Chapter 197: Ner’s Choice (1)

 

“...Berg, it seems Krund has started moving.”

 

In the early morning, Gale brought me the news.

 

Though I had somewhat anticipated it due to the creeping rumors, the shock of hearing it for real still hit hard.

 

At the same time, it felt like a burden was lifted from my chest.

 

Strangely, my heart grew calm and focused.

 

Facing an enemy with a physical form was more comforting than an abstract one.

 

Maybe it was because fighting was the only thing I had truly learned up until now.

 

It was easier to prepare when there was a known threat.

 

I let out a sigh.

 

“What happened?”

 

“The Cryer family was annihilated. A fierce battle broke out overnight.”

 

“...”

 

“...Krund has personally entered the fray and is rampaging. Given that, until a proper plan is put in place, there will likely be many casualties.”

 

I repeated Gale’s words.

 

“He’s personally rampaging?”

 

“Some speculate that he’s seeking revenge for the death of the Demon King. If that’s true, then his targets are likely already set.”

 

If that prediction were correct, then Krund’s targets, just as Gale suggested, were already determined.

 

The warriors.

 

The hero, Acran, Sylphrien, Sien... and even me.

 

“...He’ll come here.”

 

I whispered.

 

Right here in Stockpin, there were already three of Krund’s potential targets gathered.

 

Gale, too, seemed to sense that unease. Though he didn’t strongly object, he was also cautious not to sink too deeply into negative thoughts.

 

“Who knows? The Cryer family was far from here, after all. Even if he is coming this way, we’ll have time to know beforehand.”

 

“...”

 

In that uncomfortable silence, Gale let out a heavy sigh.

 

After much deliberation, he finally broached a difficult subject.

 

“Berg.”

 

“...”

 

“...If Krund really is heading here, what will you do?”

 

Once again, the decision was placed in my hands. It felt like countless lives were depending on my choice.

 

What would Adam Hyung have answered at this moment?

 

Seeing my hesitation, Gale spoke.

 

“...In my opinion, we should be ready to run.”

 

“What?”

 

Gale shared his thoughts in a somber tone.

 

“You need to understand, this isn’t an outlandish suggestion. You’re not the same Red Flames group you used to be. Your combat instincts have dulled, and many of your weapons have been melted down and turned into farming tools. Plenty have fallen ill from the plague, and unlike before, we don’t even have many horses left. We’re in no condition to fight.”

 

“…”

 

“We know Krund’s strength better than anyone. Even at our peak, we lost to him. We lost Adam, and we lost countless comrades. In this state, we’ll only meet a miserable defeat and be wiped out like the Cryer family.”

 

His sudden suggestion of fleeing caught me off guard, but... I couldn’t completely dismiss his words.

 

If I were to be logical about it, Krund’s very existence had always been an unexpected force.

 

“…And where would we run?”

 

“I don’t know. Anywhere. Draigo, Blackwood, Celebrian... wherever.”

 

Gale’s proposal wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

 

“As you said, we’re not the same Red Flames. Many of the people in the domain aren’t warriors anymore. There’s no place that can take all of us in.”

 

“Then we’ll have to scatter. Scatter and survive, because it’s better than dying.”

 

“…You want us to split up and live like rats in the slums?”

 

“…If that’s what it takes to survive.”

 

I frowned and pressed further.

 

“…That would only fuel more distorted perceptions about our people.”

 

It was a choice that Adam Hyung’s legacy wouldn’t allow.

 

“The very people, like Sien and I, who are hailed as heroes... if our people end up scurrying into cities to live like vermin…”

 

“…”

 

Another victim, like Adam Hyung, could emerge.

 

Hatred toward us would only spread further.

 

We wouldn’t even be able to honor his final wishes.

 

“…Ha.”

 

That said, I couldn’t completely disagree with Gale either.

 

I understood survival was the most important thing.

 

His argument had merit.

 

It was just that none of the choices laid before me felt right.

 

“…We’ll need to at least consider the possibility of escape. Even if we don’t ultimately choose it, we should be prepared.”

 

Gale, unfazed by my response, continued speaking calmly.

 

I closed my eyes.

 

For some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was drawing toward an inevitable end.

 

****

 

I went to meet Sien.

 

I practiced a smile at the door before stepping inside.

 

“Cough, cough!”

 

As soon as I entered, the first thing I heard was Sien’s dry cough.

 

Her face was pale, sunken, and her frail body lay weakly on the bed.

 

Anyone could see her condition was worsening.

 

She didn’t even notice I had entered the room, continuing to cough weakly.

 

“...Sien.”

 

“...Ah.”

 

It was only when I called her name that her heavy eyelids slowly lifted.

 

Her weary eyes formed a faint crescent shape as she gave me a gentle smile.

 

“...I thought I was hearing things,” Sien whispered.

 

I forced a smile as I sat beside her.

 

I gently wiped away the cold sweat from her forehead.

 

Seeing her like this, so weak, stirred emotions in me that were hard to put into words.

 

It was nearly unbearable to hold back the tears while trying to smile at her.

 

“...How’s your body?” I asked.

 

“...”

 

Sien just smiled in response.

 

The woman who just days ago had insisted she was fine now seemed so far away.

 

“...Sien, how’s your body?” I repeated, unable to help myself. I wanted to hear something hopeful, anything.

 

Finally, she whispered her answer.

 

“...It hurts.”

 

“...”

 

My clenched fists trembled.

 

I wanted so desperately to take her pain away, but I couldn’t, and that helplessness was crushing.

 

Still, I forced myself to keep talking.

 

“You’ll be okay, Sien. Just hang in there a little longer. You’ll get through this.”

 

“...Yeah. Of course...”

 

I gently stroked her hair.

 

She coughed again, struggling to look up at me.

 

I never took my eyes off her.

 

But this familiar feeling of dread was unnerving. I had felt something similar when I said goodbye to Adam Hyung.

 

Sien looked up at me and chuckled softly.

 

At first, I thought it was another cough, but thankfully, it was laughter.

 

“Bell... Do you know... what’s funny?”

 

“What is it?”

 

In this situation, I couldn’t imagine what could be funny, but since she was smiling, I let her continue.

 

“Even... in this state... cough... ha... just knowing you care about me... makes me so happy...”

 

“...”

 

“Really... as long as I have you... I could live... a lifetime of happiness...”

 

I nodded.

 

“You’ll live a lifetime of happiness.”

 

“...”

 

Sien smiled again, reaching out her trembling hand toward my face.

 

“...I’m such a failure.”

 

“What? What do you mean?”

 

“I’m making you... so sad...”

 

“...”

 

“I’m sorry... for being weak...”

 

I bit my lip and finally made a request to her.

 

“Please, don’t say things like that.”

 

“…”

 

“What are you even sorry for? Stop talking like you’re weak.”

 

“...Bell.”

 

In that moment, Sien called me with a heavy breath.

 

Her eyes, as if drowsy, slowly closed as she exhaled.

 

“...I know you’re holding back.”

 

“…What?”

 

“...About Ner and Arwin.”

 

Her words froze me in place.

 

“...You said you forgot about them, but seeing you love me again like this... it’s like Ner and Arwin are stepping aside for me, aren’t they? Just like back then...”

 

“…”

 

Sien, as if amused, continued to smile while speaking.

 

“Even though I knew it all along... I still got greedy. I wanted to have you all to myself... I wanted you to only look at me...”

 

“…”

 

“Making you endure this... I’m sorry. My selfishness... seems to be making things harder for you.”

 

I shook my head.

 

“That was my choice.”

 

“…Liar. You... once you take someone into your heart... you can never let them go.”

 

“...Sien, you’re my only wife.”

 

“...Why?”

 

Her question caught me off guard.

 

“...What?”

 

“Because... polygamy was abolished...?”

 

“…”

 

“Bell... you’re not the kind of person... who cares about things like that...”

 

Sien kept smiling at me.

 

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

 

In truth, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that Sien was saying all this because she foresaw her own death.

 

As if she was preparing me for the pain I’d feel after she was gone.

 

And before I even realized it, I found myself threatening her.

 

“...Sien.”

 

“....”

 

“If you’re saying all this because you think something might happen to you... then listen closely.”

 

“…”

 

“...If you die, I’ll follow right after.”

 

Sien’s weak eyes widened.

 

“I’ll finish whatever problems are left behind... and then I’ll come join you.”

 

I no longer had the strength to endure another goodbye.

 

If Sien were to die, along with our child, I would go to reunite with my comrades, Adam Hyung, and eventually Sien and our child on the other side.

 

If she left this world, I would have more loved ones over there than here.

 

Tears welled up in the corners of Sien’s eyes.

 

Through her coughing, she laughed and spoke.

 

“This isn’t how it’s supposed to be...”

 

“…”

 

“Why... does hearing that make me so happy...?”

 

Sien clasped her hand over mine, the one resting on her face.

 

Then, with more determination than ever, she said firmly:

 

“...I’m going to survive.”

 

“…”

 

“So... you too, don’t hold back and be happy.”

 

I couldn’t give her an adequate response.

 

Instead, I embraced her tightly.

 

But she couldn’t hug me back.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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