Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 360

Chapter 360

The mercenaries, who made their living hunting beasts, were on high alert, but the wolf simply stood still on the hill as if waiting for something.

Is it really just one wolf?

The mercenaries exchanged glances, unsure of whether to act first or wait. They couldn’t decide if it was better to strike before the wolf made a move or hold back, wary of stirring up a bigger mess by provoking it.

“What the hell is going on?”

They had come into town, which wasn’t exactly the easiest place to get to, to complete a contract, and of all times, a wolf had to appear. How likely was that?

Maya pulled her hood down deeper, sighing in frustration.

Her luck was absolutely terrible.

She slowly started backing away, hiding Astin behind her. She was planning to quietly slip out of the city. After all, this had nothing to do with her, right?

She wasn’t even from this region, and staying here wouldn’t help. It was impossible for a single wolf to be a real threat. If Astin hadn’t gotten himself involved and gotten hurt, it would’ve been a bigger problem.

Wait, where did he go?!

Her heart nearly stopped as she frantically searched the area.

“Doggy!”

From a distance, Astin was already running toward the wolf with his arms spread wide, as if he thought it was just a big dog from a noble family.

“No, no, that’s not a doggy!”

“Doggy!”

“No, I said!”

She was in a panic now, chasing after him.

“Are you crazy?”

One of the mercenaries rushed toward her, attempting to grab her hood, but before he could touch her, she swiftly yanked it off.

She briefly considered the possibility of being eaten by the wolf alongside Astin, but she couldn’t just stand by.

Though Maya was normally pessimistic, especially with no hero complex to speak of, responsibility was a powerful thing.

She had to save him… No one else would.

‘Huuh, d*mn it.’

Tears blurred her vision, but there was no other choice. Her breath was already coming in ragged gasps as she chased after Astin.

“Got, got you…!”

Just before Astin could reach the wolf, Maya managed to grab him in the nick of time, rolling into the bushes to shield him.

“Ha, ha.”

As she caught her breath, she felt hot, heavy breaths right above her.

Maya shut her eyes tight and tried to control her trembling gaze. The wolf’s sharp yellow eyes gleamed menacingly just a hair’s breadth away, its mouth wide open.

“Ugh.”

She didn’t even have a moment to let Astin escape on his own.

Maya had no choice but to hold the child tightly against her, squeezing him as hard as she could, praying the wolf would devour her first and then leave.

“Doggy.”

Despite risking her life, gathering all the courage she had, the little one was still babbling about the wolf.

Maya couldn’t help but feel exasperated, staring at the wolf. Does this still look like a dog to him? She couldn’t help but think that something was a little off with the child.

“Arf!”

And then the wolf actually barked like a dog.

Maya stared at the wolf with her mouth slightly open, completely stunned. The wolf wagged its tail toward Astin.

“Uh, uuhh? Heh? This, no…huh?”

She was at a loss for words, utterly confused. She had a lot to say but didn’t know how to express it.

With a bewildered look in her eyes, she turned to Astin for an explanation, and the boy proudly answered.

“Looks like our doggy.”

“……”

She has no idea what was happening anymore.

Maya stood up from where she had been sitting, brushing the grass and dirt off her clothes. As soon as Astin broke free from her arms, he rushed to hug the large wolf’s head and showed his joy.

The wolf growled at first, uncomfortable, and Maya couldn’t help but feel a bead of cold sweat run down her back. But, surprisingly, the wolf didn’t show any signs of aggression.

“Wide it.”

“What? Are you talking about riding the wolf?”

There was no way, right?

Maya, looking disgusted by the situation, was about to refuse when Astin smiled brightly, giving her a nod and saying, “Yes!”

“Sister is looking.”

“You have a sister? Wait, are you talking about, you spoke with the wolf?”

“Ung.”

Astin looked at her with a completely innocent expression, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

At this point, Maya was starting to wonder whether it was a child’s imagination or if he was telling the truth. She wasn’t sure anymore.

Maya pinched her cheek to check if she was dreaming, but of course, her skin just reddened.

‘Maybe he’s actually a little prince from a fairy kingdom, and that’s why they say his family doesn’t exist…’

It was a thought using everything from her imagination. It was a ridiculous thought, Maya shook her head.

Regardless, right now, this child is insisting on riding the suspicious wolf’s back and heading to his sister.

The wolf, who is now behaving like a trained dog, could actually be pretending. What if it’s only intention is to eat him?

If it takes him straight into the den of wolves, there will be no chance to escape before he’s eaten, right?

‘Yes, maybe this is the more realistic possibility.’

Maya said with a serious expression.

“I really want to stop you, but… it’s not your pet dog. You said it just looks like one.”

“Ish fine. Sister’s doggy.”

“When did you start knowing this dog? Did Sister raise it since she was little?”

“No?”

“Then you can’t say it’s Sister’s dog…”

Especially not when it’s a predator like a wolf, one that can eat even humans.

Maya’s scolding rose up to her throat, but she held it back, closing her eyes tightly.

“Are you sure you have to go, no matter what happens?”

“Yes.”

With his childlike naivety, Astin stubbornly insisted, as if going with the flow. Maya couldn’t afford to miss the only lead to finding the mysterious Valentine family.

Well, if that’s the case, there’s no choice.

“I’ll go with you.”

As a guardian, she had no choice but to follow.

The situation was spiraling out of control, and her common sense had completely shattered.