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

Following the captain elf’s back, I entered the large tree.

The elves of this world carved out the insides of trees to secure living space.

In other words, trees were their homes.

And the tree second-largest to the one called the World Tree was apparently the meeting place where the elders gathered.

Those elders also created personal rooms inside the tree and lived there.

Befitting rooms used by elders for generations, the central conference room had space for more than ten elves comfortably.

Seven elves sat in front of a tree table carved in a circle.

Apparently they had been having discussions at just the right time.

The captain elf who showed himself bowed respectfully to them.

“I sincerely apologize for this sudden visit!”

“Hmm. Today was supposed to be a meeting of elders only… what happened?”

The particularly aged old elf sitting at the back asked the captain elf while stroking his prized long white beard.

The other elder elves all looked at us at once.

“Actually, the human race members behind me apparently have something to discuss with the honored elders.”

“What? The human race?”

As expected from their long lives, they didn’t panic even knowing we were humans.

Naturally, we weren’t welcomed either, but I was relieved we wouldn’t be attacked immediately.

“Yes. The woman in particular is one who has contracted with Sylpheid-sama the spirit. According to Sylpheid-sama, her words are worth hearing.”

“Sh-she has contracted with a spirit!?”

“How could such a thing be possible!?”

Murmur murmur murmur.

The elder elves suddenly changed expressions.

As I thought, the fact that Iris commanded spirits, who were objects of worship, was more important than us being human.

I glanced at Iris and appealed for her to summon a spirit.

She nodded and absorbed the surrounding magical power.

There was still plenty of magical power here. We were quite far from where we’d summoned the spirit earlier.

Massive magical power was absorbed into Iris’s body and released all at once.

Simultaneously, wind blew and a green-haired woman appeared.

At her divine appearance, all the elder elves stood up and dropped to their knees.

Everyone was shedding tears.

“Ohh…! To think we could meet Sylpheid-sama!”

“How blessed, how blessed…”

Some worshiped. Some prayed. Some collapsed.

The elder elves’ reactions were all different, but I could tell they all revered Sylpheed.

Meanwhile, Sylpheid, who had been summoned once again, understood the situation and spoke:

[It seems you were able to enter the elf village. …I’m glad you didn’t rampage.]

“What do you mean by that?”

Sylpheid deliberately stared at me while saying that.

There was clearly an ulterior meaning.

[Exactly what I said. There was a possibility you would get angry at the elves and make a mess of this village.]

“True.”

Even Iris nodded at Sylpheid’s nonsense.

I argued back:

“I came here to save the village, so why would I mess it up? What do you take me for?”

“A pervert.”

[A show-off.]

“I won’t forgive you two.”

I even considered drawing my sword. Maybe I’d cut down this tree.

Though the elves would be completely caught in the crossfire.

“Y-you! How dare you speak to Sylpheid-sama in such a manner!”

Seeing my exchange with Sylpheid, one of the elder elves raised his voice.

However, I removed my hood and glared at that elder elf.

“Hah? I’m Iris’s guard and companion. You have no right to lecture me about things Sylpheid doesn’t mind.”

“—Oh my? You… that face, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

One of the elder elves, a young woman who appeared to be in her twenties, put her hand to her mouth and spoke.

She stared intently at my face.

Right now, I wasn’t wearing my mask. But I had the disguise artifact I’d borrowed from Iris. My eye color was blue and my hair color white, so there was no way I’d be found out…

“That’s it! I remember. You look just like Yuguram Alain Kushana I saw in the imperial capital before! Could you be the third prince?”

“N-n-n-no way, you’ve got the wrong person!?”

“You’re stuttering too much, Yuu-san.”

Iris’s deadpan stare pierced through me.

But it couldn’t be helped!? I never imagined there would be an elf who knew about me.

I glared at that woman, wondering how I’d been found out.

Then she continued with a gentle smile:

“I knew it! I went to the imperial capital in disguise about ten years ago.”

“To the imperial capital? How?”

Ten years ago the imperial capital should have had quite strict checkpoints and such… no? Maybe not so much?

My memories from that long ago weren’t that clear. Given her position as an elder, it seemed like infiltrating in disguise would be easy for her.

“I used a disguise artifact just like you. Besides, I had identification papers that worked in both the imperial capital and kingdom issued long ago. I occasionally go to create new identity documents for updates. I handle espionage and such.”

She smiled sweetly, but just now I heard an extremely ominous term.

Despite having such a gentle appearance, she was in charge of espionage?

Elves weren’t stupid either. They would gather information about both countries.

Apparently she had happened to see me when I was about five years old. She recognized me well despite it being from childhood.

Next, the female elf’s complexion changed slightly. To something serious.

—————————

Afterword.

I posted a new work~.

“The Former Villain Noble Who Was Exiled on False Charges Recreated Previous Life’s Appliances with Magic ~The Genius Enchanter Desires a Slow Life~”

It’s a different type of villain reincarnation story? So please read it if you’d like!

I’d be happy if you support it!