Chapter 84: An Unresolved Curiosity (6)

 

Ner sat at the table as time passed.

 

Arwin sat next to her, and Berg sat across from her.

 

They couldn’t avoid discussing the events of yesterday.

 

“...”

 

Even after sitting down, Berg didn’t open his mouth for quite a while.

 

And with each stretch of silence, Ner’s mind was filled with countless questions.

 

She was completely in the dark about everything.

 

Ner recalled that wild look Berg had shown yesterday.

 

He, who had been holding her, suddenly dismounted his horse and approached to kill all the paladins.

 

If Adam, the captain, had not stopped him, a fight would surely have ensued.

 

That image kept nagging at her mind.

 

Lately, while with Berg, Ner found it impossible to control her emotions and reason.

 

If it had been like before, she would have surely feared such a demeanor from Berg.

 

She would have been scared, remembering that he was not Berg, but a human mercenary.

 

Had she not even found out that he was from the slums?

 

If she didn’t know the person that Berg was, she would have tried to distance herself from someone she shouldn’t be entangled with...

 

But now, it seemed her emotions were controlling her.

 

Worry took precedence over the fear of Berg.

 

She was afraid in case he was seriously hurt.

 

His past became increasingly curious.

 

She wondered why he was so troubled.

 

She didn’t know how to accept this change.

 

For now, all her attention was focused on Berg.

 

“...Haa.”

 

But after a long pause, Berg spoke.

 

“...I know you both want to know about what happened yesterday.”

 

While saying that Berg wore a bitter expression she had never seen before.

 

A strange expression from him, who always wore a smile.

 

“...But please wait a little longer. I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

 

“...”

 

“When the time comes, I’ll bring it up first.”

 

Was the disappointment in Berg’s words just now also part of that change?

 

It was hard to overcome her curiosity about him.

 

Race and status being so different, it was difficult to predict him.

 

She knew it was rude to ask something he didn’t want to talk about.

 

She knew it better than anyone.

 

From the start, a couple should trust each other and not ask unnecessary questions...

 

But lately, her mouth had been increasingly itchy.

 

Berg was her first friend, and she wanted to know everything about him.

 

It was the same now.

 

Why would he hide something from her?

 

Even after holding her like that yesterday.

 

“...Understood.”

 

But in the end, Ner had no choice but to accept his words.

 

Not probing the other was a kind of consideration on her part...

 

However, there was also no justification due to the distance between them that was not completely narrowed.

 

If they were inseparable, would she have probed into his current story?

 

“...”

 

It was hard to know.

 

Anyway, the atmosphere no longer allowed for further questions.

 

Under the pretext of consideration, Ner suppressed her curiosity.

 

“I understand.”

 

Arwin also nodded beside her.

 

She too had a complex expression as if she was contemplating much... but that was the end of the conversation.

 

****

 

King Rex Draigo stared at the person who had come to face him.

 

Wondering what issue had erupted now, Rex concealed his annoyance beneath his expression.

 

This meeting was all very unnatural.

 

It was awkward from the get-go that the Archbishop of the Hea Church sought him out, and he had not expected him to come so hastily.

 

Merely a day after receiving the contact, the Archbishop moved with heavy steps in a procession.

 

The Archbishop was an aged dragonian.

 

His horns, shaved off as a symbol of dedication to the Church, were quite striking.

 

“...Archbishop, what brings you here?”

 

In front of the Archbishop, Rex Draigo did not particularly change his demeanor.

 

In fact, being the king, he didn’t really tense up no matter who came.

 

He might have been harboring some concealed arrogance as well. After all, the fact that the other party came to him because they needed him must have played a part.

 

The discussion was proceeding in secrecy.

 

Not a single common paladin or knight was present in the room.

 

Only the two dragonian leaders remained in the room, engaging in conversation.

 

The Archbishop did not hesitate at Rex’s question.

 

He spoke.

 

“I came because there’s something I must warn you about.”

 

“...A warning?”

 

Rex raised his eyebrows.

 

The Archbishop continued his explanation.

 

“...It is an issue related to the Saintess.”

 

“...”

 

Only then was Rex’s attention fully drawn.

 

Because Rex Draigo and the hero party were all in the same boat, he had no choice.

 

Rex had been hoping that this kingdom could withstand the Demon King’s onslaught, and for that to happen, the hero party needed to play their part.

 

“I am listening,”

 

Rex said.

 

“...Are you aware of the Red Flames mercenary group?”

 

“...”

 

For Rex, that mercenary group was something he couldn’t possibly not know.

 

Even if he were not the king, he would have known about them.

 

Recently, there had been no one like the Red Flames getting talked about so much amongst the nobility.

 

The mercenary group that saved Blackwood and Celebrien.

 

A mercenary group with a wise-looking captain and a strong vice-captain.

 

A mercenary group composed solely of humans.

 

Rex Draigo had already been keeping a close eye on them.

 

With his military forces dwindling, there seemed no better weapon than the Red Flames to Rex.

 

Having married two noble wives, he had ample justification, too.

 

He had been contemplating utilizing them to protect areas in need of assistance.

 

“I’m aware,”

 

Rex briefly responded, upon which the Archbishop, taking a trembling breath, spoke.

 

“...The Red Flames must not meet with the Saintess.”

 

However, the Archbishop’s ensuing words seemed to cast a shadow on that plan.

 

“...?”

 

“More precisely, the vice-captain of that group must not be allowed to meet with the Saintess.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

The vice-captain of the Red Flames, as it was told, was an extremely skilled individual.

 

Someone even comparable to Gale was said to have appeared.

 

Also, a human and blessed commoner who had taken two noble wives.

 

He was quite a desirable talent.

 

Rex had even heard that even Gale was taking notice of him.

 

Although there was a nuance that strangely seemed to indicate that he had known about the Red Flames from before,

 

The Archbishop explained, sweating visibly.

 

Rex was quite astonished by the Archbishop’s demeanor.

 

Who would have thought that he, always so lofty, would exhibit such a state?

 

“...What follows is highly confidential.”

 

The Archbishop warned.

 

Rex simply nodded briefly.

 

.

.

.

 

Upon the conclusion of the lengthy explanation, Rex let out a hollow laugh at these implausible events.

 

“It’s not as simple a matter as to laugh at!”

 

But the Archbishop responded sensitively to his scorn.

 

“...Mind your tone.”

 

Rex warned the Archbishop, whose voice had risen.

 

A relationship that was somewhat equal, in a way.

 

However, Rex, the king, did not want to be overpowered by anyone.

 

Initially, it was the Archbishop who came seeking help.

 

As befitting a king, Rex kept him in check.

 

“...”

 

The Archbishop sealed his lips at the king’s warning.

 

But with his ensuing whisper, the gravity of the situation was to some extent communicated to Rex.

 

“...If the Saintess learns of this... it might cause a rift in the Hero party.”

 

“...”

 

“She might refuse to stay on the battlefield any longer...!”

 

Certainly, that would be a problem from Rex’s perspective.

 

On the other hand, he wondered if the situation would really escalate to such extremes.

 

It was the Saintess who left the man named Berg in the first place.

 

Hadn’t she considered such a situation to some extent?

 

Was she too young, or so blindly in love to not realize?

 

However, one reason why perhaps things might not spiral so drastically was due to what he heard from Gale, the mentor of the Hero party.

 

According to Gale, he had never met anyone as kind as the Saintess.

 

A true Saintess, he said.

 

Would such a Saintess turn her back on numerous lives simply because the man she loved had taken wives?

 

Yet, it was also a story that couldn’t be ignored.

 

There was no need to unnecessarily risk danger.

 

Rex felt irritation brewing within him.

 

He found himself questioning whether he should abandon the Red Flames, a potent weapon in this context.

 

“...Why did you lie from the very beginning?”

 

Rex asked, a question stemming from his frustration.

 

“How can you tell the story of the death of the man she loved for a piece of beef jerky and a couple of fairy tales…!”

 

“In any case, didn’t the problem you postponed appear larger because of that?”

 

“...”

 

“Why does the kingdom have to bear the burden of your mistakes?”

 

“...”

 

Still, perhaps due to his clerical position, the Archbishop managed to endure his own form of humiliation.

 

Rex, settling his anger, spoke.

 

“The Red Flames could have been a powerful weapon.”

 

“...”

 

“Because of you all, they can’t be utilized now.”

 

“...Your Majesty-”

 

“-I understand what you’re saying. I’ll make sure to appropriately monitor the Red Flames, ensuring they do not come into contact with the Hero party.”

 

“...Thank you.”

 

Despite that, Rex warned the Archbishop.

 

“But I hope you know that this doesn’t magically make all problems disappear.”

 

“...”

 

“I’m not a god... and I can’t prevent the Saintess from incidentally learning all about this.”

 

“...Yes. I understand.”

 

“And also, I’m only noting this... I might change my mind later. Remember, I’m not making a promise. I will act as I wish.”

 

“....”

 

“Our conversation is over. Please leave.”

 

The Archbishop rose from his seat and offered a bow.

 

Watching his retreating figure, Rex sighed again.

 

“...This is tough.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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