Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 366
Chapter 366
She was alive.
That was the first thought that came to her mind.
For a moment, she felt relief, but then as her senses returned, she found herself in the arms of a strange man.
And not just any man, but his bare chest.
‘Ugh.’
Maya, who had never even held hands with anyone, nearly fainted.
Why is he half-naked?!
Though his clothing was quite ordinary by the standards of the time, anyone would be startled to find their cheek pressed against a stranger’s bare chest.
Maya froze in shock, forgetting even how to breathe.
‘He’s not a child, and he’s not a woman either.’
A tall, muscular adult man.
She had never expected to find anyone like that inside the temple.
‘Wait, there was an adult inside?’
So what’s he been doing here without bringing the child out with him?
Was he another victim trapped with her, or one of the zealots, or perhaps part of their group?
If it’s the former, then it’s fortunate, but if it’s the latter, then Maya was truly trapped.
‘Did he open the door to help me in, or was it to keep me from escaping?’
With his height and strength well beyond average, smooth skin, and a chest as hard as marble, balanced like a sculpture but with muscles so strong they could crush bones—
It was hard to believe someone like him could be trapped here without resistance.
Above all, the pressure emanating from him, even while standing still, was overwhelming.
It felt like being at the edge of a vast cliff, the sensation of vertigo sweeping over her entire body.
‘Get a grip. You’re overreacting.’
Even as she tried to calm herself, nothing changed.
She couldn’t even bring herself to look up and meet his eyes.
The fear, embedded in her instincts which she doesn’t know where it came from, squeezed the air out of her lungs.
“The, the child?”
“…?”
“The girl, where, where is she?”
Maya struggled to speak, her voice breaking and stuttering, but her head stayed low, as if it were broken.
Her harsh interrogation made her look completely out of place, as if she was crouching with her face to the ground.
But the man raised his hand, pointing toward one direction.
Maya, as if waking from a trance, hurriedly lifted her head and followed his gesture.
Two children were lying motionless on the ground, abandoned.
Not just one!
‘Those damn zealots!’
She rushed to check on the two children, placing her fingers under their noses. Thankfully, they were breathing.
‘Ah, they’re just sleeping.’
Maya let out a sigh of relief.
Though they looked weak, possibly from exhaustion due to lack of food, they didn’t seem to be in immediate danger.
‘I’m glad they’re okay.’
She should get them out of the temple quickly, treat them, and give them something to eat.
She thought to herself as she tried to lift both children into her arms.
Of course, it was impossible.
Her natural strength was far too lacking, and her hands were already too battered.
Maya, after seeing her terribly twisted and painful hands, let out a soft groan, “Ugh…”
Even if she wanted to call for help from the wolf, she had no way to do so now, especially after having it evacuated with Astin.
‘So, what’s left?’
Maya slowly turned her head, creaking like an unlubricated piece of metal. She still couldn’t bring herself to look the man in the eye.
‘Why am I so afraid of him?’
She had faced down the group of zealots confidently before. Despite their incompetence, they were still a majority.
But in front of this single man, it was hard to say a word. It wasn’t just because of his size.
“Ex, ex, excuse me…”
“…”
“You opened the door, so you’re going to let us go, right?”
“…”
“If you even think about touching the kids, I won’t stand by.”
It was a situation where he could easily ask, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ But the man neither mocked nor sneered at her.
That was what scared her more.
“Are you related by blood to that human child?”
“N, no…”
Maya hesitated, caught off guard by the question.
“Were you acquainted?”
“No?”
“Are you helping a stranger?”
“Well… what does that matter? Should I just leave them to die?”
“Even if you die?”
“I, I don’t want to die! But I’m the only one who can save these kids! What else can I do?”
Why do you keep asking such obvious questions….Maya snapped back, though she was still deeply terrified.
The man seemed to have anticipated her response and muttered under his breath.
His quiet voice fell like heavy explosives in the still temple.
“Humans chosen by God usually end up with short lives.”
“…?”
Was that implying he’d make her life shorter?
Maya squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push away the growing sense of dread.
She didn’t feel like she could win this fight.
At least if he was clear about his intentions, there might be room for negotiation, but his thoughts were so unclear, it left her with nothing but confusion.
Was this what it felt like for a rat to bite the lion’s paw?
But she hid the children behind her back, reaching into her pocket to grip the last remaining vial of medicine tightly.
She stood, tense, ready to strike at any moment.
“Hey, can you at least make it clear whose side you’re on?”
“Side?”
“Are you helping me, or are you helping these villagers and trying to stop me?”
The man answered nonchalantly.
“I don’t really care about taking sides with either side of humanity.”
So, he was going to stay neutral.
He might be an odd character, but at least she wouldn’t have to fight him right now.
Relieved that the worst had been avoided, Maya let out a sigh of relief.
“So you’re not going to stop me if I take them outside?”
“Whatever you want.”
“Then… can you help me take the kids outside the temple?”
Maya absentmindedly raised her head, then froze.
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