The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Chapter 69

Islay swung his sword at the neck of a monster that dared to attack him without fear. The strength he possessed, surpassing that of an ordinary human, cleaved the beast’s bones in an instant, severing its head. The wolf-like head rolled to a stop in front of a house. Yet, the blood on his blade had no chance to dry.

Since before reaching adulthood, Islay had gone on expeditions to exterminate monsters, and even when outnumbered, he had never been pushed back. But this was a city with defenseless citizens.

Children, women, and the elderly were all exposed to danger without any protection. Amid the chaos of the monsters pouring in like a flood, Islay couldn’t guarantee that he could protect everyone without a scratch.

“Blocking the entrance is the priority!”

Islay plunged his sword into the shoulder of a beast that was charging toward a fallen citizen, then drew it down in one swift motion. The creature’s body split diagonally, blood spurting like a fountain as it fell to the ground.

“Soldiers nearest to the wall, repair the collapsed section with rocks! The rest, proceed with exterminating the monsters!”

“Yes, Captain!”

At his command, the subordinates quickly split into two groups and began their operations. Those who moved swiftly gathered the large fragments of the collapsed wall to block the breach. Once they stopped the monsters from entering, the extermination became much easier. Thanks to the guards stationed throughout the castle, they were able to respond quickly.

The problem was…

‘Estella.’

Islay glanced briefly in the direction where Mikel had led her. He did not doubt his most loyal and capable subordinate. Mikel must have safely escorted Estella to her chambers, but knowing who might be behind this chaos, Islay couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

He adjusted his grip on the sword’s hilt. It took mere seconds to decapitate the monsters that kept coming at him. His heart pounded abnormally fast, his arm muscles swelling as if they would tear through his leather sleeves.

The smell of blood surrounded him, and the more he killed, the more the grotesque bloodline within him writhed. It felt as if he could turn into a primal beast filled with raw desire at any moment.

But there was no time to leisurely stop and burn calming incense.

At that very moment, an arrow whistled through the air from somewhere.

It was a strange arrow. With his heightened senses, Islay could easily perceive murderous intent, yet this arrow bore none. The hint of someone aiming it at him came a beat too late. He only sensed the movement of the already-fired arrow afterward.

But that was enough.

Islay swiftly caught the arrow aimed precisely at his heart with one hand. A familiar scent emanated from the sharp tip. It was the same pungent smell as the herbs he always consumed.

Without a moment’s thought, Islay’s veined hand snapped the arrow’s shaft.

“Rat.”

In the midst of an urgent situation where monsters were rampaging through the city, who in their right mind would target him?

He couldn’t ignore the familiar but unsettling smell of the herbs either. Though there was no killing intent, the speed of the arrow was as swift as a lightning strike.

Islay heightened his senses to the extreme. The veins on his neck bulged as he detected the number and movements of the monsters still in the city. There were none acting alone or attacking civilians—his loyal subordinates were fighting them all. Without needing to turn his head, he could see the entire battlefield.

That’s why Islay turned toward the direction the arrow had come from. The shooter seemed to be fleeing upon sensing danger, but even that movement was clear to him—there was nowhere for them to run.

Blood droplets, tiny as they were, gathered at Islay’s knuckles as he strode forward. Whether the scratch came from the arrow’s tip grazing him or from cutting down dozens of monsters, he had no time to care.

Thud!

Islay violently flung open the door of a storehouse attached to a nearby house. As soon as he did, another arrow shot out fiercely, but he grabbed it without flinching.

Throwing the arrow aside, Islay saw a figure crouching in the corner. He walked over and swung his fist without mercy. With a crack, the figure’s nose burst, blood splattering.

“Gah!”

Benoch squirmed, trying to escape, but Islay grabbed his throat and locked eyes with him. Benoch, caught in the large hand, let out a pained groan.

“Ugh… my lord…”

“Who dares aim a bow at their lord?”

Islay lifted the massive Benoch with one hand.

“Where did you sell your loyalty?”

“Ugh, sell it? I-it’s a misunderstanding…! My loyalty to you… is incomparable… to anyone…”

“Sure, if it ever existed in the first place.”

Islay’s grip tightened around Benoch’s thick neck. The man’s face, already pale, turned almost purple. Even Benoch, who had survived a direct sword wound to the shoulder, now had death’s shadow creeping over his face.

“I told you to return to Hegir quietly, but here you are, causing a commotion.”

“Ugh… how could I dare…”

“Is the First Elder behind this?”

Clicking his tongue, Islay dragged Benoch out of the storehouse like a dog. Benoch’s hefty body, held by the nape of his neck, offered no resistance.

By then, the chaos that had engulfed the city was nearly under control, and Islay’s subordinates, summoned to the storehouse, stood ready.

“Take him to the dungeon immediately.”

As soon as Islay threw Benoch to the ground, the soldiers rushed over and bound him tightly. Without sparing a glance at the wheezing man, Islay turned away, only to hear a strange laugh echoing behind him.

“Heh… heh…”

With a cold expression, Islay slowly turned his head. Kneeling with his hands bound, Benoch laughed with his nose to the ground.

“Going to find the woman, are you, my lord?”

Benoch lifted his blood-soaked face. Islay looked down at him silently.

“You’d better hurry… She might be in danger.”

“Your punishment will be execution.”

The low voice fell on Benoch’s bowed head. He seemed ready to say more but gradually stopped smiling.

“But if she bears even a single scratch, I won’t grant you such an easy death. I’ll carve you into pieces so you can’t even beg for it.”

“……”

“If you don’t want to end up in a state indistinguishable from a heap of filth, you better pray Estella remains unharmed.”

With a calm tone, Islay turned his back and walked away. Unlike his composed expression, the veins on his neck stood out, as if trying to contain the surging anger.

***

Stella began to walk through the castle, where the rampage was yet to be fully subdued. It seemed the civilians had been evacuated quickly, leaving the city empty.

Blood, whose source was unknown, flowed along the brick road and through the alleys between the lined buildings. From a distant place, the roars of beasts and the clashing of weapons echoed. It seemed the guards had driven the monsters into one area.

She was terrified to the point of shivering, but that was exactly where she needed to go. Islay would be dealing with the monsters in the most dangerous place.

“Dora, hold on just a bit longer.”

It seemed the paralytic poison was taking its toll on Dora, as her strength was fading. Stella, too, felt a foggy wave rising in her mind, but they couldn’t collapse here after learning such a crucial secret.

If only she could find any soldier to help—but there was no one in sight within the inner castle to whom she could turn.

“Don’t collapse. Don’t give up.”

“Hic…”

“Even if I fall first, keep going. Find someone—ask them to find Islay or tell them everything we know…”

Dora suddenly sank to her knees in the middle of the road, cutting Stella off. She hadn’t lost consciousness, but her pale face stared fixedly at something.

“T-there…!”

Stella, struggling desperately to stay conscious, also stopped. A strong shiver washed over her as her strength ebbed from her limbs.

At the end of the road, they saw a monster standing upright on two legs.