I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 66

 

It was the third day since they started staying at the groundhog’s house.

Brody, who had been struggling for several days with body aches, high fever, and a rash, regained consciousness after three days.

The first thing that greeted her when she opened her eyes was the morning sunlight streaming in through the window.

Brody slowly got up.

Her body, which had been sore, felt refreshed as if it had been washed, and her skin no longer itched. Her mind, which had been confused, also became clearer than ever.

Brody smiled as she found Kyle napping against the head of her bed and Ron sleeping next to him.

She knew full well that Kyle had been taking good care of her these past few days.

Whenever she regained consciousness while struggling between life and death, Kyle was always there taking care of her.

Every time, he would feed her soup and wipe the areas where her rashes were.

In fact, Brody never dreamed that Kyle would care for her so much.

And that was not all. Even when she told him to leave her behind and go first, he didn’t abandon her and carried her on his back. The Kyle Roden she knew wasn’t like this.

Brody recalled the image of him a few days ago, walking forward, sweating profusely while carrying her on his back.

Even though it was a hectic moment, she remember that image clearly.

‘I didn’t want to make you suffer.’

Brody leaned against her bed and looked at Kyle, who was dozing off in such uncomfortable position.

She felt sorry, thankful, and also sad that he had suffered so she gently stroked his head.

Feeling the touch, Kyle, who had been dozing off, woke up and turned his head.

His eyes met with Brody’s, who was stroking his head.

“Ah.”

It had been a few days since they had faced each other in their right minds. Brody, who had been caught secretly touching him while he was sleeping, greeted him with an embarrassed smile.

“Hi?”

Kyle stared at her, who had woken up healthy, without saying a word. After a while, a snicker escaped his lips.

Kyle looked at Brody with that relaxed expression, then asked her in a somewhat playful voice.

“Are you living well now?”

Brody responded to the question with a bright smile, as radiant as the morning sunlight.

 

***

 

As Brody recovered and rose, they prepared to head south again.

The situation was becoming more urgent as each day passed by, as there had already been several days of delay.

Of course, when Brody suggested leaving as soon as she woke up, Kyle thought in his head that she should rest for another day to recover.

But in reality, he couldn’t firmly dissuade her.

Kyle also stayed here for a few days and was becoming secretly anxious.

So they decided to leave today, even if it meant slowing down their travel compared to before.

“If you’re going south, take a detour and go down the Anders River. There’s no food here, so it’ll be difficult to travel.”

The groundhog offered grilled fish to those leaving and gave them advice.

Brody stopped eating her grilled fish and asked him.

“If we go down the Anders River, can we get straight to Volcan?”

“If it’s Volcan… you’re talking about the capital?”

“Yes.”

As she nodded, the groundhog frowned and opened his mouth.

“The situation there is not good right now, so why do you want to go there?”

“Things are not good?”

Brody’s eyes widened at the unexpected information. So did Kyle.

The groundhog said to the agitated group.

“Rubinus has neglected the city for quite some time. On top of that, with the heir being kidnapped this time, they must be completely powerless. Think about it—can a city be normal when its ruler has abandoned it? Rumor has it the place has turned into a complete mess.”

Volcano has become a mess.

Brody’s face turned pale.

She had a feeling something was wrong when she heard that they were arresting all the foreigners who came in, but she never thought that the city would be in chaos.

Brody looked at Ron.

The baby was lying comfortably and wiggling, unaware of what was happening on his land.

“Is there any way to safely enter the Volcano?”

Anyway, they had to take Ron to his mother, so they asked just in case, but the groundhog shook his head.

A deep sigh escaped Brody’s lips at that tragic answer.

The groundhog, who had thus destroyed even the last shred of hope, spoke to the two people.

“You really have to be careful. I heard that the path leading into Volcan is particularly dangerous. The area outside the castle is completely lawless, with not only bandits but also kidnappers and human traffickers camped out here and there. So be sure to brace yourself before you go.”

“Human traffickers and kidnappers?”

It was truly horrible news.

Brody, in a panic, immediately put her hands together and prayed to God, an action which she normally wouldn’t do.

“Oh, God, please save us….”

But Kyle waved his hand as he watched Brody praying.

“Stop it. At this point, the heavens must have abandoned us.”

The groundhog handed over clothes for the two, who had the added task of getting Ron home ‘without incident’.

Winter clothes made of fur were no longer useful. Now, thin clothes that could block the sunlight were needed.

The groundhog gave the two of them summer clothes and led them to the Anders River.

It was to show them the way so that they could proceed without getting lost.

“Keep following this river until it completely turns toward the eastern sea. There will be a place where the river branches off along the way. When you get there, follow the mainstream.”

“Thank you so much, Mr. Groundhog. I really appreciate it.”

Brody kept bowing to the groundhog.

He was the first person to show unconditional kindness to them who had always been betrayed.

It was a favor that they could not possibly repay with the few bottles of goat milk they had given him.

But the groundhog turned around and said only one phrase, “Take care,” to Brody and Kyle, who were thanking him.

Then, he pulled his hat down with his short front paws, picked up the bucket he had brought, and left them without looking back.

Kyle’s eyes were fixed on the small hindquarters of the groundhog walking along the riverbank.

Looking at him, he thought about what he had said a few days ago.

‘You asked me if I regretted it? I would never do something so vile even if I were to freeze to death.’

These were the words that remained in his heart. Kyle was strangely drawn to what that groundhog said.

Was it because it was amazing how he lived bravely without despairing despite being cursed to live his entire life in the body of an animal?

Because he was unlike him who had lost everything to his younger brother and lived in anger, resentment, and despair.

Because of that whenever Kyle saw the groundhog, he started to have thoughts he never had before.

What would it have been like if he had accepted everything and lived like that groundhog?

Would it be easier than the life he chose where he couldn’t accept reality and could just hold on?

“…”

He couldn’t find the answer.

Still, Kyle Roden was a man who refused to admit defeat.

But… on the other hand, he just felt a little tired of this life of living without being able to let go of the things that were taken away.

 

***

 

The breeze blowing from the Anders River was cool. It was the perfect temperature for those walking along the riverside.

When evening came, Brody and Kyle sat down by the river and fed Ron before preparing their own meal.

However, when the two people approached the river to catch fish, they were stopped by an unexpected problem.

“Come to think of it, we don’t have a fishing rod.”

Brody, who had been standing blankly looking at the river, looked up at Kyle.

“I guess I’ll have to go into the water and catch them?”

“…”

“You can go in and catch them?”

Brody answered with silence, indicating that she had no confidence.

Kyle shook his head at the sight, saying, “What do I expect from you?” and took off the top he was wearing.

It was to go into the water and catch fish.

Brody, who saw his naked body from the side, screamed, covering her face with both hands.

“Whoa! What is it, what is it!”

At first glance, it looked like she was embarrassed and bashful, but there was a hidden joy in her scream.

Kyle threw the clothes he had taken off in her face, knowing Brody’s sinister trick of pretending to cover her eyes and peeking at his body.

But Brody, undeterred by his contempt, watched him enter the water with a look of awe and shouted:

“Wow! You’re so cool, honey!”

“Shut your mouth.”

Kyle gritted his teeth and gave a warning before going deeper.

Brody, who was running wild, threw a sharp branch that was nearby to help Kyle.

“Kyle, use that as a spear!”

Although it was too flimsy to be considered a spear, Kyle still took the crude spear Brody had given him and moved toward the flowing water.

He moved his body using his unique, agile hunting sense without changing into wolf form.

After a while, he stopped slowly, then raised his weapon, aimed it in the blink of an eye, and threw it into the water.

His movements were so swift that it was impossible to follow them with the normal eyes. When he lifted the spear he threw, a dead fish was revealed, impaled on the tip of the branch.

He made a real catch with such a cheap spear.

“Whoa! You got it!”

Brody clapped and cheered, and this cheering made the man move more actively.

Kyle caught a couple of fish with Brody’s spear, then threw the spear away and went to hand-catch the fish and caught two more.

Thanks to Kyle’s brilliant fishing skills, the two were able to secure dinner without much difficulty.

They roughly cleaned the fish they caught, stuck them on tree branches, and roasted them over a pre-lit bonfire.

It was the first time for both of them to cook fish over a campfire, so the flesh was blackened here and there.

Kyle gave Brody the best fish of them.

“Eat.”

“Uh, yes.”

Brody accepted the fish with a bewildered expression.

‘I thought it was for his own consumption because he cooked it with so much care.’

Brody blushed in embarrassment, not expecting him to give her the fish.

It felt awkward for him to take care of her, but strangely enough, it made her feel good.

As she was looking at the fish and twitching the corners of her mouth, Kyle, who had been chewing on the almost burnt fish without a problem, frowned at the sight.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh? No….”

Brody was just about to eat the fish with an awkward smile when she looked at Kyle and suddenly burst out laughing.

“Hahaha!”

There was black soot around Kyle’s mouth as he ate the fish.

It was a funny sight, like he had a beard.

Kyle, unaware of this fact, looked at Brody with a serious face, asking,

“Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s nothing.”

Brody tried to suppress her smile and waved her hand.

She tried, but her patience did not last long.

“Puhaha!”

Eventually, Brody couldn’t hold back her laughter throughout the meal, and Kyle gave her a strange look.

Finally, sweet Brody is back!! More fluffy time in next chapter, too!! With a cliffhanger of course ╮⁠(⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)⁠╭

Anyways, thank you both cupoftea and Jc for your second coffee. I feel really appreciated with how much support you guys give me~

Thank you all, dear readers!

The novel is now sponsored till chapter 97, I won’t be able to lock any chapter soon, it seems¯⁠\⁠(⁠°⁠_⁠o⁠)⁠/⁠¯