Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 162

162 – The other side of fate (2)

Ner, Arwin, and Gale followed when I started walking.

We approach the group that had been waiting for us.

People from the royal lineage, key figures of the war, many aristocrats.

There were more than the handful of people who came to meet the Red Flame.

It was to be expected.

Given that we’ve blocked the right hand of the Demon King, the Red Flames too had become key figures in the war.

We gather like this after the last battle ended and countless days passed.

Of course, even this gathering was hastily put together.

If you think about it, we, the Red Flame Squad, also needed time to get things cleaned up.

The King nodded as he saw our appearance.

His face held a faint hint of regret.

Whether it was an act or sincerity, I couldn’t tell… but it was clear that it was an expression he made for Adam, who could not attend this occasion.

Gael knelt, and I followed him. Ner and Arwin also dodged together.

I had no hatred for the King.

After all, it was Adam who decided to go on this journey.

If you think about it, the person I was resenting was myself.

Adam died trying to save me.

“…Rise, Berg.”

The King commanded.

I stood up following his words.

“You did well. We’ll talk about your reward later. And…”

The King, who hesitated for a moment, spoke.

“…it’s a pity about Adam.”

“…”

A wave of mourning swells during a moment to savor the joy of victory.

However, understandably, his words did not help me at all.

The King turned his back after saying that.

It seemed like he had come out to meet us to say that.

The royal family left us.

What remained were the heroes, the Blackwood clan, and the members of the Celebrien family.

Gibson, the head of the Blackwood family, came up and put his hand on my shoulder.

“You did well, Berg. It’s truly unfortunate about Adam.”

“………”

I looked down at Gibson with a cold gaze.

Was it him?

Did he plan to betray us from the start?

There was no chance for Ner to plan for betrayal on her own.

She must have had someone who would assist her, as information about the Red Flame Squad would be useful.

Had he planned to destroy us to save his daughter?

“…Father.”

Ner appeared behind me, struggling, and grabbed Gibson’s arm.

Gibson glanced at me as he saw her tearful expression.

“…”

“….Ner.”

Worry appeared on Gibson’s face.

Almost as if I had been abusing Ner all this time.

As if I had mistreated and exploited Ner.

Despite me treating her more dearly than anyone else.

That’s why it hurts more.

“…Are you tired?”

Gibson whispered to Ner.

He must have thought that only Ner would hear.

Ner swallowed breathlessly and shook her head.

“That’s not it…”

“…?”

The eldest son of the Blackwood family, Gideon Blackwood, walks in and interrupts us.

It was Gideon who had made peace with Ner when he left the Blackwood territory.

“…Captain Berg. You’ve worked hard.”

Gideon elevates his speech, just like the first time we met.

He creates some time with his professional demeanor.

“I’d like to talk to Ner for a moment, would it be okay to take her?”

“…”

Permission to take away, sought from me, her husband.

I answered without thinking deeply.

“…As you wish.”

At my indifferent answer, Ner flinches again.

The fact that she’s startled by something insignificant is just like her.

Even though she was on the verge of tears again, she left me, escorted by Gibson and the Blackwoods.

Even as she left, she couldn’t take her eyes off me.

Next, the elder elf, Ascal approached.

Ascal, who placed his hand on my forehead in greeting, said,

“…Adam’s death is a pity.”

“…”

“He was a fine young man. He must’ve gone to a better place.”

Why does the sentiment from the elf sound more and more hollow now?

Maybe it’s because I’ve experienced once what it means to scorn the life of a short-lived species.

Or maybe it’s because of the changes within me, seeing everything in a negative light.

Whatever it may be, I simply nodded my head.

Silence lingered between us for a while.

No words are exchanged in this awkward atmosphere.

Arwen was standing quietly behind me.

Ascal, who was quietly observing her, cautiously said to me.

“…Would we be able to hold a conversation later?”

“…”

I could see in his eyes that he wanted to discuss the divorce.

After all, Ascal had had Arwen in his mind.

Perhaps he was trying to persuade me for the sake of his daughter who craved freedom so much.

Arwen also seemed to sense the atmosphere and bowed her head deeply.

Distressed, she picked at her fingernails.

Ascal looked at her, slightly furrowing his brows in confusion… yet I wrapped up the conversation by agreeing with his words.

“… I’ll just get ready and follow you. Arwin.”

At my call, Arwin lifted his head.

“…..Yes?”

“… I’m talking to father. We probably have lots of stories piled up.”

Arwin, anxiously bitting his lips, came closer to me.

The lady who whispered in my ear.

“… Be… Berg. I want to be with you……”

“…..”

I looked at Arwin expressionlessly.

Realizing that this was not a request, Arwin quickly closed his eyes and shut his mouth.

A face with countless things to say, yet unable to speak.

The elves also left like that.

Few nobles and the hero’s party were left.

Hero Felix came to me and offered a handshake.

“…the humans greet like this, don’t they?”

His left arm held up to me.

His right sleeve fluttered in the wind, empty.

He must have gotten injured in the last battle.

I thought I’d heard it once in passing… but I was too preoccupied.

“…”

I accepted his handshake with my left hand.

When Felix left the spot, centaur Arcan approached and offered a handshake.

“We were able to end the war thanks to the sacrifices of the Crimson Flame Squad. Express my thanks. In addition to saving us in the past.”

“…”

I nodded and accepted his handshake as well.

I finished saying hello to Silphrien via eye contact and finally faced Sien.

“…”

“…”

Would we have expected to meet each other so soon?

I thought it was our last time during the last meeting.

I had coldly left her behind, leaving her pleading, and I moved on.

But Sien, as if she had already forgotten about that moment, showed me a smile as she looked at me.

No matter how much time passes, it was a familiar smile to me.

“…Bel.”

Tears filled Sien’s eyes.

I had no idea how I was reflected in her eyes.

I didn’t even know what my face looked like.

All the people around me disappeared, and it seemed that only she and I were left.

It felt as if everything that had covered us was being stripped away.

I couldn’t say a word.

There was no word to say.

“…You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you, Bell…?”

Sien asked.

From noble mtl dot com

She who overcame endless hardships alone first threw her worries towards me.

“…”

I closed my eyes and let out a long breath.

I didn’t know how to respond to her question.

Even if I pretend it’s not, whenever I stand in front of her, my emotions ripple.

It seemed that Sien too was already aware of that fact.

I remained rooted on the spot for a long time… I moved a step.

Sien also wiped away her tears and composed herself.

For the time being, creating this distance somehow felt natural to both of us.

****

“…How have you been, Arwin?”

Ascal asked his daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Ascal sold Arwin to the mercenaries… He hadn’t had many restful days since then.

Although everything was decided due to Arwin’s choice, Ascal naturally knew that Arwin hadn’t truly wanted to be sold.

Arwin had chosen lesser of the two evils. She was exhausted from the pain of dividing her life with the world tree.

Ascal hadn’t received much information about Arwin during that period.

At best, only information about the flame troop would have gotten to him.

Especially tales about Berg, who had been Arwin’s husband, resonated a lot.

His monstrous strength on the battlefield was a rumor that spread to all.

At least the sight of the flame troop steadily growing gave Ascal a sense of relief.

If they were a decayed troop, they couldn’t have grown like that, even by mistake.

Of course, this did not necessarily represent how Arwin was treated, but Ascal was more comfortable with Arwin being in a reputable mercenary force than in a decayed one.

In addition, having seen Berg risk his life for Arwin even for a moment, he hoped that everything would work out.

But one thing that made him anxious… was the fear that news of Berg’s death might reach him.

There was fear that Arwin might really use that poison.

Ascal had been sure that Arwin wouldn’t use the poison… but he couldn’t deny the trace of worry.

After all, if that was Arwin’s choice, he had given her the Bardy alcohol to respect that choice.

While he had hoped she wouldn’t use it, Ascal held his daughter’s safety more important than the short-lived species.

Giving her a dagger was the best choice Ascal could make.

No father would want his daughter to become a murderer.

With such mixed feelings, time passed.

Ascal asked after Arwin and looked back at her.

“…Father.”

– Thud.

But at the same time, Arwin collapsed on the floor.

Ascal couldn’t help but be shocked.

She had never seen Arwin struggling so much.

No matter how much Arwin suffered from the pain transmitted by the world tree, she always got back up.

She was determined to do her part till the end.

But given the chance, Arwin immediately fell to her knees.

“Ah, Arwin.”

Uncharacteristically, Ascal hurried over to Arwin with measured steps, placing her hand on her shoulder.

Arwin muttered with a dazed expression.

“….Help me.”