IPUAVNP Chapter 89

Episode 89

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The tigers ravaged every village they passed through, killing residents and sometimes setting fires, leaving entire towns in ruins. The aftermath of their rampage left only devastation. Even after the tigers retreated, no one felt safe enough to rest.

The survivors worked tirelessly to restore their lives and reclaim the peace they had lost.

Among them was their leader, Alexander, who was personally on the scene.

“The black tigers from the Karman Coast were driven north by the Erbe pack and have since returned to their territory. Meanwhile, the remaining tigers of the Elders group eluded us during our pursuit, escaping deep into the mountains.”

Reported the steward who had come to Alexander.

At the news that the Elders tigers had escaped, Alexander’s brows furrowed as he asked.

“What about the Elders leader? He couldn’t have gone far.”

Alexander himself had inflicted a critical wound on the leader during their last confrontation. Without immediate treatment, the leader would not have survived long.

The steward replied.

“Yes, sir. While chasing their trail, we found the body of the Elders leader. We also confirmed the corpses of his heir and five of his sons. However… the whereabouts of Simon Elders, the youngest and sixth son, remain unknown. It’s assumed he might have fled into the mountains with his subordinates.”

Simon Elders was just a boy, not even an adult yet. But if he survived, he would one day rise as the new leader of the Elders and return for revenge.

Feeling a growing unease, Alexander gave instructions to the steward.

“Continue to monitor the Elders’ canyon. Report to me immediately if Simon Elders is found.”

“Yes, Leader.”

The steward bowed and turned to leave.

However, just as he took his first step, Alexander called him back, hesitating slightly before asking.

“By the way… is Kyle at home?”

It was an unusually cautious question for Alexander.

The steward turned back, noting the tension on Alexander’s face, and nodded.

“Yes, sir. He’s home. The young lady he brought back seems unwell, and he’s been at her side since last night.”

The steward continued, sounding almost amazed as he spoke.

“Even when the servants tried to assist her, he wouldn’t let anyone near. This is the first time I’ve seen him care so deeply for someone.”

Alexander felt the same bewilderment.

His expression remained hard, but internally, he was deeply shocked by Kyle’s uncharacteristic behavior.

That boy? Taking care of someone? 

Impossible.

And to make matters stranger, the person he was so protective of was a rabbit.

Kyle, who typically disregarded or trampled on anyone weaker than him, had brought home a fragile, herbivorous rabbit and was now fussing over her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

Alexander couldn’t help but think there must be something unusual about the rabbit. After all, hadn’t Abel said something strange the other day?

He claimed the rabbit had turned back time to save Zelda.

It was hard to believe, but if such a power existed, it would explain why his cold-hearted son was treating her as his lover.

Perhaps the rabbit possesses a hidden strength.

The evidence was there—she had fearlessly thrown herself into the midst of a pack of wolves ten times her size, chattering away without hesitation.

“Hmm…”

Alexander mused.

Even so, Kyle’s excessive protectiveness was out of character. Something had changed in him.

Alexander had expected him to come back raging, seeking revenge, but instead, he was holed up at home, guarding a rabbit.

Of course, Alexander knew that Kyle still harbored a blade in his heart—a seething hatred for him and the rest of their family.

‘You think you can justify it by saying there was no choice? Don’t even try to rationalize it—it’s disgusting!’

Remembering Kyle’s angry outburst the previous evening, Alexander’s expression grew heavy with mixed emotions.

He felt suffocated, unsure of how to navigate this strained situation.

When Kyle first returned, Alexander had been relieved to see him alive.

He had constantly worried about his son, fearing he had sent him to his death in some unknown place.

Seeing him safe and sound had been a weight off his mind.

But before Alexander could express his relief, Kyle’s resentment and sharp, accusatory gaze shut him down.

Faced with such hostility, Alexander found himself instinctively defensive, closing off his heart and responding in kind to the bitterness directed at him.

This wasn’t the first time. It had always been like this.

At some point, Kyle had begun looking at him with wary eyes, eyes that gradually sharpened with resentment.

Whenever Alexander faced that gaze, it became increasingly difficult to show Kyle any affection.

Alexander let out a deep sigh, as if the ground itself would swallow him.

The irreparable, unresolved state of their relationship with his son weighed heavily on him, both frustrating and saddening him.

Feeling stifled, he sighed repeatedly as he moved forward, heading toward a village undergoing restoration.

This village, located near Mount Nevo north of the capital, was one of the places ravaged by the notorious Black Tigers.

The traces they left behind were horrific—some homes were burned to ashes, and fields that had just begun to sprout fresh crops were torn apart, the seedlings uprooted and withered.

In the valley of Roden, where there were no cold seasons, villagers planted new crops immediately after the autumn harvest to prepare for the following spring. But now, all their seedlings were dead.

For villagers whose livelihood depended on farming, it was a devastating blow.

Having already visited the flood-damaged village of Avril to the north earlier that morning, Alexander, as their leader, personally assessed the situation and listened to the victims’ stories.

In times of war and disaster, it wasn’t enough to issue orders; leaders needed to lead by example.

After surveying the damage, Alexander arranged for manpower, funds, and supplies to support the restoration.

Normally, there would have been a severe shortage of workers, but fortunately, the Erbe wolves filled the gap.

Fabian had dispatched his men to help with the flood recovery in Avril and the villages along the eastern border, which had been invaded by the Elders.

Fabian’s wolves were assisting beyond Alexander’s expectations. Alexander had only asked them to ‘help with the village restoration,’ not to go to such lengths.

The truth was, Alexander simply needed a pretext to keep his brother from leaving; it had been 20 years since they last met, and after Fabian had come all this way to aid him, Alexander couldn’t bear to let him leave so soon.

More than that, Alexander wanted to spend time with Fabian to clear up past misunderstandings.

Fabian seemed to understand this and chose to stay despite his grumbles.

Even now, Fabian was out helping with restoration work from early in the morning, something that deeply moved Alexander.

Meanwhile, Fabian, who had already picked up on his brother’s sincerity, was working hard. However, he couldn’t help but notice one person conspicuously absent.

Annoyed, Fabian set out to find the culprit—Kyle.

“What? While everyone else has been working since dawn, that brat is holed up at home, doting on his lover?”

Irritated, Fabian stormed into Kyle’s home, asking a servant for his whereabouts.

Without knocking, Fabian flung open Kyle’s door.

Inside, he found Brody lying on the bed and Kyle sitting in a daze at her side, wearing a grim expression.

Kyle, startled by Fabian’s sudden intrusion, asked curtly.

“…What do you want?”

“That’s what I should be asking, you brat.”

Fabian glanced at the sleeping Brody before turning to Kyle.

“Your lover isn’t even in a condition to need your care. So what are you doing just sitting there like a fool? Get up and do something useful!”

In truth, Fabian’s frustration stemmed from concern for Kyle.

“Like it or not, you’re the leader’s son. In times like these, you should be out there setting an example. Don’t you understand that?”

Rumors were already circulating that ‘Kyle brought Fabian Erbe and his wolves, achieving a long-awaited peace and victory over the tigers.’

“This is your chance to restore your honor, isn’t it? Or do you want to remain the disgraced firstborn, the family troublemaker?”

Fabian genuinely hoped Kyle would use this opportunity to regain his reputation. That was why he had come to persuade him. But Kyle showed no reaction, his gaze fixed on Brody.

Kyle wasn’t oblivious to Fabian’s point.

He knew better than anyone that this victory presented a chance to rebuild his standing.

If he seized the opportunity, it could work in his favor. But for some reason, Kyle felt utterly indifferent.

Looking at Brody lying there, he felt no drive to do anything. His motivation was at rock bottom.

He should have been planning his next steps, as Fabian suggested, but all he wanted was for Brody to wake up. That desire was the only thing stirring his heart.

To Fabian, Kyle’s apathetic demeanor was infuriating.

Finally, Fabian spoke in a voice laced with disdain.

“You think your lover would be impressed, seeing you sitting there like an idiot, doing nothing?”

It was a parting shot, not meant to inspire action. Fabian didn’t think those words would have any effect.

But as soon as Kyle heard them, he suddenly lifted his head, as if snapped out of a trance.

I am sorry to announce that dear readers, but I really need to take a week off to begin studying for my next exam. It’s huge, scary and HUGE. I need to study a 600+ book for it(⁠〒⁠﹏⁠〒⁠)