I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 106

 

It was an ordinary dinner time, just like any other.

The only difference was that Brody, who usually sat beside Kyle during meals, was now on the dining table in her rabbit form. In front of her was a large plate piled with vegetables and fruits.

It was a spot prepared by Eliza, but Brody couldn’t help feeling self-conscious about being on the table.

Glancing at Alexander, seated at the head of the table, she spoke hesitantly.

“Sorry. Starting tomorrow, I’ll eat separately.”

Alexander was about to reply in his usual blunt tone when he suddenly paused.

Something had entered his mouth.

He covered his mouth with a napkin and spit it out—it was rabbit fur. His mouth snapped shut immediately.

“It’s okay, sister-in-law. Meals should be shared with family.”

Abel said, answering on his father’s behalf.

But even he soon fell silent, picking out rabbit fur that had landed on his plate.

Meanwhile, Brody, the source of the fur floating around the house, lowered her small, round head in embarrassment.

She disliked causing trouble but had no choice.

Without going through her shedding phase in rabbit form, she would face worse issues later.

Normally, the shedding happened quickly after her transformation, causing loose fur to clump and stick to her skin, often leading to skin problems.

“I’m really sorry, everyone. Starting tomorrow, I’ll stay in the garden,” she said.

“We’re going to Avril tomorrow.”

Kyle reminded her.

That’s right—they were heading to Avril! 

Relieved, Brody brightened up and exclaimed her relief.

Kyle handed her a cherry tomato, teasingly remarking,

“Not good news for me, though.”

The remark implied that she should consider his feelings about spending time with her.

Brody glared at him with her shiny black eyes, as if to ask why he had to tease her at this moment.

Kyle merely suppressed a laugh.

Though typically silent during meals, he made exceptions for Brody, speaking and joking with her.

It was a sign that he was becoming more comfortable in these moments.

Observing the two, Eliza smiled as she placed a dish of meat in front of Kyle. He ignored the gesture, but Eliza didn’t seem to mind.

“Your uncle told me you’d leave early tomorrow morning.”

Alexander said to Kyle.

“…Take care,” he added.

“Yes.”

Kyle replied dryly, his tone a stark contrast to how he spoke with Brody.

Alexander frowned at the difference but said nothing further, and Kyle paid no attention to his father’s reaction.

Kyle and Brody were leaving the next day for Avril village, accompanied by Fabian, Albert, and Erbe’s wolves.

After their visit, Fabian and Erbe’s group planned to return to the highlands, as it was time for them to reunite with their families.

Though unspoken, everyone felt a growing sense of sadness about the upcoming separation.

 

***

 

The next morning, wolves began gathering in front of Alexander’s mansion.

Among them were Erbe’s wolves and Kyle’s subordinates, the Oswald brothers.

“Just thinking about three days of work is exhausting,” one brother complained.

“I’m planning to fake collapse on the way to Avril and sit out,” the other joked.

Before they could go further, a sharp voice interrupted them.

“That plan’s void since I heard it. Think of another,” said Kernels, the talkative crow.

At his sudden appearance, the twins grimaced in annoyance.

“You’re coming too?”

“Obviously!”

“Ugh.”

“What’s with that reaction!”

As they bickered, Kernels abruptly paused and shouted in agitation.

“Wait, is that rabbit coming too?”

The twins turned to see Brody hopping out of the mansion.

It was their first time seeing her in rabbit form, and their jaws dropped.

“Wow, she’s so tiny!”

Even though they’d expected her to be small, seeing her petite size in person was a surprise.

They circled her curiously, marveling at the pink cape she wore and the small bag of dried carrots prepared by Eliza.

“Is that a backpack on her?”

“I’ve never seen such a tiny cape!”

The twins were amazed not only by her attire but also by how her adult rabbit form was smaller than a typical rabbit.

“Did you not eat enough growing up?”

“She could fit in one bite!”

Though Brody knew they were joking, she attempted to respond kindly, smiling and saying,

“That’s an impolite question.”

However, before she could finish, a wolf darted out of nowhere.

In an instant, Kyle tackled the joking Oswald to the ground.

“Boss!”

“Kyle!”

Kyle’s blue eyes blazed as he pinned Oswald.

“You dare…?”

He applied pressure with his teeth, prompting Oswald to cry out.

“It was a joke! Just a joke!”

If Brody hadn’t intervened, Oswald might’ve ended up with a permanent neck scar.

After releasing him, Kyle growled at his subordinates.

“Behave. Just because she’s small doesn’t mean you can be disrespectful. Got it?”

Though the actions were not malicious, they stemmed from a predator’s instinct to underestimate herbivores, so Kyle sternly corrected them.

As the twins endured Kyle’s reprimand, Kernels had already fled to a tree, trembling.

Meanwhile, Fabian, who arrived late, burst into laughter upon seeing Brody in her pink cape.

“Pfft! What’s with the tiny cape? Did you make it yourself with your front paws?”

“Mother made it.”

Brody replied curtly, her voice tinged with irritation.

Mother?

Fabian froze when he turned and saw Eliza standing nearby.

“…Ah, my apologies, sister-in-law,” he stammered.

“It’s fine.”

Eliza said with a smile, but Fabian continued to apologize, his tone growing increasingly deferential.

The sight amused Brody and the others, who struggled to suppress their laughter.

 

***

 

After a noisy morning, they bid farewell to Alexander’s family and set off for Avril.

Fabian and the wolves led the way, ensuring they reached the village on time.

They traveled over Mount Nevo, through forests and fields, arriving at Avril late in the evening.

An Erbe’s team, already there helping with flood recovery, welcomed them warmly.

Together with the villagers, the group worked hard on the recovery efforts, leading the wolves and showing them the current state of the village.

Avril Village, ravaged by flooding caused by the collapse of a dam, still bore visible scars from the disaster.

However, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the first arrivals and the villagers, significant progress had been made.

They had cleared sediment swept into the lower village, restored roads, removed driftwood and debris carried by the floodwaters, and demolished partially destroyed farmhouses, making the area look much better than before.

The villagers informed Fabian,

“With the help of the beaver shapeshifters, we’re in the final stages of dam repairs. However, the rain a few days ago has accelerated the water level in the lake due to runoff from the mountains. That’s why we urgently requested reinforcements.”

The beavers, experts in dam construction, predicted more rain in the coming days and insisted the repairs be completed within four days at the latest.

Based on their advice, Fabian and the wolves decided to dispatch additional support to the dam repair work starting the next day.

The villagers provided temporary cabins and tents for the group to stay in during their efforts.

Kyle and Brody shared a small cabin.

It was cramped, with only enough room for a single bed, but Brody’s rabbit-sized form ensured it was not an issue.

She dragged a small blanket to the floor, spread it out, and sat on it.

“We need to sleep early if we’re heading out at dawn tomorrow. Kyle, turn off the light.”

However, Kyle, seated on the bed, didn’t seem inclined to sleep. Instead, he pulled something from his luggage and called Brody over.

“Come here.”

Curious, Brody hopped onto the bed, where Kyle set her in front of him and began brushing her fur with a comb he’d taken from his bag.

His mother, Eliza, had specifically requested Kyle to groom Brody, explaining that without proper brushing, loose fur would clump together, causing poor ventilation and potential skin issues.

“You don’t have to.”

Brody protested, worried that Kyle might be tired after a long day. But Kyle brushed off her concerns and continued grooming her.

“Just stay still.”

As he combed, clumps of fur came loose, prompting a soft chuckle from him. Meanwhile, Brody, enjoying the sensation of Kyle’s brushing, began to purr.

“Hehe.”

Her ears twitched and wiggled in rhythm with the brushing, as if they were dancing.

Kyle couldn’t help but smile.

“You like it?”

“Yeah! But it’s making me sleepy.”

“Then go to sleep.”

Kyle said, softening his strokes to help her relax.

Brody, her little paws tucked neatly under her body, began nodding off as Kyle’s gentle brushing lulled her to sleep.

Once she was fully asleep, Kyle set aside the comb and carefully moved her onto his pillow.

Watching her sleep with one ear flicking up at the faintest sound, Kyle’s face softened with a rare, peaceful smile.

He lay down beside her, and for another night, he drifted off with a sense of tranquility, his eyes on Brody.

 

***

 

Early in the morning, outside the cabin, the crow Kernels muttered complaints to himself.

Tasked by Kyle with guarding the cabin to ensure the rabbit didn’t wander off while he worked, Kernels was lamenting his misfortune.

“What kind of life is this? From tagging along with a wolf heir to babysitting a herbivore rabbit!” he grumbled.

Perched on a nearby tree since early dawn, Kernels hadn’t even had time for breakfast.

“Ugh, I can’t stand this! I need to eat something!”

Finally giving in to hunger, Kernels decided to leave briefly to find food.

The cabin was located at the top of the village, surrounded by little else, so he had to venture far downhill to scavenge for something edible.

Having spotted some dogwood berries on his way up earlier, he resolved to fill his stomach with those.

If only he’d had the ability to foresee the future, he might have endured his hunger a little longer.

But as a crow, Kernels lacked such foresight and, unaware of the looming disaster, flew off in search of food.

Thank you Jean for the Kofi ❤️

From now on almost every chapter has a cliffhanger, so consider yourself warned 😆