Chapter 110: The Master of Heroes (5)

 

Arwin watched Ner laughing as she shared the fruits with Berg.

 

It was a familiar scene.

 

She always found herself observing Ner and Berg, who were chuckling together.

 

“...”

 

Once again, when traveling, Ner chose to travel with Berg.

 

Arwin watched her closely.

 

Ner, flirting coquettishly, kept burying her head in Berg’s chest.

 

Berg, succumbing to her fox-like charms, simply smiled.

 

Occasionally, Ner would take a fruit from the basket and feed it to Berg. Each time, she smiled as if she liked him, and the detestable sight became increasingly unbearable for Arwin.

 

Arwin tore her eyes away from the scene and looked behind her.

 

She saw Gale walking in the distance, following them.

 

The Head Hunter unit was moving slowly too, so Gale seemed to have no difficulty keeping up.

 

“...”

 

But Arwin felt uneasy leaving the greatest warrior of the dragonians in such a pitiable state. He was, after all, connected to the king.

 

She worried about the repercussions of treating him so dismissively.

 

So, Arwin spoke up, partly to interrupt Ner. “Berg, is it alright to leave Gale-nim like that?”

 

“...”

 

Berg’s smile, which had lingered on his lips, faded at her question. He turned back with a cold look in his eyes.

 

He said, “...Even if I tell him not to follow, I can’t stop him.”

 

“Should I go talk to him?” Arwin asked.

 

It was pure concern that drove her. Berg might not have realized, but Gale was a renowned swordsman. They couldn’t just leave someone who was the master of the hero party like that.

 

“...Do as you like,” Berg replied.

 

“...”

 

Arwin couldn’t know what Berg and Gale had discussed, but she was certain it wasn’t good. She felt an urge to mediate... after all, it was her duty as a wife.

 

In the end, Arwin didn’t want to see Ner’s situation. So, she nodded and slowly turned her horse around.

 

“I’ll be back in a bit, Berg.”

 

****

 

Berg watched Arwin leave and let out a short sigh.

 

Ner observed Berg in this state, certain that something had happened. But as always, past or present, Berg disliked showing weakness to them.

 

He always bore his burdens alone, enduring silently.

 

Was this also an effort to shield oneself from all difficulties? It was both reassuring and commendable.

 

Yet, sometimes... Ner wished he would show his vulnerable side and lean on her.

 

“...”

 

However, since Berg chose not to show that side, Ner decided to follow his lead, more so lately.

 

She was learning that obediently following Berg was a source of joy.

 

So, Ner resolved to do her best in what she could manage. She reached for the fruit basket resting on her lap and pulled out another fruit.

 

“Ah.”

 

She motioned for him to open his mouth.

 

Berg, seeing her actions, brushed away the heavy expression on his face and smiled, obliging by opening his mouth.

 

“...”

 

In a spontaneous impulse, Ner playfully put her finger instead of the fruit into Berg’s mouth.

 

- Tap!

 

“…?”

 

Berg was momentarily puzzled by her action but then burst into laughter. Ner, pleased to see him laugh, giggled along with him.

 

“...”

 

And amidst that laughter, Ner felt Berg’s tongue. Her heart skipped a beat at the sensation.

 

“...Now, again.”

 

Seeking to hide her perturbation, Ner placed a fruit into Berg’s mouth.

 

Berg accepted the snack, chewing it as he gazed forward.

 

“...”

 

Ner watched him, then glanced down at her own finger. She looked at the index finger that had touched Berg’s tongue.

 

...Then, quite naturally, she used that same finger to pick up and eat a fruit herself, not bothering to wipe it clean.

 

“Ah!”

 

Suddenly, Ner let out a small exclamation.

 

The horse they were riding stumbled on a stone, briefly losing balance. Fruits spilled from the basket resting on her lap.

 

Ner clung tighter to Berg, wrapping her tail more firmly around his waist. Berg, in turn, wrapped one arm strongly around her.

 

“Are you okay?” he asked.

 

Ner, calming her startled heart, had only one concern.

 

“...The fruits...”

 

“...”

 

Berg, clicking his tongue, responded, “It’s okay. We’ve had plenty.”

 

“...”

 

“There will be other chances.”

 

But Ner couldn’t help feeling a pang of disappointment right then.

 

Ner harbored a desire to enjoy the present moments more with him.

 

Yet, she knew Berg’s words were not wrong.

 

There would be countless opportunities ahead, especially now that they were married. The thought brought a smile to Ner’s lips.

 

As time passed, they reached a vast prairie, stretched with endless green hills. Here and there, they could see people, mostly children playing with swords.

 

“Look over there, Berg,” Ner pointed out to the children.

 

It seemed like these kids had ventured out on their own little journey. They watched the passing mercenaries with a mix of wariness and admiration.

 

Berg couldn’t take his eyes off them. Ner, driven by sudden curiosity, asked, “Did you play like that when you were young?”

 

After a moment of thought, Berg replied, “...I.”

 

“...”

 

“...was more into fighting?”

 

Ner giggled, picturing a young Berg. “Sounds about right.”

 

Berg sighed deeply while watching the children.

 

“...They’re just kids.”

 

Meanwhile, Shawn, who was nearby, chimed in, “Vice-captain Berg, why haven’t we heard any news about the child yet?”

 

At this joke, Ner tensed up.

 

Baran playfully hit Shawn, but Jackson laughed and sided with Shawn.

 

Shawn continued, chuckling, “If the Vice-captain’s child is a boy, it’s going to be tough. Right, Jackson? Always getting into fights?”

 

Ner couldn’t help but imagine it.

 

A child with Berg.

 

Thinking about it, it was bound to happen someday. It was the natural outcome for married couples.

 

“...”

 

- Thump.

 

Berg, amused by his comrades’ teasing, spurred his horse forward, speeding away from the banter.

 

It was his way of escaping the joke. Ner felt protected by Berg’s consideration once again. He always seemed to be on her side.

 

Riding ahead with him, Ner’s thoughts continued unabated. She mulled over the idea again.

 

A child with Berg.

 

“...”

 

Imagining a child resembling Berg, Ner found herself smiling oddly. Somehow, Shawn’s words seemed plausible. A troublemaker, maybe even fierce in appearance...

 

But undoubtedly, the child would also be kind and sturdy, embodying a caring attitude and unwavering conviction.

 

“...”

 

One concern remained, though... the tail.

 

What kind of tail would their half-blood child have?

 

Would it be a white tail like hers?

 

Might the child face similar prejudices as she did growing up?

 

Ner looked up at Berg.

 

...Perhaps, a white tail or any such thing wouldn’t matter after all.

 

Berg would surely adore that white tail.

 

Just as she thought they had moved on from the topic, Berg asked, “So?”

 

“...Huh?”

 

“When are we going to have our child?”

 

Berg inquired, for the first time in a while, a deep sense of playfulness appeared on his face.

 

- Thump.

 

Overwhelmed by the sudden pressure in her heart, Ner’s face turned red, and she found herself unable to speak. Yet, she secretly grabbed her tail, making sure it didn’t start wagging uncontrollably.

 

Berg continued, “When would be a good time? I think I’ve waited long enough.”

 

This was both a jest and a kind of courtship.

 

Ner knew it was Berg’s way of closing the distance between them.

 

In the past, Berg had been careful not to pressure her about such matters, but now that they were closer, he seemed more at ease discussing it.

 

For Ner, who had no immunity against the advances of her beloved, the conversation was simply overwhelming.

 

“There are... steps to these things... that’s...”

 

Embarrassed yet feeling a tingling sensation of excitement, she was struck by the joy of knowing he wanted a child with her.

 

Sensing his teasing was working, Berg continued playfully.

 

“So when do we start the first step?”

 

“Ah... Uh...”

 

- Tock.

 

Ner, with her head bowed, suddenly shivered in surprise.

 

“Kyah!”

 

Berg was gently stroking Ner’s tail that was wrapped around his waist.

 

Ner, trying to block his teasing touch with her hand, protested, “Ah, no... Berg. You’re, you’re being too... suggestive...”

 

“Wrapping your tail around my waist is okay, but touching it isn’t?” Berg asked, seeming genuinely puzzled as he regretfully withdrew his hand.

 

Ner felt a strange, fleeting sense of disappointment.

 

Her head started to spin, overwhelmed as if too much blood had rushed to it. Stammering, Ner finally replied, “Well... that is...”

 

She blurted out what sounded like an excuse, “...Just wait. The steps are...”

 

“Waiting is okay?”

 

“...”

 

Berg, sensing he had unearthed the response he wanted amidst the playfulness, persisted, “Ner. If I wait... will it work?”

 

Berg’s tone turned slightly more serious.

 

For Ner, there was never anyone else.

 

The person she had chosen to love for a lifetime was Berg. It was a foregone conclusion that their relationship would grow closer than it already was.

 

So, suppressing her shyness, she slowly nodded.

 

“...”

 

This was her way of responding to Berg’s actions, a small revelation of her feelings.

 

Even this required a great deal of courage from her.

 

Berg, smiling lightly again, said, “...Alright. Then I’ll wait.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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