The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 22

“How did you get that leg wound?” Islay asked, his voice unusually deep. The injured bandit, caught off guard, answered instinctively.

“Oh… this? We were chased by a strange monster near the border. It scratched me with its claws.”

“A black-furred monster?”

“Yeah, just like your hair, pitch black. And now that I think about it, its eyes were the same color too…”

“How many were there?”

“We encountered two. We managed to kill one, but we lost half our group.”

Although the questioning seemed out of place, Stella realized Islay’s intention. His primary concern was the whereabouts of the black beasts he had been hunting for so long. In other words, he felt no threat from the bandits, even though they were outnumbered. As long as she didn’t become a hindrance, there was no problem for him.

“Shut up, Thomas! Why are you answering his questions?” barked the biggest and roughest-looking man, his face contorted in anger.

“I won’t say it again. Leave everything you have, including the woman, and get out of here.”

“Why should I?” Islay replied.

“If you need a reason… let’s call it a toll fee,” the bandit leader snarled.

Islay chuckled, his laughter echoing ominously. The toll fee should rightfully be paid to him, the land’s true owner, which made the situation all the more amusing to him.

But laughter from a man under threat was unnerving, and the bandits’ faces lost their smug expressions. The eerie sound even sent shivers down Stella’s spine.

“Move back,” Islay ordered.

Releasing Stella’s hand, Islay threw the torch into a nearby puddle. The cave was plunged into darkness. The bandits, disoriented, began to panic.

In the darkness, the sound of a blade slicing through the air was followed by a bloodcurdling scream. Realizing what this meant, Stella stifled her own scream, ducking down.

The bandits shouted wildly, swinging their swords. The sharp clang of metal against metal echoed relentlessly through the cave.

Stella, falling to the ground, crawled to a corner. She squeezed her eyes shut, clutching her head with both hands, trying to make herself as small as possible.

In this confrontation, she could only hope that she wouldn’t hinder Islay. If he fell, her fate would be all too clear.

‘Why did I come to such a terrifying place…!’

The sounds of cutting flesh, bodies thudding against the ground, and metal clashing filled the confined space. The idea that Islay might be in trouble crossed her mind, but she quickly pushed it away. All she could do was wait for the chaos to end.

The horrifying noises ceased abruptly. Only a few seconds had passed.

Stella, her face buried in her knees, slowly lifted her head. A moment later, the metallic smell of blood hit her nose. Grimacing, she heard a low voice break the silence.

“It’s over.”

She let out a trembling sigh of relief. Islay had relit the torch, illuminating the cave. Stella’s frightened eyes took in the scene.

“…Ugh.”

It was a gruesome sight. Bodies lay scattered haphazardly, and blood pooled on the ground, slowly spreading.

Islay stood among the carnage, calmly sheathing his blood-soaked dagger. His expression was devoid of any emotion, as if he had merely squashed some insignificant insects. He turned to Stella, his face splattered with blood, showing not a hint of remorse.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Good. I’m going to burn the bodies, so keep your eyes closed.”

The word “bodies,” referring to those who had just been alive and talking moments ago, sent a chill down Stella’s spine.

“Do you really have to… burn them?”

“The smell of blood might attract more monsters. It’s safer to make sure they’re taken care of. It might already be too late.”

Not wanting to argue, Stella nodded quickly. Islay fixed the torch between some stalactites, grabbed the ankles of two corpses with each hand, and headed out of the cave. Stella buried her face in her knees once more.

It didn’t take long for him to finish the task, but by the time he was done, dusk had settled over the forest. When Stella stepped out of the cave, she tried hard not to look at the pile of bodies or the blazing fire.

“It’s best we leave here before it gets any later,” Islay said, dusting off his hands. The implication that the terrifying beast could show up at any moment made Stella’s heart sink.

“Do you think our horses are still there? We left them loose before entering the forest.”

“They’re smart animals; they wouldn’t have gone far. Let’s hurry.”

Islay dismissed her concerns and grabbed her hand. His large hand enveloped her trembling one, holding it tightly.

They crossed the shallow stream and retraced their steps. The dry needles of the coniferous trees rustled eerily in the wind. Thunder rumbled distantly. As Stella looked up, raindrops began to fall, striking her forehead. The sky seen through the tall trees looked ominous.

Her gaze returned to the front just as Islay stopped.

Beyond the foggy curtain of the forest, a pair of blood-red eyes suddenly glinted. For a moment, she thought they looked like the reflective eyes of a cat, but then a deep sense of unease washed over her. Stella froze in place.

More pairs of glowing eyes began to appear, flickering here and there. Eight, nine, ten pairs… the number kept increasing, making it pointless to count.

“Get back to the cave,” Islay said, his eyes fixed ahead. The tension in his voice was far greater than when they had faced the bandits.

Stella looked up at him, teeth chattering. Islay met her gaze, his eyes the same red as the monsters’ emerging from the darkness.

“Right now,” he insisted.

Stella shuddered as if struck by a whip and turned on her heels. No sounds came from behind her. Yet, her legs filled with strength, compelling her to run. She didn’t sense anything chasing her, but she felt that if she turned around, a monster would be right there.

Islay could silence his presence perfectly, so why couldn’t a monster do the same? She didn’t know why this thought crossed her mind. She knew she shouldn’t equate him with the black beasts.

In her panic, Stella ran until she reached the stream, where she slipped on a wet stone and fell hard. The pain was so intense that she saw stars. But there was no time to check her injuries. She quickly got up, threw off her soaked cloak, and dragged her heavy body forward with all her might. She panted heavily, pushing herself to the limit.

Only when she reached the cave entrance did she realize it was raining. The fire burning the bodies had significantly died down.

“Haa… Haa…”

Stella, panting heavily, stumbled into the cave. Her face was filled with terror. Finally, she collapsed, leaning against the stone wall. She bent her knees and sat down, but her breathing remained uneven for a while.

Islay had dealt with the bandits effortlessly. But what about the black beasts? There were more than a dozen of them. Could he defeat them all?

Soon, someone would cut through the damp darkness of the cave. Would it be him, or the beasts with their protruding snouts? Fear consumed Stella, leading her to imagine the worst.

‘I’m scared. So scared…’

Huddled miserably, she curled up her entire body. She bit her lip, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

But there was nothing Stella could do. Once again, she could only sit helplessly and wait for his return.