Chapter 127: Consultation (6)

 

Even as Arwin held hands with Berg and moved together, she felt a strange sense of regret.

 

When they first interlocked fingers, it hadn’t been like this. Why now?

 

Perhaps the warmth from Berg, only reaching her through their hands, felt insufficient.

 

At the same time, she was becoming increasingly aware of her own changes.

 

In the past, even 30 years had seemed too long for Arwin, who had fled the Celebrien territory through marriage.

 

But now, even 60 years with Berg seemed too short.

 

The more she recognized these feelings, the more anxious and impatient she became.

 

It was a feeling she had experienced before, but its intensity was growing.

 

That was probably why holding hands like this wasn’t satisfying enough.

 

She faintly regretted that at this moment, this was all they could do.

 

“...Why?”

 

As she looked up at Berg, filled with this regret, he gently asked.

 

Arwin couldn’t answer.

 

He probably had no idea how intense the impulsive thoughts swirling in her head lately were.

 

These impulses had grown stronger since she asked Berg to let her go and embraced him.

 

She felt a rising desire to act like Ner.

 

“...”

 

...Sometimes, she thought about trying to act cute just to catch Berg’s attention.

 

But she suppressed these impulses, considering her usual demeanor and what her future reputation might be.

 

There was also a sense of embarrassment.

 

The original her would never have had such thoughts.

 

But Berg’s presence had changed her.

 

She was gradually realizing this.

 

The consultation with Sylphrien had unsettled her mind.

 

The admonition that one should not love a short-lived species.

 

It was a story she had heard to the point of tedium from Sylphrien in the past.

 

The advice to only observe them from a distance.

 

The warning that if one falls for the fleeting, explosive beauty of the short-lived, they would not be able to bear the emptiness when that light fades.

 

“...”

 

She was indeed beginning to understand the meaning of those words.

 

She couldn’t imagine a life without Berg anymore.

 

Even though they had only been together for a few months... his impact had been significant.

 

He had awakened feelings in her that she hadn’t experienced in 170 years.

 

There were countless memories.

 

Confronting Gallias.

 

Reassuring her.

 

Soothing her during nightmares.

 

Talking about dreams.

 

Traveling together to places she had wanted to see.

 

Exchanging jokes.

 

Huddling together in the rain in a strange place.

 

...Making a covenant.

 

The thought that he would one day disappear seemed unbelievable.

 

Just as he had been her unwavering pillar of support, it seemed he would always remain unshaken by her side.

 

But the reality wasn’t like that.

 

How should she accept this?

 

“...?”

 

A sudden surge of emotion overwhelmed her.

 

She found herself ridiculous for being so affected, even laughing at her own absurdity.

 

It was the first time she realized that just the thought could stir such turmoil in her emotions.

 

Life exploited by the World Tree, and life beside Berg, were vastly different.

 

She, who had never cried in her entire life, now felt tears would easily flow at the mere thought of Berg’s eventual death.

 

The tighter Arwin clutched their interlocked fingers, the more intense her feelings grew.

 

-Grip...

 

Berg noticed her grip and looked at her.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

After a moment of eye contact, he smiled.

 

It was a warm, reassuring smile.

 

‘..Ah.’

 

Arwin whispered inwardly.

 

Her emotions were becoming more vivid.

 

****

 

After the Archbishop’s disposition, Sien had been attending to the injured.

 

People with various wounds and lacerations formed a long line, waiting for her miracles.

 

Acran protected her, and Sylphrien maintained order.

 

Sien faced her duty with a vacant expression.

 

Soldiers with gruesome scars approached her one by one.

 

“Saint...Saintess-nim...the miracle...”

 

A soldier with a deep wound on his arm pleaded.

 

“...”

 

Sien suddenly realized it had been a while since she had heard her own name.

 

She was almost forgetting her own identity.

 

She had lived seven years as a saint.

 

And Berg, whom she met again, chose not to call her by her name, suggesting they pretend not to know each other.

 

Sien bit her lip hard.

 

Deciding to focus on the soldier in front of her for now.

 

She extended her hands towards the soldier’s arm, maintaining a distance.

 

From afar, she recited a prayer.

 

His wounds began to heal.

 

“...”

 

“...?”

 

However, the slower than usual pace of recovery puzzled both Acran and Sien.

 

It was like a horse that suddenly started walking after running.

 

Additionally, Sien felt her breathing becoming labored.

 

Physical changes that normally appear only after performing miracles for dozens of people were already manifesting.

 

“...Saintess-nim.”

 

Acran murmured beside her.

 

Sien tried to calm her labored breathing and concentrate.

 

“Ju...Just a moment, Acran.”

 

But Acran intervened.

 

“Soldier, rise. It seems the Saintess-nim is not in good health today.”

 

He repeated the same words to the other soldiers waiting in line.

 

He began to disperse them.

 

No one openly objected, but a murmur of mild discontent and grumbling began to spread.

 

However, Sylphrien, understanding Acran’s actions, also helped him.

 

The soldiers quickly scattered.

 

Sien, sitting dazed, observed the weakening of her miraculous power.

 

During this, Sylphrien approached her.

 

“...Could it be because of that contact with the vice-captain last time?”

 

“...........”

 

At that, Sien laughed hollowly.

 

Had she weakened this much by sharing the warmth of Berg, which she couldn’t even remember?

 

Could there be a more unjust situation?

 

She still yearned for Berg but had made efforts not to reach him.

 

Sien remained seated, letting out a bitter laugh.

 

“...”

 

“...”

Acran and Sylphrien were watchful of her condition.

 

After a while, Sien stopped laughing and slowly stood up.

 

“...I’ll go get some fresh air.”

 

She said.

 

No one tried to stop her.

 

****

 

Arwin began to move, lost in her own thoughts.

 

Numerous soldiers and different races were mingled, creating a tense atmosphere.

 

Yet, unlike the mercenary meeting, everyone was maintaining a certain level of decorum.

 

As if not wanting to cause any major trouble.

 

At the outset, it seemed no one desired to incite conflict, especially with the appearance of the royal Draigo family.

 

The atmosphere was intriguing.

 

In fact, for her, who had left the Celebrien territory, everything always seemed fascinating.

 

Being able to observe such diverse situations without much worry was, in a way, a blessing of its own.

 

It was the safety granted by the title of being Berg’s wife.

 

Berg, though a mercenary, seemed to be known by everyone recently.

 

Of course, the fame of her and Ner’s existence had also contributed to his renown, but his skills seemed to have garnered fame in their own right.

 

‘Berg, with the second-highest record of boss monster subjugation next to the heroes.’

 

Even Arwin, who had never asked Berg about his boss subjugation count, had heard of it.

 

The fact that such a person was her husband once felt surreal.

 

But now, it didn’t feel only astonishing and remarkable.

 

One reason was seeing the hardships he endured, and another was the rumor that he might be the warrior of solitude.

 

Arwin had firmly denied this when Sylphrien brought it up, but the information still unsettled her.

 

While she was walking, Arwin spotted someone’s back.

 

“...?”

 

It was the Saintess.

 

Wiping her eyes, as if she had been crying, she was moving somewhere.

 

Arwin quietly observed the retreating figure of the Saintess.

 

The Saintess had already been of interest to her, but Sylphrien’s story had sparked even more curiosity.

 

It was said the Saintess had someone she cherished.

 

This was quite different from Arwin’s assumption that the Saintess would serve only the divine, not a mortal love.

 

Perhaps she could help clarify Arwin’s own tumultuous feelings.

 

At the same time, Arwin wondered why the Saintess had been crying.

 

She slowly followed the direction in which the Saintess had departed.

 

Burns, Arwin’s escort, followed her.

 

The Saintess had turned around the outskirts of a nearby building and moved on.

Though she drew curious glances, no one dared to follow her.

 

Perhaps they knew there was nothing they could do even if they did follow.

 

Arwin simply wanted to engage in conversation, continuing to trail the Saintess.

 

The Saintess seemed to be seeking a hiding spot, constantly heading towards deserted areas.

 

The place she finally reached was a garden cultivated by the Jackson family.

 

It was an area known instinctively as the exclusive domain of nobles, hardly frequented by anyone.

 

The Saintess entered the garden.

 

Unfazed, Arwin continued to pursue her.

 

Burns, scanning the surroundings, spoke to Arwin.

 

“Arwin-nim, please call me if there’s any trouble. I’ll wait here for you.”

 

Arwin nodded and headed deeper into the garden.

 

She entered a maze-like pathway surrounded by bushes.

 

As she walked, the sound of someone sobbing reached her ears.

 

“....uhh...sob.....”

 

It sounded like a struggle to contain tears that ultimately spilled over.

 

Arwin quickened her pace towards the source of the sound.

 

Finally, she found the Saintess crouched down, wiping her tears.

 

“...Saintess?”

 

Arwin called out to the Saintess.

 

The Saintess raised her head.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Their eyes met.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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