The Human Village (5)
Neir rubbed her face against the soft, comfortable pillow. How long had she been resting? With a half-awakened mind, she felt refreshed. The breeze blowing in was fragrant, and the warmth on her face suggested the sun was shining down on her. She wanted to stay curled up and asleep like this forever.
She shifted her head, nuzzling into the pillow to find a more comfortable position.
"Neir, wake up."
At that moment, the pillow spoke to her. The absurdity of the phenomenon snapped her wide awake. As Neir blinked in surprise, she saw Berg’s neck right in front of her eyes. Somehow, she had been pressed completely against his body, entrusting her entire weight to him.
Just as Neir moved to pull away in shock, Berg gripped her waist firmly.
"Ah...! W-wait—"
Heat rushed to her face, and her heart hammered against her ribs. But Berg explained calmly.
"—You'll fall. Calm down."
Only then did Neir shift her gaze to check her surroundings. Still groggy, her perception was slow. She was riding a horse. With both legs draped over the right side of the mount, she had been leaning against Berg. It was stable now, but if Berg hadn't been holding her, she surely would have fallen.
"..."
Slide.
Berg quietly released her waist. Neir blinked, processing the awkward sensation of someone touching her. "...Thank you."
She offered her thanks, though she felt embarrassed. She had no idea how long she had been sleeping against him. She desperately tried to hide the urge to crawl into a hole and disappear. Did I drool? She wiped her mouth, just in case. But Berg acted as if it were nothing, simply staring ahead and continuing to guide the horse. He didn't seem to care at all, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. Seeing his calm demeanor made Neir feel like a fool for being so flustered. She followed his lead, calming her emotions and looking around.
The scenery she remembered had changed significantly. The forest that felt like her hometown was no longer in sight. In its place was a vast, endless plain, and the sun was beginning to set.
"...Wow..."
She let out an involuntary exclamation of awe. As the sunset bathed the plains in a golden hue, it was impossible not to find it beautiful. Every time the wind blew, the grass bowed its head as if greeting them, creating waves. It was a sight she had never seen before. She had never traveled this far from home, after all. Only then did it finally start to sink in that she had truly left her home behind. She felt moved by the beauty, yet for some reason, a wave of melancholy washed over her.
Then, Berg spoke.
"We're almost there. Just a little longer."
"...Yes."
"How's the muscle pain?"
"It's bearable like this."
Berg constantly worried about her body. Every time he asked after her like this, her heart warmed. It felt reassuring to have someone who cared about her.
Soon, smoke could be seen rising in the distance. Berg pointed toward it and said, "We're here. See that?"
Neir looked down, following the direction of the smoke. A small village came into view. It was so shabby that it couldn't even be compared to the Blackwood territory. Neir nodded as she looked at the village. "...Yes, I see it."
She couldn't voice the fact that seeing the shabby village only made her worries grow.
"We're back!"
We entered the village for the first time in a while. Stakpin. The home of the Red Flame Mercenary Corps. The villagers rushed out to welcome us. Since it had been a massive expedition, the entire village was filled with joy. Adam and I led the way on our horses. Many of the residents of Stakpin looked at Neir, who was sitting with me, with great interest.
Neir shrank back at the whispers drifting through the cheers. She lowered her gaze, staring at my chest. "...Straighten your back."
At the same time, I pressed lightly on her waist. Neir flinched and looked up at me. I met her gaze, silently asking for the performance I had requested. We had to show that we were on good terms. If that wasn't possible, at least she couldn't look sad.
"..."
Neir pressed her lips together as if making a resolution, then straightened her back. She lifted her head and met the eyes of the villagers facing her. She introduced herself with more dignity, more like a noble. As she did, the people's gazes shifted. The look of curiosity was replaced by the respect one gives a high-born noble. The cheers grew louder, and more voices rose to bless us.
"Vice-Captain! Congratulations!"
"Be happy!"
"Three kids!"
Neir swallowed hard at the overwhelming atmosphere and looked at me. Her face seemed to be turning red. She blinked anxiously, as if about to break her dignified expression, but then she let out a long breath and continued the act.
As soon as we arrived, Adam announced the casualties and offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. After discussing the funeral arrangements, we dismissed the troops. The stories left untold to the villagers would be passed on by the members to their respective families anyway. More importantly, we prepared a feast so that grief wouldn't settle over the village. The grueling expedition was over, and we were tired of filling our stomachs with jerky and hard bread. Like other mercenary groups, our members needed an outlet to release the mental burden they had accumulated.
I heard that prostitutes were coming over from the neighboring village as well. They would likely satisfy their desires according to the pay in their pockets. While the feast was being prepared, Neir and I headed to my house.
"..."
Neir kept looking up at me, seemingly anxious about entering a house alone with me, without any servants. "...How much further is it?" she asked. It was a fair question. My house was located in a very remote corner of the village. In this small town, I lived in a house with no neighbors.
"Over there." I pointed to the house as it came into view, soothing her anxiety. Like Adam's house, mine was large for a commoner, but... it was a small house for a mercenary vice-captain. It was a two-story building with six rooms. Neir looked at the house where she would be living from now on and let out a long, shallow breath. It was as if she were steeling herself. Well, after living in such a magnificent place, she would need mental preparation to move into a place like this.
Creak...
The wooden door opened with a scream like a ghost's wail. The house I had left empty for so long welcomed me back. A thin layer of dust rose into the air. "...Come in." I led Neir inside.
"..."
Neir looked around the house and slowly set down her luggage. She stood still for a long time, frozen in silence. I could understand. Even to me, Neir didn't seem to fit the atmosphere of this house. She possessed an undeniable noble aura, and while my house might be slightly larger than others... it was still a commoner's home. Could she have ever imagined she would be brought to a house like this?
"...What are these wine bottles?"
However, Neir pointed out something I hadn't expected. I looked around the interior. I hadn't noticed them when I lived alone, but now that she pointed them out, there were indeed many wine bottles rolling around.
"...Do you drink this much?"
"It's not like that... they just piled up before I knew it."
She wasn't just pointing that out. "Why is there so much dust here?"
"Why would I clean that?"
"Why are there so many spiderwebs on the ceiling..."
"...Fair point."
"The floor here is broken. Why didn't you fix it?"
"...Can't you just walk around it?"
I was already making excuses, conscious of her gaze. If I had known it would come to this, should I have cleaned before leaving for the expedition? I had no words to defend myself.
"..."
In the end, I could only scratch my nose and look at Neir. Introducing a house we would live in together like this would only create resentment. But Neir looked at me, then suddenly burst into a giggle. I didn't understand why she was laughing, so I just stood there.
She said, "...I think this is the first time I've seen you look so dense. You seemed like you could do anything."
Unexpectedly, she didn't show any displeasure. I didn't miss the opportunity. "I'll fix and clean everything tomorrow."
Neir replied, "...I'll help you."
I was surprised by her unexpected answer. Being a noble lady, I thought she wouldn't want to do such things. Neir turned her head and muttered, "We're... friends, aren't we?"
"..."
A slow smile spread across my face at those words. I felt closer to her on the journey home. Saving Shaun, the hug we shared, being together in the narrow bed, riding the same horse, and her falling asleep leaning against me. I definitely felt like we were getting closer, step by step. That alone was enough for me. She was the one who had rejected and feared me just a few days ago. Could I have ever imagined it would turn out like this?
I said to her, "...Let's wash up and go to the square. The feast will be fun."
After washing up, we changed into comfortable clothes. We put down our luggage and organized our gear. Neir kept her medical tools carefully in our bedroom. Although there were many rooms in the house, there was only one we would use. If we used separate rooms and the village children found out, rumors would spread quickly. And to be honest, it was also my stubbornness. You need physical closeness to bring hearts closer. If I had used separate rooms out of consideration for Neir, it wouldn't have been hard to imagine us living as strangers for the rest of our lives.
Fortunately, Neir seemed to have expected that we would share a room, as she showed no particular dissatisfaction. Perhaps she was relieved to see that nothing had happened even though we had slept pressed close together the night before.
Soon, we headed to the village square. Noisy sounds were already ringing out. There was no crying. At the very least, today was a day to enjoy. It was also part of the mourning process. Only by playing, laughing, and eating to our hearts' content together could we more easily let go of our departed comrades. That was one of the key things Adam and I had learned from our previous mercenary group.
A massive bonfire was blazing in the village square. As we appeared, countless people cheered. Neir stuck close behind me at the sound. Her tail was tucked in, showing her tension. It was only natural. She was a stranger here. Even I would be nervous if I were told to go alone into a village where Lizardmen were gathered.
I raised my hand to respond to everyone's cheers and led Neir. We wandered around, looking for a place to sit. In the distance, Shaun waved his hand.
"Shaun...!"
Seeing that Shaun looked fine, I approached him. He slowly rose from his seat, bent at the waist, and bowed to Neir.
"Lady Neir, thank you."
Neir looked at Shaun, who was expressing his gratitude with wide eyes. "Thanks to you, I survived. I will never forget this kindness."
Neir looked up at me and cautiously grabbed my sleeve. Then, she raised her voice to reply. "...Yes."
We sat down next to Shaun. The atmosphere of the feast was heating up. Members who knew how to play instruments began to perform, and some started singing along. Baran brought alcohol and shared it with the members, and Theodore appeared with roasted meat. Neir's eyes were fixed on the meat. Her tail was also wagging cautiously. It was easy to see she wanted to eat it. I looked at her and said, "I'll go get some. Wait here."
"Oh. That... yes. Thank you."
Neir was surprised by the feast she was participating in for the first time. Her only similar experience was attending noble balls. Balls that were much quieter, flashier... and lonely, where her brothers would shun her. The feast before her eyes now was different. It was more savage, but the people looked happier. People burst out laughing while clutching their stomachs, and everyone revealed their true selves. For some reason, she liked this feast, which lacked any pretense, even more.
In the distance, she saw Berg surrounded by members, laughing. Even without seeing it up close, she knew he was being teased because of his marriage. Neir waited for Berg to return, watching him with a smile that now came naturally.
At the same time, as she looked around the village, she caught a strange sight. Several women were frowning as they looked at her. Feeling the hostility, Neir cautiously asked Shaun, who was sitting next to her.
"...Um... may I ask a question?"
"Yes. Anything."
"...Um... those people seem to dislike me... are Wolf-kin hated by humans?"
Shaun looked around at Neir's question. And seeing the people who were looking at her strangely, just as Neir had said, he burst into laughter. Neir was puzzled as she watched Shaun laugh for a long time. After he calmed his laughter, he said, "Those people?"
"...Yes."
"...They're all people who liked the Vice-Captain."
"......What?"
Neir blinked at the shocking statement. There wasn't just one or two women looking at her with hostility.
"...All of them? Isn't that too many? I'd rather they hate Wolf-kin—"
"—All of them, Lady Neir. The Vice-Captain is incredibly popular."
"..."
While Neir was silent, Shaun continued. "I don't know what the beauty standards of the Wolf-kin are, but by human standards, the Vice-Captain is handsome, wealthy, has a great body... he's blunt but kind and gentle. It would be strange if you didn't fall for him after talking to him for a bit."
Neir looked at Berg, who had become her husband. She realized anew that she had married such a person. Shaun giggled beside her and revealed one more fact. "But among them, not a single person has ever laid a hand on the Vice-Captain."
"....What?"
"You're the first, Lady Neir. You're the first woman I've seen touch the Vice-Captain. I saw you sleeping in the Vice-Captain's arms in the carriage today, and at first, I thought I was dreaming."
"...."
Neir felt her temperature rising. For some reason, it was getting hot. When she turned her eyes to look at Berg, he was approaching with a plate in one hand and alcohol in the other. In the midst of that, a woman approached him. Heavy makeup and revealing clothes. She looked like a woman from the pleasure district. Shaun raised his voice to Neir, as if to watch something fun. "Look. There she goes. Uh-oh..."
Neir felt herself becoming tense for some reason. Soon, the woman blocked Berg's path. Because the distance was close, her voice rang out. "Hey, handsome. Why don't you spend today with me..."
The woman naturally tried to place her hand on Berg's chest. Then, Berg made a colder expression than ever and said, "Don't touch me."
"..."
The woman shut her mouth like a mute. Berg walked past her. Shaun burst into laughter beside her. But Neir's heart sank as she saw Berg's cold expression. She realized he was a person who could make such a chilling face. She felt like she understood why people said he hated women. But as Berg approached Neir, his expression softened. By the time he reached her completely, he was even smiling.
"Here."
He handed the plate of meat to Neir. Neir felt a warm emotion for some reason as she took the plate. It felt special again that he only did this for her. "...Thank you," Neir said. Berg nodded.
Shaun teased from the side, "He's only warm to his own woman."
"..."
Soon, Neir gathered her courage. He had asked her to act like a happily married couple. Perhaps Berg even disliked her putting her hands on him. Maybe he was suppressing his emotions for the sake of the other members. ...Of course, his behavior so far didn't look like acting. Regardless, knowing that this feast held the meaning of mourning, she knew she had to continue the act more than ever. Neir carefully picked up a piece of meat and offered it to Berg. Berg smiled and tried to take the meat with his hand. But Neir squeezed her eyes shut and pushed the meat toward his mouth. Berg's approaching hand stopped. Soon, he chuckled and took the meat she offered with his mouth. Neir hurriedly pulled her hand back.
Berg said, "Thanks."
A word of gratitude with complex meanings. Neir brushed her hair back and nodded.