Chapter 79: The Elf with Heart Eyes

“Chief Elder. I don’t feel like I’m hitting a person right now, but rather, I feel like I’m hunting a Monster.”

Click, clack. Shion slowly drew closer.

Her seething rage took form and erupted. Crackle! Crackle! Wild electrical currents sparked around her.

“M-Messenger!”

“What?”

Rohan gazed down at the collapsed Chief Elder with a look of displeasure.

All around him, the other Elders who were beaten with sword sheath were groaning and writhing on the floor.

More than half were unconscious and those who remained awake had dazed eyes.

“Quickly, protect me…! The killing intent the vessel is directing at me is real!”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know something even a fool like you can sense?”

“Th-Then why…?”

Rohan showed no signs of getting up from his chair.

For the first time, the Chief Elder’s face was painted with fear.

“Wouldn’t it be boring if I stepped in?”

“…Huh?”

“You’ve had enough of the bitter taste, now it’s time to rinse your mouth with a Carbonated Drink. Just shut up and prepare to die.”

Levin Maxwell still couldn’t understand what was happening.

Thud!

Before he could question further, a pair of durable boots appeared before his eyes.

The Chief Elder raised his head from the floor.

Shion stood before him, condensing electrical currents in her palm.

Crackle, sizzle!!!

A terrifying sound, as if he would be fried on the spot if hit.

For Levin Maxwell, who had lived a life untouched by pain, it was pure terror.

A desperate plea, not much different from a scream, laced his voice as he called out to Rohan.

“Messenger! Did we not swear an oath in the name of Hex and myself?!”

“Ah, that? We did. Don’t worry, you’ll receive your punishment when it comes.”

A true subordinate of Hex, having sworn in their master’s name, would protect them with their life.

It was less a matter of honor and more a mechanism of servitude.

That’s why the Chief Elder hadn’t doubted him.

Rohan shifted his gaze to Shion.

He listened to the girl’s voice.

“Chief Elder. I don’t understand you. My father probably felt the same.”

“…!”

“But my father would have tried to understand.”

The Lightning Attribute Magical Power Shion possessed.

A sphere of compressed energy fell upon the Chief Elder’s body.

“K-Kghhh──!!!”

Maxwell trembled as the electrical current surged through him. A pathetic whimper, not quite a scream.

The robe he wore somehow kept him alive, but it couldn’t block the attack completely.

The ornate robe began to lose its color. It had reached its limit in enduring this attack.

Rohan, who had been watching from his seat, gave his assessment while fiddling with his sword.

“One more hit and he’ll really die.”

“Th-That’s right! I’m at my limit!”

A glimmer of hope flickered in the Chief Elder’s wrinkled eyes.

The expectation that Hex’s messenger would rise and save him, even now. That was the look on his face.

Rohan turned his head away and…

Started chatting with Clara, who was sitting quietly beside him.

“I don’t think they’ve figured it out yet, right?”

“O-Oppa’s acting is too good, I guess…!”

“I was really nervous about when they’d find out. Maybe I have a talent for this?”

Their lighthearted conversation reached the Chief Elder’s ears.

Rohan, conversing with the girl he’d brought along, felt no pressure whatsoever.

Maxwell finally grasped the belated clue in the word “acting.”

“You bastard, don’t tell me …!”

The title the Chief Elder used became less respectful.

Rohan smirked, as if to ask, ‘You just figured it out now?’

“That’s how it is. Don’t feel wronged that you were tricked when you’ve lived a life deceiving others.”

Throwing aside the solemnity that had made him feel almost allergic, Rohan replied casually.

The Chief Elder froze in shock, and Rohan’s smile deepened.

Of course, it’s hard to accept.

His real name, unknown even to Shion, and information about the people he’d met in Tigrova.

The hidden background of the Reverse Praise Society, Judas’ Silver Coin and its usage, mentioning Hex’s plan, and so on.

Unless there was a way to contact someone and confirm, it was definitely information that could deceive.

Even if there was a way to contact them, it was highly likely they wouldn’t have tried out of courtesy.

“Y-You crazy bastards! You dare to use the name of the Reverse Praise Society…!”

“Old man. Don’t you know that it’s over if there are no witnesses? Are there any Elves here who can stop me if I draw my sword?”

“!”

Even among the Elf Elders, there were a few skilled in combat.

If Rohan had tried to force his way through from the entrance using brute force, the combined efforts of the Elf Elders in charge of security Magic and combat would have been able to stall him for a considerable amount of time.

That’s why Rohan seized the opportunity when he had the upper hand.

In preparation and anticipation of this moment, he’d completely pulverized the arms and legs of those skilled in combat while beating them.

They had undergone a special clubbing course, so even if he cut off their heads now, they wouldn’t be able to resist.

He raised his head as a gesture of ignoring the Chief Elder.

Shion was looking at him. Her lips trembled as she spoke.

“Rohan. I…”

“Do what you wish, Shion. If you can’t finish it, I don’t mind doing it for you.”

At Rohan’s kindness, Shion shook her head weakly.

Punishing the mastermind, the Chief Elder, was something she had to do.

“…I’ll do it.”

Shion brought the Sniper Rifle she was carrying to the front and…

Click! She chambered a round.

Then, looking down at the Chief Elder, she calmly aimed the muzzle.

“Chief Elder. You said you were afraid of death.”

“P-Princess! This is something you’ll regret! If you listen to me until the end, I’m sure you’ll change your…!”

Shion ruthlessly cut off his meaningless words.

“I hope you’re not reborn as an animal in your next life.”

She pulled the trigger─ Bang! A heavy sound echoed through the Conference Room.

The spent cartridge clattered to the floor, and…

The Chief Elder, who had been babbling frantically, fell into eternal silence.

“Haa…”

Shion’s breath hitched, and her hands trembled. It looked like she would drop the rifle any second.

She didn’t care about killing the traitor now.

The real problem was the complex emotions and memories of the past that came flooding back with her newfound freedom.

“Clara. Will you take Shion outside? I’ll finish cleaning up here and join you.”

“Okay…!”

“Please look after Shion.”

Clara nodded with a serious expression at Rohan’s request and quickly moved.

After confirming that Shion and Clara had left the room…

Let’s finish this.

Rohan stood up and drew his blade from its sheath.

Shing!

It was time to clean up the trash scattered on the floor.

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When Rohan emerged from the Conference Room after cleanly finishing off the Elders, he saw Shion hugging Clara and crying like a child.

“Uuu… hic! Huuuh…”

She was trying to hold back, but she couldn’t help but pour out her emotions. It was truly heartbreaking.

Clara, buried in Shion’s chest, which was larger than her own, was desperately trying to comfort her.

Rohan returned his sword to its sheath.

He walked towards them.

“Shion.”

“…”

All he could see was a face distorted by sobs.

The image of her from earlier—calmly assessing the situation, identifying the problem, and trying to find a solution while maintaining a stoic expression—was gone.

Now, she looked fragile and vulnerable, as if she might break at any moment.

Perhaps this was the true nature of the girl named Shion.

Rohan wiped Shion’s tears as she clung to Clara like a stuffed animal.

He spoke softly, conveying the words he wanted to share.

“The future may seem daunting. Anyone would feel that way after going through something like this.”

“Rohan…”

“Just know that every second from now on belongs entirely to you, Shion. Focus on doing what you want and living happily. That’s how you save yourself.”

Shion’s crying stopped for a moment.

She seemed to be focusing on listening.

“If you don’t know which way to go, you can pester me to help find the path for you.”

“…”

“It’s natural to struggle to find the right path alone.”

“B-But…!”

Rohan gently pressed his finger against Shion’s lips as she tried to speak up.

It was a comical sight, but to Rohan, Shion looked adorable.

He continued, with a light chuckle.

“A sniper needs a spotter to aim the rifle in the right direction, right?”

“…”

“You didn’t have a spotter until now, so it wasn’t your fault if you were aiming in the wrong direction. Understand?”

Shion froze after hearing Rohan’s words.

“Understand?”

“…”

He pressed for an answer again, with a forced smile.

Shion gave a small nod.

“When you want to clear your head and let go, when you need someone to hold responsible or to blame, I’ll be that spotter for you.”

Shion wanted to ask why he was doing so much for her, if only Rohan would release her lips.

As if aware of that, Rohan didn’t let go.

“Shion. Just live happily from now on. That’s enough, isn’t it? No need to complicate things.”

“Ah…”

With those words, Rohan released her lips.

Shion finally understood what she had been feeling all along.

There wasn’t an ounce of ulterior motive in Rohan’s words.

He, who was neither her parent nor family, was wishing for her happiness with unconditional affection.

Rohan…

The more she pondered over Rohan’s actions, Shion felt a soft emotion filling the empty space in her heart.

The pain that had been tearing her apart until moments ago melted away into something warm.

You, you never lied to me from the beginning…

Looking into Rohan’s eyes, she felt an inexplicable tingling and shyness.

“And conserve your Mana. Why are you using your Skills?”

Rohan chuckled, noticing that Shion’s eyes had turned into hearts, and expressed his confusion.

At the same time,

Clara, who had been quietly hugging Shion for comfort, sensed a change.

Shion’s heart started to beat wildly, thump! thump!, in a way that was different from before.