207 – Arwin’s Sincerity (4)
Arwin looked at the hardened Verg and continued to speak.
“How can I forget you?”
“…”
“How can I let you go?”
“…”
“…The moments we spent together were the happiest in my life.”
Arwin glanced at Verg.
She was afraid of why she kept watching his reactions.
She may not have known the tension.
It was the most important moment in her life.
Giving Verg the best gift she could convey, she still couldn’t help but feel anxious.
To persuade Verg, Arwin recalled past remarks.
“Verg, when we parted… you said that.”
Thinking of that painful memory still hurt her heart.
“…Maybe we didn’t know we shouldn’t continue, just like the annual and perennial types… let’s each go our separate ways from now on.”
“…”
Arwin bit her lip.
“But if I give you the gift of life, then there won’t be a problem anymore. We can match our lifespans.”
And then she began to whisper hopeful stories to him.
“We’ll be together for hundreds of years. We’ll revisit the seas we saw in the past, experience the rain in the forest just the two of us like before, and travel to new places.”
With a fervent heart, she clenched her fist. If all the happiness she was speaking of right now could come true, how dreamlike it would be.
“…To feel endless happiness together and close our eyes at a chosen day and time, saying it was a good life to each other… that’s how it ends.”
Arwin mustered the courage and looked at Verg again.
She even offered a smile to Verg.
“Isn’t it a beautiful story…? Living together with me after you’ve enjoyed the life you should have originally. Verg, I know that you don’t hate me anymore. You loved even Nerj.”
“…”
“…I know I can’t give you less. I know that.”
Arwin shed a tear even for the story she had seen through her Bluebird.
She couldn’t fully understand his thoughts, but sometimes there were moments when it seemed like they longed for each other.
Sitting alone in the place where we used to take frequent walks together, or feeling the rain on my bare skin a few times.
Arwin said,
“So, please value your life. You have hundreds of years ahead of you. Now is not the time to run away and wait for the next opportunity-“
“-Arwin.”
At that moment, Berg interrupted Arwin’s words.
Arwin froze at the sound of his voice.
“…”
Berg cut off Arwin’s words and maintained silence for a moment.
He seemed to ponder something, even exhaling a sigh.
Then he spoke in a soothing voice.
” …I’ll be honest.”
“…”
” …Okay. It’s not a bad story, is it? Living a happy life with someone for a long time.”
In his voice, you could also sense how weary he was right now.
“Traveling…and building memories in life, that sounds good too.”
Arwin, who had longed for the kind of life he was talking about, revealed his hope in his voice, and shouted a little louder.
“Then…!”
“-But.”
However, Berg once again sharply cut off Arwin’s words.
Arwin’s heart was pounding as if it would burst.
Listening to Berg’s voice, uneasy emotions welled up within him.
Berg looked straight at Arwin and said,
“…But it can’t be.”
“….What?”
Arwin doubted her own ears.
The dreamlike dreams she had cherished for two years shattered in an instant, and only dark emptiness filled her mind.
Berg lowered his head.
“…No, Arwin. I have no intention of taking your life.”
Arwin didn’t know what to respond.
Her solid foundation was crumbling.
Arwin asked, incredulous at the unthinkable answer.
“So… are you doing this out of pity for me…? Oh, no, Berg…I truly want to…”
“It’s not that.”
She pleaded, her lips trembling nervously,
“Then…where on earth is the reason to refuse…? Berg, some people struggle tirelessly, hoping to live for a few more years. They pray to the gods, study magic…but I… I’m just offering hundreds of years of life… why do you reject it…?”
“I don’t hate the idea of living long.”
Berg responded,
“But… I…don’t want to live, seeing all the people I love pass away.”
He touched the tombstone in front of him.
His eyes directed to the endless row of tombstones behind it.
“The comrades might feel the same. Also Cien. Or my child who will be born soon.”
He shut his mouth tightly, then continued.
“Or Nerr. If all the precious people leave, there will be no joy left in living.”
He said, looking at Arwin,
“Arwin, such a life might be a curse for me.”
“…”
Arwin didn’t know how to convince him; his will was too strong.
She had lived all her life dreaming only of this.
She patiently held on, wanting to live a happy life with Berg.
She endured daily sacrificial rituals.
But now every hope was broken.
Tears flowed weakly from her eyes.
– Thump-thump…
Were the past two years wasted?
Was even that short time with Berg wasted?
Berg said firmly again.
“I don’t want to live in a world without my loved ones.”
Arwin stared at Berg blankly, whispering.
“…And what about me…?”
Breath left his lips, feeling warmer than it ever had before.
“…After you’ve left…I have to survive in this world for a thousand years…?”
“…”
Berg didn’t respond.
For the first time in his life, Arwin began to feel his extended existence as a curse.
He began to fear the life that would follow after Berg’s departure.
In truth, Arwin understood Berg’s words better than anyone else.
Since he himself didn’t have confidence in living in a world without Berg.
Berg continued his thoughts, speaking quietly.
“…Arwin, it’s time to let me go-“
“-aaah!!!”
Arwin blocked his ears and screamed in response to Berg’s words.
His head felt like it was going to explode from the suffocating, oppressive emotions.
Tears constantly streamed down endlessly.
“_Hick… hic…”
Upon seeing Arwin’s reaction, Berg silenced himself.
Arwin pleaded with him, whispering.
“…I don’t want… Berg… Please…”
“…”
But Berg didn’t seem to have any intention of changing his mind.
Arwin sat and continued like this for a while before slowly getting up from his seat.
It was hard to stay here any longer.
She started turning her body, beginning to flee.
She didn’t understand what she should do with these feelings.
***
I was contemplating over the story Arwin shared with me.
She said she still loved me.
As such, she expressed her desire to give me longevity and live together.
“…”
Was it because of that plan that she had been able to hide her feelings until now?
How long had she been harboring that thought?
It was difficult to gauge her mind behind the decision I was there after.
The Elves who prioritize their lifespan above all else.
Among them, she, who had endured particularly intense suffering, the one who had longed for freedom, had spoken to me, offering to give up even her lifespan for our future together.
It was a story that suggested she was thinking about a future with me to that extent.
She talked about a lifespan of hundreds of years.
She said she would give up hundreds of years of her own life and choose a life with me.
I felt grateful for her decision, but at the same time, it felt bitter.
A deep sigh was all I could muster.
Her words to me were deeply etched into my memory.
“……….So what about me…?… After you leave… I have to live in this world for a thousand years…?”
What if I were in the same situation?
If I had to live for over a thousand years after my loved one had departed… could I maintain my sanity?
Now, thinking back, I could almost understand why the long-lived species ignored the short-lived ones like us.
Without doing so, if they had loved the short-lived ones individually, such problems could have arisen.
“…Sigh.”
At the same time, I continued to ponder what Arwin had said about escaping.
Even that small moment of danger seemed to be met with reluctance by her.
I looked down at Stockpin from the second floor of Adam’s house.
Refugees entering the village could be seen.
Every time I saw them, I felt my anxiety growing.
The moment of decision was approaching, one way or another.
…
…
…
Several more days passed.
Kruned’s presence had an even stronger impact on us.
Endless refugees were flowing into Stockpin.
There were no restrictions on race.
Lizardmen, dwarfs, felines, and so on…
One would come across these creatures one could never see under ordinary circumstances.
“There’s too many of them growing…”
Baran said to me.
Baran and I were looking at these alien races seated on the street.
As much as the number of people who entered the village increased, so did the worry about the plague.
“…”
But we couldn’t reject them either.
At first, they were awkward, but we couldn’t be merciless when we saw the children with the refugees.
We couldn’t harshly push away those who came looking for a way to survive.
If we stayed here like this, their voices also echoed.
They were refugees who had run away for various reasons.
‘…Our army was entirely smashed by Krund. After several of us died… we were completely terrified and collapsed.’
‘At least you lot had a war on your territory. Our lord took the army and ran away.’
From Noble mtl dot com
‘Isn’t that what a noble is? Only their lives are important… There’s no way we’re important.’
‘I understand though. What’s the point of continuing a hopeless fight? Running away must have been the answer. Even while we’re running away…’
“Commander!”
While we were peacefully watching them, Beonzu approached us.
Having received treatment for the plague, he was now back to his duties.
Currently, Beonzu was in charge of patrolling around the village.
I wondered what kind of rumors he brought this time.
He spoke, panting from running.
“Commander, a noble family appeared in the outskirts of the estate. They’re leading an army.”
I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“…An army?”
“They’re called the Tons family… I don’t really know. They were dwarfs.”
“…”
I looked at Baran, nodded, and got ready to meet them.
The immediate encounter with the Ton’s family seemed as if they merely wanted to share a quick exchange and move on.
A dwarf, seemingly the head of the Tons’ family with a white beard, approached us on a horse.
He was accompanied by hundreds of soldiers.
I too confronted him without dismounting from my horse.
“I am Bergh Leiker.”
I introduced myself first.
“I am aware. You are the hero of the Humans.”
“…”
“I am Borz Tons. I have stopped to share a few words.”
I listened to the dwarf’s words, nodding slightly.
Borz, as he introduced himself, continued.
“…You’re undoubtedly aware of the approaching Krund.”
“Yes.”
“…We are technically trying to escape due to the same reason. We don’t have the might to stand against Krund.”
“…”
He seemed like one of the leaders who had already made a decision.
It seemed quite typical that he would choose this, the option to flee.
Eventually, he slightly furrowed his brow and spoke.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard the news, but…the right hand of the Demon King has drawn to within a 10-day travel from here. The land will soon turn barren and be overthrown.”
“…”
“Duke Leiker, however, I’m passing on odd words. Are you…not going to run, Duke Leiker?”
“…”
“His Majesty the King probably recommended you to gather in the capital…you’re not going to join forces with the army there?”
I looked at the army behind Borz and asked.
“…Are you gathering in the capital?”
“Yes, that’s correct. It will be safer there.”
“…What about the common people?”
Behind Borz, soldiers were mainly visible, conventional people of the dominions were not quite visible.
There were no soldiers present, enough to make it believable that it wasn’t an escape but an embarkation.
“…”
Borz did not respond.
From his silence, I was able to gather a lot of information.
He belatedly continued his excuses.
“…First we need to survive, then we can think about recovery. If the lord falls, it results in annihilation.”
“…”
“So, please answer the question. Is Count Liker planning to fight here?”
“…”
“…To be honest, you cannot win.”
He asserted coldly.
And then he handed me the information I already knew.
“You’ve also faced Count Liker. As I’ve been… As His Majesty the King has said, gather in the capital. Combine our forces and let’s move together.”
“…”
I was belatedly able to gauge Borz’s objective.
It seemed like he was scared to leave alone.
Maybe it was due to the lands he had abandoned, or the enemy that he might encounter on the way to the capital. He didn’t know.
Whatever it was, it was clear he didn’t approach me out of pure goodwill.
“…”
However, I was temporarily conflicted by his words.
It wasn’t because I wanted to cooperate with him.
It was probably because I knew the moment of decision was approaching.
Krund was heading towards a distance that could be covered within 10 days.
The situation couldn’t delay my decision any longer.
I turned my head to look at Baran next to me.
He was watching over me exclusively with an unshakeable gaze.
“…”
I suppressed a laugh at his demeanor.
No matter how we tried to shake it off, it seemed the mercenary’s habit remained.
The current Baran was excluding his own opinion, waiting just for my decision.
“…Sigh.”
I let out another sigh.
Borz had spoken to me, who could not easily make a decision.
“If you’re still thinking…I’ll wait until tonight. Make your choice, and tell me how you wish to proceed.”
“…”
I nodded slightly.
I pushed the conversation away and returned to being silent.
This story is too good, man.