I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble and Want to Enjoy a Laid-Back Harem Life – I Have No Intention of Getting Involved in the Main Story, Just Want to Live Comfortably with My Female Slaves, but Everyone Around Me Keeps Treating Me Like a Hero - Chapter 2.14

My hearing is as precise as ever.

“Excuse me!”

Just as I had predicted, an elf rushed into the room.

“What is it?”

The moment the door was opened, the spirit of the World Tree had already disappeared.

To the elves, she was nothing short of a mythical being, revered in their legends. Naturally, she wouldn’t reveal herself so easily.

“Hero, I have successfully completed the task you requested.”

“…I’m no hero. But regardless, well done. I shall go meet this person at once.”

Realizing that the task had been carried out, I stood up and acknowledged the elf’s efforts.

“Bohater, stay here and wait.”

“What?! Hey—”

“Think for yourself and act accordingly. Let’s go. Lead the way.”

“Understood.”

Leaving Bohater behind, I followed the elf messenger through the corridors of the royal castle.

“This way.”

After walking for a while, we arrived at a room.

“Excuse me.”

“Ah, you’re here. I have done as instructed, Hero.”

Inside, I was first greeted by the queen of this kingdom—its highest authority.

Surrounding her were several guards, standing in formation as her escort.

“Oh… hi there. Long time no see.”

At the center of the room sat a familiar figure—a certain elf from the slave market.

Unlike before, she was no longer naked but clad in a rough, prison-issued outfit. Her arms were bound to the chair.

“Apparently, I’m being detained under suspicion of stealing something precious from you.”

“That’s right. I’ve come to take it back.”

I nodded at her words.

“W-What? I don’t know anything about that. Isn’t this just a misunderstanding? And more importantly, isn’t the lineup for this interrogation a bit too… intimidating? Even Her Majesty the Queen is here.”

“Well, a proper investigation is necessary, don’t you think? It’s important enough to warrant the Queen’s presence. We also need to determine whether you have committed any other crimes.”

“O-Other crimes…?”

“This year, every single minor crime committed in the elven kingdom—you’re the culprit, aren’t you?”

“W-Wait, isn’t that a bit excessive?! That’s an outrageously large accusation! It’s so big I’m struggling to process it! Nobody could possibly carry a burden that massive—it doesn’t fit!”

“See, if you just take the blame for all the minor crimes, then the one I committed here will also be attributed to you. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

“H-Hey!”

At my words, the elven queen turned toward me in shock.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like I’d accuse an innocent person. And besides, the real culprit is right in front of us—a perverted little criminal.”

Even if she weren’t, my actions were solely to uncover the true culprit behind the World Tree’s withering.

I had nothing to feel guilty about.

“No, no, no! This is way too absurd! Just because I was a slave doesn’t mean—right, Your Majesty?”

“U-Um… Yes, that is indeed too much. No matter how much I respect you, Hero, I cannot allow such a blatant overreach.”

“Well, I suppose that’s enough joking around.”

With the Queen’s words, I let the conversation flow back into a more serious tone.

“J-Joking? So I should believe you? I really don’t want to make an enemy out of you…”

I wasn’t about to turn this into some unnecessary conflict.

I had no desire to fight anyone, much less someone I admired—though, in truth, I didn’t want to fight anyone at all.

“…So I was brought here as a joke?”

“No. There’s something far more important at stake.”

If necessary, I would do what had to be done.

This world was nothing like Japan. It wasn’t a place where people could afford to live without being prepared to kill if necessary.

As someone who had inherited Lloyd’s instincts, I wasn’t incapable of making ruthless decisions.

“Detaining someone over minor charges to uncover solid evidence for a greater crime… That’s not exactly uncommon, is it?”

“F-First I’ve heard of it!”

“You’re the one responsible for draining the World Tree’s magic, aren’t you? I didn’t realize it at first when we first met, but looking at you now, it’s obvious. You have an unnatural amount of magic stored within you, and you’re even receiving magic from an external source. There’s no doubt—you’re the one stealing magic from the World Tree, causing it to wither.”

“…Do you have proof?”

“No. But if I kill you, we’ll find out, won’t we? I’ll cut you down right here and escape. There’s no one here who can stop me. And in time, the elves will realize the truth and be grateful. That’s all the proof I need.”

I summoned my sword into my hand and pointed its gleaming blade at her, my intent clear.

“……”

Faced with my silent threat, the elf hung her head, her body trembling in quiet resignation.

Then, after a long silence, she muttered under her breath.

“…This… This isn’t what he told me would happen.”