I Picked Up the Hero Who Banished Me - Chapter 43



42 – [In the Land of Elves – 10]

“I apologize for being so rude without introducing myself first.”

“No, please don’t worry about it.”

Originally, that was something Livia should have said, but both Livia and Sylphy were clearly tense. So, acting as a mediator, I decided to say it instead.

Livia, despite claiming she hadn’t done anything wrong, was still watching everyone’s reaction.

“So… Ah, I apologize. What is your name?”

“I am Les, the captain of the Elvenheim guard. You saw me in the audience chamber earlier.”

Les reached for the water to drink before the meal, he said.

A hand honed.

Elves were naturally talented with bows, so those who wielded swords were rare.

Not that they were discriminated against exactly, but it was common knowledge that an elf with a bow was ‘stronger’ than one with a sword, in terms of actual ability.

For an elf like him to wield a sword and rise to the high position of captain of the guard, it was proof that he, along with his natural talent, had never ceased his efforts.

That effort remained etched onto Les’s body.

“So, what is it?”

Liviah asked, her voice trembling slightly, awkwardly. Les closed his eyes for a moment, as if in thought, then immediately spoke.

“First, I might not be qualified to represent Elvenheim, but I came to apologize.”

“Apologize? To me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“When you visited last time, I was away dealing with a monster nearby, so I’m not aware of the exact situation. But I heard that our elves acted disrespectfully.”

“Disrespectful?”

Liviah genuinely looked at Les with a ‘what disrespect?’ expression, and Les, rather, seemed a bit flustered.

I sighed quietly and leaned closer to Liviah, whispering in her ear.

“You apparently cut down the forest while hunting a monster. He’s talking about how they basically banished you for that.”

“Ah, that.”

Liviah drank the water she had been given and said.

“There’s no need to worry about it. Back then, I thought there was nothing heavier than ‘life’ for a person. More precisely, I believed that nothing, unless broken, could be prioritized over life.”

Of course, it varies from person to person.

The survival instinct was a pretty high-ranking instinct, even among instincts.

But there were people who ignored that instinct and pursued what they wanted, even if it meant risking their lives. Or maybe should I say, people who threw their lives away?

“I just didn’t respect Elvenheim. If I had been more humble there, the elves wouldn’t have gotten so angry.”

Given the already emotionally charged situation, making racist remarks like that meant the hyped-up elves wouldn’t be able to act calmly.

That doesn’t exactly justify it, but at least inside Livia, it seemed like she thought, ‘It’s understandable to that extent.’

“…….”

Les paused, silent for a moment.

Then he lowered his head immediately.

“Uh, huh? What, what’s wrong! Why are you doing that?”

Thankfully, it was a private room, but if it had been a normal restaurant, the sight of Les, the captain of the guard, bowing his head would have been quite shocking.

“Gratitude to you, who saved the world.”

“…….”

“I don’t know the reason you became like this, but you are a person who should have been treated better. …I only saw the past you from afar, but even so, I can tell that the present you and the past you are like different people.”

“Why?”

“Your eyes.”

“Eyes?”

“Your eyes back then had what I would call venom, something different from goodness, visible in them. Not like you were destroying evil for the sake of good, but rather like you existed as good in order to destroy evil.”

He was insightful.

Livia also went, “Ugh,” making a face that screamed, ‘You hit the nail on the head!’

Again and again, I say it, he wasn’t cut out for politics.

It was a good thing he had no interest in that area.

“So you didn’t just arrange this meeting for a simple thank you and apology, I presume.”

“…You are sharp, Sir Royce.”

Lass let out a short breath before speaking.

“Titania is hiding something.”

“Hmm.”

“Unfortunately, I, being inherently dull, have no way of knowing what it is. Sadly, loyalty alone hasn’t made me a knight trustworthy enough to Titania.”

Loyalty.

Faithfulness.

Those things felt palpable.

The fact that he knew the current Titania was hiding something and what he was thinking about was nothing other than self-reproach.

It must be tormenting Lass that his queen was worrying and agonizing, and he couldn’t do anything for her, nor did she confide in him.

“Dull…? Sir Lass is a knight that all elves admire.”

“….”

“Ah, no. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have butted in.”

Silphy opened her mouth, but when Lass looked at her, Silphy lowered her head and trembled.

“That’s not true, Lady Silphy.”

“Ah, you don’t need to call me ‘Lady’ from now on. I’m an elf who has stained the royal bloodline.”

“… For a dullard like me, it’s hard to read Titania’s mind, let alone the minds of elves. I’ve only ever gripped a sword and swung it. Even that skill is nothing but child’s play compared to the Hero.”

Les carefully averted his gaze from Silphy, then looked back at her.

“You’ve grown so much. Do you remember me?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps it’s from the human blood mixed in, but you’ve grown quite a bit. Titania’s feelings for you are certainly not something that can be explained simply.”

“…….”

“Hmm, I’m not sure if it’s alright for me to ask this question.”

“It’s fine.”

Livia said, looking at Les.

“Weren’t elves supposed to hate half-elves?”

“……There are cases of that among the younger elves. But it’s less common among the older elves. We understand Titania’s pain, but at the same time, we understand that this is a sin that should not have been done.”

“…….”

“Titania was a war hero and carried much pain. With her overwhelming charisma and power, she became the eternal queen of the elves after becoming Titania.”

Les shook his head, as if feeling sorry.

“That’s why we thought she should be in the queen’s position. Even if she made wrong choices, she was a queen who protected the elves more than anyone else.”

“…….”

Livia was silent, listening to the story.

“Is this the morality and ethics that must be discarded to maintain a nation?”

“Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to that. But this Les can swear on everything that Titania’s entire life was dedicated to protecting Elvenheim and the elves.”

“……Don’t bet everything on something like that.”

“I apologize, I am not a very skillful individual.”

Res bowed his head and continued,

“Turning the story back, many older elves often don’t harbor strong feelings towards half-elves. More often, it’s pity. … That is our sin.”

“Sin?”

“Our sin of leaving Titania on her lonely throne, pitying her, and failing to undo her wrong choices.”

“…….”

I gauged the reactions of Livia and Sylphie.

They wore faces that said they wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to put it.

“Lord Res, what you’re hoping for from us… No, perhaps more accurately, what you’re hoping for from Livia and Sylphie…”

“…As you guessed.”

“I don’t get it?”

“Me neither.”

So boldly clueless.

Well, whatever.

I glanced at Res for a moment, and he nodded as if to say it was okay to speak, so I explained.

“He’s hoping Livia will figure out what Titania’s struggling with, and Sylphie will help atone for the sin the elves are committing alongside Titania.”

“…Indeed, excellent. …I am well aware that making such a request is foolish, and how impudent it is.”

It was certainly impudent to make such a request of Livia, who has no good memories of Elvenheim, and Sylphie, a half-elf whose very existence isn’t favored in Elvenheim.

But Res must have seen Livia and Sylphie in the audience chamber and thought it over.

This was worth a gamble.

It might be a somewhat risky method, but he had determined that Elvenheim needed to change.

“The answer isn’t needed right away. …And it’s highly likely that what Titania’s worrying about now has to do with the World Tree. I dare say it might even be necessary for you to get what you desire, Hero.”

“Indeed.”

“What will you do?”

When I asked, Livia and Sylph fell silent at the same time.

“First,”

“First?”

“Shall we eat and then think?”

“We can probably stomach porridge now, right?”

“That’s why I ordered porridge…”

*Kugugung!!*

Suddenly, a sound boomed, and we looked out the window.

What is that?

“Kyaaah!!”

“The buildings are suddenly collapsing!”

“The children! The children!!”

I grasped the situation.

Suddenly, the houses on the trees were crumbling down, and the children nearby were falling along with them.

“Livi…”

*Kwaang!!*

The window shattered, and Livia flew out.

She grabbed for the kids right away, but it seemed like she’d forgotten she only had one hand.

“Tch!”

Livia clicked her tongue, kicking out to try and grab one more kid.

If they fell like this, Livia would take the brunt of the impact, but the young elves wouldn’t come out unscathed either.

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And the problem wasn’t just the ground; debris was also falling from the building above.

Sylphy quickly formed a bow with magic, and started piercing every last piece of debris falling toward the kids.

“Olivia, Lady! Hurry!!”

“Kuh! …Royce!!”

“I know.”

There was time.

This was Elvenheim.

The nation of nature.

It was enough.

“Hup.”

With a flick of her hand, water instantly materialized, blocking the falling debris. And it didn’t stop there; wind swirled around Livia and the kids clinging to her, rapidly slowing their descent.

“Alright!! Love you!”

“…It’s embarrassing, so please don’t say it so loud, and come out here.”

“Okay! Now, let’s go!”

“Ah, yes!”

“Th, Thank you!”

So, only after the kids were out, I slowly lowered the water, gently landing the building’s remains. The water dispersed in an instant, and I let out a deep breath.

There’s nothing as convenient as my abilities when it comes to dealing with emergencies like this.

Livia had slowed down in the middle there.

Probably used too much magic without realizing it, and the curse must’ve hit her with a wave of pain.

She’s smiling, but I bet she’s hurting like hell right now.

“Whew, that was a sudden collapse, it scared me.”

“Thank you for saving us!”

“Huh, me?”

Silphy was caught off-guard, her face blank as the young elves directed their words towards her.

“Big sister! You were amazing! You just blasted through the rock that was about to fall on my head! Amazing!”

“Uh, I’m not your big sister…”

“Ah! Is it because I’m older than you as an elf? Elves mature later!”

“No, that’s not it… I’m a man.”

“What!?”

“I thought you were such a pretty older sister, but you’re a brother…”

Silphy looked conflicted, but there was nothing to be done about it.

With that face and body, to be a man was, as Livia would put it, like their gender was abandoning its duties.

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“…….”

Silphy’s eyes widened.

What meaning did the young elf child’s words hold for Silphy?

Silphy’s eyes trembled, large and bright.

She looked like she might burst into tears any second.

“It’s nothing much, I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“…….”

“Les.”

Les glanced around for a moment.

He saw the elves.

Their gazes were troubled.

There was the long-standing hatred for half-elves, and children who didn’t know it were thanking a half-elf. And this was a situation where anyone could see that they should thank the half-elf.

Should he go over and offer his thanks?

Lost in that dilemma, Les bowed his head amidst all those elves watching him.

“Thank you, Olivia-nim, Royce-nim… and Silphy-nim.”

“L-Les-nim! Please raise your head! In, in a place like this with so many people…!”

Silphy was flustered.

The head of the guard was offering thanks to a half-elf.

And not just offering thanks, he even bowed his head, so it was clear that it could become the seed of a small conflict.

Even so, Les had bowed his head.

No, in this case, it’s probably *because* of that, that they bowed their heads.

“Thanks! Hyung!”

“Maybe it’s Unnie after all?”

“You wouldn’t know that without dropping their pants, would ya?”

“I’m, a guy….”

Sometimes, the innocence of children is terrifying.

“You wouldn’t know for sure since you haven’t seen it, right? Royce?”

“Livia…”

There was another person here, just like a child.