Chapter 152: Winds of Change (1)

 

Ner approached Arwin, who was looking in the direction Berg had left.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Neither of them opened their mouths first.

 

There wasn’t much to say in the first place.

 

After all, her farewell with Arwin was imminent.

 

Ner gradually began to feel that the distance between herself and the elves was greater than the difference between herself and Berg’s human race.

 

Despite being nobility and a woman herself, Ner found she understood Berg more than Arwin.

 

But whatever that was, now was not the time to ponder it.

 

They simply shared a silence, filled with worries for Berg.

 

Stockpin was abuzz with new developments.

 

There were rumors that the hero party had killed the Demon King.

 

The news that the war is over.

 

Despite the numerous casualties and the hero himself being gravely injured, the unchangeable truth was that the war had ended.

 

Yet, Ner found herself unable to feel joy for some reason.

 

It had been a war that brought endless suffering to the commoners of Blackwood, and Ner herself had despaired greatly due to this war... but the mere fact that the war had ended wasn’t enough to make her happy right away.

 

There had been no word about Berg yet.

 

His battlefield, and that of the hero party, were entirely different matters.

 

If he wasn’t safe, then everything else was meaningless.

 

Ner clasped her hands together.

 

She prayed endlessly to her native gods.

 

Kissing the ring Berg had given her, she wished nothing more than for his safe return.

 

“...Arwin-nim?”

 

Then, Ner called out to Arwin.

 

Arwin turned to look at Ner with lifeless eyes.

 

Ner, looking at her, made a request.

 

“...Berg’s World Tree leaf...”

 

“...”

 

“...Can you show it to me...?”

 

The World Tree leaves that Berg and Arwin had shared at their wedding ceremony could reveal the condition of the other person.

 

Seeing Berg’s World Tree leaf would tell them what situation he was in.

 

Arwin, staring blankly at Ner, cautiously showed the leaf she held.

 

“...”

 

The leaf was slightly torn here and there.

 

Ner collapsed on the spot at the sight.

 

It was a relief that he was alive, but the thought of him being so badly injured was overwhelmingly painful.

 

She continued to pray.

 

For Berg to return.

 

Ner had never wanted anything more.

 

The only person who had ever been on her side.

 

The most important existence in her life.

 

Only with him could she also live on.

 

“...Wha...What...?”

 

Then, Arwin, uncharacteristically, began to voice her concern with an anxious voice.

 

Ner, feeling a sinking pain in her heart, immediately looked at the World Tree leaf.

 

The leaf was rapidly withering away.

 

****

 

I couldn’t let go of Adam Hyung even after he had left.

 

Holding him in my arms... I just froze in place.

 

I couldn’t believe it.

 

That Adam Hyung had died.

 

He, who had always been stronger than anyone and had always led me, was gone.

 

I couldn’t accept that Adam Hyung, heavy in my arms, would never open his eyes again.

 

It felt like he would open his eyes any moment and tell me it was all a joke.

 

But Hyung did not move.

 

He lay there lifelessly, resting with a peaceful expression.

 

Seven years flashed by like a lantern show.

 

The moment I first met him.

 

The moment I joined the first mercenary band, our relationship strained.

 

The memories of being trained by him.

 

The battles where we saved each other’s lives.

 

The endless conversations we had sitting side by side in front of a fire.

 

The moment we formed the Red Flames group.

 

The day we first shared a drink.

 

The day we entered Stockpin.

 

The memories of supporting each other after the deaths of our comrades.

 

All the laughs and jokes we shared.

 

I couldn’t believe that all of this would now become just memories.

 

I couldn’t even cry.

 

It was more numb than any death. Maybe because it didn’t feel real at all.

 

It all seemed like a dream.

 

“..Hy...Hyung...now...”

 

I blinked and whispered to Adam Hyung.

 

“...now the war is over...”

 

This was supposed to be the end, so why did this have to happen?

 

In hundreds of battles, where we’ve crossed the line of life and death countless times, why couldn’t we avoid it this time?

 

“...There was nothing left but happiness ahead of us...”

 

I tried desperately to persuade him, as if saying these words would make him rise again.

 

Adam Hyung must have suffered more than I did.

 

Endlessly sitting at his desk, working day and night for everyone’s sake.

 

The day for him to finally receive his due had come.

 

We climbed up from the very bottom together.

 

...Why is he leaving me now?

 

Members of the Red Flames group began to gather around us.

 

One by one, they knelt as if collapsing at the sight of Adam Hyung.

 

Many burst into tears, many others clutched at their heads.

 

It was a moment that showed how much Adam Hyung was loved.

 

I felt uncertain.

 

I was to lead the Red Flames in Adam Hyung’s stead... but I doubted I could be as beloved as him, or serve them as he did.

 

Adam Hyung’s last words echoed in my mind.

 

His will, uttered for no one else but me.

 

‘...I believe.’

 

What did that mean?

 

It felt as though I was already disappointing him.

 

I pressed my forehead against Adam Hyung’s.

 

Closing my eyes, I spoke to him.

 

“...Let’s go back, Hyung.”

 

I held him closer and murmured.

 

“...Let’s go home.”

 

****

 

Adam Hyung wasn’t the only one who lost his life.

 

It was the last battle where more than 30 of our members died.

 

It wasn’t even a punitive mission, and considering how hard I tried to hold off Krund, the number was unbelievable.

 

We won the war, but there was no joy.

 

Silence hovered over our journey back to Stockpin.

 

Hyung was peacefully asleep in the carriage.

 

Holding his sword, he followed quietly wherever we led.

 

I kept looking back at him.

 

Tears still wouldn’t come.

 

Gale, who was driving the carriage with me, placed a hand on my shoulder.

 

I knew there were stories I needed to hear from Gale, perhaps not now but eventually.

 

I needed more detailed explanations about Adam Hyung’s past and the dreams he talked about.

 

What he wished for, what he dreamt of, I had to find out.

 

These were stories I wouldn’t have heard through others... but Adam Hyung could no longer tell them to me.

 

“...Berg.”

 

Now was not the time.

 

Without even looking at Gale, I shook my head.

 

I didn’t want to hear any words of comfort just yet.

 

I didn’t need any words at all.

 

I didn’t want to think about anything.

 

Because thinking felt like it would make me crumble.

 

****

 

“They’re coming!”

 

At the faint break of dawn.

 

All of Stockpin began to stir.

 

Everyone climbed up to the wooden barricade surrounding the village, watching the approaching Red Flames group.

 

One by one, they started cheering and crying.

 

Some villagers, unable to hold back, began running out of the village gates.

 

Ner and Arwin did the same.

 

They hurried to the front, looking eagerly at Berg leading the approach.

 

He was bloody and dirty but seemed unharmed.

 

Berg, looking exhausted, kept his head down as he slowly led his horse.

 

Since the World Tree leaf of Berg withered away yesterday, Ner and Arwin hadn’t been able to breathe easy.

 

Worrying about what might have happened, they chewed on their nails and bit their lips.

 

Now that the end of their wait was in sight, they couldn’t help but run forward.

 

Ner, with tears of relief welling up, shouted.

 

“Berg!!!”

 

But Berg didn’t respond.

 

It wasn’t just Berg.

 

The numerous members of the Red Flames following him, despite the enthusiastic cheers from Stockpin, remained silent too.

 

People started to quiet down one by one as they noticed the odd silence.

 

Ner and Arwin stiffened up as they sensed the tense atmosphere around Berg.

 

“...”

 

Berg’s eyes soon found Ner and Arwin.

 

His eyes widened momentarily as if surprised to actually see them there.

 

Then Berg looked back at the residents of Stockpin who had followed out for a long while.

 

After blinking a couple of times, Berg finally dismounted his horse.

 

Ner wanted to run to him and embrace him, but she couldn’t move due to Berg’s actions.

 

Berg turned around.

 

He walked away for a moment...

 

...and soon returned, carrying a figure in his arms with eyes peacefully closed.

 

It was Captain Adam.

 

“.............”

 

Ner caught her breath at the sight.

 

Seeing Adam motionless, she could finally guess what had happened.

 

Now, she could also understand the pain in Berg’s expression.

 

Behind his stern face, Berg seemed as if he was about to cry at any moment.

 

Knowing how closely Berg had followed Adam, Ner felt an ache in her heart so deep it was unbearable.

 

For that reason, she couldn’t even bring herself to offer consolation prematurely.

 

Berg, carrying Adam, momentarily met Ner and Arwin’s eyes.

 

His expression twisted briefly, then returned to its original state.

 

After fixing his expression and closing his eyes for a moment, Berg moved forward.

 

Without saying a word, he headed into Stockpin.

 

Ner and Arwin silently followed him.

 

****

 

I carefully laid down Adam Hyung and the members who had met their deaths in the village center, and looked around at the villagers watching me.

 

I stood where Adam Hyung should have been standing, feeling awkward and confused.

 

But I knew what I had to do.

 

Not good with words and lacking the energy, I recited only the necessary information in a business-like manner.

 

It was the roll call of the deceased. The names of those deeply etched in my memory couldn’t be forgotten.

 

I looked around at the villagers and called out each name.

 

“...Lance.”

 

A cry erupted from somewhere.

 

Even though I had only learned of these deaths upon entering the village, declaring them like this felt differently.

 

“...Alfrin.”

 

Another sob followed.

 

With each name I uttered, I felt the weight on my shoulders, calling out each one by one.

 

How had Adam Hyung managed this? I couldn’t know.

 

Parents who lost their children. Wives who lost their husbands. Children who lost their fathers.

 

With each name, it was as if I was driving a nail into their hearts.

 

Ner and Arwin stood behind me.

 

I hadn’t exchanged a single word with them yet.

 

I didn’t even know what to say.

 

Name after name after name.

 

The endless list went on in my mind.

 

And as I spoke... I finally reached the last name on the list, longer than any before.

 

“...And....”

 

But that last name wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

 

I opened my lips, but no sound emerged.

 

Perhaps I had unknowingly saved that name for last.

 

“...”

 

After struggling for a while, I finally managed to say it.

 

“...Adam.”

 

At that name, many people began to cry.

 

With that, I closed my mouth and turned around.

 

I didn’t want to be there anymore.

 

I needed a break.

 

I turned and walked towards home.

 

Perhaps I walked a bit too briskly.

 

Ner and Arwin seemed to struggle to keep up.

 

-Thud.

 

That’s how I entered the house.

 

I stood in the living room, staring blankly into space... and let out a long sigh.

 

My breath came out shaky.

 

That’s when I turned around.

 

-Drip... Drip...

 

Ner stood there, tears streaming down her face. Arwin was slowly approaching me.

 

“...Why are you crying?”

 

I tried to put on a strong front, smiling as if nothing was wrong.

 

“...Why do you hold it in...?”

 

As if reading my inner turmoil, Ner cried in my stead.

 

Only then did my emotions start to surge.

 

I clenched my mouth shut, swallowing my tears.

 

Until now, the tears wouldn’t come out... but now, I was holding them back.

 

Crying felt like I would have to accept Adam Hyung’s departure.

 

So, I forced myself to swallow my tears a little longer.

 

-Swish.

 

Arwin buried her face in my embrace.

 

Only then did I feel her shoulders begin to tremble.

 

I understood that this was her way of offering comfort.

 

Pretending to be calm, I gently patted her back.

 

Ner did the same, coming over to hug me.

 

After that, they said nothing.

 

They simply comforted me with their silence and warmth.

 

Before I knew it, I was accepting their embrace.

 

Their comfort gave me a lot of strength.

 

...Do I really have to part ways with them?

 

Is polygamy truly being abolished?

 

Is there no other way?

 

Why must I face so many farewells?

 

My inner greed keeps wanting to hold onto them.

 

“...”

 

But that was a conversation I didn’t want to have right now.

 

I closed my eyes tightly, steadying my breath.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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