Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Feigned Departure
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The more I chewed it over, the more I regretted wasting that second use of Eye that Pierces Truth on nothing worthwhile, but I pressed on with Ravi and Elfin to the deepest part of the Gargoyle Cave.
Opening the treasure chest yielded a bunch of items, but since we'd cleared the dungeon imperfectly—and my own level was lower than it had been in the deformed Goblin Camp—the rewards were just mediocre.
'Tch, no Radiant Secret Tome this time.'
Probably because we hadn't cleared it perfectly, there was nothing of use to me.
Ravi had scored far better gear from the previous Goblin Camp than this, so she had no reason to take any of it.
"Ravi, you don't need any of this stuff here, right?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Then Elfin, you take everything here. Ah, just give me this one."
I picked out a leather tunic that looked easy to move in.
At my offer to hand over all the dungeon-clear rewards, suspicion flickered in Elfin's eyes.
"You're giving all this to me... ? You took down the most enemies, so what's your angle? What do you want from me? Whatever it is, if it's more of that academy nonsense, my answer's a hard 'no'."
"Man, you really have zero trust in people. You think I'd demand something harsh from you over this?"
"Yeah."
"What do you take me for... Ravi, do I seem like the type who'd ask for something like that?"
"Yes."
"......"
It really hit me then: my reputation with the heroines was absolute basement level...
To shift that rock-bottom view, I deliberately acted pissed off as I left the treasure room.
"Fine, whatever. Then I won't even glance at what you take, so grab what you want or leave it. If I don't know what you took, I can't make any bullshit demands, right? Do whatever you please."
I stomped my feet hard for effect, rounding the corner and vanishing from their sight.
I knew you two had kind hearts—you couldn't just let something like this slide.
Considering the personalities I knew they had, this little drama would create an opening to draw us closer.
Alvis stormed out of the deepest chamber in a huff, leaving Ravi fidgeting anxiously as she glanced at Elfin.
"Uh... Elfin, what do we do? Alvis really seems pissed..."
"W-Why ask me?"
Elfin was just as flustered.
"Because you were the first to accuse Alvis—who'd shown goodwill—of having an ulterior motive..."
"B-But you agreed he might demand something harsh!"
"Ugh... It just reminded me of academy days when he asked that out of nowhere..."
If it had been academy-era Alvis, she wouldn't feel this nagging guilt.
But both Ravi and Elfin could sense he felt different now, so his reaction left them rattled.
The old Alvis wouldn't have batted an eye at that scolding moments ago, but this one suddenly seemed reliable, like he'd grown a spine—and he'd racked up most of the kills against the gargoyle statues in this cave to boot.
Ravi—who'd traveled with him a few more weeks—felt the guilt even deeper.
"Alvis back at the academy was someone I never wanted to see again... but starting from that last dungeon, he's been helping me nonstop... He even yielded all the gear to aid our country a little, and with those bandits too...
A-And above all, he never showed any prejudice toward us Bunny folk..."
Her bunny ears drooped as she clutched her head in self-loathing.
"Thinking about it, since reuniting after graduation, I've only taken from Alvis without giving anything back. Yet I let academy memories make me say that... I-I'm the worst. Shameless and utterly lacking in decency..."
Ravi bolted up from her spot, dashing after Alvis.
"Alvis! Alvis, I'm sorry! Just talk to me for a minute!"
The psychology of one good turn sticking far more than ninety-nine misdeeds had snared Ravi completely.
Elfin wasn't immune; she watched Ravi go, wrestling with massive inner conflict.
'Alvis changed? That bastard who pulled shit for three straight years at the academy...'
First came denial.
'But considering his old habits, he could've skimmed some of these chests himself—and he didn't. He just handed them all over without asking for anything in return... So did I twist a genuine act of kindness?'
Her grandfather, the elf elder, had always taught the virtue of包容.
She'd accepted it intellectually but never emotionally, always viewing humans—Brayden excepted—as beneath her. Scum like Alvis didn't even merit her '包容'.
But if Ravi was right, and Alvis had matured that much since graduation?
Did that mean even her standard for the worst human had grown up, while she—who'd lived two centuries—hadn't budged an inch?
And worse, she'd warped his good intentions into something sinister, scolded him, and driven him to storm off?
'N-No growth, no change... that's me?'
Elves couldn't cling to pride in the face of their own failings.
Academy memories—like him making her bare her skirt and panties in front of everyone—made her loath even associating with him. But that was separate from owning her mistake.
Elfin squeezed her eyes shut and hurried after Ravi.
"H-Hey... Hey, Alvis! Where'd you go? I-I'll apologize, so come back!"
The Gargoyle Cave ran straight—no chance of getting lost.
They soon spotted Alvis packing his gear near the entrance. Ravi hopped over in shock.
"Alvis?! What are you doing? Why pack up already?"
"Leaving. I knew how you saw me. Tried pretty hard to shift that view, but it's pointless. Figures—three years at the academy, no way a few weeks undo it. Meaningless from the jump.
Ravi, I won't ask for those supplies or gear back for your country. Same goes for what I gave Elfin today."
Alvis slung his packed backpack over his shoulder, face blank.
"Ravi, I get you avoid me, but you were so down at graduation—I wanted to be a support that day, even if just once. I know how Bunny folk get treated in human society, so I wanted to show a guy like me could be in your corner. When I said I don't hate Bunny folk, that was real.
I know you dislike me—fine. Just don't think even that was a lie or performance."
Alvis turned his emotionless gaze to Elfin.
"Elfin, sorry about last year. That was a genuine accident. Sure, I look like a pervert horndog to you—and yeah, that's partly true—but I'm not deranged enough to go that far. Won't convince you, though. You despise me over it."
"That..."
"We haven't traveled long, but sorry for dragging you around with someone you can't stand. I'll head out—you two handle the investigation. Just keep quiet about the Light Saber I used in the cave. Don't need empire assassins chasing misunderstandings. Anyway..."
As Alvis turned to really leave, teary-eyed Ravi chased him down, grabbing his sleeve.
"S-Sorry, Alvis! I knew you'd changed while we traveled together, but I judged you on old actions... Don't go..."
Watching Ravi apologize, Elfin barely dipped her head, forcing stiff lips to move.
"Uh... S-Sorry from me too. I still can't forgive that incident, but I know I can't use it to justify what I said earlier. So... I'm sorry."
Alvis crossed his arms, eyeing them.
"So what? Stay here and take more of that treatment? Even I'd get hurt."
"No, Alvis. I'll believe you've changed. I've seen it firsthand... That earlier bit was... truly sorry. The academy's worst version was too vivid... I'll remember you're not that guy anymore."
"Hmph, always gotta have the last word... Whatever. Ravi aside, what about you, Elfin?"
"Ugh... I-I'll try my best to believe it. I'll set academy aside and judge separately, so... stick with us for now."
Even as she spoke, Elfin wasn't sure if she truly wanted Alvis on the team—or if circumstance was forcing the words.
"Fine. Then I'll mind my behavior unlike academy days, and you don't judge me solely on old images. Mutual promise. Deal?"
"Yes...!"
"Y-Yeah."
In their turmoil, Ravi and Elfin missed the faint uptick at the corner of Alvis's mouth.