I Picked Up the Hero Who Banished Me - Chapter 41



40 – [In the Elven Lands – 08]

Humans are prone to emotionality.

And the older you get, the more experience you gain, the better you become at hiding it.

There are some who are naturally good at it, but I thought that fundamentally, rationality and awareness are things you learn amidst the whirlpool of social relationships.

And Titania was good at hiding herself, her actions consistently presenting the attitude of treating the hero as an honored guest, but not being able to give up the World Tree sap.

“…….”

“What is it, you should be leaving as well.”

“I had something to say as well.”

“…….”

“No, more accurately, something to say came up.”

Titania showed her discomfort, but I just stared up at Titania with my usual indifferent face.

“What is it.”

“Don’t you have any thoughts on the matter?”

“So, what are you talking about.”

“Livia…ahem, Hero-nim could’ve rampaged in Elvenheim as much as they pleased. They could’ve squeezed out the last bit of their life force to survive and rampaged, or used Reyna’s attempt on their life to threaten you, either would have been possible.”

“…….”

“They didn’t choose any of that, and instead, asked you and only relayed the objective truth. Does it not spark any thoughts in you?”

“What do you want to say?”

From noble mtl dot com

“No, it’s just… I’ve heard many rumors that Titania works exclusively for the elves, and while she’d show minimal courtesy to outsiders, she wouldn’t be at all welcoming.”

Even in the closed-off Elvenheim, there were elves who interacted with humans, as they existed within human lands, and there were, of course, elves who wandered outside.

“You are a wise person. You must feel that the Hero is different from the past.”

“The sword that used to cut through good and evil like a blade has become dull. To put it badly, she’s lost her qualifications as a Hero, but to put it well, she’s become more human.”

In the past, if it was Livia, she would have never forgiven any wrongdoing and would have cut them down immediately.

But now, Livia has been burdened with torment.

Because she was a Hero, she believed she was justified to shout “evil be slain!” and judge her opponents as demons. Because she was a Hero, she believed she had that authority.

But now Livia doesn’t have that conviction.

She can’t move because her privately administering punishment isn’t anything like a cult leader toying with people’s lives.

And if that’s directed towards herself, the blade becomes even more dull.

It was nothing more than turning a woman who was obsessed with being a Hero back into an ordinary person, but if that person was a Hero, the repercussions would be great.

But Livia is okay.

Her way of thinking was ‘I’ll give you the maximum chance, but if you still refuse, then it can’t be helped.’

When she was talking to Reina, Reina was unwilling to speak, and Livia had reached to grab her holy sword.

“The Hero has justifiable reasons, and there were many parts to argue about, but she didn’t say anything and made a request. If you treat the Hero who saved the world like that, then you have no right to be surprised by Reina Forest’s actions.”

“…….”

“I understand that you have to discard some morals and ethics in that position. But as for me, there are some parts I just can’t understand.”

He paused for a moment, then looked at Titania and spoke.

“……Is refusing the Hero’s request and rejecting Silphy, what you’re doing right now, truly for the sake of Elvenheim?”

Titania, frowning, seemed somewhat engulfed in agitation.

How frightening.

She’s Titania, so she’ll be strong, probably stronger than me.

“And you’re running away not just from the hero, but from Sylph too. Are you truly fit to be Titania, standing there? Can you honestly tell yourself that every conversation we’ve had here, at this very moment, was for the sake of Elvenheim?”

“…You’re quite bold, your rudeness has gone too far.”

“I know. But don’t misunderstand. Convincing you isn’t my role. I merely walked this path to help.”

“Why?”

“……”

Why, huh.

I’ve heard that quite often.

Why does everyone keep asking?

Why do they keep searching for a reason when someone helps someone else?

“Why do people forgive, hating the sin but not the sinner?”

“…….”

“Because no one is perfect, and people are bound to make mistakes. There will surely come a day when I make a mistake, and in that moment, I’ll wish to be forgiven.”

“That’s selfishness.”

“Didn’t you know? Humans, elves, dragonkin, dwarves… even monsters must value themselves most of all. Hoping to be rewarded someday, hoping that the world will change for the better, even just a little.”

I looked directly at Titania as I spoke.

“Everything stems from that kind of selfish desire. …Titania, what was the very first desire you had the moment you sat on that seat?”

“I…”

“I wonder if that desire aligns with your current actions. … We will come again. I hope you, hero, are alive. Isn’t it good to have at least one person like that, in this world that’s hard to live in, a world hardened by all kinds of hatred and anger?”

“…….”

“If you refuse, and there’s a reason you’re hiding it, we would be happy to help if you told us the reason. … Even if he looks like that, he’s been worrying a lot about what he did when we came last time.”

Even if you say, ‘No, still, he saved my life, that’s too harsh!’, continuing to grumble about it means that deep down, he might be thinking that he was a bit much himself.

No, perhaps he’s more bothered by the racist remarks he made towards the elves than chopping down the tree.

Back then, it was Reina.

Now, since Sylphy is a companion, he might be a bit worried about making remarks that sound like insults to elves.

He sometimes shows a confident, magnanimous, and masculine side, but he also occasionally acted sensitively.

Well, that’s what makes him human, I guess.

“Excuse me.”

Ah, this is tiring.

This is why talking to high-ranking people is exhausting.

I’m not kidding, it really is.

Ah.

Right.

Before going into the hallway, I turned my head.

“Come to think of it.”

“…….”

Titania’s eyes glared as if to say, ‘What now?’, but I didn’t care.

If you don’t think that there are people who love you even if you do nothing, and people who hate you even if you do nothing, life becomes tiring.

I don’t generally care about people who dislike me.

I’m too busy minding the people who *do* like me.

“Examine Reina’s neck.”

“Reina’s neck?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself, but there’s got to be something there. Of course, you can disregard my words if you wish. …Well, I’ll take my leave now.”

After bowing my head, I left the audience chamber.

*

“They’ve given us a bigger room than I expected.”

Livia’s eyes widened as she looked around.

It was more like an elven mansion than a room, they’d practically lent us a whole building.

We were given permission to stay here at least while we were in Elvenheim, a more generous treatment than I’d anticipated.

This gesture alone showed that Titania didn’t hold any direct animosity toward Livia.

In other words, not giving the world tree sap might not be about *not giving* it, but about *being unable* to give it.

“So, what do we do?”

Livia sat down and crossed her arms, looking troubled.

“What are we really going to do!? They’re not listening to us as much as I thought!”

“Indeed, I didn’t think she’d avoid even making eye contact with me…”

Livia and Silphy seemed disappointed for their own reasons.

Well, it was safe to say that our first attempt at conversation had failed.

I naturally started making coffee with the prepared tools and said,

“Calm down. We did learn a few things from the conversation, but… there’s one crucial possibility.”

“Possibility?”

“From what we gathered, Titania herself doesn’t really hold any specific feelings towards Livia, just like those elves we saw when we first entered Elvenheim.”

“Really? She was glaring pretty hard.”

“That’s just her natural look. Livia used to be the same, back in the day.”

“R-really?”

She looked perpetually pissed off, every single day.

“But then why isn’t she giving us the World Tree’s sap?”

“Yeah! Just give it to us already!”

Livia nodded vehemently, agreeing with Sylphie’s question.

“Could I share what I’ve sensed?”

“Royce.”

“Yes?”

“Sylphie and I can’t do anything without you. Just give us the analysis results already.”

“Please don’t drag me into this.”

“Then are you going to go talk to Titania again all by yourself?”

“I’ll make the coffee, Master Royce.”

Shameless b*stards.

But acknowledging your own shortcomings and relying on others is a good thing. No one can live alone, after all.

No matter how amazing you are, there will always be a problem somewhere.

“To cut to the chase, this is just a possibility, but it’s possible they aren’t *refusing* to give us the World Tree sap, but rather that they *can’t*.”

“What?”

“Why did you come to that conclusion?”

“Actually, I’ve felt it since I came in here. I’m a spirit mage, so I’m sensitive to nature, and I’ve felt a sense of unease since the moment I entered Elvenheim. And just now, Titania’s attitude has made me even more certain.”

“What attitude?”

“She doesn’t seem to resent Livia, but she won’t explain anything and refuses to give her the sap.”

If she outright hated Livia, I could think, ‘Ah, she’s not giving it because she hates Livia.’

But she doesn’t show any resentment or any emotion like that, yet she’s acting this way, it’s more natural to think that she has a reason she *can’t* give it, rather than just not *wanting* to.

“Well, it’s still just a hypothesis. We need to gather a little more evidence.”

“If it’s a reason they can’t give it, is there anything else besides the World Tree? Could there be something wrong with the World Tree?”

“Surely not! It’s a divine miracle bestowed by the goddess.”

“Even the sturdiest rock can be worn down by water droplets over thousands of years. If something happened to the World Tree that has blessed countless forests for so long, then Titania’s attitude would make sense.”

“How so?”

I took a sip of the coffee Sylvie made and said,

“The World Tree is practically a religion for elves. In other words, it’s a national secret… Talking about problems related to it with an outsider is, well, not an easy thing. Especially since they weren’t exactly hostile, but they also weren’t being particularly friendly.”

“Okay, let’s go again tomorrow.”

“Are you planning to go every day?”

“I’ll go until my life runs out. Maybe they’ll get sick of me and give it to me. Maybe they’ll feel sorry for me if I act pathetic, right?”

“It’s good you’re becoming more human, but it’s happening so suddenly it’s a bit bewildering sometimes, Livia.”

Livia was slightly dissatisfied that she only had water and not coffee, but soon smiled at me.

“I like myself better now.”

“Me too.”

“……Uh, huh?”

My affirmation made Olivia’s face flush with embarrassment, and she leaned in closer to speak.

“I like houses with yards, seeing kids and dogs playing feels healing, you know?”

“Olivia-nim has gone off again. Royce-nim, you say things that make a woman’s heart flutter sometimes.”

“If we’re being specific, it’s things that make Olivia’s heart flutter.”

I doubt if those words would make another woman’s heart flutter, but I was glad it was something Olivia would like.

“Ahem.”

Olivia, snapping back to reality, quickly gulped down her water and stood up.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“You don’t mean we’re going back to Titania, do you? I, I, I’ve already used up all my courage for today…!”

I didn’t know courage was a consumable item.

Sylphie was trembling, but Olivia smiled.

“I want to look around Elvenheim.”

“Look around Elvenheim?”

“When I came last time, I literally just did business and didn’t have any interactions with anyone. Because of that, even though I’ve been to Elvenheim before, I know less about it than you, Royce.”

I was silent for a moment.

“So this time, I’m going to find out about Elvenheim. Judging things can wait until after I know.”

“You might end up with painful memories.”

It would be nice if not, but depending on the circumstances, there could be people who’d curse at Lyvia without a shred of fear.

Like idiots who believe Lyvia won’t attack them even with her right there, the possibility of them saying such things wasn’t zero.

But Lyvia smiled.

“Then that’s a responsibility I haven’t faced until now.”

“……”

“I’m moving now to learn even things like that.”

Hoo.

I don’t know.

“Okay, let’s go together. What about Silphy?”

“I… I’d just be a nuisance if I went along.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Lyvia said confidently.

Silphy’s eyes widened.

“You’re trying to create a place for half-elves in this Elvenheim, right? Then you have to go first. If you aren’t accepted, there’s no way other half-elves will be accepted and live well.”

“……”

“No, uhm. That came out in a way that could be misunderstood.”

Lyvia laughed awkwardly.

“This action isn’t a test aimed at you.”

“Of course?”

“It’s a test of Elvenheim. I have to see which they choose, good or evil. …I just hope the world is still worth living in.”

“Uh, um. You’re not trying to experiment on me, right?”

“……”

Livia clamped her mouth shut.

Looks like she hadn’t thought that far.

“Um, uh.”

Livia said, cautiously scratching her head.

“I guess you could feel that way, I didn’t think of it. Sorry. … Will you stay here?”

Silphy and I stared at Livia, dumbfounded.

After a moment, Silphy let out a small sigh and said,

“I’ll go too, I’ve become curious about testing Elvenheim myself.”

Actually, it’s more of a field study than an experiment though.

Well, should I go with them?

Honestly, if I just let those two go alone, they might do something impulsive.