Chapter 16 : WWE Is Not Always There

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that my ability to see through the second truth, which was wasted without any real gain, was a shame.

With that thought, I, along with Ravi and Elfin, moved to the deepest part of the Gargoyle Cave.

▶ You have acquired a C-rank weapon: Steel Kukri. ◀
▶ You have acquired a C-rank accessory: Magic-Infused Iron Ring. ◀

Upon opening the treasure chest, various items appeared, but since the dungeon itself wasn’t fully cleared and its overall level was lower than the modified Goblin Camp, the rewards were fairly average.

‘Tsk, no Radiant Arcane Tome this time.’

Because we hadn’t cleared the dungeon perfectly, there was nothing particularly useful for me.

Ravi, who had obtained much better gear in the previous Goblin Camp, also had no need for these items.

“Ravi, you don’t need any of this, right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Then, Elfin, you take whatever’s here. Oh, just give me this one thing.”

I picked out a leather tunic that looked comfortable to move in.

Elfin’s eyes flickered with suspicion when I said I’d give them all the dungeon rewards.

“You’re giving all of this to me…? Even though you took down the most enemies? What are you plotting? If this is some continuation of the nonsense you used to pull at the academy, my answer is an automatic ‘no.’”

“Wow, you really have no trust in me, huh? Do you really think I’d ask for something weird in return?”

“Yeah.”

“…Ravi, even you think I’d do that?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, I realized—I have an absolutely terrible reputation with the heroines.

To turn things around, I deliberately acted annoyed and left the treasure room, saying:

“Fine, whatever. I won’t even look at what you take, so do whatever you want. If I don’t know what’s missing, I won’t be able to ask for anything ridiculous, right? Suit yourselves.”

Then, stomping my feet dramatically, I turned the corner and disappeared from their sight.

I know you two well enough to be sure—you’re too soft-hearted to just leave things like this.

Based on their personalities, this little incident would serve as a chance to bring us closer.

As Alvis stormed out of the cave’s deepest chamber, Ravi anxiously looked at Elfin.

“Uh… Elfin, what should we do? I think Alvis is actually mad this time…”

“Wh-why are you asking me?”

Elfin was just as flustered.

“Well, because he offered his share first, and then you accused him of having some ulterior motive…”

“W-well, you also agreed when I said he was up to something!”

“Ugh… That was just because the way he asked reminded me of the academy days…”

If it were the old Alvis from the academy, neither of them would have felt this guilty.

But both Ravi and Elfin clearly sensed that Alvis was different now, and that realization left them both bewildered.

If it had been the Alvis from the academy days, such accusations wouldn’t have stirred any emotions in him.

But the current Alvis seemed to have suddenly matured, becoming more reliable—and more importantly, he had taken down most of the gargoyle statues in this cave.

The one feeling the most guilt was Ravi, who had spent a few extra weeks traveling with Alvis.

“Back at the academy, Alvis was someone I never wanted to see again… but starting from the last dungeon, he’s been helping me constantly. And now, he’s giving up all the gear just so we can contribute to our country… Not to mention, when we ran into those bandits, and…”

Her voice trailed off as her rabbit ears drooped.

“A-and above all… he never once looked at us Bunnyfolk with any kind of discrimination.”

Clutching her head in frustration, Ravi groaned in self-reproach.

“Now that I think about it, ever since we met again after graduation, I’ve only ever received things from Alvis. I haven’t done anything for him in return. And yet… I just accused him based on my memories from the academy… Ugh, I’m the worst. I’m shameless and ungrateful…”

Unable to sit with her guilt, Ravi suddenly shot up from her seat and ran after Alvis.

“Alvis! Alvis, I’m sorry! Please, talk to me for a second!”

She had fallen right into the psychological trap—when someone does 99 bad things but then does one good deed, that single good deed sticks out the most.

And Elfin was no exception. Watching Ravi run off, she was stuck in turmoil.

‘Alvis changed? That bastard? After three whole years of being the worst at the academy?’

At first, she rejected the idea outright.

‘But… thinking about it, if he were the same as before, he should’ve pocketed some of these treasure chest items for himself. Yet, he just gave everything away without asking for anything in return… He never even said he wanted something back. Does that mean I really misunderstood his intentions?’

Her grandfather, the elder of the Elves, had always preached the virtue of acceptance.

She had accepted those teachings in her mind, but never in her heart.

She always saw humans—except for Bryden—as beneath her.

And Alvis, in particular, was so terrible that she never even considered including him in her so-called “acceptance.”

But if what Ravi said was true, if Alvis had truly grown and matured since then…

That would mean the person she once considered the worst of humans had actually changed.

Meanwhile, despite living for over 200 years, she herself had remained the same.

Not only that—she had completely misjudged his goodwill, accused him unfairly, and made him storm out in anger.

‘S-so… the one who hasn’t grown or changed… is me?’

An Elf should not be stubborn in the face of their own mistakes.

She still couldn’t forget what Alvis had done at the academy, especially when he humiliated her in front of others by stripping off her skirt and undergarments.

She never wanted to associate with him again.

But that was one thing.

And her own mistakes were another.

Elfin tightly shut her eyes and hurried after Ravi.

“Uh… hey, Alvis! Where are you? I—I’ll apologize, so just come out!”

The Gargoyle Cave was a straight path, so there was no way to get lost.

Before long, the two of them spotted Alvis near the cave entrance, packing his belongings. Ravi’s eyes widened in shock, and she leaped toward him.

“Alvis?! What are you doing? Why are you packing already?”

“I’m leaving. I already knew what you two thought of me. I tried my best to change that impression, but I guess it was pointless. I mean, we spent three years at the academy—how could I expect a few weeks to change what’s already been ingrained? From the start, I was just wasting my time.

Ravi, I won’t ask for the supplies and gear I gave to your country back. And the same goes for what I handed over to you, Elfin.”

With an expressionless face, Alvis slung his packed bag over his shoulder.

“Ravi, I know you don’t like me, but when I saw how downcast you were on graduation day, I just wanted to help, even if only for that moment. I know how Bunnyfolk are treated in human society, and I wanted to show you that even someone like me could be on your side. What I said back then—that I don’t hate Bunnyfolk—was the truth.

I get that you dislike me and can’t stand me, but at the very least… I wish you wouldn’t assume that was a lie too.”

Then, without any emotion, Alvis turned his gaze toward Elfin.

“Elfin, about what happened last year… I’m sorry. That was really an accident. I know you see me as a perverted bastard, and honestly, that’s not entirely wrong. But come on, I’m not insane enough to have done that on purpose.

…Not that saying this now will change anything for you. You despise me because of that incident.”

“Th-that’s…”

“We haven’t traveled together for that long, but I know putting up with someone you despise must have been exhausting. I’ll leave, so you two can continue the investigation on your own. Just one thing—please keep what you saw in the cave about my Light Sword a secret. The last thing I need is imperial assassins chasing me over some misunderstanding.”

Alvis turned to leave for real this time. But before he could step away, Ravi, teary-eyed, rushed forward and grabbed his sleeve.

“I-I’m sorry, Alvis! I know you’ve changed—I’ve seen it while traveling together. But I still judged you based on your past… So please… don’t leave…”

Seeing Ravi apologize so earnestly, Elfin also bit her lip, struggling to form words before lowering her head slightly.

“I… I’m sorry too. I still can’t forgive what happened back then, but… I do know that using it as an excuse to justify what I said earlier is wrong. So… I apologize.”

Alvis crossed his arms and looked at the two of them.

“…So what do you want me to do? Stay here and keep getting treated like that?”

“No, Alvis. I’ll believe that you’ve changed. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Earlier… that was really my fault. It’s just that the memories from the academy are so vivid… But from now on, I’ll remember that you’re not the same person as back then.”

“Tsk. You always have to add that extra comment, huh?” Alvis sighed. “Whatever. What about you, Elfin?”

“Ugh… I-I’ll try to believe you’ve changed too. I’ll separate my memories of the academy from how you are now. So… I’d prefer if you stayed with us.”

Even as she spoke, Elfin wasn’t sure if she truly wanted Alvis to remain in the party or if she was just saying it because the situation led her there.

“Alright. Then, from now on, I’ll be more mindful of my actions—different from how I was back at the academy. But in return, I ask that you both stop judging me based solely on the past.

Let’s make that promise to each other. Got it?”

“…!”

“I-I got it.”

Both Ravi and Elfin, still reeling from their emotions, failed to notice the slight smirk that briefly tugged at Alvis’s lips.