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… - 88-89

Chapter 88: Barrier

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“This is incredibly beautiful…”

“It’s almost like a sacred domain of our church. I suppose that’s to be expected, considering it’s managed by elves.”

It was no wonder that Tia and Ceres let out sighs of admiration. When the door to the dungeon opened, a vast and beautiful forest spread out before us. Moreover, soft, glowing lights—perhaps spirits or something similar, imbued with magical power—floated here and there, giving the place an almost fantastical atmosphere.

“So it is, so it is. This is a holy land where an elven hero lies sleeping. It is the most magically rich and beautiful place in the Elf Forest. Well, there are various barriers and traps set up, so you can’t afford to let your guard down…”

“Yeah, I can see that. There are powerful magical traps scattered all over the place. If you went in without knowing anything, you might lose your life.”

Using my magic eye, I scanned the surroundings and could see all sorts of traps set up, including things like magically charged landmines. This place must be extremely important. That was exactly why I was worried about Cain.

“So basically, that means no one else can come here, right? We don’t know what’s going to happen to Cain, so stick close behind me.”

Like in Dragon Quest, we proceeded in order. Of course, I was in the lead, since I could see the traps with my magic eye. It felt a bit heroic, and my spirits lifted.

“But is it really okay, Elena? About…You know, the elves…”

“It seems they’re using Cain to do something. And if I interfere with that, I’ll probably lose my place in the elven village.”

Elena continued with a wry smile, carefully choosing her words. But there was not the slightest hesitation in her eyes.

“So what? I will never make the wrong choice again. There’s no way I can abandon my precious companions when they’re in danger!! Besides, those fools imprisoned me. I owe them nothing anymore.”

“That’s right. Elena is one of our companions. Let’s go save that idiot Cain together.”

A sense of guilt crossed my mind for not having fully believed in her before. 

Yeah, that’s right. That’s why this time, I would believe her words.

As if to prove it, I reached out to pat her head..

“But what kind of place is this ruin, anyway?”

“It is intriguing indeed… Perhaps it is a facility that judges unfaithful men who try to pat another woman’s head right in front of someone else. Right, Master?”

“Uu—head pats…”

At the absolute worst possible timing, I got a cut-in from both sides, my clothes being tugged at. 

I mean, yeah, I guess this is definitely cheating. I really have to be more careful from now on… So, Elena, please don’t look at my hand with such a resentful expression…

“Apparently, the Half-Elf Ruins contain something that can even defeat the Demon Lord, and my big sister was the one who found it… But honestly, I can’t imagine that experiment-crazed idiot doing something for the sake of the elven village…”

Elena cleared her throat as if to cover things up, answering while avoiding Tia’s piercing stare.

“A-anyway, there’s no choice but to go deeper into these ruins. They said it won’t open unless an elf and a human come together, but with me and Elena here, it should be fine…”

While we were talking, we arrived at a door covered by an overwhelming barrier. Looking at the ground, there were traces that suggested some kind of struggle had taken place.

“Cain… What happened here?”

“It would be best to move on quickly. Still, this is a powerful barrier. There should be something like a switch to disable it somewhere…”

“Even my holy power doesn’t seem capable of nullifying it… As expected of the elves.”

“Hmmm, I can’t charm a barrier either…”

“Ohoho, weren’t you unable to charm even the elves?”

While Tia and Ceres glared at each other with smiling faces, I let out a wry smile. It was then, as Elena and I were examining the barrier, that a voice echoed down from above.

『Oh, a second pair today, huh? Looks like something’s happening in the elven village. Then, as proof of friendship between an elf and a human, how about you give each other a kiss?』

“““Haaaaaah!?”””

Our utterly dumbfounded voices echoed together.

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Chapter 89: A Barrier That Requires a Kiss to Pass

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『Oh, a second pair today, huh? Looks like something’s happening in the elven village. Then, as proof of friendship between an elf and a human, how about you give each other a kiss?』

“““Haaaaaah!?”””

We ended up letting out utterly dumbfounded voices in unison.

What is this, some kind of room you can’t enter unless you kiss?

“Phantom… I, um… I don’t mind. Since this is a ritual… It’s just a ritual, so it shouldn’t count as cheating.”

“Elena!?”

Elena looked up at me with flushed cheeks. My eyes were involuntarily drawn to her well-shaped lips…

“That is absolutely not okay!! Please don’t try to openly go for an NTR kiss right in front of her!”

“That’s right. If it’s something like this, shouldn’t we just do it this way?”

“Huh…?”

Tia cut in, and for some reason Ceres shrugged as if saying “Oh well,” then stared straight at Elena—and just like that, she kissed her.

“-!! M-my first kissssss!!”

“It doesn’t count because we’re the same sex. Besides, I have already promised to offer my first kiss to Phantom-sama.”

““Huh?””

Tia shot me a murderous glare, but I seriously had never made such a promise. And while Elena stood there in a daze, the barrier opened.

“Fufu~ I knew it. They only require humans and elves to kiss. The gender wasn’t specified. Now then, let us proceed.”

“Y-yeah… that’s right.”

“…My first kiss, taken by a lecherous saint…”

Not knowing what to say to the dejected Elena, we continued onward. It was around the time we had grown accustomed to the divine atmosphere that we finally spotted figures ahead.

From a distance, we could see Cain arguing with several elves… And then, when a woman who somehow resembled Elena released a spell, we saw Cain collapse as if he had lost consciousness.

“Cain!? Everyone, let’s move!”

“W-why are there humans here!? Damn it, you lot, buy us some time!! We’re almost at the inner depths of the ruins!”

The elven chief, the woman who looked like Elena, and a golem carrying Cain entered the ruins through a door. Standing in our way were two powerfully built elves.

“Sorry, but we can’t let you pass here.”

“What are you people even thinking?”

“That’s right. He may look like that, but he’s still human royalty, you know.”

At Elena’s words, they did not show even the slightest hint of hesitation.

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