I’ve Reincarnated into an Elf

The question made Irian’s expression stiffen.

I could also feel the sentinels in the back becoming tense.

Irian discreetly withdrew the smile that had been on his lips.

“Are you talking about those cats?”

“Yes. They are the ones I brought with me. My companions and my guests.”

“Hmm… Guests, you say.”

One of Irian’s eyebrows twitched.

Silence settled in.

It was an exceptionally chilly silence, emotionally incongruent with the tranquility of the forest.

Feeling the atmosphere grow uncomfortable, I discreetly reached for my bow, only to realize belatedly that I didn’t have it with me.

Perhaps my action had been noticeable because Irian’s expression stiffened once more.

“If those cats were guests, you would also know that the forest was nearly endangered by those beasts, right? No, you must know, the person involved almost lost his life too.”

“And they were willing to risk that to protect it.”

As he responded without losing, Irian narrowed his forehead.

“…These cats almost brought disaster to the forest because of those beasts.”

“It’s not their fault. The orcs have been running rampant for more than a day or two. I hope you don’t blame those kids for it.”

“Eldmir.”

Irian called my name with frustration.

The warm atmosphere from just moments ago was gone.

The tension between us made the forest uneasy, and my sharp response continued to irritate Irian.

“Irian, I appreciate your hospitality. I mean it when I say that I’d like to conduct a ‘ritual’ for your people after my coming-of-age ceremony. It’s sincere.”

Here, the ‘ritual’ refers to a ceremony that Sentinels perform periodically, where they travel throughout the forest, visiting villages and offering prayers and blessings as a pilgrimage dedicated to their race and the forest. Typically, this ceremony is performed every 30 years, but the first pilgrimage of all Sentinels occurs after their coming-of-age ceremony. For me, it’s not too far away. Additionally, the Sentinels consider this ritual to be a tradition that honors the spirit of El Lyradelle and believe that during this time, the commands of the Sentinels are imbued with El Lyradelle’s power. Therefore, this ritual holds great significance for the elves, and having pilgrims visit their village is considered a great honor.

“But because of that, I don’t want to think badly of you guys.”

I didn’t use the word ‘enemy.’ Such words should not be used lightly among our kind. Nevertheless, the meaning was clearly understood, and Irian and the Sentinels seemed to tense up.

Even though I was injured and appeared to be unarmed, these people considered me genuinely dangerous.

I let out a bitter smile.

“Irian, you called me a noble and said they were individuals who wanted to see my condition with their own eyes. I didn’t feel any falsehood in those words.”

Surely, they must have harbored respect for the being who single-handedly defeated eight Warhammers and wanted to ensure the well-being of that existence.

If a person I admire were injured, I might worry and want to visit them to check on their condition.

However.

They were Sentinels.

Protectors of the village and guardians of the forest’s safety.

For such a trivial reason, they wouldn’t gather like this in a group.

“Just as you call me a brother, I also consider you all as brothers. For now, at least. So, please, my brothers.”

I raised my hand slowly.

Irian didn’t move, but his body stiffened even more.

Confirming that he still trusted me by not avoiding me, I gently placed my hand on his shoulder.

“These kids are not our enemies. Please understand that.”

“…The Orcs said those jerks were sacrifices that would complete their destiny. As long as they exist, the Orcs will keep coming.”

At this, I could only contort my face in disbelief.

I tried to hold back, but eventually, Irian’s words touched a nerve, and I couldn’t just stand there silently.

“Jerk? You call those kids ‘jerks’? Are you seriously using that term to describe them? The Orcs who invaded the forest or those innocent catkin who barely escaped the massacre caused by the brutality of those Orcs?”

The grip on his shoulder tightened.

Although the wound on my arm reopened, and blood trickled, I paid it no mind.

My nerves weren’t concerned.

All of my attention was focused on one arrogant Sentinel before me.

“You despicable bastard! Just because you couldn’t defeat the Warhammers, are you going to pin all of their sins and wrongdoings on those kids? And you call yourself an elf!”

“Eld. Calm down!”

Ignoring the Sentinels who had drawn their weapons in the back, I continued to glare at Irian.

Irian, in turn, met my gaze and slowly raised his hand to grasp mine.

Perhaps due to the injury, my arm that had been holding his shoulder dropped surprisingly easily.

It wasn’t a full-on grip, but I had no intention of letting go.

The injury seemed worse than I had thought.

Irian spoke with my wrist still held in the same position.

“It seems like you’ve lost your way due to emotions. What nonsense are you talking about calling those beasts your guests? Covering the sin? That’s absurd. Orcs are orcs, and beasts are beasts. Each has their own sins. Regardless of right or wrong, they are all enemies to our race, and their sins become our burden.”

Irian stared at me with fiery eyes.

“Have you ever fought against the beasts? Witnessed their claws piercing through a fellow’s heart? Have you seen their teeth devouring a parent’s head? Have you seen any of that?”

“…What?”

His words furrowed my brow in confusion.

This place is far from where the beastmen reside.

But what happened to them?

As if answering my question, Irian spoke.

“You said you would perform a ritual in our village. That statement is a source of great joy for me, but at the same time, it’s a curse in disguise.”

Is that so?

His parents were taken by the beastmen during a pilgrimage…

Even so.

“This is baseless animosity, Irian. Those kids didn’t harm your parents, and they haven’t harmed our race either. Their claws and teeth have not touched anyone.”

At that moment, perhaps Irian couldn’t contain his own emotions, as he tightened his grip on my hand.

My head spun with distant pain.

I sweated profusely but gritted my teeth.

“Even so! They are the last descendants of the beastmen, just as the Warhammers say. If we eliminate them, the tragedy won’t repeat itself for our race…!”

Slap.

Irian couldn’t finish his sentence; instead, he turned his head roughly to the side.

It wasn’t by his own will that he turned, but because of a slap.

From none other than my mother’s hand.

“…!”

Irian reflexively let go of my arm, but I wasn’t even aware that my arm had been released.

The shock was so great that it felt like a blow to the back of my head.

My mother wielding violence? That same person who exuded gentleness to the point of being the epitome of kindness?

I had never seen her resort to violence in situations beyond her duties.

“Enough, Irian. There should be limits, even to disgrace.”

I couldn’t help but be utterly shocked this time, to the point where my eyeballs might pop out.

If I didn’t get surprised now, then when would I ever get surprised?

My mouth hung open, but I couldn’t find any words to utter.

I just alternated my gaze between my mother and Irian like a fool.

“…I’ve been slapped.”

“I can do it again as many times as needed. Don’t go too far.”

At the sight of my mother’s fierce stare, I stopped her, forgetting the emotion I had harbored just moments before.

“Uh, Mother. Please, calm down.”

“…”

Ignoring my futile attempts to soothe her, my mother continued to glare at Irian in silence.

Irian, too, stared back at my mother defiantly.

…This guy?

Has he gone mad?

“…Irian, handle those eyes carefully. Because that might be the last day you see the forest.”

“…Eld?”

My mother’s bewildered voice could be heard, but I paid no attention and walked closer to Irian with my mother still on my back.

Everything that had been bothering me and that I had tried to ignore up until now had crossed a line that should not be crossed.

“I can endure insults and threats from you. It’s only natural to overlook that much when you saved my life. I had no intention of creating an awkward situation, considering that we’re in a position where we should be nodding at each other to avoid harm. …But this is too much. You, you bastard.”

“What are you…”

Seeing Irian’s confusion, I approached him aggressively, grabbing his collar and lowering my gaze to his level.

My muscles screamed in agony when I exerted force, but right now, I couldn’t even feel such pain.

“Hey! What is this?!”

Sentinels from the surroundings rushed over, but when Irian urgently extended his arm, they hesitated and couldn’t approach us.

I paid them no mind, whether they approached or not. In this state where I couldn’t even feel pain, they couldn’t physically stop me.

I should have just yelled at them to drop their bows with my arrow aimed at them.

Regardless of their actions, I remained focused on my opponent in front of me and continued speaking.

“You said you lost your parents to the beastmen. That’s why you harbor such hatred towards them. With that mindset, you should understand.”

The sentinels that Irian had urged on came back to try to separate me from him, but I didn’t even blink.

I had realized something about myself, even in this state.

I probably have anger management issues.

“You’re going to reveal your anger to whose mother now? You bastard.”

According to him, I fought and defeated eight Warhammers single-handedly —I can’t believe I’m saying this— creating another legend.

To slightly exaggerate, it’s as if I have the power to easily sweep away an entire village on my own.

Of course, it was possible because of an unidentified skill’s help, but considering the results, that’s the story.

Yet, despite that, they chose to be in the same situation as now.

“Irian. Irian Alskra of Chitaen.”

Surely he referred to himself as the El Sentinel of this village.

Then he must be prepared to take responsibility for that choice.

After organizing my thoughts, I finally diverted my gaze from Irian for the first time and started scanning all the sentinels surrounding us.

Perhaps, if it had been only Irian’s anger directed at me, the situation wouldn’t have become so complicated.

Treating Kelis and her group unfairly was undoubtedly an act of anger, but there was still room for us to persuade each other through words.

However, they crossed a line that shouldn’t have been crossed.

You shouldn’t have dared to reveal your life to my mother. You arrogant bunch.

I spoke, “I request the Trial of the Forest.”