Incompatible Interspecies Wives

43 – World Tree (3)

We headed for the World Tree as fast as we could.

Last night, a letter from Ascal Celebrien was the cause.

The news that the bosses are getting closer to the world tree.

It didn’t seem like a lot of time.

Perhaps it has become a situation where you may have to check the type of boss and fight before even making a proper plan.

As my older brother tilted his head at the rising danger, the elf elder raised his voice and persuaded us to make connections with nobles.

Since I can’t look into my brother’s head, I don’t know exactly what he’s planning, but Adam nods to Ascal and orders him to move faster.

Since it was such a sudden request, the Red Flame Team didn’t come forward.

Some units have already been dispatched and are completing their quests, while others have already promised to resolve other requests and had to remain in Stockpin.

My brother said it was a less awkward situation than in Blackwood, so he had to hope it was okay.

But at the same time, there is a distinctly different atmosphere from Blackwood.

A slightly serious atmosphere flows.

Not having a party the day before must have played a part, and the fact that we might have to fight right away also played a part.

As much as it moves quickly, the biggest thing was probably that the members didn’t have time to talk to each other.

The crew followed us, running lightly. It was a light exercise compared to the training we usually went through. Maybe it would be better to let the body loose first through this.

It was to the point where Nere struggled even more.

It may have been an inconvenient trip for her as her riding skills were not that great yet.

“…Ah.”

Occasionally, Ner burst into her moaning beside her.

It seemed to be in pain as he bumped his hip or thigh against the saddle.

“Are you okay?”

“Gwa, it’s okay.”

But Nere didn’t complain once.

It seemed that he didn’t want to get in the way of the Red Flame Team.

Accordingly, I stopped caring about her making her feel uncomfortable and looked in front of her.

It was a landscape that would have been beautiful if I had traveled slowly.

The sky is clear, and green meadows continue.

Flowers were blooming beautifully here and there, and wild animals and birds could be seen in the distance.

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She was so focused on seeing Ner on her horse that she regretted not being able to see the scenery.

Suddenly, I checked the terrain and said to Adam.

“Brother, we need to turn the ranks to the left. You’re going too deep into the Galdir family estate.”

“No. Are you okay. Go ahead.”

But my brother didn’t listen to me.

There’s nothing good about going too deep into a family’s territory you’re not connected to.

In the end, we were a mercenary corps made up of commoners, and our existence was bound to be a threat to anyone.

If I made a mistake, I didn’t know if I would have to risk an unwanted fight with them.

I definitely knew that I had to quickly find the territory of Celebrien, but I didn’t know that I would move in such a linear direction.

Since I’ve never been like this before, I was thinking that Adam hyung’s choice was very surprising.

As expected, as we were running like that, a dusty wind started blowing in the distance.

It was to be expected that another army was running in our direction.

Soon we saw soldiers wielding the banners of the House of Galdir, and we slowed down accordingly.

There weren’t that many soldiers.

To be honest, if we were to deal with them, we would laugh at them.

Even so, the justification is over there.

It was clear who was crossing the line.

“Stop!”

A knight in the most splendid armor shouts at us.

“This is Galdi language territory! Who wants to lead an army like this in someone else’s territory!”

As they close the distance, the race gradually comes into view.

The knight was probably a short human or a half dwarf. The stout body and the long beard were more likely to be half dwarves.

Werewolves and Lizardman soldiers followed.

It was a mixed army of various races.

Actually, that’s universal.

It could be said that a group made up of only humans like us was more special.

Adam lifted his upper body to talk and took a breath, but the other person noticed us sooner than that.

“…Wait. A mercenary group made up of humans…?”

I raised one eyebrow. Even though we were gradually becoming famous, I didn’t think that even this half-dwarf knight would notice us.

Soon after, the werewolves following the dwarf were startled with a loud voice.

“Oh!”

His eyes were on Ner.

Soon he quickly attached himself to the half-dwarf and whispered something in his ear.

In the middle, the werewolf soldier’s voice resounds.

“…Whitetail…Black Ow…”

Ner must have heard that too, so he hid his white tail behind his back.

I felt it several times, but Ner didn’t seem to like the color of his tail.

Soon after, the knight looked us up and down, then loosened his neck once and carefully asked.

“…Are you… The Scarlet Trout?”

I laughed a little at the change in attitude.

I’ve heard that changes are taking place through other members, but experiencing it myself feels different.

I never thought that the day would come when a knight would speak highly of us.

I looked at Ner.

Ner also stares at me cautiously.

Is this the power behind the prestigious Blackwood family?

Any family should put their hands on the line in front of Blackwood.

Adam said unfazed.

“…Yes.”

“…Could you tell me why you came here?”

“We are heading to the Celebrien estate. I chose this drastic method because time is running out, so I would appreciate it if you could send it generously.”

The half-dwarf knight pondered for a while, looked at Ner once, and nodded.

Adam and the knight opened their distance again after a brief nod.

“Go!”

As his brother ordered, the Red Flame Team moved again.

I watched the Galdiar soldiers retreating behind us.

Then he looks at his older brother and asks.

“…Did you expect everything?”

Hyung also laughed.

“No?”

I’m dumbfounded by that answer, so I ask back.

“No, what did you think if you didn’t expect-“

“-I was going to name Celebrien.”

He said.

Then my brother looked at Nere, who was next to me.

I nodded slowly and shut my mouth.

Really, some change was beginning.

It felt like I gained intangible power in an instant.

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After that, we faced soldiers from different families many times.

But once they realized that we were all human, and that white-tailed werewolves were with us, they all treated us with a relaxed attitude.

I was still wary. But that was it.

We won anyway, even with force, and we had a high name on our backs, so everyone didn’t carelessly stop us.

Especially if we add that we are going to help the Celebrien family, they would even wish us well.

Even so, we faced a few soldiers who were uncomfortable with it, and at that time, even the elven elder stepped forward and vouched for us.

Accordingly, we jumped over a distance that would have taken several days at once.

I ran to the place where I could see the world tree tomorrow.

We set up camp at a suitable distance for the soldiers who had been running all day.

There was plenty of room.

I took a long breath.

“After.”

To be honest, I was surprised.

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After talking with Adam for a while, we sent out a reconnaissance party.

I was worried because it was a dark night, but luckily the moon was high and bright…I had to double check the existence of the boss.

All you have to do is find out roughly where the bosses are roaming from afar.

If you do that, you can plan a more detailed strategy depending on the terrain and the type of boss.

“Yes. That’s enough. Go get some rest, Berg.”

“Hyeong-do.”

With those words, I left Adam’s temporary tent.

Fires are lit here and there, and the smell of food wafts in.

As if this break was sweet after running all day, a warm atmosphere bloomed in the mercenary corps.

The heavy atmosphere that I was worried about earlier was nowhere to be found.

“Rice looks delicious, really.”

“Hey, make a lot!”

It was not in the mood for tomorrow’s battle.

I didn’t even know it was like this because I heard that it wouldn’t be as difficult as Blackwood’s past.

Actually, this is better than letting the fear sit.

There is nothing more foolish than being afraid of something you have to experience anyway.

“Hey, did you see it? Sending everyone.”

“The expression of the knights, keuk keuk. Everyone hesitates.”

But there seemed to be another reason for the cheerful atmosphere of the mercenaries.

As soon as I heard it, I could tell what their pride was.

Those who were always ignored because they were human felt relieved because they ran ignoring various families for a moment.

I smiled a little at that fact.

Adam’s choice may always be the right one.

Soon I moved to find Ner.

Catch the members you see one by one and ask where Ner is.

“Have you seen my wife?”

“Ah, vice-captain. Are you Ner? No, I didn’t see it. Maybe he’s resting in the vice-captain’s tent?”

“Where is my tent?”

“Over there, over there.”

The member points to a tent in the distance with his finger.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Yes. Rest.”

I followed him and headed for my tent.

****

Ner sighed and sat on the couch inside the tent.

The day was harder than expected.

I couldn’t complain because I was on a horse, and the scenery was beautiful, so that part was fine.

…It has been a long time since I received a lot of attention.

I met many werewolves whose names I did not know.

And as one, they grasped her existence by looking at her tail.

It’s the tail that has always been her wrath.

I was born differently from birth.

Let alone the glossy black and gray tail that symbolizes Blackwood, it is white that does not contain any of that dark color.

A strange color even if you are not from the Blackwood family.

It was the stigma that made Ner recognizable for taking her mother’s life.

Ner is now realizing that he is much more famous than he expected.

It reminds me of how everyone looked at my white tail and muttered.

For some reason, it felt like he was pointing a finger at himself, so he shrank even more.

Would you have done less if you had been loved by your brothers?

If you petted a tail like this, would you feel proud of its unusual color?

Since this was Nere who was bullied for her tail, she couldn’t hate her own tail more than this.

The only person who praised her own tail was her grandmother, and she didn’t know that maybe even that was the comforting words she was giving herself.

That’s why the day was exhausting.

It’s as if her moment-forgotten complex is swallowing her once again.

This unalterable physical defect of her has always followed her around.

At that time, the sound of someone clearing his throat is heard outside the tent.

Soon, Berg comes in.

“Berg?”

“Here you are.”

“…Yes.”

Ner quickly hid his melancholy in Berg’s presence.

Because even if it stays like this, nothing will get better.

She asked Berg casually.

“Can I rest now?”

“…If you eat.”

But Berg’s reaction was a bit different from usual.

He was examining himself closely.

His gait became more cautious and approached slowly.

“Why?”

When Ner asked about the change,

“What’s up?”

And Berg answered right away.

“…….”

Ner wondered how he was able to reveal his true feelings so easily.

It must have been difficult for him to sit on his tail and grasp his mood.

“Oh, no.”

So Nere answered.

She didn’t want to reveal the pain of her own tail to Berg.

Because it will only make you more miserable.

Even Berg would know that the color of his tail sucks, but he didn’t even want to have this conversation with him.

It was more comfortable for him to act like he didn’t know.

But Berg took the seat next to him in an instant.

“…Why. What.”

Berg asks again.

Thanks to the close berg, Ner’s eyes wander.

“Isn’t that… no…?”

“No. Say it.”

“…”

Ner was silent for a moment.

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Then, Ner was moved for some reason by the attention he was pouring on him.

I feel like an idiot when I cry over something insignificant.

Is it because you have been dealing with all the pain yourself?

I never thought it would feel like this to be interested in someone.

It felt comforting just by asking.

But Ner wanted to hide this.

It feels like Berg sometimes forcibly pulls his wrist, and it feels that way even now.

It seems like they are forcibly revealing their inner thoughts.

Ner tried to refuse his offer again, but this time he didn’t open his mouth.

My throat gets clogged up for an instant.

Ner couldn’t figure out why he suddenly felt like he was about to burst into tears.

It wasn’t really a big deal.

It was a pain that would be forgotten if I just looked at the moon at night and fell asleep.

But after such a long time, when his mouth opened naturally again, Ner himself was unconsciously letting out the pain.

“…Really nothing…It’s just… Trivial.”

I couldn’t say no.

Berg didn’t let go of that horse’s tail.

“What is the little thing?”

“…”

Ner lowered his head. Berg Go accordingly lowered his head and tried to meet his eyes.

He momentarily offers a prank.

“What, because the bed is narrow?”

Ner’s broken heart went into his heart and a dejected laugh came out.

I couldn’t help it with those stupid words.

“Are you hungry?”

“…”

“Does your thigh hurt from riding a horse?”

Ner finally giggled.

Tears that seemed like they were about to flow stopped caught in the corners of my eyes.

“…What do you mean?”

When Berg, who refreshed the atmosphere, asked again, Ner said.

“…Tail…Tail.”

“What?”

“…It’s been a while since I realized how much I hate my tail.”

Contrary to what I thought he would harden his expression, saying he knew what he was talking about, Berg still makes a face that he really doesn’t know.

“…?”

It was as if he would have understood more if he was doing this because the bed was narrow.

Berg looked at her tail for an instant, and Ner instinctively rolled up his tail.

“…Why is the tail?”

“Knowingly. The color is terrible. Everyone sees this tail and knows that I am Ner Blackwood.”

“…”

“Considering how many times I was discriminated against and pointed at by this…But I can understand. It’s disgusting even when I see it.”

“Gingy?”

“You saw it today too. Other werewolves keep looking at this tail.”

“…”

“You think you’re really bad too. Just so. Suddenly I hate it.”

But Berg laughed.

Ner looked up at him, surprised by his reaction.

“You think I’m not good enough?”

“…”

Berg thought for a moment and then asked.

“Are you disgusted with me without a tail?”

“…No? But you are human.”

“So. I’m a human, so I have no idea what your tail is like.”

Berg spoke in a very light tone.

Because I didn’t speak seriously, I felt more trustworthy.

“I’ve never thought of it being gross because it’s white. Aren’t you thinking too far ahead?”

“…”

Ner blinks his eyes, retorting to him.

“…A lie.”

“Why are you lying about this?”

“Tell me honestly. If you comfort me with lies, it hurts even more.”

Ner was appreciative of what he said, but expressed disapproval in a childish way.

The wounds I had received were too deep to accept his consolation right away.

“Honestly?”

Berg asks again.

Ner’s heart sank for a moment.

Bit your lips tightly and nod your head.

“Yes, honestly.”

Berg scratched his head.

“Honestly, I think it looks prettier because it is white.”

“…………”

Ner felt a strange feeling when he saw Berg making his long-standing worries seem as if nothing had happened.

I keep feeling repulsive, but at the same time, a warm feeling pulsates around my heart.

The agitation was so great that I couldn’t even answer.

I never thought that there would be people who would tell me that I was ugly all my life and that I was pretty.

I felt like an idiot when I was shaken like this just because I was told that I was pretty.

I was so shaken by those words.

“……You are a human.”

Ner could only say that.

“Sure.”

But Berg didn’t bother to refute that fact.

“That’s why.”

“…Sigh.”

Ner lowered his head and hid his face.

I wonder if Berg considers this color that everyone hates to be pretty.

Ner’s beating heart tingled at his fingertips.

“…Really pretty?”

Ner asks the unbelievable fact again.

I didn’t even know why I asked this.

It was something you might want to be confirmed.

“…Yes. I am good.”

Ner suddenly noticed that this was the first time since his grandmother that someone had told him that his tail was pretty.

Once again, the trembling heart soars.

And this time, I couldn’t stand the feeling.

Tears ran down my cheeks.

“What? Why are you crying.”

Berg asked in surprise as if he didn’t understand.

Ner couldn’t understand either.

However, since my long pain was affirmed by someone like this, I couldn’t help but be shaken like this.

“…Why am I crying?”

Ner sniffed and wiped away tears.

I forcibly suppressed the urge to cry.

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Soon came night, Ner was with Berg in that narrow bed.

Berg tried to take off his upper clothes, but noticed himself and put on his clothes.

But this time, Ner raised his voice.

“Spread out, do whatever you feel comfortable with.”

“…”

“…We’re going to fight soon. I don’t want to disturb your rest.”

Ner didn’t even know why he said this.

It was full of unknown things all day long.

I was really acting impulsively today.

Berg didn’t bother to argue with her.

He laughs and throws off his upper clothes.

Then he lay down on the bed and said.

“Let’s go to sleep. I’ll be busy tomorrow too.”

“Yes.”

Ner slowly settled down beside him.

This time too, the space is narrow and we have no choice but to sleep together.

As before, Ner lay down uneasy, leaving only a very narrow gap.

Berg let out a long sigh, and soon fell asleep.

Ner pretended to sleep and then opened his eyes.

“…”

I still linger in my head about what Berg said.

She lifted her white tail and looked.

I wondered if this could be called pretty…But I didn’t think he was lying.

My heart raced again.

Human at close range.

The person who became my husband anyway.

Berg tosses and turns and almost falls off the bed.

“Uh, what is it? Write…”

When he woke up from his slumber, Nere proposed first.

“…You can hang out a little longer.”

“…?”

Berg looked at Ner with dreamy eyes.

Soon he shrugs and goes deeper into the bed.

Ner, who was lying on his side, felt Berg approaching in an instant.

“…”

Ner gulped down.

I really don’t feel any discomfort.

It was to the point where I could feel his presence rather reassuring.

When Ner let go of the slight force that was in his body, the arm he had placed defensively in front of his body touched his bare side.

“…”

But she didn’t take her own arm from him.

I just wanted to do that today.