Chapter 69: Formal Appearance(4)
Â
Ner watched the receding figures of the village chief, the Catwoman with him, and Baran and Berg as they discussed about the request.
Â
She felt a tinge of discomfort seeing that woman constantly staying close to Berg.
Â
If the reputation of the Red Flames Corps had spread widely, surely the fact that he had two wives would be well-known.
Â
Yet, this Catwoman seemed to be oblivious to such facts as she clung close to Berg, looking up at him with wide, round eyes.
Â
From beside Ner, Shawn commented, “...As expected of the vice-captain.”
Â
“Hm?”
Â
Ner caught onto his mutter and looked at him quizzically.
Â
Shawn, noticing Ner’s reaction, asked, “Oh, did you hear that?”
Â
Ner nodded.
Â
Shawn responded as if making excuses, “Well... As Ner-nim probably knows, the vice-captain is quite charming, right? With his status and all. It’s common for many women to be drawn to him.”
Â
Ner glanced at Berg, who was engaged in conversation with the village chief, and asked, “...Is this a frequent occurrence?”
Â
“It happens all the time.”
Â
“...”
Â
Ner’s heart sank a bit more upon hearing that.
Â
She increasingly felt uneasy.
Â
“But don’t worry.”
Â
“Hm?”
Â
“You know that you, Ner-nim, are the first one he has treated so kindly. If it’s the vice-captain, then-”
Â
Shawn quickly pointed at Berg with his finger.
Â
“-Ah, look there. See for yourself right now.”
Â
Even without Shawn’s words, Ner had already been observing.
Â
The Catwoman’s hand twitched for a moment before naturally landing on Berg’s shoulder. To top it off, she flashed a small smile.
Â
A surge of anger welled up in Ner at the audacious intention, and at that moment, Berg brushed off the Catwoman’s touch, turning his shoulder away.
Â
“...Do not touch.”
Â
He said coldly.
Â
Berg showed the Catwoman an expression that Ner had never received from him.
Â
For a moment, even Ner’s heart felt frozen - so cold and prickly.
Â
It was an expression she had seen before, but perhaps because he had always been kind to her, it felt more shocking now than it had back then.
Â
She even heard Arwin swallowing nervously beside her.
Â
Seemingly trying to dissipate the icy atmosphere, Berg spoke.
Â
“...I apologize. I just don’t like it when someone touches me without permission.”
Â
From behind, Ner listened to his words and pondered.
Â
Had she ever touched Berg without his permission?
Â
“...”
Â
She had done so every time.
Â
Lately, whenever she wanted to touch him, she did.
Â
Every morning, she found herself close to him when waking up.
Â
Berg had always responded to such acts with a smile.
Â
It made the difference between her and that Catwoman all the more pronounced.
Â
It somewhat eased the frustration she felt, making her feel even more special in the process.
Â
Was it because she was Berg’s first woman?
Â
With a more relaxed heart, Ner exhaled.
Â
“I said you don’t have to worry, remember?”
Â
Shawn spoke from beside her.
Â
It seemed like he was easing her worries on Berg’s behalf.
Â
Only then did Ner relax her expression and reply, “...I wasn’t worried.”
Â
Yet, even as she said it, her words sounded like a lie to her own ears.
Â
****
Â
I entered the accommodation with my wives.
Â
We decided to stay at the village chief’s house.
Â
His house was relatively large.
Â
There were plenty of rooms and spacious areas.
Â
Perhaps it was due to Dems village receiving many visitors.
Â
The rest of the Red Flames members decided to stay at the inn in the Dems village.
Â
As the village chief introduced his house, he mentioned, “This is my room, and next to it is my daughter... Kayla’s room.”
Â
The woman named Kayla smiled at me.
Â
It had been a while since someone didn’t shrink back after I asked not to be touched.
Â
Even after that, she continued to smile slyly at me and kept trying to touch me.
Â
Even though she clearly saw that I had wives, her approach was not particularly welcomed.
Â
“You may rest in any of the rooms other than those two,” the village chief said.
Â
Without much thought, I chose the two adjoining rooms.
Â
“We’ll rest in this room and that one.”
Â
“Very well. You must be tired from your journey, so please rest comfortably. We can take our time discussing the request.”
Â
As I nodded and moved forward, the village chief deeply bowed his head towards Ner and Arwin who followed behind me.
Â
It seemed like he had an instinctual fear towards nobility.
Â
Indeed, if not for me, the village chief might have never had an occasion to see the daughters of Blackwood and Celebrien.
Â
This was also one of the objectives of this journey.
Â
To show ordinary people that our Red Flames Corps was indeed associated with the nobility.
Â
The results of this marriage alliance were already evident.
Â
Certainly, the atmosphere with which the village residents received us was different.
Â
In the past, there were times when our presence went unnoticed.
Â
It felt like only the curious would pay us any attention.
Â
But perhaps because of the two noblewomen...
Â
Everyone came out and busily bowed their heads in our direction.
Â
While there hadn’t been any substantial changes within the Red Flames, the treatment we received was significantly different.
Â
I didn’t hate this.
Â
If attitudes towards us improved, there was no downside. More people would want to become mercenaries for our group, and those trying to deceive us would decrease.
Â
Overall, the dispatched members would be safer.
Â
After having Arwin and Ner sit down in the room that I selected, I prepared to explain this point to them.
Â
-Thud.
Â
I closed the door and looked at them.
Â
“Ner, Arwin.”
Â
The two looked up at me in silence.
Â
“This expedition holds great significance.”
Â
“...”
Â
“...”
Â
Without a word, both Arwin and Ner nodded.
Â
Even though they seemed unusually quiet, I continued, “The first reason is, of course, the reward we get upon completing the request. Second, I hope you both enjoy the new scenery here. The third is...”
Â
I paused, gauging my wives’ reactions.
Â
I couldn’t predict how they’d respond.
Â
“...the third is to announce the change in the Red Flames.”
Â
“Change?”
Â
“We need to show firsthand that our mercenary group is connected to your noble families. Hearing a rumor and witnessing it are two different things.”
Â
I elaborated further to their silent gazes.
Â
“...We have to visibly be a couple, even if it’s just for show.”
Â
“...Ah.”
Â
Ner let out a quiet sigh.
Â
I looked between the two and said, “...Remember when I asked you before?”
Â
Neither Arwin nor Ner objected to this point.
Â
They both nodded in response to my words.
Â
“There’s no need to force it, but at the very least, do this. The better our relationship appears-”
Â
“-the better it looks, the more it helps you?”
Â
Ner interrupted and asked.
Â
A curious strength was held within her eyes, which had been directly gazing at me for some time.
Â
“...It helps the Red Flames. And that, in turn, helps me.”
Â
Ner cautiously weted her lips and whispered, “...Is that so?”
Â
“...Yes.”
Â
Ner seemed to understand, so I looked at Arwin.
Â
“Arwin, you understand, right?”
Â
Arwin slowly nodded, “...Yes, I understand. The more we seem like a couple.”
Â
****
Â
For a moment, I rested to shake off the fatigue of the journey, and then I focused on the noise coming from outside.
Â
The sounds of the meal being prepared reached my ears.
Â
Perhaps it was time to fill our stomachs with the other members.
Â
I rose from the chair.
Â
Ner and Arwin were comfortably sprawled on the bed, giggling.
Â
“...”
Â
Every time I saw them so close, I felt fortunate.
Â
I hoped, as I had in the past, that they’d continuously show such affection.
Â
“Let’s go eat. Aren’t you both hungry?”
Â
At my words, Arwin and Ner stopped talking and got up from the bed.
Â
They naturally followed behind me.
Â
-Creak.
Â
I opened the door and stepped outside.
Â
The village chief Nox looked pleased upon seeing me.
Â
“Ah, Berg-nim. You’re out. Would you like to eat?”
Â
“I’ll dine with the members.”
Â
“I heard the inn has prepared something. Kayla will guide you to the inn. Please follow her.”
Â
From the center of the chief’s house, Kayla, who was resting, quickly stood up at his words.
Â
She fiddled with her long ears a couple of times before giving me a broad smile.
Â
“Berg-nim, please follow me.”
Â
She spoke in a soft, melodic voice.
Â
She then opened the door first, guiding us through.
Â
I silently followed her.
Â
Soon after, Ner and Arwin quietly trailed behind me.
Â
Stepping outside, the sky was beautifully painted with the glow of twilight.
Â
The orange hue conveyed a serene feeling, reminiscent of an autumn forest.
Â
Sunsets might look the same everywhere, but for some reason, this place felt different.
Â
After the mission, I looked forward to admiring the landscapes alongside this sunset, and so I continued walking.
Â
“Berg-nim, how did you get this scar?”
Â
After taking a few steps, Kayla approached and asked.
Â
She pointed to the scarred part of my forearm.
Â
Each scar held its own memory.
Â
I couldn’t forget the process of getting these scars, especially when I lost members of my team during those times.
Â
I replied, remembering the fallen members, “... Two years ago-”
Â
As soon as I began speaking, Kayla gently stroked my forearm, whispering sympathetically, “...It must have hurt...”
Â
Just as I was about to frown at her for once again touching me without heed to my previous warning, a sharp voice rang out from behind.
Â
“Hey.”
Â
Startled by the cold voice, I turned around.
Â
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Â
Shockingly, Ner was glaring at Kayla, her tail standing on end.
Â
There was a look of anger on her face, one I had never seen before.
Â
-Thud!
Â
In an instant, Ner pushed Kayla aside and positioned herself beside me.
Â
She tightly crossed her arm with mine.
Â
Her soft chest naturally pressed against my arm.
Â
“Can’t you see me in your eyes? Are you belittling my lineage?”
Â
“...Pardon?”
Â
Kayla, who seemed unshaken by my warnings, now crumbled under Ner’s pressure.
Â
Her eyes darted between Ner and me in confusion.
Â
Even I was taken aback by Ner’s unexpected behavior.
Â
“Why do you keep touching my husband?”
Â
Kayla spoke as if trying to explain herself.
Â
“I...I thought you two weren’t on good terms-”
Â
“-What?”
Â
Ner snapped at her sharply, as if the reins had been let loose.
Â
Perhaps it was customary for werewolves to be this protective of their mates.
Â
I faintly sensed that behavior in Ner’s actions.
Â
Kayla, lost for words, bowed her head deeply.
Â
“...If, If I offended you, I apologize.”
Â
“...Be careful.”
Â
Immediately, Ner pulled me closer and continued walking.
Â
Looking back, I saw Kayla biting her lip.
Â
Arwin watched us with a slightly surprised expression.
Â
“...Look at me, Berg.”
Â
From beside me, Ner murmured.
Â
I turned my head to her direction.
Â
Before I knew it, Ner was looking up at me with her usual innocent expression.
Â
It was a face filled with slight worry and caution.
Â
“...Ner?”
Â
As I called her name, she responded, “...It’s my first time saying such stern words, I’m...I’m nervous.”
Â
“...”
Â
Then she looked into my eyes, hesitated for a moment, and blurted out with a hint of defiance.
Â
“...You asked for it.”
Â
“...”
Â
For a moment, I was dumbfounded. And after a brief silence, I chuckled.
Â
“Yes, I did.”
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
Â