Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Exiled from the Elf Village
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Knights came rushing in at the same time, and Elder Arianelle gestured lightly, as if drawing a curtain.
Roots from the World Tree sprouted from the ground and began wrapping around the knights.
No way, this is Wood Binding!?
Elder, you're not just a busty fraud after all!
The regular knights could be weeded out with Wood Binding, but Leia with her flaming sword and the vice-captain-level knights.
A few skilled ones couldn't be stopped and charged straight toward us.
That's when Esilwin stepped forward, drawing her dual blades.
"We'll handle them. Think you can manage?"
"Yes. I'll take on the redhead!"
Good. Let's focus.
From now on, every attack that hits me gets converted into Vibration Memory.
I'll land a decisive blow that neutralizes them in one go!
High-Tension Mode as the base...
"Hey, whitey!"
She leaped over the tree roots, the red-haired knight charging right at me.
With an arrogant, dazzling smile!
"Try that attack on me again—the one that took me down!"
'I'll take the hit for now!'
Sure enough, with her fiery temper, she came at me like a madwoman.
I crouched like a turtle, absorbing all the impacts into my Tights.
"What's wrong?! Huh? Is that all you can do, just huddle up? We're the goddess's personal guard. You're not even worthy to face us!"
'A bit more. I have to endure...!!'
Thwack!
A front kick aimed at my opening. I barely held my ground.
"Jae-hyeok!!"
Kana's support fire right away.
Leia deflected the first arrow, but the second one that followed grazed her shoulder.
"Tch, annoying...!"
'Time for a counterattack.'
To keep her from targeting Kana, I'll shake up her senses first!
"Don't worry!"
Leia suddenly grappled me like a wrestler, laughing even more provocatively.
"I'll focus on just you."
"Ha, thanks a ton..."
Why is this invader so damn hot-blooded?
We're just clinched up in a grapple, but the damage from Leia is steadily building up in my Tights.
Incredible power!
"I was gonna crush your shoulder and fold you in half, but you're holding up pretty well?"
"...Kuh...!"
Good. Keep thinking you're on top...!!
I'll stockpile that thick dick-juice energy—no, vibration energy—and unleash it all at once!
'Take her down in one shot and go help the captain!'
That was when it happened.
Splash.
Blood sprayed from somewhere, drawing the attention of both elves and knights alike.
The captain duel had reached its conclusion.
"Is that all? There used to be one really strong elf here."
"...Ugh, ah..."
Captain?
Esilwin had collapsed with a sword in her abdomen.
It was undoubtedly a fatal wound.
Nerisa easily subdued Esilwin and flicked the blood from her blade into the air.
"Attack."
'No!!'
The elf village is done for.
They won't give me time to build up my power.
Should I beg for a draw right now?
Don't kill them.
The moment visions of everyone dying flashed in my head, the red-haired woman clung to me.
"Hey, don't get distracted like me. Scared of the elves dying? They're all gonna die because of you, and so are you!"
"Fuck...!! Get off...!"
The instant I tried to unleash the built-up vibrations and rush to save the captain.
"Die."
A sword swung toward Esilwin's neck.
No matter how fast I dashed, it was a beheading strike. An unavoidable death played out in my mind.
"Nerisa! Look at me. If you're gonna kill someone, kill me!"
Nerisa's blade halted.
It wasn't me who stopped her. If I moved even a little, said anything,
or even let my thoughts wander, it could lead to loss of life—an immense pressure that dominated the entire area.
Because she had completely seized control of the place.
"Enough."
Only after that aura spread did a voice ring out.
The flames on the World Tree extinguished in an instant, plunging the surroundings into darkness, yet a radiant being appeared.
With a halo shaped like a blazing bow.
The descent of a goddess.
It was Hipeia, the Hunting Goddess worshipped by the elves.
The Hunting Goddess Hipeia had appeared in person.
"Hipeia... ma'am!"
The elves were all stunned.
The goddess's knight order froze in place, thrown into disarray.
Even if she wasn't their goddess, another goddess manifesting directly...
Hipeia held a weapon shaped like a bow formed from particles of light and addressed Nerisa.
"You'd better explain yourself well, Nerisa."
"......"
Nerisa's face stiffened with tension.
"What is this mess in my domain?"
I'd thought all goddesses were just selfish bitch whores...
...but that power was real.
Her mere presence stopped the pathetic squabbles of lesser beings.
This slender, lovely hunter girl—even frailer than Elder Arianelle or Esilwin—was a goddess.
Unbelievable even seeing it, yet impossible not to believe in her divine presence.
She wore simple hunting gear, but her strikingly beautiful face and the glowing bow-shaped halo above her head.
She emanated divine majesty terrifyingly.
Compared to the density and volume of her divinity, Nerisa's felt insignificant.
Her hair was a minty turquoise, her eyes mysteriously gleaming like olives.
She shone with inner light, exuding overwhelming presence amid the dark forest.
"Everyone, lower your weapons."
Knight Captain Nerisa said quietly.
"The Goddess of Silence commanded us to deal with the blasphemy. Even you, Lady Hipeia, must find it displeasing."
"I know."
"You knew? And you turned a blind eye? Even knowing what it is?"
"I held it back. And now, I'm regretting that."
While they talked, I rushed to Esilwin and tried emergency treatment.
"......"
Esilwin had her eyes squeezed shut in agony but barely recognized me and gave a faint smile.
"Sorry... for showing such an ugly sight..."
"Don't talk."
Kana came over and handed me emergency medicine. I held Esilwin and fed her the medicine while quietly monitoring the wound.
Hipeia didn't stop us from giving first aid.
Good.
Her breathing's easing up. I saved the captain.
"Lady Velzaria's will is firm."
"Then I'll talk to her myself. That settle it?"
"However..."
"I get it. You have your reasons for coming here. But stop touching my kids."
'Goddess...!'
If she'd allow it, I'd kiss Hipeia on the cheek.
I'm converting to the Church of Hipeia starting today!
"Then hand it over."
Just when I thought the negotiations were wrapping up smoothly, Nerisa pointed at me with her finger.
Me?
"I know you've intervened to some extent in this matter, Lady Hipeia. So let us handle it."
That's when I realized from Hipeia's gaze.
Ah.
I'm not one of 'our kids'...
"Fine. Take him. Settle it among yourselves."
I blanked out for a second.
Did the goddess just cut me loose...?
"Lady Hipeia!"
At that moment, with words failing me, Kana cried out desperately. All eyes turned to her. Even as the elf elders tried to stop her, Kana kept going.
"Please help Jae-hyeok!"
"A young elf butting into my business? Esilwin, what's this about?"
Hipeia's suffocating divinity began weighing down, as if it would crush everything.
"......I'm sorry."
Injured Esilwin propped herself up and answered.
"Should I call your late mother from the heavens to knock some sense into you?"
"......"
"My patience has limits. Be grateful I did this much—now get out."
Get out?
In this situation?
With those guys ready to kill me?
Obviously, Hipeia's 'our kids' meant the village elves she'd watched for ages,
and there was no reason for her to protect someone like me—which was basically telling me to die?
Sending me alone into a place swarming with people out for my blood.
"Goddess. I'll serve alongside my mother. Please rescind the order."
Esilwin...
Seeing Esilwin bow her head, I steeled my resolve.
"No. It's fine, Captain."
"Jae-hyeok!"
Kana clung to my arm. Her voice was already trembling with sobs.
"Very well."
I accepted it.
The de facto exile order, no different from a death sentence.
"......"
Hipeia looked at me with cold eyes.
"You should've stayed hidden better."
"Did you think they'd chase me down like this, foaming at the mouth to kill me?"
"Every goddess will hunt you down. Hide in an elf village or even a kingdom—you won't last."
I see.
That bad a curse, huh...
The tutorial was too nice; I didn't realize. Could've warned me it's dark fantasy?
'...But.'
My heart actually felt lighter.
Because Hipeia had clearly spelled out my reality.
No need for the elves to get fucked because of me.
Surprisingly, my mind calmly accepted the exile.
"Take care of the elves."
I trusted Hipeia to protect my girlfriends.
"Wait!!"
Kana wailed in anguish.
"Don't go, Jae-hyeok! No! Goddess, you're so strong! So noble! Why won't you help a human in trouble?"
Hipeia didn't answer.
I knew.
My very existence was a sin to the goddesses, and helping me brought them no honor.
No gain.
And the one who put me in this mess was that bitch who slapped the cursed item on me.
Aaah!!
No more settling down for an elf harem.
I hugged Kana, who was clinging to me.
"Sorry, Kana."
"Don't go!! No, I'll go with you!"
I pried Kana off and backed away naturally.
When she tried to follow and grab me again, Hipeia's arrow landed between us, embedding in the ground.
That was the goddess's final warning.
"Don't drag my kids into this anymore. I don't want to see you either."
I couldn't tear my eyes away.
I really wanted to live there.
Now I was moving away from the warm elf village that had protected me.
"Arianelle. Close the gate."
Elder Arianelle looked back and forth between me and the goddess, conflicted.
The goddess's firm decision.
I could feel the elder's struggle against defying her.
"It's okay. Follow the goddess's command."
That was all I could do.
"Jae-hyeok! Come back... please... We'll wait! Kana, Ellie, everyone..."
"Kana, take care of Ellie! She's hurt, remember."
"Hey!! Jeong Jae-hyeok! You're the one in danger! Jae-hyeok! Captain, Elder! Goddess! You can't just kick him out like this! I'm going—I’ll come help you!!"
Having a girlfriend crying and wailing for me like this? Feels fucking solid.
Exile arcs hit different when someone's appreciating it, right?
"Sorry I can't stay with you."
"Jae-hyeooook!"
Arianelle invoked the World Tree's magic.
Trees grew, enveloping the elf village entrance in a spherical barrier.
As if protecting the village from external enemies.
Thud.
The path to the elf village closed right in front of me.
'No wonder paradise felt too easy to have.'
...It was just a free trial. Shit.
Gotta pay up for the next part?
Pfft.
Leia snickered at my predicament.
I flinched.
"...Funny? My look right now?"
"Yeah. You're all alone and pathetic now—just waiting to be slaughtered like a pig. Can't wait."
"Getting butchered like pigs is what'll happen to you."
A voice laced with suppressed rage, on the verge of exploding, slipped from my lips—surprising even me.
"I just lost everything."
"......You still have one. Your neck. Breath......♡"
In my current mood, anything I did to those bitches would feel justified.