Sien pretended to walk away, then glanced back.
There, she saw Ner cheerfully departing.
Bergs back was turned, his expression hidden, but next to him, Ner looked as happy as could be.
...
Had she once worn a smile similar to Ner Blackwoods while standing beside him?
She surely had.
That was the charm of Berg, Sien knew all too well.
Stoic yet kind-hearted... Soone who would sacrifice himself to help others.
Knowing Berg better than anyone... she couldnt help but envy Ner.
To smile so freely, without a care, was sothing she longed for.
How much she wanted to be embraced by Berg, to hold his handsothing the noble beside him wouldnt understand.
Before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face again.
...
Silently, Sien wiped away her tears.
It was tiring to cry like this, but her body didnt seem to listen, constantly reminded of her mories with Berg.
Berg, who had been with her since she was nine. He was her entire life.
No matter how revered she beca as a saintess, no matter how many people adored her, without Berg, nothing had aning.
She was the one who would be content in a humble ho, even skipping als, as long as Berg was by her side.
But now, Berg was with another woman.
And tomorrow, they were to part ways.
Berg wanted to cleanly sever their ties.
...
Sien clenched her teeth.
She suppressed the urge to run to him.
The idea of separation was unbearable.
She couldnt believe this was their last eting.
If it truly was the last... she felt no more attachnts to this world.
Her world was Berg, and Berg alone.
She had endured, planning a life of happiness with him.
And still, she endured the pain of the present for that dream.
As she journeyed further, hope dwindled more and more.
A dark, heavy sense of oppression weighed on Siens heart, not knowing what to do.
Despite this, Sien tried not to lose sight of her goal.
The fact that the Demon King must die remained unchanged.
The reality that Berg was still a rcenary troubled her, but that was beyond her control now.
She had to finish what she had silently started.
Internally, she held a firm belief.
Berg couldnt possibly hate her.
She understood his anger, but he couldnt hate her.
She knew just by looking into his eyes.
She could tell just by hearing his breath.
They had been together for more than six years.
Having known Berg since childhood, she knew him even better.
When they were very young, they even bathed together. She even rembered the number of moles on his back.
Thus, understanding his true feelings was simple.
He didnt hate her. It was impossible.
Now, he was just being more harsh because of his duty to his wives.
Pushing her away more forcefully because he once cared for her.
Berg always tried to fulfill his duties earnestly.
It was just his way of honoring his obligations, not because he disliked her.
Knowing this, perhaps that was why Sien was enduring the situation.
Taking a deep breath, she turned around.
Her mind was in turmoil.
To prepare for their parting, she handed Ner Blackwood a book filled with dical knowledge.
Yet, at the sa ti, she didnt want to part with him.
She just wanted to be embraced in his arms.
But as she had thought before... if she let herself be embraced by him, she might never find the strength to stand again.
It seed like she could rest in his arms for a lifeti.
With the goal of defeating the Demon King right before her, she feared she might stop in her tracks, lured by his warmth.
Thinking this way, perhaps it was better this way.
Because he was so cold towards her, she might find the strength to move forward.
...That was how Sien consoled herself.
Without doing so, it seed too hard to endure.
.
.
.
Sien entered the grand mansion.
The hero party who had been waiting for her return all turned their eyes towards her.
Their worried expressions were evident.
Yet, pretending not to know, they each feigned ignorance and returned to their rooms one by one.
It seed they were relieved to see Sien return.
...Shall we go to bed? Im tired.
Felix said as he got up from his seat,
Lets do that. I was feeling sleepy anyway.
Acran also rose his large fra and stepped outside.
...
Only Sylphrien looked at Sien with a worried expression, unable to hide her inner emotions.
Sien felt weak.
She felt a silent gratitude towards her companions who pretended not to notice.
...Saintess-nim?
As she moved to leave, Sylphrien called out to her.
...Yes?
Can we talk for a mont?
Sien blinked as she looked at Sylphrien.
Conversations with Sylphrien always gave her strength.
Perhaps even now, it could be the sa.
So, she nodded her head.
.
.
.
Are you okay?
Sylphrien asked, pouring tea for Sien in her private quarters.
Sien could no longer hide her true feelings.
No, Im not.
So, she answered honestly.
How could she be okay when the person she loved was pushing her away, keeping another woman by his side?
She wanted to push away all the won around him and take her place.
There was a ti when she could have done that.
When their relationship was firm. Because they loved each other that much.
But now, things had changed too much.
Instead, the won by his side had reasons to push her away.
In a way, Sien was like soone clinging to a married man.
Sien let out a bitter laugh.
How did things co to this?
I feel like Im going to collapse.
So, Sien said.
She was revealing her growing weakness.
She knew it was a burden. Sylphrien too must have felt the weight on her shoulders.
But Sien had no more strength left. No more energy to spare.
She was desperate, grasping at straws.
...
Sylphrien let out a short sigh.
After hesitating for a long while with a pained expression, Sylphrien finally spoke.
...Saintess-nim.
Even as she spoke, Sylphrien continued to hesitate.
She seed to be debating with herself whether it was right to say what she was thinking.
Torn about what the right choice was, she kept glancing at Siens face and biting her lip.
As if trying to steady her own heart.
...Hold on to hope.
Sien let out a sigh and shook her head.
...I wish I could.
She said, mocking herself.
Yet, Sylphrien continued to hesitate.
As if she still had more to say.
...Saintess-nim... I probably shouldnt say this but...
Sylphrien seed earnest.
It was as if she was desperately hoping to give Sien strength.
...that vice-captain...
........?
...he must love you the most.
Sien managed a weary smile at that response.
She knew it was ant as comfort, yet the sentint behind those words felt good.
As Sien wore a complex expression, Sylphrien continued.
...Its not just sothing Im saying.
...Yes?
Sylphrien glanced around cautiously.
Despite being the only two in the room, she seed to be taking care.
Then Sylphrien leaned towards Sien.
She spoke in a whisper, as if confiding a secret.
...Berg-nim still... with his wives...
....
...Their relationship doesnt seem to be that good.
Siens expression turned blank.
What did that an?
As Siens mind went blank, unable to respond to Sylphriens words, the elf continued.
...I heard it directly from Arwin. The appearance of good relations with his wives... its all an act. She said theyre trying to keep the rcenaries safe by pretending to be on good terms with nobles...
An act...?
Of course, there is friendship, but I heard its not love. Especially Ner Blackwood, she said she could never love the vice-captain, you know?
........
...So, you see, Saintess-nim... Even if the vice-captain seems cold, his heart might be...
Sien blinked, mulling over those words.
She also rembered the conversation she had with Arwin a few days ago.
...What should I do?
It was Arwin who had asked what to do about Berg.
Following Ner Blackwood, now Arwin Celebrien.
Were both marriages just political, without any shared feelings?
Sien let out a powerless, mocking laugh.
She laughed weakly for a while.
Then, covering her face with her hands, she hid her expression from Sylphrien.
The words she just heard stirred complex emotions within her.
Because of the conversation with Arwin, it wasnt that she found Sylphriens words unbelievable.
But this story brought both relief and... on the other hand, only more discomfort.
Could it be that won who didnt understand Bergs worth had ensnared him?
Were the nobles underestimating Berg because of his background?
Was it because it was a marriage of convenience that there was an inherent aversion?
...She said she couldnt love Berg...?
...
At the sa ti, Sien felt pity for Berg.
She knew what kind of person he was.
It had been that way since the slums.
Berg, who lived a rough life but loved tranquility.
Berg, who enjoyed watching sunsets on windy hills.
Was he now engaged in a fierce struggle with his wives too?
Were even his wives unable to provide him with peace?
Sien kept laughing.
It all felt like her fault.
If only she hadnt left Bergs side, would this pain not exist?
Or if she had just asked Berg to wait, could all this misfortune have been avoided?
Again, she spent the night clutching her aching heart.
****
The day to return to Stockpin arrived.
As the turmoil settled in the Jackson familys domain, everyone prepared to return to their respective places.
The two sons of the Jackson family were to be taken to the capital for trial.
The Dom family decided to return to their domain, but only the Pantora family chose to stay one more day.
Nurous soldiers were aligned, and many cavalryn had already headed outside the domain.
Gradually, I felt the events in the Jackson domain coming to an end.
I talked briefly with Adam Hyung, arranging our return schedule.
Discussing which direction to take, if there were any places we needed to visit, and so on...
This was after receiving the reward for the Head Hunter units contribution in rescuing the hero party.
Having recruited new mbers for the rcenary group from within the Jackson domain, there was nothing left but to return.
...Are you okay?
After our rough conversation, Adam Hyung asked.
...
I paused in silence, then nodded.
I hadnt co up with a precise answer yet, but I had to be okay.
I was doing my utmost not to be bound by the past.
I was envisioning a new future with my wives.
In that picture... Sien was no longer present.
The Dom family paid their last respects to the king and departed.
Along with them, the Red Flas group also began finalizing their preparations to leave.
Baran, Krian, and Theodore, along with so mbers of our group, headed out, while I, along with Adam Hyung, Shawn, Jackson, and the rest of the Head Hunter unit, stayed behind to tie up loose ends.
Ner and Arwin were also standing by my side.
I stood next to Hyung, offering our final greetings to the king.
...Sien and the hero party were nowhere to be seen.
Well be leaving now.
Adam Hyung said.
The king nodded his head.
While this was happening, Gale appeared from sowhere and joined .
...
As I looked at him, Gale explained.
...You havent yet received my teachings, have you? Im still planning to follow you.
...
I shrugged my shoulders.
I didnt have the luxury to worry about Gale at the mont.
Besides, how about receiving my teachings now? As I said, theres no need to believe in gods. Improving your skills can only be beneficial.
I blinked and gave a slight nod.
...Ill consider it.
As Adam Hyung and the kings farewell concluded, I turned around.
-Creak! Thud!
Just then, the doors of the mansion burst open, and the hero party rushed out.
Sien was at the forefront.
Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying a lot.
It seed as if she had been hiding, not wanting to say goodbye, and then suddenly ran out.
.....Haa... Haa....
......
Ive experienced nurous farewells, but... the emotion of parting with Sien was still strangely heavy and profound.
Even though I treated her so coldly, my feet wouldnt move.
...But this too was sothing I now had to accept.
Adam Hyung and Gale subtly comforted , nudging as we walked.
Ner and Arwin briefly watched the Saintess.
I too looked at Sien.
...
...
It was the last ti.
My childhood friend.
My best friend.
The woman I had loved.
It seed we would not et again.
With that thought... I blinked hard, offering her a final greeting.
As if laying down my entire past.
Could others understand the difficulty of setting down these heavy emotions?
I turned away.
Bell!!!
Then, a loud voice that shook the entire space rang out.
Our personal nickna reverberated around us.
She was grasping strongly at the connection I had let go of.
My legs froze, unable to take another step... paralyzed.
The nickna, filled with countless mories, once again tightened around my heart.
How much I had loved that endearnt once, now its mory seed so faint.
...Bell?
...
Ner and Arwin looked at with questions in their eyes upon hearing that nickna.
Though it wasnt clear who it was addressing, they instinctively saw stop.
Their expressions turned uneasy as they alternated glances between and Sien.
...
I clenched my teeth.
...Our relationship, ultimately unable to remain hidden.
I could no longer hide my troubled heart.
I turned around with a twisted expression.
I wanted to maintain a cold facade, but all I could muster was a look of weakness.
There stood Sien, once again shedding tears, looking at straight on.
-...Swoosh...
She slowly reached out her arms.
...
...
Sien, who had recoiled, not wanting to reach .
Now, the tearful her spoke.
...Embrace .
She said to , as I was about to leave.
Letting go of her image as the Saintess.
As Sien, in front of everyone, she pleaded with .
...Stop pretending now...sob...embrace ...Hug , Bell.
The End of The Chapter
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