The women I set free are obsessed with me

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I had to be careful not to make noise with the cheap table.

Careful.

Extra careful.

I raised my upper body and focused all my attention on not waking Alfia.

Whew.

I'd only had a little to drink, but my head was throbbing and my stomach churning. This moment made me realize just how effective the Potion of Invulnerability had been.

I almost ended up passed out until morning.

Alfia…

She was sleeping. Soft breathing sounds escaped her lips going, zzz…

Alfia had only recently started properly handling her Servant. After flying around and shooting arrows, she must be exhausted.

Unless something extremely noisy happened, she probably wouldn't wake up. Still, elves were known for their keen hearing, so I had to be cautious.

I took deep breaths, trying to clear my head of the alcohol. Thanks to the air purifier and forest-scented diffuser right next to me, I quickly sobered up.

With a clear mind, I reflected on the journey to see if I'd made any mistakes.

[Alfia, the Eternally Suffering Elf]

There were two primary conditions for Alfia's complete liberation.

One was freeing her from her pain.

The other was the recovery of her shattered self-esteem.

For the former, it involved caring for the drug-addicted Alfia, healing her wounds, restoring her collapsed mental state, and giving her the will to live.

Later, she was supposed to participate in the Slave Festival hosted by Roperman, achieve first place, obtain the Scroll of Spirit Usurpation, and resolve her pain.

But I intercepted Alfia.

Since restoring Alfia's body and mind was out of the question, I chose archery. I obtained the Scroll of Spirit Usurpation through force rather than the Slave Festival.

Next was the latter, recovering her shattered self-esteem.

Making Alfia, who had been ignored in elven society and banished from the village, win the 'Elven Dance Festival'. She had to achieve first place, even second wouldn't do.

Actually, this is the hardest part of Alfia's story.

If Mirabelle's story was about uncovering the hidden truths, Alfia's was all about unconditional growth.

That's why the Elven Dance Festival was so dependent on her combat power.

There were so many factions trying to keep Alfia in check, especially that Leon guy. His combat power was no joke, so to beat all of them and win, Alfia had to become stronger like crazy.

But contrary to my worries, it was resolved almost disappointingly easily. Thanks to a bizarre growth rate I'd never seen in the game.

I still don't know why.

Maybe it was because she started learning the bow so early?

As expected of me.

"Mmm… Alfia, the world's strongest elf, rises…"

Alfia mumbled in her sleep.

She seemed to be having a good dream.

It seemed now would be the best time to depart.

To be honest, it didn't seem like I needed to sneak away from Alfia.

With Mirabelle, her passive skill was distrust of humans, so there was always that lingering anxiety. When I made her dad into a Reaper, it was fucking terrifying!

At that time, I genuinely felt my life was in danger.

It probably wouldn't be that bad with Alfia, but…

Still, better safe than sorry.

Elves were said to engrave a vow on their souls with their lifelong companions, weren't they? But I went and did something terrible by putting shackles on her soul.

I'd gone and blocked a perfectly good maiden's path to marriage. Nothing's scarier than an old unmarried woman's hysteria. One wrong move and I might get stabbed.

Hey, at least I took away her pain and made her the strongest elf. That's gotta be worth a drink.

I finished preparing to leave.

This was goodbye to Alfia too.

As I was about to leave…

Should I leave a note?

Mirabelle has Naredi, but Alfia has no one. Without a single friend in the Great Forest, she might be shocked to suddenly find herself alone.

What a guy I am. Look at me, Mr. Thoughtful, in a situation where I might end up getting stabbed with a knife. I've definitely gone off the deep end, I've totally lost it.

I wrote on a large leaf with the pen I always carried:

I have somewhere to go, and… I'm sorry about the shackles, but there are reasons for everything, so I hope you understand. Adults are one thing, but kids like anyone who's pretty and strong, so you might get along if you talk to them…

After filling it with appropriate content, I secured it so it wouldn't blow away.

Now I had really finished everything.

"I promised, didn't I? That I'd set you free if you won the bet."

The drinking contest with Alfia. We never set a time limit. I lost, so it was time to keep my promise.

Snap!

A crisp snapping sound shook the cold dawn air, spreading far and wide.

The shackles on Alfia's soul were removed.

[Liberation of Alfia, the Eternally Suffering Elf, Complete]

────────────

Alfia Liliand, the Playful Flower.

She was a colorless weed growing among beautiful flowers. A weed entwined with thorny vines all over her body.

Sharp thorns stabbing, scratching, wounding. Her body and mind, slashed over and over, were in tatters.

The prison of thorns constricted her, preventing escape in any direction. It even wounded those who approached, and before she knew it, she had become a loner.

Curled up inside the thicket, comforting herself that it was okay, hypnotizing herself that she was used to it, the elf grew ever more distant from reality. In the thorny thicket, she was slowly, very slowly withering away.

Slowly, over hundreds of years.

Like a fallen leaf, drying and curling up.

But you alone did not leave her.

Heedless of your own pain, you dug through and cut away the thorny thicket, making room for her to bloom. To her, who doubted herself, you poured your endless faith.

The flower that grew, nourished by trust, blossomed into the most beautiful of all, carrying within it a strong will.

Alfia is no longer alone.

She is no longer in pain.

Even if she does hurt, it's okay.

Because she has you, her own little prince.

────────────

Alfia's [Liberation Rate] is 100%.

Reward : 50,000 points has been awarded.

The [Generous Master] skill has been enhanced.

A new system has been unlocked.

※ Additional rewards are available.

────────────

Though you knew of a path of comfort, you did not turn a blind eye to her suffering. Instead, you chose to walk the arduous path. For this, the World Tree offers its sincerest gratitude.

The World Tree's blessing has been bestowed upon you.

────────────

New Skill: [Blessing of the World Tree] has been acquired.

[Fully Liberate the Main Slaves. Progress: 2/5]

I'd check the rewards later, for now, I needed to leave the forest.

"Where are you going at this hour of dawn?"

Just then, an ice-cold voice rang out.

It was Leon, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. The laurel wreath was no longer on his head.

His bow had been destroyed too, but as the Captain of the Guardians, he couldn't go around unarmed. He had a temporary bow slung across his back.

"Were you keeping watch on me?"

"What a pointless question. Alfia may have won, but you're still a human and a slave trader. It would be strange not to keep an eye on you in case you tried something foolish."

"If you had kept such close watch before, Miss Alfia might not have been kidnapped in the first place."

Leon glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, but he didn't immediately shoot his bow. The competition had ended in a day, but the festival was still ongoing.

The promise of protection during the Elven Dance Festival naturally remained in effect.

"Don't glare at me like that. I've set Miss Alfia free. I will be leaving the forest right away."

"What?"

"It's regrettable that I touched her soul, but what can I do? Sacrifices are necessary for the greater good."

"You're setting her free now? What's your goal? Just what are you plotting?"

Why was everyone so desperate to know my purpose?

It was really nothing special.

"Liberating the pitiful from their misfortune. Nothing more, nothing less."

"…You're out of your mind."

Leon, who suddenly resorted to personal attacks, seemed to have nothing more to say and turned away.

Wait, you bastard.

Are you trying to spam the chat and then run away?

"Where are you going?"

"I have no more business here, so I'm leaving."

"No, but where are you going? I said I'm leaving the forest."

"What does that have to do with me leaving?"

What do you mean, what does it have to do with you?

"How am I supposed to get out of this treacherous, maze of a forest all by my weak self? What if something goes wrong? You have to come with me."

"Why should I…"

"Dear me, if you guaranteed my safety during the festival, shouldn't you take responsibility until the very end? Don't tell me… an elf is going to break a promise with a human, is that what I'm hearing? Oh my, elven pride is dead. Even I, a human, keep my promises."

"…"

Leon stared at me silently for a while. Then, without a word, he stepped in front and started walking.

I've acquired a biological navigation system. Its name is Elf Guide. Hmm, has a nice ring to it.

"What are you doing, not following? I won't be responsible if you get eaten by a demonic beast."

But it seemed this navigation system was an old model.

It needed a proper update.

Thwack!

I started running at full speed in a random direction. Leon, who had been walking ahead, quickly turned his head at my sudden action.

"W-What the hell are you playing at?"

"Haha, are you just going to stand there blankly? What if I die out here? Ah! There's a man-eating plant ahead!"

"You son of a bitch."

Leon nocked an arrow and chased after me.

In the early morning hours, a chase that wasn't quite a chase unfolded.