Saving The Monster Race Starts With Breeding The Elf Village

Currently, Esme lay nestled in her own familiar bed, head propped comfortably against a soft pillow with a warm blanket drawn up to her chest.

Shockingly, she no longer resembled the frail, broken woman she had been just days ago—the one who had been so thin and bony, her eyes hollow and sunken, her cheeks sallow and pale as death itself.

Instead her cheeks had regained their color, her skin had filled out, and there was a vibrancy to her that had been absent for far too long. Where once she had possessed only a pale, sickly beauty, she was now absolutely ravishing—healthy, glowing, alive.

Every bit of this miraculous change was thanks to Luca’s dedicated treatment over the past few days.

Who would have thought his gentle, persistent treatments would work so flawlessly?

Not only had she regained much of her former appearance, but she could now move her hands and legs again—slowly, yes, but with real purpose.

She could even make her way to the bathroom on her own, though she still needed a crutch for support.

It felt like nothing short of a miracle.

She had once believed she would forfeit her life entirely, leaving her precious daughter Lisa to face the world without a mother, and she had harbored so many worries about what would become of the girl if left solely in her husband’s indifferent hands.

Yet here she was, walking, healing, growing stronger with each passing day. The joy of it all filled her heart to bursting.

Today had been especially wonderful—it was the day she was finally discharged from the main hospital and brought back to the comfort of her own home.

Now she could rest in the familiar embrace of her own bed once more, surrounded by the quiet peace of her room.

Right now, she had even managed to read her daughter a storybook that Luca had thoughtfully given her.

Both of them had shared such delightful moments together, with Esme reading every single line in a soft, animated voice, describing the colorful scenes and characters with vivid detail until little Lisa’s eyes had grown heavy.

The girl now slept peacefully right beside her, curled up like a small, trusting kitten. Esme gently caressed her daughter’s head in the most loving manner, her fingers tracing soft patterns through the silky hair as a tender smile played on her lips.

In that quiet, intimate moment, gratitude toward Luca swelled inside her chest like a warm tide.

Without him, none of this would have happened—she doubted she would even be here right now, breathing and holding her child close.

But it was more than simple thankfulness stirring in her heart.

Another feeling had begun to bloom, something deeper and more fluttery that made her pulse quicken whenever his face appeared in her thoughts.

She tried desperately to deny it, reminding herself sternly that she was still a mother and she had a daughter who needed her to remain steady and proper.

But the more she thought about Luca—the way he looked at her with such genuine care, the way he spoke and made her laugh, the way he always came to visit her even when he was busy—the happier she felt.

Yes, he treated other patients with equal kindness, but that didn’t stop the feelings from blooming in her chest.

She had never felt this way toward her husband.

Their marriage had been one of obligation, a joining of families rather than hearts. There had never been love, never been warmth, never been this flutter in her stomach when she thought of his face.

Just thinking about Luca made her smile. She found herself wondering when she would see him next, hoping it would be soon. Maybe she could show her gratitude properly.

Maybe she could even give him a kiss—

She quickly shook her head, scolding her own thoughts in silence.

’What a naughty woman you are, Esme.’ She chided inwardly. ’Have some shame.’

But just as those flustered thoughts danced through her mind—she suddenly heard the main door of the house suddenly creaked open, followed by the soft sound of footsteps approaching.

It caught her completely off guard.

It was already so late in the night—who could possibly be coming here at this hour?

Still, she called out hopefully, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Lisa.

”Felna? Is that you? Are you coming over right now?”

Felna was one of her closest friends, Fefe’s mother and the kind soul who had been helping care for both her and Lisa during her recovery.

Yet even that explanation felt off; it made little sense for her friend to drop by unannounced so deep into the night.

It was more disturbing when she realised there was no response.

Esme’s brow furrowed with slight concern. She was about to call out again when the door to her bedroom swung open without warning.

And the moment she saw who stepped inside, her face—once so full of healthy color drained of all warmth, turning pale as fresh snow.

Horror and shock flooded her entire being.

It was not Felna, nor any friend or neighbor she knew.

Instead, Isaac stood there!

Lucius’s arrogant disciple, the one who carried himself with unbearable haughtiness no matter where he went.

He was staring straight at her with a cold, sneering expression that sent ice racing down her spine.

She had no idea what he was doing here, but the second he closed the door behind him with a quiet click and leveled that intent gaze fully upon her, Esme snapped out of her frozen daze.

She yanked the blanket higher around herself and pulled her sleeping daughter closer in a protective embrace, her voice sharp with alarm.

”Isaac! What are you doing here? What are you doing here so late in the hour?”

She glanced around the room frantically, trying to keep her tone steady.

”If you’re trying to find Rufus, he’s not here with me. We’re not together anymore. So, if you have any business with him, you should go find him instead. Don’t come looking for me!”

She hoped, prayed that would be enough to send him away.

Unfortunately, Isaac simply shook his head slowly, his eyes sliding up and down her blanketed form in a way that made her shiver uncontrollably.

”It’s not what you think, Esme.” He said, voice low and mocking. ”I haven’t come here for Rufus.”

He licked his lips slowly, the gesture sending a fresh wave of dread through her.

”...I came here for you.”

Esme’s heart stuttered. She fought to hold onto a brave front, clutching Lisa tighter.

”W-Why? Why did you come for me? If you have any business with me, you can talk to me later—tomorrow. I’m really tired right now, so can you please just go and come back tomorrow?”

She instinctively drew her sleeping daughter even closer, as if her small body could somehow shield them both.

Isaac chuckled, a low, evil sound as he said,

”You’re a grown woman, Esme. You know why a man would come to a woman’s home so late at night. A man she barely knows. A woman he certainly likes.”

His eyes raked over her body.

”There’s only one reason.”

Esme’s world felt like it was crumbling. But she didn’t panic outwardly. Instead, she turned her head toward the open window and began shouting desperately.

”Help! Help! Someone help, please! Call the Hero! Please help me! Help me!”

Isaac merely chuckled again, then threw his head back in loud, mocking laughter.

”That won’t work, Esme. I’m not stupid, you know. I already put a sound barrier spell all throughout this room. No matter how much you shout, no one outside will hear a single thing.”

To prove his point, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted theatrically.

”Help! Help! Someone help! Something very horrible is going to happen to Esme right now—very, very horrible!”

He looked down at her body with open, evil hunger, clearly enjoying the mockery.

”Please, someone help!”

He paused, tilting his head as if listening for a response, then shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance.

”See? No matter what you shout or who you shout to, there’s no one coming. It’s just you and me now.”

Esme stared at him in raw fear, her voice trembling yet still brave.

”Why? Why do you want to do something like this?!”

”Even though females and males don’t always get along, we haven’t gone completely hostile and attacked one another. Why would you try to do something like this tonight?”

She held his gaze with pleading strength, refusing to break completely.

Isaac’s smile vanished. His face twisted with fury.

”Why?” He spat the word like poison. ”I’ll tell you why. It’s because of that damn Hero!”

Esme’s eyes widened.

”Ever since he arrived, I’ve suffered humiliation after humiliation.” Isaac’s voice rose, cracking with rage. ”I was already suffering from the depletion of mana. All the respect I had was gone after that. Females like you looked down on us males, treated us like dirt. That was bad enough. But then that bastard came along and made everything worse.”

He paced the room, gesturing wildly.

”He humiliated me in front of my master! He SHOT me with an arrow—on purpose, not by accident—and made me bleed! ME! Someone as noble as me!” He grabbed his chest, his eyes wild. ”How dare he make me bleed?!”

He turned to face her, his expression shifting back to that cruel smile.

”So I decided to take my revenge. On you.”

Esme pressed herself against the headboard, pulling Lisa even closer.

”Of course, I wanted to deal with the Hero directly. I wanted to make him suffer. But I can’t. He’d snap my neck before I could even blink.” He shrugged. ”So instead, I’ll destroy something he treasures.”

His gaze swept over her body again, and he bit his lips like he was struggling to hold himself back.

”He put so much effort into making you healthy again. I can see it—your flushed face, your body brimming with vitality. It would be a shame to let all that hard work go to waste, wouldn’t it?”

He stepped closer. ”So I’ll vent my frustrations on you instead. It’s better than taking revenge on him directly. Because this way, I get to enjoy myself.”

Esme’s voice trembled, but she forced herself to speak.

”The Hero will hunt you down. He’ll kill you. He won’t let you get away with this.”

Isaac scoffed. ”Who cares? After tonight, after I’m done with you, I’ll disappear. I’ll go somewhere far away and start a new life. He can’t hunt me down everywhere. And I’ll live knowing I got my revenge.”

”You’re evil.” Esme breathed. ”Absolutely evil.”

”Blame the Hero.” Isaac said coldly. ”If he hadn’t been so arrogant, if he hadn’t humiliated me and thought he could get away with it, none of this would be happening. He brought this on himself. And on you.”

He took another step toward her.

And seeing him get closer, Esme’s eyes darted around the room, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. Her gaze landed on a syringe on the nightstand left over from her treatment.

She was about to grab it as a desperate weapon when the bedroom door opened once again.

Another figure stepped inside.

And to her utter shock, it was Rufus—her very husband!

The moment she saw him, a huge wave of relief crashed over her.

Even though she honestly hated him right now and had never wanted to see him again after everything that had happened—in this terrifying moment she was overwhelmingly glad he had appeared.

No matter how bad their relationship had become, he was still her husband from the past.

There was no way he would stand by and watch his own wife be tormented like this. She thought that she had finally escape this nightmare.

But what happened next felt like being dropped into an ice-cold bath, her heart hollowing out completely.

Instead of shouting at Isaac or rushing to fight him like any decent husband would, Rufus simply glanced at his wife with a look of pure disdain.

Then he turned to Isaac and said casually,

”I thought you would be done by now. Why are you taking so long and saying such nonsensical things?”

”Just finish it up already so we can escape.”