Incompatible Interspecies Wives chapter 197

197 – Ner’s Choice (1)

“…Bergh, it seems that Krund has started to move.”

Geil brought me new information in the early morning.

I had somewhat anticipated it based on the quietly spreading rumors, but the news still hit me hard.

In a way, it felt like the weight on my chest had been lifted.

Strangely, my heart became calm and organized.

Having a real enemy rather than an abstract one was more comfortable for me.

Perhaps all I had learned so far was about fighting.

It was easier to have an enemy that needed to be prepared for.

I let out a sigh.

“What happened?”

“The Cryer family has been exterminated. Apparently, an intense battle broke out overnight.”

“…”

“…I heard that Krund himself has entered the fray and is going wild. As such, I expect many casualties will emerge before any proper countermeasures are prepared.”

I repeated Gail’s words.

“Going wild, himself?”

“There are speculations that he might be seeking revenge for killing the Demon King. If that’s the case, his targets for vengeance would be fixed as well.”

Assuming that speculation was correct, the enemies Krund would target were indeed fixed as Gail had said.

Warriors.

The Hero, Acran, Sylfrien, and…Sien. And me as well.

“…He will come here.”

I whispered.

In Stakpin alone, there were already three targets for Krund to focus on.

Gail seemed to feel the same anxiety but didn’t entirely deny it…and at the same time, warned against falling into overly negative thinking.

“I don’t know about that. If it’s the Cryer family, they’re far from here. Even if he’s really heading this way, we should be able to learn about it beforehand.”

“…”

In that uncomfortable silence, Gail sighed.

After agonizing for a while, he broached a difficult topic to me.

“Verg.”

“…”

“…If Krund is really coming here, what are you going to do?”

Once again, the decision was in my hands. It felt like countless lives were at stake.

What would Adam have said at this moment?

Seeing me unable to easily make a decision, Gail said,

“…In my opinion, we should prepare to flee.”

“What?”

Gail conveyed his opinion in an uneasy voice.

“You need to understand that this isn’t an unfounded worry. You’re not the same Crimson Flames as you were in the past. Your combat instincts have deteriorated, and many of your weapons have been melted down into farming tools. Many have fallen ill, and there are fewer horses than before. It’s not a situation where you can fight.”

“…”

“We know Krund’s strength better than anyone. Even in our best condition, we were defeated by him. We lost Adam and many of our comrades. In this situation, all we can do is suffer a miserable defeat and be exterminated like the Cryer family.”

The sudden possibility of escape that he mentioned was both baffling and… I couldn’t entirely dismiss his words.

After all, the very existence of Cruund was sudden.

“…Where would we go if we run away?”

“I’m not sure. Anywhere. Dreago, Blackwood, Cellebrien… anywhere.”

Gail’s suggestion was not that simple.

“As you said, we are not the same old Red Flame Group. There are many people, not just the members but also non-members, living in our territory. There is no place that can accept all these people.”

“In that case, we have to disperse. We must survive, even if we are separated. It’s better than dying.”

“…You mean we have to scatter and drift into just any place, even if it means living in a slum?”

“… If that’s what it takes to survive.”

I frowned and asked.

“… It would only spread the already distorted perception of non-members.”

It was an option we had to avoid, even considering Adam’s legacy.

“If non-members like me, who were recognized as heroes, and the ones who came from my and Cien’s territory… were to survive like cockroaches in other cities…”

“…”

There might be more victims like Adam.

The hatred towards us would spread even further.

We wouldn’t be able to fulfill Adam’s last wishes.

“…Ha.”

…It wasn’t that I thought Gail’s words were wrong, either.

I understood that survival was the top priority.

His words made sense.

It’s just that I didn’t like any of the choices given to me.

“…We should at least think about escape. Even if we don’t end up making that choice, we need to be prepared.”

Gail spoke unwaveringly, even after hearing my words.

I closed my eyes.

For some reason, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that everything was approaching its end.

****

I went to see Cien.

I practiced my smile in front of the door before entering.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

As soon as I entered, I could hear the sound of Xi’an’s dry cough.

Her pale face and the powerless body lying on the bed.

It was evident to anyone that her illness was worsening.

She seemed to not notice my presence in the room and continued coughing.

“…Xi’an.”

“…Ah.”

It was only after I called her name that she managed to open her heavy eyelids with difficulty.

Her weakened eyes curved into crescents as she drew a smile towards me.

“…I thought I heard wrong.”

Xi’an whispered.

With difficulty, I too produced a smile and sat next to her.

I slowly wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.

The emotions that arose as I looked at her weakened state were hard to describe.

Holding back the tears, I found giving her a smile was so difficult.

“…How’s your body?”

“…”

In response to my question, Xi’an only showed her smile.

The girl who was saying she was fine just a few days ago seemed to have disappeared.

“…Xi’an, how’s your body?”

Despite feeling forced, I wanted to hear some positive words and prompted her for an answer.

Ultimately, Xi’an whispered an answer to me.

“…It hurts.”

“…”

Upon hearing her answer, the fists I had unconsciously clenched began to tremble.

The situation where I couldn’t take her pain for her was unbearably hard.

Nevertheless, I managed to say something.

“You’ll be fine, Xi’an. Please bear with it a little longer. You got to overcome this.”

“…Yes, of course.”

I continued to stroke her hair.

Xi’an, coughing, looked up at me with difficulty.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

But this act of staring made me feel uneasy.

It was a similar feeling I’ve had when parting from Adam.

Cien looked up at me and chuckled.

At first, I was relieved to find out that the sound I thought was a cough was actually her laughing.

“Bel… do you know… what’s funny…?”

“What is it?”

I wondered what could possibly be amusing in this situation, but since she was laughing, I let Cien speak.

“In this… situation… cough!… sigh… even in this situation… you worry about me… it makes me so happy…”

“…”

“Really… as long as I have you… I will live… happily ever after…”

I nodded my head.

“…Yeah, you’ll be happy for the rest of your life.”

“…”

Cien smiled again, struggling to reach out her hand. Her trembling hand touched my face.

“…I’m disqualified.”

“For what…?”

“Because I make you… so sad…”

“…”

“I’m sorry… for being weak.”

Finally, I clenched my lips and asked her.

“I’d rather you didn’t say that.”

“…”

“Stop saying you’re sorry. Stop making weak comments.”

“…Bel.”

At that moment, Cien called me with difficulty.

She closed her eyes as if she was sleepy and exhaled.

“…I know what you’re holding back.”

“…What.”

“…Lord Nere and Lord Arwin.”

At those words, my body stiffened.

“…After saying you forgot me… seeing you love me like this again… Ner and Arwin… they’re ultimately pushing me away for my sake, right…? Just like… how they did to me back then…”

“…”

Cien continued to speak, laughing as if she found something amusing.

“…I knew it all, but… I was being greedy… I wanted to monopolize you… I wished you would only look at me…”

“…”

“By enduring it… I’m sorry. I was being greedy… It seems like it’s made things harder for you…”

I shook my head.

“That was my choice.”

“…Lies. You… once someone enters your heart… you can’t let go.”

“…Cien, only you are my wife.”

“…Why?”

I expressed confusion at her question.

“…What?”

“Is it because… polygamy… was abolished…?”

“…”

“…Bell… you weren’t the type to care about such things…”

Cien continued to show her smile.

I could not find any words to say in response to what she said.

From the beginning, I couldn’t shake off the suspicion that the reason Cien brought up all these words was because she was anticipating her own death.

Wasn’t she saying these things for my sake, knowing that I would struggle after her departure?

Unknowingly, I ended up threatening her.

“…Cien.”

“…?”

“If you’re saying these things to me because you think something might go wrong… I’ll tell you one thing.”

“…”

“…If you die, I’ll follow you.”

Cien’s powerless eyes widened.

“I’ll just solve the remaining problems and… then I’ll follow you right away.”

I no longer had the strength left to experience any more goodbyes.

If Sien were to die, and my child were to die as well, I would have gone to meet my departed comrades, Adam, and Sien along with my child.

If she were to leave this world as well, there would be more people I love on the other side.

Tears welled up at the corners of Sien’s eyes.

Coughing and laughing again, she says,

“I shouldn’t feel this way…”

“…”

“… Why do those words make me feel happy…?”

Sien held my hand, which covered her face.

From No ble mt L dot c om

And with a more resolute tone than ever before, she said,

“…I will definitely overcome this.”

“…”

“So… you too, don’t hold back and be happy.”

I couldn’t give a proper reply.

With those words as the end, I held her in my embrace.

She couldn’t hug me back.