The next morning, when Noah woke up, he could feel the weight of a stare fixed on his face.

  Groggily, he opened his eyes, only to be met with Kieren’s intense gaze, watching him as though he were some sort of precious treasure.

  Kieren, clearly trying to be subtle, flinched when Noah’s eyes met his. “You... slept well?” he asked, a bit awkwardly, his voice soft.

  Noah blinked, still a little disoriented. “Yeah... uh, you?”

  “Yeah,” Kieren responded, though the nervous energy in his body said otherwise.

  Noah let out a small chuckle. “You’ve been staring at me the whole time, haven’t you?”

  Kieren’s face flushed red, and he immediately looked away, scratching the back of his head. “Maybe...”

  Noah couldn’t help but smile, the warmth in his chest undeniable. He stretched zily before sitting up, realizing how refreshed he felt.

  "Good morning," he finally said, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

  Kieren blinked at Noah, tilting his head slightly as if he were pondering the words. "The morning is... good?" he repeated, sounding uncertain. His brow furrowed in confusion as if trying to grasp why mornings needed to be beled as 'good.'

  Noah chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's a kind of greeting, you know? Just something we say when we first see someone in the morning."

  Kieren's brows furrowed in thought, still staring at Noah as if trying to make sense of it. "So... it’s not about the morning being good or bad?"

  "Nope," Noah replied with a grin, "just a way to start the day."

  Kieren gave a slow nod, his expression brightening slightly. "Good morning, then," he said, this time with more confidence.

  Noah smiled wider. "Good morning, Kieren."

  After washing his face and hands and gargling with salt water, Noah took the opportunity to explore his surroundings while Kieren busied himself with roasting meat over the fire for breakfast.

  The central cave, which Noah mentally dubbed the 'living room', branched off into six other entrances: four led to caves, while the remaining two were paths that disappeared into the dark.

  The first cave on the left, where they had slept the night before, was the bedroom.

  Beside it, a tunnel slowly sloped diagonally upwards. Curious, Noah ventured inside, using the soft glow of his heart-shaped stone pendant, a reward from 001, to light the way. The tunnel was narrow but manageable, and he walked for a few minutes before his path was suddenly blocked by a rge round rock, carefully positioned to seal off the tunnel. He ran his hand over its surface, realizing it was a rge round rock—a makeshift barrier.

  The third cave was much simpler, like a storage room. Inside were neatly stacked piles of chopped firewood, several tree stumps, and an assortment of animal bones, hides, feathers, and other useful materials.

  The fourth entrance was another tunnel, but this one sloped diagonally downward. As Noah cautiously descended, using the wall for support, the sound of dripping water echoed in the narrow space. His footsteps spshed lightly in the growing dampness underfoot. Suddenly, his foot slipped on the slick stone, and before he could catch himself, he tumbled forward, sliding uncontrolbly down the wet path. His glowing stone pendant slipped from his grasp, skidding ahead of him into the darkness.

  Noah managed to catch himself just in time, his hand gripping a protruding stone. His heart raced as he felt himself teetering on the edge of slipping again, the dampness making the rock slick beneath his fingers. He held on tightly, steadying himself, though his muscles tensed with the effort of keeping his bance.

  Feeling the stones beneath and around him, Noah noticed they were slick, covered in something smooth, almost like pstic. His brow furrowed in confusion as he instinctively rubbed his fingers against the surface, the texture unmistakable.

  【? Tree Resin Rank E】“Resin?” he murmured under his breath, puzzled.

  But why would the stones be coated with tree resin, of all things?

  Carefully, Noah continued his descent, feeling his way along the wall as he followed the faint glow of the pendant. The stone’s light illuminated the edge of a pit, its rim curved upward, with water swirling around and flowing deeper into the cave.

  Peering over the edge, Noah was immediately overwhelmed by a wave of salty, metallic, and unmistakably bloody odor. The stench hit him like a punch, and he quickly covered his nose with one hand, squinting into the darkness below. With his other hand, he held the pendant by its edge, using its light to illuminate the grim scene below.

  As his eyes adjusted to the dim glow, the bottom of the pit came into view. To his dismay, it was filled with sbs of salted meat, haphazardly stacked and coated in a thick yer of salt. The meat, dark and dried, had clearly been preserved for a long time.

  Unable to find a safe path around the pit without risking a fall into the pile of salty meat, Noah carefully made his way back up, steadying himself against the slick, resin-covered stones as he climbed.

  Rubbing the discoloring bruise on his hip from the rough climb, Noah gnced over at the remaining two caves, noting that they were simir to the 3rd cave; they were also storage rooms.

  One of them was filled with neatly organized stacks of supplies—more animal hides, bones, and various stone tools. The other contained rge stone containers, possibly for storing drinkable water, alongside piles of fruits.

  There was also a pot full of honey, with a honeycomb nestled inside. An idea sparked in Noah's mind as he eyed the honeycomb.

  Calling out to Kieren, he asked, "Kieren, can I use the honeycombs in the pot for something?"

  Kieren's voice echoed back from the living room. "Sure! Do whatever you want with it!"

  Noah grinned to himself, already forming a pn. Spotting a smaller stone pot nearby, he quickly grabbed it, rinsed it with some water, and set it down beside the honey. Carefully, he reached into the rger pot, fishing out a piece of the honeycomb. It was thick and golden, sticky with fresh honey dripping between his fingers, clinging to his skin.

  As he pced the honeycomb into the smaller pot, his thoughts drifted back to his past life. Honeycomb wasn’t just for eating—it had plenty of other uses. He could melt the wax and mix it with a few herbs to make a balm, something to heal cuts. It could be useful for preserving food or even crafting a makeshift candle.

  But right now, his mind was focused on something else. He could carve wooden bowls easily enough, but they wouldn't st long without proper finishing. The honeycomb wax could be the answer. By coating the wood in melted wax, he could waterproof the bowls and make them more durable. It was a simple trick he had learned during the apocalypse, a way to make wood st longer and become more efficient.

  Noah’s fingers tapped the side of the stone pot as he mused over the idea, humming to himself. He was happy to finally have the chance to eat with real utensils instead of makeshift tools. The thought of crafting bowls and utensils, even something as simple as a spoon, felt like a little luxury in their primitive world.

  "Finally, some real utensils," he muttered to himself with a satisfied grin.

  After breakfast, the cave was filled with the crackling of the fire as Noah carefully melted the honeycomb wax over the fmes and the steady rasp of cws on wood. The golden liquid shimmered as it slowly pooled in the pot, its warmth blending with the earthy smell of the cave. Meanwhile, Kieren sat nearby, his rge bear cws effortlessly carving through the wood.

  "Make sure the edges of the bowls are smooth," Noah said, inspecting one of the wooden ptes. "We don’t want any splinters while eating."

  Kieren grunted in response, his cws moving with surprising precision for their size as he shaped the wood into ptes and bowls. It was slow but satisfying work. Ptes, bowls, spoons, forks, dles, cups, spatus, and lids for the stone pots—each piece slowly came to life under Kieren's skilled hands, even if he didn’t fully understand the purpose behind them.

  "Why do you need so many of these?" Kieren asked, pausing for a moment as he shaped a thick chopping board.

  Noah chuckled, stirring the wax with a small stick. "Trust me, you’ll appreciate it once you taste the food. A proper kitchen needs proper tools. Ladles for soups, bowls for stews, forks and spoons for… well, not eating with our hands."

  Kieren raised an eyebrow, still a bit skeptical, but continued working. His cws moved from one item to the next, carving out lids for the pots and even a sturdy spatu. By the time the wax was fully melted, they had a full set of kitchen utensils and cutlery id out on the cave floor.

  Kieren looked over the various items, still puzzled. "All this… just to eat?"

  Noah grinned, wiping his hands on an animal hide. "These, mister, are for me to cook delicious meals for you."

  Kieren blinked, tilting his head slightly. "You’re going to cook with these? Will it be that much different?"

  "Very different," Noah replied, eyes gleaming with excitement. "With these tools, I can make proper dishes, and not just roasted meat."

  Once the wax was melted, Noah carefully dipped a piece of animal fur into the golden liquid. Since they had no clothes or a sieve, the fur would have to do. As he began rubbing the warm wax over the wooden utensils, Kieren watched curiously, still not entirely sure why they were going to such lengths for something as simple as cooking.

  Seeing Kieren’s puzzled expression, Noah smiled and gestured for him to follow suit. "Here, take some fur and dip it into the wax. We’re going to polish the wood with this."

  Kieren hesitated for a moment, then shrugged and did as Noah instructed. His rge hands dipped a strip of fur into the melted wax and began rubbing it onto one of the bowls, the fur sticking to his hands slightly as he worked.

  Noah chuckled softly, shaking his head as he worked. "Not quite. The wax seals the wood, making it st longer. It helps prevent cracks, stops the wood from absorbing too much moisture, and gives it a smooth finish." He rubbed the fur in slow circles over a spoon, making sure the wax covered every inch of it. "And when you have waxed smooth bowls and utensils, eating becomes a much better experience. No splinters, no rough edges, just clean and comfortable."

  Kieren frowned slightly, still polishing the wood but clearly intrigued by the expnation. "So, it’s not just for looks?"

  "Nope," Noah said, dipping the fur into the pot again. "It’s practical. Plus, it’ll make cleaning a lot easier, too. You don’t want your bowls and spoons absorbing all the grease from the food we’re going to cook. The wax gives them a protective yer."

  Noah gave the newly polished utensils a final rinse with water, ensuring all the excess wax was washed away. The water gleamed off the smooth surfaces, revealing their glossy finish. He carefully set them aside to dry, arranging them in a neat line on a ft rock.

  "Now we just let them dry," Noah said, wiping his hands. "After that, they’ll be ready to use."

  Kieren, who had been watching intently, nodded appreciatively. "They look really nice. I can see why you went through all this trouble."

  Noah smiled. "It’s worth it. Good tools make a big difference in the kitchen. Plus, it feels nice to have something that looks and works well."

  As the utensils dried, the warmth of the fire flickered across Kieren’s face. He sat cross-legged nearby, his rge hands idly tracing patterns in the dirt.

  Kieren’s gaze occasionally drifted toward Noah, who was busy organizing the freshly polished utensils. The thought of the Bonding ceremony lingered in his mind, and though he wanted to bring it up, he hesitated. The st thing he wanted was to come across as pushy or impatient.

  With a deep breath, Kieren shifted his weight, clearing his throat softly. "Noah... about the Bonding ceremony," he began tentatively, his voice a low rumble. "I was wondering... if you’ve had any thoughts on when we might—" He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don’t want to rush you or anything. Just... curious."

  His eyes flickered with a mix of hope and apprehension, waiting for Noah’s response.

  Noah paused at Kieren’s tentative question, his mind momentarily drifting to the complexities of the Bonding ceremony. Beastmen, as he knew, had their own unique spiritual dynamics. Unlike the other races, they couldn’t use Qi, mana, or holy powers. Instead, their spiritual abilities were tied to their beast cores, which were embedded deep within their hearts.

  Beastmen harness their spiritual power in two distinct ways: externally and internally. For females, their spiritual power manifested outwardly in the form of their different and unique abilities. Males, on the other hand, harnessed their spiritual power internally, primarily using it to transform into their animal forms.

  The Bonding ceremony was a critical ritual in a male beastman's life. It involved a female beastman biting the male between the shoulder and neck, injecting their spiritual energy into him. This act was akin to marriage, in a sense, with no possibility of divorce. The female’s spiritual power acted as an enhancer and stabilizer for the male’s power.

  While females could have multiple partners throughout their lives, a male could only have one female partner for life. This made the Bonding ceremony an immensely significant and sacred event for beastmen.

  Noah, after some thought, finally looked up and met Kieren’s gaze, but before he could say anything, he saw the heartbroken expression etched across the bear beastman’s face. The look of despair and the watery eyes spoke volumes—Kieren felt like he had done something terribly wrong. I messed up was written all over his face.

  Despite knowing he was a selfish person with not a bone of kindness in him and admitting to himself that he cked sympathy and empathy, Noah felt a pang of heartache seeing Kieren like this. He wasn’t even from this world, and he felt unworthy of Kieren’s unwavering goodness. He was all too aware of his own fws and the weight of his past choices. He had the blood of his own kind and others in his hands. He was not even a person from this world. But Kieren was the first person to show him such genuine goodness and care in years, he wanted to be a caring and considerate person. Yet, seeing Kieren’s anguish, Noah’s heart softened.

  But seeing the expression on Kieren's face, as if the world were ending, Noah muttered a loud “Fuck it!” and threw himself at Kieren, both literally and metaphorically.

  He knew Kieren was innocent and perhaps didn’t fully grasp who Noah really was. The thought of Kieren potentially being taken away by someone else stung him more than he expected.

  Noah realized, in that moment, just how much he had come to care for Kieren. “C’mere,” Noah said, his voice trembling slightly. He reached up, hooking his hand around Kieren’s neck, and took the initiative to kiss him passionately, his lips meeting Kieren’s with a fervor he hadn’t anticipated.

  Anyway, since when had he become such a selfless person? He was inherently selfish, and selfishness suited him better.

  Kieren was frozen stiff, caught completely off guard by the sudden kiss, and forgot to respond.

  Not satisfied with the unsuccessful kiss, Noah took control, gently pressing Kieren’s head down and plunging his tongue into Kieren’s mouth.

  So soft, Noah’s mouth was sweet and slippery, the taste even more enticing than the red spike fruit that the females like to eat. Kieren couldn’t get enough, his instincts taking over as he eagerly sucked and licked Noah's tongue.

  The intensity of their kiss deepened, their breaths mingling as their fluids combined. The sounds of their passionate embrace echoed throughout the cave, leaving them both lost in the pleasure of the moment.

  The kiss grew more fervent as they lost themselves in each other. Noah’s hands roamed Kieren’s back, pulling him closer, while Kieren’s grip tightened around Noah’s waist. The cave’s darkness amplifies their touch, making every touch and sigh more intimate.

  Their movements became a dance of passion, each exploring the other with a hunger that left them breathless. As the kiss lingered, they slowly pulled away, their foreheads resting against each other, their eyes locked.

  Their breaths came in ragged whispers, the heat of their kiss still burning between them.

  Noah straddled Kieren's waist, his legs firmly wrapped around the bear beastman’s hips. He tilted his head down, catching a glimpse of Kieren’s flushed, dazed expression, his orange-brown hair slightly disheveled from their heated kiss. Noah smirked, his gaze darkened with desire as he leaned closer, trailing his lips along Kieren’s neck. The warmth of their bodies pressed together, the weight of Noah grounding them both in the moment.

  Kieren was trembling beneath him, his breath heavy and uneven, his heart pounding against Noah's chest. His rge hands hesitated, resting on Noah’s hips, but his instincts screamed at him to hold on tighter.

  Without warning, Noah grabbed a fistful of Kieren’s hair, tugging it back gently to expose more of his neck. The silky strands slipped between Noah’s fingers, but he held them firmly out of the way as he leaned down, his lips hovering just above Kieren’s nape.

  Kieren’s breath hitched, feeling Noah’s hot breath ghost over his sensitive skin. A soft moan escaped him, and his whole body stiffened in anticipation.

  Noah took his time, savoring the moment, pressing soft kisses to the side of Kieren’s neck. His tongue traced the path from his colrbone to the spot where his neck met his shoulder. With each kiss, Kieren’s grip on Noah’s hips tightened, his body reacting instinctively, wanting more but unsure of what to expect.

  Then, Noah’s fangs grazed the skin, and Kieren gasped, his entire body trembling as a surge of warmth spread through him. Noah bit down firmly, sinking his teeth into the tender flesh between Kieren’s neck and shoulder.

  At the same time, Noah closed his eyes, focusing on his spiritual power. He controlled it carefully, channeling it through the bite as it surged from his core, pouring into Kieren’s body. It was a delicate yet powerful connection. Noah could feel the resistance at first, Kieren’s beast core instinctively protective, but then it accepted him, drawing his power inward like a deep breath.

  In his mind’s eye, Noah saw Kieren’s spiritual power manifest before him, a fragile, teetering structure that resembled a Jenga tower on the verge of colpse. The blocks were uneven, some cracked and worn, while others hovered in pce, barely holding together. It was a chaotic and unstable sight, each piece trembling as if a single touch could bring the entire thing crashing down.

  Noah frowned, feeling the imbance of Kieren’s spiritual energy firsthand. It was powerful but unrefined—raw strength without the structure to contain it properly. The cracks in the blocks represented the strain Kieren had endured, likely from using his transformation without proper guidance or training, as well as the untamed power of his beast core. It was no wonder Kieren struggled to fully control his shifts or understand the depth of his own power.

  Noah’s spiritual energy, in contrast, flowed with purpose and precision, threading through the cracks and reinforcing the structure. a female's power wasn’t about overpowering a male’s—rather, it worked to stabilize, patching the fragile parts and filling the gaps in a way that allowed the male’s core to stand stronger and more secure.

  As the flow of energy continued, the Jenga-like image in Noah’s mind began to shift. The cracks sealed, the trembling blocks steadied, and the entire structure became more cohesive. Though not perfect, it was no longer on the verge of colpse. The connection between them deepened with every passing second, and Noah could feel Kieren’s spirit merging with his, more banced and anchored than before.

  Kieren’s body jolted again as another wave of energy flowed through him, head tilting back while Noah's firm grip kept him in pce. A soft groan escaped Kieren’s lips, his eyes fluttering closed as the overwhelming sensation overtook him. It was unlike anything he’d ever felt—a swirling mix of pleasure, warmth, and heat, and something deeper, a connection that seemed to settle into his very soul.

  Noah released the bite, licking the wound softly as his spiritual energy continued to flow into Kieren. His fingers still tangled in Kieren’s hair, Noah couldn’t help but grin against his skin. He pressed another soft kiss against the freshly marked spot, satisfied with his work.

  "Good Boy~," Noah murmured, his voice low and filled with a possessive satisfaction.

  Kieren, panting heavily, looked up at Noah through gzed, half-lidded eyes. He was completely overwhelmed, his senses flooded by the intensity of what they’d just shared. It felt like he was drowning in Noah's energy, drunk on the power coursing through him. His own spiritual energy, once chaotic and unstable, now felt calm and steady, anchored by Noah’s influence. He could feel Noah inside him. It was intimate in a way he never could have imagined.

  "How do you feel?" Noah asked, his voice a teasing whisper as he stroked Kieren's cheek, still straddling him with an air of control.

  Kieren’s breath was shaky as he managed to respond, his voice soft but filled with awe. "Like I belong to you... completely."

  "Good," Noah replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. He leaned down, brushing another kiss against Kieren's forehead before pulling back slightly, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and possessiveness. "Because you do."

  Kieren, still breathless and dazed, nodded slowly,

  Just as things were heating up between the two, their breaths mingling in the cave's dim light, a sudden voice rang out, cutting through the air.

  "Brother Noah, stop bein' all mushy with Chief Warrior already~"

  Noah froze mid-kiss, his lips still hovering near Kieren’s neck. Both of them whipped their heads toward the sound, eyes wide in disbelief. At the far end of the cave, two small figures stood, their innocent faces peeking around the entrance. Their eyes were wide open and curious, completely unaware of the intimate moment they had just shattered.

  Kieren’s face flushed a deep crimson, his grip on Noah’s waist tightening in shock. His usual calmness was nowhere to be found, repced with a mix of embarrassment and bewilderment.

  Noah let out a frustrated groan, the fire of the moment evaporating as he sat back, still straddling Kieren’s stomach. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to compose himself.

  The two little culprits remained at the entrance, their eyes shining with wide, curious eyes. The sheer innocence of their expressions made it impossible for Noah to get mad.

  With a raised brow, Noah gnced down at Kieren, who looked mortified, as if silently saying, Well, there goes that.

  Noah sighed, rubbing his temples. "I really have to do something about those doors," he muttered, half to himself and half to Kieren, who was still blushing furiously beneath him.

  "Brother Noah! Come on!" one of the kids called again, their wide-eyed innocence almost too much for Noah to handle right now.

  "Yeah, yeah," Noah grumbled, carefully sliding off Kieren and standing up. He shot a pyful gre at the two little intruders, trying to mask his lingering frustration. "Just... give me a minute, okay?"

  As the kids waited at the cave entrance, bouncing on their toes, Noah turned back to Kieren. "We'll pick this up ter," his tone promising.

  After cleaning up and barely catching his breath, Noah found himself being pulled through the winding tunnels by Liam and Ezra, one cub on each side, their small hands gripping his tightly.

  He shot a helpless look back at Kieren, silently pleading for rescue, but Kieren, completely oblivious, only smiled and said, "I'm going to hunt. I'll be back ter."

  Noah groaned internally as the two cubs continued chattering away, their high-pitched voices filling the narrow passageways. "Wait—what are we doing again?" Noah asked, his tone both exasperated and amused.

  "You’ll see!" Liam grinned, bouncing with excitement as they tugged him forward.

  "Yeah, come on, Brother Noah!" Ezra echoed enthusiastically. "We have somethin' really cool to show ya!"

  As they rounded another bend, Noah noticed patches of what looked like dried, amber-like resin coating certain parts of the tunnel walls. Curiosity piqued, he gnced down at Ezra. "Hey, why is there tree resin covering some pces in the caves and tunnels?"

  Ezra’s eyes lit up as he unched into an eager expnation, his voice filled with childish enthusiasm. "Ah! That's 'cause Brother Noah, a long time ago, this pce was actually the AntHill of Fme ants!" He paused dramatically as if expecting Noah to be amazed.

  Noah raised an eyebrow, but the mention of 'Ants' made him more concerned than anything else. "Fme ants?"

  "Yeah!" Ezra nodded vigorously. "They were huge! 'Bout the size of a one-year-old female cub!" He held his hands wide, clearly trying to emphasize the size.

  Noah’s mind automatically did the math, calcuting the ants to be around 30 inches in size. His stomach dropped. Thirty-inch ants? You've got to be kidding me...

  Ezra continued, oblivious to Noah’s internal horror. "But the Fme ants don’t live here anymore. A long time ago, their anthill got flooded with water, and they had to skedaddled. So now, we live here instead!"

  "Ah... great," Noah muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the idea of giant ants. "So this pce used to be -theirs, huh? And it’s safe now?"

  Ezra nodded confidently. "Yup! It’s safe! We live here, and so do three other packs. One group is the hyenas that Azzazel leads."

  Noah’s eyebrows shot up. "Azazel has a group of hyenas as his followers?" That was something new. In the novel, Azazel is always portrayed as a lone wolf—no, a lone tiger. He worked alone, relying on his own strength and cunning. The thought of him leading a group seemed OOC.

  "Yup! And there's also a mid-level 6 drifter beastman who lives here. He’s all alone," Ezra expined matter-of-factly.

  Liam piped up, his voice echoing in the tunnels. "And on top of the mountain, there's the bird cn! They don’t live with us in the tunnels, though. They live in their own pce, up high."

  Noah nodded, taking in all the information. So, the Tiger Cw pack wasn’t alone here. The thought made him uneasy, but also curious. "So, you guys share this whole pce with all these other packs?"

  "Yeah!" Ezra grinned. "It’s a big pce, so there’s plenty of space!"

  Liam chimed in, tugging on Noah’s arm. "We’re used to it. Everyone knows where they’re supposed to stay, so eating the members of other packs is unlikely."

  The cubs led him through the winding tunnels until they reached a rge communal cave, bustling with activity. It was a collective living space for the children and elderly of the Tiger Cw pack. The cave was directly parallel to the Pza Cave where they had spent the previous night, and it was full of life—females tending to their cubs, the elderly chatting while cleaning bones, and little ones running around pying.

  Noah found himself somewhat at ease in the vibrant atmosphere. However, amidst all the usual hustle, there was a particurly rowdy area in the cave. A crowd of females and cubs had gathered, surrounding someone in the middle of the group. The air buzzed with whispered conversations.

  Ezra leaned closer to Noah. "That female was rescued by the leader this mornin'," he said with wide eyes, his voice dropping to a half-whisper as if sharing some great secret.

  Noah gnced over and saw the figure everyone was gawking at. It wasn’t a female beastman as he’d expected, but a human girl. She was small, her brown hair tied into two neat pigtails held in pce with scrunchies. What stood out most was her pale, fwless skin, which gleamed under the cave's dim lighting. Her modestly sized breasts, though normal for human women, were an anomaly here in this world where females didn’t have the same anatomy.

  Liam tugged at Noah’s arm, breaking his thoughts. "Brother Noah, look at that female. Doesn’t she have a strange body?" His voice carried an innocent tone, but it was loud enough to catch attention.

  Noah’s eyes widened slightly at the blunt observation, knowing that Liam was pointing out the difference that all the beastman females must have already noticed. In this world, where beastman females had the physical traits of hermaphrodites and cked human-like breasts, the human girl’s body stood out like a sore thumb.

  "Uh... Yeah, she’s...uhm... different," Noah muttered, not quite sure how to navigate the conversation, especially as he noticed the human girl’s eyes slowly locking onto Liam, then onto him. Her gaze wasn’t one of friendly curiosity either. Her posture stiffened, and her eyes narrowed, as if she'd overheard Liam's comment and took it as an insult.

  The once bustling group around her seemed to grow quieter. Noah felt the weight of her gre and resisted the urge to sigh. Great, he thought. This is going to get awkward really fast.

  The human girl crossed her arms, clearly not amused by the spectacle being made of her appearance. Noah, sensing the brewing confrontation, quickly leaned down to whisper to Liam. "Hey, maybe let’s not comment too loudly, okay?"

  But it was too te. The girl had already shifted slightly, taking a step in their direction, her eyes fixed on Noah.

  Seeing the girl's displeased expression, Noah quickly ruffled the boys' hair, leaning down to whisper urgently. "Hey, didn’t you two have something really cool to show me?" he said, trying to steer their attention away.

  Ezra and Liam looked up, eyes brightening as they remembered. "Oh! Yeah, we do!" Liam chirped, clearly thrilled.

  Ezra gave an excited nod. "C’mon, Brother Noah, it ain’t far from here! Ya gonna love it!" He grabbed Noah’s hand and tugged eagerly. They led him down zig-zagging tunnels that seemed to snake deeper underground, sloping downward with twists and turns.

  “Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Noah asked, slightly out of breath from keeping up with their enthusiastic pace.

  “Of course!” Ezra replied, grinning up at him. “We go this way all the time!”

  As they descended, the tunnels gradually widened, and the damp, earthy smell grew stronger. After one final turn, they emerged into a rger passage where several tunnels converged into one. This canal-like tunnel stretched ahead, lined with stones worn smooth, and a narrow, winding path ran alongside it. The gentle sound of flowing water echoed in the cavern.

  Liam pointed down the canal tunnel with wide eyes. “See, Brother Noah? This way leads to the outside!”

  Following the path, they soon emerged into the open air. Sunlight flooded their faces, warming their skin as they looked out over the mountain view, the sky a clear, endless blue.

  Liam darted over to a cluster of rge rocks nearby, crouching down and digging around. After a moment, he sprang back up, holding a handful of cms and mussels. He brought them to Noah, his eyes shining with excitement.

  “Look, Brother Noah!” Liam excimed, dropping the cms at Noah’s feet before squatting down. Without a second thought, he picked up a hefty rock, raised it high, and brought it down with a sharp, decisive thud onto one of the cms. The shell cracked open, shards scattering everywhere. Digging through the broken shell and smashed cm meat, Liam pulled out a handful of beautiful, shimmering pearls, though a few were chipped or broken.

  Ezra’s eyes went wide as he knelt beside Liam, giving him a little frown. “Liam! I told ya not to use so much force! Look, some of the pearls are all smashed up now!”

  Liam blinked down at the cracked pearls, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Oops. Guess I got a little too excited,” he mumbled, scratching the back of his head.

  Noah let out a soft chuckle, crouching down beside them and picking up one of the intact pearls. He turned it over in his fingers, its smooth, iridescent surface gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

  【? Pearl Rank F

  A smooth, round gem found in mollusks, Pearls are prized for their subtle beauty and symbolic purity. While cking the power of higher-ranked gems, they serve as beginner-friendly material for crafting decorative items or simple charms.

  While weak, it can channel small amounts of spiritual energy for enchantments.】

  Noah quirked an eyebrow, his lips curving into a small smirk. So, it’s basically just a pretty stone, huh? He let the pearl roll off his palm and into Ezra’s waiting hands, where the younger boy eagerly inspected it.

  “It’s so pretty, ain't it?” Ezra asked, his eyes sparkling as he turned the pearl over.

  Noah chuckled softly, unable to resist the warmth in Ezra’s expression. He reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. “You like it that much, huh? Want me to make a neckce out of it for you?”

  Ezra’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really? Ya’d do that? That would be amazin'!”

  Liam piped up, puffing out his chest. “Me too! I want a neckce too, Brother Noah! But mine's gotta have the biggest pearl!”

  Noah sighed in mock exasperation, grinning at the pair. “Alright, alright. If you both behave and don’t crack every cm in sight, I’ll see what I can do. Deal?”

  Ezra and Liam nodded vigorously, their enthusiasm infectious. “Deal!” they chimed in unison.