The Road Back
"Elsia, is this the same situation as before?"
"......Yes. It's just that the numbers have increased far too much."
Countless elven warriors now surrounded us in a tight formation. Every one of them possessed the refined, aesthetic features befitting their race, yet even that beauty couldn't conceal their battle-hardened poise and razor-sharp hostility. Their expressions were rigid, offering no room for compromise. The shafts of their spears showed signs of frequent use, but the blades themselves gleamed like new, meticulously maintained. Veins bulged along their exposed forearms and the backs of their hands, marked with small scars. All of it silently declared that these elves were true warriors who fought with their lives on the line.
Their spear tips pointed at us from every direction, arranged with the efficient spacing of a trained military unit. The distance between the blades and us was barely twenty centimeters—close enough that a single thrust would reach.
An elf who appeared to be their captain shouted at us.
"What are you all doing?! Bind them at once!"
""""Yes!!!""''
Several elves stepped forward with ropes, but I acted first.
"That's not important right now! The World Tree has been attacked!"
Doubt flickered across the warriors' faces. The captain tried to reassert control, his voice even harsher than before.
"Are you lot planning to disobey the High Elves' orders?!"
"Hey, you idiots!!! The World Tree really was attacked by some unknown bastard!!"
"Don't spout nonsense!!"
The clash between me and the captain made the elven ranks waver. While the warriors hesitated, someone suddenly pointed upward and screamed in shock.
"L-look over there!! Smoke is rising from the World Tree!!"
Every gaze turned toward the World Tree. Sorrowful cries erupted from all around. Seizing the moment, I called out to the captain.
"Sir! We barely escaped! We have to save the World Tree right now!"
"Don't lie!"
"Damn it, I'm telling the truth—the World Tree is under attack!"
The captain's expression grew troubled. He turned to Ersciana.
"Lady Ersciana, is this true?"
"......It is true that the World Tree is in danger."
"Understood! Everyone, move to the World Tree immediately!!!!"
""""Yes!!!"'""
Idiots. The moment the World Tree is mentioned, their brains just shut down.
"This body is fine, so capture those bastards immediately!!!!!!"
"Ah, shit."
The World Tree, which had been playing dead while Hyeji was still inside, immediately ordered its warriors to seize us the moment she stepped out. It was sharper than I'd expected.
The elven warriors reacted instantly. They turned away from the World Tree and surrounded us again, spears leveled.
"This time I didn't even say 'Did we get them?'"
"......My apologies. I muttered it earlier."
"You crazy bitch, seriously."
"Shinu, should I just kill all these bastards?"
Hyeji growled, ready to fight, but I stopped her. Letting her loose here would only end in a massacre. Instead, I quickly moved behind Elsia, pulled both her arms behind her back, and held them with one hand. With my right hand I materialized a dagger from the five o'clock position of my mana tattoo and pressed it to her throat.
"You pieces of shit! You want to watch your World Tree's representative die?!"
The elves froze, exchanging uncertain glances. They clearly hadn't expected this. I raised my voice even louder to deepen the chaos.
"If you don't want Ersciana to die, clear a path right now, you long-eared bastards!!"
Finally, confusion and unrest spread through the elven ranks. Seeing them waver, Hyeji and Ayeon joined in.
"Ersciana's going to bleed! She picked the wrong mad dog to mess with!"
"Look at that man's eyes! They're the eyes of a lunatic who'd kill Ersciana without hesitation!"
Still, the elves only hesitated, their faces showing clear doubt that I would actually go through with it. Hyeji and Ayeon grew even more menacing, shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Move those spears! If you don't, this psycho's going to cut off Ersciana's arms!"
"An arm would be merciful! That trash would rip out her guts while she's still alive!"
"Get out of the way! Every second you hesitate, the madman cuts off another finger!"
"Why are you still pointing your spear?! Because of you, that bastard's going to cut off Ersciana's ear!"
"You sons of bitches, are you sneaking in insults?"
Elsia began to cry, her voice trembling with emotion so convincing it could rival a professional actress. Her expression was heartbreakingly real. Anyone who didn't know better would truly believe she was a hostage.
"Hic... hic... Why do I have to go through this... Save me... Please..."
"Shut up. Keep that up and I'll cut off your wrist. Kim Shinu."
"What right do you have to cry? Keep sobbing and I'll gouge out those eyes. Lord Shinu."
Why am I the villain here, you bastards.
[Still, it's working! The elves are backing off.]
The effect was immediate. The elves began to retreat, step by hesitant step. Even so, many still blocked the path. I nudged Elsia toward a spear still pointed at us. She immediately let out an ear-splitting scream.
"Kyaaaaaaaah!!!! Save me!!!! That spear just stabbed me!!!"
"N-no!!! I didn't stab anyone!!"
"You bastards are really something else. You'd actually stab your own representative?"
"D-don't lie!!"
"Kyaaaaah!!! They're stabbing me from behind too!!!!!!"
"No, you crazy woman! Wait a second!"
Suddenly Hyeji delivered a low kick straight to my leg.
"Hey, Kim Shinu, have you lost it?"
"Is the young master an honorary elf? Getting excited in a situation like this?"
"Damn it, it's not like that. I'm innocent."
The falsely accused elf protested loudly, but the others dragged him away. Their captain barked an urgent order.
"Don't harm the representative! Clear a path!!"
""""Understood!!""''
"And contact the Korean government and the Academy!"
""""Yes!!""''
The elves withdrew more aggressively than before. My only thought was how utterly screwed this was.
"...Shit. At this rate I won't be able to show my face in society again."
"Shinu, if it gets too hard, come to our place."
"Why? You offering me a job?"
"U-uh...... Something like that..."
[You really are a bunch of frustrating idiots!! Someone just floor it already!!!!]
Why are you making such a fuss? Getting out comes first.
Hyeji avoided my gaze after saying that, suddenly unable to speak properly. Once we broke through the encirclement, we sprinted straight for the gate. If things had gone this wrong, the best plan was to escape through it and figure things out later.
Just then, someone leapt out in front of us. I instantly dropped into a defensive stance—only to recognize the figure.
"An elf?"
"Yes."
It was Elsia's elven escort. Her arms were piled high with our luggage.
"I had a feeling it would come to this, so I prepared everything in advance."
"Oh. You were actually useful for once."
"......I apologize."
The escort answered gloomily, head bowed. Then she looked at Elsia with gentle concern.
"Lady Ersciana. Once you leave this place, please find happiness."
"......Yeah, thanks. The money I borrowed, when I get the chance—"
"Ah, please pay that right now."
"Shit."
The escort was merciless when it came to money. When I tried to tug the luggage away, it didn't budge an inch. She clearly had no intention of returning it until she was paid. Only after Elsia settled the debt did the escort finally hand over our belongings.
"Then, everyone. I hope we meet again if the opportunity arises."
Leaving the politely bowing escort behind, we raced toward the gate. By the time we arrived, breathless and exhausted, the gate finally came into view.
"Huff, I'm dying. Let's head back to the Academy for now."
"Young master, explain the reason first."
"What reason? Why we're being chased?"
"Not that. Why you attacked the World Tree in the first place."
"Oh. I never told you, did I?"
"Hey, Ayeon. Do we need a reason? If Shinu wants to smash something, he smashes it."
Wow, look at Hyeji backing me up. That's actually kinda cool.
[She's the real protagonist here.]
I quickly explained what had happened with the World Tree. How it had demanded we leave Elsia behind. How, despite her mixed blood, it had valued her talent and intended to use her for breeding. And how it had dared to call itself a parent.
Everyone's reactions were different. Hyeji was furious. Ayeon gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Elsia wore a wry smile, yet her eyes showed gratitude.
"That goddamn bastard! We should've killed every last one of them!"
"Ha...... No matter where you go, trash wearing the mask of a parent always exists."
"Calling itself a mother while acting like that? It really wants to die, huh?"
"Hey, I get that you're angry, but hit them, not me. It hurts like hell..."
"......Thank you all for worrying about me."
Hyeji in particular couldn't calm down easily. She probably still carried deep memories of her own mother. In the end, the World Tree had tried to use Elsia as its representative while keeping her on a tight leash. Though the selection had been by vote and another candidate had been favored at first, Elsia had ultimately become the representative. The World Tree had simply tried to exploit the situation and ended up facing justice instead.
"Let's just return to the Academy for now."
"True, the break is already coming to an end."
"We spent way too much time at the Unicorn Sanctuary."
"Darling! I know the coordinates!"
Elsia had cheered up, her usual energy returning. The moment she approached the gate to set the coordinates—
"Is there some urgent matter?"
A cold voice rang out.