Chapter 19: The Elf's Revenge (3)

Franz followed the elves through the massive trees of the Great Forest.

'So this is what it's like.'

The Great Forest was even more impressive than he had imagined. Enormous trees formed a dense canopy, with all manner of plants and animals living in harmony beneath. There was an air of mystery and dreamlike wonder to it all, as if Franz had stepped into a nature documentary.

In truth, this was Franz's first time entering the Great Forest. It was a place humans were not allowed to enter. Venturing in carelessly would result in attacks from the elves, as he had experienced earlier. Of course, one could force their way in with enough military might, but Franz had no desire to do that to a forest full of elves.

'A documentary with elves as the native inhabitants would sell like crazy...' Franz was lost in such idle thoughts when suddenly:

"Halt!"

A group of four elves appeared, blocking their path. The fact that they always moved in groups of four suggested a highly organized system. Fortunately, unlike before, they didn't immediately start firing arrows. They simply watched with wary expressions.

One of the elves at the front spoke up:

"Hera, I'll go ahead and explain the situation."

"Please do."

He approached the elves blocking their way. After exchanging some words, he brought them over to Hera. What followed was similar to before - Hera took out a necklace from her pocket and spoke persuasively. There was even one troublemaker, just like last time.

"You! How can you listen to this traitor who sold out her own kind...?"

Boing boing-

Once Franz trapped the loudmouth in a sphere and cast a silencing spell, the persuasion proceeded smoothly. Clearly, the best way to deal with unreasonable people was to keep them quiet.

Just then, the elf child spoke to Franz:

"I want to boing boing too!"

Seeing the floating sphere increase from one to two was apparently too tempting to resist. Growing up in a forest like this, the child probably didn't have many toys. It was a bit sad...

Hmm-

After a moment's thought, Franz flicked his finger, trapping the child in a sphere and lifting them into the air. The child let out a delighted squeal of laughter.

The problem was, the child wasn't the only one who had grown up without toys.

"Um, could you do that for me too...?"

"Me too-!"

"Perhaps..."

In the end, Franz had to trap all the former slave elves in spheres and float them in the air. Having already done it for the child, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. This is why precedents are so important.

"Franz, we should get going now."

"Right, let's do that."

With three new elves and one troublemaker added to their group, Franz and his companions set off once more towards the depths of the Great Forest.

Time passed, and they drew ever closer to the World Tree at the forest's center. Finally, Franz's group arrived at the elven settlement. The elven homes were carved into the middle sections of enormous trees - fitting for a people who loved nature.

'How fascinating.'

As Franz was looking around in wonder, someone suddenly appeared before the group. With a stony expression, he spoke:

"He-Hera...? How did you get here...?"

"Brother, I mean, Heris."

"A traitor to her own kind dares set foot in the Great Forest! You there! What are you doing?! Seize her at once!!"

Heris trembled all over as he barked orders at the elves.

'This is truly absurd.'

A bitter laugh escaped Franz's lips. Who was calling whom a traitor? These weren't words that should come from someone who had sold even children into slavery to line his own pockets. Then again, that's probably why he was capable of such deeds in the first place.

"This is an order from your chieftain! Capture her immediately!"

Heris shouted his command again, but the elves simply averted their eyes.

"Oh? So you're all in league with the traitors! Do you think you can remain in the Great Forest after this?!"

Heris' loud voice drew more and more elves to gather around. Some were armed with bows and blades. It seemed he was trying to incite and mislead them once again.

However, with clear evidence in hand, Hera no longer ran away. She stood her ground firmly.

"Heris, I've come to set right what has gone wrong."

"The only wrong thing here is you!! You conspired with humans to sell out your own kind!!"

"I see. So you truly haven't changed at all."

Hera took out the necklace from her pocket and tossed it in front of Heris.

"You know best what this is."

"H-how did you get that...?"

"A human noble had it. The same noble you sold our people to."

At Hera's words, the surrounding elves began to stir. Their twitching ears betrayed their emotions. They must be feeling quite confused. After all, the elf they had trusted and followed for a year turned out to be the real traitor.

"N-no! I simply lost this!! You're trying to frame me!"

"Frame you? Then explain in detail. Where exactly did you drop this necklace, and how did it end up in the possession of a human who bought elven slaves?"

"Th-that's..."

Heris trailed off, unable to provide an answer. His eyes darted about wildly, searching for an escape.

Just then:

"Chieftain! Don't be swayed by the traitor's words!"

"Let's capture and execute the traitor!!"

Voices supporting Heris rose from among the elves.

'Those must be his lackeys.'

There was clear evidence and witnesses. In such a situation, to not only break their silence but to actively side with Heris was incomprehensible to any normal way of thinking. Especially since they chimed in at the exact moment Heris was unable to answer.

There was a high probability they were Heris' cronies, and even if they weren't, they were as good as poison to the elven community. After all, no group needs seeds of discord.

Snap-

Franz flicked his finger, lifting the elves who had sided with Heris into the air. He then cast a silencing spell to prevent further incitement.

Seeing this, Heris pointed at Franz with a trembling finger.

"L-look at that!! She came with a human!! I was right, she has been conspiring with humans!!"

"He is a former comrade from my days in the Hero's party. He was instrumental in rescuing our kidnapped kin. If you're curious, you can ask him directly."

At Hera's words, Franz released the former slave elves from their transparent spheres. The elves approached Hera, facing Heris.

Hera spoke:

"Now then, please explain what happened to you."

"W-well, Miss Hera and that human magician rescued us from slavery."

"Hera isn't that kind of person...! This is all a misunderstanding...!"

"The bouncy thing was fun-!"

The last comment from the elf child was a bit off-topic, but overall, the elves were clearly on Hera's side. And it didn't end there. One by one, elves that Hera had rescued over the past year began to speak up.

"I-I was also saved by Miss Hera..."

"Me too!"

In fact, when Hera had sent rescued elves back to the Great Forest, she had made one request: never mention that she had saved them. In a situation where Heris held power, such words could have brought harm upon them. But now, things are different. Each of their testimonies lent strength to Hera. They were becoming the starting point for correcting what had gone wrong.

"Th-that's impossible...! Wh-why...!"

"Heris, I ask you."

"N-no...! Absolutely not...!"

"Why did you conspire with humans to sell our people? Why did you frame me for your crimes?"

Heris shook his head and began to slowly back away. As Hera took a step forward, tree roots burst from the ground, entangling Heris's legs.

Just then:

Whoosh-!

An arrow shot out from somewhere, aimed at Hera. Franz raised his hand to stop the arrow, then... slowly lowered it again. Hera's gaze was already fixed on the arrow.

Crack-!

Hera caught the arrow with one hand and crushed it. Then, glaring in the direction it had come from, she shouted:

"Sera-!"

Hera's cry echoed through the Great Forest, and simultaneously, the tree trunks shook violently. An elf fell from the treetops.

Sera. Hera's childhood friend, and the one who, along with Heris, had framed Hera for their crimes.

Hera grabbed Sera from where she had fallen and threw her down next to Heris. Then, with a cold gaze fixed on the two, she spoke:

"The crime of betraying one's kin is grave. You will both pay for it with your blood. The same punishment will be meted out to the five who aided you."

Death penalty for all the criminals. This was the judgment passed down by Hera, the new chieftain.