Chapter 71: Dems Village (2)

 

-Knock.

 

From the early morning, Ner knocked on Berg’s door.

 

“...”

 

Getting no response, she looked out the window.

 

...Upon further reflection, it was quite early for it to be called morning. It was more like dawn.

 

Village Chief Nox and even his daughter, Kayla, were still asleep.

 

Ner swallowed hard, disheartened by the lack of response.

 

Suppressing the faint anxiety building within her, she knocked again.

 

-Knock, knock, knock.

 

“...”

 

Still, no response came back.

 

Ner deduced that Berg and Arwin were still deep in sleep.

 

Logically, she should’ve turned around and returned to her own room, but... her body wouldn’t move.

 

It was her usual wake-up time, after all.

 

Whenever the Red Flames set out to complete a request, they always started at dawn.

 

What on earth did they do last night to sleep in this late?

 

“...”

 

A thought crossed Ner’s mind.

 

“...Berg, I’m coming in.”

 

After all, there was something she had to do this morning.

 

She needed to share energy with Berg.

 

That was why she had woken up this early.

 

-Creak...

 

Carefully, Ner opened the door.

 

Inside the quiet room, a soft sound of breathing could be heard.

 

Ner smoothly shifted her step, slipping inside.

 

From the darkness, her eyes gleamed with a yellow sheen.

 

Her vertically slit pupils sought out Berg.

 

Soon, she spotted Berg, who had taken off his shirt.

 

He was comfortably breathing, asleep alongside Arwin.

 

Ner quietly looked down upon them, gauging the distance between the two.

 

“...”

 

They weren’t exactly close.

 

That realization lifted a weight off Ner’s chest for a moment.

 

“...Haa...”

 

Reconsidering with a light heart, she figured there was no immediate need to act.

 

She could always share the energy a bit later.

 

After all, it was something Berg would have to handle on his own.

 

Carefully, Ner pivoted on her heel.

 

And then she returned to her room.

 

****

 

“...Berg.”

 

Someone was shaking me awake.

 

At the same time, a thudding noise resounded.

 

Coming to my senses, I saw Arwin next to me, shaking my arm.

 

When I glanced at Arwin, she pointed towards the door.

 

The door was producing a thudding sound.

 

-Thud, thud.

 

‘Vice-captain!’

 

Baran’s voice echoed from outside the door.

 

I straightened my upper body, letting out a yawn.

 

I hadn’t had a long rest last night, spending much of it conversing with Arwin.

 

It was further delayed as I checked if Arwin, who fell asleep late, was having a nightmare again.

 

Shaking off my lethargy, I walk toward the door.

 

“Vice-”

 

-Screech...

 

Upon opening the door, Baran stood before me.

 

“...You’re up.”

 

I said, scratching my head.

 

Behind Baran, Ner was staring at me.

 

Baran didn’t comment on my oversleeping.

 

He just gave a light smile.

 

It seemed like he was speculating reasons in his head.

 

I left him to his imagination.

 

Baran spoke.

 

“...Get ready. It’s time to complete the quest. The others are already having their meal.”

 

I nodded.

 

“I’ll be warming up outside. Eat, and when you’re ready, let me know. It’d be better to hurry since we’re running late.”

 

“Alright, got it.”

 

Thinking of Arwin who was sitting on the bed, I started to close the door.

 

“Ah...”

 

But just then, Ner, who was behind Baran, let out a soft moan.

 

I halted and gestured towards Ner.

 

Instantly, Ner, wagging her tail, quickly passed through the doorway.

 

Baran bid his farewell.

 

“...I’ll go ahead.”

 

“Okay.”

 

-Thud.

 

The door closed once again.

 

I turned to look at my two wives.

 

“Good morning.”

 

Ner greeted Arwin.

 

“Mm, good morning.”

 

Arwin returned Ner’s greeting.

 

After that, Ner fixed her gaze on me.

 

Without hesitation, she said,

 

“Berg, should I cast the spell on you again today? I’ve been waiting for that.”

 

I momentarily rolled my eyes and then recalled the image of her panting and sweating after the last ritual.

 

“Doesn’t it strain your body? Honestly, today isn’t too perilous, so we could skip it-”

 

“-Didn’t you say it’s better if we seem close?”

 

Ner interrupted and pointed out.

 

“...I’m fine not doing it, but if I don’t, won’t people find it odd?”

 

“...”

 

I chuckled at her words.

 

There was no reason to decline when she put it that way.

 

“Alright, then. Please go ahead.”

 

I said.

 

Ner nodded.

 

Arwin, seeming curious about the ongoing matter, asked from beside me,

 

“The spell?”

 

I explained for her benefit.

 

“Ner has a spell she can cast. When she does, it revitalizes the body. I had it last time during the subjugation in Celebrien Territory.”

 

“But what does this spell have to do with looking close?”

 

“The spell is traditionally only performed between spouses.”

 

“Oh.”

 

As Arwin was processing this new piece of information, Ner spoke.

 

“Oh, Arwin-nim?”

 

“...Yes?”

 

“...”

 

Ner hesitated for a moment.

 

Then, she cautiously said to Arwin,

 

“...This spell has to be done by just the two of us. It’s... tradition.”

 

Ner looked at Arwin’s reaction.

 

Arwin looked back and forth between Ner and me.

 

Trying to discern Ner’s intention, she asked,

 

“...Do you want me to step out for a bit?”

 

Ner nodded her head cautiously.

 

“...I’d appreciate it if you could.”

 

Arwin’s gaze returned to me.

 

She looked as if she had something to say.

 

But, in the end, she slowly rose from her seat.

 

“I see. Alright. I’ll step outside for a moment.”

 

As Arwin got up, I spoke,

 

“When we’re done, we’re going to eat. Be ready. You could get some fresh air outside if you’d like.”

 

“Yes. All right, Berg.”

 

Nodding, Arwin left the room.

 

-Thud.

 

The door closed.

 

“....Haaa...”

 

Ner, who had taken a deep breath, sighed heavily.

 

Then, with a slightly colder voice, she asked,

 

“Why did you oversleep like this today? It’s unlike you.”

 

I scratched my scarred cheek and responded,

 

“I talked with Arwin late into the night.”

 

Ner stiffened and asked,

 

“...Why?”

 

“Why? We’re married, aren’t we?”

 

Why would she ask as if it was unusual for married couples to talk? No matter how different we might be from a typical couple, we were still a married couple.

 

That was an unchanging truth.

 

Ner clarified her question upon seeing my puzzled expression.

 

“...Not that. I meant, considering you are heading into the subjugation today... don’t you usually sleep earlier?”

 

“...”

 

I wondered if it was alright to tell her that Arwin had a nightmare last night. But the fact that Arwin had been struggling was something Ner was already aware of.

 

Similarly, I didn’t want to keep secrets from my wife, Ner, so I lowered my voice and simply said,

 

“...Arwin had a nightmare.”

 

“...”

 

“That’s why.”

 

I took a seat on the bed.

 

Naturally, Ner approached from behind.

 

“I see.”

 

Her voice seemed even colder now.

 

“...You must be tired, then.”

 

I didn’t bother to respond.

 

Soon, I felt the gentle touch of Ner’s hand on my back.

 

“Let’s begin, Berg.”

 

I nodded in agreement.

 

Ner took a deep breath and began murmuring something.

 

Simultaneously, the familiar orange glow began to fill the room.

 

It was always a wonder to behold.

 

The orange luminescence was soon absorbed into my body.

 

The fatigue waned, and my mind cleared.

 

There was no doubt about its effectiveness.

 

Receiving that energy, I closed my eyes.

 

I focused on Ner’s small hand on my back.

 

The peculiarly wriggling hand soon pulled away from my body.

 

“...Is it over?”

 

Wondering why the ritual seemed to conclude faster than usual, two arms reached out from behind me.

 

-Whoom.

 

Those arms gently wrapped around my neck.

 

I felt Ner’s body press against my back.

 

She hugged me.

 

As I was perplexed by Ner’s unexpected gesture, she whispered into my ear,

 

“...You said you were sleepy. This way is more effective.”

 

“What?”

 

“...I told you, it’s a ritual performed only between couples.”

 

With that said, she began reciting the incantation again.

 

Certainly, the surge of energy within me felt different this time.

 

The ritual was working more effectively.

 

After waiting for a while longer, her murmuring ceased.

 

Ner’s sweat dripped onto my bare torso.

 

Seeming drained, she caught her breath, clinging to my back.

 

As I turned my head slightly, our cheeks brushed against each other.

 

“...Ah...”

 

At that touch, she let out another soft moan.

 

Ner murmured,

 

“...I’ll rest for a bit, Berg.”

 

I chuckled lightly.

 

“...If it was going to be this hard, you should’ve passed on it.”

 

“...”

 

Ner didn’t respond.

 

She just continued to draw shallow breaths, her arm wrapped around my neck.

 

I felt both gratitude and remorse simultaneously.

 

I gently stroked her hair.

 

At that touch, Ner flinched slightly.

 

“Thank you,” I said.

 

“...”

 

Ner gave a slight nod.

 

****

 

Arwin was reflecting on the comfortable sleep she had the night before.

 

No matter how she framed it, the truth remained the same.

 

Berg had pulled her out of her nightmare.

 

“...”

 

Could this too be a part of his promise to protect her in every way?

 

Lately, while she stayed by his side, it seemed she had never been in pain.

 

It was rather comforting.

 

To the point where this sense of security was almost frightening.

 

For her, who had lived a life filled with anxiety, such feelings were nothing but unfamiliar.

 

“...Haa.”

 

Arwin exhaled and looked towards her bedroom, which she shared with Berg.

 

It seemed like quite some time since Ner had gone in, yet neither of them had come out.

 

The conversation from the previous night lingered, causing an inexplicable heaviness in her chest.

 

She felt as though she could still sense his straight fingers that had cradled her cheek.

 

How much longer would this ritual take?

 

- Creak...

 

While she was lost in her thoughts, the door opened.

 

Arwin sat steadfast, feigning indifference.

 

“Arwin, have you been waiting? I told you to get some fresh air.”

 

The voice of Berg, who had been equally awaited, reached Arwin’s ears.

 

Arwin raised her head captivatingly to gaze at them.

 

“...”

 

And then, for a moment, she froze.

 

For Ner was sprawled out, carried on Berg’s back.

 

“...Why...”

 

When Arwin posed the question, Berg chuckled and explained.

 

There was a fondness in his eyes for Ner.

 

“She’s exhausted from the ritual. Let’s go get something to eat.”

 

Nonchalantly, Berg, with Ner on his back, started walking.

 

“...”

 

Arwin wasn’t sure what emotion she was currently feeling.

 

All she knew was that she couldn’t take her eyes off Ner.

 

As Berg passed by her side, Ner, who had been hanging limply, lifted her head.

 

Stealthily, through the small gap, as she raised her head, Ner’s eyes met Arwin’s.

 

A gaze that felt sharp in contrast to her slackened body.

 

The two exchanged glances for a brief moment.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

However, shortly after, Ner buried her face back into Berg’s shoulder.

 

Arwin blinked, watching Ner and Berg as they departed.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –