I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 418  [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [6] Maybe Elves aren't really bad people after all?

"H-Hu—man…!" She whispered, her face draining of color.

And then, without warning, she fainted, collapsing back against the bench.

"..."

I was speechless for a moment.

"...Really?" I muttered, staring down at her unconscious form, unsure whether to laugh or groan at the situation.

Well, this was the Teraquin Kingdom, after all. It wasn't surprising to encounter someone like her who harbored a deep-seated dislike for humans. She probably assumed I was an elf since I'd kept my face hidden until now. The question now was, should I just leave her here? What if those guys came back?

I glanced at her unconscious form, then sighed and sat down a short distance away. "I really am too good of a guy."

[<James Raven will disqualify you.>]

Shaddap.

…

…

Ten long minutes passed before her eyes finally fluttered open. Did I really look that terrible? Bad enough to make her pass out for a full ten minutes? She blinked a few times, looking straight ahead. When she realized no one else was around, she sighed in relief.

"Had good dreams?" I asked lightly.

"...!" The girl froze. She turned her head slowly to the left, saw me, and flinched in fear all over again.

"Don't pass out again!" I quickly spoke up.

"Hyaa!" But she cried out, covering her ears as if to shield herself from the very sound of my voice.

Seeing her genuine terror, I let out a long sigh. "My bad, but I did save you, you know?" I said, trying to soften my tone.

She peered at me timidly from behind her hands, which still clutched her ears, before quickly looking away, her gaze fixed on the ground. Her fists trembled as she clenched them tightly in her lap.

"Do you have a safe place to go?" I asked, hoping to get some kind of response.

She remained silent, still trembling.

"At least tell me if there's someone you trust, someone I can bring here or take you to," I continued, sighing again when she didn't respond.

No answer. Just more trembling.

I stood up, frustration creeping into my voice. "Fine. Ask an elf for help then," I scoffed, unable to hide my annoyance.

"W–Wait…" She whispered, her voice shaky as she reached out with a trembling hand.

I turned back to face her, and she immediately averted her eyes from mine.

"I–I know, um…someone…" She finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you know where they are?" I asked.

She nodded meekly.

"Do you want me to take you there, or would you rather find an elf to help you?" I pressed, aware of her apparent fear of humans.

She shook her head.

"What does that mean? Do you need me to help you or not?" I asked, pushing her for a clearer answer.

"Um…" She nodded again.

"Say it, then," I urged, managing a wry smile as I took a step closer. But then I paused. "Erm… I'll need to lift you again."

"…!"

Seeing her freeze, I quickly backtracked. "You know what? Forget about it. Just tell me where this person is, and I'll go get them for you," I offered, realizing this was becoming more of a hassle than I anticipated. I needed to get back to James Raven before he started wondering where I had wandered off to.

If he already hadn't.

"N-No…" She stammered, her voice barely a whisper as she shook her head, reaching out with trembling arms. The vulnerability in her gesture struck a chord deep within me. What is this feeling? She's too cute, almost unbearably so. Her innocence and fragility are stirring something within me, something that tugs at my manly instincts.

To mask my growing emotions, I hastily adjusted the clothes around my face, hoping it would also provide her with some comfort. With a gentle touch, I lifted her into my arms, careful not to startle her. She immediately wrapped her small arms around my neck, her grip tight yet delicate, and then, as if surrendering completely, she closed her eyes.

"Now, lead me," I said.

…

We must have made a strange pair. I was still cloaked in suspicion, but as we walked through the bustling streets, the girl in my arms cheerfully pointed the way, directing me with a quiet confidence. Though people gave us curious glances, no one dared to voice their thoughts aloud. Each time I caught her stealing a glance at me, she quickly averted her eyes, as if caught in the act.

"Here?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion as I stopped in my tracks. We had arrived back at the crowded marketplace, surrounded by vibrant stands and lively shows. The sheer number of people milling about made it seem impossible to find anyone here. How on earth am I supposed to find someone in this chaos?

I looked down at her, searching for any sign of direction. She merely pointed ahead, urging me to continue. I followed her lead, weaving through the crowd until we finally came to a stop.

"Where?" I asked again.

She glanced around, her eyes scanning the area. Was the person we were looking for still not here? What should I do now? Was I supposed to just wait?

As I pondered our next move, I noticed her gaze lingering on something nearby. Following her line of sight, I saw the archery stand we had passed earlier. But it wasn't the stand itself that held her attention—it was the bear plush hanging as a prize. Her longing was visible in her eyes. "..."

Those damn instincts!

"Oi. Old man," I called out, stepping in front of the elf man running the stand—the same one I had ignored earlier.

"Hah?" He answered gruffly, his eyes narrowing as he glanced down at the girl in my arms.

I gently set her down on a nearby chair before turning back to the elf. "Give me a bow," I ordered.

The elf scoffed, his disdain clear. "Hmpf. A mere human thinks he can accomplish something?" Despite his words, he handed me the bow and three arrows.

Three chances. That's all I had. I tossed twenty Eden Coins his way—far more than the game was worth—and took my position. My eyes locked onto the target in front of the bear plush. It was one of the hardest to hit, but I trusted my abilities.

With a deep breath, I drew the bowstring back and released the arrow. It sliced through the air—only to thud against the wall behind the target.

"A shame, young man," the stand owner snickered, a mocking grin on his face. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Oh…" The elf girl lowered her head.

What kind of trick was this? Was there something wrong with the bow or the arrows? I refused to believe I had simply missed. I nocked another arrow and, with a determined focus, aimed directly at the stand owner.

"Oi?!" he yelped, his bravado crumbling as he found himself at the other end of my bow. The arrow flew from my grasp, embedding itself in the wall next to him.

"A–Ahaha, quite untalented in archery, aren't you?" He laughed nervously.

Ignoring his feigned bravado, I smirked and prepared my final shot. This time, I aimed for the bear plush but subtly adjusted my aim at the last second. The arrow shifted ever so slightly in flight and struck the target dead center.

"Huh?!" The stand owner was stunned, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"Now, give me that plush or…" I let my words trail off as I nocked another arrow, aiming it into the void, though the implication was clear.

"R–Right away! Congrats!" He stammered, quickly handing me the white bear plush. "Aren't you a nice guy after all?" I laughed with a sly grin, passing the plush to the girl. Consider it payment for the use of her chair.

"T–Thank you…" She whispered, hugging the plush tightly to her chest. Her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, adding to the sweetness of her expression.

Maybe Elves aren't really bad people after all?

[<I will tell Layla.>]