MTMLF CH 12

Chapter 12

The Male Lead’s Father

Jania didn’t know how many monsters she could kill with this weapon, but she had to try. She couldn’t just leave Alex to die alone.

Clenching her teeth, she ran toward the lake, her breath burning in her chest.

“Haah… haah…”

By the time she reached the lakeside, it was already dark. The forest blocked most of the sunlight, so night always fell earlier here.

“Alex…”

As she got closer to the lake where the monsters had appeared, a strange, fishy smell filled the air. It wasn’t the same watery smell from earlier that afternoon—it was darker, thicker, and made her shiver.

Deep down, she already knew Alex might not be safe. But she shook her head furiously. Even if it was foolish, she couldn’t stop herself from running forward.

“Alex!”

Finally, the lake came into view, and she cried his name loudly.

Then—

“…What…”

She froze on the spot, her eyes widening.

From her feet all the way across the lakeside, monster corpses were scattered everywhere.

They weren’t just dead—they were torn apart, limbs and heads separated, lying gruesomely across the ground.

“Urgh…”

Jania gagged, bending over as nausea rose in her throat.

Slowly, she lifted her head again… and saw someone.

“Grrrk…”

A strange man was clutching the neck of what seemed to be the last monster alive.

He turned his head slowly to look at her.

“Aah.”

The moment their eyes met, Jania couldn’t move. His sharp, golden eyes locked onto her, and the hand holding her crossbow trembled violently.

‘This isn’t the time to freeze…’

The lake was filled with monster corpses, all clearly killed by this man. But Alex was nowhere in sight. Biting her lip nervously, she forced herself to speak.

“Who… who are you?”

“…”

“Did you, by any chance… see a black-furred wolf?”

Her lips barely moved, but she managed to ask.

The man wasn’t carrying any weapon. In fact, he wasn’t wearing anything at all. Naked.

Jania fought to keep her eyes from darting downward.

Yet, even without weapons or armor, this man had torn apart terrifying monsters with nothing but his bare hands.

Why was he like this? She didn’t know, but one thing was certain: if he wanted to, he could easily kill her too.

Her body trembled instinctively with fear, but she tried to stay calm as she stared at him.

Thunk—roll…

“Eek!”

The man dropped the monster’s body. Its severed head rolled across the ground.

The gruesome sight made Jania whimper.

She wanted to run away right now. She wanted nothing to do with this terrifying man.

“Wait.”

But the man threw aside the body and began walking toward her.

Startled, Jania raised her crossbow and pointed it at him.

“Don’t come closer!”

“….”

He stopped where he stood, looking at her crossbow as if he hadn’t expected her to aim it at him.

Jania bit her lip and shouted again.

“I asked you who you are!”

“Ah.”

Her sharp voice seemed to surprise him.

His golden eyes widened slightly.

Then, as Jania’s gaze dropped to his neck, she noticed something dangling there.

‘A… collar?’

He wasn’t wearing clothes, but around his neck hung a loose red leather collar, far too big for him. A long leash dangled from it.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

‘That’s Alex’s collar!’

She had fastened it with her own hands, held that leash every day during walks.

There was no way she could mistake it.

This terrifying man—the one who had slaughtered all the monsters—was wearing Alex’s collar.

‘No way…’

Her hand shook so hard she almost dropped the crossbow. Slowly, she lowered it.

The man smiled faintly and walked toward her again.

“You asked who I was, didn’t you?”

“Ah…”

His deep voice brushed against her ears, and his golden eyes curved like a crescent.

“I’m the puppy you raised.”

“….”

Jania was speechless, staring at him.

***

When they returned home, Ella—left alone in her cage—squealed loudly the moment she saw Jania.

Still dazed, Jania lifted Ella out and stroked her trembling back.

“I’m sorry, Ella. You must have been so scared.”

“Kii, kii…”

As Jania soothed her gently, Ella finally calmed down. With a sigh, Jania put her down carefully, then turned to the man behind her.

“So… your name is?”

“Alex.”

“That’s not true.”

Jania frowned at him.

The man who had been pretending to be nothing more than a harmless pet wolf smiled slyly.

‘But… he looks familiar…’

She studied him from head to toe.

He was wearing the robe she had given him. On her, it dragged across the floor, but on him it only reached his calves.

‘Where have I seen him before?’

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at his face.

Jet-black hair, pale skin, sharp masculine features, a high nose, perfectly shaped lips.

He was undeniably handsome.

But… strangely familiar. She was sure she’d never forget a man this good-looking.

‘Even his voice…’

That deep, rich tone felt familiar too, like she’d heard it before.

Then, she remembered her recent dreams.

‘Have you woken?’

‘Your fever is still high.’

The man in her dreams… his voice was exactly the same.

“Ah…!”

Her eyes widened. She pointed at him in shock.

“It wasn’t a dream…?”

“Dream?”

Rupert tilted his head, then chuckled when he realized what she meant.

‘She thought it was a dream? Well, I guess she was half-delirious then.’

He tilted his head slightly, looking down at her flushed face with a calm smile.

“You… you pervert!”

“Pervert?”

“What else would I call you?! In the cave, and in this house too…!”

“Ah…”

Rupert remembered. When she had collapsed in the forest during the rain, he had carried her to a cave.

Her clothes had been soaked, so he removed them to prevent hypothermia.

To keep her alive, they had huddled together for warmth.

Later, when she still looked unwell, he had brought her into the mansion and cast a stabilizing spell to help her body recover.

Both times had been to save her. But now, being called a pervert made him feel unfairly accused.

His gaze darkened slightly. To Jania, though, it only made him look more shameless.

“Tell me the truth! Who are you? What did you do to me?”

She rolled up her sleeves, glaring furiously. A moment ago, she’d been terrified of the man who tore monsters apart with his bare hands—but now she only saw him as a liar who had tricked her by pretending to be a harmless wolf.

“I’ll explain everything, but please calm down.”

“Do I look calm to you?!”

“…Hmm.”

Rupert sighed, troubled by her anger.

Thinking back, he could admit the situation did look suspicious. But nothing inappropriate had happened.

Despite the wolf-beastmen’s reputation, Rupert had acted with restraint. He decided to reveal his true identity.

“My name is Rupert Ferdinand.”

“…What? Ferdinand?”

Jania’s eyes widened.

That name—she could never forget.

It was the family name of the male lead in the novel!