After being reborn, I was turned into a slave girl by a princess.

(Did it work...? No, someone's coming from outside.)

Despite Elusia's exceptional skills, she defeated the village chief in just a few moves.

However, the sounds of fighting earlier still attracted the villagers.

The first two young men, armed with sticks, rushed into the hall.

"village head?!"

"Why...why did you kill the village chief!"

"Alarm! The village chief has been murdered! Everyone assemble!"

The villagers stared in astonishment into the room. The current situation was that Elusia had assassinated the village chief, so whatever she said seemed utterly unconvincing.

"I did not kill the village chief. Your village chief was already possessed by the puppet worm!"

"How could that be? The village chief is usually so kind and friendly... Last night, he even said that the two adventurers were acting suspiciously and that we should be careful. I never expected that you would actually kill the village chief."

"!"

"You wretched adventurer, give me your life!"

Compared to the unfamiliar adventurers, the villagers definitely trusted the village chief... The two young men rushed forward and angrily attacked Elusia.

However, Elusia's reaction was also very decisive:

"Slave maid, run!"

"what?"

"We can't find a place to stay tonight, let's get out of the village first."

……

……

Because Lonnies was in the shadows, it was relatively easy for her to hide.

However, Elusia was trapped in the room of the magic reactor, and if she wanted to get out, she would have to get past the villagers... Facing the little black-haired girl, they showed no mercy, but instead swung their sticks forcefully, trying to beat the little girl to death.

Elusia, unable to kill the villagers and forced to passively parry, appeared somewhat disheveled.

Fortunately, she is small in size, and can often slide under someone's crotch with a single tackle. By the time an adult bends down to grab her, Elusia has already escaped.

……

And so, about fifteen minutes passed...

Where did she go?

"It seems they've gone to the road to the east."

"Stop her! These adventurers killed the village chief; we absolutely cannot let them escape!"

……

The entire village was mobilized, with villagers holding torches and searching for the two figures.

However, as if she knew the surrounding terrain like the back of her hand, Elusia found a cave, took Lonnie's hand, and quietly slipped inside.

"Hmm, we should be safe here."

As soon as they entered the cave, Elusia sat down... The little black-haired girl didn't seem too panicked, but Lonnie was sweating with worry.

"Phew... Phew... That was really close... I almost got caught by the villagers."

"Oh ho, thrilling, isn't it? Lonnies, when you were a hero, didn't you encounter anything more dangerous than this?"

"what?"

Lornes was taken aback, and responded somewhat awkwardly:

"I've encountered them before, but this is the first time I've been chased by villagers... This feeling is completely different. When you're chased by monsters, you can just run away, but when you're chased by villagers, it feels like you're a thief."

"Hmph, didn't you kill that chicken in Riverwood?"

"That chicken in Riverwood...?"

"Ha, you really are an idiot. (Completely unsuitable to be a hero)"

Seeing the bewildered look on Lonnie's face, Elusia sighed deeply:

"In short, as you just witnessed, the village chief was controlled by the puppet evil worm. And corrupt demonic creatures like the puppet evil worm are objects we must eliminate..."

"Puppet evil insect?"

"The Puppet Evil Worm is a corrupted demonic creature similar to a leech that invades the mouth when a person is asleep. After that, it gradually takes over the host's body and controls the host's consciousness... Like that village chief, who had been controlled for a long time and was beyond saving, so I simply killed him."

"So, that's how it is..."

Hearing Elusia say this, Lonnies' body trembled involuntarily... not out of fear, but out of pity for Elusia's plight.

When I was a hero, I would be praised by the villagers for completing every task.

This little girl not only repaired the magic furnace but also saved the villagers, but in the end, she became the object of their hatred, which was truly tragic.

"Elusia..."

"Huh? When did I give you permission to call me by my first name?"

"Ah... Master... I mean that..."

"Speak your mind, don't be so wishy-washy."

“Um… Master, don’t you think it’s a bit of a pity? This way, those villagers will always regard you as their mortal enemy, and they might even hunt you down.”

"..."

Hearing Lonnies say this, Elusia frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say:

"My affairs are none of your concern, you slave maid."

But perhaps Lorne's expression was somewhat sincere?

Elusia simply snorted coldly and explained:

"Hmph, can't you even tolerate something like this?"

"what……?"

"To become a hero and save the world... you have to endure more than just these misunderstandings. You have to make many choices that are right, but which will be hated by others."

"!"

“If you’re worried about me, you don’t need to… Those villagers will never leave the snow-capped mountains. As long as we don’t go back to this village, nothing will happen.”

"Elusia..."

"Anyway, I'll just have to sleep in the cave tonight. Honestly, they're all so annoying."

The little black-haired girl was sweeping the dust from the cave, seemingly wanting to collapse and go to sleep.

However... Lornish understood something in her heart.

……

As expected, Elusia is not a homunculus; something must have happened to her.

The swift killing of the village chief and the practiced evasion of the villagers... all indicate that this is not the first time Elusia has done something like this, and she may have been misunderstood in the past.

But she continued to help the villagers.

Knowing he would be misunderstood, he still decisively killed the village chief who had destroyed the magic furnace.

In that case...

"Master Elusia!"

Suddenly, Lonnie clenched her fist.

"Hmph, what's the matter? Want to be my human mattress?"

"No, that's not what I meant..."

Lonnie blushed, but she still raised her head and looked firmly at Elusia.

Perhaps what I'm about to say will offend Elusia.

Perhaps her will perceive my actions as a challenge to her master's authority.

but……

This is a feeling that I must convey:

“Master Elusia, I... I know what you want to do.”

"What?"

"So, no matter how much people misunderstand you, at least I won't misunderstand you. I know your true intentions are very kind!"

Lonnies tilted her head back and said very seriously.

Chapter 18 Silver Hair Velvet Ball

Lornes thought this way:

Although Elusia appears nonchalant, she must be feeling incredibly frustrated inside. It's a terrible feeling, so I should comfort her now.

However, the moment Lonnies uttered those words, the atmosphere in the cave underwent a dramatic change.

……

An unknown chill ran through her body, and Lonnies felt as if the cold had pierced through her entire being.

Thick black mist spread from Elusia's feet, covering her entire body in an instant... When the black light dissipated, the originally petite and cute little girl instantly transformed into a cold and stern young woman.

"what?"

"How could a masochistic maid like you possibly fathom your master's intentions?"

In the blink of an eye, Elusia drew her knife and held it to Lonnie's neck.

A thick killing intent emanated from the girl's eyes, and the sharp blade was only 1 millimeter away from her skin... Lornie had no doubt that if she turned her head slightly, her head would fall to the ground with a thud.