I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 79

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

Brody nodded, recalling that the boy had referred to the area as the ‘lower village.’

That meant the boy had come from a higher altitude—likely the western plateau. Realizing this, Kyle’s eyes filled with unease.

A wolf who resembled him and came from the western plateau.

There was a possibility the boy was related to him, possibly the child of his uncle, Erbe.

Kyle remembered how the boy had called him ‘big brother’ earlier. Even if it was a mistake, it meant they shared some similarities.

“We need to get out of here quickly.”

Kyle quickened his pace.

If the boy returned to his pack and told his parents about their encounter, word could reach his uncle.

Kyle closed his eyes tightly, anticipating the consequences.

His uncle would likely believe he had entered the plateau with some sinister intent, and it wouldn’t be long before Erbe came after him.

Worse, this could escalate into a full-blown war between their packs. Such a scenario had to be avoided at all costs.

Determined, Kyle hoisted Brody onto his back and sprinted through the forest.

 

***

 

Fabian Erbe, the lord of the highlands/plateau¹The same thing as the word could be translated either way., had two sons.

The younger, Astrid, was born late in life and raised with an abundance of love. But several days ago, Astrid had gone down to the lower village to play and hadn’t returned for four days.

Normally, a messenger bird would have been sent to check on him.

“I think I’ll have to go look for Astrid myself,” said Albert, Erbe’s eldest son, approaching his father.

Albert was a devoted older brother who doted on Astrid.

The dim tent was thick with cigar smoke, and Fabian’s deep, unbothered voice resonated through the haze.

“Leave him be. He’ll come back on his own.”

“It’s been four days, Father. Astrid has never stayed out this long without sending word.”

“Maybe he’s trying something new this time.”

“Father.”

Albert’s voice grew firm, as if to chastise his father’s nonchalance. But Fabian’s tone remained calm and relaxed.

“Don’t fuss so much. Boys grow up by experiencing all kinds of things.”

“But what if he’s in danger?”

“As long as he didn’t head south, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Fabian chuckled.

The southern border of the highlands met the black bear tribe Alcamon’s territory, and just beyond that lay the Roden Valley.

Fabian was implying, with some humor, that Astrid would only be in danger if he’d ventured that far.

Albert frowned at his father’s dismissive attitude, but just then, a voice called out from outside the tent.

“Father! Big brother!”

It was Astrid.

At the sound, Albert’s face lit up with relief, and he quickly stepped out of the tent, leaving his amused father behind. But as soon as he saw his younger brother, Albert’s expression turned pale.

Astrid, still in wolf form, was limping toward him, his small frame covered in scratches and blood stains.

“Astrid!”

Albert ran to his brother, who threw himself into Albert’s arms.

“Big brother!”

Albert inspected his younger brother’s haggard face and injured leg and sternly asked.

“What happened to your leg?”

“Well, I got caught in a trap while playing in the forest…”

Astrid began recounting his story, explaining how he had been trapped for days before a passing wolf and rabbit saved him.

“So, a wolf and a rabbit found you, helped you out of the trap, and even gave you food?”

“Yeah. But the wolf who helped me was strange.”

“What do you mean by strange?”

Astrid gazed at his brother and replied.

“He was a wolf I’d never seen before in the highlands, but he looked a lot like you and Father.”

“…What?”

At the mention of a wolf resembling himself and their father, Albert’s expression darkened.

The only wolves in the highlands with their family’s distinct features were their own kin. But when Astrid muttered something else, Albert’s entire body tensed.

“I think his name was Kyle…”

A wolf resembling them, yet not from the highlands. And a name like Kyle…

Only one person came to Albert’s mind.

A dangerous figure who had no business being there.

From behind Albert, a weighty voice cut through the tension.

“Say that again.”

It was Fabian Erbe, the master of the highlands.

“What did you say his name was?”

 

***

 

Kyle and Brody ran through the forest until late evening, eventually finding a rocky cave where they could safely spend the night.

After scouting the interior and confirming it was secure, they decided to rest there.

“You sleep further inside. I’ll stay near the entrance.”

Kyle said, settling near the opening while urging Brody to go deeper into the cave.

But Brody didn’t like the idea of sleeping alone in the dark and protested, clinging to him.

“You want me to sleep all the way in there by myself? No way! Let’s both sleep inside!”

She tugged at his leg, trying to drag him along, but Kyle pulled away and firmly said.

“I need to guard the entrance. Just go sleep inside.”

Brody stared at him silently, clearly skeptical. Guard the entrance, my foot.

She suspected he just wanted to keep his distance from her. Huffing, she turned and hopped deeper into the cave, muttering to herself.

Watching her retreat, Kyle felt a wave of frustration.

Did she think he was doing this by choice? He couldn’t exactly explain the strange changes happening in his body, nor could he find a way to console her.

Sighing, Kyle sat by the entrance, while further inside, Brody flopped onto the ground in a huff.

She still felt uneasy about the way he was keeping his distance.

Just a few nights ago, he had been all over her, and now he was acting cold. Truly, this man was unpredictable.

“Never a dull moment, **** it.”

Brody grumbled incessantly before finally drifting off to sleep.

However, a long while later, her heightened nerves from sleeping alone in the pitch-dark cave woke her up at the faint sound of something unusual.

A low groaning noise reached her ears.

Drowsy and half-asleep, Brody opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings.

As she listened more closely, she realized the sound was coming from the entrance of the cave.

“Could it be Kyle…?”

The thought snapped her fully awake. Brody hurried toward the cave entrance where Kyle had been resting.

To her horror, she found him writhing in pain, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Kyle! What’s wrong with you?”

Brody rushed to his side, alarmed by the heat radiating off his body. His fever was so intense that she shook him frantically, yelling, “Snap out of it!”

“Stay away…”

Kyle weakly pushed her away with his paw, turning his body away from her and curling up in the corner.

Watching him going further away, Brody felt utterly helpless and frustrated, clenching her fists.

“What’s wrong with you? Just tell me!”

“I’m not hurt… just go away, please… stay away…”

As Brody struggled with Kyle, something far more threatening was unfolding outside the cave.

A pack of wolves was closing in on their location.

These were Erbe’s wolves.

Tracking the scent of the outsider, they had run through the forest all night and were now scouring the area near the cave.

One wolf discovered tracks leading into the cave and let out a howl to summon the others.

Inside the cave, Brody froze, gripping Kyle tightly at the sound of the wolves howling outside.

The sound of pounding paws grew closer, and moments later, shadows began to loom at the cave entrance.

A pack of massive wolves emerged into view, their sharp eyes glinting menacingly in the moonlight.

“K-Kyle…”

The wolves’ piercing gazes locked onto Brody and the weakened Kyle.

Despite knowing it was futile, Brody instinctively stood between Kyle and the wolves, shielding him with her body. Her legs trembled, but she refused to back down.

Before she could muster the courage to speak, Kyle staggered to his feet and stepped forward unsteadily.

“No, Kyle! Don’t—”

She had hoped he would at least pretend to be unconscious, but Kyle ignored her plea.

Dragging his sickly body, he faced the wolves head-on.

“Who are you?”

Kyle’s voice was steady despite his condition. He knew he couldn’t run, so he stood his ground, glaring at the wolves.

The pack’s leader, easily recognizable by his commanding presence, stared silently at Kyle, his expression unreadable.

The tension was suffocating, freezing the air around them.

Suddenly, a cheerful, out-of-place voice broke through the oppressive atmosphere.

“It’s them! They’re the ones who saved me!”

It was the young wolf they had encountered earlier.

Limping on three legs, the pup darted out from the ranks of the adults and pointed at Kyle and Brody, shouting excitedly.

“Father! These are the ones who saved my life!”

“Father?”

The word made Kyle’s already foggy mind spin. He looked up and met the gaze of the wolf who had been silently observing him all along.

The wolf’s piercing blue eyes were identical to Kyle’s.

And his face…

He resembled the man Kyle hated and resented more than anyone in the world.

“Are you Alexander Roden’s son?”

The wolf’s question was calm, yet the intent behind it was unmistakable.

He already knew the answer—he just wanted confirmation.

Kyle stared back at him and opened his mouth.

“…I…”

He tried to say yes, but the words wouldn’t come. His vision blurred like ink dissolving in water, then briefly cleared, only to blur again.

His chest felt tight, as though someone had cracked open his skull and was squeezing his brain. Gasping for air, Kyle’s body trembled violently.

The world tilted, his vision flipped, and Kyle’s uncontrollable body finally gave out.

He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

I am gonna leave you with this cliffhanger for a few hours to respect the author presumed wishes, then upload the next chapter~

I want to give a big special thanks to AntoniaLopez and Queenbb for their monthly membership. I am so grateful for your generosityಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ. Thank you two soo much!

Ps. Queenbb didn’t specify which novel they are reading, but I am assuming it’s this one. I hope I am not wrong.