In the Land of the Elves - 02
Rayna Forest stared blankly at the sky.
The sensation refused to fade.
It was the feeling of an arrow leaving her bow and piercing the head and heart of the hero, Olivia.
Unlike a sword, once an arrow was shot, Rayna’s influence vanished from it entirely. Blood rarely stained her hands anymore.
Yet at that exact moment, something that could never be erased seemed to cling to her fingertips.
If Mother knew, what would she say?
She told herself it had been for the sake of Elvenheim.
In a kingdom, she might not have helped Elvenheim, or perhaps she could have saved the crisis that had now descended upon it.
She had once convinced herself that committing evil acts for her country was not pleasant, yet necessary. But the deep, fundamental guilt refused to disappear.
“…….”
Rayna feared the hero Olivia.
It was not that Olivia was a villain, but her arrogant nature was too strong.
Especially when dealing with people or monsters who lacked morality or ethics, her attitude was pure cold-bloodedness.
It was not wrong, but anyone who crossed her line became nothing more than an extermination target in her eyes.
The cold-hearted woman never listened to excuses. Instead of wasting time on explanations, she preferred to save as many innocent lives as possible.
She had once killed a noble who had allied with a crime syndicate to torment countless people.
She had not committed direct murder, yet many died because of her actions. In truth, she was a murderer.
Originally, she would have rushed in and ended the noble’s life without hesitation.
Dying people.
People crying and begging to be saved.
Countless souls starving, suffering, living in hell because of the crime syndicate.
She would have killed the noble and the syndicate itself without listening to any excuses or pleas.
Once the line was crossed, the target was already dead.
“…….”
It had not been wrong.
But every time she watched from the sidelines, a chill ran through her.
She was a good person, yet terrifying.
Those eyes.
She even feared that over time, those eyes would turn to look at her.
The thought that she might be killed for any action that did not meet her standards was terrifying.
“……Alex, if you don’t keep your promise, I’ll kill you. I swear it.”
Rayna muttered while idly touching her neck.
She knew far too little about the world.
She had been naive.
She had believed kindness could be judged by appearance alone.
“Hm?”
The communication stone glowed.
Communication stones were difficult to use on the Eastern Continent.
The mana there was unstable, making real-time voice transmission nearly impossible.
“Alex, huh.”
The only person who would call her now was that man.
He must have something to say.
Originally, etiquette demanded he remain in the capital longer, but she had no desire to see Alex’s face.
Just looking at that disgusting face ruined her mood, and the more praise she received in the capital, the more she wanted to die because the person who truly deserved it kept appearing in her thoughts.
So she had decided to return home as quickly as possible.
There were many reasons, but the greatest was that she simply wanted to escape Alex.
She let out a long sigh and activated the communication stone.
“What is it? Got something to say?”
-Finally got through. I thought you were dead because you weren’t answering.
“You know Elvenheim is on the Eastern Continent, right? And the Eastern Continent has rough mana, so communication is terrible.”
-Yes, I know. You understand I’m this anxious, don’t you?
What?
It did not seem like he had called just to tease her for frowning and getting annoyed.
“What happened?”
A chill ran down her spine, and her heart began to race.
Without having heard anything yet, Rayna felt an inexplicable sense of dread pressing down on her shoulders.
Yet Alex, unaware of her tension, continued.
-The hero, Olivia Reinhardt, is alive.
“What?”
-And in that condition, she is probably heading toward Elvenheim.
“…….”
Rayna’s hand trembled.
Alive?
One-third of her head had been blown away, her heart pierced, an arm severed, and she had been poisoned with the God of Death Poison after falling from a high cliff. Yet she had survived.
And now she was saying she had made it all the way to the Eastern Continent in that state?
She’s a monster. That person.
Her breathing grew ragged.
Every time she witnessed Olivia Reinhardt’s battles as the hero, she had felt the same certainty.
That person was not human.
“She’s coming to Elvenheim? ……Are you going to kill me?”
-…She is a completed hero. Whether she harbors personal grudges is another question.
“……Hah, hah hah. So what? What do you want me to do?”
-It’s obvious. She must be killed again. We cannot allow the hero Olivia Reinhardt to live. If she is already poisoned with the God of Death Poison, there is no hope of saving her.
“Ho-how? How are you going to kill her?”
-There is a way.
That combat power.
That strength.
The goddess had granted Olivia Reinhardt every talent needed for battle.
If she had no sword, she could grab a branch and cut down enemies. Or she could simply fight with her bare hands.
Although she excelled with swords, Olivia could wield almost any weapon—bows, spears, daggers, or anything else.
How, then, was one supposed to kill such a person?
The best method had been to poison her while she was off guard.
-Isn’t it simple?
“Simple? What…!”
-No matter how great Olivia Reinhardt may be, she is nothing more than a terminal patient poisoned by the God of Death. If she obtains the World Tree sap in Elvenheim, it can be cured.
“World Tree sap, then….”
It was not impossible, but the timing felt wrong.
Rayna could not guess how Titania would react.
Titania had no good feelings toward the hero Olivia due to past events, yet she had saved the world. If she learned the truth, cooperation was not entirely out of the question.
-In the end, if she cannot obtain the sap, time is on our side.
“What if she gives up and attacks the elves? No matter how poisoned, she is still the hero!”
-Are you serious?
“What?”
-Even if people are provoked and see the hero Olivia Reinhardt as an enemy, they cannot kill her. Unless the civilian committed a crime.
“…….”
-Because she is a hero before she is human. Our journey has always been like that, hasn’t it? She is not human—she is a hero.
“Yes, that person is a hero.”
Rayna spoke with self-deprecation.
“We are trying to kill such a person.”
-Hoo, you’re quite sentimental.
“Shut up…!”
Rayna clutched her head.
Again.
Again, what?
Not moral.
Not ethical.
Performing evil acts born of selfishness.
Was this truly the action of a hero party meant to save the world?
Absolutely not.
-So what do you intend to do?
“……I know. If I do it, then do it. What should I do?”
Fiddling with her neck, Rayna frowned.
She had already crossed the line.
Rayna had no choices left.
***
“We really don’t need to inform the guard, do we?”
“Yes. Half Village already has a poor reputation. If no one gets hurt and it ends there, that would be best.”
“But if the guard investigates, they might find out something.”
“Lord Lois already investigated and said nothing came of it. Then there must be nothing.”
“No, I’m glad you trust my investigative ability, but I’m not an expert.”
“Since I can use spirits, isn’t my ability higher than that of ordinary guards?”
“…….”
I remained silent.
I had investigated the body of the Reaper Cult leader and various other things, but I had obtained no useful information. The body had inscriptions carved into it, and that was the only thing I could discover.
Because it erased all body information at the moment of death, almost no evidence remained.
If the person had been alive, perhaps I could have learned something, but the Reaper Cult did not communicate, and those who used mental corruption were usually stubborn individuals who resisted torture and persuasion.
Moreover, according to Livia’s words, they had used voodoo clones. In a situation where the last moment of life was uncertain, even if restrained, it would not be difficult to escape by suicide.
“You really intend to go to Elvenheim? You won’t be welcomed there.”
“I know, Chief. ……But the opportunity came, and I want to show courage. I had something I wanted to tell Grandma.”
“……Well, travelers, please take care of this child.”
The chief bowed his head and addressed us.
“Thanks to all of you, we can regain peace. I cannot even imagine what would have happened if there had been no one. I’m sorry for showing such a shameful face.”
Livia smiled beside me and spoke.
“It’s fine. The one who used mental corruption is the bad one, right? No need to apologize.”
“Haha, thank you. ……Then Sylphy, be careful.”
“Yes, I’ll be back soon.”
With that, we left Half Village and headed toward Elvenheim.
Livia cautiously approached Sylphy and asked.
“That chief is like a real parent to Sylphy?”
“Eh, um.”
Sylphy scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
“I’m older.”
“…….”
Thud.
Livia and I froze at the same time.
This elf seemed to have no visible information.
Age, gender—nothing could be known.
“……Lois, suddenly remembered.”
“What?”
“Lois, between older and younger, which do you prefer?”
“If I answer that I’m older, what can you do?”
“There’s a medicine that makes people age in this world. I’ll try it.”
“Please stop. Age doesn’t matter much in an ideal type. Older, same age, younger—anything as long as the heart matches.”
“Is that so!”
Livia laughed.
I felt a mischievous impulse and laughed along with her.
“I don’t know if we ever matched well.”
“Ugh!”
“Ever since the past, I’ve been making you angry.”
“……Hoo, hoh.”
“Why are you laughing?”
Livia wore a face like a slightly hurt puppy and laughed.
“You became close enough to tease! Right!?”
“…….”
“Right!?”
The pleading look on her face was almost pitiful.
It was both pitiful and cute, so I said.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“……!”
Livia laughed with a bright “Hehe” as if she had never made a face.
“I knew it!”
“……Livia is sometimes like a puppy.”
“Ah, I felt it too. Just now.”
As Sylphy and I nodded in agreement, Livia tilted her head.
“Eh? Me? Why?”
It seemed she had no self-awareness.
She was still dull in those areas.