I Became the Villain's Trainer-Chapter 76

Chapter 76

What was the point of prolonging this standoff? Alexa had no desire to see others get hurt because she was taken hostage. Resolute, she pressed her neck against the blade. Blood ran down the weapon, staining it crimson.

“Do it.”

Scruffy Hair hesitated, startled. He had never encountered a woman this fearless. Among all the hostages he’d taken, none had ever remained so composed. It was as if she was waiting for this moment.

“What are you doing? It’s for me to decide your worth.”

Scruffy Hair spat, flicking the blood off the knife. Alexa bit her lip; she should have made a deeper cut. She had no intention of dying. Her goal was to unnerve him, but he moved too quickly. She had seen countless scenes like this in novels, movies, and dramas where the hostage would scream and beg for their life. But in reality, it’s the calm hostage who holds the advantage – just like Alexa now.

Alexa forced herself to quell her fear. She had faced death once before.

‘F**k... it doesn’t mean I’m not scared...’

Alexa took a deep breath then grabbed Scruffy Hair’s arm, pressing her neck against the knife again.

“D**n, what are you doing!”

Alexa’s sudden movement gave an opening to Scruffy Hair. Terrun and Ysildus seized this opportunity. Transforming into a large wolf, Ysildus lunged forward with his mouth wide open. Scruffy Hair pushed Alexa to the side, slashing both her ankles to prevent her from escaping.

“Ah!”

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Alexa didn’t expect this, she screamed and curled up on the floor as the cold blade grazed over her skin. Ysildus rushed to where Alexa was, followed by Terrun drawing his sword.

“He didn’t mention he would be this big!”

Scruffy Hair gritted his teeth, wrapping his arms around the thick fur of Ysildus’s neck. There was no gap to strike. He tried to stab the wolf, but Ysildus’s teeth forced him back. Ysildus stood protectively over Alexa.

The scent of Alexa’s blood filled the air, and wolves drawn by the smell were held at bay by the knights. People scattered at the sight of Thersion’s crest and the glimpse of a giant silver wolf. Avoiding entanglement in the affairs of the castle was the safest bet for longevity. With a snarl, Ysildus lunged again, Terrun swinging his sword in support.

Clang—clang—

The clash of teeth, sword, and knife echoed sharply. Alexa’s blood flowed more freely with each passing moment. The wolf knights hoisted her onto their shoulders and dashed toward the Grand Castle. Her breathing grew fainter as she was carried away. Ysildus’s icy blue eyes, as cold as winter itself, glinted dangerously.

“Grarrr—”

His sharp fangs tore into Scruffy Hair’s arm, threatening to sever it completely. Scruffy Hair recoiled, knowing the truth of Thersion’s secret – that these people were wolves.

“D**n it!”

Scruffy Hair hurled curses one after another. After hearing that they were wolf cubs, he readily accepted this commission, but he realized that the situation was different from what he expected. More and more knights arrived, not merely watching but refraining from interfering – this fight with Ysildus and Terrun. Which only means that these two wolves fighting him were strong.

Scruffy Hair spat out blood. The thought crossed his mind that he might die here, his futile grudge against Thersion fading into nothingness.

‘I won’t go down like this.’

He gripped his sword with renewed determination. Blood spurted from his mangled arm as he twisted his body to evade Ysildus’s jaws and swung his sword.

Clang—

The sound sent chills down his spine again.

“Ah!”

Scruffy Hair watched in dismay as his sword was flung from his grasp. It had aimed for the wolf’s eyes but was blocked by Ysildus’s paw and Terrun’s blade. His arm, torn apart by Ysildus’s fangs, fell to the ground with the missed swing.

He had lost. Completely. For a mercenary who fails their mission, death is the only reward. Scruffy Hair bowed his head, resigned to his fate.

* * *

“Is Sir Karrolf here yet?”

“He had just passed through the gates!”

Carlisle flung off his cloak in frustration. The floor was splattered with Alexa’s blood. He gritted his teeth.

This was a disaster. Despite being surrounded by wolf knights, the children had been careless, lulled into a false sense of security by the festivities. All the knights had returned unscathed except for the small, injured Alexa.

Carlisle had been just as complacent. He had assumed Alexa would be safe, but she was more fragile than he had thought. Now, she lay pale and bloodless, her ankles being treated by the head maid and Essellia.

Soon after, Violeta dragged Karrolf into the room. The castle’s chief physician had managed to keep Alexa alive, but barely. Carlisle bellowed at Karrolf.

“Why haven’t you stitched her up yet!”

“Her blood vessels are too thin, Teacher.”

Karrolf pushed the physician aside irritably and began stitching Alexa’s wounds himself. He cleaned the cuts with disinfected water and carefully sutured the blood vessels. Thanks to countless previous experiments, this was nothing new to him.

The howls of wolves echoed throughout the castle, responding to the scent of human blood.

“She’ll survive, right?”

It was Carlisle. It wasn’t a question but a command – to save Alexa at all costs. Holding his breath, Karrolf continued stitching.

The pungent smell of blood filled the castle. On the balcony, Terrun and Ysildus appeared, the latter still in wolf form with the perpetrator in his jaws. The man was still alive, though barely.

Ysildus opened the balcony door, the high ceilings designed to accommodate wolves making entry easy. He dropped the scruffy-haired man at Carlisle’s feet. Wrinkling his nose in disgust, Carlisle grabbed the man’s hair and yanked his head back.

“How did this vermin get past the castle’s defenses?”

He could tell at a glance. This man was a half-breed of Red Hair Clan and Thersion. The stench of Red Clan’s black magic was unpleasant. Carlisle searched Scruffy Hair’s belongings and found the invitation that had allowed him entry into Thersion Castle.

“Bring in those responsible for letting this filth through.”

Carlisle stood up. Ysildus shook his head, shifting back into his human form. His silver hair was stained with blood. Ysildus walked towards Alexa, with Terrun following close behind. As he walked, Terrun reflected on the overwhelming power he had witnessed today. He knew instinctively that he could never defeat Ysildus and felt an urge to submit to him.

“Will Alexa be able to walk again?”

Carlisle asked Karrolf, breaking the tense silence.

“She must. What kind of doctor would I be if I couldn’t save this small child?”

Karrolf gritted his teeth as he spoke. He had been warned about the wolves’ arrogance, and now, seeing this outcome, he was beyond frustrated. Visten, who had just returned from cleaning up the festival grounds, staggered in, his face ashen, and Violeta rushed to support him.

The herbs Karrolf had prepared were simmering in a pot, filling the room with a strong scent. These herbs were meant to replenish Alexa’s lost blood. Under Karrolf’s instructions, the physician carefully poured the concoction onto Alexa’s lips. Although difficult, as Alexa was lying face down, it was Karrolf’s order.

Failure was not an option. If her blood could not be replenished in time, the surgery’s success would mean nothing.

At last, the bleeding began to slow. Karrolf breathed a sigh of relief and continued suturing, determined not to leave even the smallest scar on Alexa. Thankfully, her tendons remained intact. A mage, summoned by Essellia, prostrated himself before Karrolf. This mage served Thersion and specialized in light magic, unlike the dark arts used by the Red Clan.

“Not a difficult task. The girl has lost a lot of blood. Can you help her?”

The mage, flustered, rushed to cast a healing spell on Alexa. The small wounds on her neck quickly healed, and her shallow breaths grew stronger. The Head Maid, observing Alexa’s chest rise and fall more steadily, sank to the floor in relief.

When Alexa was first carried in, drenched in blood, she felt as though her heart would stop.

The girl had left with a smile but returned on the brink of death. Even as the Head Maid found some solace, the surgery continued. The scent of healing magic and herbs filled the room. From a distance, Scruffy Hair, still twitching on the ground, fixed his gaze on Alexa.