Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 161

161 – Fated Opponent(1)

Arwin had finished preparing to go to the capital with the Crimson Flames.

The rain ceased, revealing a clear sky.

If the situation had not been so, Arwin would probably have had a conversation about the weather with Berg.

Though the sky was clear, the weather was starting to get cold.

Leaves started falling one by one, signaling the coming of autumn.

This would be their first autumn since leaving the Celebrien territory.

However, this had no meaning to Arwin at the moment.

She was solely focused on Berg, who was looking around at the Crimson Flames.

Just like the other members, Berg had dressed up in a coat to see off the chilling weather.

The same was the case for Ner too.

The only difference from the past was that this dress-up had been decided on their own.

If it had been like before, Berg would have probably nagged at them for it.

Put on a warm coat because it’s getting cold, he would have said.

Maybe he would even have added a smile.

However, Berg didn’t say anything to them this time, and it was in this minor difference that Arwin felt a chill that couldn’t be countered by a simple coat.

“Cough…! Cough…!”

Ner, suffering from a cold, spontaneously coughs.

Berg’s eyes involuntarily turned towards Ner.

While consciously ignoring was possible, it seemed he had no control over reactions that intruded upon unconscious territory.

Ner smiled at herself as Berg’s eyes turned towards her, leading Berg to finally turn his head away and stop bothering.

…Arwin felt jealous of her.

An unimportant jealousy too heavy to express.

Before long, Berg was at the front of the formation, looking back at his comrades for the last time.

“…”

Seeing this, Arwin felt her heart ache.

Could it be because Berg had replaced Adam at the squad leader’s position?

Or because she knew that he felt betrayed by her and Ner?

…Berg, in that position, looked so lonely in an instant.

Arwin remembered the life Berg had shared with her momentarily.

And the fact that she couldn’t do anything for him, or rather, that she greatly contributed to that loneliness, was too much to bear.

Arwin looked at Berg’s determined expression.

It was hard to watch him hide his wounds and walk on.

“…Let’s go.”

Before long, Berg spoke to Baran.

Baran nodded, and loudly gave the command to march.

****

Throughout the journey to the capital, Ner didn’t talk to anyone.

Berg didn’t respond to her, and she was not in the mood to talk to anyone else.

Ner was aware of her own guilt.

In truth, from the moment her diary was discovered, Nell knew that she had no defense against the punishments from the Crimson Flame Guild or Berg.

Arwin was in the same boat.

Both of them had once prepared to betray the foundation of the Crimson Flame Guild.

Even Nell, a noble, understood the weight of betrayal.

The Draygo royal family viewed rebellion as the greatest crime.

Even the incidents that happened in the Jackson family’s territory proved this.

The third son of the Jackson family, who betrayed the rangers, was executed summarily.

Even Berg had once mentioned this in one of the past mercenary meetings.

That he hates traitors the most.

Nell still remembers how aggrieved Berg was when Shifre, the leader of the Arakredan tribe and a female beast, tried to seduce him into her ranks… by betraying her own deputy leader.

And Nell did just that.

And it was towards Berg.

No matter how much she tried to excuse it as a one-time mistake, Nell knew it was impossible.

After all, the reason why Nell was living safely was all due to Berg’s consideration.

What would have happened if the members of the Crimson Flame Guild found out about the diary?

Probably, like Berg, they would have been outraged.

All the nursing she had done before would become meaningless.

So, Berg swallowed all this alone and endured it, keeping it a secret for her sake.

“…”

Did Berg make that choice because of all the affection over the years?

Or because he believed that she had no intention of betraying him anymore?

…Officially, it seemed like he wanted to forget everything as if it never happened.

Traces of his gentle nature protected her.

Maybe it was because Nell was a noble.

The Crimson Flame Guild still needed the power of the nobility.

For this reason, the members of the Crimson Flame Guild risked their lives to help the nobles before the war ended.

Considering this, Berg might be enduring it all.

Nell snickered quietly to herself.

Blackwood, who had caused her so much pain, could be thought of as being helpful now.

Everything felt off-kilter.

She felt as if she could burst into tears with any letdown of tension.

She never knew that not receiving affection from Berg could be this hard.

She never had imagined, and didn’t need to imagine.

She hadn’t anticipated such a day.

But the harsh reality that came gave her endless pain.

Nell remembered the day she met Berg’s old friend.

His friend called Flint had something to say about Berg.

He’s infinitely kind to his friends, but infinitely cold to his enemies, that’s Berg, he had said.

At that time, hearing this, Nell understood why Berg was so cold to other women.

She even felt proud in her own way. It felt like Berg would only look at her.

But now that she had stepped outside the boundary of being someone precious to Berg, she finally began to comprehend the weight of his words.

Ner felt the chilliness from Berg.

He treated her with the same attitude he typically had toward other women.

It had been days since she last touched Berg.

Without the daily expressions of affection, her heart ached.

Even just an embrace and holding hands…When she couldn’t carry out these actions, she felt devastatingly lonely.

Ner simultaneously experienced a deep sense of deprivation for all she had lost.

Expressions of affection she had let slip through her fingers, and things she had yet to experience, were hazy in her mind.

Kissing him. Intercourse with him.

The very fact she might not be able to express these paramount proofs of love…kept taking her breath away.

What might it have felt like, rubbing bare bodies together while gripping each other with soaked bodies?

What emotions might whispering love, as they engaged their most private parts, have invoked?

She hadn’t imagined these things when she could do them any time, but now she was denied of them, they circled around in her head.

The child of her and Berg…could she now no longer meet them?

Would she also not be able to see those beings born with the white tails that Berg liked, smiling brilliantly?

“…”

Tears welled up in Ner’s eyes again.

They could definitely have formed a beautiful family.

Ner wouldn’t ever have to feel lonely again.

She could have lived by loving her family alone.

Ner gritted her teeth.

Of course, she hadn’t given up yet.

However, the certainty of it having become too difficult, and perhaps unachievable, was there.

Tears welled up in her eyes again.

But worrying that Berg would get annoyed if she kept crying, Ner secretly wiped her tears while pretending to touch her bangs.

It seemed like even the members of the Red Flame Unit had noticed the change in the atmosphere between her and Berg.

None of them knew how serious the situation actually was, and thus hadn’t said anything, but as the fight which has been dragging on for a while, some of the braver members started cracking jokes.

Sean murmured to himself like he was talking alone.

“…They say marital disputes are like trying to cut a stream of water.”

Benz chuckled in muffled laughter both in surprise and at Sean’s boldness at his comment.

Ner, carrying a glimmer of hope at that joke, looked at Berg.

Berg just stayed silent not showing a hint of a reaction.

He didn’t even try to force a smile.

In truth, she had already known that there was nothing to laugh about.

Nonetheless, Sean did not give up and continued speaking.

“Vice-captain, after the war-”

“-It’s Captain, Sean.”

Baran intervened momentarily.

“…It’s time to…get the title right.”

“…”

A momentary silence enveloped them. Even Berg’s expression finally cracked slightly.

Nier could tell that he, who had lost anyone to rely on, was shaken.

Sean, momentarily taken aback, continued the conversation as naturally as possible.

“Anyway. After the war we decided to have a child-“

“Hmm.”

This time, it was Berg who sighed.

“…”

Sean eventually also fell silent at her sigh.

His attempt to lighten the atmosphere had gone awry.

Silence flowed again.

Nier bowed her head as if she were a sinner and frowned.

Her throat felt choked up at any moment.

She had no idea what to do.

She might indeed be facing separation from Berg.

That possibility terrified her too much.

But on the other hand…there was still a chance.

The ring still on Berg’s hands proved that.

In the end, Berg had to choose between herself and Arwin.

If it was Berg who considered Hanyeomdan, she would do that.

It was the last ray of hope that Nier was clutching.

War has ended, so she heard everyone was gathering in the capital.

Many surviving families and nobles were gathering in one place.

Blackwood would definitely attend.

Nier thought she might have to ask her father for help somehow.

She wasn’t close to her father, so it might not be possible… but he would certainly help.

Thanks to Nier, even Blackwood was able to endure until the end of the war.

He should help at least that much.

Nier prayed and prayed again to heaven.

Even to the native gods and the five gods she hadn’t believed in so far.

Please, just let her stay by Berg’s side.

She would live her life in penance.

…But that was a prayer, Arwin was probably saying too.

****

Time passed, and we arrived in the capital.

Even from a distance, one could feel the festive atmosphere continuing endlessly.

Even without entering the capital, the sound of cheers echoed.

It seemed plausible as the whole kingdom had survived a war that could have brought it down.

Seven years of hardship had ended, so it seemed plausible.

I couldn’t feel it yet that this war had ended.

I didn’t even know what and how I should do henceforth.

“It was all part of Adam’s plan.

…All I had in mind was to continue Adam’s legacy.

I didn’t know yet how this would be accomplished.

Gael had suddenly approached me and asked.

The other members were far away.

“…So.”

“…”

“…What happened, Berg. Why are you in that state with your wives?”

“…”

Instead of answering, I shook my head.

I didn’t want to speak just yet.

As I had now become the leader, I needed to assume responsibility for the safety of the Phoenix group.

It was the Phoenix group that Adam and I had created.

Gael said that I had become a noble, but… in reality, that was not decided.

The king had promised Adam the position of a noble.

I had to be careful about the king changing his words like a snake.

I was no longer able to read the minds of different species.

I had to recognize that the thoughts of different species and human species differed.

After hearing about Adam’s past and his dreams.

And then there was an incident with my wives.

I could detect a faint change within me.

It wasn’t that I distrusted everyone… but a sort of caution had arisen.

If it hadn’t, wouldn’t I be the strange one?

Yet, Gael was still reliable.

Sometimes it was Gael who was so honest that it was uncomfortable.

“…Berg. I said that you should have a child at least to speak to His Majesty the King-”

“-That’s enough.”

I shook my head.

I spoke to Gael who was looking at me with a stern expression.

“…There’s no child.”

From the beginning, I had even protected their chastity.

“…”

Right now, I didn’t want to think deeply about Ner and Arwin.

I was exhausted from the endless effort I had made for several months.

I didn’t have the strength.

My body might have survived, but it felt like my spirit had not.

I didn’t know who I should depend on now.

Someone asked from the city wall to us who had stopped in front of the castle gate.

“Where From, Who are you!”

An unguarded, business-like demeanor.

Rather, her voice seemed to have gotten huskier.

Gale began to speak first.

“The highest warrior of the Dragon Tribe, it’s Gale!”

From noble mtl dot com

The gatekeeper responded.

“Great to see the top warrior! May I ask who is beside you!”

“…”

Gale looked at me and gestured.

I looked up and said.

“The Redfuse Gang’s….”

After a moment of gritting my teeth, I spoke.

“…leader, Berg.”

.

.

.

.

Cheers erupted as the door opened.

Numerous species poured out and hurled cheers at us.

The members of the Redfuse Gang were also taken aback by such elation.

The humans were the most fervent in their cheering.

It might have been because they heard of the mercenaries, dominated by humans, distinguishing themselves in the war.

Flowers were showering in front of us, and the bright sunlight illuminated us.

I was leading the way, talking while lost in memories of the past.

“…Berg, remember…?”

Ner, who had shared that memory with me, was suddenly asking me from my side.

Her choked voice was heard, but I did not turn my head.

“After you have conquered all the leaders in Blackwood’s territory…”

Ner’s finger lightly touched my arm.

A shaking sensation was relayed.

“…you called me, and we got on the horse together, didn’t we…?”

“…”

“That time, the Blackwood people… threw cheers at us and threw flowers like this…”

Her voice gradually choked with tears.

“Having received gratitude from the Blackwood residents for the first time…I was so happy then. Berg, you felt the same, didn’t you? It was like having two weddings-“

“-That time.”

I didn’t know how Ner could bring up that remark.

It was definitely a precious memory to me.

A moment when I felt we were getting closer to Ner for the first time.

…but if I think about it, it was a memory precious only to me.

“… Even then, you were thinking of betraying me.”

I wondered how much time had passed since we had spoken.

I whispered, looking into Ner’s eyes.

“…….”

As if struck in a sore spot, Ner’s eyes trembled.

Though the words are out, there’s no relief coming.

Yet, I couldn’t hold back my words against the burning sensation of betrayal in my heart.

The deeper my affection for them, the greater the betrayal I felt.

So, I said to her.

“…Don’t speak anymore. It soils even the precious memories.”

“…”

A tear streaks down from Ner’s eye.

Her beautiful face, once loved, is now marked with sadness.

Her eyes lose their color.

I grit my teeth and look forward.

Now I understand why I avoided conversations all this time.

…I couldn’t bring myself to be with them any longer.

I too, did not know when I would be able to bury my emotions.

Could I bury them at all? I have no answer.

-Thump.

Ner’s hand, once on my arm, falls away.

I moved forward before people cheering my name noticed anything peculiar.

Echoes of our names, Ner, Arwin, and the Red Flame, resonate.

Then, several figures looking down on us from a high podium catch my eye.

Rulers, aristocrats, the house of Blackwood, Gibson, and Ascal of the Celebrien household are visible.

Along with warriors.

My eyes naturally fixed themselves on one person.

She too, was looking at me.

“…”

“…”

I have my realization too late.

After inflicting endless wounds, I finally understood.

……The only one who truly loved me, was her.