Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent

The elf who had tried to silence Silvy froze the moment he realized Kyle was standing between him and escape.

His eyes darted wildly, searching for another route, another opportunity to flee—but Kyle's steady gaze crushed that hope before it could form.

The man took a step back. Then another. And then he turned, bolting with everything he had.

Kyle didn't speak. He didn't need to.

Silvy moved to intercept, but Kyle stopped her with a light hand on her shoulder.

"Let me."

He said calmly.

He was gone in the next breath.

Wind howled in the fleeing elf's ears as he darted past buildings and down narrow paths. His heart pounded, sweat ran cold down his spine.

But no matter how far he ran, he couldn't shake the overwhelming sense that something—someone—was right behind him.

Then, it happened.

A hand clamped onto the back of his collar with inhuman precision and strength.

His body jerked backward violently, and before he could scream, Kyle spun him around and pinned him against the nearest wall. The elf let out a terrified yelp as Kyle's cold eyes locked with his.

"Nowhere left to run."

Kyle said, voice low and final.

"I–I surrender!" the elf gasped, hands shaking as he raised them.

"Please! I'll be good—I'll talk! Just don't hurt me!"

Kyle's eyes didn't blink.

"You'll talk regardless."

"I'll tell you everything! I promise!"

Kyle didn't answer right away. He glanced over his shoulder as Silvy caught up, her face flushed with adrenaline and fury.

"He's all yours."

Kyle said to her, loosening his grip but keeping the elf firmly in place.

Silvy didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and stared the elf down with fire in her eyes.

"You were going to silence me. Hurt me. What were you trying to keep secret?"

The elf tried to avoid her gaze, but Kyle pushed him slightly.

"I—I didn't want to hurt you. I was just told to make sure you didn't speak. That's all."

The elf stammered.

"By who?"

Silvy demanded.

"No one. It was my own doing."

"You're already caught. The only way you survive this is if you tell us everything. Right now"

Kyle said flatly.

The elf shivered, completely undone.

"It was a group I was part of. A few of the younger ones who think the elders are weak. They were planning on entering the sacred tree and using its power while it was still unstable. They thought they could force it to awaken and become stronger themselves."

Silvy gasped.

"They were going to destroy everything just for that?"

"They don't believe in waiting anymore,"

The elf muttered.

"They're tired of being shackled by the curse. They thought—maybe if they forced the tree to awaken, it could wipe away all the divine corruption in one blow. Or… or at least give them power to fight."

Kyle's jaw tightened.

"So they'd destroy the very thing keeping your race alive. Brilliant."

"I swear I had nothing to do with the plan!! They just told me to keep you from interfering. That's all!"

The elf insisted.

Kyle and Silvy exchanged a glance before Kyle grabbed the elf's arm and began dragging him back through the village.

"Where are we going?"

The elf cried.

"To see your elder. He deserves to hear this from your mouth."

Kyle said coldly.

The terrified elf stumbled behind them as they made their way toward the elder's house. Silvy kept pace beside Kyle, silent but seething.

As much as she wanted to unleash her frustration, she also knew Kyle had the situation well in hand.

When they arrived, the guards stepped aside without question. One glance at Kyle's face was enough.

Inside, the elder looked up from where he was still finishing the last of his tea. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the struggling elf.

______

Kyle dragged the squirming elf by the collar and tossed him unceremoniously at the feet of the elf chief.

The elders gathered around turned sharply, their expressions darkening with realization. The elf collapsed onto the wooden floor, panting, his face pale and drenched in sweat.

"Speak. Tell him what you and your companions are planning."

Kyle ordered, voice hard and unforgiving.

The elf looked up at the chief, trembling. For a moment, it looked like he would deny everything—but then his shoulders sagged.

The fear in his eyes deepened into grim acceptance.

"There's no point hiding it anymore,"

The elf said, voice weak.

"We planned to go to the world tree. We wanted… to find the source of its power."

Gasps rippled through the room. One of the elder council members took a sharp step forward, only to stop when the chief raised a hand.

"You fool. Have I not made it clear to all of you? The sacred tree is fragile. It cannot handle visitors—especially not reckless intrusions during its recovery."

The chief said, his voice as brittle as cracking ice.

The elf's fearful expression shifted—slowly—into one of resentment. He clenched his fists and looked up at the chief with watery, furious eyes.

"Then why was he allowed to go?!"

He said, his voice rising.

He jabbed a finger toward Kyle.

"Why is an outsider—the furthest thing from an elf—granted the right to see the sacred tree and interact with it, while we, its children, are kept away like criminals?"

"Because you would have killed it."

Kyle said flatly.

The elf growled.

"That's what you say! You think you know everything just because the dragon follows you and the barrier accepted you!"

"I don't think. I know. You nearly doomed your race trying to force something you don't understand."

Kyle said coldly.

The elf turned to the chief, ignoring Kyle.

How is this fair? How can you allow our most sacred place to be touched by a stranger and deny it to us? Isn't that a betrayal of everything we stand for?"

The chief looked older than ever. For a long moment, he didn't speak, simply staring down at the young elf before him with deep sadness.

"You've lost your way. The tree chose Kyle. The barrier let him through. Not because he's one of us—but because he is what we needed. This is not about fairness. This is about survival."

The chief finally said.

Kyle sighed and rubbed his temples, already feeling the headache build. The anger, the defiance, the wounded pride—it was going to fester if not dealt with swiftly.

But that wasn't his job. Not now.

"I'll let you handle your own people. I don't have time for this. If those idiots were already on the move, I need to get to the world tree now before anything else happens."

Kyle said wearily. "

The chief nodded at once.

"Go. I'll deal with him."

Kyle didn't say anything else. He turned on his heel and strode from the elder's house, cape brushing behind him, Lysander perched silently on his shoulder.

The baby dragon hadn't made a sound, but its golden eyes had never left the rebellious elf. It was watching. Judging.

Outside, the atmosphere was tense.

Whispers traveled faster than footsteps, and though most avoided Kyle's gaze, none could ignore the weight of his presence.

His pace quickened as he left the heart of the village behind and followed the energy flow only he could sense—faint ripples of the world tree's aura shifting, pulsing… flickering.

It didn't take long for him to reach the barrier again. This time, it shimmered slightly—reacting to disturbance, its balance clearly off.

Kyle reached out and placed a hand against the surface, and the magic parted easily once more, allowing him through.

As soon as he stepped inside, his breath caught.

The tree was glowing, its roots trembling slightly.

The corruption had not returned, but the energy flow around it was unstable—like water rushing into a cracked glass.

And worse, traces of foreign mana lingered in the air. They hadn't breached the barrier, but someone—or something—had tried to.

Kyle gritted his teeth.

"I really hate being right all the time."

He muttered.

Lysander growled softly on his shoulder, sensing the unrest.

"No more interruptions. Time to get to work."

Kyle said to himself as he rolled his sleeves up.

He would stabilize the tree. Build a proper barrier.

One that no foolish child or scheming elf could force their way through. But first, he needed to reinforce the foundation—using his own mana, shaped with care, not pressure.

Behind him, the sacred grove stirred with quiet whispers, as if the tree itself had heard and acknowledged his intent.

And this time, it welcomed him without hesitation.