236 – Settlement (1)
Two months passed.
I was quietly looking at the house that was being completed.
It didn’t have to take this long to build the house, as we borrowed the help of dwarven workers… But as we put in effort to improve the quality, it took longer than expected.
High-quality wood and hard stone.
In the end, it is a house with three floors, not just one floor.
Spacious master bedroom and several private rooms.
Elegant kitchen and living room.
Also, horses and their stables raised in preparation for an emergency.
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Above ground warehouse, underground warehouse, etc…
Perhaps because this is a house we will live in for the rest of our lives, we continued to make efforts to ensure that there would be no regrets.
Of course, Flint was largely responsible for making this dream come true.
He did not spare any support for me.
If I still had the last name of ‘Riker’, or if Ner or Arwin had borrowed my family’s power, even this would have been something I could have repaid.
Flint always treated me the same way when I became penniless.
Even after going this far, they even asked if there was anything missing.
“Are you okay, Berg? “If you want, we can also build a fishing spot near the lake.”
“It’s okay, I can handle that on my own.”
“…Hmm.”
Flint checked the exterior of the house with me.
Then, he seemed to be somewhat satisfied now, nodding his head and smiling.
“…Okay. This is still okay. “It may be a bit shabby if you think it’s a home for a war hero to live in for the rest of his life.”
“I am more than satisfied.”
“Now all I have to do is put some furniture into the house, add some doors here and there, and it’s all done.”
“Yes.”
“I think we can get the furniture within 3 days. “The construction of the house is roughly finished, so the workers will be sent back.”
“I should say thank you.”
“If it makes you feel comfortable.”
Dwarves who had finished their work began to flock from afar.
“Let’s sleep! “Now that it’s over, let’s go back!”
“Let’s go and have a drink in town!”
I sighed with a smile, realizing that all the hard work was over.
Flint spoke to me at the same time.
“Berg. “First of all, I think I have to leave today.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be back in three days, so I’ll see you then. The workers will return on their own. “Don’t worry about that.”
I looked at Flint and scratched my head.
I said this with sincerity, I don’t know how many times I’ve said it already.
“Thank you, Flint.”
“…What. Isn’t this what friends are like? Ah, Berg. “Is there anything you need?”
“What do you need?”
“This time I’m looking for furniture from all over…I’m thinking of buying everything, even miscellaneous things.”
I shook my head without really thinking about him. What I already received was enough.
“I don’t need anything. “Home is enough.”
“Is that so? I get it. “I’m going, then.”
Flint then turned around and left without any hesitation.
I stayed still and looked at our house.
I am excited to think that this will become our new home.
Nevertheless, I calmed down with a sigh and turned to look at my wives.
****
The elder of the elves, Arscal Celebrien, was sitting blankly in his office, snapping his fingers.
Recently, I was in a situation where I couldn’t focus on anything due to a strange feeling of emptiness.
Arwin left.
Now she has disappeared to a place where we cannot find her even if we try to look for her.
Her relationship may not have been broken, but… It wasn’t like he could see her if she wanted to.
The situation was different from when she first married Berg and left.
Arwin had no problem because she would always be in Stock Finn, or rather, he would be able to find her even if she wasn’t there.
But now the situation has completely changed.
Is it fortunate that she left to find her happiness?
It was incredible news that Berg had survived, but Askal had no choice but to believe what Silfrien had said.
The words that Arwin said with her smile were her final greetings.
Nevertheless, there was no way to soothe this empty heart.
She knew that one day Arwyn would leave her side.
The hatred she had for Celebrien was indescribable.
But as the time approaches… The woman who had been with her for 170 years is gone… And it feels like a corner of her heart has become empty.
Perhaps it was because she was unable to properly apologize.
The years she suffered under the tree of her world were not something that could be resolved in just a few years.
And if you think about it, it wasn’t enough that she caused such pain for such a long time…She sold it to a mercenary group.
Arwin was deeply in love with Berg, but her actions themselves were worthy of endless resentment.
Of course, Arwin also supported the marriage, saying he would leave her territory.
But she was empowered, but really selling out her daughter was another story.
Askar did not turn his head and steadily carried all his sins.
“…”
But now I feel even more empty and regretful, perhaps because, as I thought before, she failed to properly apologize.
The thought that she would not be able to seek forgiveness in the future made her heart suffocate.
This was not for his self-satisfaction.
I felt guilty because I felt like I had more sadness than the joy she had given Arwin.
“…Ha.”
While I was sighing, someone knocked.
-Knock knock.
“…Come in.”
Even though Askal thought he was going to bite the other person, he sighed and let the other person into the room.
-Thump.
“…Silfrien.”
The one who came in was Silprien.
The only person who told me the exact situation of Arwin.
A person that Arwin followed very well.
“…Everyone is very worried about the elder.”
These were the words Silfrien said with a smile.
“The elders keep nagging me to take care of the elders.”
“…I’m sorry about that.”
“But I’m also worried. “You’ve been skipping meals lately… And just sitting in your room every day.”
“…”
Silfrien nevertheless spoke as if he understood Askal’s concerns.
“Arwin left to find happiness. “I guess the elder is the only one having a hard time?”
“…Let’s hide Arwin’s story a little bit.”
“There is no one around. “I confirmed it with magic.”
Arwin’s story was a secret deeper than any other.
She was in a situation where even the other elves thought she was just going on her journey.
No one knew that she had decided to live in seclusion with the revived Berg.
In the first place, if this fact were to leak out and cause a big problem… Arwin would have to bear the brunt of the damage.
Because she didn’t want to cause that kind of pain again, Arscal was scared and just hid the story about Arwin.
“…Ha.”
Hearing that there was no one around, Askal let out a deep sigh.
Then she quietly whispered her concerns.
“In the end, as a father, I haven’t done one good thing for you.”
“…”
“I guess this is a burden I have to carry for the rest of my life.”
“But thanks to you, Arwin met Berg, right?”
“…That was Berg’s great presence, not my credit.”
“I guess so.”
“…”
Askal smiled softly as Silfrien nodded her head.
Because she realized that she was pulling her own pranks to lighten her mood.
When Silfri Endo Ascal smiled a little, she smiled along with him.
Then she came up to Askal and said.
“…But Elder. Why do you still think there’s nothing you can do for Arwin?”
“Well, I don’t even know where it is, so how can I do it?”
“We don’t need to know.”
“…..I don’t understand.”
“I just need to know who knows Arwin’s location, right?”
“…….”
Askal just blinked.
Then the war hero who had been chosen by the God of Harmony whispered his wisdom.
“Arwin disappeared after receiving help from a merchant named Flint at the top of Troy.”
“…”
“If you help Flint at the top of Troy…Perhaps he will also take care of Arwin?”
“…Flint on top of Troy?”
“I heard he’s an old friend of Berg’s.”
“…….”
Askal’s mouth slowly opened.
It felt like a ray of wind had flowed through her heart.
If you think about it, Berg and all the people who followed him would have been in a situation where they had nothing.
Because the death was faked, there would have been nothing to take care of.
They left everything behind.
He disappeared, saying he was only looking for happiness.
The wealth he had, the honor he had been given, and the family that had given him strength were all gone.
It was impossible for them to live in abundance.
Perhaps the merchant named Flint continued to help Berg…But in the end, the end would come to an end someday.
But what if Celebrien supports Flint?
And what if, subtly, she occasionally gives Arwin gifts she wants him to deliver?
What if you hide your intentions and insinuately ask about Arwin’s situation?
The decision did not take long.
Askal said.
“Silfrien, please help me find this merchant named Flint.”
Silfrien smiled.
“Yes, so Elder, please feel at ease now.”