Elven Village Defense Battle ③

【Reincarnated Residents' Quarter】

Yagihara was anxious.

He had poisoned the meal prepared by the two former adventurers—yet they were acting as if nothing had happened.

Suppressing his inner agitation, he waved them off with an indifferent expression.

There was nothing he could do now.

The mission had failed. Still, the insurance aspect was strong. He could only entrust the rest to those on site.

Fortunately, the two appeared unaware they had been poisoned.

High Poison Resistance. They had unconsciously resisted the toxin.

That was his assumption.

"Then? Ogii, you gonna tell me your real intentions before we leave, huh?"

The words from Kunihiro drained all color from Yagihara’s face.

He had been caught.

"W-what are you talking about?"

He feigned ignorance.

"Cut the act. We already know it was you."

A firm resolve, unyielding to excuses, was palpable.

Yagihara abandoned any attempt at justification almost immediately.

He did not utter the foolish claim that evidence was lacking.

In a法治国家, absence of evidence meant acquittal. Here, however, was another world. No police. No lawyers.

Within Kunihiko’s judgment, Yagihara was already guilty. Any attempt at evasion would only worsen his standing.

“Aaah. I wish you’d just collapsed from poison and stayed still.”

The remark provoked a ripple of reaction from the surrounding crowd.

Observing the response, Kunihiko and Asaka came to a near-certainty that this incident was Yagihara’s solitary act.

Not yet confirmed, but the reactions were genuine—authentic surprise. Having survived countless battles as adventurers, the two read emotions and gestures with precision.

Based on experience, they concluded: only Shiro was innocent.

"Fine. I'll hit you once, then take my time asking for details."

"Wait—hold on. I did poison them, that's true, but I did it thinking of you two."

Kunikko takes a step forward.

Yagihara halts him with words.

Yagihara forces his mind to race, suppressing visible anxiety, seeking an opening.

"What are you talking about?"

"Simple. You'll die if you go forward."

Kunikko closes the distance another step.

Yagihara steps back in response.

His eyes bypass Kunikko, fixating instead on the group of elves who led them here, guiding Kunikko and Asaka.

He also senses the presence of elves hidden in the surrounding district, watching.

Beyond this point, it’s a gamble.

"Natsume went rogue and sent an army here. Jun's statement isn't wrong. But only half true. Using Natsume's army as cover, the true objective—complete extermination of the elves—begins."

"What!?"

"Surprised? I'm an infiltrator leaking information from within. Under this operation, most elves will be eliminated. It's arranged so no outside interference occurs. I recommend you stay out of the battlefield."

Kunikko's movement halts.

At the edge of his vision, Asaka considers whether Syrilis's words are true.

Syrilis was brought here later than most reincarnated individuals.

Unlike Kunikko and Asaka, who arrived only about a year ago, Syrilis was brought here roughly ten years prior.

Later than most, but not so late as to be unnatural.

What did Syrilis do during the brief period before being brought to the elven settlement?

Brought to the elven settlement, yet able to communicate with the outside despite the barrier.

Those questions were answered quickly by Shiro.

"I'm affiliated with the church. Received intelligence training as a child. My unique skill, 'Infinite Communication,' allows unrestricted telepathic contact. It bypasses barriers. Unlike regular telepathy, it cannot be intercepted. That's how I've maintained contact with the outside all along. Of course, I've concealed this skill. The elves believe my innate ability is 'Master of Martial Arts LV1.' "

The elves responded to Shiro's exposure with swift action.

They activated a spell to restrain him.

A wind-based spell, wrapping around his body to immobilize movement.

Shiro evaded it.

Kunihiko and Asaka, both adventurers, recognized from the motion that the skill level was far beyond that of an amateur.

Yet still, not close to first-rate.

Even so, if they had acquired this technique within the past few years before arriving at the elven settlement, it suggested rigorous training.

“The elves are finished. Die uselessly for the elves, or survive by joining us. Choose.”

The words caused the reincarnated to waver.

No goodwill toward the elves.

Yet, being suddenly presented with such a demand left them at a loss.

Dagihara directed the words toward Kunihiko and Asaka, former adventurers.

He believed that securing these two would give them a chance.

But Dagihara had overlooked one detail in his haste.

He had already committed an act of hostility by poisoning them.

Asaka pinned Dagihara to the ground.

Dagihara could not comprehend what had just occurred.

"Elves. His disposition is ours to decide. No interference is necessary."

Asaka spoke with a cold voice.

The elves were overwhelmed.

"I'll hear the details, then."

Dragged by Asaka, Dagihara was thrown into a nearby house.

The elves attempted to follow, but Kunihiko blocked their path.

"You're being reckless."

Asaka, soundproofed, pressed close to Dagihara.

"What were you planning to do if you provoked the elves here? How would the others who can't fight be expected to survive?"

Dagihara had no answer.

His assigned task had been to keep the reincarnated individuals compliant.

The method was not specified.

"So you chose poisoning? Pathetic."

"I had no choice. The elves were watching. I couldn't risk leaking information carelessly."

"You could've just used your infinite communication method, couldn't you?"

"Ah..."

As if just noticing, Yagihara makes a foolish expression. Asaka exhales.

"First, I'll interrogate him."

"Wha—?"

"That'll distract the elves, just a little."

"Eh? That's just an act, right?"

"A few wounds won't look natural otherwise."

In the house with soundproofing deliberately disabled, Yagihara's scream echoes.

It reaches everyone outside—freezing their blood.

Yagihara receives only light torture. He confesses everything to Asaka.

With that information, Asaka and Kunihiko move.

Not to fight. To survive.