Chapter 238: The End

We continued our peaceful life in the new home.

I was enjoying everything I had ever dreamed of.

Sleeping in until the sun rose gently in the sky.

Drinking by the lake in the late afternoon.

Going on night walks with my wives, breathing in the crisp evening air.

I was living a life I could want nothing more from.

The longer this life went on, the more I realized—this had truly been my dream all along.

And I was simply grateful to everyone who made it possible.

To Sien, who reminded me of my dream.

To Ner, who saved Sien.

To Arwin, who saved me.

To Adam-hyung, who pushed me to live my own life.

Thanks to the strength of these precious people, I was able to make it here.

Of course, I was a little overwhelmed by the endless nights of intimacy... But on those nights, especially, Ner and Arwin would cook delicious meals and fill my belly until it was about to burst.

“Eat more, Berg.”

“...I feel like I’m going to explode.”

“...You need the energy.”

“...”

I chuckled, remembering that lunchtime conversation.

Either way, I decided to be thankful that we still burned so passionately for each other.

For now, at least, I felt I could keep up with it all.

Surely, these intense nights wouldn’t last for years.

“…”

...They shouldn’t.

Sitting in the rocking chair with a drink in hand, I suddenly heard a familiar sound in the distance.

–Creeeak... creeeak…

–Dudududu!

The sound of a rickety wagon and galloping horses.

Faint, but clear enough for someone sitting outside the house to hear.

I already had an idea of who it might be, so I stood up with a smile.

Then, knocking on the front door, I called out:

“Flint is here!”

At that, a flurry of noise erupted from inside the house.

Soon, my wives opened the door and stepped outside.

Flint had brought food and supplies—things we still needed for our new home.

Even now, this house was still fresh and new, and little necessities kept coming up.

Ner and Arwin stepped out with warm smiles.

“You’re finally here! We’ve been waiting.”

“Berg, is the drink to your taste? Shall I pour you another glass?”

I softly stroked Arwin’s cheek and shook my head.

And then, Sien slowly walked out as well.

Her belly had grown quite large.

She looked at me and smiled, then said softly:

“...The baby clothes must’ve arrived.”

I let out a laugh and nodded.

“Looks like it.”

****

We went out to greet Flint.

He was standing at the edge of the woods, lighting a pipe he must’ve gotten from somewhere, waiting for me to come out.

“Flint.”

“There you are, Berg.”

“...?”

Facing him, I quickly noticed just how much he had changed.

A carriage made of fine hardwood.

A luxurious-looking pipe.

Clean, expensive clothes.

Well-groomed horses.

He looked less like a traveling merchant and more like a nobleman.

I stood there stunned at the transformation, and Flint spread his arms with a grin.

“Well? What do you think?”

“...What happened to you all of a sudden?”

“Ah~ I just got lucky.”

Flint smiled and looked around at us.

Then, slowly, he began to explain.

“...Celebrien and Blackwood have started sponsoring me.”

“What?”

“Excuse me?”

The ones most shocked were none other than Ner and Arwin.

Flint removed his hat and bowed his head slightly.

“As for the reason... You two would know best.”

“…”

Celebrien and Blackwood’s sponsorship.

There could only be one reason for it.

An apology.

Their families were still trying to make amends.

Wishing for them to live happy lives.

Ner blinked, her eyes wide.

Though she had cleanly broken away from her past, the fact that her family was now lending their strength to her… it meant something.

She had always been rejected—cast out—by Blackwood.

But now, those same people were offering apologies and well-wishes.

“…”

Ner looked up at me.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Clearly, this gesture from her family meant more to her than she could put into words.

I gently pulled Ner into my arms.

Arwin had a similar expression.

She wasn’t as emotional as Ner, but she gazed at the carriage with a distant look in her eyes.

Knowing how much she had hated Ascal, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how many emotions she must’ve been feeling now.

Eventually, she let out a long breath and gave a small nod.

“...Flint.”

I spoke on behalf of my wives, who had fallen silent.

“...Tell them thank you.”

“If I get the chance, I’ll mention it casually.”

I nodded.

–Clap!

Flint suddenly clapped his hands, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

“Alright! Let’s change the mood! Let’s check out what I brought today!”

He climbed onto the carriage and began unloading one item after another.

Releasing Ner from my arms, I stepped up beside him and began to help.

“Here, food first.”

He handed over a large box.

I took it and set it gently on the ground.

“Next, liquor. I brought plenty this time.”

–Thud.

“And baby clothes.”

He passed over a cloth sack filled with tiny garments.

Sien, looking delighted, rushed over and began pulling the clothes out one by one to examine them.

Her laughter echoed in my ears, light and joyful.

“Next are small tools. You said you needed them, Berg.”

“Right. Thanks.”

“This one’s a gift from me. I collected famous ornaments from all over the kingdom.”

“...You didn’t have to go that far.”

“Hey, Berg, I’m in a position to take care of you all now, okay? I’ve got two great houses sponsoring me.”

I chuckled at Flint’s words and accepted the ornaments.

Honestly, the house was still a little bare, so this would help make it feel more complete.

“Okay, last one.”

At the mention of the final item, Ner stepped up beside me.

When I looked down, her eyes shimmered softly.

The eyes of someone waiting for something.

“...A harp?”

I tilted my head, watching as Flint pulled out the last item—an instrument.

Ner received the harp with a warm smile.

“Thank you.”

“No trouble at all, Lady Ner.”

I watched her quietly.

But Flint still had more news for her.

“Ah, Lady Ner, seems your luck’s really good. Word is, that bard stopped by Hosru Village next door...”

“Really?”

Surprised, Ner perked up, her ears twitching slightly.

Then, she looked right at me, wrapping her tail around my thigh.

“Berg.”

“...?”

“...Let’s go for a walk tonight.”

****

The bard sat at the tavern, scratching his head.

He watched another bard performing on stage, singing.

A beautiful melody drifted through the air.

The audience, entranced, listened with their eyes closed.

But the bard—scratching his head in the back—only felt a sharp sting of envy.

Because he knew what it was like to be the one basking in all that praise and love.

And yet, that glory was a thing of the past now.

His most successful song, “Solitude and Purity”, could no longer be sung.

After receiving a direct warning from Ner Blackwood, he didn’t dare sing it again.

To be fair, he had crossed a line.

Even if Berg and the Saintess’ love story was beautiful, his song had lightly diminished their previous partners.

It was the price he paid for casually insulting a noble.

But the bard didn’t blame Ner Blackwood.

Honestly, if a single song being banned could ruin him, that would mean he lacked the talent to be a bard in the first place.

Still, inspiration had eluded him lately.

So all he could do now was scrape by, performing songs other than “Solitude and Purity.”

But even that was starting to reach its limit.

–Tap tap.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

The bard turned his head.

An older man was smiling down at him.

“You’re that famous bard, right? The one who wrote ‘Solitude and Purity’?”

“Yeah, well... that’s me.”

He didn’t bother denying it.

The man’s eyes lit up as he leaned in, whispering:

“Then how about singing it when you get on stage tonight? I’ve heard everyone humming it, but I want to know what the original sounded like.”

“...”

The bard clicked his tongue bitterly.

“Not sure if you’ve heard... but I don’t perform that song anymore.”

“What? Come on, just once. What, is this place beneath you or something? I’ll even pay you extra—”

“–That’s not it.”

The bard interrupted.

He shivered slightly as he remembered the look in Ner Blackwood’s eyes.

“It’s just... I can’t.”

“...”

The man’s excitement vanished as he pulled back.

“What…”

Even as the man walked away grumbling, the bard had nothing to say.

Nothing was worth more than his life, after all.

...But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to sing it.

“Solitude and Purity” was a masterpiece, as beautiful as it was famous.

Even just performing it brought happiness that couldn’t be bought with money or fame.

Deep down, he still wanted to stand before an audience and sing it one more time.

–Tap tap.

Just then, someone else tugged gently at his arm.

“Mister, you’re not singing it anymore, huh? Huh...?”

The bard realized the one who had called out to him was the same man from earlier, and his lips pressed shut.

A small figure stood before him, cloaked in a hood.

They had pushed their way through the crowd in the shadows.

Behind the small figure stood a tall man, also cloaked in a dark mantle.

“…”

The bard, overwhelmed by their intimidating presence, could only think of one thing—Blackwood soldiers.

Almost instinctively, he muttered as though offering an excuse.

“I-I haven’t sung it once since then—”

“–Shh!”

The small figure before him interrupted with a whisper.

Then, slowly, she raised her head.

“......................”

And the bard froze in place.

His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Snow-white hair.

A strikingly beautiful face.

But more than anything—the overwhelming aura.

He remembered this face all too well.

Ner Blackwood.

There was no mistaking it.

–Scraape..!

He immediately stood up, about to bow, but Ner held him back again.

“...We came quietly.”

Her voice was soft, but firm.

Though he didn’t know why she was here, the meaning was clear: she didn’t want others to know.

The bard, used to reading a room, slowly nodded.

If that’s what she wanted, there was no reason to defy her.

He tried to suppress the pounding of his heart and asked quietly:

“...Why… why me…”

Ner looked at him for a moment.

And gradually, the bard could read the change in her expression.

Her face, once sharp and cold like a blade, no longer held that edge.

Her eyes were gentle now—flickering as though filled with regret.

Seeing her like this, the bard’s tension slowly unraveled.

“...I came to apologize.”

“E-Excuse me?”

“I’m glad I got the chance sooner than I expected.”

The bard couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

An apology?

Was the youngest of the Blackwood family saying… she came all this way to apologize?

To a mere wandering bard?

While he was still frozen in confusion, Ner bowed her head.

It was the posture of someone offering a sincere and humble apology.

“I’m sorry. Back then, I was consumed by emotion… and I made a terrible mistake.”

The bard stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do. A noble was bowing to him, apologizing. But he couldn’t kneel in return. Couldn’t even touch her. All he could do was stand there and receive it.

“P-Please, don’t do this…! I-It’s fine…! I was at fault too, I’m sure—”

“No. This was entirely my mistake.”

Ner Blackwood said firmly, her voice brooking no disagreement.

The bard realized that the only way to make this end… was to accept the apology.

“I-It’s fine, really. Th-thank you for the apology… please, lift your head…”

At his words, Ner slowly raised her head.

“...Thank you for accepting it.”

“You really didn’t have to say that... I mean… you came all this way, just to see me...?”

Ner smiled softly.

Then, from beneath her cloak, she pulled something out.

…A small harp.

“…”

The bard received the harp, his hands trembling slightly, and Ner spoke.

“...I broke your harp back then, didn’t I?”

“…”

“This can’t truly make up for it… but please accept it. As a token of my apology.”

“…”

There was no way he could refuse now—not after accepting her apology.

And besides… the bard’s professional instinct flared up.

The moment he held the harp, he could tell.

It was of incredible quality.

“...You can sing Solitude and Purity again now, if you want.”

“...What?”

While he was still admiring the harp, Ner added softly:

“I’m sorry. Goodbye.”

With that final word, she turned and walked away.

She returned to the tall man standing behind her and leaned into him. Together, they walked to a quiet corner of the tavern and sat down.

Already waiting there were two others, also wearing cloaks like them.

“…”

Were they Blackwood members too?

The bard was curious, but there was no way he could ask.

Time passed, and he realized it was his turn to perform. He made his way up onto the stage.

Countless eyes turned toward him.

“Hey! You’re that guy who wrote Solitude and Purity, right? We’ve been waiting!”

“Didn’t you hear? He doesn’t sing that anymore!”

“What?”

The bard looked down at the harp in his hands.

–Twing!

He plucked a string with his finger, listening carefully to the tone.

As expected, it was an exceptionally high-quality instrument.

One he might never have gotten his hands on, even after a lifetime of singing.

The bard looked over at Ner Blackwood, sitting quietly in the corner.

She seemed completely unconcerned now, engaged in a short conversation with the man beside her.

He kept thinking back to the look on her face.

That truly regretful expression.

It felt… real.

There wasn’t a hint of deception.

And someone like her wouldn’t have come all this way just to tell a lie.

“…”

At last, the bard allowed himself a smile.

****

Solitude and Purity.

It truly was one of his favorite songs.

Now that he could finally sing it again, he smiled.

“Alright. The song I’ll be performing tonight is…”

He spoke, quieting the murmuring crowd.

“Solitude and Purity”

With those words, he declared its return.

****

“Berg! Where’d you go?!”

Sien shouting.

“Berg! The laundry’s piled up! We’re supposed to do it together!”

Ner shouting.

“Berg! You promised to go hunting with me today!”

Arwin shouting.

“…Yikes.”

I was just about to take a sip straight from the bottle when I flinched and ducked.

A wave of requests bursting from my wives all at once.

And thus began another “peaceful” day in our life.

I could’ve gone to face them and talk things out… but today, I really wanted to keep enjoying this drink.

Especially after last night’s… intense time with Arwin.

I love my wives, truly—but any husband out there will understand.

There are times when a man just needs his own space.

Maybe I’ve grown lazy, but now and then, I just want to enjoy a bottle of wine without interruption.

–Sllide.

I crouched down in a way no one would ever expect from a “war hero.”

Carefully, like I was sneaking past monsters on the battlefield, I moved my legs in silence.

Part of it was just for fun.

My wives would no doubt figure out quickly that I’d run away to avoid chores.

Of course, to make up for it later, I’d have to offer them each something that made them happy…

But in the end, all of it would just become another part of our happiness.

Grinning, I grabbed the bottle and slipped away.

Eventually, I arrived at the nearby village.

I exchanged familiar greetings with the guards—by now, we were on good terms—and headed to the local tavern.

“One bottle of Bardi liquor!”

I called out my order to the innkeeper and stretched as I sat down.

I didn’t plan on staying long.

Just one more drink… and I’d head back to my wives.

“One Bardi liquor!”

A server came over and placed a glass down in front of me.

I smiled, handed over a few coins, then tipped the bottle and took a long swig.

“That scar on your face runs deep.”

A voice came from beside me.

I turned my head to see a dwarf, covered in battle scars, seated at the next table.

“...You’ve seen your share of battle, haven’t you?”

The dwarf smiled faintly as he asked the question.

Just as those from the slums recognize one another, mercenaries can always spot their own.

That was something I couldn’t help—it was written into my very skin.

I gently touched the scar on my cheek.

A wound I’d earned while saving Arwin.

And there were plenty more—scars gained while fighting to protect my wives.

I gave a small shrug and replied:

“...Yeah, something like that.”

Even if the scar on my cheek wasn’t directly related to mercenary work, the gash across my forearm wasn’t something I could hide from a fellow warrior like him.

The dwarf looked at me and said,

“Looks like you’ve lived a life full of glory.”

“...More pain than glory, if I’m being honest.”

“Even so, your face looks peaceful now.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.

“...That obvious, huh?”

The dwarf nodded and took a deep swig from his mug.

“It is! Just looking at a happy man can lift your spirits.”

We shared a laugh.

Then, he tilted his head slightly and asked,

“Well, since fate brought us to the same table… how about we share the most glorious stories of our lives?”

“...Glorious stories?”

“You know, something you’re most proud of—your finest moment. As a mercenary, maybe you once took down a gang leader or some notorious outlaw?”

“Hmm…”

“As for me, I had the honor of fighting in the final battle against the Demon King alongside the Hero’s party.”

My eyebrows shot up in genuine admiration.

“Really?”

“I did. What a glorious memory that was.”

I nodded slowly, raising my glass and taking a long drink.

Then the dwarf turned to me again.

“So, what about you?”

“Hm?”

“Surely you’ve had a proud moment too. Something that made you feel truly happy—or truly alive.”

“…”

“C’mon, I’m just making conversation to pass the time anyway. Once you’re done, I’ll tell you more about that final battle. Let’s kill a bit of time together.”

I scratched my head.

My proudest moment… the happiest memory.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Truthfully, if I had to choose the single most unforgettable story in my life—there was really only one answer.

Seeing my grin, the dwarf leaned in with a chuckle.

“Looks like you’ve got your story.”

I gave him a nod, still smiling.

“Yeah.”

“So? What is it?”

I took a deep breath.

With a full heart, I sipped from my drink and said—

“Would you like to hear how I met my wives?”

– – The End of The Chapter ––

 

[TL: Now this is the great way to end an epic journey. Noice :D

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