Chapter 67: Formal Appearance (2)

 

A week had passed since the feast ended.

 

“Thank you. You did well.”

 

I had asked a member who had some knowledge in metalwork to complete simple pieces of jewelry.

 

It was a necklace intertwined with Arwin’s World Tree leaf.

 

A hole was made in the leaf to insert a ring, and a string was attached to that ring.

 

Fortunately, the leaf was tough, and its condition had improved since I first saw it.

 

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even attempted to make such jewelry.

 

I put the completed necklace around my neck.

 

Thus, Ner’s ring decorated my left hand, and Arwin’s World Tree leaf decorated my neck.

 

And the second piece of jewelry I received… was a wedding ring with Arwin.

 

Given the circumstances, the human wedding ceremony was hastily skipped over.

 

Adam Hyung’s mood wasn’t great, and my injuries compounded it.

 

Moreover, having had the wedding in the Elf’s way, I thought there was no need for more formal procedures.

 

Arwin would find it bothersome and tiring as well.

 

So, I thought it would be better to just hand over the ring at the appropriate moment.

 

To vow again, in my way.

 

I didn’t think how one gets married was particularly important.

 

“...”

 

I looked at the received ring.

 

I had roughly checked the size of Arwin’s finger last time, during the feast, when I held her hand.

 

Though she was surprised and pulled her hand back.

 

This ring seemed enough. It looked smooth and comfortable. It seemed like it wouldn’t be bothersome once she got used to wearing it.

 

I kept the two rings I received and moved on.

 

The night was almost over.

 

It was time to explain the future schedule to Arwin and Ner.

 

****

 

Upon entering the house, Arwin greeted me.

 

“You’re here?”

 

I looked around the house and asked,

 

“Where’s Ner?”

 

“She’s out for a walk.”

 

I nodded my head.

 

Ever since Ner commented that the human marriage culture was like a leash, we had developed our own pact.

 

I would not say anything on Ner’s walks but she would only go to designated places.

 

Ner seemed to be outside today as well.

 

“Shall we go look for Ner together?”

 

I suggested to Arwin.

 

She blinked her eyes and suddenly changed the subject.

 

“What’s that on your neck?”

 

“…”

 

Arwin seemed to be asking about the chain around my neck.

 

I pulled out the necklace from under my clothes to show her.

 

The Arwin’s World Tree leaf was revealed.

 

“…to not lose it.”

 

I explained to her.

 

Upon hearing that, Arwin froze for a moment...then nodded.

 

It still required more effort to become closer to Arwin.

 

There was still a slight awkwardness felt even now.

 

Since the time we spent together was itself insufficient, it was only natural.

 

“So, are we going together, or are you staying here?”

 

“…I’ll go with you.”

 

“Oh. One moment.”

 

As Arwin stood up, I stopped her for a moment, and I picked up one of the liquor bottles stacked against the wall.

 

I thought it wouldn’t be bad to have a drink while going for a night walk.

 

While pondering which liquor to choose, my eyes fixated on a new bottle.

 

Bardi liquor.

 

Seeing that liquor, Arwin spoke from behind.

 

“…Bardi liquor seems to suit your taste.”

 

I nodded my head.

 

“It grows on you.”

 

And with that conversation, I made a decision. I picked up the bottle of Bardi liquor and proceeded.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“...”

 

About to leave the house after uncorking the bottle, I found Arwin, who was not coming, and turned to look back at her.

 

She seemed frozen, silently blinking while looking down at the ground.

 

“...Arwin?”

 

“...Yes. I’ll go.”

 

.

.

.

 

I found Ner at the designated place.

 

Her head was slightly tilted towards the full moon.

 

I approached through the grass field so as not to startle Ner.

 

Her perked ears twitch, pointing toward us.

 

Seeing that, I called out her name.

 

“Ner.”

 

“...You came?”

 

She looked back at me, responding in a comforting voice.

 

“...”

 

Then she slightly stiffened, her eyes turning towards Arwin.

 

“...Arwin-nim came with you?”

 

Soon, a small smile formed as Ner spoke.

 

Ner and Arwin seemed to get along well.

 

Maybe it was because they had a rapport from the beginning.

 

Or perhaps, because they were both nobles.

 

Whatever the case, I found it relieving.

 

The potentially uncomfortable polygamous arrangement seemed somewhat mitigated by their friendship.

 

I could only hope they continue to get along like this.

 

I took a swig from the bottle and plopped down next to her.

 

“Looking at the moon again?”

 

I asked with a playful tone.

 

“You’re drinking again.”

 

At Ner’s following response, I just smiled.

 

Arwin also cautiously sat next to Ner.

 

For a moment, we enjoyed the night air, the scent of grass, and the atmosphere that came with it.

 

Then I spoke.

 

“We’ll be leaving soon for the next quest. As promised, imbued with the meaning of the trip.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“What?”

 

The two asked back in surprise.

 

I continued the explanation while drinking.

 

“So, you two should be prepared too. We’ll probably leave tomorrow or the day after.”

 

“Really?”

 

The most delighted seemed to be Arwin.

 

Her reaction even made me feel contagious.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

 

They revealed their anticipation with small gestures and nodded.

 

The place we were going to was a village called ‘Dems’.

 

It was rumored to be beautiful.

 

I didn’t know what it was like now that the war had been prolonged.

 

In any case, I wanted Ner and Arwin to see it with their own eyes, without hearing about it beforehand.

 

“...”

 

‘Dems’ was also a place that I promised to visit at least once with Sien.

 

I was lost in thought for a moment.

 

It seemed like I was erasing my memories with Sien one by one.

 

We had promised to see the waterfalls of Blackwood together.

 

We had promised to secretly engrave our names in the World Tree.

 

There were hundreds of such promises, but now I was just starting to fulfill them one by one.

 

Dems was no different.

 

We had promised to watch the sunset there while admiring the beautiful scenery.

 

It seemed that I would erase even this promise with my two wives.

 

“...”

 

And with such plans, I felt mixed emotions.

 

I couldn’t express what kind of emotion it was.

 

Relief, perhaps. Fortune. Joy.

 

Or regret. Sorrow. Pain. Or even anguish.

 

One thing was certain; the moment I heard the name ‘Dems Village’ from Adam Hyung, strength entered my fists.

 

Anyway, I decided to ignore those emotions.

 

And to pay attention to my two wives next to me.

 

That was the right thing to do.

 

While organizing these thoughts, a long silence ensued.

 

And, feeling the prolonged silence awkward, Arwin spoke.

 

“Ah, Berg?”

 

“…?”

 

“It was a topic that came up while Ner and I were talking.”

 

I nodded.

 

Arwin asked.

 

“Do you know the Saintess’s name?”

 

“...........”

 

At the unexpected question, I felt my body stiffen.

 

Fortunately, I wasn’t in the middle of drinking. If I had been, they would have definitely noticed my disturbance.

 

I calmly looked forward and replied.

 

“...I know.”

 

Arwin showed suspicion.

 

“How do you know? It should be information not disclosed by the church…”

 

Sometimes, when one looks away from information for too long, they don’t know even the most obvious things.

 

It had been seven years since Sien left me.

 

Only now did I realize that the church had been hiding her name.

 

For too long, I had been in denial of any information about the Hero party.

 

Who would have expected a question like this at the moment when I was thinking about her?

 

With my heart starting to race, I instinctively retorted.

 

“...They didn’t disclose it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Then I pretended to have been mistaken.

 

“...I must have been mistaken then.”

 

At this moment, I couldn’t be honest with my wives.

 

I wanted to escape this uncomfortable topic.

 

I always avoided this subject.

 

And because I kept avoiding it like this, even Adam Hyung didn’t know the situation.

 

“Come on, let’s get up. We’ve been here long enough.”

 

Perhaps because I tied the knots well, my wives didn’t show any suspicion even with the abrupt conclusion.

 

****

 

“Yes. Be careful.”

 

Adam spoke, watching Berg who had mounted the horse.

 

Berg, with his usual expression, nodded briefly.

 

“Say goodbye.”

 

When Adam complained about Berg’s indifferent appearance, only then did Berg open his mouth.

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

Soon after, Adam threw a glance at Berg’s wives behind him.

 

Ner Blackwood’s eyes were still fixed on the back of Berg’s head.

 

“...”

 

Adam, seeing this, felt a lot had changed for Ner Blackwood too.

 

She, who didn’t reveal herself at the first meeting, couldn’t take her eyes off Berg now.

 

Arwin Celebrien was ambiguous, but her atmosphere had changed.

 

The sharp expression she had initially was nowhere to be found.

 

It might be because the torture he had heard about from Berg had ended.

 

Whatever it was, Adam wished Berg got along well with them.

 

It was solely for the sake of his younger brother.

 

Adam soon turned his eyes to Baran.

 

“Baran, please take good care of Berg.”

 

“Don’t worry, Captain.”

 

He also addressed the other members of the team.

 

“Shawn.”

 

“It’s just a short break, what’s the big deal.”

 

“Jackson.”

 

“You seem particularly worried today, Captain.”

 

At Jackson’s words, the members chuckled.

 

However, everyone understood it was because the friendship between Berg and Adam was that deep.

 

Berg looked at Adam and nodded briefly.

 

Adam also closed his eyes lightly in greeting.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

Berg led the way.

 

Thus, the Head Hunter Unit left Stockpin.

 

****

 

Not long after Berg left, Adam received news that a group was approaching the village.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“It seems to be the apostles from the Hea Church.”

 

“Why would the Hea Church come to our village?”

 

“...I don’t know.”

 

Theodore expressed his doubt as he conversed with Adam.

 

With no other option, Adam stood from his place and went out to meet them.

 

.

.

.

.

 

Soon, Adam stood atop the village wall and watched the approaching carriage.

 

There were also five holy knights guarding the carriage.

 

It seemed like they came with quite an important issue, though he didn’t know what it was.

 

Otherwise, there would be no need to bring along five holy knights.

 

Adam soon stepped out of the village to greet them.

 

The carriage stopped, and a bishop from the Cat tribe revealed himself from inside.

 

Adam detected the anxious look in his eyes.

 

“I am Adam, the leader of the Red Flames. What brings the Church of Hea to Stockpin?”

 

The bishop, in a manner not befitting his status, hurriedly alighted from the carriage and approached Adam.

 

Then, he quickly composed himself and introduced himself.

 

“I am Bellingham, an apostle of Hea-sama... uhm... by any chance…”

 

He asked anxiously.

 

“...Is there a man named Berg here?”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –