Chapter 53: The Second Wife (5)

 

The decision to proceed with the marriage was made rather casually.

 

Just like with Blackwood, due to Celebrien’s current situation and limited resources, there wasn’t much of a choice.

 

I didn’t have any major complaints about it, and I presumed Arwin felt the same.

 

After all, becoming a couple only required us to solemnly swear an oath of marriage.

 

Of course, just because the marriage was carried out casually didn’t mean I would take my emotional commitment to my partner lightly

 

As long as she became my wife, I planned to dedicate myself to Arwin as I had done for Ner.

 

I anticipated some challenges, but I didn’t want to avoid them.

 

Memories of this morning had also influenced my outlook.

 

When I woke up today, Ner was sound asleep, nestled within my embrace.

 

She lay there, using my arm as a pillow, her expression serene as she breathed softly.

 

Her pleasant scent reached my nostrils, and I felt her warmth through her skin.

 

Her gestures, which made me feel at ease, and her beautiful aura, heightened my feelings for her.

 

I was delighted that my efforts were met with her reciprocation, gradually drawing us closer.

 

Ner had grown quite close to me in this manner as well.

 

Though we belonged to different races and social classes, we were getting closer to each other.

 

Of course, it was still far from being a loving couple, but we had at least become friends.

 

And so, I didn’t think Arwin would be any different.

 

She might have some reservations about me, but I would understand and wait for her.

 

The marriage was scheduled for late in the evening, and given its simple nature, there really wasn’t much to prepare.

 

The ceremony itself wouldn’t be overly complex, so there were no elaborate lines to memorize.

 

Thus until then, there was nothing to do but let time pass leisurely.

 

I would have loved to explore the village with Ner, but it was still early morning and she was not awake. So I just wandered around Celebrien’s territory, breathing in the morning air.

 

I checked on the condition of the wounded, and engaged in light conversations with the awake members of the Red Flames.

 

Then, as I do every day, I prepared for my morning training.

 

For clearing my mind, there was nothing better.

 

It had been my long-standing habit ever since I met Adam Hyung.

 

I wandered aimlessly down the road until I found an open space suitable for the training.

 

From what I’d heard, Elves weren’t particularly interested in martial arts, so there didn’t seem to be any specific training grounds.

 

As I stepped into the deserted open space, I sighed deeply and grasped my sword.

 

“Do you want to train?”

 

But before I could even loosen up, someone called out to me.

 

Turning in the direction of the voice, I saw an Elf approaching me with a sword in his hand.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Upon my asking, he tapped his forehead lightly and introduced himself.

 

“My name is Gallias. I came here to train, just like you.”

 

He struck me as an unusual Elf. From his gait to his aura, he didn’t seem like a typical Elf.

 

I noticed scars scattered across his face—another oddity.

 

Although I’d only recently encountered Elves for the first time, I’d assumed they all had flawless appearances.

 

However, this Elf named Gallias was far from delicate.

 

He might have possessed some degree of elegance before, but now he looked like a mercenary, to put it bluntly.

 

I nodded, signaling my disinterest.

 

Though he was an unusual Elf, I didn’t particularly care.

 

I came here to train; we could both work up a sweat and go our separate ways.

 

“First of all, I should say thank you, right? Thanks for saving the World Tree.”

 

But this Elf named Gallias kept talking, as if he had sought me out intentionally.

 

“I saw everything from the city walls. You’re exceptionally skilled.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders and responded to him.

 

“Pass your thanks to our captain.”

 

“Yes, I already did. Here”

 

With that, Gallias tossed me a wooden sword from seemingly out of nowhere.

 

-Thud.

 

As I caught the wooden sword lightly, Gallias smiled and said,

 

“And your captain asked me a favor. He said, if the opportunity arose, to spar with you.”

 

“Yes?”

 

He spoke with a tone overflowing with pride.

 

“He’s trying to help you. To put it poorly, I’m an outlier… I’ve been enamored with the sword for 250 years.”

 

“…”

 

“Having seen you fight yesterday, I couldn’t just stand idly by. Even without your captain’s request, I wanted to cross swords with you. Who knows, we might learn something from a light spar?”

 

250 years.

 

Up until now, I hadn’t given it much thought, but mentioning that overwhelming span of time piqued my interest.

 

That was ten times the life I had lived.

 

I wondered how skilled someone could become, having refined their swordsmanship all those years.

 

“There will be more for you to learn. Opportunities to train with someone like me aren’t that common. So, what do you say?”

 

Gallias paused, chewing on his words before adding,

 

“Ah, I don’t mean to sound arrogant. I just take pride in it.”

 

“I understand.”

 

The time span was too vast to fully comprehend, but anyone who’d dedicated 250 years to mastering a craft would unquestionably take pride in it.

 

But then I remembered my plans for the evening.

 

I shook my head and spoke, “I’m sorry, but we decided to hold the wedding ceremony today—”

 

“—Haha, why are you like this?”

 

He chuckled, a playful tone in his voice. I could feel how restless he was.

 

“You want to do it too, don’t you? A person who fought like you did yesterday wouldn’t be afraid.”

 

“…”

 

He looked at me as if sizing me up.

 

“My guidance might help you overcome deadly situations. You might learn techniques that could save your comrades’ lives. Don’t you think you should preserve the already short life you have, for as long as you can?”

 

“…”

 

“You know as well as I do that opportunities like this don’t come around often. So let’s spar. Lightly.”

 

I shook my head again.

 

“I don’t know how to do it lightly. That’s not how I was taught.”

 

“Then go full force on your end. I’ll take it lightly.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t worry about it being unfair. If anything, my experience would make it unfair for you.”

 

My resistance gradually waned under his lengthy persuasion. I weighed the wooden sword in my hand.

 

At that simple action, Gallias smiled.

 

“Good choice.”

 

Seeing him discern my feelings from such a minor act, I couldn’t help but think there was definitely something to learn from him.

 

Finally, I let out a deep sigh and tightly gripped the wooden sword.

 

“Hu.”

 

As soon as I assumed my stance, Gallias rushed at me.

 

****

 

Arwin had been facing Ascal since the morning.

 

For Arwin, there was nothing to say to her father.

 

She was merely growing increasingly eager at the prospect of leaving this territory.

 

“...Are you listening, Arwin?”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“... ”

 

Snapping out of her reverie, Arwin looked at her father.

 

The elf elder sighed before continuing.

 

“It’s time to say goodbye soon. Listen carefully to my words.”

 

“... ”

 

“Disregarding what others say like this will lead to great regret—”

 

Unable to hold back her rising emotions, Arwin growled.

 

It might have been impulsive, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

“For the past 120 years...!”

 

Ascal closed his mouth at the anger in her voice.

 

“... For the past 120 years, I’ve lived obediently according to your words. Not once have I defied you... I did as I was told.”

 

“... ”

 

“And now, for just 50 years, I’ve acted on my own will. Even so, I fulfilled all my duties...! Even now, I’m marrying to fulfill a duty. And you dare to accuse me of disregarding others?”

 

Ascal couldn’t refute her; he was already aware of his sin.

 

He understood that the reason his own child turned out this way was all his fault.

 

He wasn’t brazen enough to scold such a daughter.

 

At this point, all he could do was regret.

 

He had never imagined that Arwin, who once smiled so innocently, would turn out like this.

 

Oblivious to his young daughter’s feelings while obeying the elders’ dictates, he had missed the signs.

 

But Ascal knew no amount of reasons could serve as an excuse now.

 

So he swallowed all the complaints and anger spilling out from Arwin and continued speaking.

 

“...Returning to the matter at hand. You have to stay in the Red Flames until their vice-captain dies.”

 

“And what if I run away before that?”

 

“...Elf trackers will hunt you down. I don’t want that, Arwin.”

 

Arwin was well aware of the Elf trackers.

 

If a Celebrían Elf left their territory and caused problems in the world, thereby tarnishing their race, Elf trackers were dispatched to execute them.

 

As she had hoped for a happy life, she, too, had no desire to be hunted by the trackers.

 

“...Ha.”

 

Arwin quelled her earlier surge of emotion and asked Ascal.

 

“Once the vice-captain dies, I am free for sure, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And there won’t be any need to return to Celebrían territory, or the trackers chasing me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“If the vice-captain dies next year or whenever, I can live my life freely?”

 

“Yes, but...”

 

Ascal looked at Arwin seriously and said, “Only if there is no suspicion surrounding the vice-captain’s death...then you are free.”

 

“...”

 

“I hope you understand.”

 

Arwin averted her gaze, rolling her cold eyes. “I know that much.”

 

“...”

 

“Is that all you have to say?”

 

Ascal paused briefly before responding to Arwin. “...If you need anything, speak up. If it’s possible, I’ll grant it.”

 

Arwin began to rise from her seat, but sat back down upon hearing Ascal’s offer.

 

It was an item she had planned to acquire herself, but if the Elves could provide it, that would be another story.

 

Arwin blinked her unfocused eyes, then whispered with resolve, “...A few barrels of Bardi liquor, please.”

 

Bardi liquor was a traditional liquor of the elves. It was noted for its high alcohol content and smooth finish.

 

Though it was not difficult to make, its taste wasn’t universally popular.

 

Ascal raised an eyebrow. “Arwin, you don’t drink, do y—”

 

His expression abruptly hardened.

 

Realizing that her father had discerned her plan, Arwin met his gaze squarely.

 

Ascal slowly shook his head. “It’s not possible. We just spoke about the vice-captain’s dea—”

 

“—If it’s a natural death.”

 

Arwin’s voice, quiet but icy, reverberated through the room.

 

With Ascal forgetting even to breathe, it resonated all the more clearly.

 

“...Then it should be okay.”

 

There was a poison known to only a few Elves—a poison generally only known by Elf trackers.

 

‘Mel’s Tear’

 

A liquid that was both colorless and odorless.

 

When taken alone, Mel’s Tear had no effect on the body... but when mixed with Bardi liquor, it became a deadly poison that could kill anyone.

 

However, the greatest advantage of Mel’s Tear came later.

 

It left no trace of poisoning.

 

After drinking Bardi liquor mixed with Mel’s Tear, one meets a peaceful and inevitable death a few days later.

 

One simply stops breathing in their sleep.

 

Ascal lowered his head and whispered, “How on earth do you know about Mel’s Tear...”

 

“...”

 

For Arwin, who had roamed freely for the past 50 years and devoted countless hours to reading, there wasn’t much she didn’t know.

 

Nor had she let her knowledge go to waste.

 

She had already acquired Mel’s Tear.

 

There was a time when she had casually considered using it on the Elders.

 

She hadn’t gone through with it, of course.

 

But having access to something like this was one reason she had initially accepted the arranged marriage.

 

Leaving the territory 30 years early had also been a goal... but she wasn’t so reckless as to tie new chains around her ankle that could last up to 60 years.

 

Arwin confided this secret, one even the Elders didn’t know, to her father.

 

Arwin looked at Ascal, who was deep in thought with his fist clenched, and said, “...Didn’t you just say you would give me anything if it’s possible?”

 

“...”

 

She even burst out in a sardonic laugh.

 

“Surely you’re not concerned about that human, are you?”

 

Elves didn’t see other races as equals.

 

It was an inevitable difference that came from lifespan.

 

Just as other races wouldn’t place insects or animals with shorter lifespans on the same level as themselves, Mel’s Tear, which Arwin couldn’t use on the Elders, seemed easily expendable when it came to humans.

 

She knew she couldn’t use it immediately.

 

Perhaps in two years. Or maybe three.

 

When there’d be no room for suspicion, that was when she’d been planning to use it.

 

Yet the reason she was seeking Bardi liquor now was to get the vice-captain accustomed to alcohol.

 

It would make things easier down the line.

 

“Do you value that human more than me?”

 

“...”

 

“... Fine, whatever. I never had expectations, to begin with. I’ll handle it myself, so do as you please.”

 

Arwin, having said her piece, rose from her seat.

 

As she was about to leave Ascal’s office, a voice rang out.

 

“... I’ll give you the Bardi liquor.”

 

Arwin looked coldly at Ascal and spoke.

 

“... You should have done that from the beginning.”

 

However, Ascal changed the topic entirely.

 

“But stop pretending to be tough now, Arwin.”

 

“...”

 

Arwin hesitated at this blunt remark.

 

“Yes, I admit that you twisted because of us. But you’re not bound to us anymore, so you can stop pretending.”

 

“…Pretending?”

 

“–You have more than a thousand years of life left.”

 

“...”

 

“So return to your true self quickly… and live that way. You’ve never caused real harm in the village, nor did you want to. Even the Elders know this, which is why they’ve never seriously impeded your actions.”

 

“... After causing me a lifetime of pain, you think offering me advice now is going to touch me?”

 

Ascal spoke as if he hadn’t heard her.

 

“As I said, have the Bardi liquor. But if there’s one thing I can guarantee...”

 

“...”

 

“...You won’t be able to use Mel’s Tear.”

 

Arwin clenched her teeth.

 

“There’s no such monster in your heart. You’re only pretending there is.”

 

“...”

 

Arwin paused, took a deep sigh, and muttered,

 

“Let’s see.”

 

She then stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

 

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –