Chapter 55: I Stole Yeuju's First Love
I quickly looked around. People were either running away, hiding, or busy dealing with other wolves.
'They'll be eaten if they keep this up.'
The alpha wolf walked calmly towards Tatiana. For some reason, Tatiana couldn't move and was trembling.
I took a deep breath and raised my gun.
From my position, I could see Tatiana's back and the front of the wolf.
I held my breath, waiting for the wolf to enter my sights.
I pulled the trigger as soon as it came into view.
A long howl echoed, and blood splattered.
I didn't know where I hit, but at least I had bought Tatiana some time to escape.
I quickly hid behind a rock.
My heart was pounding as if it would burst.
Since the alpha was injured, the other wolves would retreat.
Someone must have gone for help, so someone would come soon.
I held my gun tightly and peeked out to check the surroundings.
I could see knights galloping towards us in the distance.
An unfamiliar scent spread.
When I turned my head, a wolf with a bloodstain on one eye was looking at me.
I was sure I had hit it, but both of its eyes looked perfectly fine.
Just a little more, just a little more, and someone would come.
I tried not to provoke the wolf by shouting.
I gritted my teeth and stared straight into its eyes.
'Why aren't they coming?'
Suddenly, I thought they might have abandoned me.
To them, I was just an extra in this world.
After saving Tatiana, they might have left me behind without a second thought.
It wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
'I can't just wait for someone to help me.'
Thinking about that moment, my fighting spirit flared up.
I tightened my grip on the gun.
To get back safely, I had to do something.
'It will charge at me the moment I try to shoot.'
I wasn't a skilled knight and didn't think I could move faster than the wolf.
But I couldn't keep this standoff going forever.
I held my breath and quickly aimed the gun at the direction of the wolf.
The wolf leaped and cast a shadow over me.
I instinctively raised my gun to block the massive paw that swung towards me.
But I couldn't hold it back. I was pushed back and fell to the ground.
Just as I thought I was going to die.
When I opened my tightly shut eyes, the wolf that had been glaring at me was retreating.
Relief washed over me, and I felt limp.
The first person to run over was Helen, surprisingly.
"Are you alright? Good heavens, what were you thinking, shooting and hiding there?"
I watched Helen check me over, dazed.
The next person to run over was Aster.
He, who always kept his composure, sat beside me with a pale face.
He touched my cheek and hair with trembling hands and sighed deeply.
"Never do something so reckless again."
Aster helped me up by holding my hand.
My legs felt weak from the effort of blocking the wolf's paw, and I collapsed again.
He was silent for a moment, then took off his jacket, draped it over me, and picked me up.
"Let's get you out of here."
The place where Helen and I were was a bit higher than where Tatiana and the others were.
So, while being carried down by Aster, I could see the expressions of the people hiding everywhere.
Perhaps because I was the one who had gone to save Tatiana, with whom I had a long-standing bad relationship, many people looked bewildered. Some couldn't even lift their heads in embarrassment.
Most of all, Tatiana's expression was something to behold.
'Is she angry, or annoyed?'
She looked as if someone had stolen her stage.
Understanding Tatiana's mind was almost impossible.
I turned my gaze away from her and leaned my head slightly on Aster's shoulder.
I could feel him flinch in surprise.
"Don't thank me yet. I plan to scold you thoroughly when we get back."
A slightly pouting voice made me laugh involuntarily.
Aster continued, slightly flustered.
"This isn't the time to laugh. The Duke and the Master of the Magic Tower are waiting."
Ah, I hadn't thought of that.
Suddenly, a headache hit me.
Aster put me down on a bed in a tent that had been set up.
Mother's face turned bright red with anger, as if it might explode.
I quickly grabbed Aster's sleeve.
"I have some things to sort out. I'll be back after a short scolding."
He patted my cheek lightly, exchanged a glance with Father, and left.
As my protector disappeared, I curled up and watched Mother's reaction.
"Who goes and does something so dangerous?!"
"It wasn't on purpose..."
"Then you usually go around doing dangerous things on purpose?!"
Mother's nagging began in earnest.
She shouted as if fire was coming out of her mouth, insisting that I needed a danger detection device on my legs.
I turned my head slightly and sent a pleading look to Father, but it was useless.
"Don't look at me like that. I agree with your mother on this."
"Traitor? What traitor?!"
At Mother's stern command, I straightened up.
"Why? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Mother, startled, began checking my body. My back throbbed and ached from hitting a rock when I fell.
After Father left and I took off my shirt, Mother's long sigh could be heard behind me.
"Good heavens, you're all scraped up. We need to call a doctor."
At the mention of a doctor, my eyes lit up.
The injury on my back would likely be treated by a female doctor from outside the Duke's household.
If so, there must be a female doctor nearby!
Moreover, since I was injured while trying to save Tatiana, it would be hard for them to refuse our request.
"There's a female doctor in the Duke's household."
"Yes. Please ask her to treat me."
"They'll be very willing to help you."
Mother snorted in disbelief.
"This time will be different. I was injured while saving Tatiana..."
Ah, I said the wrong thing.
Mother glared at me with a terrifying look.
I covered my face with the blanket, and a long sigh followed.
"Let's see after you recover."
I could only pray that Mother would forget about this by then.
Tatiana sat in the Duke's tent, biting her lip.
She didn't hear the concerned voices asking if she was okay.
It was a life-or-death moment.
For the first time, Tatiana thought she might die.
No one seemed willing to help her, and she was certain she would be horrifically eaten by the wolves.
But, of all people, Karina came to her aid.
'There must be some ulterior motive.'
Otherwise, she wouldn't have risked her life to save her.
Perhaps, this was also a form of revenge for past events.
'She's trying to take my place.'
Karina, being carried by the Emperor down the hill, looked like a saint.
Those things were supposed to be reserved for Tatiana.
It was clear that Karina was trying to take her place as the world's protagonist, just like at Nivaya's shop.
Wilhelm entered cautiously, looking worried.
Tatiana nodded slightly, feeling a bit relieved.
Yes, Bill was still on her side.
"Tit! Are you hurt anywhere?"
Raymond rushed in, knelt at her feet, and asked anxiously.
"You almost got into serious trouble."
"Ray, thank you for coming. I'm fine."
While receiving comfort from Raymond and Wilhelm, Tatiana stared at the door.
Someone was still missing.
Then, there was a knock, and someone entered.
Tatiana assumed it was Daniel.
He was the most courteous among the three.
But it wasn't the person she was waiting for.
It was the maid who always followed Karina around.
She bowed coldly and greeted Tatiana.