What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally?

After riding in the carriage for several days.

Having grown accustomed to camping outdoors, we finally set foot in the great forest near the Empire’s territory.

This place lay between the Empire’s and Kingdom’s territories.

Thinking normally, being closest to enemy territory was quite dangerous, but it would take more than a day on foot, and several hours by carriage to actually enter Empire territory.

The possibility of suddenly encountering Imperial soldiers and having a battle was low.

However, a little further ahead there should be checkpoints guarded by Imperial soldiers.

Since they were currently completely refusing entry, the moment they spotted Kingdom soldiers, battle would probably begin.

In such a place—one step away from a minefield—we stared intently into the forest.

“The elf village is… beyond here, right?”

“Yeah. If my memory is correct, there’s no mistake.”

When fleeing from the Empire to the Kingdom, I had deliberately avoided running through this area.

Time was precious back then, and if my true identity had been discovered by the other side, it would have been quite troublesome.

The Empire’s discrimination against demi-humans was even worse than the Kingdom’s, and if they learned I was the third prince, well, it probably would have led to war.

I also didn’t feel confident I could hold back properly against elves. If I caused a commotion near Empire territory, it would be revealed that I had left the country.

That’s why I had avoided this place.

“Somehow, an unpleasant aura is drifting from far away.”

“As expected, Nana, you’re sharp.”

Nana grimaced beside Iris.

Her instincts weren’t wrong. I had been feeling something like gazes for a while now too.

“Could it be the elves?”

“Most likely. They’re a race that lives alongside nature. This forest is practically their garden. If you let your guard down too much, you might be killed in an instant, you know?”

“I haven’t been trained so softly.”

Iris chuckled with a hmph.

“True,” I answered and started walking. Since I knew about the elf village, I walked at the front.

Gradually, I began to feel something like gazes.

▼△▼

“—Stop.”

After walking for ten minutes.

I suddenly stopped. I thrust out my right hand to the side, restraining Iris and the others lined up behind me.

They also stopped.

“What is it, Yuu-san? The elves?”

“Yeah. Their detection abilities are higher than I imagined. We’re surrounded.”

“Are we about to be attacked?”

“No… this feeling has hostility, but it’s not the kind that would attack suddenly. More like they’re observing us?”

Probably, since we were wearing armor that identified us as Kingdom soldiers, they wanted to know what business had brought us into this forest.

If we had been Imperial soldiers, we would have been attacked without question.

“—Hey, you suspicious masked man there.”

While I was lost in thought, the nearest elf man called out to us.

He was right ahead in front, up in a tree.

“I’m not suspicious, but what do you need? Elf gentleman?”

“What business do you have entering this forest?”

“We came to meet the elves.”

“To meet us?”

“Kingdom soldiers wouldn’t bother coming to a place like this for any other reason.”

“…What’s your business?”

Oh? They’re surprisingly reasonable. Honestly, I had even considered the possibility they’d attack us immediately.

This was quite promising.

“As you can see, we’re Kingdom soldiers.”

“You look like a monster though.”

“Hah? What’d you say, you bastard?”

Crackle.

Apparently my beloved mask had been insulted. Killing intent leaked out involuntarily.

Immediately after, an arrow flew from the right side.

I caught it with my right hand.

“What!? You blocked my arrow without even looking!?”

A young man’s voice leaked from the direction the arrow had come from. I crushed the arrow I’d caught with my grip strength, then spoke in a low voice:

“Hey now… we came here to talk peacefully, and you’re shooting arrows at us?”

“That was because you released killing intent just now!”

“But it was you guys who insulted me in the first place, wasn’t it?”

My mana leaked out slightly.

If that’s how you want to play it, I could beat up all the elves surrounding us first and then talk, you know?

With such thoughts, I threw away the arrow and grinned wickedly—when Iris’s fist fell on me.

It caught my head perfectly.

“Ow!?”

Actually, since I was protecting myself with mana, it didn’t hurt at all.

“What are you doing, Iris!? Things were getting good!”

“What do you mean getting good? You were on the verge of a fight!”

“But those guys—!”