Chapter 248: The Truth Shall Set You Free

There were no villagers.

Normally, this path was bustling—elves crossing bridges overhead, leaning against railings, chatting in small groups.

Today, there was no one. Just an eerie silence, broken only by the rustle of leaves and her own footsteps.

She kept walking, her confusion growing. House after house seemed empty. It was as if the entire village had been abandoned.

Then realization dawned.

’Oh, it must be that place.’

A few days ago, Luca had built a small building near the edge of the village. He had also brought in strange machines and apparatuses, things that hummed and glowed and looked nothing like anything she had ever seen.

Then he had started calling villagers inside, one by one.

And every single one who came out looked…off.

Some were blushing furiously. Others were pale, almost traumatized.

The elders especially emerged looking angry, muttering about blasphemy and indignity.

Once, Leona had passed by while an elf was still inside, and through the door she had heard a desperate protest:

“No, no, no! I refuse to poop right in front of you! This is so embarrassing!”

Leona had blinked, certain she had misheard. But the memory lingered, strange and inexplicable.

She had tried to investigate. She eavesdropped on gossip, hoping to learn what was happening inside that mysterious building.

But the moment the topic came up, everyone went silent. Faces flushed. Eyes darted away. It was like a conspiracy of embarrassment.

Even her own daughters refused to tell her.

Luna turned red and stammered something about “village business.”

Lulu clamped her hands over her butt and shook her head so vigorously her hair flew.

And Nyx, who always had a smile and a teasing remark went pale whenever the subject was raised.

Her cheerful demeanor flickered, replaced by something that looked almost like trauma.

Seeing that even her impenetrable sister was looking scared, her curiosity overwhelmed her.

So, she had demanded answers from Luca himself.

She had begged, pleaded, even tried seduction—offering all sorts of favors in exchange for the truth.

But Luca had just smiled mysteriously and said,

“You’ll find out eventually. The time isn’t now.”

And when she would insist further, he’d just kiss her, his hands would wander, and she would forget everything except the way he made her feel.

So now, as she walked toward the village square, she assumed that was where everyone had gone.

She felt a small twinge of being left out—no one had invited her, no one had even mentioned it.

But given how traumatized everyone looked, maybe that was a blessing.

She shook off the thought and resumed skipping toward the square, daydreaming about Luca waiting for her, perhaps with a picnic blanket, perhaps with that look in his eyes that made her knees weak.

She rounded the final corner.

And stopped.

The village square was right in front of her…

…but so was the entire village!

Every single elf—elders with their arms folded, adults standing in clusters, children perched on shoulders filled the square.

She even spotted Luna, her notebook clutched to her chest, Lulu, looking around nervously and Nyx, standing with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

Seeing this mob, Leona’s heart lurched. Something was wrong.

She took an instinctive step backward—

CRACK!

She stepped on a stick. The sound echoed through the sudden silence.

Every head turned. Every eye fixed on her.

“Leona’s here!” Someone whispered, not quietly enough. “She’s finally here!”

“I wonder what’s going to happen now.”

“What do you think the Hero’s going to do?”

The whispers washed over her, and Leona felt her carefully constructed composure begin to crack.

What was happening? Why was everyone looking at her like that?

In the center of the square, Luca stood waiting. He spotted her and smiled. But today, something about it made her stomach clench.

“Come over here, Leona!” He called. “We’ve been waiting for you!”

Nervously, aware of every eye on her, Leona walked toward him.

Luna and Lulu watched her with nervous anticipation. Even Nyx seemed tense, her usual playfulness absent.

Leona finally reached Luca and leaned in close, her voice barely a whisper.

“Luca, what’s going on!? Why is everyone gathered here!? I thought this was supposed to be a date!”

She glanced around, flustered. “I even put on makeup! This is so embarrassing!”

Luca’s smile softened. “Sorry, Leona. If you want to go on an outing, we can do that tomorrow. Or the day after. Anytime you want.”

That was nice. That was reassuring.

Then his expression shifted. His eyes grew solemn.

“But right now…it’s not time for a date.”

His voice rose, carrying across the square, reaching every ear.

“Right now…it’s time to expose the truth.”

Leona’s blood ran cold as she thought of something, but she still acted like she had no clue.

“T-The truth?” She echoed. “What truth?”

Luca looked straight into her eyes, his gaze gentle yet unwavering, as if he could see every secret she had buried for years.

He then shook his head and turned to address the gathered villagers.

“Everyone, listen to me!”

Everyone turned to him as he announced,

“Today, we’re going to uncover a conspiracy that has been hidden in this village for years!’

’We’re going to reveal the lies and deceptions that have poisoned everything and…”

He pointed at Leona.

“…it all starts with her!”

The crowd murmured. Leona’s face paled as she realised where this was going.

“You guys don’t know this—but Leona has been completely misunderstood for many years!”

Luca continued, despite Leona shaking her head at him and begging him to stop

“She’s been forced to live a life of lies! She’s been treated like a villain, even though she has spent decades secretly helping this village…”

“…Protecting it.”

“…Loving it.”

He let the words sink in before adding with determination,

“But all of that is going to end today!”

“The misunderstandings—!”

He looked to the left.

“The false accusations—!”

He looked to the right

“The curse that has loomed over this village for so long…”

He chuckled.

“…IT Ends NOW!”

Murmurs erupted throughout the square. Confusion, shock, and curiosity rippled through the crowd.

“And like I said, it starts with you, Leona…”

Luca placed a reassuring hand on Leona’s shoulder and looked back at her.

“You’re going to admit everything. From the very beginning. From where it all started, all the way until now. You’re going to tell everyone the truth.”

He paused, then added with a teasing, knowing smile,

“Including the fact that you’re…”

Leona’s eyes shrank to pinpoints

“…the Spirit of the Forest.”

“The same Spirit of the Forest, who has been helping everyone around here for the past four decades…”

“…that’s her.” He pointed at Leona.

The words hung in the air for a single heartbeat.

Then the square erupted.

“WHAT?!”

“LEONA? THE SPIRIT OF THE FOREST? THE SAME SPIRIT WHO’S BEEN HELPING US FOR DECADES?!”

“THAT CAN’T BE TRUE! THERE’S NO WAY!”

“W-WHATS GOING ON?!”

Elves turned to each other, their faces a chaotic mix of disbelief, confusion, and dawning wonder.

They had prayed to the forest spirit. They had left offerings, whispered thanks, revered her as a divine entity.

They had imagined her as something ethereal, otherworldly, separate from their everyday lives.

And now the Hero was telling them she was their own matriarch.

The cold, distant woman they had whispered about for years.

The one they had accused of betraying them.

They were stunned beyond belief!

Luna’s mouth fell open. She stared at her mother, her eyes wide, her mind struggling to process.

She had known her mother was innocent, forced into a cruel situation by her father—but this!?

The Spirit of the Forest!? The mysterious guardian who had left gifts on doorsteps, mended bridges, healed wounds, watched over them all from the shadows?!

That had been her mother!? All along?!

Lulu herself looked like someone had slapped her. Her jaw worked soundlessly. Then she grabbed Luna’s arm, her voice a squeak.

“Did he just say—is Mother—the forest spirit—the one who—” She couldn’t finish.

Nyx simply smiled and shook her head, as if she had known the truth all along. .

But Leona herself felt like she had been plunged into an icy river.

Her face went pale. Her heart stopped. This was the last thing she wanted.

And judging by the way Luca was speaking, he wanted her to expose herself.

To confess everything, every secret, every hidden kindness, every moment she had spent decades hiding in the shadows.

But…she couldn’t do that. It was terrifying even to think about.

She had been fine opening up to Luca. Fine letting her walls crumble around her family. She had even started greeting villagers with genuine smiles, tentatively reaching out after years of isolation.

But to stand before the entire village and admit the truth?

The consequences flooded back. The trauma of watching everyone she loved suffer resurfaced.

She couldn’t do it.

She forced an awkward smile onto her face, though her eyes trembled with fear.

“W-What are you talking about, Luca?”

“I have no idea what you’re saying. The Spirit of the Forest? Me? That’s ridiculous!”

She laughed—a hollow, unconvincing sound.

“The Hero’s just speaking nonsense.” She said, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s all a big joke. You don’t have to take it seriously!”

She tried to brush off the whole situation, to pretend it wasn’t happening.

But the villagers weren’t buying it. They exchanged confused glances, whispering among themselves.

“Why is she denying it?”

“Does she not want us to know?”

“Is the Hero lying?”

“Maybe he made a mistake…”

Normally, if someone claimed you were a beloved, revered figure who had secretly helped everyone for decades, you would be proud. You would accept the praise.

But Leona was denying it, and that baffled them.

But Luca understood. He saw the terror in her eyes, the way her hands shook, the way her smile didn’t reach her face.

She was afraid. She was terrified of what would happen if she admitted the truth.

But he couldn’t let her run away.

So, he stepped forward, took her hands in his, and looked at her with a love so fierce it made her breath catch.

“I understand, Leona.” He said softly. “I know why you’re scared.”

“I know about the consequences you fear. I know you think that if you speak the truth, something terrible will happen. Something you can’t take back.”

She gasped, her eyes filling with tears. He knew. He knew everything.

“In the past, you were alone.” He continued. “You had no one to fight by your side. No one to protect you. No one to share the burden.”

“Of course you were scared. Of course you didn’t dare say anything.”

He said like it made sense before he squeezed her hands.

“But right now, I’m by your side.”

He looked at her with pure love.

“With me by your side, you don’t have to face anything alone.”

“Whatever consequences, curses, or dangers you’re afraid of…you don’t have to face them anymore.”

He leaned closer.

“So trust me, Leona and tell the truth. Tell the truth and break away from the curse that binds you.”

Hearing this, Leona’s heart ached.

She trusted him, she trusted him completely. She knew he would never hurt her.

But forty years of trauma and the repercussions of exposing herself weighed her down like chains

It only got worse when she glanced at her daughters, who were watching her with nervous, hopeful eyes.

She thought about everything that had happened in the past because she had shown her true self.

She remembered how her daughters, who had been literal new-borns back then cried miserably just because she made one mistake.

The memories made her feel sick.

She didn’t want to see that happen again, so she forced another smile, even as tears pricked at her eyes.

“I-I really don’t understand what you’re talking about, Luca.”

Her voice cracked. “You should stop now. T-This topic isn’t funny anymore.”

She hated herself for lying to him. Hated herself for pushing him away when he was trying so hard to help.

But she was trapped, stuck in a cage of her own making, and she couldn’t see a way out.

Seeing her refuse him once again, Luca sighed.

He had hoped words would be enough, but he could see they weren’t.

Leona was too locked in her own fear, too used to hiding. If he let this go, nothing would change.

But he couldn’t tell the truth for her. She had to admit it herself—to break out of the shell she had built around herself. He needed to push harder.

So, if words wouldn’t work, he would have to take more drastic measures.

He let go of her hands and stepped back.

Then he stepped back again. And again.

The crowd parted around him, watching with bated breath as he moved toward where Luna stood.

“I really didn’t want to do this, Leona…”

His voice was loud now, meant for everyone to hear.

“I wanted you to admit the truth on your own. I wanted this to be gentle.”

“But you’re not giving me a choice, are you?”

Leona’s eyes widened. “What are you—”

Before anyone could react, he moved like lightning.

His hand shot out, grabbing Luna, who was standing right beside him and yanked her in front of him.

One arm locked around her waist.

The other hand drew a knife from nowhere, the blade glinting in the morning light and—

—he pressed it against Luna’s throat!

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