HP: The Magical Gamer [Chapter 160: No Choice HUH! ] (Patreon)

"I can transfigure something into a boat, Harry." Lily said, stepping beside him. Until now she had been content in guarding the children's backs and listening in to their conversation.

"No need. I can do the same as Irisviel. At my level, my speed is extraordinary." Harry waved away her suggestion.

"And what about me? I'm not Jesus like you two. I'll sink if I try to walk over the water." She shook her head exasperatedly.

"I'll carry you, of course. Come here, master, let your lowly servant do the work." He grinned, scooping her up in a bridal carry.

"Harry! It's embarrassing. At least let me be on your back." She cavilled at their suggestive pose.

Harry squeezed her butt, making her yelp. Grinning, he said dramatically. "Don't whine, master. I love this position. It gives my hand the opportunity to fondle your perky arse and my eyes to feast on your delicious tits."

"Concentrate, sweetie. Don't get horny now. You can have your way with me once we're safely back home." She sighed fondly.

"Okay, okay. Don't give me that look." He chuckled, stealing a brief kiss.

Before she could say anything else, Harry ran. He sprinted so fast that he was on the other side even before Irisviel. He was more flying than running.

He set his mother back on her feet, taking another chance to grope her bum. She just slapped away his hand since Irisviel was nearing this side of the bank.

"Whoa! You are quick. Very quick." The elf exclaimed as she jumped up the slope and landed on the ground.

"I have my moments or movements." He smiled at his own pun, earning an eye roll from his mother. "How far are the ruins?"

"Few more minutes of walking." Irisviel informed, grabbing back his hand and leading him. Lily took her place behind them with a small smile. Even when Irisviel wasn't aware of the reality, she still behaved like her Iris when with Harry. It was heartwarming.

Five minutes, it took them only that much time to reach the ruins.

Demolished wooden houses lay on either side of the path. They went on deeper. The leaves-covered road then opened up into another clearing.

This was as big as the last one. Various ceiling-less huts were strewn around. But in the centre was a small circular platform on which a man sat with crossed legs and closed eyes.

He stood up as soon as they neared him. He was wearing a red robe and his long black hair was tied up in a ponytail. His eyes were deep blue, not unlike the elves themselves.

Harry wished, not for the first time, that he had his [Observe] perk.

"Why are there three of you? I need only a single elf on this day. I have no use for humans. Go away, children. You are not needed here." The man sighed, waving them away and staring at Irisviel.

"We can't do that. We are not going to let you kill Irisviel." Harry announced, moving in front of her.

The man let out another tired sigh. "So, my kin still do not believe me. How foolish. I do not kill my own kind, children. I am not a kinslayer. I am Elwind, the first elf. What I do is free them from this prison of flesh and send them to Alfheim. Once every year, I send a single elf back home.”

“It would have been easier if I just sent them all back at once. But their tears and cries for mercy moved my heart. Now, I do it once every year, so as not to seem like I am massacring them. When they are all gone, I will follow them. How hurtful it is that they make me the villain."

The three were stumped at the revelation. "Is it true?"

"Of course, it is true. What would I get for killing them? I am doing nothing but my duty. These lands are turning against us. It had been turning against us for more than a century. It's time to go home. Thousands have already gone. Only a few hundred are left and then I will be free from this thankless work."

"You are lying!" Irisviel screamed.

"I am not. Come here, child. You will be fine once your spirit leaves this body and goes to Alfheim." Elwind smiled kindly.

Irisviel clung to Harry's back and shook her head. "No. I know the truth. You are just a dark Wizard imitating an elf."

"How about you let her leave, Elwind? We two are trying to get out of the forest. We won't mind if she accompanies us. She has already become a family." Lily queried, gripping her wand.

"My apologies, lady. But I can't do that. My duty is to send every elf back home. Meaning, every elf must die. I can't let her leave. You two on the other hand can go. Here, just a half-minute walk later, the forest ends into a cliff overlooking the shore. You can even listen to the waves from here." Elwind pointed towards his left side.

It was true. They could clearly hear the sounds of the waves lapping against the cliff.

"Harry, don't leave me." Irisviel whimpered, pressing her face on his shoulder.

"I won't." He vowed, turning around and embracing her.

Then he moved before his mother and whispered in her ear. "Get out of the forest and grab any legendary artefact you see. It'd be easily noticeable. Once you finish the quest, reality would be restored. And we'll be free from this farce."

Lily shook her head. "I won't leave you."

"You have to. Go, I'll buy you some time." Saying that, he pushed her toward the way the elf had pointed.

Lily looked miserable as she ran away from there.

Elwind didn't stop her.

"Why are you not going, child?" The first elf asked him curiously.

"I can't. Irisviel doesn't want me to. I don't know whether you are lying or not. But I won't let you make her do something which she doesn't want to."

"I regret doing this. But you give me no choice." said Elwind, preparing for a battle.