I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 83

 

“Is it true?” asked Fabian. ¹You might say it’s not one word (from the previous chapter), but it actually is one word in Korean and it’s directly translated to ‘true’. Of course it couldn’t remain that way as the structure of questions in English is different.

Kyle answered without hesitation.

“Yes, it is.”

Upon hearing the response, Fabian let out a sigh.

However, his hesitation lasted only briefly. He soon spoke with a resolute expression.

“For now, wait.”

Hearing him say this, despite the urgency of the situation, Kyle frowned. However, Fabian looked at him as if he found his reaction pitiful.

“If they are planning to strike during the festival, they may have already begun their attack. What use is it for you to go alone?”

“…”

“Unless you go with us, that is.”

Kyle, rendered speechless by the logical reasoning, widened his eyes at Fabian’s next words.

As if in agreement with their leader, the men of Erbe, who had been listening from various corners, began to gather one by one.

Fabian, glancing at his approaching subordinates, then turned back to Kyle and said.

“Let’s return together.”

 

***

 

At that very moment…

In the Roden Valley, where no one knew what was about to happen, the streets were packed with people due to the festival that had started at dawn.

People from all over had come to enjoy the event. Because of its massive scale, even the border gates, except for the northern ones, were temporarily open. Many visitors from other countries had also arrived to witness the grand occasion.

They all gathered in the village of Nort, known as the valley’s capital.

 

The streets buzzed with activity as people enjoyed food from the market stalls and headed to the central square to watch the festival’s opening parade.

In the square’s center stage, dancers performed while young men displayed dazzling martial skills, entertaining the onlookers. Children wearing carefully crafted masks distributed candy and sweets.

Once the performances on the square stage ended, the performers circled the village, leading a parade.

Musicians followed with instruments, creating a festive atmosphere that further energized the crowd.

In the central square, under a grand tent, the elders of the senate and the leader’s family were already seated, observing the events.

The elders, pleased with the crowd’s joyous reactions, praised Abel, who had meticulously prepared the festival.

“The start looks promising. I have a feeling this festival will conclude successfully.”

“Look at that clear sky. Surely, god is blessing Abel’s efforts.”

Abel received their praise with a modest smile, showing no trace of arrogance.

Across from him sat his fiancée, accompanied by her parents, exchanging affectionate glances with him.

“Indeed, entrusting this festival to Abel was a brilliant decision by the leader.”

“You must be so proud.”

Alexander, the leader, wore a satisfied expression in response to the elders’ compliments.

He looked utterly pleased, yet his eyes betrayed a heaviness born from thoughts of someone who lingered in his mind like a habit.

The guilt of never having entrusted such responsibilities to Kyle, under the pretense of his inadequacy, gnawed at his conscience.

As he alternated between such heavy and light-hearted thoughts while watching the festival, a commotion suddenly erupted from the streets beyond the square.

A murmur spread like ripples through the crowd as someone rushed toward the square.

“What’s going on?”

The leader and the elders, sensing something amiss, stiffened.

The performers stopped their dances and music, silence falling over the square.

A frantic voice broke through the quiet.

“Move aside! Everyone, clear the way!”

The crowd parted like the Red Sea, revealing a bloodied and battered wolf staggering forward.

Gasps and cries erupted from the onlookers as the wounded wolf collapsed, panting heavily.

Realizing that something serious had occurred, Alexander shouted, “What happened?”

The wolf, who had collapsed near the tent, barely managed to answer through labored breaths.

“Leader! Terrible news! The tigers of Elders Canyon have crossed the border and are advancing toward the capital!”

“What!”

The shocking news struck like a bombshell.

Alexander, Abel, and the elders jumped to their feet in alarm.

“What do you mean? Why would they suddenly attack…?”

Before they could fully process the report, the crowd, terrified by the news of an invasion, erupted into chaos, fleeing in all directions. The square descended into pandemonium within moments.

Amidst the disorder, a northern scout’s raven arrived, delivering another dire message.

“Leader! This morning, the dam at Avril Village collapsed, flooding half the village. Rescue teams must be dispatched immediately!”

Everyone, overwhelmed by the rapid succession of bad news, looked at each other in stunned disbelief.

Yet, amidst the panic, one person remained calm—Alexander, their leader.

Quickly assessing the situation, he issued orders to those around him.

“Abel! Take Zelda and the women and head to Avril immediately!”

“Sir!”

“Lord Zebaty, send messengers to all villages requesting reinforcements. Also, contact the emissaries of Baldwin for additional support!”

“Understood!”

“Kernels, fly north and inform the troops guarding the border to return to the capital at once!”

“Yes, Leader!”

Everyone followed Alexander’s instructions without hesitation.

Clenching his fist, Alexander cursed his miscalculation.

With much of their forces stationed in the north to guard against Erbe, the capital’s defenses were dangerously thin. He had not foreseen such an attack.

The tigers of Elders Canyon were one of the most formidable groups on the continent of Knohen.

Though the wolves of Roden were born with extraordinary strength, unlike ordinary wolves, it still took three to four wolves to take down a tiger twice their size.

Until now, Roden’s wolves had always outnumbered the tigers of Elders Canyon, rallying together to drive them back whenever war broke out.

But now…

In their current state, with forces scattered, the wolves were at a significant disadvantage.

Yet, they had no choice but to endure against the tigers of Elders until the northern troops, reinforcements from the villages, and aid from Baldwin’s emissaries could arrive.

It was the only option.

“Gather all available troops in the capital. Holding them off is our responsibility.”

Alexander commanded the elders of Roden before swiftly transforming into his black wolf form and darting outside.

A long, powerful howl announcing the enemy’s invasion echoed from him, resonating through the air and rousing the wolves of Roden.

 

***

 

At the same time, Kyle and Brody, accompanied by Fabian and the army of Erbe, were sprinting across the highlands toward the Roden Valley.

Even with most of the highlands’ troops mobilized, leaving the region temporarily leaderless as Fabian and his eldest son Albert joined the march, no one worried about the highlands.

Fabian had left them in the capable hands of his wife, who was as extraordinary a leader and warrior as he was.

Wherever the massive black wolves passed, the ground shook with their movement.

Among them, the small rabbit Brody clung tightly to Kyle’s fur as she rode on his back, holding on for dear life against the rushing wind.

Kyle was not the only one shaken by the sudden events.

Brody, too, was disoriented by the divergence from the original storyline.

According to the original, Kyle should have arrived in Roden Valley before the festival began.

He was supposed to prepare for the tiger tribe’s invasion, defeat them in battle, and earn recognition for his contributions.

Yet now, the festival had been moved up, and everything was unfolding differently—starting with the unexpected encounter with Fabian.

Still, Brody didn’t see this deviation as entirely negative. If the original story was changing, so too could Kyle’s ending.

While the uncertainty about the future made her a little anxious, the possibilities gave her hope.

They ran tirelessly, skipping meals and resting only briefly.

After passing through the highlands and the pine-covered slopes of Alcamon, they finally arrived at Roden Valley’s northern region in just two days—a journey that would have normally taken four, even at full speed.

The northern border of Roden was known for its strict defenses, but when they arrived, not a single soldier was stationed at the watchposts.

The forest was eerily silent, devoid of any creatures.

The stillness was unsettling, as though every living thing was holding its breath.

As they ran deeper into the forest, a vast lake eventually came into view.

Kyle recognized it as the lake above Avril Village in the northern region. But the sight before him was drastically different from his memory.

The dam that once stood like a wall had collapsed, leaving the lake nearly drained, its bottom exposed.

Surveying the area, Kyle quickly noticed the destruction caused by the floodwaters as they poured out of the broken dam, sweeping through the village below.

The upper sections of the village, situated higher on the slope, had been spared, but the lower areas had suffered extensive damage.

“Was this the work of the Elders?”

Fabian muttered.

The dam appeared to have been deliberately destroyed through immense physical force.

Given how recently it had collapsed, it was clear this was no accident. Such an act was beyond the capability of ordinary humans.

If the Elders were behind it, they had likely employed a mage to carry out the deed.

The most probable motive for destroying the dam was to scatter Roden’s forces, dividing their attention and resources.

Kyle arrived at the same conclusion as Fabian. The situation was far more severe than either had anticipated.

Leaving the village, which had already undergone initial rescue efforts, they resumed their journey southward toward the capital.

Fabian’s army, along with Kyle, ran for hours until they neared the capital.

It was then that a wolf’s howl echoed from a nearby mountain, cutting through the air.

The sound was a call for aid, signaling a critical need for help to anyone within earshot.

Did I take too long to update? I am sorry if I did (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠)