The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 23

The last beast’s head rolled across the ground.

The one that had charged fearlessly at Islay was notably larger and more tenacious than the others. It must have been the leader of the pack. While the smaller creatures attacked, it had stood back, watching him as if assessing his strength.

Though mindless creatures, these black beasts sometimes exhibited an eerie intelligence. Perhaps it was due to their origin from the bloodline of Peruno.

Islay swung his sword in the air, shaking off the blood. His cold gaze fell upon the severed head of the creature on the ground. It had the features of a cross between a bear and a wolf. The head alone looked like a beast, but below the neck, it had a human-like body, earning it the name “werewolf” among the people.

It was a ridiculous term, yet it perfectly encapsulated the evolved traits of the northerners from Calis. The thick skin resistant to injuries, keen senses, and the pack’s cohesive unity were characteristics shared by both the beasts and the people of Calis.

Islay ran a hand through his rain-soaked hair and turned back. Stella’s cloak lay crumpled where she had fallen by the river. Thankfully, there were no signs that the beast had pursued her.

The cave floor bore hurried footprints. Small, barely a foot long—they must be hers.

“Estella.”

Holding a lit torch, Islay entered the dark cave, calling her name. But no response came.

She must be inside. After all, she had been attacked twice and was likely terrified.

He continued his thoughts calmly, then stopped abruptly.

In a corner, a small figure was huddled.

Her hair, tangled like golden threads, was a mess, and her once-neat clothes were now dirty with mud and rain.

Sensing his presence, Stella slowly lifted her head. Islay looked down at her tear-streaked face.

It was a pitiful sight. Her pale complexion, blue lips, and expression were as if she had been sentenced to death.

Islay locked eyes with the trembling woman but hesitated to speak. Seeing Stella in such a state made even someone as shameless as him feel a twinge of guilt.

Of course, he hadn’t brought the precious princess here to pamper her. If anything, she was enduring hardships because of him.

Stella bit her lower lip and scrunched her eyes.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. There was a faint smell of blood, but it seemed she was too shocked to feel any pain.

“Then you must have been scared.”

This time, she didn’t respond. Stella’s golden eyes, filled with tears, began to shimmer.

Islay had never faced a woman on the verge of tears before. Feeling slightly perplexed, he set the torch down and approached her.

Kneeling in front of her, he looked into her eyes. Stella’s trembling voice broke the silence.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“And the beasts… are they all dead?”

“Yes. I killed every one of them that attacked.”

Stella’s tearful eyes scanned him, checking for any injuries.

Even in her terrified state, she worried about him. Islay found himself momentarily forgetting the situation as he observed her closely.

Her long eyelashes, the tip of her nose reddened from holding back tears, and her pale lips from biting too hard were all etched into his mind. Her trembling body seemed so delicate.

For a moment, he felt an urge to wrap her small shoulders in his arms.

Is it sympathy? Or the cheap lust he despises?

He swallowed hard, his throat moving silently. His strong hand slowly clenched into a fist, as if to restrain itself from reaching out to her.

He didn’t want to perform the cheesy act of comforting a frightened woman.

Despite feeling a slight guilt, he had no intention of sending her back to her homeland now, so he wanted to rid himself of unnecessary pity.

“Let me check your injuries.”

“I’m fine.”

Ignoring Stella’s protest, Islay grabbed her calf. Sure enough, the area around her knee was stained with blood. Though it didn’t seem to be a severe injury, it was serious enough to seep through the thick fabric of her dress.

Islay glanced outside, where the rain was growing heavier. He calculated the situation.

If they could make it to the edge of the forest, they could ride out of here.

However, with twilight setting in and the unpredictability of what else might emerge, it wasn’t wise to venture through the downpour with her.

No, it would be better to move when they had more daylight and better conditions.

Having made his decision, Islay gathered the torches already in the cave. Finding dry kindling in the rain would be difficult, so he planned to use what was already there. He split some sticks for kindling and arranged large stones around the fire pit to contain the flames. For someone used to camping, starting a fire was no big deal.

Stella, whose teeth were chattering, could not hide her relief when the fire sparked to life. She crawled closer to the fire and extended her hands toward it. Her eyes, reflecting the firelight, showed a flicker of anxiety.

“Are we spending the night here?”

“Yes. We’ll leave as soon as it gets light,” Islay replied, staring into the blazing fire.

He hadn’t expected his words to come true. Turning to look at Stella, he realized the real challenge was just beginning.

“Take off your clothes.”

“…What?”

Stella’s expression showed she couldn’t believe her ears. Even though she was trembling in her soaked dress, she still clung to her reason.

“They’re soaked. If you stay in them, you’ll lose body heat and risk hypothermia.”

“But—”

“Make a choice. Take off the dress now or freeze to death. One or the other.”

Even then, Stella couldn’t bring herself to undress.

Watching her shiver pathetically for a while, Islay began removing his cloak and shoulder armor. The clanking sound of the armor hitting the stone floor echoed.

“What are you doing…?”

She seemed to be asking why he was undressing if she was supposed to.

Her face, already pale, turned even whiter with confusion, but Islay ignored it and pulled his tunic over his head.

Stella, who had vehemently insisted she’d never even held a man’s hand, seemed on the verge of fainting with her eyes wide open.

Islay handed her his tunic, the only garment not stained with blood or rainwater.

Stella, her breath catching in her throat, stared at his bare chest before finally taking the tunic.

Islay turned his back to the fire, throwing more logs onto it. She would understand what that meant.

After a moment of hesitation, he heard the sound of her clothes rustling. The sound of her taking off the wet fabric and her shaky breath reached him.

Islay suppressed his heightened senses as he listened to the rustling behind him. He tried to convince himself that the slow-building heat in his lower abdomen was merely due to sitting close to the blazing fire.

“I’m done.”

Islay turned back, suppressing the rising heat. Stella, now wearing his tunic, sat with her knees drawn up, eyes wary.

Her smooth calves peeked out from beneath the tunic, which covered her thighs. His gaze briefly flicked to the gap between her legs, but he quickly suppressed it. She fidgeted, aware of his scrutiny.

“Drink this too.”

He took a small glass vial from his pocket and handed it to Stella. Inside was a clear liquid.

Recognizing the elixir, Stella’s face showed reluctance. She remembered the humiliation of undressing in front of him.

“What if there are side effects again…?”

“Why be modest now? It’s a small dose, so the risk is low. Drink it.”

Hesitating, Stella finally took the vial, squeezed her eyes shut, and downed it in one gulp, her expression as though she were drinking poison.