Incompatible Interspecies Wives

Chapter 57: Like a Moth to a Flame (4)

Ascal and I came to a halt in front of the room where Arwin was staying.

The hand of the elf elder, poised to knock on the door, froze in mid-air.

He then turned to me and said, as if cautioning,

"Ah...perhaps."

"...?"

"It might be better if we wait outside for a moment."

Confused, I asked him, "Why?"

"Arwin doesn't like the idea of becoming nourishment for the World Tree. She might not be fond of the tradition of saying goodbye to the World Tree either."

Not liking to become nourishment?

At those words, I wondered why the image of World Tree's leaf—to be specific, Arwin's withered leaf—came to my mind.

Regardless, his explanation didn't give me a reason to stay outside.

As I silently looked at Ascal, he added,

"...There might be an argument."

Finally, I shook my head.

"It's fine. Besides, I need to explain why the mercenaries left early, so let's go in together."

"If you say so."

With that, Ascal promptly knocked on the door.

"Arwin, are you in there?"

"...Come in."

At the responding voice, Ascal pushed open the door.

Arwin was sitting on a chair, dressed in simple clothes.

Around her, half-packed belongings were scattered.

It seemed like she stopped packing upon seeing the mercenaries leaving through the window.

She raised an eyebrow upon seeing me.

"...I did think it was odd that you left so abruptly."

"The mercenaries had urgent matters to attend to, so they left early. You and I will head back tomorrow." I spoke up.

"...Tomorrow? Why not today?"

A puzzled expression crossed Arwin's face.

Ascal cleared his throat and continued the conversation.

"You have to perform the final ritual."

At those words, Arwin visibly tensed.

It seemed she disliked the ritual, just as Ascal mentioned.

Her agitation only grew and her unfocused eyes waver.

"...Till the end..."

"I don't like it either, Arwin. But it's tradition. What can we do?"

Arwin's lips, tightly sealed until now, trembled.

The more she showed aversion, the more perplexed I became.

Her resistance seemed much greater than that of other elves.

Was it regret for not leaving this territory sooner?

"...Ha."

Finally, like a string snapping, Arwin lets out a sigh.

Then she shot a sharp glance at Ascal.

Her weary eyes were filled with a staggering amount of loathing, enough to even make me wonder.

"...Torturing me to the end... It's all just hypocrisy."