They all banged on Norm-san's house door very loudly, their emotions overflowing.
From inside, Norm-san and her husband were terrified seeing the villagers outside their house.
In the middle of fear and worry, Norm-san decided to open the door.
"Don't go out—", said Norm-san's husband who tried to stop her steps.
When the door was opened, Norm-san's child was pushed inside, causing their body to hit Norm-san's leg.
The woman folded her arms across her chest and began to vent her anger.
"Norm-san, the flowers in the garden are all ruined... and I saw with my own eyes your child cleaning up his messy flowers!" , said the woman in a loud voice, as if making the other villagers agree with her complaint.
Norm-san, still not understanding the situation, hugged her child who looked frightened.
"Did my child do such a thing?" , asked Norm-san, trying to confirm.
"If not your child, then who else!?" , said the woman.
The villagers began whispering to each other.
"Norm-san, your child really did something bad... so please, watch over him more" , said an old man.
"I can't stand his behavior anymore!" , shouted a mother from the back of the crowd.
Everyone immediately shifted their gaze, staring at that mother.
"This is a village created by our ancestors for the elves!" , said the mother.
The villagers began to feel that the mother's words were true.
"Besides, why did Norm-san choose to marry a man from the human race?"
"This village isn't lacking in men, is it?"
"Are you trying to defile the purity of this elf village!?"
Those voices began to echo from everyone there, all of them feeling that Norm-san and her family were like a virus that needed to be eliminated immediately.
"Just leave this place!"
Norm-san stood up and was about to speak her mind, but her husband protected her by standing in front of her.
"What do you want, filthy human!?" , shouted someone.
"I truly apologize if my coming here caused trouble."
"The same goes for what my child has done, but aside from all that... our relationship is a legitimate one!" , said Norm-san's husband firmly.
I was also a little surprised by what Norm-san's husband said, I didn't expect that he would really protect Norm-san.
Hah... I hope I'll have someone who will protect me someday...
"What's all this commotion?" , that hoarse voice silenced the atmosphere.
An elder of the village who had lived in this place for 400 years came to Norm-san's house.
"Elder, that human child is really annoying!" , said a man standing near the elder.
Norm-san's husband, who had never seen the village elder, was just silent in confusion about what was happening.
But on the other hand, Norm-san already knew the elder very well.
"Norm, have you seen for yourself your child's behavior in this village?" , asked the elder.
Norm-san did not answer, she only shook her head.
"I always get many reports that your child often disturbs the villagers in this place" , said the elder firmly.
The villagers, hearing the elder's words, immediately spoke up again.
"That's right, that's right!"
"I can't forgive his actions all this time!"
The elder, seeing the situation becoming noisy again, struck his wooden staff against the ground... making everyone fall silent in shock.
"Norm, I did allow you to marry a man from the human race... but I never said it was permissible for your family to be in this village" , he said.
"Why are you living here as you please?" , asked the elder.
In this elf village, there was a rule set by the villagers of old:
"A romantic relationship between an elf and another race is not allowed in this village"
That rule still applied up until I lived in this village. And in my own opinion, that rule was too excessive.
——
Norm-san fell silent for a moment, then spoke—
"I truly apologize for what I and my family have done—" , said Norm-san.
"Don't suddenly apologize!"
"Sounds insincere!"
The villagers felt dissatisfied seeing Norm-san only apologizing, and in their eyes, the apology wasn't sincere.
In the end, Norm-san was forced to bow down before them all.
"I beg you... please forgive my family" , said Norm-san.
Norm-san's eyes began to fill with tears, she only wanted to live with her small family... but the world seemed to say "no".
The village elder felt Norm-san's apology, but since the villagers still looked emotional... he had no other choice.
"Norm-san, in the name of this village elder... I ask your family to leave this village" , said the elder.
Hearing that shocked Norm-san and her husband.
"Wait a minute—" , said Norm-san.
"I should have asked you to leave long ago... but I still gave you time... and now is the time for your family to go" , the elder asked once again.
"Hmm... I hope you and your family leave this village before tomorrow morning" , the elder immediately turned around and left Norm-san's house.
The villagers also looked satisfied with the final decision, and since there was nothing else they could do, they all dispersed and returned to their respective activities.
After the yard was quiet, Norm-san collapsed to the ground and cried.
Her husband could only hug her from behind, holding back his own tears.
——
That afternoon, they packed clothes and some food into their fairly large bag.
Their child sat at the dining table, lost in thought.
"Mother, did I do something bad?" , asked Norm-san's child.
Norm-san, who was packing things, approached her child and stroked their head.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong... you're a good child~" , said Norm-san, trying to comfort her child.
"But, why are you and Father crying?"
That question pierced Norm-san's heart, she never expected her child to ask such a thing.
Norm-san did not answer and went back to packing the things they needed to bring.
Before the sun fully set, the three of them were already standing in front of their house.
"Mother, are we going to move?"
"Yes, the three of us will move to a better house~"
Then, Norm-san's husband lit a lantern and started walking first.
Norm-san held her child's hand so they wouldn't be separated while walking.
"Even though it feels a little sad, this is the best choice" , murmured Norm-san in her heart.
For Norm-san, she did not believe her child did anything wrong.
Because when she saw her child's innocent face, it made her lose all suspicion.
"Mom, why are you staring at my face?" , asked Norm-san's child, feeling that his mother was staring at him.
"Nothing" , answered Norm-san.
Her husband, who looked back, only gave a small smile seeing the interaction between his wife and child.
The three of them left the village and went to the region inhabited by humans.