Chapter 122: Consultation (1)

 

Ner prepared to step outside as the day broke.

 

Peering through the window, a calm had settled over the estate, a stark contrast to the fierce battle of the previous day.

 

The tension that had weighed heavily on the soldiers’ shoulders seemed to have dissipated somewhat.

 

Yet, with a hint of apprehension, Ner decided to first inquire with the guards stationed at the door.

 

-Creak.

 

She cracked open the door and peered out.

 

Shawn and Burns, who had been chuckling in conversation, turned their gaze towards her.

 

“Is there something you need?”

 

She responded to their question.

 

“Is it... safe to wander outside now?”

 

They blinked for a moment.

 

Soon, Burns looked at Shawn.

 

As the senior, Shawn pondered before replying.

 

“Yes. It seems safe for now. Where are you planning to go?”

 

“...To meet Berg.”

 

“Ah, then there’s even less to worry about. Shall we go?”

 

Ner waved her hand in dismissal.

 

“No, I’ll just inform Arwin-nim and then head out.”

 

“Alright. We’ll wait for you.”

 

-Thud.

 

Ner withdrew her head back inside and closed the door.

 

She then quietly gazed at Arwin.

 

Engrossed in meditation to hone her life force, Arwin seemed distant.

 

She had returned briefly to greet her, but wondered if it was better not to disturb her.

 

“...Where are you going?”

 

But before she could decide, Arwin spoke first.

 

She seemed somewhat aware of her intentions.

 

“...Just going to look around for a bit,” Ner replied.

 

Truth be told, her interest wasn’t solely in Berg but also in the hero party.

 

It was impossible not to be curious about the chosen warriors of the gods, especially those who had been at the forefront of the seven-year war against the demons.

 

“Arwin-nim, don’t you have someone in the hero party you wish to meet?”

 

Ner asked.

 

Arwin nodded.

 

“...Sylphrien unnie. I’ll go meet her later.”

 

Ner nodded at her response and lingered in the room filled with an awkward silence before speaking.

 

“...Well, I’ll be heading out then. To get some fresh air.”

 

“Alright. Understood.”

 

With Arwin’s reply, Ner moved to step out.

 

Stepping outside, Ner spoke to Shawn, who had been waiting for her.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Ner, revealing a momentary inner thought, asked.

 

“Have you seen Berg by any chance?”

 

Shawn easily answered her question.

 

“He was sleeping in the front yard of the mansion, you know?”

 

Ner’s brow furrowed in confusion at Shawn’s response.

 

“What? Why there?”

 

Shawn seemed just as unsure of the reason as Ner was.

 

“I’m not really sure...”

 

“...”

 

Ner nodded and moved on.

 

Regardless, meeting Berg and talking things over was what mattered.

 

In fact, there were many pressing concerns at the moment.

 

The rapidly changing situation required quick decision-making.

 

How to deal with the hero party, how to behave in front of the royal Draigo family who were said to be coming here - there were too many unknowns.

 

“...”

 

But Ner pushed aside these complex thoughts and continued on.

 

She no longer needed to ponder these matters alone.

 

If she had questions or concerns, she could just talk to Berg.

 

He was on her side, after all.

 

Her husband.

 

With this thought, a smile crept onto Ner’s face.

 

****

 

-Tap.

 

Someone poked my cheek as I lay asleep, embracing my sword.

 

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw a white tail in front of me.

 

-Tap.

 

I felt the sensation on my cheek again.

 

As I opened my eyes wider, the white tail began to sway gently.

 

The fluffy tail wiggled cutely.

 

“...Ner?”

 

I called her name, and she giggled in response.

 

“Why are you sleeping here, Berg?”

 

She asked.

 

Regaining my senses and looking up, I saw Ner crouching in front of me, her arm resting on her knee, looking at me.

 

“...Did you come out here alone?”

 

I asked, and she shook her head, pointing behind her.

 

From a distance, Shawn was engaged in conversation with the other members.

 

It appeared Ner had come here under his escort.

 

I looked at her.

 

Her clear, untainted smile was so infectious that it even affected my emotions.

 

I sighed heavily, embracing this new feeling.

 

I had been resting under a tree in the front yard of the mansion, having dozed off while trying to calm my emotions after a brief conversation with Gale.

 

It seemed Ner had found me and approached.

 

“...”

 

Observing Ner’s expression, I felt an indescribable sensation.

 

Perhaps it was more pronounced because I hadn’t seen her since the incident with Sien.

 

Regardless, a smile naturally formed on my face as I asked her.

 

“Did you rest well?”

 

“Yes.”

 

After her brief affirmative, she reached out her hand.

 

Before I could react, her hand touched my cheek.

 

“...Are you sure you don’t need to treat those wounds?”

 

She inquired.

 

Gently touching the scabs of my healing wounds, a worried look appeared beneath her smile.

 

Just as I was about to agree with her, she seemed to have a sudden realization.

 

“Ah! There’s the saintess. Maybe we could ask her for healing? They say she can heal any wound with just a touch.”

 

“...........”

 

Hiding my true feelings, I responded to her.

 

“...She might be bothered.”

 

“We won’t know unless we ask.”

 

“It’s fine, Ner.”

 

I cut off her suggestion once more.

 

I had a thought that it might be better not to encounter Sien if possible.

 

Ner puffed her cheeks in response, then sat down beside me.

 

Suddenly, a question struck me.

 

“Aren’t you scared being out here?”

 

“Huh?”

 

The situation wasn’t completely safe yet.

 

Although things seemed to have calmed down to some extent, there was still the possibility of other soldiers attacking Prin at any moment.

 

It would be safest to wait until King, Adam Hyung or Gale arrived.

 

Yet, Ner had chosen to come to my side instead.

 

Wasn’t she afraid?

 

“Aren’t you anxious?”

 

“...Hmm.”

 

Ner showed a subtle reaction to my question.

 

Instead of answering, she blinked as she gazed into the distance, then whispered.

 

“...Lately, I feel more anxious when you’re not by my side..”

 

“What?”

 

Her inaudible whisper prompted my query, to which Ner crinkled her face adorably and declared.

 

“...Not anxious at all!”

 

“...”

 

I nodded at her words, feeling relieved myself.

 

Furthermore, I felt that the urgent matters had been addressed.

 

The soldiers of Prin, having rested, were regaining their strength.

 

The security around the mansion was increasingly stringent.

 

Ner was aware of the attentive gazes of the recovered Prin’s soldiers.

 

Then, she leaned her head against my shoulder.

 

-Thump.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Whenever there were more people around, she always showed me deeper affection.

 

She seemed eager to fulfill any request I had.

 

In that moment, she brought up a new topic.

 

“Berg. Isn’t it true that many people are gathering in this territory?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I heard the royal Draigo family is also coming.”

 

“That’s likely.”

 

“...”

 

“Why?”

 

Ner slowly turned her head to look up at me.

 

Her soft cheek cutely pressed against my shoulder.

 

“How should we behave in front of those people?”

 

“...”

 

I was about to question the need for different behavior when a thought struck me.

 

It wasn’t someone from the royal family.

 

She was already here, among us.

 

As I pondered, Ner continued.

 

“...Should we be bolder in our actions now that the royal family is coming?”

 

“What?”

 

“Why, it’s easier to show off our relationship that way. It would also be safer for the Red Flames.”

 

Surprised by her unusually daring suggestion, I looked at Ner, who wore a playful expression.

 

She was clearly not serious.

 

I chuckled at her provocation.

 

“What kind of actions should we take then?”

 

“Well...”

 

“...”

 

After a moment of playful banter, she mumbled.

 

“...What if I start calling you ‘Honey’?”

 

-Thump... Thump...

 

Ner’s tail began to softly tap my back.

 

If it were a hand, it might have felt like a flirtation.

 

But coming from Ner, it felt more like playful teasing.

 

Not that the teasing was unsuccessful.

 

I chuckled again and asked her.

 

“...Call me ‘Honey’, huh?”

 

“Are you, maybe, embarrassed?”

 

Ner wore a teasing expression.

 

Yet she couldn’t completely hide her shyness.

 

Responding to her expression, I said,

 

“Go ahead then.”

 

“...”

 

After my reply, Ner finally bowed her head.

 

After a long silence, she spoke.

 

“Just kidding, Berg. Ho-how could I possibly...”

 

Despite her disappointed tone, I smiled.

 

Such playful banter brought small joys.

 

“Anyway. What should we do?”

 

But then, her words reminded me of someone else.

 

The one who still claims to love me.

 

“...”

 

Finally, I looked at Ner and made a decision.

 

“...Ner. There’s no need to put on an act when the royal family arrives.”

 

“J-Just kidding, I said. I don’t plan to use that kind of nickname in front of people-”

 

“-No, not that.”

 

“...Huh?”

 

“Just be comfortable. It’s okay not to show any affection at all.”

 

“...”

 

Ner slowly raised her head, a puzzled look on her face.

 

“.....Why...?”

 

Slowly losing her smile, she asked me dryly.

 

“...”

 

I had no desire to flaunt my relationships in front of Sien.

 

It just seemed... too cruel.

 

I wanted to quietly get through this moment.

 

To quietly complete the task, quietly leave, and quietly conclude things with Sien.

 

But I couldn’t reveal my true feelings, so I offered an excuse.

 

“...Just. We don’t know how the royal family will react.”

 

“...”

 

Even to me, it sounded like a flimsy excuse.

 

Ner was visibly taken aback by my sudden suggestion.

 

After pondering for a while, she asked,

 

“...Even holding hands?”

 

“...”

 

Debating where to draw the ambiguous line of affection, I said,

 

“Everything.”

 

“..........Tch.”

 

Ner responded with dissatisfaction to my words.

 

“Do this, do that, which rhythm should I dance to?”

 

At her words, I chuckled lightly.

 

I gently stroked her face, which was leaning on my shoulder, with my other hand.

 

“Sorry.”

 

At that gesture, her tail stood up rigidly.

 

She still seemed to tense up at my sudden displays of affection.

 

I offered a final excuse.

 

“Let’s just try not to attract attention, especially with the king coming.”

 

“...If that’s the case, I understand...”

 

I stood up from my spot.

 

My stomach was starting to growl.

 

I decided to look for something to eat.

 

“Ner. Let’s go find something to eat. Are you hungry?”

 

“...”

 

Ner nodded her head.

 

Then, she got up and stood by my side.

 

More and more soldiers were beginning to appear.

 

The day was about to start.

 

Soon, it seemed, members of the hero party would also be waking up.

 

...Including Sien.

 

-Wham!

 

Suddenly, two arms wrapped around my neck.

 

Someone climbed onto my back.

 

Legs hooked around my hips, and a tail tightly coiled around my waist.

 

Then, rubbing her face against my neck, Ner said,

 

“But it’s okay now, right? His Majesty the King isn’t here.”

 

Her playful smile was a bonus.

 

Defiantly doing more of what she was told not to, like a mischievous fox.

 

“Come down, Ner. It’s hard to walk like this.”

 

“No. Try pushing me off. Oh, you can’t touch the tail.”

 

Just as a smile was about to break through at her antics, a sound interrupted.

 

-Thud.

 

“...?”

 

Ner, too, pulled her head away from my neck to look towards the source of the sound.

 

“..............”

 

There was Sien, sitting down with a vacant expression, looking at my feet.

 

Beside her, Sylphrien was fidgeting uneasily.

 

“...Sai...Saintess...”

 

“...”

 

Sien’s gaze slowly lifted towards me.

 

Her eyes seemed to ask, ‘Who is that woman?’

 

The same expression of jealousy she had shown in the past was evident.

 

“...”

 

But there was neither a need for me to explain nor was it the situation to do so.

 

The fact that Ner was my wife would soon become apparent.

 

Ner, stiffening behind me, asked,

 

“Is... that the Saintess?”

 

“...”

 

“...Sh-shouldn’t we help her...? She’s fallen...”

 

“............”

 

I didn’t want to show Sien this side of me, but it was already too late.

 

Whatever I did now, it seemed it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

 

And with that in mind, I no longer wanted to push Ner away.

 

-Swish.

 

“Ah...!”

 

I gently wrapped my arms around Ner’s thighs and lifted her.

 

Startled by my touch, she tightened her arms around my neck even more.

 

“...It’ll be okay.”

 

Sien’s eyes wandered at my actions.

 

Yet, due to the conversation we had before, she kept turning her head away as if pretending not to recognize me.

 

“...Let’s go.”

 

I carried Ner and started walking.

 

Ignoring the bitter aftertaste.

 

Ignoring the growing beat of my heart.

 

I tried my best not to think about Sien anymore.

 

I had already made my choice.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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