Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent
Chapter 247 - 247: Ch 247: Welcome to the Elf Village- Part 2

The moment Kyle and Silvy stepped fully into the Elf Village, all eyes turned to them.

Elves lined the high bridges, stood atop the spiraling tree homes, and clustered in the open paths below.

The air felt heavy with suspicion. Many faces shifted from shock to uncertainty, then hardened into cold glares the moment they saw Kyle.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Is that… Silvy?"

"She's returned?"

"But who's that with her?"

Their language was smooth and musical, but the words were sharp with suspicion.

Some of the older elves looked genuinely relieved to see Silvy again. Familiarity warmed their eyes—but the moment they caught sight of the man beside her, relief turned to dread.

A low alarm call was sounded, and the crowd quickly grew tense.

Several warriors dropped down from the trees, weapons drawn.

Not magical constructs or mana-born spears—physical weapons. Real steel. Rusted in places. Primitive by elf standards.

Kyle's sharp gaze scanned the crowd, noting something troubling.

Not one of them had drawn upon mana. Not even the village guard. Their flow was crippled—disrupted. And for a race that lived and breathed magic, that told him everything he needed to know.

'These people are corrupted.'

Their bodies were healthy, but their spirits were shackled. Mana did not answer them.

He stood calmly, unmoved even as spears pointed his way.

"Silvy, what is the meaning of this? Who is this outsider? Have you lost your senses, bringing a human here?"

One of the guards demanded, stepping forward. He was tall and bore the markings of a high-born elf, but his aura was hollow.

The weapons bristled toward Kyle, who made no move to draw his own. He didn't need to.

Silvy stepped in front of him swiftly, her posture shifting. Her chin lifted, her shoulders straightened, and her long silver hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering banner.

She subtly tucked strands behind her ears to make sure her pointed heritage stood out.

"Don't be stupid. He's not here to harm anyone. He's here with me.""

She snapped, her voice ringing out.

The guards hesitated.

"This human isn't just some traveler. He's helped me more than once. And now, he's here to help all of you."

She continued.

"Help? The last time we let a human into our village, we were cursed! That outsider brought ruin to our people. Look around you—we can't even summon a wisp of mana anymore!"

Another elf barked, eyes narrowed.

Kyle noted the way the crowd stiffened. There was pain in their eyes. Deep, festering betrayal.

Silvy flinched slightly, clearly thrown by that accusation, but tried to recover.

"That was a misunderstanding—"

But Kyle calmly placed a hand on her shoulder.

It silenced her.

He stepped forward with ease, meeting the gaze of every armed elf without blinking. His voice was steady, clear, and carried enough weight that even the most hostile among them didn't interrupt.

"I understand your suspicion. But I am not that human."

The elves didn't lower their weapons.

"I felt the corruption the moment I crossed the barrier. Whatever curse is eating at this village… I might be able to fight it. Break it. But only if you let me."

Kyle said, letting his mana hum faintly in the air. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.

A wave of murmurs ran through the crowd.

"Lies."

"Arrogant human."

"Another trick?"

"We should throw him out before more damage is done."

"No outsider can undo what's been done."

Their voices grew louder, harsher. The hostility was building.

One of the guards shouted above the others.

"You are not welcome here, outsider! Leave this place and never return!"

Silvy turned back, her eyes frantic now.

"Wait—just listen to him! Kyle isn't like the last one! He—"

But no one listened.

Kyle didn't flinch.

He'd already expected this outcome. Trust wasn't earned with words.

And this… this was just the beginning.

The village square was descending into chaos.

Angry shouts filled the air. More elves were gathering from every direction, tension rising like a wave ready to break.

Silvy stood frozen, heart aching as she watched her people unravel before her eyes. The proud, graceful elves she remembered were gone—replaced by frightened, desperate shadows of themselves.

Some looked like they hadn't slept in days. Others had a sickly pallor, their steps unstable, their eyes glassy. The corruption had dug its claws deep.

This wasn't just her village. She'd heard rumors, whispers during her travels. One elf outpost after another—suffering, dying, falling.

What had once been a network of thriving, majestic settlements woven into the great forests was now a broken chain of cursed ruins.

"This is…This is all wrong."

Silvy's voice cracked.

The crowd grew more violent. Elves bent down to rip stones from the ground, clutching them with shaking hands.

"Leave!"

"You're not welcome!"

"Traitor!"

The first rock was hurled, aimed squarely at Silvy.

Kyle raised his hand.

A thin veil of shimmering blue light surged into place between them, curving outward like a dome. The stone shattered against it harmlessly.

More followed—thuds echoing, some bouncing away, others disintegrating midair.

The elves gasped. Not in fear—but in confusion.

"A mana barrier…?"

"He used magic…"

"How…?"

The barrier stood firm.

Kyle's eyes were sharp, unreadable, as he scanned the crowd. Not a hint of worry touched his expression. If anything, he looked disappointed.

Silvy stood behind him, stunned, not by his magic—but by her people. Her chest felt tight. The tears she refused to shed prickled behind her eyes.

"Have we really fallen this far…?"

She whispered.

Just as more stones were about to be thrown, a hush rippled through the square.

A new presence had entered.

The crowd slowly parted.

An ancient elf emerged from among them, his steps measured but unwavering.

His long hair fell in braids down his back, and his robes were dark green with golden threadwork that shimmered faintly, old as the trees themselves.

His face was lined with age, but his eyes burned bright—clear and commanding.

The moment the crowd saw him, the unrest stilled. Even the angry warriors lowered their arms.

Silvy blinked.

"That's… the elder chief?"

The elder's gaze swept the scene before settling on Kyle.

The instant their eyes met, the elder's expression shifted. His pupils shrank. Surprise flickered in his ancient gaze.

He stepped forward, slowly, and then raised his hand toward the crowd.

"Enough."

The elves hesitated.

"Lower your arms. Let the stones fall."

"But—Elder Chief—!"

"He's an outsider!"

"What if he's like the last one?!"

The elder turned his head, voice calm but firm.

"He is not the last one."

They fell into a tense silence. The elder turned back to Kyle, then bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment.

"I felt the forest resist him. Then I felt it yield."

He said softly.

Silvy looked between the two, stunned. Kyle said nothing, waiting.

"You. Walk with me. We have much to discuss."

The elder said, stepping closer.

More protests rang out immediately.

"This is madness!"

"He'll curse the whole village!"

"No human can be trusted!"

Silvy stepped forward, her voice stronger now.

"Enough! You've all lost your way! Look around you. Does this look like the village we once knew? The God's curse has made us weak and blind. But Kyle… he isn't here to finish what the last one started. He's here to end it."

The elder nodded.

"She speaks truth. I have lived longer than any of you, and I have never seen the corruption falter… until now. But as soon as this man stepped into our lands, the taint around me weakened. Even now, I feel lighter."

Silvy blinked in surprise. That was exactly what she had felt too.

Kyle finally spoke, his tone calm.

"I'm not here to be your savior. I'm here to make a deal. If helping you gets me closer to my goal, I'll do it. If not, I'll leave."

The elder chuckled faintly, the sound almost nostalgic.

"Then let's see if our goals align, guest."

He gestured again.

"Come. Let us talk. Alone."

Kyle lowered his barrier, casting one last glance at the silent, wary crowd.

They still didn't trust him. But now, at least, they were listening.

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