I’ve Reincarnated into an Elf - Ch 01

On the first day, I’m going to keep pushing on.

Chapter 1: The Little Clearing in the Forest.

The area around the clearing was packed with trees, and in the middle stood a young elf guy holding a bow.

He was probably practicing archery, standing still with his eyes closed and an arrow knocked. Suddenly, he sensed a familiar presence outside the clearing, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.

He opened his eyes and turned to look.

There was a familiar elf man waving as he came near.

“Eldmir.”

The elf smiled as he got closer.

“Eldmir,” he called out with a friendly smile.

“What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’?”

The elf smiled as he approached Eldmir.

“With only two weeks until your coming-of-age ceremony, I came to ask how your contract with the spirits is going.”

At that innocent question, Eldmir frowned. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

“Looks like the spirits still aren’t responding, huh?”

“Yeah.”

The elf sat down on a nearby stump and gave a bittersweet laugh.

“An elf rejected by nature. That’s the first time for me. Guess it can’t be helped. The elders say they’ve never seen a case like mine.”

Usually, elves communicate and form contracts with spirits from a young age, thanks to their natural affinity for nature.

But Eldmir was the only exception. He could talk to the spirits, but for some reason, they were hesitant to make contracts with him.

He didn’t know why, but he had become someone the spirits avoided. It got so bad that even his mom asked if he had done something wrong to them.

As the only elf in the village without a contract, he was even called an outcast behind his back.

“Well, don’t be too down. At least your archery skills are better than the village rangers!”

“So what? I’m still marked as an elf who isn’t really an elf.”

“That’s not because of the spirits; it’s just because you’re different.”

“Shut up.”

“Look.”

The younger elf shrugged playfully.

“You know what the other kids call you, right? Outcast. You use words you’ve never learned and think of things no one else would. Sometimes, it’s like you’re not even one of us.”

And honestly, he wasn’t wrong. Eldmir felt irritation rising.

“To my god, the guardian of the forest, the parent of all elves, Eldarelle, I swear, if you don’t shut up right now, I’ll stick this arrow in your mouth.”

Despite Eldmir’s threatening tone, the boy, Eder, just laughed heartily.

“Who uses a prayer like that? You’re the only elf who threatens your own kind while calling on a god’s name. Where did you even learn to say stuff like that? The adults say it’s a crude way humans talk.”

“So just forget about that outcast.”

At that, Edar shrugged but didn’t say anything more.

“Eldmir.”

Eldmir didn’t respond, but Eder continued talking anyway.

“Where are you planning to go?”

Eldmir flinched, glancing at Eder for the first time. Confusion was clear in his eyes.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Everyone who needs to know already does. Your family, me, and maybe a few of the elders and your teacher?”

“Damn it.”

“Hahaha!”

Edar burst into laughter at the unfamiliar word.

Other elf boys found it annoying when Eldmir used strange words, but not Edar. He just thought his unique friend was fun and friendly.

“With you preparing so obviously, how could anyone not know? Come on, do you really think the happenings in the forest wouldn’t reach us?”

Spirits, Eldmir thought.

They must’ve snitched to his family and others.

Damn things.

Not helping at all.

“Just drop it, Edar. You know I’m an outcast. I don’t belong in this village.”

“Eldmir, where in the world is there an elf who doesn’t belong in the forest? Calling you an outcast is just a way to poke fun at your quirks. Do you really think we’d reject our own kind?”

That’s unlikely. Elves, being the forest’s people, are symbols of harmony for a reason.

“It’s not that I don’t know that; I know it all too well, which is why I want to leave. I’m the outcast disrupting the unity of this village”.

Swallowing the words he couldn’t say, Eldmir spoke roughly, “What did the teacher say?”

“Dude, chill.”

“You’re really asking for it.”

Eldmir grabbed Eder’s collar, making him freak out.

“Hey, hey! Calm down! Let go of me!”

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t beat you up right now.”

“Elr El, what’s wrong with you? What kind of elf are you?”

“Try living as a different race for almost 20 years after being reborn in another world. You’d be like me too”.

With a pout, Eldmir glared at Edar before finally letting go.

Eldmir released Eder’s collar, still frowned.

Edar smoothed out his wrinkled clothes.

“Seriously, Eldmir, control your temper. Your actions don’t vibe with the forest’s spirit.”

“Forest spirit, forest spirit.”

Eldmir sighed, grabbing his bow and pulling the string. The arrow shot into the sky with impressive speed, disappearing from sight in an instant.

“Listen, Edar, elves aren’t slaves to the forest. We’re a tribe that lives in harmony, not forced to fit in.”

“Oh no, Eldmir!”

Eder glanced around nervously, worried someone might have overheard.

Eldmir frowned again.

“If anyone wants to hear, let them come out. If they’re bothered, they can challenge me. I’m not afraid.”

“Please, Eldmir Arhitea, keep it down. What will the forest think? The elders, the adults… Your way of thinking is what’s making the village call you an outcast!”

Edar was really shocked. He’d heard Eldmir spout nonsense before, but he’d never seen him outright oppose the spirit of the forest like this. Plus, it went against their identity as elf.

“Look who’s talking. You told the teacher about me without a second thought, but you care about what others hear now?”

“Hey, that’s different!”

Edar shot back, but Eldmir ignored him and kept walking.

After a moment of standing there in shock, Edar hurried to catch up.

“Where are you going?”

“Home. Don’t follow me.”

“Wait! So, where exactly are you planning to go?”

Eldmir paused for a second at Eder’s shout, staring ahead in silence. Then he muttered under his breath, “To the place where the great spirit dwells.”

“…What?”

That was all he said. Eldmir kept walking, and Edar stood frozen, not moving. The conversation was over, and Eldmir was heading back home. To the elven village.

The village was always quiet and peaceful, just like usual. All the elves enjoyed the calm that the forest brought.

The only sounds breaking the silence were the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects.

Occasionally, the sounds of animals would also slip through, creating the natural symphony the elves loved.

“…Damn it.”

Symphony, my foot.

Sure, nature’s sounds can be nice, but there’s a big difference between quiet and just plain dull. Just because the forest sings doesn’t mean it’s a human voice.

They sit there satisfied listening to it while keeping their mouths shut—what is this, a ghost town or a place where people live?

Not speaking when it’s not needed is more like a machine than a person.

Eldmir had been living here for 20 years now, so he was somewhat used to it, but it was still one of the things he disliked the most.

No matter how long it’s been, he had already spent over 30 years living as a human before this. Being an elf still felt awkward to him.

“…I’m back.”

He said the greeting, but the house was empty. Saying it anyway has become a habit.

-Oh.

“What? Someone’s here?”

Eldmir raised an eyebrow at the unexpected voice instead of the usual silence.

On the table, which also served as a desk in the small living room, lay a semi-transparent, reddish raccoon.

The raccoon smirked at Eldmir’s puzzled expression.

-What?

“…Could you get off the dining table?”

-Why’s this your house? It’s ours.

“Who decided you could just join our family?”

-If you don’t like it, try canceling the contract.

Eldmir was annoyed by the spirit’s attitude.

“Can you at least try to speak nicely?”

The raccoon snickered again.

-That’s your way of talking.

Eldmir frowned at the attitude. He stepped forward, grabbed the spirit by the scruff, and tossed it toward the door.

“Get lost. Go find your contract partner.”

-Hmph, the contractor sent me back first.

Thought I might catch you doing something pathetic.

“Mom?”

Eldmir tilted his head at the unexpected mention.

The raccoon, still floating in the air from being tossed, settled gently on Eldmir’s shoulder and spoke up.

-Hey, rebellious elf.

“Come on, stop calling me that.”

-What should I call you then, if not rebellious elf?

Eldmir playfully flicked the spirit on its nose.

Hitting the raccoon didn’t really hurt it, since it was a spirit, but the raccoon twitched its nose anyway.

-You know, Ershia is really worried that you still haven’t made a contract with a spirit before your coming-of-age ceremony.

“Damn it… if you know, why not help me out with the contract?”

-Why should I? I’ve already got a contractor.

“No, I mean tell your friends to do something. Why does it seem like they freak out every time they see me?”

-Hmph. Dig deep into your heart and tell me, rebellious elf.

The raccoon whispered,

-How much of a true elf do you really have in you?

“…”

Eldmir’s expression shifted at that loaded comment. Staring at the raccoon floating above him, he found himself speechless, and the raccoon chuckled again.

-Rebellious elf.

None of us spirits have any doubts about your existence, nor have we ever shared any suspicions about you with other elves.

We have no intention of doing that.

No matter what, you’re still an elf, and elves are the forest’s eternal friends.

The raccoon spun in the air, still upside down as it continued speaking.

-Your existence holds no significance for us spirits. You’re an elf and a part of the forest, but you’re not really our friend. So, we decided to just watch you.

Even if your soul doesn’t carry the distinct scent of an elf, you’re still one.

“…Should I be thankful for that?”

-Not at all.

“Damn it, seriously.”

The raccoon laughed and flipped over again.

-We’re just a part of nature, living off everything in this world. Our contract with you doesn’t affect your identity as an elf. There’s really no need to worry about it.

“There’s nothing sadder than being a minority among a majority.”

-That’s a unique perspective.

That might only be true for you spirits and other elves. With a sigh, Eldmir changed the subject.

“So, where’s Mom? Where is she now?”

-Ah, there were signs of beastmen in the forest recently.

She went to check it out and keep an eye on things.

What the hell does that mean?