Chapter 41: The World Tree (1)

 

The consequence of the decision came swiftly.

 

The entire village was buzzing with the latest news, and the crew members were busy preparing for the next expedition.

 

Overnight, the whole village became bustling.

 

Oddly enough, nobody seemed to question our choice.

 

It was as if everyone was ready to embrace the path Adam Hyung and I had chosen.

 

On the other hand, there were hints of envy in the eyes of some, saying that I had gotten another beautiful wife, and an elf at that.

 

“...In just a short time, the vice-captain’s luck has turned around.”

 

“Indeed. To have two beautiful nobles as wives... I wonder, is this why he’s been pushing away other women until now?”

 

I quietly listened to the murmurs of the members.

 

‘Luck turned around, huh... Perhaps it might be so.’

 

If I had led a normal life, there was no way the two nobles, whom I’d never imagined connecting with, would become my wives.

 

I never wished for this, but maybe I should be more grateful.

 

It still felt awkward.

 

Regardless of who the other party was, this entire process was awkward.

 

Skipping the natural steps leading up to marriage and just being together like this.

 

It wasn’t about falling in love and then marrying, it was deciding from the start.

 

Perhaps that was why Ner and I still felt some friction.

 

Now adding another wife to the equation made me more worried than hopeful.

 

Would I be able to hold our family together?

 

If both of my wives were human, perhaps things might have been more straightforward. There would have been fewer things to adapt to, and polygamy might have been understood.

 

But since that wasn’t the case, I kept thinking about it.

 

Ner said she was okay last night, but what about Arwin Celebrien?

 

I hadn’t heard that elves love just one person like the werewolf tribe, but they probably don’t support polygamy either.

 

Would the high-nosed, famous elf be content being my second wife?

 

I chuckled lightly.

 

It was unlikely.

 

...Just thinking about the glance we exchanged yesterday, it probably wasn’t.

 

I could tell that forming a bond with Arwin Celebrien would be a journey of its own.

 

Since early morning, after hearing my decision, Adam Hyung had been having a long meeting with the elf elder.

 

He was clearly gathering all available information to formulate a strategy.

 

Once again, I had some free time to myself.

 

Finally, I shook my head and brushed off my thoughts.

 

The worries of the present were only limited to the present.

 

As time goes on, with both Ner and my new elf wife, I should be able to establish a happy family.

 

Considering my first meeting with Ner, we’ve come a long way.

 

Back then, she would step back and roll her eyes just seeing me. Even my mere approach would bring tears to her eyes.

 

But now, she poured drinks for me, and didn’t push my hand away.

 

Sometimes I even wake up with my arm around her.

 

This way, step by step, things would get better.

 

Of course, the path ahead might be rough... but slowly approaching and getting closer seemed the right approach. So, I decided not to worry prematurely.

 

****

 

The day came to an end, and dusk settled.

 

Ner found herself once again in the small forest behind Berg’s residence.

 

Due to the proposal she made to Berg, she wasn’t yet sure how to process the resulting changes.

 

There was certainly no reason to dislike it.

 

It was a development that saved many elves, including Arwin, and ultimately provided a reason to leave Berg.

 

Such an opportunity probably wouldn’t come twice.

 

“...”

 

But contrary to the reasons, which said it was a good thing, Ner felt frustrated.

 

She was more repulsed by the culture of polygamy than she had thought.

 

To the extent that she wondered if she was so anxious about losing a little bit of her friend’s attention.

 

Yet no reason she could come up with fully explained her current state of mind.

 

So, Ner repeated the words of comfort to herself.

 

‘This is the right thing.’

 

The same words she had been repeating to herself since last night and throughout the day.

 

But those words, which provided no comfort, were all she had to fill her time.

 

-Rustling.

 

Just then, the sound of bushes being brushed aside came from behind.

 

“...?”

 

Turning around, Ner saw Arwin standing there.

 

“Arwin?”

 

“...Ner.”

 

She didn’t know how Arwin found her, but a more important issue was present between them.

 

Arwin slowly walked over.

 

Ner felt a mix of emotions.

 

The fact that Arwin would become Berg’s wife felt oddly awkward to her.

 

Without a word, Arwin sat down beside Ner.

 

“...So, it has come to this,” Arwin said.

 

“Yes.”

 

Arwin slightly turned her head to look at Ner.

 

“The vice-captain’s heart changed overnight.”

 

“...”

 

“Did you ask for this?”

 

Ner stood still and slowly nodded her head. There wasn’t any real reason to hide the truth.

 

“...I see.”

 

Arwin whispered quietly as if savoring the revelation.

 

Then she said to Ner,

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Because of you, I was able to save the elves and the World Tree.”

 

Feeling Arwin’s deep gratitude made Ner feel a bit more at ease. Perhaps she had indeed made the right choice.

 

Unsure of how to respond, Ner simply nodded.

 

Drawing a deep breath, Arwin reclined slightly, her gaze lifting towards the sky.

 

After a moment of admiring the forest’s scenery, she inquired.

 

“So? How is your married life?”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s just the two of us here. You can be honest.”

 

There was a light shift in Arwin’s demeanor.

 

It felt as if she was revealing her true self, a side of her that was even unfamiliar to Ner.

 

Ner looked around. The mercenary crowd that had surrounded them the day before was nowhere to be seen.

 

Now, there wasn’t anyone around to judge them.

 

Ner distinctly felt an underlying intent in Arwin’s suggestion to be ‘honest’.

 

Sure enough, Arwin added her explanation.

 

“It wasn’t a marriage you entered into willingly, was it?”

 

“....That’s... right.”

 

“How long have you been married now?”

 

“...About a month, I think.”

 

“And yet, he’s brought in a new wife.”

 

For some reason, Ner felt that Arwin was harboring misconceptions about Berg.

 

It seemed like there was a certain prejudice, much like the one she herself held, given he was a human.

 

Without realizing, Ner found herself defending Berg.

 

“You don’t need to worry too much. Because Ber...”

 

“...?”

 

“Because Berg is a very kind… among the humans.”

 

At that, Arwin belatedly chuckled.

 

Giggling, she teased.

 

“Are you telling me you’ve already fallen for the vice-captain?”

 

“...!”

 

Arwin was more blatant than ever before.

 

However, seeing Ner’s surprised expression, Arwin tried to reassure her.

 

“Don’t worry. There’s no one around.”

 

“It’s not... I mean...”

 

“There’s no way you, a werewolf, could develop feelings for him already.”

 

“...”

 

Although Ner had expected it, she was taken aback by Arwin’s dismissive attitude.

 

While she, being the youngest in the Blackwood family, became a scapegoat due to her age or the hate she received...

 

....Arwin had no reason to be chosen this way.

 

She was a beloved daughter of the elders, and age wasn’t as significant for elves as it was for other races.

 

So, Ner asked.

 

“…Why did Arwin-nim get chosen from Celebrien?”

 

“I volunteered.”

 

“...What?”

 

From Arwin’s demeanor, Ner found it difficult to believe she’d willingly put herself forward.

 

However, Arwin shrugged as if it was the most natural thing.

 

“...So that I could finally escape from that dreaded territory.”

 

“...”

 

Arwin was brutally candid, to the point it was hard to follow.

 

Whether this was her true personality or she was simply unburdening her repressed feelings due to the absence of others, was hard to tell.

 

Arwin slowly continued,

 

“...You know as well... That we elf must sacrifice for the well-being of the World Tree until we reach adulthood. For a whopping 170 years... I had to stay in that territory.”

 

“...”

 

“I would have had to serve as nourishment for another 30 years, but with this decision, I’m free from that duty. After the vice-captain dies, I’ll be completely free.”

 

“Wait, after he dies-”

 

“-In about 60 years, I presume. Don’t you think?”

 

For a moment, Ner glimpsed the cold aspect of the elf.

 

She’d often heard that elves, due to their long lifespan, tended to look down on other races.

 

While Arwin wasn’t openly belittling humans, her underlying thoughts about them were evident.

 

Talking about the death of a person as if discussing livestock...

 

There appeared to be no guilt in her tone.

 

“...”

 

Ner chose not to try to understand Arwin.

 

Instead, she pondered her words.

 

“...But if you had endured another 30 years to fulfill your duty, wouldn’t that have been shorter than waiting over 60 years?”

 

Confronted by Ner’s question, Arwin paused.

 

Then she responded,

 

“...But in exchange, I can explore the outside world, can’t I? I never even imagined a place like this could exist.”

 

“...”

 

Ner attempted to read the emotions playing across Arwin’s face.

 

Rather than being awestruck by the forest, Arwin’s expression hinted at a tinge of disappointment.

 

In a forest that even Ner was not satisfied with, it was unlikely that Arwin would, especially as an elf.

 

Arwin sighed deeply and looked back at Ner.

 

“Have you been here the whole month?”

 

Ner nodded.

 

Arwin’s green eyes seemed momentarily clouded.

 

“Ner, let’s rely on each other from now on,” Arwin proposed shortly after.

 

To Ner, this proposal appeared entirely beneficial. Sharing one’s innermost feelings always brings a sense of relief. Familiar with this solace, Ner had always found solace in talking to the moon.

 

“...Let’s get along like friends.”

 

Upon Arwin’s renewed proposal, Ner eventually nodded.

 

“Yes. I’ll be counting on you.”

 

****

 

Adam was wrapping up negotiations with Ascal Celebrien.

 

Setting aside the discussions about the boss monsters for now, they fine-tuned the specifics of forming an alliance.

 

“To confirm once again, if the two of them have a child, it’s okay for us to keep the child, right?”

 

“Yes, if they have a half-elf, you all can raise it.”

 

“...”

 

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. We will definitely consider that half-elf as one of our own and take care of it.”

 

Their conversation was chillingly devoid of emotion.

 

Such was the nature of negotiations.

 

Just as Adam felt everything was concluding, he attempted to shift the atmosphere.

 

“...That should be all then. As for the elder-”

 

“-Hold on, there’s one more thing we haven’t discussed.”

 

However, Ascal gestured for Adam to resume his seat.

 

“There’s something we need to make absolutely clear.”

 

“...Go on.”

 

Ascal stroked his chin and stared intently at Adam.

 

“I’m only mentioning this to prepare for any possibility, so don’t take it the wrong way.”

 

“...”

 

“...Given that you’re a mercenary group, death isn’t exactly rare. That’s why…If the vice-captain dies in an accident, we’ll need to decide what happens to Arwin.”

 

Adam’s eyes narrowed at the sensitive topic.

 

He hadn’t expected such a blunt mention of Berg’s potential death from Ascal.

 

Of course, he could understand the reason.

 

After all, in a mercenary group, one never knew how someone might meet their end.

 

So, Adam took a moment to calm his emotions.

 

“We shouldn’t be abandoned by Celebrien just because Berg has died.”

 

“Of course. I’m not discussing our alliance. But again, I’m asking about Arwin’s future. I mean, should she, who became his widow, continue to remain in the Red Flames?”

 

After a brief silence, Adam spoke.

 

“...If it doesn’t affect our alliance, I will let Miss Arwin go.”

 

Only then did Ascal nodded.

 

“Then there’s no more issue. That’s all I needed to confirm.”

 

“...”

 

The two exchanged a handshake.

 

Slowly rising, Ascal turned to leave. Just as he was about to depart from Adam’s residence, Adam called out to him.

 

“Oh, one more thing.”

 

“...Go on.”

 

“I also want to discuss a ‘just in case’ scenario. It probably won’t happen... so please don’t take it the wrong way.”

 

“...?”

 

Looking straight into Ascal’s eyes, Adam said.

 

“I’ll only let Miss Arwin go if Berg dies in an accident.”

 

“...”

 

“You understand my terms, right?”

 

Ascal nodded again.

 

“Of course. We aren’t so heartless either.”

 

– – – End of Chapter – – –