Chapter 36: Spreading Reputation (2)

 

Several days passed, and the house’s renovation was approximately finished.

 

Ner felt a subtle sense of disappointment looking at Berg’s house, which had no more parts to fix or clean.

 

She had started to find the cooperative work with Berg quite enjoyable.

 

Despite the aches that spread all over her body from just a little bit of cleaning, she found it more enjoyable than anything else.

 

During those days, she had become quite close with Berg.

 

She was not afraid of him anymore.

 

She couldn’t even remember why she had been scared of him.

 

In the past, his aloof demeanor seemed cold, and the scars all over his body were terrifying.

 

But now, when silent, he appeared vulnerable, and the scars all over his body evoked feelings of empathy.

 

Many other aspects about him had changed to become not unpleasant.

 

During the time she spent with Berg, she realized that she had laughed far more than usual.

 

Likely, the times she laughed with Berg in the past few days exceeded the times she laughed in the past four years.

 

...Of course, considering that she didn’t have many opportunities to laugh in the past four years.

 

“Ner, I’m going to go train.”

 

When the house renovation was finished in the morning, by lunchtime, Berg was preparing to go out for training.

 

“It’s fine if you come and go without telling me.”

 

Ner repeated the same phrase dozens of times.

 

Because for the werewolf tribe, individual freedom was the most important, so this kind of consideration was natural.

 

Trusting their partner to return at some point, regardless of where they go or what they do, without seeking another partner.

 

Of course, Ner was not considering Berg based on that belief. If he were to meet another woman, even Ner didn’t know how she would feel.

 

It was just that since Berg had shown much consideration for her, she also wanted to reciprocate in the way of the werewolf tribe.

 

Nevertheless, Berg always informed her of his whereabouts, and Ner realized that their cultures were indeed different.

 

She wondered if she should also tell Berg whenever she was going somewhere.

 

...She didn’t like that.

 

She felt uncomfortable with the feeling of being constrained.

 

Hadn’t she also found the ring uncomfortable for that reason?

 

Despite her inner feelings, Ner saw Berg off to the door.

 

“Anyway, I’ll be back.”

 

“Yeah, see you later.”

 

With that, Berg left for training.

 

After he departed, Ner let out a sigh and walked back into the house.

 

-Thump

 

“...”

 

The house was quiet.

 

Ner quietly stared at this empty space.

 

It was somewhat bearable when Berg was around, but once he left and the cold rationality began to take hold in her head, her chest tightened, and it became hard.

 

Perhaps the reason why the past few days of renovating the house were good was because she could be free from such thoughts.

 

Ner was at a loss for what to do all day.

 

In the Blackwood territory, she could take a walk or visit the forest, but... in this unfamiliar Stockpin, these actions were quite challenging.

 

“...Haaa.”

 

Thus, she let out a long sigh.

 

.

.

.

.

 

A considerable amount of time passed, and finally, Ner gathered the courage to take action.

 

She had grown weary of sitting all day.

 

She wanted to feel the sun on her skin, the tactile sensation of grass. She wanted to fragrance the flowers and hear the chirping of the birds.

 

Taking a deep breath, Ner opened the door and stepped outside.

 

It was her first time wandering around Stockpin without Berg, but she figured it would be fine since she wasn’t going to the village.

 

Ner moved to the back of Berg’s house.

 

Given Berg’s house was on the outskirts of the village, it wasn’t hard to find uncultivated land.

 

Taking a few steps, she discovered a small forest where tall trees stood.

 

She labeled it as a small forest because she could see its end.

 

If one turned their head just at a slight angle, they could see the end of the forest.

 

Beyond that were the wooden barriers surrounding Stockpin.

 

“....”

 

Blackwood was also surrounded by a forest, but this one felt more oppressive, probably because it was smaller.

 

Ner didn’t know if it was even appropriate to call this place a forest.

 

Perhaps it was just a place where some trees were planted?

 

Although it was a shabby forest without walking paths or diverse plants, Ner had no choice but to be satisfied with it.

 

“...Hah.”

 

Nevertheless, the unique coolness given by nature greeted her as she entered the forest.

 

For some reason, the air felt as if it had become clearer.

 

The smell of blood that permeated Stockpin seemed to have dulled slightly.

 

Having only lived in Berg’s house before coming here, she appreciated the newfound sense of freedom.

 

She took a stroll inside the forest, being careful not to exit its boundaries.

 

The more the view of the village was obscured by the trees, the more freedom she felt.

 

It was almost as if she was not in Stockpin but had returned to nature, creating an illusion of sorts.

 

Ner found a suitable spot and sat down there.

 

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the myriad sounds that reached her ears.

 

The rustling of the leaves in the wind, the sounds of insects, the birdsong...

 

She spent some time alone amidst the dense trees.

 

For a moment, she even hummed a tune, savoring this time.

 

-Huh

 

All of a sudden, Ner screamed due to a sensation she felt on her tail.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

Something had grabbed her tail.

 

Startled, she quickly turned around and found a little girl who was equally surprised.

 

“That... that’s...”

 

When she came, no one knew. It was a girl who looked to be about 8 years old.

 

Her body stiffened as if she was surprised by Ner’s loud voice.

 

Ner’s heart was beating fast.

 

It was the first time someone had grabbed her tail.

 

It was an impolite action, but realizing the other party was a little girl, Ner calmed herself down.

 

Soon, from somewhere, a boy wearing gloves ran up.

 

“Sara!”

 

A boy who looked a year or two older pushed the girl’s head down and apologized.

 

“I...! I’m sorry!”

 

In response, Ner waved her hand.

 

“No, it’s okay.”

 

“You’re Ner...? I’m sorry. Sara still doesn’t understand...”

 

Upon realizing that she had done something wrong, the girl named Sara began to sob.

 

Ner found the crying girl pitiful, and tried even harder to console her.

 

“It’s okay. Don’t cry. See, my tail is fine.”

 

The girl, carefully wiping the tears from her eyes, apologized timidly.

 

“...I’m sorry... It looked so soft... I didn’t, didn’t know you would hate it...”

 

Ner pondered for a moment before speaking.

 

“...In our species, the tail is a sensitive part. So, I was just surprised.”

 

Ner, acting maturely, stroked Sara’s head.

 

Only then did Sara relax her twisted expression.

 

Ner cautiously started a conversation with them.

 

“What were you doing here?”

 

The boy took the lead in answering.

 

“We were playing. Playing hide and seek.”

 

“That must have been fun. I too...”

 

Ner thought for a moment about her childhood, then shut her mouth.

 

There was a time when she, too, wanted to enjoy playing hide and seek like these children.

 

Of course, all she had now were memories of being tricked by her siblings and left alone in the forest until sunset.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

Ner asked, changing the subject.

 

“I’m Paul, and this is Sara.”

 

Paul replied.

 

“Nice to meet you, Paul, Sara. I hope to see you often.”

 

Ner responded with a smile.

 

It was a pity that her alone time was interrupted, but this wasn’t bad either.

 

Sara looked back and forth between Ner and Paul, then carefully asked,

 

“...What is... your name...?”

 

Seeing the girl shrinking back, Ner smiled and opened her mouth.

 

“I am-”

 

“-It’s Ner, Sara!”

 

However, Paul cut her off.

 

The girl looked up at Paul and asked again.

 

“...Ner...?”

 

“Berg’s wife!”

 

Ner laughed as she watched Paul casually calling Berg’s name.

 

Seeing how the children were so at ease, it seemed to show how Berg had treated them.

 

However, Sara’s expression gradually hardened at those words.

 

“...wife?”

 

“Yes! The woman Berg likes most! So, you call her Ner-nim”

 

-Thunk

 

Suddenly, Sara slumped down in her place.

 

Before Ner could even comprehend the situation, the sound of crying echoed.

 

“Sniff... sob...”

 

“Huh? What’s up, Sara, why are you crying all of a sudden?”

 

“I hate it...! sob... I mean... I... sob... I was going to marry Berg...!”

 

Ner cautiously observed the ensuing situation.

 

She seemed to understand why Sara had burst into tears.

 

There were often cases where children harbored admiration for adults.

 

Berg was a cool person among the humans, so it seemed Sara felt the same.

 

Ner could not just stand by and do nothing with a crying child.

 

For some reason, seeing her cry reminded Ner of her own childhood.

 

Feeling uncomfortable, Ner squatted next to Sara and tried to comfort her.

 

“Oh, don’t cry. If you cry... well... if you cry, you become ugly?”

 

Ner was quite the crybaby herself, but at this moment she acted like an adult.

 

However, naturally, such clumsy consolation didn’t stop Sara’s tears.

 

Sara began to throw a tantrum and spoke.

 

“I hate it...! Berg is supposed to be with me... I hate you, Ner...!”

 

-Thunk

 

Sara pushed Ner away lightly. Seeing Sara controlling her strength even in this situation, Ner felt the innocence of the girl.

 

Smiling secretly at that innocence, Ner took a deep breath.

 

...Perhaps she could be honest in front of these children.

 

Ner approached Sara again and whispered quietly.

 

“...When Sara grows up, I’ll give him back to you.”

 

“...Sniff...what...?”

 

Holding her breath, Ner made a promise to the innocent girl.

 

“If Sara grows into a pretty woman, I’ll give Berg back to you. So stop the tears. You’ll ruin your pretty face.”

 

Indeed, this statement, which might seem like an excuse imbued with an adult’s leeway, clearly had a certain depth to it.

 

It was a truth that only Ner knew.

 

She would one day leave this Stockpin.

 

She was already missing the Blackwood forest.

 

That was why she could make a promise to Sara.

 

Gradually, Sara stopped her tears.

 

Sara, perhaps embarrassed by her tears, buried her face in her knees.

 

Paul, shaking Sara from the side, spoke.

 

“Hey, Sara...you can’t do this to Berg’s wife...! I don’t know about Berg, but if you throw a tantrum at Ner-”

 

Sara momentarily stretched out one of her fingers.

 

Her pinky finger was pointed towards Ner.

 

“...Promise.”

 

Sara mumbled.

 

Not understanding a word, Ner looked at Paul for help.

 

Observing the situation, Paul interlocked his own two pinkies next to her, silently demonstrating what to do.

 

Following Paul’s method, Ner linked her pinky with Sara’s.

 

It seemed that this was how humans made promises.

 

“...Promise.”

 

Feeling the touch of the fern-like hand, Ner also whispered.

 

– – – End of Chapter – – –