Chapter 99: No Favoritism (5)

 

Ner entered a small village, following the members of the Red Flames.

 

This was a choice made to cope with the sudden downpour.

 

Setting up camp belatedly was pointless, and even if they did, it would have been a night spent in discomfort.

 

Not all of the Red Flames members entered the small village.

 

Given their size, they split into two groups.

 

One centered around Ner, and the others.

 

Ner certainly felt she was an honored guest through this arrangement.

 

Sometimes, she would forget the difference in the statuses due to Berg’s comfortable treatment.

 

She was the only noble in this group.

 

She felt the preferential treatment that came with it.

 

Adam, the leader of the group, and several injured members from the mercenary meeting decided to rest in the village.

 

The rest of the healthy Red Flames members, or those eager to return to their families, followed Baran’s lead back to Stockpin.

 

Upon entering, many villagers cautiously welcomed the Red Flames.

 

Anyone would be tense seeing so many armed men.

 

“Who is the village chief?” asked Adam.

 

An elderly werewolf stepped forward, trembling as he greeted them.

 

“…Yes.”

 

Adam spoke gently.

 

“Don’t be nervous. We’re just looking for a place to shelter from the rain for a while. We have a noble with us…”

 

While saying so, he glanced at Ner.

 

Ner, who had been shielding herself from the rain with her hand, also looked at the village chief.

 

Her identity was soon revealed.

 

It was undoubtedly her tail that gave it away.

 

“...Ner Black-Blackwood? Oh, Blackwood yeong-ae*?”

 

“...”

 

But Ner didn’t shrink back as before.

 

Just a few days ago, she had endured much harsher ridicule in a more intense situation.

 

Remembering how Berg had handled it then, she found some ease.

 

Confusion briefly crossed the village chief’s face.

 

But he quickly lowered his stance.

 

“You’re the Red Flames group...! Yes...! We have space!”

 

Adam exclaimed.

 

“You know of us.”

 

“How could we not...!”

 

The village chief quickly submitted before the noble house.

 

Sometimes, this aspect of werewolves people was convenient.

 

As they revered strength, they knew how to submit to it.

 

The village chief then commanded the villagers.

 

“Tom! Make room in the inn! Prepare warm water and food!”

 

Adam said.

 

“We’ll pay, so please prepare with care. And find some women to attend to Blackwood-yang*. She’s my dongsaeng’s wife... must be treated carefully.”

 

“Of course. We’ll prepare everything...!”

 

Ner didn’t particularly need women to assist her, but she wasn’t comfortable enough with Adam to refuse his thoughtfulness.

 

Even though Berg was like a brother to him, there was always a certain distance between her and Adam.

 

“...”

 

Perhaps it was because she hardly had the time to pay attention to such trivial matters.

 

As her body cooled in the rain, her inner turmoil intensified.

 

...Where could Berg be?

 

No, where could both Berg and Arwin be?

 

While the village chief and the residents were busy preparing for their guests, Ner pondered alone for a moment.

 

Observing this, Adam spoke.

 

“Just hold on a little longer, Blackwood-yang*. We’ll soon find shelter from the rain.”

 

Ner, seizing the opportunity, said,

 

“...Berg hasn’t returned yet.”

 

Adam nodded lightly.

 

“That’s true.”

 

He looked at Ner, who was repeating the obvious, with a hint of curiosity.

 

“...”

 

Ner found herself at a loss for words.

 

She couldn’t very well ask them to go looking for him.

 

There was no other recourse.

 

In the end, her earlier statement was just an expression of frustration.

 

“Berg will be fine,” Adam assured, looking at the silent Ner.

 

“...”

 

But that wasn’t it.

 

His words didn’t bring her any relief.

 

Ner... wasn’t okay.

 

A fog denser than the torrential downpour clouded her heart.

 

Where could they be in this downpour?

 

Ner had no way of knowing.

 

****

 

Arwin found a large tree alongside Berg.

 

It was so enormous that a small space, big enough to hide their bodies, had formed at the base of the tree.

 

“...Let’s rest here for a while.”

 

“...”

 

Berg had made the decision, but Arwin found herself unable to move, even at his urging.

 

She just stood there, getting drenched in the now chilling rain.

 

“Arwin? What are you doing? Come on in.”

 

“...Ah.”

 

Her expression involuntarily darkened.

 

That small space beneath the huge tree triggered certain memories.

 

Memories associated with small spaces under a large tree.

 

“...I... I don’t want to.”

 

She whispered without realizing.

 

That space had always brought her pain.

 

“Arwin...?”

 

“...I don’t want to!”

 

-Thud.

 

“Arwin.”

 

But then Berg grasped Arwin’s wrist.

 

“...Let’s go inside.”

 

The fear that Arwin felt dissipated with his touch.

 

Right there, in front of her, was the man who had pulled her out of that space.

 

The man who achieved in a moment what no one else could in hundreds of years.

 

His presence was surprisingly comforting.

 

Only then did Arwin realize her body was shaking uncontrollably.

 

The cold she hadn’t felt due to fear was now creeping up on her.

 

Arwin nodded.

 

Following Berg, she squeezed herself into the small space.

 

.

.

.

 

In the cramped space where their shoulders touched, Berg began to take off his shirt.

 

“...”

 

Arwin, without uttering a word, shook her head vehemently at Berg, who was looking at her. She clutched onto her shirt, refusing to let go.

 

She was resolute.

 

“...You’ll catch a cold.”

 

“...”

 

Berg had suggested she take off her shirt too, arguing that staying in wet clothes was risky.

 

But no words could persuade her to undress.

 

In this unprepared moment, she couldn’t bear to reveal herself to Berg.

 

It was far too embarrassing.

 

“...You once said you’d even bear my child.”

 

Berg chuckled as he spoke.

 

Arwin’s face turned beet red, recalling her past words. She realized anew how foolish and naive she had been.

 

“Ah!”

 

In that instant, Berg pulled her towards him.

 

Arwin’s body, initially rigid, moved in the tight, confined space.

 

The surprise was fleeting.

 

Before she knew it, Arwin found herself sitting on Berg’s legs.

 

Her back was against his upper body.

 

The warmth of his body melted away the cold.

 

Yet, Berg said nothing.

 

He simply acted as if this was the most natural thing to do.

 

“...”

 

His promise to protect her once again felt so real.

 

Her heart melted.

 

Everything he did today felt new and mysterious.

 

Berg, who had left the mercenary group for her sake.

 

Could there be anyone else who would act this way under such duress?

 

If it hadn’t been for her complaints, they wouldn’t have ended up in this uncomfortable situation.

 

But Berg never uttered a word of complaint.

 

He didn’t blame her for the hardship they faced.

 

Instead, he smiled for her as she braved the rain, led her into this confined space when she was scared, and warmed her with his body heat.

 

Arwin felt a sudden sense of happiness, so unfamiliar to her.

 

...Was the outside world always this bright, or was it Berg who shone so brightly?

 

With her limited experience, Arwin couldn’t tell.

 

All she knew was that she was gasping in an overwhelming happiness.

 

****

 

Ner bathed with the help of several women.

 

The warm water thawed her chilled body.

 

The women gently poured water over her body, massaging her skin.

 

They even combed her white tail fur.

 

But Ner’s heart remained as cold as ice.

 

The numerous thoughts filling her head weighed heavily on her.

 

“...”

 

This happened more and more.

 

In the past, she didn’t care what Berg did with Arwin.

 

But as time went by, it became more apparent.

 

Every time Berg took a rest with Arwin, or even just held her hand, or simply engaged in conversation, it didn’t feel good.

 

Would she have worried less if Berg wasn’t of the human race?

 

Uncomfortable emotions seemed to keep surfacing.

 

“Are you comfortable?”

 

An elderly werewolf woman gently asked Ner.

 

Ner nodded.

 

Perhaps because she was a noble, she naturally accepted their attentive care.

 

Sitting in the warm bath, Ner raised her left hand.

 

The hot water smoothly cascaded over her sleek skin.

 

“...”

 

Ner gazed at the ring on her ring finger.

 

A ring that once felt like a shackle.

 

...But now, it was the only thing connecting her to Berg, who had gone somewhere far away.

 

“...Where did you go?”

 

Ner whispered.

 

She tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her heart.

 

She also forcibly swallowed the words, ‘...leaving me behind.’

 

.

.

.

 

After bathing and settling into a reasonably comfortable room, the same elderly woman who had assisted her earlier inquired,

 

“Are there any inconveniences?”

 

Ner shook her head.

 

Seeing Ner’s response, the old werewolf woman prepared to leave the room.

 

“Then I shall take my leave. If you find anything uncomfortable-”

 

“...Ah.”

 

Suddenly, Ner realized something perplexing.

 

It was something she couldn’t figure out on her own.

 

She hadn’t learned about it in her territory, nor had she been curious enough before to seek out information.

 

At Ner’s exclamation, the old werewolf woman naturally turned to look at her.

 

“Yes, please go ahead.”

 

“...”

 

Even though she was a commoner, this elderly woman had more experience as a woman than Ner did.

 

And it was easier to ask such a question to a complete stranger like her.

 

It was the kind of query that was difficult to ask just anyone.

 

...Additionally, the comforting aura of the old woman reminded Ner of her grandmother.

 

This lessened her guard even more.

 

“...You mustn’t spread rumors about this.”

 

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

 

“...It’s... It’s just a question.”

 

Ner began, albeit with difficulty.

 

Even as she spoke, a wave of embarrassment washed over her.

 

But her curiosity needed to be addressed while the opportunity was there.

 

She might not meet another kin elder, someone who could understand her, again.

 

“...Lately, my feelings have been intensifying.”

 

Ner whispered her admission.

 

To her embarrassing confession, the elderly woman asked as if it were nothing unusual.

 

“Feeling intensifying means...?”

 

“...My body tingles, my heart races. I keep losing control of myself. The next day, I can’t understand why I acted that way.”

 

In truth, Ner could have revealed even more.

 

About her desire to bite Berg.

 

About her wish to hug him tightly just once.

 

The story of wanting to drench him in her scent.

 

The story of wanting to lick him all day.

 

...And the story of wanting to be licked.

 

These desires had intensified with the recent escalation of her mating season.

 

Thoughts that would normally shock and horrify her came to Ner impulsively, like urges.

 

But Ner knew all this was the influence of her mating time.

 

She had to find a way to deal with it.

 

The old woman responded with a gentle smile.

 

“That’s the mating time.”

 

Ner shook her head.

 

“...No. It wasn’t like this before. Before, my body wasn’t affected at all-”

 

The old woman countered her words.

 

“-If there’s no one you love.”

 

“...”

 

“...those feelings don’t come if there’s no love, you see?”

 

Ner blinked.

 

At those bewildering words, she found herself unable to say anything.

 

All she could do was whisper in disbelief.

 

“...What?”

 

The idea of loving someone.

 

At that notion, her heart tightened.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

[TL: Yeong-ae ‘영애‘: It’s a way to refer to the daughter of someone in a high position. For example the daughter of a rich family or a noble family.

 

Yang ‘양’: It' actually means quantity or sheep but when you call a woman who is younger than you, and if you add ‘양’ at the end of her name, it shows respect. 

 

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