The women I set free are obsessed with me

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The group resumed their journey when Karami recovered, walking the short remaining distance. With just one more step, a scene unfolded as if accompanied by a dramatic sound effect.

Houses and paths were built along the edges of trees that rose from the ground. It was an elven village.

How many people in the world had ever come this far? Karami felt a bit moved.

"The guardians have returned?"

"Who's that with them? That's not an elf."

The forest grew noisy, and the elves, each busy with their own affairs, gradually turned their attention to the group.

One versatile slave.

Two versatile slaves.

Three versatile slaves…

Karami hastily shook his head to clear away these thoughts.

I'm a kind slave trader.

I can't forcibly enslave people who are living peacefully. Nope, absolutely not.

"What's all this commotion?"

"Elder."

As an elderly elf approached, leaning on a staff, the guardians bowed respectfully.

His appearance blended refinement and elegance. The years deeply etched on his face only added to his classic beauty rather than marring it.

Yet this elven elder's movements seemed somewhat awkward.

"A-Alfia?"

"Hello, Ellder…"

This was the elf whose backside had been shot during Alfia's archery debut. She shrank back, clearly uncomfortable facing the elder.

"What brings you here? I'm certain we strictly forbade you from entering the village…"

The elder's eyes narrowed. Having lived for what seemed like an eternity as a high elf, his eyes could see things invisible to others.

"What's that on your soul?"

For instance, the shackles binding Alfia's soul.

"It's the mark of a slave. I've become a slave."

Previously, Alfia would have tried to hide this defilement at all costs, but not anymore. She stepped forward boldly.

"A slave?"

"Alfia said she's been enslaved?"

The surroundings grew rowdy, and the elder was equally shocked, but he didn't let it show for long. Striking his staff on the ground, he spoke in a commanding voice.

"Quiet! Silence!"

As the crowd finally calmed, the elder took a breath to compose himself, then gazed at her soul. He could see where the shackles originated from.

"This human is your master, then."

"That's right. I am Slave Trader Karami, Elder."

"What business does a slave trader have here? Have you come to enslave other elves as well?"

Eek! The elves let out shrill screams.

Adult elves hurried to hide the younger ones in their homes.

In an atmosphere where blades could be drawn at any moment, Karami suddenly burst into laughter.

"Anyone listening might misunderstand. I merely saved Alfia from being kidnapped by thugs, I have no interest in forcibly enslaving others."

"Kidnapped?"

The elder tilted his head as if hearing this for the first time.

"My, you weren't aware of even that? Well, I suppose you wouldn't have time to worry about someone banished from the village. You might have lived your whole life not knowing she was being treated roughly by the hands of mankind."

Karami continued, flashing a sardonic smile at the silent elder.

"But don't worry. I've brought her back safe and sound. I've heard elves are a race that don't forget their debts. Surely you wouldn't harm the benefactor of your kin? Come now, surely not~ You wouldn't do something to trample the pride your elven ancestors have built up over thousands of years, would you?"

"…What do you want?"

The flow of conversation had shifted. Karami slipped out of the encirclement, casually strolling around.

"Nothing much. Just Miss Alfia's participation in the Elven Dance Festival. And a guarantee of my safety during the festival period."

"Alfia can't even use a bow, let alone control spirits. The outcome is as clear as day…"

"If it's so obvious, then there's no reason to refuse, is there?"

"Why is a slave trader so fixated on the Elven Dance Festival? What are you after?"

"What I'm after…"

Karami slowly looked around. The elves were watching as if this were some fascinating spectacle.

Though they pretended to be refined, to Karami, they were no different from humans.

"I intend to use the slave I've raised to crush your precious elven pride."

***

We were detained.

Not quite imprisoned like criminals, but under surveillance to prevent us from wandering freely.

The accommodations aren't half bad, though?

The area was filled with the scent of nature, and even the bed made of leaves was surprisingly soft.

Well, I might have made countless enemies, but it didn't matter. I had secured a verbal promise of safety from the elven elder's own mouth.

With their racial passive being stuck in their ways (not to be confused with denture-clacking)1, these elves who were so set in their ways would never dare go against the elder's orders.

Slurp.

I drank some unknown sticky liquid.

It tasted sweet and sour, quite delicious.

Rustle rustle.

"Eek!"

"What's wrong?"

"Just now, a bug…"

"Oh, is that all?"

Alfia let out a dry laugh.

The bug was as big as a human hand!

If it had been any larger, it might have swallowed my head whole!

Though I was screaming internally, Alfia seemed to have judged it not worth addressing. She sighed and looked out the window, her eyes full of worry.

"What are you fretting about now?"

"I'm worried about the festival. Do you know who won the last competition?"

"It was Leon, wasn't it?"

Alfia's gaze returned to me. She looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"He's wearing a laurel wreath. It's awarded to the greatest elven warrior of the era."

"Wow, my master seems to know all sorts of things."

Alfia smiled bitterly, then turned back to the window and began to grumble.

"Leon was always good at everything. Be it the bow, spirits, or leadership. He became a Forest Guardian and even the youngest captain. Since Leon became Captain of the Guardians, intruders haven't even been able to set foot in the forest."

"He's still just a frog in a well."

"You're probably the only one who could get away with calling Leon a frog."

Alfia giggled.

"Do you think you'll lose?"

"I'm not sure. But even if I win or lose, will I be able to live among them?"

"That, I don't know either."

I couldn't fathom the depth of Alfia's pain, the wounds she had suffered over the centuries. It would be thoughtless to brush it off, saying that winning would make everything alright.

Still, as her master, I could at least say this much to my slave:

"You don't need to force yourself to fit in. If worse comes to worst, we can always go back to Noctar."

Alfia got along well with the old man and the children there. Her bright, bubbly personality didn't suit these stick up their asses elves anyway.

She nodded, seeming to agree.

"I suppose you're right. And for now…"

She lowered her head slightly, looking up at me with her eyes. Was this that famous influencer angle? Coming from the elf Alfia, its destructive power was overkill.

She stared at me like that for a while.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"There is, but…"

Though Alfia said she had something to say, she closed her mouth.

Her lips curved into a mischievous crescent moon smile.

"Later."

"?"

"I'll tell you later."

***

After lazing about for a few days, the day finally arrived.

The village was decorated with flowers. Elven songs carried on the wind, spreading throughout the forest.

This festive atmosphere announced the start of the Elven Dance Festival.

Children playing and female elves cooking were sights you might see at any festival.

But that alone wasn't enough. Just as popcorn and movies went hand in hand, delicious food needed entertaining sights to go with it.

"Participants for the competition, gather here!"

Ise, the elf in charge of overseeing the festival, called people together. Those confident in their skills, including the Forest Guardians, gathered one by one.

Alfia also went there to wait her turn.

"Hello, uncle."

"Hm? Alfia? It's been a while. Are you participating too?"

"Yes."

"Participation is free, so I won't stop you, but please, I beg you, don't go on a rampage like before. I've grown quite fond of my current house."

The reason Alfia was banished from the village…

The Berserk Spirit Incident.

Among the many houses she burned down then, one was Ise's. Though she didn't remember it well since it was so long ago, Alfia scratched the back of her head, feeling sorry nonetheless.

Playful Flower Alfia Liliand.

Ise added her name to the list.

"What? You're really entering the competition?"

At that moment, a group of young elves approached Alfia.

"Irina…"

While Leon had been a constant, if unwelcome, point of comparison, Irina and her gang were always at the forefront of ostracizing Alfia.

With him, she could at least ignore the comparisons, thinking, he's just different from me. But it was hard to ignore the constant stream of abuse these elves poured into her ears.

If Leon was an uncomfortable presence, Alfia outright despised them.

"I heard you became a slave. Are you really so desperate to drag down the status of elves?"

"I didn't do anything."

"Your very existence does that."

"As if you'd understand even if I explained. You've spent your whole life being a nuisance."

This wasn't even gossiping behind her back, but a blatant attack to her face.

In the past, she might have lashed out unable to control her emotions, and the spirits would have responded, causing her pain. But not anymore.

Alfia paid them little attention.

"The competition will start soon, so participants, please prepare your weapons!"

The elves began to gather in one place.

"You'd better be careful not to run into me."

Irina bumped Alfia's shoulder as she passed by.

Judging that everyone who needed to be there had gathered, Ise began to explain the rules of the competition.

"The rules are simple. Tie this string to your bow, and if the string comes loose, you're out."

The Elven Dance Festival was a last man standing event.

All participating elves would enter the forest and fight until only one remained.

It wasn't just about archery skills, but also tracking, survival skills, and how well one could utilize nature.

The elves received green strings and tied them to their bows. As Irina was tying her string, she spoke to Alfia.

"Hey you, want to make a bet with me?"

"A bet?"

"I bet you'll be the first one eliminated."

"Oh, I want in too!"

"Me too, me too!"

The elves jumped in one after another, not even asking for Alfia's opinion. The bet was already a foregone conclusion.

Seeing the elves agreeing with her, Irina didn't bother hiding her smirk.

"Alfia, do you not have a bow?"

Ise asked at that moment.

Everyone else had tied strings to their bows, but Alfia was just standing there blankly.

"Nope. It broke last time."

The elves snickered, while Leon quietly watched the scene. Irina was outright holding her stomach, cackling.

"You don't even have a bow, yet you're entering…!"

"We have spare bows. Would you like to use one?"

"Hm, no. It's fine."

"Without a bow, participating in the competition…"

Alfia looked straight at Irina.

"I'll accept it."

"What?"

"I said I'll accept. The bet."

She was confident.

Irina had expected her to cower and beg, realizing her place. Instead, she was standing up to her with full confidence.

Irina's eye twitched. Ha! She let out a scoff, then brushed her bangs back to calm herself.

"Oh really? Let's do it then. If I win, what should I do… Ah, I know. Alfia, how about we shorten those ears of yours? Then you won't look like an elf anymore, and we can preserve at least a little bit of elven honor."

"…"

"And one more thing: you never set foot in this forest again. Get lost with that inferior species."

"Fine by me."

Alfia answered calmly.

Irina's mouth twitched as if having a spasm.

"I don't know where this confidence is coming from, but it's not my problem. What will you get if you win? Should I cut my ears?"

"Not necessary."

"What?"

Alfia stretched out her hand.

The pathway opened.

A light bloomed from her brand.

"What do you mean it's not necessary?"

"I'm saying that I won't be taking anything."

A seven-colored light converged, condensing and concentrating, forming into a small glowing sphere.

The elves stared at the light as if mesmerized. This ethereal entity was a spirit everyone knew, yet no one recognized.

Irina's mouth hung open rudely, but she couldn't bring herself to close it.

"Y-You… That's…"

Alfia grasped the sphere.

Flash!

The light spread out lengthwise, forming the shape of a bow.

A spirit bow shining with prismatic light.

"You don't need to put anything on the line."

Alfia smiled at Irina.

A smile that looked just like someone else's.

"When you know the outcome, it's not a bet—it's cheating."