What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 90 - Spirit Fruit

I returned to the royal capital with Iris from the elf village.

They couldn’t accept the alliance proposal immediately either.

There was virtually no way for them to survive other than joining hands with us, but whether they’d take that seriously or still think they could handle it on their own remained to be seen.

I was betting on the former anyway.

The question was how the World Tree matter I’d warned them about would play out. That would bring major changes to this scenario.

A week after returning to the royal capital with all that on my mind.

While I was living leisurely as usual, Iris suddenly visited my room.

*Knock knock*—the door was knocked.

“Yes?”

“Yuu-san, do you have some time right now?”

“No. *Snore~*”

“Excuse me.”

“Hey.”

Iris completely ignored my fake sleeping and opened the door.

She came in holding a single letter.

“I said I didn’t have time.”

“I didn’t think Yuu-san would have any plans.”

“Thanks for that.”

Though she was exactly right.

“More importantly, please look at this.”

Iris showed me the letter she was holding.

“Hm? What’s this?”

“A letter from the elf race.”

“From the elf race?”

So those guys had a culture of sending letters?

I’d thought they’d completely cut off relations with humans, but it looked like a normal letter on the outside.

I took it and checked the contents.

“Hmm hmm… my prediction was right after all.”

The elf letter said that bandits had come targeting the World Tree several days ago.

The elves, who had listened to my advice at just the right time, had increased security around the World Tree and were able to respond to this.

Regarding that, the elves had unusually written me a thank-you note.

It must be that precious to the elf race.

Furthermore, it said they wanted to give an answer about the alliance, so they wanted us to come to the elf village again.

That was practically giving an OK. If they were going to refuse, the exclusionist elf race wouldn’t bother calling us to their village.

After reading all the text, I looked away from the letter.

“Nice. It looks like the elf race will positively form an alliance with us.”

“It seems so. As expected of Yuu-san. How did you know the World Tree would be targeted?”

“When I was in the Empire, such talk came up, so I just thought ‘could it be?'”

I couldn’t say I really knew about the World Tree attack development from my past life, so I told an appropriate lie.

But Iris swallowed it.

“I see. Then let’s prepare immediately and head to the elf village. Fortunately, if we leave now, we’ll arrive soon.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

She grabbed my arm firmly and I was dragged along by her.

Wait wait wait. I haven’t changed clothes yet!

▼△▼

“We’re going to the elf village again?”

After finishing preparations, Iris and I went outside with Nana.

*Clip clop*—the carriage walked through town.

Inside it, Nana said quietly with an annoyed look.

She had been ordered to wait in front of the elf village last time. It probably wasn’t interesting. She didn’t look like she wanted to go much.

“That’s right~ It’s a fun, fun picnic.”

“Can I hunt monsters?”

“Of course not, right? You’re Iris’s guard, after all~”

“I hate Papa.”

“*Stab*”

I’d been joking around with Nana and she carved up my heart.

So this is what it feels like to be a father with a daughter…!

My spirit was severely weakened.

“Th-that’s cruel, Nana.”

“Papa is the cruel one. I hate boring jokes.”

“I’m sorry… but you really are Iris’s guard, right? Even if you can’t go inside, we don’t know what might happen.”

“Are you predicting something will happen, Yuu-san?”

Iris asked from the side.

I nodded.

“Almost certainly.”

“The reason the Empire would target the elf race so much is…”

“First reason. Elves have good looks, so they can be sold as slaves for high prices.”

“!”

Iris was extremely angry. I was troubled by such an expression. I’m not involved, okay?

“Second. To enslave and use the combat power the elf race possesses. They can live longer without eating as much as ordinary humans, so it’s cost-effective.”

In the source material, many elves had actually been made into combat soldiers despite harsh conditions.

Iris, who would have to kill them, gradually became mentally ill… well, that’s neither here nor there.

The worst was the third and final reason.

“And the third and final reason. The secret treasure the elf race possesses—the ‘Spirit Fruit.'”

“Spirit Fruit?”

“A seed that creates spirits, which the elf race has protected for generations. It hasn’t bloomed yet, but timing-wise, a spirit should be born soon. If the Empire steals that, spirits will appear as enemies.”

“How terrible! Isn’t that in the realm of blasphemy!?”

Iris became indignant as if she’d reached her limit of patience.

However, this was war. The Empire, which didn’t care about appearances, would do anything.

Dignity and common sense meant nothing to them.

They wanted to use spirits and create even greater damage. That’s what the Empire wanted.