Chapter 86: The Mercenary Meeting (2)

 

After bidding farewell to Arwin, I visited Adam Hyung’s house to have a conversation with him.

 

Hyung, as always, was engrossed in various documents.

 

I always felt it, but... that familiar yet strange feeling seeing Hyung like that.

 

Would I ever have thought that the one who taught me the sword would live a quiet life like this?

 

I always felt that he was not an ordinary person.

 

“You’re here.”

 

Shortly afterward, Adam Hyung asked me a favor.

 

“Bring me a glass of liquor.”

 

At his familiar request, I moved familiarly as well.

 

I looked at the various liquor bottles piled up in his house and poured Bardi liquor into a glass.

 

Receiving the alcohol, Adam Hyung furrowed his brows.

 

“...I’m not fond of this liquor.”

 

“...”

 

I shrugged my shoulders and took a seat.

 

In any case, his grumbles like that soon subsided.

 

He wet his mouth with alcohol and looked over the documents.

 

“Give me the next request. I want to go out again.”

 

I asked Hyung. The sole of Ner’s feet was also healed, and I had rested enough.

 

It seemed better to get the next schedule sorted out.

 

However, Hyung shook his head.

 

“No, not now.”

 

At his firm refusal, I harbored a question.

 

“Why?”

 

“Mercenary meeting.”

 

“...Ah.”

 

And following his short answer, all questions melted away, disappearing like they were never there.

 

I clicked my tongue inwardly. Was that annoying meeting happening again?

 

A ‘Mercenary Meeting’ referred to a gathering where various mercenary groups came together to establish their own rules and regulations.

 

Since clients seeking mercenary groups were so varied, occasionally, there was a tussle over who gets to eat from the bowl.

 

If a not-so-difficult task was accompanied by a generous reward, a battlefield was created.

 

Fighting over who gets the mission, it sprawled into a battle of pride, resulting in two mercenary groups waging war, which had been a frequent occurrence.

 

There were more than a few mercenary groups that had thus disappeared or been ruined.

 

We, too, had been involved in such a battle before.

 

Of course, it was several years ago, and it happened when the Red Flames was not as large as it was now.

 

Therefore, to reduce such wasteful battlefields, the mercenary meetings were held occasionally.

 

I was not sure whether small-scale mercenary groups held such meetings, but for us, who were large enough to occupy a village, it was a necessary occasion.

 

We had to confirm each other’s lines and territories and establish appropriate rules.

 

The problem was that fierce tension arose in the place where the meeting was held.

 

While the captains maintain their lines, smiling at each other... the members below them have to stiffly hold their heads high so as not to be underestimated.

 

There was no space that was more mentally exhausting and uncomfortable than that.

 

Even though I wanted to avoid it as much as possible, I couldn’t skip it as the vice-captain.

 

Of course, so far, no one had picked a fight with me, who attended the meeting as quietly as a ghost.

 

But with the situation having changed, it might be a bit bothersome now.

 

“...Ha.”

 

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back.

 

Suddenly, a question sprouted and I asked him.

 

“...We’ve got nobles at our back now. Do we still have to go to such a meeting? Aren’t they all watching us?”

 

Hyung chuckled at my words.

 

As if to say, ‘you still don’t know’.

 

“...”

 

To begin with, my words were half-empty.

 

Certainly, there would be clear changes from having a noble backing us, but it was not to the extent that it threatened the livelihoods of other massive mercenary groups.

 

Eventually, I heaved a long sigh and tucked that annoying schedule into my head.

 

“...When is it?”

 

“In 10 days.”

 

“...”

 

Hyung spoke to my silence.

 

“You’re taking your wives too. It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

 

“...What? There?”

 

“It’s not like you brought them to hide them away tightly in the territory, right? It’s not much different from when you went to Dems village and showed off the connection with the nobles.”

 

I knew that what he said was right.

 

But given the place... it was inevitably awkward.

 

I seemed to already see my wives getting hurt by their jests.

 

They would be careful with their words, knowing they were somewhat nobility... but there were countless ways to make them uncomfortable without crossing the line.

 

In the first place, not all mercenaries were indignant toward nobles.

 

If they regarded life so importantly, they wouldn’t have become mercenaries from the start.

 

Hyung sipped his alcohol for a while, then set the glass down.

 

He, too, exhaled a sigh and looked at me.

 

“...”

 

Lately, Hyung’s attitude toward me had changed.

 

Perhaps it had been this way since the story about Sien.

 

An attitude that seemed apologetic.

 

I, rather, found it uncomfortable.

 

“Berg.”

 

But Hyung, perhaps understanding my feelings, corrected his gold-trimmed expression.

 

“...Yes.”

 

“I plan to significantly raise our status through this meeting.”

 

I rolled my eyes and looked at Hyung.

 

He had told me a thing or two before.

 

That our position among mercenary groups had to be high for our ultimate growth.

 

Not only the public evaluation was important.

 

Our name had to be well-known even among fellow mercenaries.

 

“...So?”

 

“...So, there’s no need to deliberately avoid a fight this time.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“If the opponents provoke, it’s okay to step on them.”

 

“...Ah.”

 

I was belatedly able to understand his words.

 

In other words, it seemed like he was saying it was okay not to hold back if a scuffle broke out at the mercenary meeting.

 

A request contrasting his previous advice to somewhat keep a check on my temperament.

 

It even sounds like he was saying it would be good if we could step on a few arrogant opponents.

 

“How many people are you talking about stepping on?”

 

Hyung shook his head.

 

“No. There’s no need to go that far.”

 

I scratched my cheek.

 

If there was anger, perhaps it was Hyung’s consideration to resolve it in such a way.

 

In fact, it wasn’t necessary to go this far.

 

From the start, I was only thinking about the next destination.

 

I had already let go of matters concerning the Hea Church, being with my wives.

 

The story about Hyung or Sien wasn’t new; it was something I had always carried.

 

Rather, I was worried about the mercenary meeting.

 

How would my wives react to this truth?

 

Whatever it might be, it seemed best to speak well to be moderately prepared.

 

****

 

Ner washed her body.

 

It was the best time to wash if she was to have dinner and then go out for a night walk to wait for Berg.

 

She had realized something lately.

 

For some reason, putting body odor on Berg’s body was becoming a habit now.

 

At some point, Berg’s fragrance came from her own body.

 

In a way, it was natural.

 

If a scent was applied, it adhered.

 

And her heart oddly grew heavier at the smell of Berg coming from her body.

 

Her breathing also seemed slightly rougher.

 

Now that she was bare from washing, the fragrance made her feel even stranger.

 

Ner shook her head left and right, shaking off the stray thoughts.

 

Water scattered everywhere.

 

Soon Berg would return, so it seemed better to get dressed and prepare to go outside.

 

Ner dried her body with a dry cloth and put on the clothes she had prepared.

 

Comparing it to what she wore in her noble days, the clothes had indeed become pitiable... but lately, she didn’t much care.

 

Having put on all her clothes, she naturally reached out her hand.

 

She groped for the last thing she needed to bring.

 

“..............Huh?”

 

As her hand grabbed at nothing but air, Ner turned her head.

 

It was nowhere to be seen.

 

Her eyes blinked in disbelief.

 

“...My ring.”

 

Her body, momentarily stiffened in bewilderment, abruptly moved.

 

She rummaged around the area near the bathroom.

 

Still, the ring was nowhere to be seen.

 

“...Huh?”

 

Could it possibly be lost?

 

The ring, to which she had recently grown accustomed, had suddenly vanished.

 

“...My...my ring...”

 

And with that realization, it felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on Ner’s chest.

 

She closely scanned around on the floor, yet the ring did not reveal itself.

 

Would she have thought that there would come a day when she would search for that once-pitiable piece of jewelry like this?

 

After searching for a while and not finding the ring, Ner hastily headed outside the bathroom.

 

She might have left it in the room by some chance.

 

It was unlikely, as she had never taken it off except for when bathing, but still.

 

She didn’t even think to dry the moisture in her hair.

 

As she quickly headed towards the master bedroom, she soon discovered Berg, who had returned home unbeknownst to her.

 

“Ner. I’m back.”

 

And she couldn’t lift her head in what seemed like guilt at the smile he offered.

 

Berg could quickly detect the change in her mood.

 

“...What’s wrong?”

 

At that question, Ner was startled and looked at Berg.

 

He slowly walked towards her.

 

Arwin, sitting at the table, quietly stopped and stared at her.

 

Ner locked eyes with her for a moment.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

Tearing away from that peculiar gaze, Ner spoke.

 

“Ah...no, just a moment.”

 

And then she passed by Berg and entered the master bedroom.

 

Surely it wouldn’t be here, but with a just-in-case mentality, she looked around the room.

 

It was a ring she couldn’t find anywhere in the bathroom.

 

The table. Under the bed. Beneath the quilt.

 

The ring couldn’t be found anywhere.

 

It was, of course, a given, but that very certainty brought her a surprising array of negative emotions.

 

“...Did you lose the ring?”

 

Quietly, Berg asked from behind her.

 

At that question, Ner’s body stiffened, unable to move.

 

Her perky ears wilted powerlessly.

 

Her tail began to curl involuntarily.

 

Then, a short sigh escaped from Berg.

 

Startled by that sigh, the moment Ner turned her head, Berg spoke.

 

“It’s okay. What can I say.”

 

“.........”

 

“It happens. You didn’t lose it outside, did you?”

 

“Be-Berg. I took it off for a moment to bathe, and then... I mean...”

 

She hastily tried to explain, but Berg’s expression remained gentle.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

He even managed a smile.

 

“We’ll find it as we look. I’m hungry now, let’s go eat.”

 

“............”

 

Seeing Berg manage a smile even in this situation, Ner felt a paradoxical warmth.

 

How could he be so understanding?

 

To the human race, a wedding ring was quite important.

 

But feeling that warmth was brief.

 

Ner wasn’t thinking about food right now.

 

The more Berg acted this way, the more she wanted to find the ring quickly.

 

Seeing she didn’t relax her expression, Berg cracked a joke.

 

“You said it was uncomfortable anyway. It’s just going without it for a day or two.”

 

“.........”

 

Ner didn’t laugh at his joke.

 

Her heart only grew heavier.

 

- Swish swish.

 

Berg, stroking the head of the motionless Ner, forcefully took her hand.

 

Ner was aimlessly led by that touch.

 

Nonchalantly, Berg spoke to Arwin, who was sitting at the table.

 

“Arwin. Let’s go. To eat.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Ner couldn’t lift her head.

 

Simultaneously, through the hand that Berg held, Ner felt a sensation.

 

What she felt from holding Berg’s right hand... was Arwin’s ring.

 

Ner’s heart sank once again at that realization.

 

Ner’s eyes cautiously glanced down at Berg’s hand.

 

And then, she looked at Arwin’s hand.

 

On both of their hands, rings of the same design were worn.

 

Arwin, who had said she could not love Berg because of his short lifespan, seemed, paradoxically, to be closer to Berg.

 

If she didn’t find the ring from now on, would this situation continue?

 

“...”

 

Strength involuntarily entered Ner’s hand.

 

She gripped Berg’s hand tighter.

 

At that strength, Berg looked down at Ner.

 

Ner whispered.

 

“...I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“...I’ll definitely find it.”

 

Berg said it was okay, but... this was entirely her fault.

 

The fault of her who had continually taken off and put on the ring.

 

Also, she was surprised.

 

She hadn’t thought she would feel this emotion.

 

It was the culture of the humans, but she seemed to have become accustomed to it before she knew it.

 

Once the ring, which at one point felt like Berg’s restraint, disappeared... an intensely unpleasant emotion came.

 

Was this emotion due to her remorse towards Berg, or was there something else?

 

She did not know.

 

Anyway, she couldn’t think of anything else.

 

Only the thought of finding the ring dominated her.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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