Chapter 18
The Great Forest, distinctly different from the surrounding woods, was densely packed with colossal trees.
From within, four Elves rapidly approached Franz and his party.
All of them had bows strapped to their backs and held menacing blades in their hands.
*It's understandable, I guess.*
Franz could understand their actions.
There was one man in a robe, and several Elves. And with Elves constantly being abducted because of someone, their vigilance must be at its peak. So, it wasn't unreasonable for them to suspect a kidnapping in progress.
Still, drawing their bows without even hearing us out... isn't that a bit careless?
“W-wait a moment! You’ve misunderstood!”
Hera shouted loudly, but her arrows had already been loosed.
The arrows sliced through the wind, shooting like bolts towards Franz.
*That's incredibly accurate.*
Franz genuinely admired it.
The distance between them was considerable. Given that the Elves were barely the size of a thumb, what more needed to be said? For arrows to fly in a straight line rather than a parabola from that distance was astonishing enough. They were even flying precisely towards his glabella, right between the clustered Elves.
If he gathered these Elves and brought them back to the modern world, they could probably dominate archery competitions for a century, couldn't they? Then, later, there might even be a law banning Elves from competing.
In any case, the Elves' archery skills were truly excellent.
However, the wall of a 10th Circle Mage was far too high for ordinary arrows to breach. Perhaps in a surprise attack, but shooting head-on like this, there was no chance of success.
Thud-thud-thud—.
As Franz waved his hand, the arrows fell to the ground.
*Should I just observe for now?*
The Elves had released their arrows before Hera even spoke. So, he could let the first instance slide. But if it happened again... well, he'd have to suppress them by force. He couldn't kill them, not with Hera watching.
Fortunately, it seemed Franz wouldn't have to subdue them by force. Hera had shot forward like an arrow towards them.
Seeing Hera rushing towards them, they slowly lowered their bows.
It was then that Franz was about to relax, feeling relieved.
“Hera! It’s Hera of the Root Tribe!”
“You traitor who sold out your own kind!!”
Unfortunately, things didn't go smoothly.
They raised the bows they had lowered and drew their bowstrings once more.
It was, of course, to be expected. Among the Elves, Hera was a heinous traitor who had sold out her own kind. It was no wonder even the Elves she had rescued hadn't let down their guard. They had been brainwashed by instigation and fabrication.
*This is driving me crazy.*
He had prepared for the worst-case scenario, but the worst-case scenario had actually come to pass.
If he had just left her, she probably would have become the villainess by now.
Franz let out a sigh of relief inwardly and used Teleport.
Light flickered briefly; Franz's form vanished, then reappeared beside Hera.
As Franz's hand swept through the air, the arrows heading for Hera fell to the ground with a thud-thud-thud—.
Hera's gaze turned to Franz. It was a confused look, tangled with surprise, sadness, and anger.
“...Franz.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“J-just one more time, please. I beg you.”
Franz nodded. It wasn't his problem to begin with.
“You all! It’s all a misunderstanding! Won’t you talk to me?”
“There’s no reason to talk to a traitor!”
“Just once, please, a conversation...”
Franz patted Hera's shoulder before she could finish her sentence.
Whether it was lingering attachment or simply not wanting to believe, he wasn't sure.
But there was no reason to grovel when they hadn't done anything wrong. And conversations were for people who could be reasoned with; those Elves had no intention of listening, so there was no need to even try.
“I’ll handle it.”
“P-please, don’t kill them... Haven’t they just been deceived?”
Whether they were merely deceived or traitors to the bone, he'd have to find out. Still... it wasn't a particularly difficult request.
“S-see! I knew you were colluding with a Human!”
“Where did you sell out your kin?! Answer me, Hera!”
They spat out voices full of rage at Hera.
*I don't like this.*
Hera herself asked him not to kill them, so he wouldn't, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't look favorably upon them. If they were deceived by lies, that was one problem, but if they sided with Heris, that was truly a sin.
Click—.
Franz lightly snapped his fingers in the air.
Then, a Transparent Sphere-shaped wall formed around them.
As Franz wiggled his finger, the Transparent Sphere, trapping them inside, floated into the air.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“Hera! Are you going to betray your kin again?!”
They pounded on the Transparent Sphere, shouting.
In response, Franz furrowed his brow and snapped his fingers once more, and the sounds leaking out vanished. He had added Soundproofing Magic.
“Franz, thank you...”
Hera bowed her head to Franz. It was gratitude for granting her request not to kill them.
“It’s fine. It wasn’t that difficult. More importantly, you need to steel your resolve. It’s almost like brainwashing, isn’t it?”
“I just realized it myself. I didn’t think it would come to this in just a year...”
“Well, it’s going to change starting today, right?”
“Indeed. That’s why I came here.”
Hera nodded, expressing her firm resolve.
Soon, Franz used Teleport to bring over the former Slave Elves who had been far away.
The Elves' gazes met across the Transparent Sphere.
A child Elf spoke.
“This—! Looks fun—*mph*?”
“S-sorry. My sibling is still very young...”
To the child, floating *Doongsil-doongsil* in the air seemed fun.
Franz decided to be understanding. Since it looked fun, he even wondered if he should give them a ride later.
Then, Hera looked at the Elves trapped by magic and said.
“Franz, I’d like to try persuading them first, if that’s alright?”
“Do as you wish. I’m just helping; fundamentally, you’re the one who needs to resolve this.”
Franz snapped his fingers, deactivating the Soundproofing Magic.
“How could this be...”
“I don’t know either...”
The trapped Elves seemed to be in confusion.
Indeed, it was only natural, given that Hera, whom they believed to be a traitor to their kind, had brought back the missing Elves. It was their fault for not checking, as she hadn't abducted them but had brought them back.
“You all, I regret that the situation has come to this, but you were the ones who attacked first, so I hope you understand. First, please look at this.”
Hera pulled a necklace from her pocket.
At that, the Elves' ears twitched busily up and down.
Soon, their twitching ears stilled, and one of the Elves spoke.
“Isn’t that the Chieftain’s?”
“Yes, I found it when I went to rescue the Elves.”
“B-but, Chieftain, Hera, you...”
“If I had sold out my kin, why would I rescue them again? It was all, all Heris’s doing, to gain the Chieftain’s position and wealth. There are more Elves I rescued within the tribe, so you can ask them.”
The expressions of three of the four Elves were clouded with confusion.
The Chieftain they had trusted and followed for a year, and Hera was presenting evidence right before their eyes. They must be conflicted about whom to believe.
However, only one Elf wore a different expression.
“That’s absurd! How can we believe that?! What guarantee is there that a traitor won’t betray us again?!”
The Elf truly erupted in a torrent of passion, as if they had just stepped on a block on the floor or stubbed their pinky toe on a doorframe.
*A stooge, then.*
Franz was certain the Elf was Heris’s stooge.
Otherwise, that reaction couldn't be explained.
If left like this, it would surely hinder Hera.
As Franz's hand moved once more through the air, the round sphere split into two, isolating that Elf.
“W-what are you...”
With Soundproofing Magic added, it became perfectly silent.
A brief silence fell.
The Elves and Hera, who had paused their conversation due to Franz’s actions, began talking again.
“Then, Hera, we will trust you for now. It is true that you brought those children, and that you have the Chieftain’s necklace. However, if all of this turns out to be a lie, we will not stand idly by.”
“Do so. If it is a lie, I will gladly offer my neck.”
Hera, having concluded the conversation, looked at Franz and nodded. It was a sign that it was now alright to release them.
Understanding her meaning, Franz snapped his fingers in the air.
Then, the Transparent Sphere vanished, and the Elves trapped inside stepped out.
Of course, the stooge remained trapped.
The Elves looked at Franz with strange gazes, then turned their heads to Hera.
“Hera, what do you plan to do now? Are you going straight to the Chieftain?”
“Yes. I must set right what has gone wrong.”
“Is that Human over there coming with us?”
“He is the benefactor who helped us with this matter. I ask that you bear with him, even if it is a little uncomfortable.”
At Hera's words, the Elves turned their heads back to Franz.
And lightly bowed their heads in greeting.
Since they were being amicable, Franz reciprocated. He had no particular desire to be hostile.
Soon, with Hera leading, the Elves and one Human entered the Great Forest.
And in the heart of the Great Forest, they found him.
The mastermind behind this whole affair is Heris.
“H-Hera...? How did you get here...?”
It was time to set things right.