I’ve Reincarnated into an Elf - Ch 08

Chapter 08

“Damn, that was intense.”

Eldmir tried to calm his still-racing heart.

He had faced battles with other species countless times, but he never imagined he’d end up pointing his bow at one of his own kind.

He couldn’t help but think, What would happen if I really fought a fellow elf?

If I committed a crime and got exiled from the forest… then what?

In that brief moment, a flood of thoughts had crossed his mind—from there’s no way I’d actually get exiled for this to But what if I really did?

Thankfully, it ended well. If those guys had decided to escalate, Eldmir would have committed an undeniable crime, resulting in exile or not.

The forest’s teachings strictly forbade killing one’s own species.

Wait a minute… didn’t the elders say something about fights being okay as long as there’s no loss of life?

He unclearly recalled them, even encouraging debating matches.

Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Eldmir focused back on the situation at hand.

“Thank you for accepting my proposal,” he said.

“…No, we should be thanking you for yielding,” Istain replied.

From Eldmir’s earlier display of skill, Istain had realized just how strong the young elf was.

Even if the three of them had attacked together, he wasn’t confident they could take him down.

Eldmir, an incredible figure, had chosen to handle things diplomatically and even offered a reasonable solution.

Insisting otherwise would’ve been more stubbornness than pride.

“Erya…”

Esiria, who hadn’t expected Istain and his group to back down, looked at her child with wide eyes.

Her son—her son—had managed to resolve this.

She felt a wave of pride.

The boy she’d raised, who was once quick-tempered and foul-mouthed, now stood before strangers, resolving conflicts with words instead of fighting.

Compared to his usual attitude in the village, this was practically respectful behavior. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched her son’s growth.

“Wait, Mom, why are you crying? Things turned out fine. You told me to trust myself, didn’t you? Were you doubting me?”

Would you have trusted yourself in my position?

Atir, who was mentally linked to Esiria, chuckled as he replayed the mother’s endless worries in his mind.

Let her cry. It’s worth it. Now, finish your conversation.

“…Goddammit.”

Eldmir muttered a silent curse and looked back at Istain. His sour expression made Istain tilt his head in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing. Anyway, it’s a relief things were resolved peacefully.”

Peacefully.

The word tasted bitter as it left his mouth.

Sure, it was peaceful… from the elves’ perspective.

He glanced at the beastfolk girls.

Even now, they were whispering to Teia, urging her to use the opportunity to escape—or worse, to wait for a chance to kill all of them.

Yeah, maybe it was “peaceful” for them.

But for the beastfolk, this must feel like nothing more than the oppressive demands of their oppressors, deciding their fates on an urge.

“What’s your name?”

Eldmir snapped out of his thoughts, returning his attention to the question.

After taking a moment to process, he replied calmly, “Eldmir Arhithea of Le Rueil.”

Istain extended a hand to him.

“I am Istain Atugate, protector of El Rienne, and I offer my respects to the spirit of your forest.”

Eldmir hesitated for a moment but firmly shook his hand. Istain spoke in a low but strong voice, his tone serious.

“However, Eldmir Arhithea, just as you have the duty to guide guests, we also have the responsibility to remove threats from the forest. The beastfolk are a danger simply by existing. So, I must ask one last time—are those beastfolk really your guests?”

At Istain’s question, Eldmir glanced at Teia.

She noticed and looked up from the girls to meet his gaze. Still alert, she knew exactly what his look meant. He gave a small nod.

“…None of my guests should be enemies of the elves. So, I can say this with certainty: the beastfolk are indeed my guests.”

The meaning behind his words was clear: only the beastfolk were his guests, and anyone else was not.

The protectors, and the beastfolk, understood this perfectly.

“Teia…!”

The beastfolk girls cried out and clung to her feet, tears flowing.

Teia gently put a hand on each of their shoulders, soothing them.

“You’ll be fine without me… As much as I hate to admit it, that elf will definitely be helpful in this forest.”

Teia briefly glanced at Eldmir. He nodded calmly, but internally, he was conflicted.

He had sent Atir to save them, but now it felt like he was pushing them toward death.

It was an unwanted sacrifice, but he forced himself to suppress the guilty feelings, telling himself it was necessary.

The beastfolk girls kept clinging to Teia, but she gently pulled away, sensing that the time had come.

“Istain.”

Suddenly, Eldmir spoke. He opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but then closed it again.

“…Never mind.”

“Alright.”

Istain, along with the other protectors, slowly moved forward, past Eldmir and Esiria, until they stood before the wolf warrior.

Teia stepped toward them.

The wolf warrior, still limping from his unhealed wounds, approached them with slow, deliberate steps.

His tattered, bloodied body showed the signs of a difficult path he’d been thorough, but his eyes remained defiant.

He was a warrior, and even in the face of death, he stood tall.

Standing before the three protectors who would bring his death, the warrior spoke.

“I… I alone am your enemy.”

This was his final declaration: don’t harm the beastfolk girls, and he would die as a warrior, proud and unbowed.

“A beast barking.”

Erban muttered, clearly irritated. By now, he was holding the bow Eldmir had broken, which had been repaired with ease—something every elf could do with the weak magic of the forest.

The other protectors did the same.

Seeing this, Teia growled softly.

Her eyes burned with a blue, fiery intensity.

“I am the child of Kelga, the protector of Kelban, Teia Drakga. I am a warrior awaiting the call of my soul to join Kelga. And as your enemy, I will meet my end proudly. My appearance may be disheveled, but my fangs are still sharp, and I’ll drive them into your throats…I can already taste the blood.”

Teia licked her lips as if savoring the taste of blood, her eyes gleaming like a beast ready to strike.

The protectors felt a chill, instinctively sharpening their senses.

A beast facing death is stronger than ever.

“Teia.”

Eldmir unknowingly called out the name.

He knew it wasn’t the right time, but for some reason, he felt like he had to say it.

At his call, Teia briefly turned her gaze toward him.

Blue flames burned brightly in her eyes.

“…Aren’t you afraid of death?”

Teia let out a small chuckle.

“The children of Kelga believe that death is just a means to return to the homeland prepared for warriors—eternal battle, infinite pleasure. For us, death is just a step toward ascension, not the end.”

A heaven that comes after death.

It sounded like an overly positive view of the afterlife. Eldmir thought it was too brutal and cruel.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to belittle her way of thinking.

He simply shook his head.

Could there really be a heaven where one could go after killing others?

“There’s no heaven for murderers, warrior.”

At Eldmir’s muttering, Teia silently stared straight ahead.

What was she looking at?

Her eyes weren’t on the protectors. She was staring at something beyond, somewhere far ahead.

The protectors’ arrows began to knock.
Death aimed at her head, neck, and heart.

“Well, whether it’s hell or heaven, there’s a place for me in Kelga’s embrace. What’s important is that Kelga will always prepare a fitting place for his warriors…”

Teia showed her teeth, and her ears and tail began to puff up. A sudden transformation started in her body.

Her hair grew out, flaring up like a wig, flowing down her back to her tail.

Her muscles swelled, and her hands changed into those of a beast. Her true half-beast form began to reveal itself.

“Kelga does not call cowards warriors.”

The beast’s roar echoed through the forest.

At the same time, three arrows were shot.

The warrior leapt with a speed that made his limp seem insignificant, and the protectors responded with even faster movements, countering the beast’s actions.

Soon, the protectors surrounded the beast, circling around the forest like a dance. The arrows continued to fly.

One by one, arrows sank into the beast’s body, and the wounded beast let out a pained roar.

That’s when Eldmir heard the girls sobbing.

Even though their vision was blurred with tears, they kept their eyes locked on the beast’s dying.

It was as if they were determined to engrave its death into their memories, never once looking away.

“…This is what battle breeds.”

It was the style of play he had always admired. He had enjoyed orcs, immersed himself in the savage ways of brutals, and been inspired by the wolf-men.

Those were old times, though.

Eldmir unknowingly clenched his fist.

Finally, the arrow pierced the beast’s heart.
One of the beastkin girls sucked in a breath.
The beast groaned.

“…Kelga…”

After a breath, the warrior lowered his heavy body to the ground.

That was his last act.

“Mother El Rdael, protector of the forest and all elves, your servant has fulfilled his mission under your protection once more. Please, do not withdraw your blessing, and grant your servant prosperity for a long time.”

Istain quietly prayed.

It was customary for the protectors to offer a prayer after completing their duty. Now, as the representative of the three, Istain offered this prayer.

“One death, one prayer.”

Eldmir mocked inwardly.

“It’s laughable that the one who kills honors the soul of the one killed, as if to comfort himself.”

Such old-fashioned elves
.
This was what he disliked.

Ignoring the beastfolk girls’ wails behind him, Eldmir spoke to the protectors.

“…I see your duty is done.”

At Eldmir’s words, Istain briefly stared at him before nodding.

“…Yes. There’s no reason for us to stay here any longer.”

Istain exchanged looks with the other protectors.

They all nodded and turned away.
Just before they left, Istain glanced at Eldmir one last time and said:

“May the forest’s blessing be with you on your path.”

“…”