True Feelings
Sudden attack.
But I'd half-expected something like this, so I blocked Elpinire's strike with my right hand, already transformed in advance.
Her fist stopped cold, Elpinire heaved ragged breaths and screamed at me.
"Die! Die, human!"
"What the hell did I even do?"
"Y-you know exactly what! Don't pretend you don't!"
Yeah.
I really had no clue.
I blinked my wide eyes a few times and tilted my head. Her pale skin flushed bright red in real time.
Seeing that, I flashed a grin.
"Guess I'll head out for today. Catch you later."
"Get lost! I never want to see you again—get out!"
Beats me what she's on about.
It's not like I speak the local language anyway.
Grinning ear to ear, I left Elpinire's house, leaving Elspier behind.
She kept yelling after me the whole way.
No more Elpinire encounters today, as planned.
I'd actually been avoiding her, but curiosity got the better of me—I had to check how it was going.
Tomorrow, tail her all day again, then give her some breathing room. That should do it.
Push her to the brink like that, and her rattled mind would spill what she never meant to say.
I didn't want to go this far.
But what choice did I have?
If she bolts every time she sees me, wear her down until she can't run anymore.
From the look of her just now, it'll end quicker than I thought.
The day after tomorrow.
Hell, maybe even tomorrow.
I figured it'd take a week tops, but she's breaking faster than expected.
"Time for me to kick back today, then."
Feels kinda guilty doing this to someone, but oh well.
I shrugged and pulled Cheori out of my pocket, where it had been dozing.
"Haven't given you much attention lately, huh?"
"Kkung kkung."
It let out a sound like it was fine.
The little guy was sucking on a fist-sized yellow stone.
"...All you need is food, huh?"
"Kkung."
Like that's not obvious.
It eyed me for a second with that look, then went back to slurping on the yellow stone.
A mana stone, that is. Devouring it like it was the best thing ever.
I plopped down on a nearby bench and watched, muttering seriously.
"...Mana stones taste good or what?"
"Kkung?"
"Why do you eat 'em?"
"Kkung kkung kkung."
It wriggled, trying to explain.
I got most of what it said, but not this.
Far as I could guess...
"Eat it and you get stronger?"
"...Kkung."
Close enough, apparently.
I chuckled at its puzzled nod.
"Whatever. Eat up."
"Kkung kkung."
It turned back to its mana stone snack.
My pocket felt more like a nest for Cheori—and a mana stone vault—now.
Lucky my jacket pockets are deep.
Any shallower and they'd be rolling all over the ground.
I zipped it shut and stared blankly at the sky.
It was brutally peaceful and clear.
The elves of Elcid were as friendly as ever.
Everywhere I went, warm greetings, shares of food and goods.
Where the hell do they even get my name from?
Tripped me out when total strangers called me by name.
Anyway, every elf was kind to a fault.
After a chill day in Elcid,
"...What the hell is this?"
"I'm going to kill you."
Sunset.
Kidnapped out of nowhere, dumped in the woods.
I stared at Elpinire, eyes bloodshot, breathing hard.
Yeah, I'd pushed her hard.
But...
This is way beyond what I expected.
Didn't see this coming.
She looked rabid, out of her mind.
No need for answers—she just kept repeating it.
"Kill you... I'll kill you for sure."
"..."
"Even if I can't kill you, I'll kill you. I'll drive you out, dead or alive."
Hmm.
Guess I overdid it.
I scanned around frantically.
Where's Elspier?
Where the fuck is he?
Spotted him in the distance, waving frantically with his green hair. I shot him a desperate look.
Go for it!
He thumbs-upped me and vanished.
Hey.
Don't cheer—help!
Get down here and stop her!
No one you can trust in this world.
I sighed long and hard, then slowly stood, facing Elpinire.
"Why the hell should I fight you?"
"Humans must die. No reason needed."
"Because those five humans from ten years ago killed the guardians?"
"Shut up!"
Boom!
Green mana exploded around Elpinire, surging wildly.
Cheori poked its head out of my pocket, startled by the mana gale.
"It's fine."
I patted its head lightly and locked eyes with Elpinire.
She crouched, ready to charge, mana pooling in her cracked, bulging leg muscles.
Once she'd gathered enough, she sprang.
And—
"Raaah!"
She dove straight into my arms, unleashing a savage punch.
Krunch!
Fist strong enough to sweep the area with wind alone.
That should've dropped me.
Heal her quick, dump her outside the woods before anyone sees.
That's what Elpinire thought as she tried to pull her hand free.
Or tried to.
"You're a real handful."
If her fist hadn't been caught by my monstrous right hand.
The Black Dragon's iron grip could hoist a person easy.
Holding her hand, I lifted her and swung her arm around like a ragdoll.
Flopping limply in the air.
Then slammed her down.
"Guhk—!"
Ground cracking.
Body bouncing from the impact.
Vision whites out from the shock.
Before she could recover and stand,
What filled her sight—
"Ah..."
Was death.
Black letters—
"That's enough."
Thud.
Fist stopping inches away.
Calm voice in her ear, black letters vanishing from view.
She rolled limply, looked up at me with a wrecked face.
"...Not finishing it?"
"Why would I?"
No need to paint myself a villain to the elves.
I shrugged, released Black Dragon, and plopped down in front of her.
"Hey. Ready to talk now?"
"..."
"Guess so."
She looked reluctant, but no sign of running.
Worked too well, maybe.
Started feeling bad about it.
I sighed softly and stared into her eyes.
Deep green, shadowed.
Our gazes met; she flinched and looked down.
"I hate beating around the bush, so straight talk."
"..."
"Why do you hate humans?"
Elpinire bit her lip hard.
I felt Cheori in my pocket staring like Why ask that?
But here's the thing.
What Elumia and Elspier said? Just guesses, not facts.
No one's had a blunt talk like this with her, I'd bet.
Everyone just assumed and moved on.
Treating "human" like a taboo word around her.
That's why she never asked for help from anyone.
Not even fellow high elves.
Not even Elspier.
No help sought. Just isolated, despairing, terrified alone.
Was I right?
Head bowed, she murmured ant-like.
"...Because humans killed my big sister and brothers."
"You... saw it?"
"..."
Nod.
Silent nod, then she spoke slowly.
"Twilight forest. Found sis and bros... chopped up."
Couldn't believe it.
She thought monsters at first.
Humans too weak to kill guardians.
Bodies too mangled for humans.
But.
"From the shadows... saw human faces."
A presence somewhere.
Young Elpinire turned, spotted the five humans who'd come to Elcid.
Hiding in shadows, grinning at her.
She remembered it vividly, even now.
Cold sweat beaded; she trembled.
"They... watched me collapse in fear, pass out. Chief saved me after."
"Tell the chief?"
"I did! Think I didn't!?"
She grabbed my collar, voice raw.
But her grip was frail, ready to crumble. I could've shaken it off easy.
"But the chief's blessing! Said my words were lies!"
"..."
"Saw it clear as day! But chief and Elspier just repeated humans wouldn't do that!"
Was it a hallucination?
No, it was real.
But Mother's power says it's false—am I wrong?
Child Elpinire, confused, decided.
To not break herself.
What she saw was right.
"That's why I hate humans. You'll... deceive Mother's eyes with sly lies, slaughter us!"
"..."
"C'mon, human. Say it. 'I'm not like that. You were mistaken!'"
She glared, furious.
I got why she hated humans.
That trauma, plus her own kind not believing her? Despair.
Couldn't blame kin.
Couldn't deny Mother's power.
Bottled it up, bristled like a hedgehog.
So I'd answer.
"Fine. Straight up: I'm not that kind of guy."
"Ha! Knew—"
"But you weren't mistaken either."
"...What?"
Truth is, when I woke in Elcid after Elpinire rescued me.
Right after the mutant explanation, one thing nagged me.
"Ma gi—what exactly is it?"
"...Dunno much. Just corrupted mana, that's all."
"Bad stuff, right?"
"Obviously. Kills possessed beasts, or mutates 'em if they survive."
"Monsters... beasts are living things like humans?"
"Essentially, yeah..."
"..."
"..."
Elpinire stared blankly.
I nodded slightly.
"S-so the ones who killed sis and bros weren't humans..."
"Ma gi possession did it."
Ma gi possession.
Sounds simple, but exposed to it? Not simple.
Touches skin, melts it.
Possessed means endless melting agony.
Question: Can the possessed stay sane?
Doubt it.
At least go mad.
Or lose will to ma gi.
Felt it myself—ma gi could do that easy.
So.
"What you saw was real. Chief's words too."
"I-I wasn't wrong...?"
"Ma gi just blinded everyone's eyes and ears."
"Aaaah..."
Drip, drip.
Tears from her eyes.
Ten years' grudge.
Hatred needing a target.
Snapped in a moment.
I handed her a handkerchief from my pocket.
Then grinned at the rising system message.
[Gain Recognition from the Forest Guardian, Elpinire]
[Achieved]
[Success]
[Moving to the next floor]
Way easier than I thought.
I chuckled and yelled over my shoulder.
"Elspier! Get out here! It's done!"
"...Elspier?"
"Was watching from over there? Oh, and he was hauling me around yesterday too."
"Y-you bastard!"
"How else could I keep up?"
She yelled through tears, furious he'd helped.
What a lovable family.
Chuckling, I waited for Elspier's reply.
Waited.
Waited.
No answer.
Instead—
"...Hey, human. What's that?"
"...!"
A severed right arm tumbling down.
With a blood-soaked elf.