Chapter 11: The Second Villainess

In the heart of the continent stood a massive forest known as the Great Forest. It was an ecological treasure trove, filled with trees so enormous they made baobabs look like saplings in comparison.

At the very center of this Great Forest stood a tree of unparalleled size, reaching so high it seemed to touch the sky itself. This was the World Tree, revered by the elves.

Elves were born in the Great Forest, lived their lives within its bounds, and dedicated their entire existence to protecting the World Tree. They considered this their sacred duty.

Leaving the Great Forest was strictly forbidden by elven law.

However, amidst all this, a single elf ventured into the outside world: Hera of the Root Tribe, the elven archer of the Hero's party.

Hera was special among elves. She was beloved by all spirits in the world. While no one else had ever seen or communicated with spirits, Hera could do both. She even managed to form a contract with the Spirit King.

One day, the Spirit King spoke to Hera:

[The Demon King has been resurrected, and the world is in danger of destruction. The Great Forest and the World Tree are no exception. Join forces with the Hero and save the world.]

Around the same time, a Hero's party was formed in the kingdom.

Naturally, Hera informed everyone of this and declared her intention to cooperate with the Hero.

However, the other elves were displeased with this idea. Hera, with her contract with the Spirit King, was a crucial part of the elves' strength.

If Hera left the Great Forest, humans would surely run rampant again. They would penetrate deep into the Great Forest, kidnapping elves to use as slaves and cutting down living trees to turn into mere scraps of paper.

Moreover, wasn't the Hero's party composed entirely of humans? It was inconceivable to cooperate with such dreadful creatures.

Hera understood their concerns. So she promised the other elves that in exchange for her cooperation with the Hero's party, she would put an end to the kidnapping of elves and the felling of trees in the Great Forest.

Hearing Hera's commitment, the other elves could no longer voice their objections. After all, through Hera's sacrifice alone, all elves and nature could be protected.

Before joining the Hero's party, Hera conveyed the same message to the human king.

"Please, stop the kidnapping of elves and the felling of trees in the Great Forest."

"Is this the elves' request? Very well, I swear on my name to keep this promise."

Having secured the king's promise, all that remained for Hera was to strive for the sake of the elves, the Great Forest, and the world.

However, this proved to be no easy task.

Everyone in the Hero's party was human. Humans were the enemies of elves, so Hera found it impossible to view them favorably.

Fearing poison, she prepared her meals separately. During battles, she couldn't trust her allies and remained vigilant even against her own party members. She couldn't even sleep peacefully. It was a hellish experience.

As time passed, an incident was bound to occur in a party with such poor teamwork. In fact, they had been lucky to make it this far.

Due to Hera's mistrust of her allies, she took the wrong position and let an enemy slip through. As a result, a horde of demon forces descended upon the Hero's party, putting them in grave danger. Though they managed to overcome the crisis after much struggle, the damage was severe.

That evening, the magician of the Hero's party finally exploded with anger.

Slap!

Franz struck Hera's cheek.

"Look, I get it! Humans have done terrible things to elves! I understand why elves hate humans! But can't you tone it down a bit? We're all risking our lives here, and you're messing everything up!"

"But you humans..."

"Did I do those things? Did the Hero do them? Did the Saint do them? None of us here have done anything to elves, yet you're the one causing us harm!"

Hera couldn't respond to Franz's words. They were all true.

Not all humans were evil; only some were. It was wrong to lump all humans together and curse them.

After that day, Hera began to open her heart and gradually befriend the Hero's party. With their hearts aligned, their combat coordination improved as well.

Eventually, the Hero's party succeeded in defeating the Demon King.

Having completed her mission, Hera returned to the Great Forest, the elven homeland, with pride in her heart for saving the world.

However, what awaited Hera was the cold gaze of her fellow elves.

Naturally, Hera was bewildered. She had sacrificed herself to save the Great Forest and the World Tree, and even prevented elves from being taken as slaves. Even if they couldn't thank her, this treatment was unwarranted.

Some time passed before Hera learned why the elves behaved this way.

The humans, those damn humans, had broken their promise. They were still cutting down trees in the Great Forest and kidnapping elves.

In fact, during Hera's time with the Hero's party, the situation had worsened considerably. With the elves' main strength gone, humans had become even more brazen.

However, it was the humans who had broken the promise, not Hera. She didn't deserve such cold treatment.

Hera came to hate humans. She wished for the destruction of those who threatened the Great Forest and the elves by breaking their promise.

From that day on, she hunted all humans who entered the Great Forest. She showed no mercy. After all, they were the ones who had betrayed them first.

However, the problem didn't lie solely with humans.

Some time later, after finishing her patrol of the Great Forest and returning to the village, Hera overheard a conversation between her brother and his childhood friend.

"Brother, I heard Hera killed all the humans who came to trade this time?"

"Ugh, that idiot. Now we have to find new trading partners. What a pain."

"I don't see why everyone's making such a fuss over losing a few kids..."

"It's fine. We'll frame it all on her, and I'll become the next chieftain."

"As expected of you, brother..."

The sound of skin touching skin followed.

Trading partners, disappearing children, next chieftain. And the cold gazes of the elves.

All the pieces started falling into place in Hera's mind.

Hera finally understood. The disappearance of elves, the felling of trees in the Great Forest, the cold treatment from other elves – it was all because of those two.

If they wanted the position of chieftain, she would have gladly given it to them. If they needed money, she would have found a way to get it for them.

Why did they have to do this?

Before she knew it, Hera found herself running towards the edge of the Great Forest.

All her efforts to save the world, to protect the Great Forest and the World Tree, to save the elves – it had all been in vain.

As Hera left the Great Forest, she vowed to rescue the kidnapped elves.

If she didn't do at least this much, she felt she might truly wish for the world's destruction.

And so, in the present...

Hera stood before a massive mansion, holding a list of elf slave buyers in her hand.

Recently, rumors had been circulating among the nobility about attacks on those who had purchased elf slaves. As a result, the mansion's owner had no choice but to strengthen security.

They had hired a skilled magician to set up magical traps throughout the property.

Hera pondered.

'A skilled magician, huh...'

If that was the case, she had her own methods.

Hera's unfocused eyes slowly turned towards a distant, towering spire.

* * * * *

Haah-.

A sigh escaped Franz's lips involuntarily.

It was best to avoid getting involved in slave-related issues if possible.

One side claims they bought the slaves with their own money, while the other side insists they were kidnapped unilaterally. Both sides feel wronged in this situation.

Of course, by 21st-century modern moral standards, those who purchase slaves are undoubtedly in the wrong. But by this world's standards, slavery is legal, so no crime can be charged.

With one exception: elves. Elf slavery is illegal.

Arian, who had been watching Franz, asked, "Are you going?"

"I have to. It's a designated dispatch."

Franz said this as he stood up from his seat. He stretched his arms upward, elongating his body. Sitting in a chair for too long had made him stiff.

Arian handed him a neatly folded robe and said, "Be careful on your... dispatch."

"Sure, I'll be back soon."

If the villainess needs help, I've got to lend a hand.