Chapter 194: Remaining Tasks (3)

 

Ner slowly straightened her back with effort and sank into a nearby chair.

 

She hadn’t had a proper day of rest in the past few days, constantly tending to people.

 

While a few had recovered from the plague, there were still those who lost their lives.

 

The more that happened, the heavier Ner felt the weight of responsibility.

 

She still considered the people of Stockpin to be her people.

 

As much as they were Berg’s people, they were hers, too.

 

She wished to think of herself as a Reiker, not a Blackwood.

 

Rubbing her eyes, she tried to relax.

 

Her exhaustion had built up from the lack of proper sleep recently.

 

The relentless determination to heal the sick, the pressure to create medicine, the fear of what might happen if she contracted the plague, and her worry for Berg—everything weighed her down.

 

All the anxiety kept her from sleeping.

 

“...”

 

Perhaps if Berg just held her, even once, she could finally sleep peacefully.

 

Ner once again longed for that dream, a hope that seemed to slip further and further from reality.

 

She couldn’t even sigh anymore.

 

All she could do was blink blankly, her eyes hollow.

 

When she first arrived in Stockpin, she’d hoped everything would work out.

 

She believed that once she got here, things would start falling into place.

 

But Berg still wouldn’t look her way, nor did he offer her any chance to get closer.

 

Of course, it was clear he was beginning to waver.

 

He spoke to her more normally now, no longer losing his temper like before. Even when she approached him, he didn’t reject her, simply standing still by her side.

 

He had even apologized for what happened that morning.

 

But whether that was a positive change or not, she couldn’t tell.

 

In the end, nothing had changed. He was still pushing her away.

 

“...”

 

She understood, though.

 

The more she saw, the more envious she became of the life Berg had built.

 

Watching Sien and Berg solve their problems together, holding each other through every hardship, made her burn with jealousy.

 

Especially because Ner had once reached that same place first.

 

Perhaps, if she hadn’t thought of betrayal, she would still be there.

 

But she had done far too many things she shouldn’t have.

 

‘If only I hadn’t thought of betrayal.’

 

‘If only I had made the soul-binding more earnestly.’

 

‘If I had given myself to him on our first night, or even in the days that followed.’

 

‘If I had refused Arwin’s marriage from the beginning.’

 

All she could do now was regret the time that had already passed.

 

Sometimes, when she saw the happiness on Berg’s face... she wondered if it wasn’t time to let go.

 

She also pondered the same whenever she saw the troubled expression he wore.

 

But her hand couldn’t release its grip.

 

While it seemed as though Berg had let go of the thread connecting them, Ner couldn’t bring herself to do the same.

 

The happiness she felt when she was in his arms was something she still couldn’t forget.

 

The smile he once gave her appeared in her dreams, time and time again.

 

When everyone else rejected her, he was the only one who accepted her.

 

And yet, she knew—it was time for a change.

 

If things remained as they were, Berg would never accept her.

 

The frustration that had built up inside her was reaching its breaking point.

 

She couldn’t endure the pain any longer.

 

– Sssk, sssk.

 

Ner rubbed her eyes again.

 

Tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes spilled out.

 

Just as she was about to rise and start working again, someone appeared before her.

 

“...Lady Ner.”

 

At the sound of her name, Ner lifted her head.

 

Sien was standing there.

 

The woman who had everything Ner wished for.

 

“...Why are you here...?”

 

Ner struggled to rise from her seat, suppressing her confusion as she spoke politely.

 

“...It’s dangerous here. I think you should return home.”

 

Ner couldn’t bear to face Sien for too long.

 

Her very presence twisted her heart with jealousy.

 

Just as Ner turned her body to leave—

 

“Cough, cough...!”

 

A weak cough burst from Sien.

 

“.........”

 

Ner froze at the sound, slowly turning back.

 

Sien, with a faint smile, asked quietly:

 

“...Do you think this is the plague?”

 

****

 

I sat in the office with Gale and Arwin, sorting through various documents.

 

We reviewed records of the town’s remaining resources and projected what would soon be needed.

 

Arwin was calculating those numbers, trying to figure out how successful the harvest would need to be to sustain the town.

 

“...”

 

I could feel Gale’s gaze on the side of my head.

 

Ever since he had suggested that I leave the territory, he had been watching me like this.

 

I pretended not to notice, but of course, I couldn’t ignore it.

 

“...Ha.”

 

Gale let out a short sigh and then turned to Arwin.

 

“Arwin-nim.”

 

Arwin slowly lifted her head to meet Gale’s gaze.

 

“...Yes?”

 

“Could you explain in more depth what you mentioned last time?”

 

“What exactly are you referring to?”

 

“You said that Berg might not be the warrior of Solitude. That Adam might have been the one.”

 

“...Ah.”

 

At that, I too turned my eyes toward Arwin, curious about her response.

 

Arwin hesitated for a moment, then looked at Gale before speaking.

 

“Wasn’t it you, Sir Gale, who first assumed that Berg was the Warrior of Solitude?”

 

“I told His Majesty as much.”

 

“...Why did you think that?”

 

Gale leaned back in his chair, scratching one of his horns.

 

“Well, it was a combination of things—his troubled past, his demeanor, the fact that he didn’t believe in the gods. His refined combat skills… and Berg was the one who drove off the Krund, after all. But honestly, it was more about giving him a title. By claiming he was the Warrior of Solitude, it gave Berg a way to become a noble.”

 

“...”

 

Suddenly, I recalled the situation at that time.

 

Gale had suggested to the king that I was the Warrior of Solitude.

 

The reason being that it would grant us greater recognition for our accomplishments.

 

Thanks to that, we were awarded the territory of Stockpin.

 

Was that why? Did Gale feel responsible for me?

 

Could he have felt guilty watching me struggle with the burdens of being a noble?

 

While those thoughts lingered in my mind, Arwin spoke again.

 

“...If you had known more about the commonalities among past Warriors, you might have judged differently.”

 

“Commonalities?”

 

Arwin glanced briefly in my direction before continuing.

 

“My father lived long enough to meet several Warriors of Solitude. He knew a lot of things that weren’t written in books.”

 

Arwin began speaking about the past Warriors.

 

“...Just like they had tragic pasts, there’s another trait they shared.”

 

“An example?”

 

“...None of them had families. Or rather, they couldn’t have families. They say that the moment they started a family, they experienced profound loss.”

 

“...”

 

“That’s why they’re said to be chosen by the God of Solitude.”

 

I thought about Adam Hyung.

 

He lost his entire family when he was young and never married until the day he died.

 

Arwin looked at me as she spoke.

 

“...But Berg, you have a family, don’t you? Even a child on the way...”

 

“...”

 

Gale tilted his head, uncertain.

 

“...That’s a compelling argument, but to base such a judgment on that alone... It’s not uncommon to be without family. Even I don’t have any.”

 

“...But all the Warriors my father met shared that trait. Unless my father is mistaken.”

 

I pondered Arwin’s words.

 

Thinking of Sien and the child growing in her belly, the idea that Warriors couldn’t form families didn’t seem far-fetched.

 

“...Also.”

 

Arwin’s eyes carefully assessed me once more, her tone more cautious.

 

“...Out of the four Warriors my father met, three died in battle at the end of the war.”

 

“...”

 

“And Captain Adam died in battle as well, didn’t he? What stronger evidence could there be...”

 

Gale responded to that.

 

“...That’s a bit too vague to be considered a real commonality.”

 

Arwin shook her head.

 

“...Whatever the case, Berg is not the Warrior of Solitude. Even if His Majesty summons him, there’s no reason for him to respond.”

 

I mulled over her words for a moment.

 

...But what if the war isn’t truly over?

 

“...”

 

In the end, I let her words drift away.

 

It was all just conjecture—an argument that could be twisted depending on how you looked at it.

 

The idea of the Warrior of Solitude was always like that.

 

A god for those who didn’t believe in gods.

 

It was merely a construct meant to instill courage in people’s hearts.

 

It made them wonder if they could be the Warrior of Solitude, driving them to act.

 

And when they died, others would say they weren’t the Warrior after all, passing hope on to the next.

 

And if someone achieved great deeds, they would be revered as the Warrior.

 

There was no proof, no divine power, only belief forced upon the story.

 

Arwin, too, seemed similar in that regard.

 

Regardless of whether the Warrior of Solitude was real or not, she just didn’t want me to be called that.

 

It seemed more like she believed whatever she wanted to believe.

 

“That’s enough. Let’s drop this subject.”

 

I said to Gale.

 

Seeing as he had brought this up, it seemed even he was being swayed by the rumors about the Krund that had been circulating through the town.

 

Superstition, fate, prophecies.

 

I never kept such things in my mind.

 

—Knock, knock, knock!

 

At that moment, a strong knock echoed throughout the room.

 

It was the voice of Desmond, the butler.

 

‘Master, may I enter?’

 

Even his breathing sounded somewhat hurried.

 

The urgency in his voice made me reply quickly.

 

“Come in.”

 

—Bang!

 

Desmond rushed into the room as soon as I gave permission.

 

His wide eyes showed just how shocked he was.

 

After glancing at all of us for a brief moment, he spoke.

 

“...Madam...”

 

****

 

Outside the infirmary, where I ran as soon as I heard the news, Ner and Sylphrien were waiting.

 

I tried to calm my racing heart.

 

Beside me, Arwin kept trying to soothe me as well.

 

“Berg. Calm down. Everything will be alright.”

 

“...”

 

But that was easier said than done.

 

The more you know the pain of loss, the more terrifying it becomes.

 

I didn’t want to face any more farewells.

 

I couldn’t bear the thought of losing another family member.

 

Approaching Ner, who was looking up at me, I asked her urgently.

 

“...Are you sure?”

 

“...”

 

“...Ner. Answer me.”

 

Slowly, Ner nodded her head.

 

“...I’m sure.”

 

Her confirmation made emotions swirl inside me again.

 

Seeing this, Ner spoke.

 

“Berg. But it’s still in the early stages. If we make sure she eats well and rests properly, we can manage it... She’ll recover.”

 

It didn’t take me long to realize those were words meant to comfort me.

 

The plague affected people differently.

 

Even if it was caught in its early stages, some would recover quickly, while others would succumb to death.

 

The fact that she was infected at all was the real issue.

 

I moved past Ner, intent on entering the infirmary.

 

But something wrapped around my thigh, stopping me.

 

Looking down, I saw Ner’s white tail coiled around me.

 

When I turned to face her, she softly said,

 

“...You should relax your expression before you go in...”

 

“...”

 

Only then did I realize I had been scowling.

 

Following Ner’s advice, I slowly relaxed my face.

 

Sien was probably anxious too.

 

I needed to be strong.

 

As my expression softened, Ner’s tail slowly unwound from my leg.

 

She couldn’t even look at me, but she nodded her head quietly.

 

I said to her,

 

“...Thank you.”

 

“Mm.”

 

With that, I entered the infirmary.

 

“Berg!”

 

Sien was sitting up on the bed, and when she saw me, she gave me a bright smile.

 

Even with the mask covering her face, I could see her expression.

 

I smiled back and approached her.

 

“...How do you feel?”

 

Sien smiled as she replied,

 

“I’m fine. Just a little tickle in my throat. I’ll shake this off in no time.”

 

“You should. You’ve overcome much worse dangers.”

 

“Yeah, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

 

“...”

 

Despite her reassuring words, I still felt a heavy weight on my chest. I couldn’t do anything to ease her pain. There was nothing I could do.

 

The fact that Sien had always been physically frail only deepened my concern.

 

Sien spoke again,

 

“...Still, it’s a relief we caught it before it spread to you.”

 

“...”

 

“Maybe it’s a good thing we avoided kissing.”

 

I tried to lighten the mood, responding casually.

 

“...Sneaking a kiss or two at night.”

 

“Huh? I never did that. Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”

 

I chuckled at her denial, and Sien smiled back.

 

Then, she spoke softly.

 

“...Now that you’ve seen my face, you should go, Bell.”

 

“...”

 

“If you stay here any longer, you might catch the illness too. Don’t be lonely while I’m alone, okay?”

 

Despite her cheerful tone, I could sense a slight tremble in her voice.

 

Ignoring her words to leave, I slowly moved closer.

 

“Bell...? Don’t come closer... You’ll catch it... Cough, cough...”

 

I sat on the edge of her bed, and as I did, the mask she had been wearing slowly began to slip away.

 

Her once bright voice grew dimmer.

 

“I’m... I’m okay, really... right?”

 

I reached out to touch her face, gently brushing my hand against her soft cheek.

 

“You don’t have to wear a mask in front of me.”

 

“...”

 

The moment I said that, her expression hardened.

 

Her eyes drooped, and it looked like tears were about to spill.

 

Sien had always been prone to tears.

 

From the moment she greeted me with that bright smile, I could tell she’d been acting.

 

“...What are we going to do, Bell...?”

 

She placed her hand on her stomach.

 

“I’m fine... but what about our baby?”

 

I pulled her into my arms.

 

She fell into my embrace, completely powerless.

 

“Hic... what if... something happens to the baby...?”

 

I gently patted her back.

 

“...Everything will be fine.”

 

“...Sniff...”

 

“Everything will be okay, Sien.”

 

I hid my own anxiety and continued to comfort her.

 

1. ****

 

Arwin stood next to Ner, peering through the slightly open door at Berg.

 

Even though Sien had contracted the plague, Berg didn’t hesitate to hold her in his arms.

 

As soon as he embraced her, Sien dropped her facade and broke down in tears.

 

It was as if Berg could see straight into her heart.

 

Arwin felt envious of the deep connection they shared.

 

She couldn’t say anything to stop him.

 

She couldn’t utter the logical words that told him to stay away because of the risk of infection.

 

It felt like both the most reckless and the most righteous action at the same time.

 

Arwin thought that if she were Berg’s wife and had fallen ill with the plague, she would have wanted him to act just like that.

 

Knowing this, all she could do was watch Berg and Sien.

 

There was a radiant beauty in their interaction, though a tinge of jealousy crept in as well.

 

Before she realized it, Arwin had lightly clenched her fists.

 

“...If only... we were still Berg’s wife.”

 

Suddenly, Ner’s soft voice broke the silence beside her.

 

“...And if we were in the same position, stricken with the plague, do you think Berg would have done the same for us?”

 

Arwin glanced down at Ner.

 

It had been so long since Arwin and Ner had exchanged words like this.

 

Arwin realized that Ner had been imagining the same thing as she had.

 

They both missed Berg, unable to let go of him.

 

There was a heavy, almost suffocating feeling between them, one that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

 

Arwin still hated Ner, but at the same time, there was an odd sense of connection—born from the fact that they shared the same pain.

 

She turned her gaze back to the scene before her.

 

Berg was whispering something softly into Sien’s ear, his expression tender and warm.

 

Arwin closed her eyes, imagining herself in Sien’s place.

 

It was easy to picture Berg caring for her with the same warmth.

 

With that thought, Arwin finally answered Ner.

 

“...Yes.”

 

“...”

 

Arwin opened her eyes again and looked at Berg.

 

“...He would have.”

 

And with that, the regret over time long gone settled in once more.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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