The Strongest Guild Kidnapped Me

Chapter 146

Levinas left in the middle of the night.  
Noticing her absence was no coincidence.  

It was all thanks to the tail.  
The tail she had tucked under her, acting as a makeshift alarm, became lighter, waking me up immediately.  

Without hesitation, I woke Sophia and Midsummer and began chasing after Levinas.  

- "Wait!"  

Someone called out from behind, but I ignored them and kept pursuing Levinas.  
Using my hearing and sense of smell, I quickly tracked her down.  

‘…There are other beastfolk around her.’  

Focusing my senses, I detected about ten beastfolk.  
That was a lot for just one young Levinas.  

Each one of them was stronger than me, but it didn’t matter.  
This mountain was my **territory**.  

I had spent years roaming this mountain alone.  
What I lacked in strength, I made up for with the advantage of knowing the terrain.  

Sensing my allies approaching, I nocked an arrow onto my bow.  
It was a special impact arrow crafted by Jung Yuna to be used in emergencies.  

Though it wasn’t lethal, the arrow packed enough force to send its target flying, making it ideal for subduing opponents.  

“Levinas, when I count to three, run, okay?”  

I didn’t wait for her response.  
I trusted Levinas would run when the time came.  
So I began counting without hesitation.  

“One.”  
“Two.”  

I whispered the numbers softly, low enough for only Levinas to hear.  
We had practiced this many times before, testing how quietly I could speak for her to still pick it up. I had no doubt she’d hear me now.  

Finally—  

“Three.”  

With a small cry, Levinas sprang toward my direction, her battle cry ringing out as she darted past her pursuers.  

“Got you!”  

A beastfolk wearing a snake mask lunged to grab her.  
From the blind spot obscured by grass and trees, I released my arrow.  

**Swish! Bang!**  

“Ugh!”  

The snake-masked beastfolk rolled to the ground with a loud impact, courtesy of Jung Yuna’s special arrow.  

“Who the hell are you?”  

The beastfolk divided into two groups: those wary of me and those chasing after Levinas.  
I targeted the latter, aiming for the ones charging toward her.  

**Bang!**  

Another beastfolk was blown back by my shot, and I swiftly nocked another arrow.  
When one of them threw a net at Levinas, I released two arrows in quick succession.  

**Bang! Bang!**  

The net and the beastfolk were sent flying. Levinas, without even glancing back, ran straight toward me.  

“Wang-ah!”  
“Levinas!”  

She leapt into my arms like a horned rabbit, and I caught her mid-jump.  
As our cheeks brushed, my tail, which had been still until now, began to wag.  

“Wang-ah! Levinas was totally invincible!”  
“Yes, Levinas is invincible.”  

Holding her tightly, I stepped back.  
A fox-masked beastfolk stood silently, watching us.  

“Does the guild intend to intervene? You must know we have the rightful claim here…”  

The fox-masked figure wasn’t speaking to me but rather addressing the forest around us, as if aware of the other guild members hidden within.  

“Rightful claim?”  

Jung Yuna stepped out beside me.  
Her heels clicked sharply against the forest floor, despite the terrain.  

“Yes. Surely you know it’s our side that has lost a child.”  

“…True.”  

The extremist beastfolk were known to abuse their young, but unfortunately, there was no concrete evidence.  
Without proof, there was no clear way to deny their claim to Levinas. Jung Yuna, understanding this, kept her mouth shut.  

“We only want the child returned. Wouldn’t it be best to part ways without unnecessary conflict?”  

“Hmm… Regarding that, the Master asked me to deliver a message.”  

“And what would that be?”  

The fox mask tilted slightly, intrigued.  
Jung Yuna stepped closer and pressed her fingers against my ears, as if what she was about to say was not meant for me.  

I followed her lead, covering Levinas’s ears.  
Pleased by my actions, Jung Yuna smiled sweetly before uttering harsh words.  

- "Get lost before I rip you apart, you bastard."  

Though my ears were covered, I could tell exactly what she said from her lips.  
The fox-masked beastfolk, sensitive as they were, surely caught every word.  

Didn’t she once say she wasn’t good with insults?  
I shivered in surprise.  

From somewhere in the forest, Sophia rushed toward us, leaning heavily on her staff.  

“You fool…!”  

**Thud! Thud!**  
She tapped Jung Yuna’s head with the handle of her staff. Jung Yuna’s shoulders shrank at the scolding.  

“W-Why…?”  
“What do you think you’re saying in front of a child?”  
“I covered their ears…”  
“They’re sharp enough to read lips. They likely know exactly what you said.”  
“Wha…?”  

Jung Yuna looked at me nervously.  
My tail twitched involuntarily, betraying my amusement.  

“Gyeoul, did you… see or hear that?”  
“Yes…”  
“Sorry. I didn’t think you’d catch it…”  
“It’s fine. You weren’t talking to me, after all.”  

It had been a long time since I’d heard such harsh words, so I was a little surprised.  
But I understood she said it to protect Levinas. There was no reason for me to be afraid of her.  

“I got too carried away.”  
“I was just startled because it’s been a while since I heard something like that.”  
“…A while?”  

Jung Yuna’s eyes trembled before she closed them tightly.  
She gestured toward the trees behind her, and Choi Jin-hyuk stepped out.  

“Jin-hyuk, can you take the kids back down?”  
“What about you?”  
“I can handle this without you.”  
“…Alright.”  

Choi Jin-hyuk approached, taking Levinas’s hand. When he extended a hand to me, I placed my tail in it instead. I needed my hands free, just in case.  

“Sophia, let’s go down together.”  
“Yes, let’s.”  

Together, we retreated, leaving the fox-masked figure behind.  
Our guild members formed a protective line, ensuring our safe withdrawal.  

Seeing so many people gathered to protect Levinas filled me with gratitude.  
I’d have to find a way to repay them someday.  

With those thoughts in mind, I descended the mountain.  

Soft.  
Where am I?  
As I carefully opened my eyes, memories of yesterday’s events rushed back.  

“Ah!”  

What happened to Levinas?  
I quickly regained my senses and scanned my surroundings.  
Fortunately, it was a familiar room.  

It was my own bed at home.  
Levinas was curled up next to me, peacefully breathing in her sleep.  
Saebyeok was also nestled in a ball, purring softly.  

“Ah.”  

It seemed I had fallen asleep as soon as we returned from the mountain, my tension melting away completely.  
Whoever had carried me back inside, I was just grateful.  

**‘Thank goodness.’**  

Seeing everything back to normal brought a wave of relief.  
I carefully got up, trying not to wake the others, and headed toward the door.  
Outside, I could hear voices in conversation.  

“So, how did it go yesterday?”  

“I just gave one of them a beating and sent them off. No point in taking care of all of them.”  

“The snake one, right?”  

“Yeah. That one was impossible to ignore.”  

“…Good job.”  

Even the usually mild Sophia praised the decision. That’s how bad the snake beastfolk had been.  

**‘He did call Levinas a name, after all.’**  

I could tolerate insults directed at me, but I couldn’t forgive anyone for saying such things to one of our kids.  

I flicked my tail in annoyance as I pushed open the door and stepped outside.  

“Sophia.”  

Rubbing my eyes, I walked toward her. She patted the sofa, inviting me to sit beside her.  

“You’re awake.”  

“Yes. Did anything happen last night?”  

“No, everything was resolved without issue.”  

“That’s a relief.”  

I let out a sigh and glanced at the clock. It was almost lunchtime.  

“What?!”  

My ears and tail bristled in shock.  
I had slept for that long?  

Panicking, I stood up from the sofa, ready to prepare for the day.  
But Sophia caught my tail.  

“Where are you rushing off to?”  

“To work! It’s already noon…”  

“You went through a lot yesterday. Rest for today.”  

“But—”  

“This child.”  

She tugged on my tail, and I was helplessly dragged back to the sofa by her strength, bolstered by mana.  

“Sophia…”  

She pulled me down, forcing me to lie on the sofa with my head resting on her lap.  

“You were likely startled and worn out by yesterday’s events. Rest today.”  

“I’ve already rested plenty. I can start working now.”  

I had slept through the entire morning, enough to feel completely refreshed.  

When I tried to get up, ready to resume my responsibilities, Sophia pressed firmly on my stomach, pinning me in place.  
Caught off guard, I blinked up at her from my spot on her lap.  

“Gyeoul, you need to learn how to take care of yourself first.”  

“Me? I think I do a decent job of that.”  

“Do you now?”  

“Yes.”  

Sophia’s concern seemed a bit excessive, though I couldn’t deny her good intentions.  

“To my eyes, it looks like you’re just neglecting yourself.”  

“Me? But I’m alive and well, aren’t I…?”  

“Child, the fact that your standard is merely ‘not dying’ is the problem.”  

**Squish.**  
Sophia grabbed my cheek and gave it a gentle tug. It didn’t hurt, but it was clear she was displeased.  

“Isn’t it enough that I don’t die…?”  

“Death is…”  

Sophia trailed off, closing her mouth and remaining silent.  
Instead, she began stroking my head softly.  

What is this?  
I wasn’t weak anymore, and I’d slept soundly, so I felt much better than yesterday.  
Just in case, I inspected myself for injuries, but I found none.  

“Hmm.”  

I didn’t understand her reasoning, but I didn’t want to disappoint her.  
So, I decided to rest for the day, just as she wanted.