Chapter 16: Lone Wolf (4)

 

The next day, Ner began to take care of herself

 

She washed her face and wiped away the traces of tears. She meticulously cleaned her body as usual.

 

She also carefully brushed her tail and dried it with care.

 

She was preparing for her wedding step by step.

 

However, she didn't go outside unnecessarily.

 

Partly because there were occasionally humans who seemed to be members of the Red Flames, and partly because she was afraid of meeting her partner, 'Berg.'

 

She wanted to avoid him as much as possible.

 

Ner spent the afternoon receiving massages from the maids.

 

It was a preparation process to reduce the swelling of her body and make herself even more beautiful.

 

Of course, it could be said that she looked pale and weak due to not having eaten anything recently.

 

While doing so, Ner had a conversation with her maid, Laila, who had taken good care of her.

 

"Ner-nim, you're not in pain, right?"

 

“…Yes, why?”

 

"Well... No, it's nothing."

 

“…”

 

It was so easy for Ner to feel that Laila was being careful with her words.

 

Considering that she had shed tears for several days, it was understandable.

 

Although Ner still couldn't shake off her gloomy feelings, she hoped that Laila, who had shown kindness to her, wouldn't feel too uncomfortable.

 

"...Laila, if there's something you want to say, you can tell me."

 

“…”

 

"Now I'm ready too."

 

Laila blinked her eyes and swallowed her saliva.

 

Then, with a bright expression, she playfully changed the atmosphere to cheer up Ner, poking her body.

 

"Ner nim! You couldn't see Lord Berg yesterday because you were sick. But he is really handsome!"

 

Ner didn't consider appearance to be important.

 

As a member of the werewolf race, she herself had an unimpressive tail color, so she never judged others based on their appearance.

 

However, as she understood Laila's intention, Ner mustered a smile, albeit reluctantly.

 

“…I see.”

 

“Yes! And he’s tall, and he’s got a great body too!”

 

"...Is that so?"

 

"And also... And also..."

 

Ner soon stopped hearing Laila's words.

 

She was thinking about how she could endure for several more years.

 

What should she do, how could she survive with as little humiliation as possible?

 

It was a difficult task.

 

To uncover crucial information about the Red Flames, they had to be close enough, so she couldn't figure out how to maintain that distance.

 

Ner looked at Laila, who was rambling on about Berg, and a certain request came to her mind.

 

“…Ah.”

 

“…Ner nim?”

 

Ner, who was receiving the massage, slowly straightened her upper body and stood up from her seat.

 

"...Laila, I have a favor to ask."

 

Looking at Ner like that, Laila instantly burned with enthusiasm.

 

"Ah...! Yes! Yes! Anything!"

 

The feeling of preparing for something she didn't want to do was truly unpleasant and annoying.

 

"Well... Can you gather more information about this person named Berg? Ask the members... I want to know what he's usually like."

 

“…”

 

"Laila, find everything like his usual behavior to even if it's about his bad sides, it's all right. Go and find out."

 

“…Ner-nim…”

 

“Because I have to prepare my mind…”

 

If she was going to get married, Ner first wanted to know who Berg was.

 

Perhaps she could find a way to use him.

 

If she knew his true nature beforehand, she would be less hurt when something happened.

 

She would be less surprised.

 

It would strengthen her emotional defenses.

 

Laila looked at Ner and nodded.

 

"...Yes. Yes, of course, Ner-nim."

 

"Do it right away. Can you do it?"

 

"Yes. I will find out by evening."

 

Ner nodded and lay back in her place.

 

The hands of the maids, excluding Laila, slowly resumed their massaging on Ner.

 

"...Ner-nim?"

 

While Ner was entrusting her body to them, Laila's voice rang out.

 

"...Hmm?"

 

"Um... I'm sorry and... thank you. For everything."

 

With those words, Laila left the room.

 

Ner immediately understood why Laila expressed her gratitude and apology.

 

In fact, all the members of the werewolves tribe within the Blackwood Territory owed a debt to Ner because of her involvement with this mercenary group.

 

****

 

Adam Hyung and I went outside the Blackwood territory to examine the traces discovered by the reconnaissance team.

 

"...It's serious."

 

Looking at the devastated forest, Adam Huyng muttered.

 

I shared the same opinion.

 

Broken and bent trees. Decaying land. Foul odor...

 

The destruction was on a massive scale, larger than anything we had seen recently.

 

The trees weren't just broken and fallen; they were crushed and deeply embedded in the ground.

 

It wasn't simply a passing ruin; it was a rampage through the forest.

 

The enormous size of the boss monster we had to face and the scale of the horde could be seen in the traces.

 

As expected, the number of boss monsters was not just one or two.

 

At the very least, we had to confront four boss monsters, which meant facing four groups of monsters too.

 

Occasionally, when I was resting in Blackwood Manor, I could hear the cries of the boss monsters from various places.

 

Even the reconnaissance members of the Red Flames had hunted down a boss monster from a long distance, and everyone was amazed by its size, saying they had never seen anything like it.

 

A fierce battle awaited us.

 

While we were looking everything, Gidon Blackwood, the eldest son of the Blackwood family, approached Adam Hyung and me.

 

"...This is nothing but a prelude. One monster is truly..."

 

"Don't worry. We'll kill them all." Adam Hyung replied, kicking a rolling stone on the ground.

 

"I believe you. By the way... Is the Vice-captain going to sit out this battle?"

 

Gidon asked me while looking at me.

 

Similarly, Baran, who had been following us, also showed interest from behind.

 

"While it wouldn't be a minor problem if the new groom got injured..."

 

"I appreciate your concern, but I won't sit out the battle. Because I have to lead my group.”

 

I replied to Gidon.

 

A faint surprise flickered in Gidon's eyes as he looked at me.

 

"...You're brave. With such honor, my younger sister would like you."

 

Indeed, the werewolves was a race that revered honor and combat.

 

In fact, his previous question was also intended to test me.

 

If I had uttered words about avoiding the fight, I might have been disregarded.

 

It wasn't a big deal, but Gidon looked at me and suddenly made a proposal as if burning with enthusiasm.

 

"...Would it be okay for me to participate in this subjugation as well?"

 

"Pardon?" Adam Hyung asked with a tilted head.

 

"Since the new groom is participating, I can't sit out either. I will throw myself into defending our family's territory. In fact, in the past seven years, I've killed quite a few boss monsters myself. Now, we're running short on soldiers, so we requested assistance."

 

Gidon proudly extended his chest.

 

Unbeknownst to Gidon, I let out a sigh.

 

It wasn't because I particularly disliked his proposal... It was because of the werewolves people's troublesome desire for honor.

 

I had seen too many werewolves who died like that in the previous mercenary group with Adam Hyung.

 

If by any chance Gidon joined us in battle and ended up dying... I was certain we would be entangled in bothersome affairs that I didn't want to imagine.

 

Perhaps Hyung shared the same sentiment as me, as he shook his head.

 

"No, it's alright. We brought the entire Red Flames in the first place, so there shouldn't be any shortcomings. Gidon nim should rest."

 

However, Gidon didn't understand.

 

"Adam, the Blackwood's strength would be a great help."

 

Adam Hyung looked back at me for a moment.

 

I didn’t bother paying attention to him.

 

It was my intention to leave everything up to Adam Hyung’s judgment.

 

Gidon looked at Adam Hyung hesitantly and asked.

 

"What about your personal record of hunting boss monsters, Adam-nim?"

 

Hyung remained silent for a while before answering with a sigh.

 

"...It's 14."

 

Adam personally killed only 14. It was by no means a low number.

 

Despite having served in the mercenary group for a long time, there were numerous members who had never recorded a single subjugation.

 

"The captain's record is impressive, but... I have 26."

 

Adam also admirably expressed his admiration for Gidon's record.

 

"...I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to have subjugated that many... It seems that the Blackwood territory has suffered quite a lot of monster attacks."

 

"Haha... We've been holding on as much as we could. In any case, it is said that it is not only the mercenaries who know how to catch the boss monster.”

 

Adam Hyung slowly stroked his chin.

 

The sense of relief that was clearly felt after hearing Gidon's subjugation record was different.

 

It didn't seem like he was trying to show off.

 

Moreover, if he had captured that many, it wouldn't be bad to have him along.

 

26 was definitely not a number that could be achieved by luck alone.

 

Adam Hyung also changed his firm rejection stance.

 

However, he remained cautious.

 

“Gidon-nim. But you also need to understand our position. If you go out on the expedition and... well... if you die, our situation becomes quite difficult."

 

"For us, the werewolves, dying in battle is an honorable thing. Don't worry, Blackwood won't hold you responsible for that."

 

"...As much as you're joining our mercenary group, you need to follow our rules. Can you obey the orders that are given?"

 

"I understand. I will definitely follow them. I won't cause any trouble."

 

As Gidon nodded his head endlessly at every word, Adam Hyung finally made his decision.

 

"Alright. Let's go together."

 

Gidon finally smiled with a tinge of bitterness.

 

"To be honest... I also have a desire to avenge the soldiers who died at the hands of those monsters..."

 

In response to his honest words, Hyung replied in a more relaxed tone.

 

“I understand.”

 

We finished our reconnaissance and turned back.

 

Soon, dinner with Ner Blackwood was scheduled.

 

As I was preparing to go back like that, a question suddenly came from behind.

 

“Ah, vice-captain.”

 

It was Gidon.

 

“Vice-captain, what is your subjugation record?”

 

A faint struggle was sensed.

 

There seemed to be no ill intent, but his intention was quite apparent.

 

“…”

 

Huyng only rolled his eyes and looked at me.

 

Baran also gave me a sidelong glance.

 

Silence filled the air.

 

After a moment of thought, I answered.

 

"...I have 20."

 

Gidon raised an eyebrow and said,

 

"That's an impressive record."

 

However, he couldn't hide the smile forming on his lips.

 

As expected, werewolves had a strong desire for honor.

 

We turned back again.

 

Gidon returned to his werewolf soldiers.

 

Everyone went back to their respective positions and began their return to the Blackwood Manor.

 

As we walked in silence, Adam Hyung lightly tapped my shoulder and laughed.

 

"You held back well, didn't you?"

 

Baran also smiled.

 

"You should have let out a sneeze."

 

I burst out laughing too.

 

“It’s been a while. That feeling of a werewolf people.”