Chapter 3 : Confession (3)

We walked in silence. Her footsteps, as always, made no sound. But today, for some reason, they seemed unsteady.

Sylvia blocked my path. Under the cold moonlight, her face was tinged with red.

“Uh, over there…”

Her usual dignified demeanor was nowhere to be seen, and Sylvia kept stammering. She would glance at me, but whenever our eyes met, she quickly turned her head away. The tips of her ears were flushed.

The spirits that usually hovered around us were also different today. Instead of their usual peaceful green glow, they danced through the air, shining with a fluttering pink light. They seemed to mirror their master’s emotions.

Sylvia stopped walking and took a deep breath. The moonlight softly illuminated her pale skin.

“I… I’ve always been trapped in the forest.”

Her voice trembled.

“Though the title of ‘Elf Queen’ was a grand one, in truth, I was nothing more than a bird in a cage, walking the path chosen by the World Tree.”

A small sigh escaped her.

“But then you appeared. The first person to show me freedom.”

Sylvia’s eyes shone brighter than the moonlight.

“You were different. Despite the weight of being the Elf Queen, you treated me simply as ‘Sylvia,’ as just one person.”

Her voice trembled. The spirits fluttered around us, shimmering like moonlight.

“I think I finally understand. Why the World Tree accepted me. Why I became queen at such a young age.”

Sylvia took another step closer. She was so close now that I could feel her breath.

“It was… to meet you.”

Her long ears flushed even more. She continued in a trembling voice.

“You, who brought a new wind… You, who gave me freedom…”

Her gaze met mine directly.

“Will you continue to protect the forest with me?”

Her last words were almost inaudible. But the emotion behind them pierced deep into my heart.

On the moonlit path, the shy confession of the Elf Queen echoed.

Once again, my chest ached. First Aris, now Sylvia… It felt harsher than ever to turn down their sincere feelings.

“I’m sorry, Sylvia.”

“…Why?”

Her voice, which had seemed cold, now trembled as though it might break any second.

“I’ve heard human men like elves?”

“Well, yes, but…”

How should I turn her down?

Quickly, I had to say something that would make her lose interest!

“I… I like the city. I don’t think I could live in the forest.”

“I’ll make the Elf Forest just like the city.”

Sylvia responded immediately. Her hand tightened around my arm.

“Living only on vegetables is hard too…”

“I’ll hunt meat for you every morning.”

I looked up, startled by her words. An elf, especially a queen, who insisted on vegetarianism…

“Traditions don’t matter. If you’re with me…”

“More than that… I don’t want to bear the political responsibilities as the leader of the forest…”

I quickly shifted the conversation. Please, just let her give up with this.

“I said I’d handle everything!”

Sylvia’s voice grew louder. The trees around us seemed to shake violently, as if reacting to her emotions. The spirits’ light turned red before returning to normal.

“I’ll do whatever you want, Haru. You just… need to stay by my side.”

The usual cold Elf Queen was nowhere to be found. There was urgency in her voice, her ears were bright red, and even her hands were trembling.

“The forest, the spirits, the elf traditions… I’ll change everything to suit you. So…”

“But…”

“You don’t want to?”

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Sylvia’s eyes reddened. Was she… about to cry?

“Ah… I’m sorry. Really…”

I couldn’t just stand there and watch Sylvia cry. Without thinking, I gently hugged her.

Her warm body heat reached me. Her shoulders trembled faintly.

“I’m sorry. But what’s precious to me is the Queen’s sincerity.”

“I’m not the Queen. I’m Sylvia…”

“Okay, Sylvia.”

I patted her back. At that moment, her long ears brushed against my cheek. A sudden thought came to me.

“Nom.”

I gently bit her ear while she was caught off guard.

“Hiik…!”

Sylvia’s body trembled. An elf’s ears are their most sensitive part.

In an instant, her face turned bright red, and she quickly pulled away from my arms.

“Ugh… H-Haru, what… what are you doing… The spirits are watching…”

Her face was as red as a tomato as she tried to escape my embrace. But her body was still trembling, and she could barely stand properly.

“Ah, not yet! No naughty things between an unmarried man and woman!”

Sylvia’s voice quivered. The usual aloof Elf Queen was completely gone, replaced by a bashful girl.

“Once we’re married… and after we get the World Tree’s blessing… it won’t be a problem…”

Her long ears flushed even more. She whispered with a trembling voice under the moonlight.

“But after we defeat the Demon King… then… then you can do whatever you want!”

“Did you just bite your tongue?”

“I… I think I’ll go now!”

She quickly disappeared into the forest, running away like she was fleeing.

Her usual graceful stride was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a flustered, un-queen-like appearance.

Her silhouette hopping like a rabbit looked strangely cute.

Wait, hold on, this is bad.

At this rate, she’d probably want to go to the forest after defeating the Demon King. And then…?

My head was in a whirlwind.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled deeply and turned toward the village.

It was a calm night, with moonlight gently falling, and no breeze in the air.

Rustle.

I heard the sound of leaves brushing my ears. I turned my head, but the leaves were swaying.

Strange. There wasn’t a single gust of wind tonight.

Crunch.

I heard the sound of leaves shaking behind me. I spun around, but saw nothing.

Rustle rustle.

It felt like something in the darkness was watching me.

…This is strange.

A chill ran down my spine.

It felt like the entire forest was alive. The shadows of the trees under the moonlight swirled eerily.

“…Could it be?”

A chill ran down my spine. The forest, every tree, every blade of grass, felt as if they were watching me. As if they were guarding me, making sure I couldn’t escape.

No, it must just be my imagination. Sylvia wasn’t a dangerous character in the original, after all…

On my way back to the village, having exited the forest, I still felt a chill on my back.

As I entered the central plaza, a familiar silhouette appeared in front of the campfire.

The intricate patterns embroidered in golden thread shimmered in the light, and the pure white saintess robes glowed softly. Her even whiter hair fluttered in the night breeze.

“Hero…”

Her deep purple eyes sparkled like moonlight. The small, purple cross mark under her eyes looked mysterious.

Even in the sacred atmosphere, her slender waist and full chest radiated a womanly charm. The holy aura that surrounded her was something even the game’s beautiful graphics couldn’t capture.

“Do you have a moment?”

Her voice trembled. It was unlike her usual calm tone.

Could it be… the Saintess, too?

I nodded, and she let out a sigh of relief.

“Do you remember our first meeting?”

Her words brought back memories of the cathedral. Beneath the magnificent stained glass windows, she had been curled up in the corner among the many saintess candidates.

“Since I was little, people said my white hair was a bad omen… that I wasn’t worthy of becoming a saintess. They called me the ‘Saintess of Disaster’…”

She had always been special. She had received too much grace from the goddess. But that very uniqueness had isolated her.

It was said that strange phenomena occurred from birth, like holy water boiling up and the divine flame turning purple. It was a result of overwhelming divine power, but everyone saw it as an ill omen.

“But you, Hero, came to me.”

That memory was still vivid. Of course, I knew Seraphine was the most exceptional saintess, which is why I did it…

“You told me, ‘It’s not the color of your hair, but your heart that matters…'”

Her purple eyes glistened, moistening.

“I still hold those words deep in my heart.”

Seraphine clasped her hands in front of her chest. It was a prayerful gesture, but it accentuated her full chest, and the sacred atmosphere somehow mixed with a sensual undertone.

“And… I’ll never forget that day.”

The day when the demon lord’s curse nearly annihilated the village.

“When everyone wanted to give up… only you believed in me.”

The other party members had recommended running away first. But I knew. This was her awakening event.

I recalled the moment when pure white wings spread behind her. Sacred light enveloped the village, and one by one, the cursed people were healed.

“If it weren’t for you, Hero… I would still be cowering in that corner.”

Seraphine took another step closer. Her purple eyes sparkled like amethyst by the campfire.

“The first person to see me as I truly am.”

Another step.

“The first person to understand my heart.”

She was now right in front of me.

“And… the first person…”

Seraphine’s white cheeks turned bright red.

“The first person to make my heart race.”

Her trembling hand took mine.

“Hero… I don’t mind my hair color anymore. Because you told me I was beautiful.”

Tears gathered in her eyes.

“They say a saintess and a hero are destined to be together. That’s the will of the goddess.”

Seraphine’s voice shook.

“But even if it’s not such a fate…”

She took a deep breath, then looked up at me.

“I love you, Hero.”

Her pure white wings spread behind her. A soft divine light fell from the sky.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m so nervous… the wings…”

Flustered, Seraphine tried to retract her wings, but it was already too late. The surroundings were already filled with holy light.

Flower petals scattered around the campfire. The divine light from the sky mixed in, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

It was perfectly recreated. Seeing it in person, it was really beautiful.

“I’m sorry.”

Her pure white wings trembled. The divine light that had been descending from the sky stopped for a moment.

“I can’t… I can’t be with the Saintess.”

Seraphine’s purple eyes glistened with tears.

“Why?”

“Well… If a saintess and a hero become intimate, the goddess’ wrath will fall upon us.”

This wasn’t a metaphor. As your intimacy with the saintess increased, the wrath gauge filled up…

And if you tried to get close to her, the wrath of the heavens—lightning—would strike from the sky.

Naturally, it was a game over.

She was the model for the game cover and the erotic character, but in reality, she was the most dangerous heroine.

The malicious prank that tormented players had now become the law of the goddess.