked back at Adam.

"...And then we had a very interesting conversation."

Lilith quickly explained what had happened while Adam and Ignis were gone, how the Dark Elf had suddenly appeared, attacked them, and was eventually captured. She also mentioned Azrynn’s claim about guiding people to the temple as sacrifices for her village.

Adam listened quietly. When Lilith finished, he gave a small nod.

"...I see," he said calmly. "So it really was her who guided us here."

He glanced at Azrynn, who was still bound on the floor.

"But in the end, it worked out in our favor. If she hadn’t led us here, we probably wouldn’t have found the place where the Guide appeared... and the Compass wouldn’t have gotten repaired."

Lilith’s crimson eyes lit up the moment she heard that.

"The Compass was repaired?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine happiness. "Then... we can finally explore the Wasteland properly?"

Adam nodded and showed her the Compass of Desire. The ancient artifact now pulsed with a faint golden light.

"Yeah. It’s working again."

Lilith’s expression softened into a rare, beautiful smile. For the first time in a long while, she looked genuinely relieved and excited.

Isolde, however, remained calm. She looked down at Azrynn with a cold gaze.

"Even so," she said quietly, "this elf had malicious intentions from the start. It wasn’t an accident, she deliberately tried to use us as sacrifices. We don’t owe her any gratitude."

Lilith’s smile faded slightly. She looked back at Azrynn, her crimson eyes turning sharp once more.

"...You’re right," she said. "She also tried to kill us. It’s only fair that we repay her in kind."

Azrynn, who had been listening silently, felt a chill run down her spine.

She could feel the tension in the air, especially from Lilith, who clearly held the most hostility toward her.

But she also noticed something.

Adam was the calmest one among them. He didn’t seem as bloodthirsty or vengeful as the two women. If she could get him on her side, even just a little, her chances of survival would increase.

Azrynn slowly lifted her head. Despite being tightly bound by Lilith’s threads, she still managed to put on a soft, alluring smile. Her silver hair fell messily over one shoulder as she looked directly at Adam with her glowing yellow eyes.

"Wait... It’s not like I wanted to do it, either..."

She shifted slightly, deliberately pressing the threads around her body into her curves, emphasizing her figure.

"I know I made a mistake. I truly regret it. But... if you let me go, I promise I’ll make it up to you. I can be useful. I will fight for you... or even warm your bed at night, if that’s what you want...."

Azrynn’s yellow eyes half-lidded as she gave Adam a seductive, almost pleading look.

"I’ll do anything you ask... Master."

The atmosphere in the chamber instantly changed.

Lilith’s crimson eyes narrowed dangerously. A vein visibly throbbed on her forehead as she stared at Azrynn with a cold, murderous glare. The threads around the Dark Elf tightened sharply, making Azrynn let out a small pained gasp.

"...How bold," Lilith said, her voice deceptively calm, but filled with clear irritation. "Trying to seduce my man right in front of me? Do you have a death wish, elf?"

Isolde raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the sudden shift in mood, but she didn’t say anything. She simply watched Lilith’s reaction with interest.

Adam, on the other hand, looked slightly surprised by Azrynn’s sudden change in attitude. He glanced at Lilith, who was clearly not happy, then back at the bound Dark Elf.

Azrynn, despite the pain from the tightening threads, still forced a smile as she looked at Adam.

"I-I’m serious... I can serve you well. Just... please don’t let them kill me..."

Adam looked at Azrynn for a moment, then spoke in a calm, slightly amused tone.

"...That’s interesting."

Lilith’s crimson eyes immediately sharpened. She turned her head toward Adam, her silver hair swaying as she stared at him with clear displeasure.

"Adam," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Are you seriously considering making her serve you?"

Adam quickly raised both hands in a surrendering gesture and gave her a small, reassuring smile. He gently patted Lilith’s head with one hand, stroking her silver hair slowly.

"Only joking, only joking," he said lightly. "Don’t get so worked up, Lilith. I’m not actually going to do that."

Lilith stared at him for a few more seconds before letting out a small huff. She didn’t pull away from his hand, but her expression remained slightly sulky.

Ignis, who had been quietly watching the exchange, tilted her head as she looked at Azrynn. Her golden eyes studied the bound Dark Elf with open curiosity.

"...She’s different from the elves we met before," Ignis said honestly. "The ones we encountered in the past were more graceful and proud. But this one... feels more pitiful."

Azrynn’s yellow eyes snapped toward Ignis. Her expression twisted in anger.

"What did you just say?!" she snapped, her voice rising. "Don’t compare me to those weak, arrogant wood elves! We Dark Elves are far superior to them! We don’t need to hide in forests and act all high and mighty while doing nothing!"

She glared at Ignis, clearly provoked.

"We survive in the harshest environments. We are stronger, smarter, and more adaptable. Don’t you dare lump me together with those pathetic elves!"

Ignis blinked, slightly surprised by the sudden outburst, but she didn’t look intimidated. She simply tilted her head again.

"...See? She’s different," she muttered.

Adam let out a small sigh, while Lilith’s mood seemed to improve slightly after seeing Azrynn get angry at someone else.