Chapter 9: The Brand

When I opened my eyes, it was the dim light of dawn.

Outside the window, the morning sun was preparing to rise.

“Ugh…”

A pained groan escaped my lips.

What on earth have I done?

The wolf who had shared that merciless night with me was fast asleep, his face peaceful.

Unlike yesterday, when he had been furious, he now looked serene.

And I knew—if I wanted to escape him, this was my chance.

‘While he’s asleep… I have to run!’

His body had imprisoned me like a cage, his limbs tightly coiled around me.

I tried to lift my arm, but my limp forearm felt as heavy as steel.

‘How is this possible? Since when is one arm this heavy?’

Gritting my teeth, I mustered all my strength and barely managed to create a gap.

After struggling for what felt like forever, I finally wriggled free from the wolf’s embrace.

Just moving my body made me ache as if someone had been punching me relentlessly.

My waist felt like it was about to snap, and the skin between my legs screamed in protest with every slight movement.

‘That beast of a man…!’

The mere memory of last night was horrifying.

Even though I knew that as a Beastfolk, he could transform into a beast under the influence of pheromones, I still couldn’t believe the unfamiliar version of myself.

There were still so many unanswered questions about why this had happened.

But right now, that wasn’t what mattered.

I carefully slipped out of bed and gathered my scattered clothes to put them on.

“Mmm…”

At the sudden sound, I turned around to see the man tossing in bed.

Thankfully, he hadn’t woken up yet. I let out a shaky breath, trying to calm my pounding heart.

‘Phew…’

Every rustle of fabric made me flinch, and I kept checking to see if he had woken up.

Finally, after dressing myself and making sure the Return Stone in my pocket was still intact, I hesitated no longer—I crushed it in one swift motion.

Crack—!!

A bright light immediately swallowed my body.

***

When I opened my eyes again, I was standing on the Practitioner’s Path where Tabiren had guided me.

At the end of the road, I saw my mother and father, their faces exhausted—had they stayed up all night, worried about me?

As I slowly approached them, their eyes lit up the moment they saw me.

“May!”

“Our baby, are you okay?”

Mom and Dad rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace.

The familiar warmth of their arms made me feel like I might burst into tears.

“I’m back, Mom, Dad…”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“You’ve really come back safely. You’ve been through so much till the end.”

I felt guilty for always being the troublesome daughter who caused nothing but worry.

If it had been Cherrybell, she would have handled a mission like this effortlessly.

“This time too, I…”

Once again, I had failed to put my target to sleep with the Sleep Charm.

Not only had I revealed my true form to him, but I had also completely ruined the sacred mission.

I had spent the night with a man whose name I didn’t even know, drowning in pleasure so many times I’d lost count.

I hated myself for it.

Resented myself.

So of course, it was obvious—the mission had failed.

“This time, the mission…”

“It’s alright. You don’t have to say anything.”

“We’re just grateful to the gods that you returned safely.”

Even though they must have had so many questions, Mom and Dad just let out sighs of relief and held me tight.

Seeing them like that, I almost burst into tears again—tears I had been holding back.

‘Why am I so useless?’

I was born into a prestigious family, inheriting abundant magical power.

And as if that weren’t enough, my parents were legendary Mederland Fixers, holders of the highest records in history.

But me?

I was always the inferior one.

Mom, sensing my gloom, pulled back slightly and looked at me.

“Listen, sweetheart…”

But just as she was about to say something, her face froze.

Her pupils dilated, and her gaze locked onto something—my left horn.

“May! Your horn…!”

“My… horn?”

Only then did Dad lift his head to look at it too.

His expression was unmistakably shocked.

“The Mark of the Noble Sheep has been engraved! Congratulations, my child! I knew you could do it!”

The Mark was something only successful Mederland Fixers received after completing a request.

For me to have one… It was unbelievable.

‘How did this happen?’

I was certain this mission had been a miserable failure.

Could it be that the client had fallen into a deep enough sleep for the gods to consider the request fulfilled?

Unlike Shaman Tabiren, I couldn’t hear the gods’ voices, so I had no way of knowing their will.

“Really…? There’s a Mark on my horn?”

“Yes. It’s faint, but there’s no doubt—this was bestowed upon you by Briya, the god of the Sheep Beastfolk.”

“She must have known our May would become a great Fixer and left her blessing.”

I desperately wanted to see the Mark for myself.

“This is so strange… I can’t believe it. Me? A Fixer, like Mom and Dad?”

For this one moment, I could forget the throbbing pain in my body, the shameful memories of last night—none of it mattered anymore.

They waited patiently, letting me fully savor this moment of joy, before speaking to me in gentle whispers.

“After all the hardship of your request, why don’t we go home now, May?”

“Yes, we should share this happy news with everyone as soon as possible.”

“Okay!”

Hand in hand, we returned to the comforting embrace of home.

The first thing I did was examine the Fixer’s mark reflected in the mirror.

Though not as vivid as others’, there was undoubtedly a faint emblem on my left horn.

‘I finally became a Fixer! The impossible has become reality!’

As I leaned in excitedly for a closer look, my vision suddenly swam.

My body felt leaden, and a deep discomfort settled in my core.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

Perhaps it was the accumulated stress and tension finally releasing.

Or maybe the aftermath of last night’s… events.

Either way, I needed rest. I lay down briefly—only to sleep the entire day away.

At some point, I faintly heard the voice of our maid, Veriel, urging me to eat.

But my body felt like waterlogged cotton, impossible to rouse.

“Veriel… Later… I’m just so tired right now…”

“You said that earlier too, Miss. If this continues, you’ll go a whole day without eating!”


“A day without food won’t kill me. See you later, Veriel…”

“Miss May…!”

That was the last exchange I remembered before sinking back into oblivion.

When I woke again, it was the silent depths of night.

Having slept like the dead all day, my back aches and my muscles protested as I sat up.

My throat was parched, but when I reached for the bell to call Veriel, I realized how late—or early—it must be.

“I can’t possibly summon her at this hour.”

Gritting my teeth against the lingering soreness, I rose and stepped into the hallway.

Flickering candlelight cast wavering shadows along the familiar path. I knew every inch of this mansion I’d grown up in; even in the dimness, navigation was effortless.

Just as I was about to head for the kitchen, muffled voices echoed down the corridor.

‘Who could be awake at this hour?’

The sound came from my parents’ chambers.

They were usually early to bed—which made the late-night conversation all the more intriguing.

Using the Cloud-Step of the Flock to mask my footfalls, I crept closer.

The words I overheard were nothing I could have anticipated.

“What should we do? May’s mark… It was clearly different from the others. If people find out, they might see it as an omen of misfortune and try to drive her away…!”

“The mark is still faint, so not many will notice right away. For now, let’s keep this between us. We’ll gather the family soon and find a solution.”

“You don’t think… it could be the Brand of Sin, do you? It can’t be… It just can’t! Even if it is, no matter what happens, I’ll stand by May.”

“Don’t worry too much. Our Slimela family will protect her.”

What in the world are they talking about?

The Brand of Sin?

Dad comforted Mom, who was on the verge of tears, assuring her everything would be alright.

But my chest tightened—I’d overheard something I shouldn’t have.

Unable to listen any longer, I retreated to my room like a fugitive.

I need to check.

Now.

The moment I returned, I scrutinized my reflection in the mirror.

Compared to other Sheep Beastfolk, my horns were noticeably smaller, almost delicate.

But as I leaned in, I saw it—ancient, densely packed runes carved into my left horn.

“What… is this?”