[No title provided]
Franz followed the elves deeper into the Great Forest, weaving between its colossal ancient trees.
So this is the place.
The Great Forest exceeded his wildest expectations. Towering trees formed a dense canopy, alive with all manner of flora and fauna in perfect harmony. A mystical, dreamlike aura hung in the air, as if he'd stepped straight into a nature documentary.
In truth, this was Franz's first visit to the Great Forest. Humans weren't welcome here. Step inside recklessly, and you'd face an elf ambush—like the one he'd just endured.
Of course, sheer force could force an entry, but what was the point? It was just a forest teeming with elves, and he had no desire to pick that fight.
By the way.
A documentary portraying elves as indigenous natives would sell like crazy...
Lost in such idle thoughts, Franz barely noticed when—
"Halt!"
Four elves materialized out of nowhere, blocking their path. They always traveled in organized groups of four—highly systematic.
Fortunately, unlike before, they held their fire, no reckless arrows flying. They simply watched with wary glares.
One at the front spoke up. "Hera, I'll go ahead and explain the situation."
"Very well, if you would."
He approached the blocking elves, conversed briefly, then led them back to Hera's side.
From there, things unfolded much as before. Hera produced the necklace from her pouch, offered her persuasions... Even the presence of a single lackey was identical.
"You lot! How dare you heed the words of a traitor who sold out our kin—"
Float-float.
Trapping the fool in a sphere and layering on soundproofing magic smoothed the persuasion along nicely. Some people were best silenced.
That's when the little elf piped up to Franz. "Me too! I wanna floaty-floaty!"
The orbs hovering in midair had apparently proven irresistible, multiplying from one to two.
Growing up in a forest like this meant slim pickings for entertainment, he supposed. Kinda heartbreaking, really.
Hm—
After a moment's hesitation, Franz snapped his fingers, enclosing the kid in a sphere and lifting her into the air.
The child burst into delighted giggles, "Kyaa~!"
But the issue was, she wasn't the only one starved for fun.
"Um, me too, please..."
"Me toooo~!"
"Seriously...?"
In the end, Franz had to sphere up every last one of the former elf slaves and float them all. Having indulged the kid first, refusal was off the table now.
This is why precedents matter.
"Franz, we should get moving."
"Yeah, let's."
With three elves and one floating lackey in tow, Franz's group pressed onward into the Great Forest's depths.
How much time passed? By then, the World Tree at the forest's heart loomed tantalizingly close.
They'd arrived at the elves' settlement. Homes were carved into the midsections of massive trees—fitting for nature-loving elves.
Impressive.
As Franz marveled, taking in the surroundings—
Suddenly, someone appeared before the group.
His face rigid, he stammered, "H-Hera...? How did you get here...?"
"Brother—no, Heris."
"A traitor dares set foot in the Great Forest! You there! What are you doing?! Seize her now!!"
Heris trembled violently, barking orders at the elves.
What a joke.
A scoff escaped Franz's lips unbidden. Who was calling whom a kin betrayer? The gall from a man who'd fattened his purse selling off even the children...
Then again, guys like that were capable of exactly this sort of thing.
"By order of the tribe chief! Capture her!"
Heris issued the command again, but the elves averted their eyes, unmoved.
"Oh ho? You're in league with the traitors too! You think you can linger in the Great Forest after that?!"
His booming voice drew nearby elves, some armed with bows and blades. Another attempt at incitement and fabrication, it seemed.
But Hera, armed with irrefutable proof, refused to flee. She stood her ground, resolute.
"Heris, I've come to set things right."
"You are the wrong one!! Colluding with humans to sell off our kin!!"
"Is that so? You truly never change."
Hera drew the necklace from her pouch and tossed it at Heris's feet with a thunk.
"You know full well what that is."
"H-How do you have...?"
"A human noble had it. The very one who bought up our enslaved kin from you."
Murmurs rippled through the surrounding elves at Hera's words. Their twitching ears betrayed their turmoil.
Must be utter chaos—discovering the elf they'd trusted for a year was a traitor.
"N-No! I just lost it!! You're framing me!"
"Framing? Then explain in detail. Where exactly did you drop this necklace? And why did the elf-slave buyer possess it?"
"Th-That..."
Heris trailed off, unable to respond. His eyes darted wildly, lost.
That's when—
"Chief! Don't be swayed by the traitor!"
"Capture and execute the traitor!!"
Voices rose from the crowd, backing Heris.
His lackeys, huh.
Clear evidence and witnesses present, yet they sided with him instead of staying silent. No normal mindset explained that—especially jumping in right as he faltered.
High chance they were his cronies. Even if not, poison to the tribe. Groups didn't need sowers of discord.
Snap.
Franz flicked his fingers, hoisting Heris's supporters into the air and muffling them with soundproofing.
Heris jabbed a finger at Franz. "L-Look at that!! He's with a human!! Proof of collusion!!"
"He was my comrade from the hero party days. He provided immense aid in rescuing our recently kidnapped kin. Ask them yourself if you doubt."
At Hera's cue, Franz released the former slaves from their transparent spheres.
The elves approached Hera and faced Heris squarely.
"Now, tell them what happened."
"H-Hera and that human mage over there saved us from slavery."
"Hera isn't like that...! It's all a misunderstanding...!"
"Floaty-floaty was so fun~!"
The kid's parting shot was a bit offbeat, but overall, the elves sided with Hera.
And it didn't end there. One by one, elves Hera had rescued over the past year stepped forward.
"Hera saved me too..."
"Me as well!"
In truth, Hera had implored them upon release: never reveal she'd saved them. Under Heris's iron grip, it could backfire harmfully.
But now? Their testimonies bolstered her cause.
The turning point to right the wrongs had begun.
"Th-That can't be...! Why...?!"
"Heris, I must ask."
"N-No...! Never...!"
"Why collude with humans to sell our kin? Why frame me?"
Heris shook his head furiously, backing away step by step.
Hera advanced; roots erupted from the earth, binding his legs.
Then—
Twang!
An arrow streaked from nowhere toward Hera.
Franz raised a hand to halt it... then slowly lowered it.
Hera's gaze was already locked on the projectile.
Crunch.
She snatched it midair with one hand and shattered it.
Glare fixed on the arrow's origin, she bellowed, "Sera—!"
Her cry echoed through the Great Forest; tree limbs thrashed violently in response.
Soon, an elf tumbled from the canopy.
Sera. Hera's childhood friend—and Heris's accomplice in framing her.
Hera seized the fallen Sera and hurled her beside Heris.
With an icy stare at the pair, she declared, "The crime of betraying kin is grave. Both shall atone with your blood. The five who sided with them face the same judgment."
Death for all the guilty.
The verdict of the new tribe chief, Hera.