Arwin had finished preparing to head to the capital with the Red Flas group.
The rain had stopped, revealing a clear sky.
Arwin thought to herself that under different circumstances, she would have discussed the weather with Berg.
The sky was clear, but the air was getting colder.
Leaves began to fall one by one, signaling the approach of autumn.
It was her first autumn since leaving the Celebrien estate.
Yet, none of this held any aning for Arwin at the mont.
Her gaze was solely fixed on Berg, who was inspecting the Red Flas group.
Like the other mbers, Berg had donned a coat against the chill.
Arwin and Ner did the sa.
If anything was different now, it was that they had chosen their attire themselves.
In the past, Berg might have given them a hint.
Telling them to wear a coat to keep warm as the weather turned colder.
He might have even smiled while advising them.
However, Berg said nothing to them now, and Arwin felt a coldness that no coat could fend off.
“Cough...! Cough...!”
Ner, suffering from a cold, erupted into a cough.
Berg’s eyes instinctively darted towards Ner.
He could ignore consciously, but his unconscious reactions were beyond his control.
Seeing Berg’s eyes on her, Ner smiled, and only then did Berg turn his head away and disengage.
Arwin felt jealous of that exchange.
A heavy, pathetic jealousy.
Berg finally turned to face the end of the line from the front of the column.
“...”
Seeing him there made Arwin’s heart ache.
Perhaps it was because Berg had taken Adam’s place as captain.
Or perhaps it was because she knew he felt betrayed by her and Ner.
...In that mont, Berg seed profoundly alone.
Arwin montarily recalled the life story Berg had once shared with her.
The realization that she could do nothing for him, that she had contributed to his loneliness, weighed heavily on her.
She saw the resolute expression on Berg’s face.
It was painful to watch him hiding his wounds, standing up, and moving forward again.
“Let’s go.”
Berg then spoke to Baran.
Baran nodded and loudly commanded the start of their journey.
****
Throughout the journey to the capital, Ner spoke to no one.
Berg was not receptive, and Ner was not in the mood to talk to the others.
Ner knew her own guilt.
Indeed, from the mont her diary was discovered, Ner could not have objected to any punishnt from the Red Flas group, or from Berg.
Arwin was in the sa position.
Both had once prepared to commit a betrayal that could have shaken the very foundation of the Red Flas.
As a noble, Ner was well aware of how grave a sin betrayal was.
Even the royal Draigo family treated treason as the gravest of cris.
Just consider what happened in the Jackson estate.
A younger son of the Jackson family who betrayed the hero party was summarily executed.
Even Berg had ntioned this during a previous rcenary eting.
He hated traitors the most.
When Shifre, the dragonian woman and leader of the Arak group, tried to recruit Berg by betraying her deputy, Berg had humiliated her... Ner still rembered it well.
It was Ner who had done such a thing.
And it was directed at Berg.
No matter how much she tried to excuse it as a montary mistake, Ner knew excuses were futile.
The fact that Ner was living safely now was all thanks to Berg’s consideration.
What would have happened if the other mbers of the Red Flas knew about the diary?
They would surely have reacted with the sa anger as Berg.
All the care Ner had previously provided would have lost its aning.
Thus, Berg swallowed all of it alone, endured, and kept their secret for their sake.
“...”
Had Berg made such a choice because of their past bond?
Or because he believed that they no longer intended to betray him?
Officially, it seed he wanted to let all of it pass as if it never happened.
Traces of his kind nature seed to remain, protecting her.
Perhaps it was because Ner was a noble.
The Red Flas group still needed the power of the nobility.
For this reason, before the war ended, the mbers of the Red Flas group risked their lives to help them.
Perhaps Berg was enduring it all because of this.
Ner let out a bitter laugh in secret.
Who would have thought that Blackwood, which had caused her so much pain, would now be of help in this way?
Everything felt awry.
It felt like tears would start flowing if she relaxed even for a mont.
She had never thought it would be so hard to be unloved by Berg.
She hadn’t imagined it, and there had been no need to imagine it.
She had never thought such a day would co.
However, the harsh reality that had dawned on her brought endless pain.
Ner rembered the day she t Berg’s childhood friend, Flint.
Flint had said sothing about Berg: ‘He’s infinitely kind to his people, but relentlessly cold to his enemies.’
At the ti, Ner understood why Berg was so distant towards other won.
She even felt a certain pride, thinking that Berg only had eyes for her.
But now that she was outside the circle of Berg’s precious people, she finally grasped the piercing truth of those words.
Ner was feeling Berg’s coldness.
He treated her with the sa distant attitude he reserved for other won.
Days had passed since she last touched Berg.
The absence of their routine displays of affection left her heart aching.
Even simple hugs and hand-holding... Not being able to engage in these acts made her feel unbearably lonely.
Ner also felt a deep, profound sense of loss for what she had lost.
The expressions of affection she had not yet experienced haunted her mind.
Their kisses. Their intimate monts.
The fact that she might never be able to express her greatest love felt suffocating.
What would it have been like to embrace each other with bare, wet bodies, rubbing skin against skin?
What emotions would whispering love while touching each other’s most intimate parts have evoked?
Things she had never imagined when she could have done them, now swirled in her mind, unattainable.
Would she now never et... the child she and Berg could have had?
Would she never see those beings born with the white tails Berg would adore, smiling brightly at them?
“...”
Tears welled up in Ner’s eyes again.
She surely could have had a beautiful family.
Ner would never have had to feel lonely again.
She could have lived loving only her family.
Ner clenched her teeth.
Of course, she hadn’t given up yet.
But it had beco so difficult, and perhaps it might be impossible, that was certain.
Tears threatened to spill again.
But fearing that crying too much would annoy Berg, Ner pretended to adjust her bangs while secretly wiping away her tears.
It seed the mbers of the Red Flas group were starting to notice the change in the dynamics between Berg and themselves.
While no one spoke, knowing how serious the situation was, a few brave mbers began to make jokes amidst the prolonged tension.
Shawn muttered as if to himself.
“…They say marital spats are like cutting water with a knife.”
Burns, surprised but amused by Shawn’s audacity, laughed quietly.
Ner looked at Berg with a glimr of hope sparked by the joke.
Berg, however, showed not the slightest reaction, not even a hint of a smile.
She knew all too well that he had no reason to smile.
Still, Shawn didn’t give up and continued.
“Vice-captain, after the war—”
“—It’s captain now, Shawn,” Baran interjected abruptly.
“...It’s about ti we start using the right titles.”
A montary silence ensued. Only then did Berg’s expression slightly crack.
Even Ner could see that Berg, having no one to rely on, was faltering.
Caught off guard, Shawn tried to maintain the flow of conversation as if nothing had happened.
“Anyway. The plan to have children after the war—”
“—Hah.”
This ti, it was Berg who sighed.
“...”
Eventually, Shawn closed his mouth at the sound of the sigh.
His attempt to lighten the mood had failed, dissolving into silence.
Ner bowed her head like a sinner, her face contorting.
Her throat felt choked, as if she were about to suffocate.
She didn’t know what to do.
It might really be leading to a parting with Berg.
The thought terrified her profoundly.
But conversely... there was still a chance.
The ring still on Berg’s finger proved it.
Eventually, Berg would have to choose between her and Arwin, considering the Red Flas group.
That was Ner’s last thread of hope.
She had heard that everyone was converging on the capital now that the war was over.
Nurous surviving noble families and aristocrats were gathering in one place.
Blackwood would surely be attending.
Ner thought she must sohow ask her father for help.
She wasn’t sure if it was possible, given their distant relationship... but surely he would help.
Thanks to Ner, Blackwood had survived until the end of the war.
He owed her that much.
Ner prayed fervently to the heavens.
She even prayed to the earth deity and to the five gods she had never believed in before.
‘Please just let stay by Berg’s side.’
She vowed to live in repentance for the rest of her life.
...But she knew that Arwin was likely praying the sa prayers.
****
Ti passed, and we arrived at the capital.
From a distance, I could sense the endless festive atmosphere.
Even before entering the capital, cheers resonated.
It made sense, given the kingdom had nearly been destroyed in the war.
Seven years of hardship had finally ended.
I still couldn’t quite believe the war was over.
I didn’t know what to do next.
Everything had been part of Adam Hyung’s plan.
...For now, all I could think about was continuing his legacy.
I didn’t yet know how that would be achieved.
Gale approached quietly, while the other mbers stayed back.
“…So.”
“…”
“…What happened, Berg? Why are you in such a state with your wives?”
“…”
Instead of answering, I just shook my head.
I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
Now that I had beco the captain, I needed to ensure the safety of the Red Flas.
It was the Red Flas group that Adam Hyung and I had built together.
Gale ntioned that I was to beco a noble... but that was not yet certain.
The king had promised a noble title to Hyung.
I had to be wary of the king changing his words like a slippery snake.
Now, I could no longer read the thoughts of these other races.
I had to accept that the thoughts of other races and our own were different.
After hearing about Adam Hyung’s past and his dreams.
And after the incident involving my wives.
I could sense a faint change within myself.
It wasn’t that I distrusted everyone, but... a certain wariness had developed.
If it hadn’t, perhaps I would have been the odd one out.
Still, Gale was soone I could trust.
He was sotis uncomfortably honest.
“…Berg. I told you, having a child would at least give us a reason to speak to His Majesty—”
“—Enough.”
I shook my head.
I spoke to Gale, who was looking at intently.
“…There are no children.”
I had preserved their purity from the start.
“…”
I didn’t want to delve into thoughts about Ner and Arwin right now.
After months of endless effort and now returned, I was exhausted.
I had no energy left.
Though my body had survived, it felt like my spirit had not.
I couldn’t tell whom I could lean on anymore.
As we stopped in front of the city gate, soone from above the walls called out.
“Where From, Who are you!”
Their tone was businesslike, not overly cautious.
It even seed a bit elevated.
Gale stepped forward to speak first.
“Dragonian’s finest warrior, Gale here!”
The gatekeeper responded.
“Welco, finest warrior! May I ask who is beside you?”
“…”
Gale looked at and nodded.
I looked up and said.
“Red Flas group’s….”
After clenching my teeth briefly, I continued.
“…Captain, Berg.”
.
.
.
.
As the gates opened, cheers poured out.
Nurous other races surged forth, shouting their acclaims toward us.
Even the mbers of the Red Flas group were taken aback by such enthusiastic cheers.
The most fervent cheers ca from the humans.
Perhaps they were celebrating the rcenaries, centered around humans, for their valor in the war.
Flowers cascaded before us, and the bright sunlight bathed us in its glow.
I led the way on horseback, lost in mories of the past.
“...Berg, rember...?”
Ner, who had shared those mories, suddenly asked from beside .
Her voice wavered, but I did not turn my head.
“You called after... you had subdued all the boss monsters in the Blackwood estate...”
Ner’s fingers lightly rested on my arm, trembling.
“...and we rode together on the horse, right...?”
“...”
“And the people of Blackwood... they cheered for us and threw flowers like this...”
Her voice grew increasingly choked up.
“I was so happy for the first ti to be thanked by the people of Blackwood... Berg, you said it was like having a second wedding ceremony—”
“—Back then.”
I was uncertain how Ner could bring up such a topic.
It was indeed a precious mory to .
It was the mont I felt close to Ner for the first ti.
...But upon reflection, it was a mory precious only to .
“...Even then, you were planning to betray .”
How many days had it been since we last spoke?
I whispered, looking into Ner’s eyes.
“.......”
As if struck to the core, Ner’s eyelids fluttered.
Speaking these words brought no relief.
But I could not hold back the words, burning with a sense of betrayal as intense as my affection had been.
And so I told her.
“...Don’t say anything more. Even precious mories beco tainted.”
“...”
A single tear trickled down Ner’s cheek.
Sadness settled on her once beautiful, beloved face.
Her eyes lost their color.
I clenched my teeth and looked forward.
This was why I had avoided conversations.
...Honestly, I no longer felt capable of being with them anymore.
I didn’t know when I could quell these feelings.
Could I ever? That remained uncertain.
-Thud.
Ner’s hand fell away from my arm.
Before the cheering crowd could sense anything amiss, I moved forward.
The sounds of my na, Ner’s, Arwin’s, and the Red Flas group echoed around us.
Then, up ahead on a raised platform, I saw several figures looking down at us.
The king and what appeared to be nobles. Gibson of the Blackwood family and Ascal of the Celebrien family were there too.
And the hero party as well.
My gaze naturally fixed on one person alone.
She, too, was looking only at .
“...”
“...”
In a belated mont, I ca to a realization.
After being endlessly hurt, I finally understood.
...The only person who truly loved was just one.
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
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