Chapter 162: Fated Partner (2)

 

Ner and Arwin, followed by Gale, moved with me.

 

We approached the group that had been waiting for us.

 

The royal family. The key figures of the war. Numerous nobles.

 

It wasn’t just one or two who came out to greet the Red Flames group.

 

In a way, it was to be expected.

 

Given that we’ve blocked the right hand of the Demon King, the Red Flames too had become key figures in the war.

 

Only after many days had passed since the last battle did we gather like this.

 

And of course, even this gathering was hastily arranged.

 

After all, the Red Flames group also needed time to wrap things up.

 

The king nodded as he saw us, his face betraying a faint sense of regret.

 

Whether it was an act or genuine, I couldn’t tell... But it was clear he made that expression for Adam Hyung, who couldn’t be here.

 

Gale knelt down, and I followed suit, along with Ner and Arwin.

 

There was no resentment towards the king.

 

After all, it was Adam Hyung who had decided to go to war.

 

If anything, the person I resented was myself.

 

For it was in saving me that Hyung had met his death.

 

“...Rise, Berg,” the king commanded.

 

I obeyed his words and stood up.

 

“You’ve done well. We’ll discuss your reward later. And…”

 

The king paused briefly before continuing.

 

“...I’m sorry about what happened to Adam.”

 

“...”

 

It was a moment to revel in the joy of victory, yet a wave of mourning flowed instead.

 

Perhaps inevitably, his words offered me no solace.

 

With those words, the king turned away.

 

It seemed he had come out to meet us just to say this.

 

The royal family left us.

 

The remaining were the heroes, the Blackwood family, and members of the Celebrien family.

 

Gibson of the Blackwood family approached and placed his hand on my shoulder.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Berg. About Captain Adam... I truly regret it.”

 

“.........”

 

I looked down coldly at Gibson.

 

Could it have been him all along?

 

Was he planning to betray us from the start?

 

It couldn’t have been just Ner acting on her own. There must have been someone helping her, providing useful information about the Red Flames group.

 

Was his plan to overthrow us all along to save his daughter?

 

“...Father.”

 

Ner appeared behind me, struggling as she grasped Gibson’s arm.

 

Gibson, noticing her teary expression, glanced my way.

 

“...”

 

“...Ner.”

 

Worry etched itself across Gibson’s face, as if he believed I had been mistreating Ner all this time.

 

As if I had belittled her and used her like a mere pawn, despite having treated her with utmost care.

 

That was what made it all the more painful.

 

“Has it been hard?”

 

Gibson whispered to Ner, presumably so that only she could hear.

 

Ner swallowed hard and shook her head.

 

“No, it’s not that...”

 

“...?”

 

Gidon Blackwood, the eldest son of the Blackwood family, walked over and inserted himself between us.

 

Gidon, who had reconciled with Ner when leaving the Blackwood lands, spoke up.

 

“Captain Berg, you’ve worked hard.”

 

His voice rose like it did during our first meeting, buying time with his business-like demeanor.

 

“I’d like to have a word with Ner, if you don’t mind taking her away.”

 

“...”

 

He was seeking permission from me, her husband.

 

Without much hesitation, I responded.

 

“Do as you wish.”

 

At my indifferent response, Ner flinched again.

 

Her reaction, so typical in its fright at the slightest things, was very much like her.

 

Though tears welled up in her eyes again, she was led away under the escort of Gibson and the Blackwood family, unable to take her eyes off me as she moved further away.

 

Next, the Elven Elder, Ascal, approached.

 

He placed his hand on his forehead in greeting and said,

 

“I regret what happened to Adam.”

 

“...”

 

“He was a fine young man. Surely he’s gone to a better place.”

 

Why do such Elven expressions now feel more and more like empty words?

 

Perhaps because I’ve once experienced their disregard for the short-lived races.

 

Maybe it’s the changes within me that make me view everything so negatively.

 

Regardless, I briefly nodded.

 

Silence lingered between us for a while.

 

In the awkward atmosphere, no words were exchanged.

 

Arwin stood quietly behind me.

 

Ascal, after watching her carefully, cautiously spoke to me.

 

“Could we have a talk later?”

 

“...”

 

From his gaze, I sensed he wanted to discuss a divorce.

 

Ascal had always been considerate of Arwin.

 

Perhaps he was trying to convince me, hoping for the freedom his daughter so desperately desired.

 

Arwin, sensing the mood, bowed her head deeply, nervously picking at her nails.

 

Ascal furrowed his brow slightly at the sight, puzzled... but I concluded the conversation by affirming his words.

 

“...I’ll just finish up here and follow you. Arwin.”

 

At my call, Arwin lifted her head.

 

“...Yes?”

 

“...Your father is talking. There must be a lot to catch up on.”

 

Arwin nervously bit her lip and moved closer to me.

 

Whispering into my ear, she said,

 

“...Berg. I want to stay with you...”

 

“...”

 

I looked down at Arwin coldly.

 

Realizing that this was not a request, Arwin blinked rapidly and closed her mouth.

 

Her expression was that of someone with much to say, yet unable to speak a word.

 

The elves then departed.

 

The remaining were a few nobles and the heroes.

 

Hero Felix approached me and offered a handshake.

 

“...This is how the Human race greets, isn’t it?”

 

His left arm was raised toward me.

 

The right sleeve, empty and fluttering in the wind, indicated he had been maimed in the last battle.

 

I seemed to recall hearing about it in passing... but things had been too chaotic recently.

 

“...”

 

Following his lead, I shook his hand with my left.

 

After Felix left, Centaurus Acran approached to offer a handshake.

 

“Thanks to the sacrifices of the Red Flames group, we were able to end the war. I’m grateful for that, and for saving us in the past as well.”

 

“...”

 

I nodded and accepted his handshake as well.

 

After exchanging nods with Sylphrien, I finally faced Sien.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Did either of us ever expect to meet so soon?

 

I had thought our last encounter would be the final one.

 

Back then, I had walked away, leaving her pleading desperately, abandoned.

 

Yet, Sien, as if she had forgotten all about that day, smiled at me now.

 

That smile, no matter how much time passed, remained familiar to me.

 

“...Bell.”

 

Tears welled up in Sien’s eyes.

 

I couldn’t tell how she saw me through her tears.

 

What expression I was making... I didn’t even know myself.

 

It felt as if everyone else had disappeared, leaving just the two of us.

 

As if all the facades surrounding us were being stripped away.

 

I couldn’t say anything.

 

There was nothing I could say.

 

“...You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you, Bell...?”

 

Sien asked, her concern for me cutting through her own endured hardships.

 

“...”

 

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

 

I didn’t know how to respond to her question.

 

Even pretending it wasn’t so, each time I stood before her, my emotions surged.

 

It seemed Sien was aware of this fact as well.

 

Frozen in place for a long moment... I finally moved.

 

Sien wiped her tears, steadying herself.

 

For now, putting this distance between us felt strangely natural to both of us.

 

****

 

“...Have you been well, Arwin?”

 

Ascal asked his daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

 

Ascal had sold Arwin to mercenaries... and there hadn’t been many peaceful days since.

 

Everything had been determined by Arwin’s choices, though Ascal clearly knew that she hadn’t truly wanted to be sold.

 

Arwin had chosen the lesser evil, exhausted by the pain of sharing her lifespan with the World Tree.

 

Ascal hadn’t received much news about Arwin, mainly just updates about the Red Flames group.

 

Especially, stories about Berg, Arwin’s husband, were frequently heard.

 

His incredible strength on the battlefield was a topic of widespread discussion.

 

At least, seeing the Red Flames group prosper gave Ascal some relief.

 

If it had been a decaying group, they couldn’t have grown so effectively by mistake.

 

Of course, this didn’t necessarily reflect how Arwin was treated, but Ascal felt more at ease knowing she was part of a rising mercenary group rather than a deteriorating one.

 

Moreover, having seen Berg risk his life for Arwin, even just once, he hoped everything would turn out well.

 

Yet, what troubled him as much was the fear that news of Berg’s death might reach him.

 

There was fear that Arwin might actually use the poison.

 

Although Ascal was confident that Arwin would not resort to poison, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility entirely.

 

After all, if that was the choice Arwin made, he had even provided her with Bardi liquor and poison to respect her decision.

 

Though he wished she wouldn’t use it, Ascal considered his daughter’s safety more important than the lives of the short-lived races.

 

Providing her with poison was the best he could do under the circumstances.

 

No father would want his daughter to become a murderer.

 

With such mixed emotions, time had passed.

 

Ascal turned to Arwin with a greeting.

 

“...Father.”

 

-Thud.

 

But at the same time, Arwin collapsed to the ground.

 

Ascal couldn’t help but be shocked.

 

He had never seen Arwin struggle so visibly.

 

No matter how much pain the World Tree inflicted, Arwin had always gotten back up.

 

She had endured, determined to fulfill her role to the end.

 

And now, given the chance, she had collapsed.

 

“Ah, Arwin.”

 

Uncharacteristically quick, Ascal rushed to her side and placed his hand on her shoulder.

 

Arwin murmured with a vacant expression.

 

“...Please help me.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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