CHAPTER 7
Her action startled Evangeline and jolted her awake. "Ah!"
Cruella laughed seeing her startled reaction.
"Good morning, Eve!" she greeted.
"Good morning, Ella..." Evangeline replied with a smile and yawned.
"How's your sleep?" Cruella asked.
Evangeline grinned widely. "It was so good! He-he! I feel like I'm in heaven!"
Cruella harrumphed and said, "You treat me like a pillow!"
"Ha-ha! I couldn't help it! You look so adorable and fluffy!"
Cruella's size is just right, she is not too big for Evangeline to cuddle. When Cruella lies down, she's not that taller than Evangeline.
Cruella remained in her form and was too lazy to transform back to human form. It was in Evangeline's favor and couldn't keep her hands to herself. She enjoyed caressing Cruella's fur and doing so was so calming.
The two were too lazy to go out and only ordered some food available at the inn for every meal. Even so, they had scrumptious meals.
All they did the whole day was talk and also ended up with Evangeline teaching Cruella about the history of the four kingdoms.
And Cruella just learned that the five handsome men they had met yesterday were the summoned heroes from another world!
It suddenly piqued Cruella's curiosity.
When evening came, Cruella came out and strolled around without transforming into human form.
She runs toward the forest outside happily.
Well, it's been a month since she transformed from a wolf into a human.
Halfway through the forest, she stopped when she saw a familiar figure. "Dy... lan?"
At the same time, Dylan also noticed Cruella and they made eye-to-eye contact. Dylan was stunned and blinked his eyes upon seeing a silver-red wolf. It was beautiful and looked harmless at first glance yet it emitted a dangerous aura.
But he frowned when a certain someone with the same color flashed in his mind. He immediately shook off the thoughts. How could he compare a human to a wolf? He might be crazy for thinking so!
He subconsciously steps back and stays alert.
Suddenly, a voice filled with contempt reached his ears.
"You don't have to be so vigilant. Since you're good-looking, I won't eat you. So goodbye!" Cruella said as she turned around and ran away at a fast speed.
Dylan was left dumbfounded and his eyes widened in disbelief. He had a strange expression.
"Did that wolf talk to me just now? A monster that could talk?"
When he recalled what the wolf had said about him being good-looking, he felt strange, and oddly enough, his heart was beating faster.
"Sh*t, I'm in trouble!" Dylan uttered dramatically.
Dylan let out a deep breath while staring into the distance where Cruella was headed to. He felt at a loss for a while. He doesn't understand why he felt something toward the silver-red wolf.
He ruffled his hair into a mess as if he was going insane.
Things felt like had gone out of his control.
His heart was beating abnormally twice that day.
First, his heart was beating faster upon meeting Cruella.
Second, he felt the same way when he set his sight on the silver-red wolf for the first time.
What's wrong with him to feel something like this towards a human and a monster?
Has he gone senile?
He admits that no woman has ever gotten his attention so far when he came into this world despite meeting a lot of beautiful women. He wasn't even interested when he met the four princesses of the four kingdoms.
But to even feel something to a monster was beyond his understanding.
What he felt was even more intense than what he felt toward his girlfriend in the world he came from.
Dylan feels like his worldview is collapsing.
However, despite feeling that way, Dylan subconsciously followed the silver-red wolf track. He wanted to confirm it the second time before he jumped to a conclusion.
Also, he just remembers something important when he senses the familiar aura that the silver-red wolf emitting. Not only that but the silver-red wolf just now had a similar aura to Cruella.
He suddenly felt confused and doubt began brewing in his mind.
After an hour of tracking the silver-red wolf, Dylan finally found it sitting at the top of a huge rock while looking up at the moon beautifully. The glow of the moon reflected into the silver-red wolf like a divine being descended from heaven.
The sight made his heart beat so fast like it was about to leap out of his chest.
"Beautiful..." he mumbled mindlessly, his mind turned blank and all he could think of at that moment was the magnificent view as he had gone into another dimension.
His face flushed when his heart went wild for some reason. It wasn't fear, but what was this feeling?
Under the moonlight, Cruella felt another presence and she slowly turned back, only to meet Dylan again. She already sensed him at a distance and it was rare for her not to take action.
She frowned when she noticed that Dylan was gawking at her.
'Did he follow me?'
'Wow, he had the guts.'
"Hey, human, we meet again. You are so bold to face me alone. I just told you earlier I won't eat you since you are good-looking. However, it doesn't mean I won't after seeing you the second time." Cruella uttered which made Dylan snap back from his stupor.
Dylan quickly appraised the strength of the silver-red wolf and gasped in surprise. He couldn't see its status clearly like it was shrouded by a mist. His S-Rank Concealment Skill didn't even work. So it only means that the monster in front of him is too powerful.
"Who are you? What are you doing in human territory?" Dylan asked curiously. But for some reason, he wasn't the least afraid of the monster.
"It's none of your business, human." Cruella snorted and added after a glance at Dylan's status, "For a hero like you, you appear just so-so. However, in front of great strength, you are worse than an ant."
Dylan felt insulted but he couldn't refute either because what the silver-red wolf had said was the truth.
His skills are not enough to fight stronger opponents.
He wasn't even sure if he could defeat the demon lord when the masses believed in his skills as a summoned hero to defend the four kingdoms.
Then Dylan remembered Cruella's words. "With just your meager skills? Just dream on."
He pursed his lips and his mouth twitched bitterly.
The two different beings, albeit had a similar personality, seem to point to the same idea.
Now, Dylan felt like a worthless hero. He was really weak!
Cruella was even two times stronger than him.
Or what he had thought... If he finds out the true extent of Cruella's power, he would be shocked to death.
Dylan felt ashamed and didn't deserve the title of a hero.
For a moment, Dylan felt at a loss while staring at Cruella.
Before he could say something, Cruella uttered a word that made him dumbfounded.
Cruella said, "I'm not a saint or whatever, but I could help you improve your strength. What do you say?"
Dylan blinked his eyes in disbelief and mouth agape. Did the wolf just say that it would help him improve his strength?
He felt like dreaming.
"Are you... for real?" Dylan's heart races in anticipation.
Cruella rolled her eyes like she just heard the dumbest question ever. She doesn't like repeating her words so she said impatiently, "If you don't want to then get out of my sight."
Dylan's eyes widened and immediately said, "Of course, I want to!"
Dylan kneeled and bowed his head. "My name is Dylan Thompson. Please accept me as an apprentice, master!"
Cruella was stunned at his sudden action. She didn't expect him to see her as his master just by saying to help improve his strength. Nonetheless, she finds this master disciple thing interesting.
"Okay. I accept you. However, are you fine having a monster like me to be your master? As a hero to make a monster as his master, isn't it degrading to your reputation once someone finds out?"
Dylan was momentarily stunned. He didn't think about it and decided decisively without thinking further ahead.
For a monster to think like this, it must be not so simple.
This silver-red wolf thinks like a human which is unbelievable.
For a while, he even forgot he was speaking to a monster.
Even so, Dylan was determined to improve his strength no matter what, be it to worship a human or a monster as his master. He doesn't care what others think!
He was even forced to be a hero when he was summoned to this world. For him, a hero title is just canon fodder to test the strength of the demon lord who still didn't appear. Although he could tell that the demon lord was slowly making his moves.
It was already two years since Dylan was summoned to this world as a hero. But he still couldn't find belongingness in this world. For an ordinary guy like him to become a hero so suddenly took a toll on him.