Chapter 236: Settlement (1)

Two months had passed.

I stood still, quietly watching the house take its final shape.

With the strength of the dwarven laborers, the construction shouldn’t have taken this long. But we had poured effort into ensuring the highest quality, and as a result, more time had passed than expected.

High-quality timber and sturdy stone.

A house not just a single story tall—but three stories high.

A spacious master bedroom and multiple private rooms.

A refined kitchen and living area.

A stable and horses, in case of emergencies.

Both a ground-level storage and an underground cellar…

Since this was the house I would spend my lifetime in, I made sure no regrets remained, refining every detail to perfection.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without Flint.

He spared no effort in supporting me.

If I had still carried the name of Reiker, or if Ner and Arwin had relied on their noble families, all of this could have been easily repaid.

But even when I was left penniless, Flint treated me no differently than before.

He even went so far as to ask if there was anything else I needed.

“Are you sure about this, Berg? If you want, I can even set up a fishing spot by the lake.”

“It’s fine. I can handle that myself.”

“…Hmm.”

Flint examined the house’s exterior with me.

After a moment, he nodded in apparent satisfaction and smiled.

“…Alright. This should do. It might seem a bit modest for a war hero’s lifelong home, though.”

“I’m more than satisfied.”

“Now we just need to bring in the furniture and install the doors, and it’ll be complete.”

“Yeah.”

“I should be able to get the furniture in about three days. Since the construction is basically done, I’ll send the workers back.”

“I should thank them properly.”

“If that’ll make you feel better, then sure.”

From a distance, the dwarves who had finished their work began gathering.

“Alright, we’re done here! Let’s head back!”

“Let’s stop by the village for a drink!”

As I watched them, I let out a long breath, smiling. The hard work was finally over.

Flint turned to me.

“Berg, I’ll be leaving again today.”

“I see.”

“I’ll be back in three days. Don’t worry about the workers, they’ll take care of themselves.”

I scratched my head, looking at him.

For the countless time, I conveyed my gratitude with sincerity.

“Thanks, Flint.”

“…Come on, this is what friends are for.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked,

“Oh, Berg. Do you need anything?”

“Need anything?”

“I’m picking up furniture from all over, so I figured I might as well grab anything else you might need.”

I shook my head without much thought. What I had already received was more than enough.

“No, I’m good. The house is all I need.”

“I see. Alright then, I’m off.”

Without hesitation, Flint turned and left.

I remained where I was, gazing at our new home.

Thinking about how this would be our new foundation, a sense of excitement bubbled up.

Even so, I took a deep breath to calm myself and turned toward my wives.

****

The elder of the elves, Ascal Celebrien, sat absentmindedly in his office, tapping his fingers on the desk.

Lately, he had been unable to focus on anything, feeling an odd sense of emptiness.

Arwin was gone.

She had disappeared to a place where no one could reach her, no matter how hard they searched.

Their bond had not been severed, but… wanting to see her did not mean he could.

It was different from when she had first married Berg and left.

Back then, she had always been in Stockpin, and even if she wasn’t, she could always be found.

But now, everything was completely different.

Was it at least a relief that she had left to find happiness?

The news that Berg was alive had been almost impossible to believe, but Sylphrien had said it herself, and there was no choice but to accept it.

That Arwin had smiled as she bid her final farewell.

Even so, this hollow feeling in his heart was impossible to soothe.

He had always known that one day, Arwin would leave his side.

The hatred she harbored toward Celebrien was beyond words.

And yet, now that the time had come… now that the one who had been by his side for 170 years was truly gone… it left an emptiness in his heart that he hadn’t been prepared for.

Perhaps it was because he had never truly apologized to her.

The years of suffering she endured beneath the World Tree could not be erased in a mere few years.

And if he were to truly reflect on his actions, not only had he subjected her to that pain for so long… but he had even gone so far as to sell her off to a group of mercenaries.

If not for her deep love for Berg, there would have been no end to the resentment she could have held against him.

Of course, Arwin had supported the marriage herself, claiming that she wanted to leave the territory.

But just because she had supported it, did that justify selling off his own daughter? That was a different matter entirely.

Ascal did not try to turn away from his sins—he bore them all without excuse.

“...”

And yet, the deeper this emptiness grew, the more regret weighed on him.

Perhaps it really was because he had never given her a proper apology.

The realization that he would never have the chance to atone now left his chest unbearably tight.

It wasn’t about seeking redemption for himself.

It was guilt—guilt that he had given Arwin more sorrow than joy.

“…Haah.”

As he let out a deep sigh, there was a knock at the door.

—Knock, knock.

“…Come in.”

For a moment, Ascal considered dismissing the visitor, but in the end, he sighed and allowed them inside.

—Thunk.

“…Sylphrien.”

It was Sylphrien.

The only one who had told him the full truth about Arwin.

The one whom Arwin had deeply trusted.

“…Everyone is worried about you, Elder.”

Sylphrien smiled softly as she spoke.

“Even the High Elders keep nagging me to check on you.”

“…I apologize.”

“But I am just as concerned. You’ve barely been eating lately… and you never leave your chambers.”

“...”

Sylphrien, despite everything, spoke as though she fully understood Ascal’s struggles.

“Arwin left to find happiness. You’re the only one still suffering over it.”

“…Let’s keep Arwin’s story to ourselves.”

“There’s no one else around. I checked with magic.”

Arwin’s departure was a secret heavier than any other.

Even among the elves, they only knew that she had gone on a journey.

No one knew that she had chosen to live in seclusion with Berg, who had miraculously returned from the dead.

If the truth were to spread and cause an uproar… Arwin would be the one to bear all the consequences.

And he could not allow her to suffer that pain again.

So Ascal did what he could—he concealed the truth.

“…Haah.”

Upon hearing that no one else was around, Ascal let out another deep sigh.

Then, in a quiet voice, he confessed his thoughts.

“In the end, as a father, I was never able to do a single good thing for her.”

“...”

“This is a burden I will have to carry for the rest of my life.”

“But because of you, Arwin met Berg, didn’t she?”

“…That was only because Berg was an extraordinary man. It was no credit of mine.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“...”

Ascal saw Sylphrien nodding in agreement, and he couldn’t help but smile faintly.

He realized she was playfully trying to lighten his mood.

Noticing his reaction, Sylphrien smiled as well.

Then, stepping closer, she spoke.

“…But Elder, why do you still think there’s nothing you can do for Arwin?”

“How could I? I don’t even know where she is.”

“We don’t need to know.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“We only need to know someone who does.”

“...”

Ascal blinked, silent in thought.

Then, the wisdom of the War Hero chosen by the God of Harmony whispered into his mind.

“Arwin disappeared with the help of a merchant named Flint from the Troy Merchant Guild.”

“...”

“If you were to help this Flint from the Troy Merchant Guild… perhaps he, in turn, would continue looking after Arwin.”

“…Flint of the Troy Merchant Guild…?”

“I hear he’s a longtime friend of Berg.”

“.........”

Ascal’s mouth slowly fell open.

It felt as if a fresh breeze had cut through the heavy stillness in his heart.

Now that he thought about it, Berg and those who had followed him must have left with nothing.

They had faked their deaths—there was no way they could have taken anything with them.

They had abandoned everything behind them.

They had disappeared with nothing but the desire to seek happiness.

Their wealth, their bestowed honors, the power of their noble houses—all of it had been cast aside.

There was no way they could be living in prosperity.

Perhaps Flint had been supporting Berg all this time… but even that had its limits.

However, what if Celebrien were to provide backing for Flint?

And from time to time, subtly pass along gifts meant for Arwin?

And perhaps, while concealing his true intentions, gently probe for news about her situation?

It did not take long for him to make his decision.

Ascal spoke.

“Sylphrien, find this merchant Flint for me.”

Sylphrien smiled.

“Understood. So now, Elder, please find peace in your heart.”

– – The End of The Chapter ––

 

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