I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 15

Chapter 15: Elena, Tia, Gustav, And…

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The scent of Tia filled the closet I had been shoved into. Peering out through a crack, I saw Elena sitting on the bed while Tia poured fruit juice for her.

“I’m sorry for asking you to come so late at night. It’s just… I wanted to ask what happened between you and my master, Elena-san…”

“Well… No, if we’re going to form a party, you have the right to ask. Besides, it seems you were the one who supported him when he was hurt.”

Elena hesitated for a moment, then cleared her throat and asked with a slightly awkward expression.

“By the way… Phantom…No, Gustav—what did he say about it?”

“He…He only told me that during the parade, the minister ordered for his expulsion, and that everyone in the party agreed to expel him as well.”

“Ghh!! That bald bastard!! I should have yanked out every last half-grown hair he had left!!”

Elena’s sudden fury was unlike her usual composed demeanor. Seeing her get genuinely angry for my sake made me happy. It meant my efforts hadn’t been in vain after all.

“After the parade, the other member—Saintess Ceres—and I found out Gustav had been expelled. And at that time, it seemed Cain and Henrietta already knew about the expulsion…”

Hearing it directly from her made my chest ache. I didn’t know Ceres’ opinion was about me, but it turned out Cain and Henrietta really did agree to my expulsion from the bottom of their hearts…

“After that, I immediately went after Gustav, but even with detection magic, I couldn’t find him… I’ve been searching for him all this time.”

“I see… Then, what were the words you had spoken that Master heard at the time of his expulsion?”

“Well… That is…”

Elena seemed reluctant to speak, but I remembered every single word.

『Phantom’s power is far too unusual for a human to hold… Someone must keep an eye on him. Perhaps I, as an elf, should watch over him…』

Ah, yes. She had considered my Evil Eyes dangerous. I needed to confirm her true intentions…

“I said that because I thought… Maybe that way, I could stay with him forever.”

“…Huh?”

…Huh? 

I let out a stupid sound behind my gag, just like Tia, and stared at Elena. Her face was red as an apple.

“Because… He was Henrietta’s fiancé!! He said that after defeating the Demon Lord, they’d rule the territory together as lord and lady of the land!! But if I used the Evil Eyes as an excuse, I thought I could stay with him forever!!”

“Ah… I see.”

“Because he was the first one who ever really listened to my research!! Even in the elf village, I was treated like a weirdo for being so obsessed with magic, and no one would hear me out. But he was different. He showed the same interest I had in magic… And when I was in danger at the ruins, he saved me like a prince!! Of course I’d want to stay with him forever!!”

Tia looked a bit surprised at Elena’s unguarded tone, but her smile gradually grew, and mine followed suit. I couldn’t imagine Elena lying to Tia in my absence… And more than that, I could see in her expression that she was telling the truth.

“Ah, I get that. Master always helps people like it’s second nature to him. Goodness. He’s truly a people pleaser.”

“That’s right!! When Ceres called him ‘Onii-sama,’ he just smiled and accepted it! And he was always helping girls with big boobs!!”

For some reason, I felt Tia glaring at me with narrow eyes. Still… So Elena had cared for me that much, enough to want to be with me for life… I was… No. I was really happy.

“Wait… But Elena-san, I’ve heard rumors about you and Prince Cain….?”

“Of course those rumors are completely false!!! I don’t feel anything for him!! Phantom is number one for me!! Even the reincarnation magic I was researching…. I was thinking I could reincarnate Phantom if he ended up marrying Henrietta and died of old age. I thought after that, I could live with him. If I’m the person he had been with since he was born, then surely when he was of age, he would…. Ufufufu….”

“…Uh.”

…Huh? Isn’t she saying something a bit scary now…?

I could swear the light in her eyes was gone as she smiled eerily. The happiness I felt earlier was quickly replaced by a feeling of anxiety.

“Well… I understand how much you care for my master. I’ll help you two make up for good.”

“Really…? I mean, is that so? But if I get serious, you’ll lose your chance, you know.”

Realizing she’d slipped into her natural tone, Elena cleared her throat and returned to her old-fashioned “haughty” speech. Seeing that, Tia smiled triumphantly.

“It’s fine. Because when it comes to cuteness, I win hands down.”

“Hmm. So you’re saying I’m too cool? Hey! Why are you patting my head?!”

When Tia, beaming like she would at a child, patted Elena’s head, Elena puffed her cheeks in protest. Watching them, I thought to myself.

When we were in the same party, Elena never showed her true self to anyone but me. Maybe what we’d needed all along was to clash and be honest with each other.…That said, how long am I supposed to keep hiding here? I mean, I know for sure that this is the worst possible time to come out. I need to hold on a little longer…

★★★★

The next day, we headed for the Adventurer’s Guild to give a detailed report about the demons.

Things would likely get hectic after the battle with them, so I decided I’d listen to Aisha-chan’s complaints next time we met.

When we arrived early in the morning, Elena was already there. She was glancing at me nervously.

“Elena, good morning. We’re forming a party again after so long. You haven’t gotten rusty, have you?”

“Gustav… you called me ‘Elena.’ Not ‘Elena-san,’ just ‘Elena!!’”

Her eyes wavered with uncertainty, but my casual tone and choice of address made her beam with genuine joy. This was like the little ritual we had when we were on our journey to defeat the Demon Lord. 

Wiping her tears, she puffed out her small chest and replied as arrogantly as she used to.

“Please. Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m the greatest mage in the elf world.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you. Be sure to watch my back, okay?”

When I held out my hand, her beautiful eyes welled with tears again, but she grasped my hand with a happy smile. It was a handshake of reconciliation.

“I’m sorry… If only I’d kept a closer eye on the minister…”

“And I couldn’t bring myself to trust you completely either. We’re even.”

I already knew her true feelings. They were… Well, they were heavier than I’d imagined, but I understood how much she’d thought about me. That was why we could take each other’s hand again.

“Ufufu, you two seem to be enjoying yourselves.”

“Yeah. Thanks, Tia.”

“I’m grateful to you as well.”

When Tia suddenly poked her head in (who knows how long she’d been eavesdropping), we both thanked her. She scratched her cheek in embarrassment upon hearing our heartfelt gratitude.

★★★★

The wounded Gyamel and his comrades from the battle with the demons had been taken to a church in the neighboring town, where an exceptional priest was said to be stationed. In his haze, he thought he saw a beautiful, angelic face smiling down at him.

“This should do it. How is it now?”

“Wha… My arm… My arm can move again!!”

With a warm light, his crushed arm was restored to normal, and Gyamel cried out in astonishment. Healing magic wasn’t all-powerful. Simple fractures were one thing, but severed nerves couldn’t be healed… At least, normal heals wouldn’t be able to do that. Yet the girl before him only smiled as if it were nothing remarkable.

“Thank you. Looks like I can keep being an adventurer now.”

“I’m glad. But offer your thanks not to me, but to our God.”

“Wow… Incredible!! As expected of the Saintess! To think you’re able to heal a wound of that degree in an instant…”

Those around them also voiced their respect for the smiling priest. At the word “Saintess,” Gyamel’s eyes went wide.

“Saintess…? Could it be… You’re Saintess Ceres, the Demon Lord Slayer!?”

Among adventurers, the four who defeated the Demon Lord were the stuff of legend. Meeting such a living legend left him awestruck, but Ceres only shook her head, looking troubled.

“…I am no hero. Because… I couldn’t save the heart of the one I truly wanted to save.”

Her expression was so genuinely sad that Gyamel was at a loss for words. There was no doubt about it. She definitely had lost someone precious to her during the fight against the Demon Lord.

Unsure of what to say, Gyamel watched as Ceres tended to his comrade, a heavy knight. But when she picked up a handkerchief Gustav had used for staunching blood, her expression changed.

“This is…?”

“Ah, sorry. That blood-soaked handkerchief was used for first aid by another adventurer—”

“From whom did you receive this?”

“Huh?”

“From whom did you receive this?”

Flustered, Gyamel explained, but Ceres seemed not to care about his confusion.

“Uh… From an adventurer named Gustav in the next town over… Why?”

“Ufufu…Onii-sama’s scent… I couldn’t forget it even if I tried. Finally… I’ve finally found you… I won’t let you get away again.”

Her blissful smile made Gyamel feel a sudden chill running down his spine. Her beauty was unchanged, yet the light in her eyes had vanished.

“O’ miracle of God, heal the wounds of our warriors.”

At her incantation, light filled the entire church, and in an instant, every injured person there was healed.

“Wha-…? That’s advanced healing magic!?”

“The wounded are healed. I shall depart now. Farewell!!”

“Wha-?! Ceres-sama!? Please wait…!! You’re supposed to dine with the lord tonight… and it’s already late!! Monsters are dangerous at night!! Ceres-sama!!”

Even while staggering from the use of such powerful magic, Ceres ran off without listening to the other priests. Just like that, she disappeared off to who knew where.

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