Elf with Heart Eyes
“Elder. Right now, it doesn't feel like I'm beating a person—more like I'm hunting a monster.”
The sharp clack-clack of her boots echoed as Sion drew closer.
Her boiling rage had taken form and was unleashing itself. Sparks crackled wildly around her—zzzt! zzzt!
“M-My lord messenger!”
“What?”
Rohan looked down at the fallen elder with clear disgust.
All around, the other elders who'd been pummeled with the sword sheath groaned pitifully on the floor.
More than half were unconscious. The few still awake had dazed, unfocused eyes.
“Please protect me at once...! That girl's killing intent toward me is real!”
“You think a fool like you can sense it, but I can't?”
“Th-Then why...?”
Rohan showed no sign of getting up from his chair.
For the first time, terror colored the elder's face.
“Where's the fun in me stepping in?”
“...Pardon?”
“You've only tasted the bitter stuff so far. Time to rinse your mouth with something sweet. Shut up and take your beating.”
To Levin Maxwell, it was still nonsense.
Thwack!
Before he could even retort, a tough leather boot filled his vision.
The elder, sprawled on the floor, lifted his head.
There stood Sion, condensing electricity in her palm right before his eyes.
Zzzzzzt!!!
A brutal crackle that promised to fry him on the spot.
For Levin Maxwell, who'd lived a life untouched by pain, it was pure horror.
His plea toward Rohan carried desperate urgency bordering on a scream.
“My lord messenger! Didn't you swear upon my name and Hex's?!”
“Oh, that? Yeah, I did. Don't worry—I'll take my punishment when it comes.”
If he were truly one of Hex's underlings, invoking his master's name would demand absolute loyalty, even at the cost of life.
It was less about honor or trust and more a device of enslavement.
So the elder hadn't suspected a thing.
Rohan shifted his gaze to Sion.
And listened to the girl's voice.
“Elder. I can't understand you. My father probably couldn't either.”
“...!”
“But he would have tried to.”
The electric mana Sion wielded.
The compressed orb plummeted onto the elder's body.
“Grrraaaghh──!!!”
Maxwell convulsed as the current seeped in. It was a pathetic whimper more than a scream.
His ornate robe somehow kept him alive, but it couldn't fully block the assault.
The once-vibrant garment was fading. It had reached its limit after this hit.
Rohan, watching from his seat, fiddled with his sword sheath as he gave his assessment.
“One more, and you're done for.”
“Y-Yes! That's the limit!”
A flicker of hope crossed the elder's wrinkled eyes.
Maybe the messenger would save him now. That was his expression.
But Rohan just turned his head away.
And chatted with Clara, who sat quietly beside him.
“Doesn't seem like they've caught on yet, huh?”
“M-Maybe 'cause Oppa acted so perfectly...!”
“I was sweating bullets waiting to get busted. Do I have a talent for this?”
Their lighthearted banter pierced the elder's ears.
Rohan chatted casually with his companion girl, utterly relaxed.
Maxwell latched onto the word “act.” Realization dawned too late.
“You bastard...!”
The elder's tone had dropped from respectful to vulgar.
Rohan smirked, as if to say about time you figured it out.
“Bingo. You've spent your life deceiving others—don't cry foul when you're the one fooled.”
Discarding his stern facade—which had felt like a bad allergy reaction—Rohan replied in his usual casual tone.
The elder froze in shock. Rohan's grin deepened.
Of course it's hard to swallow.
His real name that even Sion didn't know. Details on the people he'd met in Tigrova.
The hidden Reverse Praise Society backstory, Judas's silver coins and their use, mentions of Hex's plans.
Without a way to contact his side and verify, it was info no one could doubt.
Even if he could, etiquette probably would've stopped him from checking.
“Y-You mad fools! How dare you use the Reverse Praise Society's name so fearlessly...!”
“Old timer, don't you know it's over if there are no witnesses? You think any elf here can shield you once I draw my sword?”
“!”
A few elf elders were combat-capable.
If Rohan had tried forcing his way in from the entrance, their guard magic and martial prowess would've stalled him considerably.
That's why he'd seized the advantage and pounced.
Anticipating this moment, he'd pulverized the limbs of all the fighters during the beatdown.
They'd gotten the deluxe clubbing treatment—no way they'd resist even if he lopped off their heads now.
Dismissing the elder's words with a tilt of his head, Rohan met Sion's gaze.
Her lips trembled as she spoke.
“Rohan. I...”
“Do what you want, Sion. If you can't finish it, I will.”
At Rohan's gentle words, Sion weakly shook her head.
Punishing the ringleader was her duty.
“...I'll do it.”
Sion brought her sniper rifle forward.
Click! She chambered a round.
Then aimed the barrel down at the elder matter-of-factly.
“Elder. You said you feared death.”
“P-Princess! This is official business! Hear me out to the end, and surely you'll change your mind...!”
Sion cut off his empty words without mercy.
“I hope you aren't born as a beast in your next life.”
She pulled the trigger—thwoom! A heavy thud echoed through the chamber.
The spent casing clinked across the floor.
The babbling elder fell into eternal silence.
“Hoo...”
Sion's breath hitched, her hands shaking violently. She looked ready to drop the rifle.
Killing a traitor now didn't faze her much.
The real issue was the flood of complex emotions that came with freedom—and the resurfacing memories.
“Clara. Mind taking Sion out for a bit? I'll wrap things up here.”
“Y-Yeah...!”
“Take care of her.”
Clara nodded solemnly at Rohan's request and hurried into action.
Once he'd confirmed the two girls leaving the room.
Time to finish up.
Rohan stood, drawing his blade from the sheath.
Shing!
Time to clean up the trash littering the floor.
..
..
By the time Rohan had neatly ended the elders and emerged from the chamber.
He saw Sion sobbing like a child in Clara's arms.
“Ugh... Hic! Sniff...!”
She was trying to hold back but failing, pouring out her emotions pitifully.
Clara, buried in the taller Sion's chest, was doing her best to comfort her.
Rohan sheathed his sword and walked over.
“Sion.”
“...”
Her face was a mess from crying.
Gone was the girl who'd kept a straight face through the crisis, analyzing and solving problems.
Now she seemed fragile, on the verge of breaking.
Maybe this was Sion's true self.
Rohan wiped the tears from the eyes of the girl clutching Clara like a stuffed toy.
And spoke the words he'd wanted to say, soft and gentle.
“The road ahead's gonna feel daunting. Anyone would after this.”
“Rohan...”
“Just remember every minute from now on is yours alone. Focus on doing what you want, living happily. That's how you save yourself.”
For a moment, Sion's sobs paused.
She was listening intently.
“If you don't know which way to go, hassle me to find the path for you.”
“...”
“It's natural to struggle finding the right one alone.”
“B-But...!”
Rohan pinched Sion's lips shut as she instinctively tried to argue.
It looked silly, but to him, she was just adorable.
He chuckled lightly and continued.
“A sniper needs a spotter to aim right, yeah?”
“...”
“You've been missing yours till now. Not your fault if you aimed wrong. Got it?”
Sion froze at his words.
“Got it?”
“...”
With a smile, he pressed again playfully.
Sion nodded faintly.
“When you wanna empty your head and let go. When you need someone to take responsibility or blame—I'll be your spotter.”
Sion wanted to ask why he was going this far, if he'd just release her lips.
But Rohan held on, as if he knew even that.
“Sion. From now on, just live happy. That's all it takes—no complications.”
“Ah...”
With that, Rohan finally let go.
Sion kept feeling it.
Not a shred of ulterior motive in anything he'd said.
Not parent or family, yet he wished her happiness with selfless affection.
Rohan...
The more she reflected on his actions so far.
The more a soft emotion filled the empty space in her heart.
The pain that had torn her apart melted into something warm and vanished.
You—you never deceived me from the start...
Meeting Rohan's eyes brought an inexplicable tickle and blush.
“And save your mana. Why are you still using that skill?”
Rohan chuckled, then raised a brow at her eyes—now heart-shaped.
At the same moment.
Clara, who'd been hugging her quietly for comfort, sensed the change.
Sion's heart began pounding wildly—thump! thump!—unlike before.