Chapter 60: Rule (2)

 

I instructed Burns, the new recruit of our Head Hunter Unit, to send a message to Hyung that we were following him.

 

It was anticipated that catching them wouldn’t be too difficult if we followed their trail.

 

And if the news got through, Adam Hyung would have set up camp much earlier.

 

Our job was simply to catch up to that point.

 

“Vice-captain, it’s this way,” said Shawn, who was leading the way.

 

We were also following Adam Hyung’s traces.

 

Hyung seemed to be taking a different route back than the one he took to get here.

 

When we were coming here, he had dashed through various families’ territories, but now, it looked like he was choosing a safe route to avoid unnecessary conflict on his way back.

 

Whether it was because Ner and Arwin were absent, or the urgency to secure the territory of Celebrien was no longer there, was unclear.

 

I just simply followed his trail.

 

I glanced at Ner, who was galloping on her horse behind me on my left side.

 

She gazed back at me as well.

 

“Why...? Are you hurt?” she asked, perking up her ears and focusing her attention on me.

 

“No,” I shook my head, and then looked at Arwin, who was behind me on my right side.

 

“...”

 

She was busy exploring the world.

 

Her once sharp eyes were now observing everything around her like an innocent girl.

 

I could feel that her desire to see the world wasn’t mere words, judging by her curious actions.

 

After all, if I had spent 170 years in the same place, I would probably act the same way.

 

“...”

 

“...Ah.”

 

Arwin, belatedly realizing my gaze, found me.

 

Her eyes met mine, then focused on my body, and finally returned to the ground.

 

Observing her various reactions, I turned my gaze away.

 

Thinking about it, it seemed there were a few matters that needed sorting out as we would be living together going forward.

 

Until now, Ner had been my only wife, so there was no need for separate rooms. But now that I had two wives, it seemed each would need her own room.

 

Even if both had joined me as wives in accordance with my culture, I would need to show some level of consideration.

 

If boundaries weren’t established, it would make both of them uncomfortable.

 

From their point of view, sharing the same bed would be unimaginable.

 

It would feel awkward for me as well.

 

...Well, these were matters to discuss and sort out with my wives later on.

 

.

.

.

.

 

We rode for quite some time at a moderate speed.

 

There was no rush, and accelerating recklessly could lead to injuries.

 

Not just for me, but the worrisome glances thrown from those around me were far from light.

 

Ner kept eyeing me cautiously, making me chuckle now and then.

 

“Vice-captain, so what happened?” Baran asked.

 

Upon his question, I looked at the eyes of the other members of my team.

 

It seemed to be a question everyone was curious about.

 

I shook my head again.

 

This didn’t seem like the appropriate time or setting for such a discussion.

 

It might touch on Arwin’s pains.

 

I knew that explaining why I got hurt could lead to sharing details that would make her uncomfortable.

 

While there might be an opportunity someday, with the events still fresh, I wanted to give Arwin some space.

 

If I were to reach into my pocket, I’d likely touch the Arwin’s World Tree leaf, which was still about to crumble.

 

“...?”

 

For confirmation, I slipped my hand into my pocket.

 

When I was free from everyone’s gaze, I secretly checked her World Tree leaf.

 

“...”

 

If my eyes weren’t deceiving me... its condition had certainly improved compared to before.

 

I looked back at Arwin.

 

She was once again engrossed in observing the world.

 

Had stepping into the outside world eased her emotional wounds even a little?

 

I hoped my actions had been of some help.

 

Whatever the case, I was relieved that her condition seemed better than when we started.

 

As I was lost in such thoughts, the faint sound of galloping hooves reached us from a distance.

 

I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

 

Ner raised her head, and Baran also looked ahead.

 

“Vice-captain.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I hadn’t expected to encounter them this early, but from a distance, several riders were galloping toward us.

 

They were likely members of the Red Flames... and judging by the circumstances, Adam Hyung seemed to be among them.

 

Sure enough, as we slowed down to wait, I saw Adam Hyung, along with several members of the Red Flames, and Burns, who had gone searching for him.

 

Once we were close enough to see each other’s faces, Hyung also slowed his horse to a trot.

 

I slowly raise my hand to greet him.

 

Part of me likely wanted to minimize the inevitable lecture.

 

I was already aware that my recent actions weren’t exactly wise.

 

“....”

 

From a certain distance, Adam Hyung confirmed my presence.

 

I looked down at myself as well.

 

Numerous bandages, a torn shirt, and a large suture mark on my cheek...

 

Hyung didn’t respond to my greeting, instead slowly approaching me, guiding his horse.

 

“...Ah, crap.”

 

I clicked my tongue.

 

Ner, who had quietly moved closer, asked from beside me.

 

“...Why?”

 

“...Hyung is pretty pissed.”

 

I answered.

 

True to form, even as my team members one by one bowed their heads in greeting to approaching Hyung, he ignored them all.

 

“Captain.” “Captain.”

 

“...”

 

His eyes never left me as he closed in.

 

Once at a closer distance, he spoke.

 

“Hey.”

 

His voice was cold.

 

“...?”

 

“What happened?”

 

I sighed, scratching my neck.

 

“...Let’s talk inside.”

 

His sharp eyes scanned my surroundings quietly.

 

After a long pause, he exhaled as if letting go of his anger.

 

Then he nodded and turned his horse.

 

I sighed again, my discomfort was growing.

 

I pondered how to explain myself so that this might blow over lightly.

 

From behind, someone lets out a groan.

 

“Ah...”

 

It was Arwin.

 

Her blinking eyes alternate between Adam Hyung and me.

 

‘...It’s okay.’

 

I mouthed the words reassuringly. There was nothing for her to worry about.

 

.

.

.

.

 

“So?”

 

We stepped into the temporary tent set up at our campsite.

 

Hyung threw a question at me before even sitting down.

 

He was clearly angry, promptly uncorking a bottle of liquor he had brought from somewhere.

 

- Pop!

 

He gulped down the alcohol, his actions expressing his frustration.

 

Then, he heavily sat down on a nearby chair.

 

Well, I could understand his reaction.

 

Even I would have reacted the same way if our roles were reversed.

 

Thinking that, I reached for the bottle, trying to lighten the mood, but...

 

“Are you kidding me?”

 

Adam Hyung asked with a straight face.

 

“What’s the point of drinking in your condition? Just hurry up and explain.”

 

At his prodding, I also sat down and opened my mouth.

 

“I got into a fight with Gallias.”

 

“......”

 

“With real swords.”

 

“...Ha. You madman.”

 

He let out a sigh of disbelief.

 

After stomping on the ground in apparent anger, he asked again,

 

“Why.”

 

“It’s about Arwin.”

 

“So, why?”

 

I too let out a long sigh.

 

I didn’t want to go into every little detail. So I summarized the essential points.

 

“…It was their cultural thing, and for that, the elves were torturing Arwin. So in the end I got into the fight with Gallias.”

 

“...”

 

Adam Hyung exhaled another sigh, as if deflating his anger.

 

“...I’ve told you before, you need to rein in that temper of yours.”

 

I attempted to diffuse the tension.

 

“Hyung, it worked out in the end. I even beat Gallias–”

 

“–So it’s fortunate it worked out, but what if it hadn’t?”

 

His face furrowed as if contemplating an unfortunate outcome, and he continued to stomp the ground.

 

“Do you even think before taking action?”

 

“...”

 

“Have you forgotten why I was rushing back to Stockpin?”

 

“...”

 

His words left me speechless.

 

He had lost three people from his team during this expedition.

 

He was still grieving those deaths.

 

“Do I have to bury you too!”

 

I couldn’t meet his eyes at his outcry.

 

I let out another sigh and scratched my head.

 

“…I get it, I get it. I know.”

 

“You get it...right?”

 

Hyung took another swig from the bottle.

 

Then, he challenged me again, incredulously.

 

“Look, if you have even an ounce of sense, you’d realize that the impact on the Red Flames would have been huge if you had died there, You get that, right?”

 

“...”

 

“Your wives would scatter, and we’d be in ruins. How are we supposed to face the families of the members we’ve lost with that kind of recklessness?”

 

“...”

 

Hyung exhaled another endless sigh.

 

Each time his eyes landed on my scars, it was as if his suppressed anger reignited.

 

I scratched my nose and threw another joke into the mix.

 

“Come on, Hyung. You knew from the start I was like this. You knew I’d do reckless things.”

 

“...”

 

“You should’ve considered that before giving me wives. Especially when I clearly said I didn’t want to.”

 

“...”

 

Finally, at that joke, Hyung burst into a resigned laugh.

 

He shook his head wearily.

 

“You exceeded even my imagination. It’s unbelievable, really. You can’t have jumped in thinking you’d actually beat Gallias.”

 

He was right, but there were reasons I couldn’t back down.

 

Reasons I couldn’t explain to him.

 

He continued his nagging as he shook his head.

 

“...It just reaffirms how reckless you are. Someday, that recklessness is going to get you seriously hurt.”

 

At that, I shrugged my shoulders.

 

Then, I reached for the bottle he was holding.

 

He gave me a disgruntled look but eventually passed me the bottle, as if acknowledging that some of his anger had subsided.

 

I also took a swig.

 

Savoring its taste and aroma, I asked, “Is this Bardi liquor?”

 

“...An Elf elder gave it to me.”

 

I looked at Hyung’s face.

 

He still hadn’t fully cooled down.

 

Taking a deep breath, I changed the subject.

 

“Ah, I have a favor to ask.”

 

“In this situation?”

 

“I want to take on some smaller requests now.”

 

“...?”

 

Hyung looked puzzled.

 

I explained, “I’ve been thinking, it’s too stifling to just stay around Ner, Arwin, or Stockpin. I want to explore different places, and get to know people.”

 

“You think requests are a joke.”

 

“I’ll solve problems while sightseeing. It will help the Red Flames too, won’t it?”

 

Within the Red Flames, there were still discussions about how we had infringed upon the territories of other families and headed straight for the domain of Celebrien.

 

Actions that commoners wouldn’t dare to take.

 

“...”

 

Hyung stayed silent.

 

He was the one who always persuaded me to step down from the Head Hunter Unit.

 

Of course, I would still lead the team, but Hyung was always concerned for my safety.

 

It wouldn’t be like him to outright deny me some time to cool off.

 

“...I’ll think about it.”

 

However, perhaps because the pent-up anger hadn’t completely subsided, he didn’t immediately agree.

 

I nodded, trusting that time would sort things out.

 

I naturally rose from my seat, eager to escape any further nagging from him.

 

“...Did things get resolved with Celebrien?”

 

Hyung then asked me a question.

 

I nodded in response.

 

“The Elf elder took care of it.”

 

“Good. He has kept his promise to remember the favor.”

 

I nodded again and turned away.

 

However, Hyung persistently spoke up.

 

“Berg.”

 

“...”

 

Looking at him, he was sitting there with a serious expression.

 

He said, “You know there’s nothing more important to me than this mercenary group.”

 

“I know.”

 

The feeling was mutual. The Red Flames had become like home to me.

 

I was aware that my actions could bring significant harm to the group.

 

Setting my playfulness aside, I began to speak.

 

“I’m sor—”

 

“But, it’s a group we’ve built together, you and me.”

 

I closed my mouth at his continued words.

 

“You’ve been here from the start. From our previous mercenary group, we crawled our way up from the bottom, you and me. Now, you’re like a little brother to me.”

 

His words made me deeply aware of the time that had passed.

 

We had known each other for a very long time.

 

We had weathered storms together for over seven years.

 

He was my oldest comrade.

 

“...If something happened to you, the shock would be immeasurable.”

 

“...”

 

“The war is coming to an end, Berg. Just hold on a little longer, and there will be a time when we can live without risking our lives. We’ve established relations with the nobles, so there’s no threat of being purged.”

 

Hyung spoke with a sense of urgency.

 

“So, please. From now on, only risk your life when it’s absolutely necessary.”

 

“...”

 

The thought crossed my mind—wouldn’t it be more absurd to stand by while my wife was being tortured? However, understanding the sentiment behind his words, I maintained my silence and nodded.

 

Then Hyung finally gave a wave of his hand.

 

He granted me permission to leave.

 

I was about to step out of the tent.

 

“Did you... step on him?”

 

But he asked one last question.

 

It seemed to be about Gallias.

 

I smiled and answered, “I stepped on him.”

 

Hyung chuckled softly.

 

****

 

After Berg left, Adam calmed his emotions.

 

Soon he griped his throbbing head and closed his eyes.

 

The sight of a wounded Berg brought back a torrent of old nightmares.

 

‘Adam Oppa!’

 

‘Adam hyung!’

 

“...Haa...”

 

Adam clenched his head and bowed it down.

 

It took a considerable amount of time to banish those voices from his mind.

 

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –