Okay, maybe the relationship between humans and elves is much worse than expected.
Killing?
So that's why they were worried if the plan failed. Just imagine if the heroes managed to escape, report what happened, and trigger a great war between humans and elves.
Honestly, that would be very interesting—but also tragic.
Elves and humans should be building friendships, even though their lives are vastly different.
"What do you mean?" Aldean asked, confused. "What have we done to deserve being killed? Aren't elves supposed to uphold justice? We just saved a village from a monster attack! And you want to kill us!?"
The moment the word "village" was mentioned, the elves' faces tensed up, as if they had just heard a forbidden word.
"That's the reason," replied the long-haired elf.
Without another word, the elves rained arrows upon them. The arrows shot through the air at high speed, even adjusting their trajectory as if they were guided missiles. Who would have thought elves in this world possessed such magic? No wonder they dared to face the heroes.
But that didn't mean the heroes would just stand there and take it.
Aldean had already gathered mana into his sword, and the moment he swung, a sharp white crescent-shaped light burst forth, cutting down trees in its path. The elves' eyes widened in shock—they hadn't expected his power to be this immense.
They had heard stories about the heroes but always dismissed them as exaggerated tales meant to glorify humanity. Who would have thought the stories were actually true? This made their situation even worse.
"I suggest you stop before lives are lost," Aldean warned, issuing an ultimatum. If the elves persisted, he wouldn't hesitate to take lives.
The elves exchanged glances, still standing on the branches with their arrows drawn. At the tip of each arrow, a significant amount of mana had gathered, glowing with a bright green light. They were merely waiting for an order from the long-haired elf, who was contemplating a way out.
On one hand, she had to eliminate these humans for helping the villagers. On the other hand, she wasn't sure if they could pull it off. Even if they succeeded, there would be casualties.
"Explain why you're attacking us, and maybe we can pretend none of this ever happened," Aldean continued. "I believe the elves wouldn't make such a decision without careful thought."
To emphasize his point, he withdrew the mana from his sword. The elves were surprised but remained on high alert.
After a few moments, the long-haired elf finally sighed. "Withdraw your mana," she ordered.
Reluctantly, the elves pulled back their mana, and their arrows folded, allowing them to be hung at their waists. However, their sharp gazes remained fixed on the heroes, watching their every move in case one of them tried anything.
He watched everything unfold from a short distance away, sitting casually in midair—something he had just recently figured out while trying to spy on them.
Hiding behind the bushes?
He was tired of crouching.
Behind a tree?
Too many ants.
He had no idea how these people managed to endure, especially while wearing armor, which clearly had small openings where insects could easily crawl in.
"All that's missing is some snacks."
His eyes drifted downward, spotting an apple tree nearby. He reached out toward it.
Of course, that was impossible.
For an ordinary human.
But was he human?
A glitch formed, allowing his hand to appear right in front of an apple before disappearing again as soon as the fruit was in his grasp. A grin spread across his face—another piece of proof that he was no longer bound by the world's rules.
He took a bite, savoring the sweet and fresh taste before swallowing, then continued watching the unfolding drama.
"I don't know if we can trust you," the long-haired elf said.
Aldean let out a frustrated sigh, placing his right hand over his chest and chanting a spell. A beautiful white light enveloped his body—a clear mark of a protagonist in a story.
The elves' eyes widened in shock. They hadn't expected the hero to use such a sacred spell, one that could not be taken lightly.
A spell where one pledges upon their soul.
If broken, the soul is the price.
"Is that enough?" Aldean asked after finishing. His teammates were uneasy but chose to trust their leader's decision.
The long-haired elf nodded. "More than enough."
She leaped down, followed by five other elves.
"We apologize for taking such drastic measures. We assumed you were already under the Demon King's influence."
At those words, the heroes froze in shock.
"The Demon King? What do you mean? Isn't he already dead?" the spear-wielder asked.
The long-haired elf shook her head, her expression full of regret. "Unfortunately, no. Not long ago, the council detected traces of dark mana deep in the forest. We sent several elves to investigate, but none of them returned. Strangely, their magical traces ended near the village you just saved, so we went to check what had happened there."
She paused for a moment, steeling herself before continuing.
"What we found might sound crazy and hard to believe. But the villagers you just saved… are not real."
Silence.
No one spoke a word.
Except for him, who was now laughing loudly in midair, drawing everyone's attention toward him. Instantly, mana surged from their bodies, channeling into their weapons.
The elves raised their bows, while the heroes looked shocked to see him again—especially now that he was casually sitting in the air, munching on an apple as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Y-you!" Aldean shouted, furious.
"You know him?" the long-haired elf asked.
"He's the one who killed the villagers," Aldean replied, seething with anger.
The elves were startled and immediately lowered their bows.
"Wait… that means he's an ally, not an enemy."
Now that he had been discovered, he stood up, walking toward them. The elves' eyes widened again, especially as he suddenly glitched, disappearing like a broken program and reappearing a short distance away.
"What an irony. The heroes—symbols of righteousness, justice, and hope—just saved an illusion," he said, chuckling.
"How embarrassing, isn't it?"