I’ve Reincarnated into an Elf - Ch 06

Chapter 06

“We don’t know either. We were just running to survive…”

Beastfolk are unmatched when it comes to escaping or chasing, thanks to their sharp animal characteristics and sense of smell.

They’re exceptional hunters and runners.

The only reason Eldmir managed to catch up to them so easily was partly due to his own superhuman senses, but mostly because this was the elves’ forest.

When they claimed they didn’t know anything, it wasn’t just ignorance—it was also a sign they didn’t trust Eldmir and his group yet.

Eldmir understood and simply nodded. Considering they hadn’t even noticed his group approaching so closely in the elves’ forest, they might genuinely not know.

“So, if we’re your guests, what’s in it for us?”

The kitten beast girl spoke boldly, still cautious. Her attitude fascinated Eldmir.

He didn’t know much about beastfolk. Were they all this bold?

“We can escort you safely to wherever you’re trying to go. At least, as long as you’re guests in this forest.”

“Escort us?”

“There’s no need to stay on edge. If we wanted to harm you, we would’ve done it already. It wouldn’t be hard.”

At that, the girl showed her claws again. Realizing he’d made things worse, Eldmir scratched the back of his head awkwardly and turned to Esiria.

“Mother, isn’t this the part where they’re supposed to calm down?”

“My son, just keep quiet.”

“Right.”

Esiria stepped forward, speaking in a warm, reassuring tone.

“We’re not here to harm you.”

“Hmph! Even if we look like this, we could handle a couple of pointy-eared elfs…”

“Kerith.”

Before the kitten girl could finish, the wolf beastman warrior stopped her to say any words further.

The girl, called Kerith, glared at Esiria and Eldmir for a long moment before unwillingly stepping back.

The wolf beastman placed a firm hand on her shoulder and gave a slight bow.

“My apologies. Please excuse the nonsense of the younger ones.”

“Teia!”

“Quiet, Kerith. This isn’t our territory—it’s theirs.”

Kerith locked her mouth shut, frustration was visible on her face.

Seeing her like that, a few of the girls beside her nervously grabbed her hand. Kerith bit her lip as she glanced at them, as if rethinking her actions.

“As I said, as long as you respect the rules of the forest, we will treat you as guests. Teia, was it your name, right? My name is Esiria Arhitea, guardian of this forest and a child of El Rdarel. Right now, I’m also the protector assigned to guide you through this forest.”

“We don’t need guidance. Just leave us alone, and we’ll be on our way,” Teia replied straightforwardly.

Esiria gave a bitter smile. “That’s not an option.”

“…What do you mean?”

Esiria spread her arms wide. “It seems you don’t fully understand what it means to be in the elves’ forest. Teia, the elves’ forest isn’t just a place where elves live. It’s so much more than that.”

As soon as she finished speaking—

“I thought I caught a smell of beasts. Turns out it’s wolves and cats.”

It happened so suddenly.

“And the cats are just cubs. But wolves and cats together? That’s an odd mix.”

It was as natural as if it had always been part of the forest.

“Doesn’t matter what they are. Outsiders aren’t welcome here. As protectors, it’s our duty to act.”

It was simply the way things worked in the elves’ forest.

“What?!”

Teia’s shock was audible as Esiria shouted,

“Brothers!”

From the forest, from behind the trees, elves appeared like shadows. When Esiria called them.

“These people are not outsiders; they are our guests. Do you intend to oppress those who respect the rules of the forest with force?”

Three protectors in hoods, their faces were hidden, stared at Esiria. They were from another village, unfamiliar even to Eldmir.

One of them stepped forward. “You’re Esiria, the protector of Le Rueal, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. And judging by your voice, you’re Istain.”

It seemed they recognized each other. The shadowy figure, Istain, nodded slightly.

“Those people are our prey, Esiria. Why are you calling them guests?”

“Prey? That’s not true. Surely you’re not claiming that the wounds on that wolf warrior’s body were inflicted by elves, are you?”

Istain and the other elves glanced at Teia’s wounds.

“Those wounds aren’t ours. And it’s not us chasing those beasts either.”

“Then…”

“Stay quiet, Kerith. This isn’t our territory—it’s theirs.”

“Even if we’re not the ones chasing them, that doesn’t mean they aren’t our enemies,” Istain said, pointing at Teia.

“That wolf warrior over there. He’s the one who sank his filthy claws into the necks of three of our protectors. Just because someone else was chasing them doesn’t mean we should let them go.”

His voice was laced with subtle hatred and disgust.

At that, the three protectors simultaneously held their bows.

“Whatever their situation is, they dared to set foot in our forest. As protectors, it’s our duty to fulfill our mission. You say they’re guests respecting the forest’s rules?”

Even with his face hidden under the hood, Istain’s gaze on Teia was visible.

“They’ve always been our enemies. They can’t be our guests.”

He then turned his attention to Esiria.

“Or is it that a protector who’s grown soft in peacetime can’t even grasp such basic truths?”

“How dare you…!”

Eldmir was about to burst out in anger, but Esiria stopped him with a gesture.

Istain glanced at Eldmir, chuckling quietly.

Eldmir knew exactly what that sign meant, but seeing Esiria’s calm expressions, he managed to suppress his anger.

Politely Esiria said “what a funny cjoice of words”

“‘How dare you,’ you say? Funny choice of words. If anyone here should be hearing that, it’s them, not us.”

This time, Istain’s tone was emotionless, less filled with the hatred from moments ago.

It was the cold, detached voice of someone who had lived as a protector for centuries, doing nothing but fulfilling their duty.

Eldemir sighed in irritation. He really didn’t want to step in here.

Istain drew his bowstring, aiming an arrow straight at Teia’s heart. The wolf warrior and the kitten girls showed their fangs together, ready to attack.

Just before the situation exploded, Eldmir suddenly stepped between them.

“Wait, brothers.”

He pointed at Teia, then looked at Istain.

“You might’ve seen this one before, but you’ve never seen the kids, have you?”

“…And who are you, anyway? You’re just a young elf who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet. This is no time for—”

“Apologies, brothers of the forest, for my intruption ,” Eldemir interrupted and smiled.

But the smile wasn’t warm—it carried a sharp, dangerous edge.

“But just as I respect you, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t treat me like a clueless child.”

Despite his polite tone, there was an angry intensity to him, like that of a wild beast.

Istain instinctively took a step back.

Even Teia, standing behind Eldmir, could feel the weight of his presence.

“…No, I haven’t seen them before,” Istain finally admitted.

“Exactly.”

“But what difference does it make?

Young elf, those people are outsiders in our forest, and as protectors, it’s our duty to protect the forest from them.”

“No, it’s not the same,” Eldmir said, pointing to the kitten girls.

“By your logic, at least those kids aren’t our enemies.”

“…What nonsense are you spouting now?”

Istain’s frustration was evident, but Eldmir swallowed hard.

He’d jumped into this situation without much thought, and this was his first encounter with elves from another village.

Finding himself in a direct conversation with them was… Not that usual

Communicating with strangers for the first time, and it had to be a confrontation. Eldmir thought to himself that he’d honestly prefer a fight.

This kind of argument felt painfully awkward.

He tensed up a little, but now wasn’t the time to let his nerves get to him.

Taking a deep breath, Eldmir focused on the idea he’d just come up with moments ago.

A fleeting thought had to be turned into something concrete, something he could put into words. He had to keep up the act.

Relax. Straighten up. Speak with confidence.

“That warrior, yes, he’s been your enemy from the start. I won’t deny that. If he’s always been your enemy, then, of course, he can’t ever be considered your guest.”

From behind, he heard the kitten girls trembling with unease. Eldmir silently tried to reassure them.

It’s okay. You’re okay. We’ll be okay.

“But those kids?” He gestured toward the kitten girls.

“…What about them?”

“You said you’ve never seen them before. So, naturally, you’ve never fought them either. They aren’t your enemies yet, are they?”

The girls must’ve come from another village and ended up here by accident—only to be attacked by goblins.

“Don’t they still qualify as guests?”

Of course, it was nonsense. Not logic, not reasoning, just a desperate attempt at finding a loophole.

But still, Eldmir gripped his bow.

“Just as it’s the protector’s duty to protect the forest from enemies, isn’t it also our duty to protect guests who respect its laws?”

“…I don’t understand your point.”

Istain pulled back his hood, revealing long, golden hair and a sharply handsome face with furrowed brows.

“Young elf, are you defending our enemies? Are you turning your back on your own people for them?”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. When did I say I was opposing you? All I’m saying is we should distinguish between enemies and guests.”

“…I truly can’t understand your thoughts.”

Neither can I. Why am I doing this? Eldmir grumbled inwardly.

“So, according to you, we let the girls live and hunt down the wolf warrior instead?”

It was a harsh compromise, and it put the wolf warrior’s life on the risk. But Eldmir nodded.

Saving at least some of them was better than nothing. He couldn’t completely turn his back on his people either.

This was the best middle ground he could find. It didn’t sit right with him, but he didn’t have a choice.

“That’s right.”

“Bullshit!”

A sharp voice rang out.

“You’re not handing Teia over to anyone! You want us to sell out one of our own?”

It was Kerith, shouting with unrestrained anger.

“Try it, I dare you! If you think you can mess with beastfolk—”

“Kerith!”

Teia’s voice cut through hers like a thunderclap, echoing in the tense air. Kerith flinched, her ears and tail drooping.

She glanced up at Teia cautiously, his stern expression silencing her completely.

“This isn’t your fight,” Teia said firmly.

“But… but, Teia…”

“If it ends with my life, that’s a small price to pay. Remember this, Kerith. Your lives come first. That’s my priority.”

Kerith’s eyes filled with tears, but Teia ignored her, turning his attention to Eldmir.

“If my life is all it takes, is that enough?”

Something stirred in Eldmir’s chest at those words. His throat tightened for a moment, and he struggled to speak.

But then he pulled himself together.

“…If the other protectors agree to it.”

He clenched his fists.

“Brothers of the forest, can we accept this?
The children bear no responsibility. Our only enemy here is the wolf warrior.”

“I really can’t understand you.”

Istain pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

“Young elf, they’re beastfolk. They’re not worthy of your respect. Whatever’s stirring in your heart, let me remind you—these people will become our enemies eventually. Whether they’re children or not, it doesn’t change what they’ll grow into.”

Hearing Istain say this, Eldemir couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“That’s exactly what I used to think…”

He glanced at Esiria, remembering the chaotic tangle of thoughts he’d been sorting through moments ago.

What had changed his mind? Why had his perspective shifted?

He kept thinking. Why, what, and how?

Then it came to him. The First Age. The golden era when all races coexisted in harmony—a time he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

The wars that followed, tearing the world apart as races spilled blood trying to unify. The near-destruction of the elves.

And the tentative peace with the beastfolk that came after.

Ah, of course.

As soon as he found his answer, the swirling thoughts in his mind settled, and everything became clear.

It wasn’t anything grand. Just a dream.

An arrogant, idealistic notion that didn’t suit someone like him—a gamer, a recluse.

But at the same time, he couldn’t think of anything more fitting for someone like him.

The realization made him smile, his heart lighter.

“To dream of the First Age… I’m not the only one, am I?” he said softly, smiling.