The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet

Chapter 414: Undying Hatred and Resentment

(TL:By Rafael,valhallatls.blogspot.com)

"!? This feeling is…"

A fierce hostility emanates from Elfin-san.

No, calling it hostility would be an understatement.

An overwhelming hatred.

A monumental grudge.

These feelings form a massive pressure that swallows me whole.

If I let my guard down for even a moment, it feels like my mind will be completely crushed, and I might faint.

"You humans have never changed, not since the old days. You think of foolish things and execute them without hesitation. And your excuses? 'We had no choice,' 'It was a misunderstanding'... How dare you! Do you really think the oppressed side would ever accept such nonsense!?"

"Elfin-san, you…"

"Because of you humans, how much suffering and sorrow have we endured… How much blood of our kin has been spilled… And my child…!!!"

I was mistaken.

I had heard from Shigure-san that the Phoenix Tribe harbored hostility toward humans.

But somewhere deep down, I had been optimistic.

I thought their hostility would be no more than a more intense version of the spirits’ usual dislike of humans.

But that was naïve.

A foolish misunderstanding.

Humans are… hated.

We are the targets of their wrath.

"To think it was this severe…"

I completely misjudged the depth of Elfin-san’s… the Phoenix Tribe's feelings toward humans.

Her emotions are similar to Iris's.

Probably, their comrades have actually been harmed.

Maybe they’ve experienced loss.

That’s why the anger.

That’s why the hatred.

"Ahhh… M-Mom…"

Finia, being so young, sided with me.

But Elfin-san, who must have witnessed the times humans oppressed them, still harbors these intense emotions in her heart.

And I ended up exposing those feelings.

I meant to persuade her, but instead, I provoked her anger… A complete failure.

"But!"

I have no intention of giving up on persuading her.

It’s no exaggeration to say that everyone’s lives depend on my actions.

And most importantly, if I give up now, I’ll never be able to save Iris.

I absolutely must save her.

For that, I need to do whatever I can…

"Turn to ash!"

Elfin-san’s hair sways as raging flames rise from her feet.

The fire gathers into a single point like a living creature, eventually taking the form of a dragon.

"Burn it all to nothing!"

At her signal, the flaming dragon comes hurtling toward me.

Judging its power, I’d say it’s on the level of an advanced magic spell.

To release such an attack in an instant… as expected of one of the strongest species.

If I take a direct hit, it’ll hurt—

No, I doubt I’d get off with just pain.

But… I chose not to evade. I faced it head-on.

"Guh!?"

The first thing I felt was the intense impact.

It was as if my entire body was being overturned, and for a moment, I lost all sense of balance.

Next came the heat.

My skin was scorched.

No, rather than being burned, it felt like I was being violated and torn apart.

Since my mouth was shut, my throat and lungs were spared from burning…

But this… This is seriously painful—or rather, dangerous.

"Why didn’t you try to evade? Or even defend yourself… Did you underestimate me, thinking I wasn’t serious?"

"Not at all…"

I endured the searing pain coursing through my body and managed to squeeze out a reply.

After feeling that level of killing intent, there’s no way I’d think she wasn’t serious.

Only someone incredibly optimistic could think that.

"I just… I just want Elfin-san, Finia, and the rest of the Phoenix Tribe to acknowledge that I’m not a threat to them…"

"What did you say?"

"I’m not the same as the humans who harmed you. There’s no way I’d accept being lumped together with those people! I’m not saying I’m some great person, but I’ve never stooped so low as to hurt others like that.

But… I understand that just saying so won’t make you believe me.

That’s why… the only thing I can do right now is nothing. By doing so, I hope you’ll realize I’m not your enemy."

"Utter nonsense!"

"Ugh!?"

Once again, flames roared, and I was blown several meters away.

It’s so hot… No, painful? Cold? Sharp?

This is bad.

After just two attacks, my sense of pain has completely gone haywire.

The ability to control flames… It’s incredible.

Normally, running away or at least defending would be the right choice.

But if I did that now, I feel like she’d never acknowledge me.

And so I…

"I am… not your enemy."

I stood up and raised both hands to show that I had no intention of resisting.

Elfin-san stared at me in astonishment for a moment…

Then her face twisted in anger as she glared at me.

"Do you think doing something like that will earn you sympathy!?"

"That’s not what I’m trying to do… I just want you to understand… that I’m not your enemy."

"You humans…!"

For the third time, flames surged up.

This time, I couldn’t even scream.

Actually, breathing itself was becoming difficult.

The flames had burned my throat.

It might have reached my lungs because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t breathe properly.

All I could manage were strange, wheezing sounds accompanied by sharp pain.

This is bad… Really bad.

My consciousness was beginning to fade, and I couldn’t think clearly anymore.

The pain was disappearing, replaced by a chilling cold spreading through my body.

If this goes on… I might die.

No, I can’t die here.

If I die, everyone else…

And besides, I wouldn’t be able to save Iris.

That’s why, for that reason…

"I will… absolutely…!"

Using the last of my strength, I tried to stand up.

But my body refused to cooperate, and I collapsed once again.

TL Note- Rain is down.....

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