Chapter 69: Formal Appearance(4)

 

Ner watched the receding figures of the village chief, the Catwoman with him, and Baran and Berg as they discussed about the request.

 

She felt a tinge of discomfort seeing that woman constantly staying close to Berg.

 

If the reputation of the Red Flames Corps had spread widely, surely the fact that he had two wives would be well-known.

 

Yet, this Catwoman seemed to be oblivious to such facts as she clung close to Berg, looking up at him with wide, round eyes.

 

From beside Ner, Shawn commented, “...As expected of the vice-captain.”

 

“Hm?”

 

Ner caught onto his mutter and looked at him quizzically.

 

Shawn, noticing Ner’s reaction, asked, “Oh, did you hear that?”

 

Ner nodded.

 

Shawn responded as if making excuses, “Well... As Ner-nim probably knows, the vice-captain is quite charming, right? With his status and all. It’s common for many women to be drawn to him.”

 

Ner glanced at Berg, who was engaged in conversation with the village chief, and asked, “...Is this a frequent occurrence?”

 

“It happens all the time.”

 

“...”

 

Ner’s heart sank a bit more upon hearing that.

 

She increasingly felt uneasy.

 

“But don’t worry.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“You know that you, Ner-nim, are the first one he has treated so kindly. If it’s the vice-captain, then-”

 

Shawn quickly pointed at Berg with his finger.

 

“-Ah, look there. See for yourself right now.”

 

Even without Shawn’s words, Ner had already been observing.

 

The Catwoman’s hand twitched for a moment before naturally landing on Berg’s shoulder. To top it off, she flashed a small smile.

 

A surge of anger welled up in Ner at the audacious intention, and at that moment, Berg brushed off the Catwoman’s touch, turning his shoulder away.

 

“...Do not touch.”

 

He said coldly.

 

Berg showed the Catwoman an expression that Ner had never received from him.

 

For a moment, even Ner’s heart felt frozen - so cold and prickly.

 

It was an expression she had seen before, but perhaps because he had always been kind to her, it felt more shocking now than it had back then.

 

She even heard Arwin swallowing nervously beside her.

 

Seemingly trying to dissipate the icy atmosphere, Berg spoke.

 

“...I apologize. I just don’t like it when someone touches me without permission.”

 

From behind, Ner listened to his words and pondered.

 

Had she ever touched Berg without his permission?

 

“...”

 

She had done so every time.

 

Lately, whenever she wanted to touch him, she did.

 

Every morning, she found herself close to him when waking up.

 

Berg had always responded to such acts with a smile.

 

It made the difference between her and that Catwoman all the more pronounced.

 

It somewhat eased the frustration she felt, making her feel even more special in the process.

 

Was it because she was Berg’s first woman?

 

With a more relaxed heart, Ner exhaled.

 

“I said you don’t have to worry, remember?”

 

Shawn spoke from beside her.

 

It seemed like he was easing her worries on Berg’s behalf.

 

Only then did Ner relax her expression and reply, “...I wasn’t worried.”

 

Yet, even as she said it, her words sounded like a lie to her own ears.

 

****

 

I entered the accommodation with my wives.

 

We decided to stay at the village chief’s house.

 

His house was relatively large.

 

There were plenty of rooms and spacious areas.

 

Perhaps it was due to Dems village receiving many visitors.

 

The rest of the Red Flames members decided to stay at the inn in the Dems village.

 

As the village chief introduced his house, he mentioned, “This is my room, and next to it is my daughter... Kayla’s room.”

 

The woman named Kayla smiled at me.

 

It had been a while since someone didn’t shrink back after I asked not to be touched.

 

Even after that, she continued to smile slyly at me and kept trying to touch me.

 

Even though she clearly saw that I had wives, her approach was not particularly welcomed.

 

“You may rest in any of the rooms other than those two,” the village chief said.

 

Without much thought, I chose the two adjoining rooms.

 

“We’ll rest in this room and that one.”

 

“Very well. You must be tired from your journey, so please rest comfortably. We can take our time discussing the request.”

 

As I nodded and moved forward, the village chief deeply bowed his head towards Ner and Arwin who followed behind me.

 

It seemed like he had an instinctual fear towards nobility.

 

Indeed, if not for me, the village chief might have never had an occasion to see the daughters of Blackwood and Celebrien.

 

This was also one of the objectives of this journey.

 

To show ordinary people that our Red Flames Corps was indeed associated with the nobility.

 

The results of this marriage alliance were already evident.

 

Certainly, the atmosphere with which the village residents received us was different.

 

In the past, there were times when our presence went unnoticed.

 

It felt like only the curious would pay us any attention.

 

But perhaps because of the two noblewomen...

 

Everyone came out and busily bowed their heads in our direction.

 

While there hadn’t been any substantial changes within the Red Flames, the treatment we received was significantly different.

 

I didn’t hate this.

 

If attitudes towards us improved, there was no downside. More people would want to become mercenaries for our group, and those trying to deceive us would decrease.

 

Overall, the dispatched members would be safer.

 

After having Arwin and Ner sit down in the room that I selected, I prepared to explain this point to them.

 

-Thud.

 

I closed the door and looked at them.

 

“Ner, Arwin.”

 

The two looked up at me in silence.

 

“This expedition holds great significance.”

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Without a word, both Arwin and Ner nodded.

 

Even though they seemed unusually quiet, I continued, “The first reason is, of course, the reward we get upon completing the request. Second, I hope you both enjoy the new scenery here. The third is...”

 

I paused, gauging my wives’ reactions.

 

I couldn’t predict how they’d respond.

 

“...the third is to announce the change in the Red Flames.”

 

“Change?”

 

“We need to show firsthand that our mercenary group is connected to your noble families. Hearing a rumor and witnessing it are two different things.”

 

I elaborated further to their silent gazes.

 

“...We have to visibly be a couple, even if it’s just for show.”

 

“...Ah.”

 

Ner let out a quiet sigh.

 

I looked between the two and said, “...Remember when I asked you before?”

 

Neither Arwin nor Ner objected to this point.

 

They both nodded in response to my words.

 

“There’s no need to force it, but at the very least, do this. The better our relationship appears-”

 

“-the better it looks, the more it helps you?”

 

Ner interrupted and asked.

 

A curious strength was held within her eyes, which had been directly gazing at me for some time.

 

“...It helps the Red Flames. And that, in turn, helps me.”

 

Ner cautiously weted her lips and whispered, “...Is that so?”

 

“...Yes.”

 

Ner seemed to understand, so I looked at Arwin.

 

“Arwin, you understand, right?”

 

Arwin slowly nodded, “...Yes, I understand. The more we seem like a couple.”

 

****

 

For a moment, I rested to shake off the fatigue of the journey, and then I focused on the noise coming from outside.

 

The sounds of the meal being prepared reached my ears.

 

Perhaps it was time to fill our stomachs with the other members.

 

I rose from the chair.

 

Ner and Arwin were comfortably sprawled on the bed, giggling.

 

“...”

 

Every time I saw them so close, I felt fortunate.

 

I hoped, as I had in the past, that they’d continuously show such affection.

 

“Let’s go eat. Aren’t you both hungry?”

 

At my words, Arwin and Ner stopped talking and got up from the bed.

 

They naturally followed behind me.

 

-Creak.

 

I opened the door and stepped outside.

 

The village chief Nox looked pleased upon seeing me.

 

“Ah, Berg-nim. You’re out. Would you like to eat?”

 

“I’ll dine with the members.”

 

“I heard the inn has prepared something. Kayla will guide you to the inn. Please follow her.”

 

From the center of the chief’s house, Kayla, who was resting, quickly stood up at his words.

 

She fiddled with her long ears a couple of times before giving me a broad smile.

 

“Berg-nim, please follow me.”

 

She spoke in a soft, melodic voice.

 

She then opened the door first, guiding us through.

 

I silently followed her.

 

Soon after, Ner and Arwin quietly trailed behind me.

 

Stepping outside, the sky was beautifully painted with the glow of twilight.

 

The orange hue conveyed a serene feeling, reminiscent of an autumn forest.

 

Sunsets might look the same everywhere, but for some reason, this place felt different.

 

After the mission, I looked forward to admiring the landscapes alongside this sunset, and so I continued walking.

 

“Berg-nim, how did you get this scar?”

 

After taking a few steps, Kayla approached and asked.

 

She pointed to the scarred part of my forearm.

 

Each scar held its own memory.

 

I couldn’t forget the process of getting these scars, especially when I lost members of my team during those times.

 

I replied, remembering the fallen members, “... Two years ago-”

 

As soon as I began speaking, Kayla gently stroked my forearm, whispering sympathetically, “...It must have hurt...”

 

Just as I was about to frown at her for once again touching me without heed to my previous warning, a sharp voice rang out from behind.

 

“Hey.”

 

Startled by the cold voice, I turned around.

 

“What do you think you’re doing?”

 

Shockingly, Ner was glaring at Kayla, her tail standing on end.

 

There was a look of anger on her face, one I had never seen before.

 

-Thud!

 

In an instant, Ner pushed Kayla aside and positioned herself beside me.

 

She tightly crossed her arm with mine.

 

Her soft chest naturally pressed against my arm.

 

“Can’t you see me in your eyes? Are you belittling my lineage?”

 

“...Pardon?”

 

Kayla, who seemed unshaken by my warnings, now crumbled under Ner’s pressure.

 

Her eyes darted between Ner and me in confusion.

 

Even I was taken aback by Ner’s unexpected behavior.

 

“Why do you keep touching my husband?”

 

Kayla spoke as if trying to explain herself.

 

“I...I thought you two weren’t on good terms-”

 

“-What?”

 

Ner snapped at her sharply, as if the reins had been let loose.

 

Perhaps it was customary for werewolves to be this protective of their mates.

 

I faintly sensed that behavior in Ner’s actions.

 

Kayla, lost for words, bowed her head deeply.

 

“...If, If I offended you, I apologize.”

 

“...Be careful.”

 

Immediately, Ner pulled me closer and continued walking.

 

Looking back, I saw Kayla biting her lip.

 

Arwin watched us with a slightly surprised expression.

 

“...Look at me, Berg.”

 

From beside me, Ner murmured.

 

I turned my head to her direction.

 

Before I knew it, Ner was looking up at me with her usual innocent expression.

 

It was a face filled with slight worry and caution.

 

“...Ner?”

 

As I called her name, she responded, “...It’s my first time saying such stern words, I’m...I’m nervous.”

 

“...”

 

Then she looked into my eyes, hesitated for a moment, and blurted out with a hint of defiance.

 

“...You asked for it.”

 

“...”

 

For a moment, I was dumbfounded. And after a brief silence, I chuckled.

 

“Yes, I did.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –