IPUAVNP Chapter 127

Episode 127

 

The betrayal by the lions during the war with the Elders’ tigers taught Abel—who had always trusted others and acted in good faith—a hard lesson.

He came to understand that there are some who cannot be reached with sincerity and that, as his brother had said, there are those who should not be trusted.

As a leader, one must discern when to act with strength and when to trust others.

Alexander and the elders, who had experienced the same ordeal, could not easily oppose Kyle’s distrust or Abel’s assertions.

Turning to Alexander and the others, Abel spoke.

“We cannot face the lions alone. As you all know, with our current forces, we would shed more blood than they would if we went to war. What we need now is reinforcements.”

At the mention of reinforcements, the elders immediately thought of their kin who had returned to the highlands of Erbe.

“Are you saying we should call on the wolves of Erbe once again?”

“If the lions find out that Erbe is moving towards us, they’ll launch a preemptive strike immediately.”

But Abel shook his head.

“The wolves of Erbe won’t be enough. To ensure that the lions never rise again, we need someone even stronger.”

If they were to completely crush the lions, they would need a force powerful enough to ensure the lions could not recover.

At that moment, everyone in the room thought of the same group: the ones dwelling in the northern mountains, known as the strongest in the southern Knohen continent.

Those who knew of their nature responded with skepticism.

“Abel, you know they are pacifists. They won’t join the fight.”

“That’s not entirely true. They don’t wage war because they don’t need to. Looking at the bigger picture, it’s better to ally with them than to negotiate with the lions and give up what’s ours. At least they are honorable.”

No one argued further, though they all knew how humiliating it would be to request help from such a proud and arrogant group.

At that moment, Alexander, who had been silently listening to the discussion, spoke in a low voice.

“I will go to the north myself.”

Kyle looked up, surprised.

For a leader to personally request aid was a desperate and humbling move—one that would deeply wound Alexander’s pride.

Kyle, knowing his father’s strong sense of pride, met his gaze but saw that Alexander had already made up his mind.

“You are right.”

Alexander said to his sons.

“The time for peaceful negotiation with Baldwin has passed.”

With their leader’s decision made, even those who had been opposed fell silent. Together, they began devising a plan and assigning roles.

“Before we confront them, someone must first make contact with Miss Brody in Baldwin’s territory.”

“But their borders will be heavily guarded. After what they’ve done, they’ll be watching for any suspicious movements.”

They needed someone who could enter the lions’ territory without arousing suspicion.

At that moment, Kyle stepped forward.

“I will go to Baldwin’s plains.”

Of course, he wouldn’t be able to meet Brody directly.

By now, the lions would be expecting him to come and would likely be lying in wait near the border to ambush him.

Kyle intended to use that to his advantage.

As Brody’s lover, he could enter their territory without raising suspicion.

By allowing himself to be captured and harmed by them, Roden could later send someone under the pretense of confirming his whereabouts.

That person, Kernels, could quickly cross the border using the skies, locate Brody in the lions’ stronghold, and rescue her.

Despite concerns over Kyle’s safety, no one could stop him.

Determined to serve as bait, he set off alone, leaving his subordinates behind, and raced toward the border.

As planned, he entered Baldwin’s plains, was attacked by the lions, and left on the field, gravely injured, where Kernels found him.

…Though in far worse condition than anticipated.

Seeing Kernels, Kyle forced out a weak plea.

“…Go. To Brody…”

If Kernels delayed too long while trying to take him back, it would arouse suspicion. He had to head to Brody immediately.

“**** it, I don’t care what happens to that rabbit! Is that really what matters now?”

Kernels shouted in frustration, but he couldn’t defy his mission.

Reluctantly, he left Kyle behind and made his way toward Brody.

As Kernels disappeared into the distance, Kyle lay gasping for breath, his eyes slowly opening.

Blood had dried on his eyelids, making it difficult to see. The warmth was draining from his body, and he trembled uncontrollably.

Staring blankly at the crimson-stained sky, Kyle realized that if he let go of his consciousness, he would die.

He had fought to stay alert until Kernels arrived, but seeing him leave for Brody brought an odd sense of relief, and his strength began to fade.

‘Am I going to die here?’

He never thought he’d die a senseless death at the hands of the lions.

A bitter, self-mocking laugh escaped his lips.

Yet, he didn’t regret it.

It was all for Brody.

If his death meant saving her, his life didn’t matter. Even if this was how it ended…

As these thoughts settled in his mind, Kyle paused. He was startled by the depth of his own feelings for her.

A selfish man like him, facing death, thinking only of someone else—how had he changed so much?

How did he become like this?

There was no need to ponder long for the answer to his feelings.

Suddenly, a voice from his memories echoed in Kyle’s mind:

‘Kyle, you know, when someone falls in love, they start acting like me. At that point, your happiness becomes less important than the happiness of the one you love.’

It was something a certain rabbit had told him long ago, after collapsing from days of fasting on the frozen sea for his sake.

For a moment, his eyes went blank, as though struck by lightning. But it lasted only briefly.

From deep within his chest, a fiery emotion surged up like a blazing inferno, spilling out as a heated sigh mixed with anguish.

“…Ha.”

There was no need to question whether his feelings for Brody were love.

The answer had always been there, standing right beside him.

In this moment, Kyle understood with every fiber of his being the love she had once taught him.

And he realized it clearly now—he loved Brody. As much as she had loved him, perhaps even more deeply and passionately, he loved her.

Kyle was now certain.

It wasn’t a misunderstanding or a mistake. His feelings for Brody were love.

And in that moment of realization, this truth etched itself into his soul—a fact that would never change, even in death.

 

***

 

At that same moment…

“Ugh…”

Brody, who had been unconscious for half a day, slowly began to regain her senses as the paralysis faded.

Lying on the hard stone floor, she groaned and shifted her body.

Her entire body ached as though she’d been beaten with a club. Moreover, something was shackling her legs, making movement impossible no matter how hard she tried.

When she finally opened her eyes, she glanced around at her dark surroundings.

Aside from the barred iron door, all sides were enclosed by stone walls.

Groaning, she turned her body toward the faint light shining in the room.

There, she saw a small window in the wall, with moonlight spilling through it.

‘Where… am I?’

It was clearly a prison. But she had no idea where this prison was. She couldn’t recall anything after collapsing in the forest.

Even as she lost consciousness, she hadn’t seen who had brought her here.

She had no clues as to where she might be.

‘Could it be… did Kyle knock me out and throw me in prison?’

With no answers in sight, her mind wandered to ridiculous conclusions. But before she could think further, the sound of footsteps and a heavy iron door creaking open echoed from outside the bars.

Startled, Brody curled her body and perked up her ears.

The footsteps grew louder, and the flickering light of a torch spilled into the corridor beyond the iron bars.

Eventually, a man appeared before her cell.

Playing dead, Brody cracked her eyes open just slightly to get a look at him.

‘Who is he?’

She was certain she’d never seen him before.

Moments later, another man holding a torch unlocked the cell door, and the first man stepped inside.

“Hey, what’s this? Are you awake, or still unconscious?”

The man nudged Brody’s body with his foot. As pain flared up from the kicks, she instinctively sprang to her feet and let out a low growl, as if ready to bite him.

Of course, her reaction didn’t faze him in the slightest. Instead, the man sneered.

“Well, look at that. The little rabbit’s got some fight in her.”

Without hesitation, he kicked her. There was no mercy in his blow.

“Heh, guess it takes this kind of spirit to date a wolf, huh?”

“Ugh!”

Brody’s body rolled across the floor, coming to a limp stop.

The man sauntered over to her, crouched down on one knee, and grabbed her by the scruff of her neck with his rough hand.

“How’s the shackle? Took me ages to find one small enough to fit your dainty legs.”

A nasty grin spread across his face.

As he leaned closer, Brody shivered, sensing the aura of a predator emanating from him.

‘What species is he? He doesn’t seem like a wolf…’

Even as her body trembled, she glared fiercely at him, determined not to show her fear.

“Who are you? Why did you bring me here?”

The man seemed amused by her trembling voice and false bravado.

“Your boyfriend didn’t tell you about me? How disappointing. We’ve been sworn enemies for over ten years now.”

Sworn enemies of Kyle for over ten years?

Brody’s mind raced. She tried to recall anyone from the original story who had been Kyle’s enemy for that long.

It was difficult, given how many foes he had.

Her thoughts came to a halt when she noticed the man’s golden eyes.

A predator with golden eyes, living near Roden’s valleys, and Kyle’s enemy for over ten years…

Could it be?

‘Miss Brody, when the leader arrives, could you pass on a message for us? Tell him that Leonit Baldwin is visiting Roden tomorrow. He’ll understand.’

The memory that surfaced in her mind made her face pale. She now had a good idea who this man was.