Chapter 18
Unlike the surrounding forests, the Great Forest was densely packed with towering trees. Four elves were rapidly approaching Franz's group from there. All had bows slung on their backs and wielded menacing blades in their hands.
Can't really blame them for the misunderstanding.
Franz could understand their reaction. One robed man accompanied by several elves. And given how elves kept getting kidnapped, their vigilance must be at an all-time high. So suspecting a kidnapping in progress wasn't unreasonable.
That said, drawing their bowstrings without even hearing them out seemed a bit reckless.
"W-Wait a moment—! This is all a misunderstanding—!"
Hera shouted loudly, but the elves' arrows were already loosed.
The arrows sliced through the air, hurtling straight toward Franz like lightning bolts.
Damn, that's some precision.
Franz was genuinely impressed. They were quite a distance away. The elves looked no bigger than his thumbnail from here—what more was there to say? For arrows to fly in a straight line rather than an arc from that range was astonishing enough. And they were zeroing in perfectly on his forehead from amid their clustered group.
If I took these elves back to the modern world, they'd dominate archery competitions for a century. Might even lead to an "elves banned" rule eventually.
Anyway, the elves' archery was that exceptional.
But a mere arrow couldn't breach a 10th Circle mage's defenses. A surprise attack might have been different, but charging head-on like this offered no chance of victory.
Plop, plop.
With a casual wave of his hand, Franz sent the arrows tumbling to the ground.
I'll hold off for now and see what happens.
The elves had loosed their arrows before Hera could even speak. So Franz could let the first one slide.
But if they tried it again... well, he'd have to subdue them by force. He wouldn't kill them with Hera watching, though.
Luckily, it didn't seem like Franz would need to resort to force.
Hera had already shot forward like an arrow herself.
The elves slowly lowered their bows upon seeing her charging toward them.
Just as Franz relaxed, preparing to ease his tension—
"Hera! It's Hera of the Root Tribe!"
"The traitor who sold out her own kin!!"
Things didn't go smoothly.
The elves raised their lowered bows again and drew their strings taut.
It was only natural, really. Among elves, Hera was a heinous traitor who had sold out her own people. Even the elves she'd rescued hadn't fully let down their guard around her.
These ones had been brainwashed by propaganda and lies.
This is insane.
He'd come prepared for the worst-case scenario, and here it was unfolding. If he'd left her behind, she probably would have turned into the villain right about now.
Franz let out a silent sigh of relief and activated Teleport.
A brief flash of light, and his figure vanished—only to reappear beside Hera.
As Franz swept his hand through the air, the arrows headed for Hera tumbled to the ground with soft plops.
Hera's gaze turned to Franz. It was a turbulent mix of surprise, sorrow, anger, and confusion.
"...Franz."
"I'll handle it."
"Just... just one more time. I beg thee."
Franz nodded. It wasn't his problem to begin with.
"You lot! This is all a misunderstanding! Will you not speak with us?"
"We have no reason to parley with a traitor!"
"Just once, please, let us—"
Before Hera could finish, Franz tapped her shoulder.
Whether it was lingering attachment or denial, he couldn't tell. But they hadn't done anything wrong, so there was no need to grovel. Besides, you talk to those who'll listen—and these elves clearly had no intention of doing so.
"I'll handle it."
"P-Please... don't kill them.... They're just deceived, are they not?"
Whether they were merely deceived or traitors to the bone, they'd find out soon enough.
Still... it wasn't a tough request.
"S-See! Consorting with humans, just as we thought!"
"Where did you sell our kin, Hera?! Answer us!"
The elves spat furious words at Hera.
Starting to piss me off.
Hera herself had asked him not to kill them, so he wouldn't. But he couldn't see them in a good light no matter how he tried. Falling for lies was one thing; siding with Heris was a true sin.
Snap.
Franz lightly snapped his fingers in the air.
A transparent spherical barrier formed around the elves.
With a flick of his finger, the orb lifted into the air, trapping them inside.
"W-What are you doing?!"
"Hera! Betraying your kin again?!"
The elves pounded on the transparent wall, shouting.
Franz furrowed his brow and snapped his fingers once more. Their voices cut off completely—no sound leaked out. He'd added a soundproofing spell.
"Franz, my thanks...."
Hera bowed her head to him. Gratitude for honoring her plea not to kill them.
"No big deal. Wasn't hard anyway. More importantly, you need to steel yourself. That was straight-up brainwashing."
"I've only just realized it myself. To think it'd come to this in a mere year...."
"Well, things change starting today, right?"
"Aye. That's why we're here."
Hera nodded, her resolve firm.
Soon after, Franz teleported over with the former slave elves who'd been waiting at a distance.
With the transparent wall between them, the elves' gazes met.
A little elf piped up.
"Whoa—! That looks fun... Mmph?!"
"S-Sorry.... My sibling is still very young...."
The kid apparently thought the floating orb looked amusing. Franz decided to be magnanimous about it.
Looks fun, huh? Maybe give 'em a ride later.
At that moment, Hera gazed at the trapped elves and spoke.
"Franz, might I try persuading them first?"
"Do what you want. I'm just helping out—this is fundamentally your mess to fix."
Franz snapped his fingers, releasing the soundproofing.
"What in the world is this...?"
"I haven't the faintest...."
The trapped elves seemed utterly confused. No wonder—Hera, whom they'd branded a traitor, had brought back the missing elves. They'd jumped to conclusions without verifying; that was on them.
"I regret how things have unfolded, but you struck first, so I hope you'll understand. First, behold this."
Hera pulled a necklace from her pouch.
The elves' ears twitched busily up and down. Then they stilled, and one spoke.
"Isn't that the chieftain's?"
"Aye, I found it when I went to rescue the elves."
"B-But the chieftain said you, Hera... "
"If I'd sold our kin, why would I rescue them again? It was all Heris's doing—for the chieftain's seat and wealth. Ask the elves I saved; some are still in the tribe."
Three of the four elves looked bewildered. A chieftain they'd trusted for a year, versus Hera presenting evidence right before them. Tough choice for their muddled heads.
But one elf wore a different expression.
"Nonsense! How can we believe that?! What's to stop a traitor from betraying us again?!"
He practically spat it out, like stepping on a Lego or stubbing his pinky toe on a doorframe.
Heris's lackey.
Franz was certain. No other explanation for that reaction.
Left alone, he'd surely interfere with Hera.
Franz waved his hand, and the orb split into two, isolating the lackey.
"W-What are you—"
Soundproofed again—perfect silence.
A brief stillness followed.
The elves and Hera, pausing at Franz's actions, resumed their talk.
"Very well, Hera. We'll trust thee for now. Thou'st brought the children back, and the chieftain's necklace is proof enough. But if this be falsehood... we shan't stay our hands."
"Do as thou must. If it's lies, I'll gladly offer my neck."
With that, Hera nodded to Franz. Time to release them.
Understanding, Franz snapped his fingers. The transparent spheres vanished, freeing the elves—except the lackey, still trapped.
The elves gave Franz odd looks before turning to Hera.
"Hera, what now? Straight to the chieftain?"
"Aye. The wrongs must be righted."
"And the human yonder comes too?"
"He's the benefactor who aided this endeavor. Bear with it, though it discomforts thee."
At Hera's words, the elves turned to Franz and bowed lightly in greeting.
Since they'd approached civilly, Franz returned the gesture. No desire to make enemies.
Thus, with Hera in the lead, the elves and one human entered the Great Forest.
And at its heart, they met him.
The culprit behind it all: Heris.
"H-Hera...? How art thou here...?"
Now, it was time to set things right.