The Wolf Lord is Enduring (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
“Ugh!”
El couldn’t withstand his strength and collapsed heavily onto the floor.
Yet he couldn’t just lie there motionless.
If he stayed like this, he’d only get hit more.
El sprang up and stood before the gang leader.
“No way. Surely not. Oh ho! You’ve been hiding it, haven’t you?”
“Huh?”
“Hand it over! You must have gotten money from the duke’s household!”
“There’s nothing like that…”
Before El could finish speaking, the man began frisking him all over.
El twisted his body to resist, but it was hard to escape the grip of a grown man.
“You really don’t have it?!”
“N-no, I don’t.”
El answered, trembling violently.
“After I picked you up from the beach, clothed you, sheltered you, and fed you—this is all you give me in return?”
The gang leader grabbed El’s shoulders roughly and ground his teeth.
“W-well, with this much, we could at least have a full dinner tonight…”
“You dare bring back such a paltry sum after dealing with the mighty Mosteros ducal house? Do you think that’s acceptable?!”
“I just…”
“How many chances like this do we get?! You kicked away something enormous with your own feet?! If you’d properly milked them, we could’ve lived comfortably without a care in the world!”
The gang leader shoved him hard, and El helplessly crumpled to the floor.
“Ugh.”
A sharp pain shot up from the arm he’d injured earlier.
“You even came back with fresh wounds?!”
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
“If you’re sorry, you’ll go first. We’ll get what’s owed properly.”
The gang leader pulled El up and pushed him toward the street. But El hesitated to step forward.
“What are you doing?!”
“I can’t do that.”
El spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
“What?!”
“I’ve already received bread from them.”
‘And that lovely resonant name as well.’
Because everything he’d received from them was precious, El timidly rebelled.
It had been a very long time since he’d tried to be a good person for someone.
When El was abandoned immediately after birth in the south, he’d been taken in by a pickpocket gang.
Later, after growing a little, he’d been captured by slavers and ended up in the north by sheer accident—but again, he couldn’t escape the pickpocket gang.
Given such a fate, the chance of ever remaining purely and unambiguously a good person was exceedingly slim.
Thus, El didn’t want to lose these rare good memories—or these good people—he’d finally gained.
“You think you’ll be satisfied with just this? Don’t be ridiculous!”
“B-boss, please…”
“Hah! Look at this! You dare defy me?!”
The man raised his hand toward El without hesitation.
El tried desperately to hold on, but as a piercing ringing filled his ears, he finally lost consciousness and collapsed.
Raphelian paced restlessly in front of the main gate, watching the carriage carrying El drive away.
“Raphel. Let’s go inside now.”
“Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t know why I feel so uneasy.”
Raphelian couldn’t take his eyes off the carriage, now a distant dot on the horizon, as he spoke to Michaela.
Though he clearly felt regret—wondering where else he might meet someone who could bring him such quiet peace—it was a formless anxiety that troubled him more.
Now that he’d let El go, he wondered if he should have clung to him stubbornly, even by force.
“I hope your intuition is wrong. But I admit, something weighs on my mind too.”
“This doesn’t feel right—sending him off like this.”
“What can we do? He didn’t want to stay, and he mentioned having family to live with. We had no choice but to let him go.”
“Yes. I suppose that’s right.”
Raphelian nodded at Michaela’s words but still couldn’t tear himself away from the spot where El had disappeared.
Though it wasn’t in his nature to force someone who refused, an unshakable unease made him keep staring again and again at the now-empty space.
“He might come back. Our offer was quite tempting, after all. He’s probably just overwhelmed and startled right now.”
“He was so sensitive he’d jump at the slightest sound, and his guard was always up. So it’s best if he returns on his own rather than us chasing after him. But somehow…”
It didn’t seem likely he’d come back by himself.
Though the offer was clearly something anyone would want, El hadn’t even spared it a glance. His utterly guileless aura kept making Raphelian think just that.
Suddenly, from behind that strange anxiety, the thought burst forth: ‘Maybe I’ll lose him forever like this.’
Raphelian quickly wiped his face.
Noticing her brother’s unusually troubled demeanor, Michaela gently broke the silence.
“If it really bothers you, send someone now to check if he arrived safely. It wouldn’t hurt.”
“…I suppose that’s best.”
“It’s better than worrying endlessly.”
“Yes.”
Michaela turned first and crossed the garden.
Even after she’d walked away, Raphelian stood a long while at the gate, gazing one last time at the desolate street before heading into the mansion.
“Young Master, dinner is ready.”
Irina announced politely as Raphelian entered the mansion.
From that moment, the day seemed to settle back into its usual routine.
The ducal family sat harmoniously around the table, enjoying a warm and delicious dinner, leisurely catching up on stories they’d missed while apart—when suddenly—
“Master.”
Irina, who had stepped aside to let the family enjoy their quiet time, hurried in with a stern expression.
“What is it?”
“The child… El has returned.”
“El?”
Before Irina could answer Michaela’s question, Raphelian had already risen from his seat.
“There must be trouble.”
“The child’s condition…”
Gripped by a foreboding ache near his heart, Raphelian quickened his pace.
He finally dashed out into the garden.
When he reached the gate at a swift stride, the corners of his mouth lifted more brightly than ever.
His smile was often very useful for making others let their guard down.
“I come to pay my respects to the great Mosteros.”
“You’ve traveled far.”
“Your hospitality leaves me at a loss for words.”
The man laughed heartily and thrust forward the scruff of the child he’d practically dragged along.
Raphelian slowly lowered his gaze, his smile deepening further.
“This fool returned on his own without understanding anything, so I’ve come back to discuss proper compensation.”
“So you are this child’s guardian.”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
“I see. A guardian.”
His voice, perched upon crimson lips, turned utterly cold.
The smile on his lips was dazzlingly beautiful, yet the aura emanating from him was colder than the northern air heralding winter’s approach.
“I must collect payment for what you’ve done to my family member. I thought I’d spare you for your pretty face, but now that it’s ruined like this, you’re probably unsellable.”
The man gestured extravagantly and rambled on.
“He looks quite different from what I recall.”
“Well, accidents happen, don’t they? Bruises only grow darker with time.”
“Indeed. That’s how it goes.”
His smile grew ever deeper on his beautiful face, yet somehow it felt perilous.
Still unaware of the truth behind that smile, the man grinned smugly and shrugged his shoulders.
“Ahaha! How fortunate that someone as lowly as me can communicate so well with you!”
“If you feel that way, I’m glad.”
“I was nearly disappointed, but now I’m relieved. I was so shocked you’d just send him off after leaving him in such a state! Surely the great Mosteros ducal house wouldn’t just wipe their hands clean like that.”
The gang leader shook El, who had lost consciousness, by the neck.
His right cheek still had a somewhat intact patch, but his left was a complete mess.
Raphelian’s smile bloomed even more radiantly.
Unlike the smile spreading across his entire face, his eyes—which had never once smiled until now—narrowed with sharper intensity than ever.
His azure irises gleamed with stark white light, scattering a fierce aura.
Only then did the pickpocket gang leader flinch, shiver, and stumble backward.
“You came to collect payment, didn’t you? Where are you going?”
“Th-that… Aaah!”
The man’s legs, trying to retreat further, instantly froze solid.
Michaela, who had followed Raphelian out and been watching from a short distance away, now stepped closer.
“Raphel. We’ve made a grave mistake.”
“Grrr.”
Briel and Riello, having dropped their human forms in fury, stood beside her, growling lowly.
They snarled as if ready to tear out the man’s throat at any moment.
“Sister. This was my fault. I must rectify this mistake.”
Raphelian strode forward, his footsteps heavy, approaching the man whose legs were frozen stiff.
He looked down at the man as if at a contemptible insect and twisted the wrist holding El.
“Aaagh…!”
The man had chosen his opponent very poorly.
The Mosteros were known for their extreme wariness toward others—but once that wariness was overcome and someone was brought within their circle, they cared for them more fiercely than anyone else. This was another trait of the Mosteros.
Currently, the Mosteros household owed El a debt of gratitude, and Raphelian had intended from the start to claim El as his own—so tonight, neither the pickpocket gang leader nor his den would escape unscathed.
“How noisy.”
Raphelian silenced the annoying sound.
He froze the man’s vocal cords, tongue, and even his lips.
With effortless ease, Raphelian crushed the man’s wrist and gathered El into his arms.
Contrary to his cold, sunken gaze, Raphelian held El with great tenderness, gently wiping the dried blood from his ear with his own sleeve.
“I’m sorry. I failed to protect you.”
The stubborn, dried blood that wouldn’t flake off pained him deeply.
A strong sense of responsibility surged through his entire body, turning into guilt.
Realizing that kindness could sometimes become poison, Raphelian held El tightly for a moment before turning to Michaela.
“Please take care of El. As for here…”
“You handle it. Mosteros-style.”
As she finished her sentence, Michaela smiled as beautifully as Raphelian himself.
It was a smile meant to lull the opponent into complacency—but brimming with murderous intent.
“No question about it.”
Raphelian bowed his head to her and turned away.
Michaela hurried into the mansion, cradling the unconscious El in her arms.
With that, an early snowstorm—earlier than any in recent years—swept over the ducal estate.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
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MANGA DISCUSSION
2 Comments
Chapter Comments (2)
For a child to be used to such abuse that it’s programmed into their instincts is upsetting. How did el raise herself to be so good-natured? And why was Ralph’s only idea to adopt her? You think she would be okay with that? Good luck though!!
For a child to be used to such abuse that it’s programmed into their instincts is upsetting. How did el raise herself to be so good-natured? And why was Ralph’s only idea to adopt her? You think she would be okay with that? Good luck though!!
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Apu
Our poor El! I can’t believe this injustice! I thought this family would surely have someone follow her. Also why is she being referred to he. Did the others also believe she was a boy? The gas to have known she was a girl!
Apu
Our poor El! I can’t believe this injustice! I thought this family would surely have someone follow her. Also why is she being referred to he. Did the others also believe she was a boy? The gas to have known she was a girl!