Chapter 21
Chapter 21
The Reversed-Gender Elf Village
Our next destination was supposed to be Bardel Village—but for certain reasons, we ended up in the elf village, Alfheim.
Lush green grass, wooden houses built atop tree trunks, a massive World Tree, and fairies fluttering around it—
It felt like stepping into a fairy tale.
If I were a little girl, I’d probably be squealing in excitement.
“Waaah!”
The dragonkin who barely reached my chin was already jumping in place.
Well… considering it was Rene, that wasn’t surprising.
What I couldn’t accept—
Was the scene inside Alfheim.
“My daughter, what do you want for dinner?”
“Hmm! Chicken breast steak! I skipped leg day while studying, so I lost muscle!”
Normally—
A father would carry his daughter.
Here—
The daughter carried her father.
Ridiculous.
But looking at her thick thighs and bulging biceps—
It made sense.
“Hey, you there!”
“What?”
“The stairs are shaking. Toss me that hammer!”
“Got it.”
Sounds like construction workers, right?
Except—
The workers were all female elves.
Shirtless.
Muscles fully exposed.
At least a towel barely covered the essentials.
“Is something wrong? You’re sweating a lot.”
“…Well.”
Everything was wrong.
I knew about gender reversal—
But experiencing it directly was something else.
“Just the heat. I’ll be fine.”
“I understand. Let us know if you need anything.”
“…Alright.”
Too polite.
Too respectful.
Honestly, it was uncomfortable.
[It’s because of the death visions I showed them.]
‘What exactly did you show?’
[Women starving. Men dying from… excess pleasure.]
…Yeah.
That explains everything.
No wonder they were terrified.
“You wanted to show us around?”
“Actually—just take me to lodging.”
“Understood.”
From hangover…
To burying adventurers…
To resolving the ant situation…
To packing…
To being ambushed by elves…
To arriving here—
All in one day.
I was exhausted.
But—
Rene stared at me.
Right.
The promise.
“…Can you prepare a small welcoming party?”
“…A party?”
“I know it’s unreasonable. But…”
I ruffled her hair.
“…there’s someone who really wants one.”
“…Understood.”
“If it brings hope to Alfheim, we’ll do it.”
Her smile—
Warm.
Even if—
She was a man.
Still—
This village didn’t feel so bad anymore.
“Damn! What a body!”
“Look at those muscles!”
“Want some honey wine?”
Alfheim—
Was the worst.
The moment the party started—
Female elves swarmed me.
In another world—
I’d be smiling.
Here—
I was stone.
“Relax!”
“We’ll make it fun!”
“Want to go somewhere quiet with me?”
Predators.
Hyenas.
Touching my arms.
Checking my muscles.
This felt like—
Being a pretty freshman girl at a university party.
[…Shall we kill them all?]
‘No. I need the World Tree fruit.’
[…We can take it by force.]
‘And fight hundreds of elves?’
[…You have me.]
‘I also have common sense.’
Losing wasn’t the issue.
The aftermath—
Was.
Dark prison.
Surrounded by muscular elf women—
No thanks.
“…Tell me. Who were you just imagining?”
“…Your beautiful abs.”
I chose survival.
[…Coward.]
‘Strategic retreat.’
Then—
I looked at Rene.
She was happily eating.
Completely useless.
“…Great.”
Only option—
Escape.
“Where’s the bathroom?”
“Outside, usually.”
“Or come with me—”
“No thanks.”
I slipped away.
Now—
Where to hide?
Then—
I saw it.
The temple beneath the World Tree.
Guards—
Reduced.
Perfect.
“Let’s go.”
I activated shadow movement.
Fell into my own shadow—
Entered the subspace.
Weightless.
Silent.
Moved through darkness.
Reached the temple.
[You know about this place?]
‘From a book.’
[…So forbidden texts still exist.]
‘Enough talking.’
I emerged.
Inside.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Then—
“Who’s there?”
“…Huh?”
I turned.
An elf stood there.
Veil of leaves.
Soft glow.
Hair like new sprouts.
Eyes like emeralds.
Priest robes revealing pale skin—
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Almost…
Too beautiful.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“Ah—sorry! I was looking for the bathroom!”
“It’s over there.”
“Thank you.”
I almost got captivated—
But held back.
Because—
Obviously—
He’s a guy.
I tapped his shoulder—
“Ah—!”
He flinched violently.
“Sorry!”
“It’s just… I’ve never touched the opposite sex before…”
“…It’s fine. I’m a man.”
“I know…”
“…What?”
“…I know.”
He lowered his head shyly.
“…Wait.”
Something felt—
Very wrong.