KFBRV Ch 36
- Jan 22
- 5 min read
The final child of the Fenrir clan, whom Odette had not yet met, burst into the shack. Theodore was taller than the others, his face twisted with suspicion as he clamped a hand onto Odette’s shoulder.
[Theodore] "Who are you? Why is Lara on her knees before you?"
Lara’s voice was frantic as she pleaded with him.
[Lara] "Theo, stop! It’s Lady Odette! Quickly, bow with us! She is our savior!"
At the mention of her name, Theodore’s expression turned predatory.
[Theodore] "Why are you here? Get out, you witch! Leave now!"
The venom in his voice actually helped Odette regain her composure. She found it much easier to face blatant hatred than the blind, tragic devotion Lara had shown. She was used to being loathed; she knew how to navigate a world of enemies.
She tried to reach out and gently lift Lara from the floor.
[Theodore] "Don’t touch her! You monster! What are you planning to do to her?"
His grip on her shoulder tightened, his fingers digging into her skin.
Odette suppressed a sigh. She had known the situation would be bad, but she hadn’t realized it had reached this level of depravity.
In the original game lore, the Fenrir clan was forced to wear armbands and pay heavy taxes, but it was stated that their basic needs were met. They were supposed to live at a level comparable to commoners. That was why Karl’s lack of initial hatred toward the villainess in the first timeline had made sense.
But this is a dungeon, not a home. How could the lore be so wrong?
There was no time to bridge the gap of hatred through conversation. If she didn't get them out soon, the Calamity would swallow them all. She abandoned the idea of gentle persuasion and chose a harder path.
[Odette] "Luca, restrain Theodore."
[Luca] "What...? Oh! Yes, I understand!"
Perhaps it was the years of conditioned obedience to orders issued in Odette’s name, but Luca didn't hesitate. He moved quickly to hold Theodore back.
[Theodore] "What are you doing? Let go!"
[Odette] "Luca, make sure his ankles are facing me."
[Theodore] "Get your hands off her! If you hurt Lara—"
[Lara] "Theo, stop! We are the 'dirty' ones, remember? What if she kills us?"
It was a scene of pure chaos. Theodore looked as if he would bite Odette’s throat if Luca let him go for even a second.
She ignored the shouting and grasped Lara’s shackles. The metal reacted to her touch, glowing white before hitting the floor with a heavy clank.
Theodore froze, his mouth hanging open in shock.
[Odette] "I am going to free you as well. Once I do, change into the clothes in that trunk immediately."
She pointed to the luggage she had brought, her voice cold and commanding. Theodore didn't stop glaring, but the murderous edge in his eyes flickered with confusion.
[Theodore] "What is your game? What do you want from us?"
[Odette] "It doesn't matter what I want. You are Fenrir, and you will follow my orders. I don't owe you an explanation. Today, you are leaving this place."
She hated sounding so heartless, but it was the only way they would move. However, her cold tone triggered an unexpected reaction from Luca.
[Luca] "Big Sister... are we really going outside? Can we actually leave the zone?"
His voice was thick with wonder. Behind him, Lara’s eyes lit up.
[Lara] "Outside? Are we going to see the circus?"
Odette tilted her head, confused by the mention of a circus. Lara began to hop with excitement, throwing her arms around Theodore’s neck.
[Lara] "See, Theo? I told you! We only stayed here because the circus wasn't in town yet. Now we can go!"
Odette looked at Theodore. His face had turned a deep, embarrassed crimson. She understood then.
Every time Lara had cried about being trapped, Theodore must have made up stories to comfort her. He had used the circus as a reason why they "chose" to stay.
This changes things. The nearest circus is at least six stations away. Protecting three Fenrir children in a crowded place like that will be a nightmare.
The Fenrir people were easily identified by their distinct black hair and eyes. She had brought wigs and hats to hide their features, and she had dressed herself in expensive silks to intimidate any guards who might stop them, but a circus was a high-risk environment.
[Odette] "Lara, the circus is..."
She stopped. Theodore’s face looked utterly broken. It was the look of a provider who had spent his whole life failing to provide, a look of deep-seated guilt that no child should ever wear.
Fine. I have enough gold to bury any problem that comes our way.
[Odette] "That's right, Lara. We are going to the circus."
Luca and Theodore both gasped. Joy flooded Luca’s face, while Theodore remained speechless, his eyes searching hers for the lie.
[Odette] "So, change your clothes. Now."
Lara let out a squeal of delight. Luca was so overwhelmed that he seemed to have lost the ability to speak. Theodore didn't resist when Odette reached for his shackles this time. He simply watched her, his silence a quiet form of thanks.
The final set of iron fell to the floor.
[Odette] "Make sure you put the wigs and hats on carefully. They have to look natural."
She was grateful for Madam Sarah’s skill; the wigs were indistinguishable from real hair.
If she could get them out of here happily, it would be much easier to win Karl's loyalty later. Besides, she knew what it was like to crave a dream that only mattered while you were still young.
The circus.
She remembered a time when she, too, had stayed awake at night, dreaming of that very word.
High atop the containment zone, the warning bell began to toll.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The frantic rhythm signaled the arrival of a Calamity. Usually, the sound sent people running for their lives, but one man was sprinting toward the danger, tearing through the dust.
It was Karl. He was wearing the thin, ill-fitting clothes of a third-class citizen. He had just been branded as a slave; blood was still seeping through the fabric on his shoulder where the hot iron had met his skin. He felt no pain, only a crushing, suffocating terror.
[Karl] "No. Please, not now. Not them."
He couldn't catch his breath. It felt as if he were drowning in dry land.
[Karl] "Luca! Lara!"
He reached the massive obsidian gates. Because he didn't wear shackles, he could pass through the barrier. He threw himself into the containment zone, his heart hammering against his ribs, and then he stopped.
The sight before him left him paralyzed.
To support the original author and publisher, please consider rating the official release on Kakaopage.
Comments