POV: Kana
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I didn't dare ask how many female beasts could survive, silently praying for them in my heart.
I also hoped that one day I could really help those female beasts.
I felt extremely hungry. I had probably run back and forth too many times today.
Yujin led me to the entrance of a cave. Inside, I saw many pieces of meat hanging, some still dripping fresh blood.
"This is where the family stores food. Everyone must put some food here as winter supplies, just in case," Yujin explained.
"This part is mine. Which one do you want?"
Yujin patiently explained, "In the future, I'll take care of your share."
Seeing the bloody meat and smelling the strong stench of blood made me almost faint. I finally picked a dried piece of meat and took it back.
"Yujin, move over a bit and make some space for me."
"You're really annoying," Wayin said while moving. "If it weren't for the fact that you're the older brother, I would have kicked you out already."
"Go to sleep. Tomorrow we have to take our little sister to the adult ceremony."
The cave was very quiet at night. I gradually relaxed and fell asleep peacefully.
The next day, we were woken by sounds outside the cave. Some beast people were calling us to gather under the sacred tree.
All the beast people were already forming a huge circle around the tree. At the front, the fox tribe leader was performing a prayer ritual.
I hid among the beasts, watching the leader wave their hands and chant something.
Then the leader took out a transparent purple crystal from the sacred tree.
Many female beasts of age stepped forward and stood in front of the crystal.
The main event began. Many fox tribe beasts howled in excitement.
"Look! All the popular choices are here this time."
"Isn't that our tribe's most beautiful female, Malara! I didn't expect her to come too!"
The beast next to Yujin shouted excitedly at Malara, "Malara, look at me! I don't have a female beast yet!"
The excited crowd got even louder with other beasts yelling, "Malara! I can hunt three deer a day!"
"I can hunt four!"
"Stop bragging!"
Boasting and laughter echoed everywhere.
"Look! The tribe leader's little sister, Faya, is also here!"
The beasts were already excited to see Malara. Hearing that the leader's sister was present made the competition even fiercer.
"Faya, I'm not only good at hunting, I've also awakened my talent!"
The beasts gasped.
Not everyone could awaken a talent. It required at least level 15. Beasts who awakened their talent became stronger and had higher status in the tribe.
The quality of the female beasts this year was surprisingly high, and the male beasts were also very strong.
Through the crowd, I saw a familiar face—Idris, who was also looking at me.
I quickly looked away and hid behind my brother. Idris didn't care, but his possessive and aggressive look couldn't be hidden.
"The adult ceremony officially begins!" the tribe leader announced. "According to tribal rules, all female beasts of age must participate. This year, fifteen female beasts are participating. All will be supported by the tribe, regardless of fertility."
"Fertility is divided into high, medium, and low. Low fertility females must stay in the riverside cave for one year."
"Now, the first female beast, Sandy, please step forward!"
Under the eager eyes of all the beasts, Sandy walked to the purple crystal.
I stood on my tiptoes and looked forward.
The female beast in front of me wasn't especially pretty, but her strong and fit body caught the attention of many male beasts.
Even though the tribe would take care of female beasts, being more capable made life easier for them. A body like Shara's, strong and muscular, matched what many beast men found attractive.
She placed her hand on the crystal, and a bright light started forming in its center.
"Top grade!"
Many male beasts around began shouting Sandy's name excitedly. Sandy's face turned red, but she turned her head away, either embarrassed or pretending not to hear.
"Next: Carly!"
Carly took a deep breath and put her hand on the crystal. The light inside formed slowly, but eventually a light sphere appeared.
"Middle grade!"
Carly almost collapsed from exhaustion, but the result made her happy.
The female beasts who had finished the test moved to one side, separated from those who hadn't tested yet.
"Next: Melita!"
She put her hand on the crystal, but though the light appeared, it didn't form a sphere. Melita let her hand drop and stood there, looking dazed.
Time passed, and after testing several females, it was finally Malara's turn. The beast men stirred with excitement.
As expected, "Top grade!"
Malara smiled faintly and walked to the side to wait.
"Faya! Step up for testing!"
The crowd quieted immediately, and even Faya looked nervous from the sudden silence.
But she confidently placed her hand on the crystal. As the light inside gathered—
"Top grade!"
Even after Faya removed her hand, the crystal kept glowing.
The beasts murmured, "What's happening? Is Faya's fertility even better than top grade?"
The tribe leader gestured for everyone to be quiet and calmly said, "Only females with extremely high fertility make the crystal keep shining. But who will be Faya's mate depends on her choice."
Everyone could tell the leader was very pleased.
The beast who had awakened his talent earlier pushed to the front, trying to speak to Faya, but she ignored him.
"He's just a level 15 talent-awakened beast. What's so special?"
The beast was clearly stunned by her words but didn't give up and tried harder to impress her.
Faya kept scanning the crowd and finally spotted Idris.
But Idris's eyes didn't meet hers. He kept talking to the female beast next to him.
Faya's anger flared, and she glared at me.
Seeing me, her anger almost boiled over.
This female beast, just wait!
I had only wanted to watch the adult ceremony, but somehow Idris had come to my side.
"Kana, no matter how the ceremony turns out, I will choose you!"
I politely responded. At least his intention seemed good.
"Next: Kana Akost!"
Third-Person POV
When she called out her name, many beasts turned to look. They were curious about the female beast who came for the test that day.
Yesterday, they had heard that the Arcoste family brought a new member, a female beast.
They didn't expect to see her today.
The moment many beasts saw her, they were stunned. She was even more beautiful than Malara, the most beautiful female of their tribe.
The beasts started whispering among themselves:
"I think she is the most beautiful female of the tribe."
"Being the most beautiful also needs at least average fertility. Look at Malara."
"Even average is fine. Just her looks are worth it."
Kana stepped forward through the middle of the beasts who had already been tested.
Faya crossed her arms and stared at her with disdain: "Wait until the results come out. Let's see how proud you can be then."
Kana walked forward. Because she hadn't changed her pajamas from yesterday, she was still wearing a silk set. The cut-out at her waist showed her fair skin.
She really wasn't used to wearing the tribe clothes made of animal skins and leaves. The material was thick and rough.
Idris felt very unhappy seeing the beasts staring at Kana and also felt strong competition.
That was his female beast.
He went to the tribe leader and couldn't help but look at Kana—slim and beautiful.
If a female beast was beautiful but had low fertility, he wouldn't waste any resources on her.
"Welcome the new member of the Arcoste family. Let's begin the test."
Kana called the system in her mind.
"Will they find out I'm pregnant?"
"They don't have that ability. You're under my protection!"
Kana placed her hand on the crystal. It shone brightly and didn't stop.
The tribe leader was shocked: "What… is this?"
The crystal should have formed a glowing ball like it did with other female beasts, but it suddenly shattered into many pieces.
Nothing like this had happened before. The beasts were all shocked by what they saw.
Faya, the tribe leader's sister, already disliked Kana's arrival, especially seeing Idris paying so much attention to her.
She couldn't help but mock her: "I've never seen a crystal break from low fertility. You're the first."
Female beasts with low fertility couldn't help but feel happy. Every new member who needed care meant a little less pressure for them.
"Looks like we have another new member."
"Yeah, what's the point."
Some male beasts outside were already whistling: "Little female beast, wash yourself in the care area and wait for me!"
Kana wasn't angry at what the female beasts said, but these males were really shameless.
The tribe leader waved his hand, calming the chaotic scene.
He prayed to the sacred tree again and took out a purple crystal.
"Let's try again."
Kana placed her hand on it again. The crystal shone brightly, then shattered into pieces just like before.
Faya couldn't hold back anymore and shouted:
"You're doing it on purpose! Your fertility must be too low. You made the sacred tree angry."
"Just put her in the care area already. Why waste time on a female like this!"
The tribe leader glared at Faya.
"Shut up!"
His sister really didn't know how to behave. How could she talk like this about something as important as the coming-of-age ceremony?
Faya wanted to say more, but her brother's look stopped her.
The crystal breaking was a small matter. The real problem was how to assess Kana's abilities, and the tribe leader was troubled.
"Kana, do you have any brothers or sisters? Have them stand in front."
The easiest way now was to see what kind of family Kana had.
Also, being watched by many beastmen would put pressure on them. Even if they lied, there would be traces to follow.
In the end, only Yujin and Wayin stood at the front.
"It's you two," the chief asked. "Where is your mother?"
"She was attacked by a demon beast. Mother was pregnant at that time, and father died protecting her."
The chief looked at the two brothers. Indeed, two years ago, there was a demon beast attack on the tribe that killed many beastmen.
The Akoster family suffered heavy losses protecting the tribe.
It seemed they were not guilty and even had done something good.
He could not make things hard for the few female beasts left in the Akoster family.
Yujin was very nervous because his parents were actually missing.
But no matter how strong a beastman is, life outside the tribe is very hard. Their family had hidden the fact that their parents were missing, reporting it as death instead.
"Understood. You two go back first."
Yujin and Wayin breathed a sigh of relief.
The chief had noticed that Idris liked the female beast from the Akoster family. Now he had a clear idea in mind.
"Now, any male beast interested in a female can come forward and exchange tokens!"
Faya had been waiting to watch the show, but unexpectedly, her brother skipped the ceremony and gently placed his token on Kana, ignoring her ability to bear offspring.
How could he do this!
Hearing the chief's words, the other male beasts quickly tried to show favor to the females they liked, paying no attention to Kana.
Faya, in the crowd, saw Idris slowly walking toward her and her heart started racing.
The surrounding voices praising her seemed to disappear.
As Idris got closer, Faya became embarrassed, lowered her head, and said softly, "Idris, I actually…"
But then she saw him walk past her without stopping.
Faya quickly lifted her head, following his gaze, until he stopped in front of Kana.
That damn low-class female beast!
Her face twisted with anger. She slapped the gift that a male beast had offered to the ground.
The poor male beast stood there, unsure what to do.
The chief sighed at his sister's behavior.
Luckily, the 15th-level male beast who had just awakened his talent chose his sister. If he had chosen Kana, the chief would never have stayed out of it.
Now, Kana had Idris, which was the best solution for the moment.
Kana looked at Idris coming toward her. He looked determined.
"I will be your mate, male beast."
Kana thought that winter was coming. It was good that Yujin would take care of her food, but she didn't want to keep troubling her brother.
Since Idris liked her, this was also a chance to see his strength.
"Do you catch a lot of prey every day?"
"You may not know, Kana, but I have awakened my talent."
The chief, standing nearby, could not hide his surprise upon hearing this.
"Idris, when did this happen? Why didn't you report it?"
As Idris was about to explain, a long howl came from outside.
The faces of all the beastmen changed instantly.