Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 178

178 – The Approaching Crisis (2)

I headed for my office to meet Gale.

Several servants followed behind me.

“…”

I was still not used to such reception.

I wonder how much longer it would take to become numb to this.

I took a deep breath and spoke to the servants.

“Go and take a rest. I can go on my own.”

It was a well-known fact in our house that I was uncomfortable with the company of servants.

I had shown it far too many times.

Thanks to this, the servants bowed and said their greetings, and moved away from me without a word.

Only butler Desmond followed me.

Soon, I arrived in front of the office.

-Knock, knock, knock.

“It’s Berg. I’m coming in.”

Opening the door and stepping in naturally, I faced Gale, who was looking at the documents.

He didn’t seem very pleased.

He was deeply focused without even looking up at me.

Then, he sighed deeply and put down the document.

He tells me with a worried expression.

“It’s never ending.”

“…”

“I expected it…but it’s pouring. It’s like a horde of demons of war.”

Gale was talking about the thieves.

As he said, thieves were everywhere.

Those who lost their hometown due to the war.

People who could not farm because the land was polluted.

People who were mercenaries but fell off… and so on.

They all chose to become thieves.

The end of war didn’t mean that a heavenly future unfolded.

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The entire kingdom was still moaning from its unhealed wounds.

Accordingly, the Red Flame Party often went around to subdue the enemy thieves… but it was impossible to completely eradicate the large number of thieves.

In the first place, we couldn’t concentrate all our energy on suppressing thieves when we had so much to do.

Gale spoke lightly.

“Perhaps it would be better to draw the remaining mercenary group under our command. At this rate, nothing will be accomplished.”

“But-“

“I’m just saying. Nevertheless… it’s true that we lack manpower, Berg.”

It was something he had been repeating of late.

“…I understand.”

The situation was not promising at all.

Due to last year’s failed harvest, this year’s crop had to be successful no matter what.

Only then would there be no risk of starvation.

But amid all this, bandits were stirring up trouble.

The problems didn’t end there.

The pestilence that had been spreading since last year didn’t show signs of abating.

It was growing increasingly influential.

Many people had lost their lives to this disease, and many more were in the process of losing theirs.

Of course, there was a significant distance between us and the affected areas.

It wasn’t particularly dangerous yet, but it was a cause for concern.

On top of that, sightings of Khrund were being reported from all over the place.

Even though the war was long over, his name still made me shudder.

It was my regret for not having sent my brother Adam to the afterlife.

Perhaps it was because I still harbored regrets about not avenging his death.

All of these complex issues were intertwined.

Sighing, I tried to inject some optimism into the conversation.

“But this year, the harvest will be good. We’ve finished preparing the fields, and we’re thoroughly prepared.”

Geal shook his head.

“I know that too. But… can we be sure? We believe that we’re ready, but that confidence might be born out of ignorance. What could we, who have only swung swords, know about it?”

“…”

“We’re also not sure if the plague will spread to us. If that happens, this year’s harvest will also face a big problem. No matter how well we prepared, it’s meaningless if we all fall.”

In the end, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut in response to his continuous worries.

They were all words that I couldn’t answer.

“…”

“…”

In the silence that fell over the office, Geal handed me an apple.

“…I’m sorry, Berg. I’ve been ranting ever since I arrived.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“I guess I’ve been worrying too much. I can see that I’m being oversensitive. I’ve been trying to change, but I’m not doing so well.”

“…”

I looked at Geal, who was working hard for us.

It’s almost two years since I met him.

Compared to then, his wrinkles have deepened.

His grey hair was also gradually increasing.

He kept saying that his body wasn’t what it used to be.

It must have been the natural process of aging, but I couldn’t help but wonder whether all this effort on our behalf wasn’t hastening it.

A mix of guilt and gratitude coexisted within me.

Watching Gael let out a sigh with a smile, I shouted towards the outside.

“Desmond.”

A response came from outside the door.

“Yes.”

“Please prepare two cups of tea.”

Without any hesitation, Desmond brought out tea for Gael and me.

It wasn’t much, but it was a token of my sincerity towards him.

It appeared Gael understood this too.

Continually sighing with a smile, as if trying to change his complicated feelings.

I spoke to him.

“Take a moment, perhaps take a rest for today.”

He shook his head.

“I appreciate the concern. But I’m fine, I can’t rest when there’s so much to do.”

Gael, who had been enjoying the aroma of tea, changed the topic shortly.

It seemed he was trying to lighten the mood.

“By the way. Why have you not had a child yet? It’s been almost a year and a half since your marriage.”

I shrugged.

Feeling a mild embarrassment as a man.

Almost blaming myself, I explained.

“I’m trying… But it’s not happening.”

I was also hoping to have a child with Cien. Despite the effort we’ve been putting in, good news was not so easily reached.

That didn’t mean we hurried either.

Life with just Cien was abundantly joyful.

Continuing to live harmoniously, eventually the good news would come.

At my response, Gael smiled awkwardly.

“…Ah, I see. You’ve been trying.”

I giggled at his reaction.

It seemed he had forgotten that our race had a high libido.

“I am also human.”

“Weren’t you trying to change that perception?”

“I would like to change misguided perceptions, but certainly not truth…”

Gael also responded with laughter.

I felt relieved to see him regain his positive mood.

Gael soon spoke to me.

“Still, try a little harder. I would also like to see a child from you and the Holy Maiden, or rather, Cien. You’re both my students, after all.”

I raised an eyebrow and replied,

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Despite his answer, we held our smiles for a long time.

****

Once the morning work was over and afternoon came, I set out with my crew members.

There was talk of a gang of thieves appearing somewhere on the outskirts of our jurisdiction.

I could have taken a rest after delegating everything to Baran, but for some reason, today, I felt like running.

I wanted to temporarily forget the worries that were piling up.

I wanted to be out in the wind like we used to do, with my crew members.

I wanted to put down the weight of knowing that many people’s lives hinged on me.

We were neither rushing nor walking slowly, pushing forward our horses and conversing in a way we hadn’t done lately.

Baran was informing me about his new lover.

“I think she’s the real one, Lieutenant. She’s even preparing for a marriage ceremony.”

“…Just confess and speak. You always say the same thing.”

“I will inform you soon. Anyway, will you lead the ceremony if I get married?”

“If you want it.”

“Leave the wedding to a noble… I have become successful too.”

Baran threw a humorous comment.

I was just smiling.

From behind, Sean called out.

“Deputy Baran, stop wasting time and get married soon. It’s frustrating, only your mouth is active.”

A few members burst into laughter.

“…”

Unable to retort to Sean’s teasing, Baran only bit his tongue.

Since Sean had already become a father.

He got married later than me, but right after marriage, he had a child with his wife.

Sean, bulky as a father, continued.

“Deputy Baran, if I may give you some advice… you need to have a daughter. They are really beautiful…”

“If it was born just because you wanted it, who’d have any trouble?”

“I know the method, right after intercourse-“

“-Keep such talk for drinking occasions.”

Baran, seemingly fed up with Sean’s bragging, just bit his tongue.

I continued just smiling at their conversation.

Burns asked from behind.

“Lieutenant, aren’t you having a child?”

Is it because it’s spring?

Both Geil and Burns… Everyone was interested in my child.

Just as sprouts appear here and there, maybe they also want new life.

“I have to have.”

At my short answer, everyone laughed lightly.

We didn’t lose our laughter even as we went to catch the thieves.

‘Kyaaa …!’

However, at a fleeting shout reaching from afar, we all braced ourselves.

No one needed to speak out to understand the situation.

It seemed that the thieves were active somewhere.

“Over there…!”

It was Baran who first spotted the thieves.

They were looting the indigenous people who had been living in the remote huts.

And just by looking at their equipment, it was clear.

The thieves this time were mercenaries.

… Moreover, they were not from our region.

It would have been evident just by looking at their equipment and race.

They had definitely ended up in Stuckfin after moving from distant regions.

Such mercenaries were being beaten back and forth.

You get expelled from your original hometown and must move a great distance.

We did not have to face that scenario… we could just see it was all due to Adam.

“Just like weeds. Keep pulling them, but…”

Ignoring Baran’s mumble, I drew my sword.

Every single member of the troupe also unsheathed their swords.

At the sound of horse hooves, the thieves belatedly noticed our presence.

‘It’s… It’s Berg Riker!’

‘Run!’

They all started to run in a line.

I gave an order to the members while watching the back of the thieves.

“Catch them all.”

The members all responded to my order as one.

****

Benz nocked an arrow onto the bow as he rode the horse.

The tension of the tight string in his right hand.

Upon Berg’s order, the troupe were chasing after the scattering thieves.

Benz was no different.

He had been chasing the thief he had singled out first.

For Benz, who had long been in leader Joe’s team, hunting people wasn’t that difficult.

Especially if the opponent was running away, there was no easier task.

Holding tightly onto his horse with both thighs, he slowly aimed the arrow at the thief’s leg.

” … Gotcha-“

-Heeheeheeng!!

“Huh?!”

Just as he was about to loose the arrow, the horse held its legs high and stood upright.

At the sudden action of the horse, Benz, holding the bow and arrow, lost his balance and fell from the horse.

-Thud!

“Ugh!”

Burns immediately stood up from his seat as he grasped the escalating situation.

Just as he thought, the thief he had been pursuing and two other hidden thieves were charging at him.

“Die!!”

They seemed to have planned to kill him and run away with his horse.

In a situation where no one else could assist him, Burns drew his sword.

“Damn it…!”

– Woosh!

They weren’t just thieves, one mustn’t forget they were former mercenaries.

“Phew…!”

Burns took a deep breath and braced himself.

He had been in countless dangerous situations like this before.

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He knew exactly how to break through these lines….he had learned well from Adam and Berg.

.

.

.

“Cough… Cough… Cough!”

– Groan!

Burns was squeezing the last thief’s neck with one hand, holding a blood-drenched sword in the other.

Fortunately, he was able to subdue all of them without any injuries.

Overcoming the thieves and capturing the last one, the tension he had been suppressing erupted in anger.

“How dare you ambush me…?”

The last thief captured by Burns was a dwarf.

The thief, having lost his sword, was desperately struggling to breathe.

“Cough…! Cough… Cough!!”

Burns dropped the sword to the ground, hitting the thief’s face with his fist.

– Smack!

His opponent’s spirit was completely broken and could not respond at all.

He could only take shallow breaths, begging for mercy.

“Cough… Cough…! Please…! My life… Cough!! My life!”

Burns threw the thief to the ground, finally releasing his neck.

The other two thieves couldn’t help but succumb, while Berg always wanted to take them alive.

…So he was going to spare them.

As long as his rage was sufficiently appeased.

Burns climbed onto the downed dwarf and continued to throw punches.

– Smack! Smack! Smack!

He could see other members of the Crimson Flames approaching from a distance.

“Burns!! Are you okay?!”

Burns yelled at his colleagues.

“I’m fine! It’s just this bastard!”

– Smack!

“Hit a little!!”

-Thud!

“If you lay it down!!”

-Thud!

The thief, who had been panting heavily, eventually inhaled deeply, triggering a bout of coughing.

“Cough!! Cough!!”

And along with that cough, red blood splattered onto Beonze’s face.

-Squirt!!

“Ew!”

Beonze clenched his teeth at the unpleasant experience.

“…This bastard…!”

He wiped off the thief’s blood that had smeared on his face and raised his fist again.

“Stop!”

However, at the same time, Sean’s voice echoed.

“Beonze. It’s over. That’s enough, calm down.”

“…Haah…Haah…”

Beonze looked down at the thief, continuing to breathe heavily.

Teeth missing, face bruised, bearded with blood everywhere.

“Cough…! Cough….!”

The thief kept coughing, clutching his neck.

Eventually, Beonze relaxed his clenched fist and stood up.

From afar, Berg approached, leading a horse, and asked.

“Beonze. Are you alright?”

Seeing his leader’s face, Beonze felt more at ease.

He continued to wipe the blood from his face as he replied.

“…I’m fine, Leader.”