Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 361

Chapter 361

The fact that Maya couldn’t bring herself to send the child off alone was clearer than ever.

‘If I tell them that this child was kidnapped with his brother and then managed to escape on his own, the family will take care of the search.’

Then, Maya would be able to accomplish her own mission.

With the thought of finally being able to sleep peacefully at night, Maya climbed onto the wolf’s back.

“Grrr…”

As Maya added her weight, the wolf growled in discomfort.

Maya flinched, ready to jump off, but she held herself back, whispering into Astin’s ear.

“Tell it to calm down.”

“Good boy, good boy.”

To her surprise, when Astin gently patted the wolf’s back with his little hands, the wolf actually calmed down.

Maya couldn’t help but feel even more convinced of the ‘Astin is a fairy’ theory after seeing that.

Are they heading to fantasy land now?

She had already discarded childhood naivety a long time ago. Being an adult, jaded and without dreams or hopes, this kind of experience was nothing but tiring…

‘I just want to finish this and go home…’

Maya blinked slowly, feeling like she was aging rapidly. If she could be sure that this hopeless and carefree child would be safe, she would go straight home and never leave for a year.

But then…

What they arrived at was a suspicious village, full of people with strange eyes.

“Ah, once again, the one riding the wolf has arrived with the child!”

“Such a divine blessing!”

The villagers were all excited, as if they had all taken some sort of potion together.

Their long-awaited wish was about to be realized at this very moment.

‘At least this isn’t right in the middle of a wolf’s den…’

But her instincts screamed that this place was just as dangerous, if not more so.

Seeing Maya’s distaste, the muttering villagers reached out towards her, like a tidal wave.

“Why, Why are you doing this?”

“We know everything. The Guide has led you here, right? There’s nothing to fear. It means you have been chosen by God.”

“Soon, He will descend to this land and lead us to paradise.”

“His protection and immortality await you!”

“Shar, al, dia!”

Every angle she looked from, these were fanatical cultists.

Maya knew the worst side of humanity.

Maybe it was because she had encountered it so often from the moment she was born, but she understood them better than any good-hearted person could.

And in her eyes, these people were absolutely, without a doubt, the last type of people who should be involved with any of this.

‘Ugh.’

Maya remembered the mark on her back, and she recognized the look in their eyes. She had seen it before.

She had managed to escape safely from that village, but it was an experience she never wanted to relive.

Hiding her trembling hands behind her, she quietly whispered.

“Is your sister really here?”

“Ung.”

“If your sister has gotten involved in some weird religion, I might not be able to help…”

No, more than that, they’re about to get dragged into this cult’s hands and brainwashed.

Maya pulled Astin tightly into her arms and lowered herself slowly. She figured it would be better to retrace their steps and seek help from the lord.

Even though the mysterious family was shrouded in secrecy, they were supposed to be noble with a manor and a castle. The lord wouldn’t just sit idly if he knew that two children from noble families were in danger within his territory.

But at that moment, a troubling thought crossed Maya’s mind.

The younger sibling is so young… Could the older sister even be an adult?

“Just to be sure, how old is your sister?”

“Eight.”

“She’s a baby!”

Ahh! Maya screamed and pulled at her hair in frustration.

“Not baby! Sister grown.”

“That’s right! She’s a baby! She shouldn’t be separated from her parents!”

Some people might say that a child is just a little adult, but Maya didn’t agree at all.

She was sensitive to the idea of children being raised in an environment that forced them to grow up too soon. She had grown up that way herself.

So what happened to her?

She grew up as a misfit with absolutely no social skills…

Maya reflected on her life.

When was the last time she left her hometown? She still couldn’t take off her hood, even now.

She knew that white hair was seen as holy in society, but she couldn’t escape the memories of her childhood.

She lived in the shadows, as if she was a real witch, avoiding people, unable to hold a normal conversation. The image of herself, fumbling through simple interactions, flashed in her mind.

It was easier for her to pretend to be a real witch, which was why she studied alchemy.

‘I don’t expect to change now.’

But seeing this child face the same wounds she did was something she couldn’t bear.

The fear of being alone, with no one to help in a crisis, was something only she needed to feel.

This child must have sent the wolf to ask for help.

If she went back to the lord, it might be too late.

Maya was the only one who could save the children right now.

Maya ignored the pounding of her heart as if it would jump out of her chest, and jumped off the wolf’s back. She pulled out several small vials she had hidden in her clothes and clenched them tightly.

“Astin, don’t leave off the wolf. Stay behind me.”