“Do beast-people also experience heat cycles? I’ve never felt anything like that.”

“In cases of mixed blood, only a very small portion of beast-people traits may manifest. The unexpressed genes just lie dormant inside you.”

“Could they suddenly emerge later?”

“Usually, all physical changes are determined by the time you reach adulthood. That’s why our coming-of-age ceremony is so important.”

“It’s my first time seeing beast-people in person, so it still feels awkward to think I’m of distant lineage. But I’m relieved to have solved the mystery of why I can understand animal speech.”

According to the records, her mother’s lover must have been a beast-person or at least of mixed blood. Did her mother come here too? Or did she receive help from someone? Having come to an island that wasn’t easily accessible, she had many questions and wanted to learn more about her mother’s traces, but right now, there was a more urgent matter.

“I ended up coming here suddenly without telling the person I was with, so they’re probably very worried by now. I’d like to return as quickly as possible. Is there any way?”

By the time they finished talking, they had already hung all the laundry, and their hands were empty. Olivia seized the opportunity to desperately grab him and look at him with pleading eyes.

Please send me back. Feeling guilty as if he had become the bad guy even though he hadn’t kidnapped her, Prow stammered in confusion.

“I-I didn’t bring you here; you came under enchantment.”

“That enchantment, if we put it the other way, means I could leave using the same method, right?”

“That’s true, but the kids used quite a lot of energy to bring you here, so we’d have to wait until they wake up. Or you could leave by boat like humans do, but do you know how to sail?”

Ah. Olivia sighed and shook her head. She had heard from the coastal villagers that the sea around this island was particularly treacherous. No matter how urgent, sailing out like this would be tantamount to s*icide.

“Is there any way to contact the coastal village people……”

“If you’re that desperate, there is a method you could try, though it’s a bit dangerous for you……”

Prow, unable to hide his frustration, was about to say something when he suddenly pulled her sharply. Caught off guard, Olivia hid behind his body without knowing why and held her breath. A group of new figures appeared across the clearing. The leader of the group, approaching with a threatening air, searched for Prow with a crooked tone.

“Prow. Have you caused trouble again?”

“Don’t pick fights for no reason and just go away.”

“If not you, then where are those guys? I need to check something……”

“They’re all sleeping quietly. What’s the commotion about this time? We’re living quietly away from the village as you wanted.”

“There were unfamiliar traces at the island entrance. What’s that about?”

“You really have nothing better to do than hunt for prey all day, do you?”

Prow sneered and pursed his lips. Though it sounded like a mutter to himself, his voice was clearly meant to be heard, causing the other person to frown in displeasure.

“Is that so? Anyway, you’re saying you didn’t cause any trouble? Then who infiltrated without our knowledge?”

Realizing that the “traces” likely referred to herself, Olivia instinctively curled up more tightly. She sensed that in this atmosphere, she shouldn’t reveal herself as an outsider.

But despite Olivia’s efforts to make herself as small as possible, the other person wasn’t fooled so easily and noticed her presence. In truth, it was unrealistic to think one person could hide another in a wide-open clearing.

“Who’s this woman? I’ve never seen her before.”

“Can’t you tell by looking? She’s a lost child of our tribe. I found her when I went out last time, and though it’s late, I brought her back this time.”

Though cold sweat ran down her back, Prow answered bluntly, as if unconcerned and indifferent.

“Really? She definitely has our energy… Then are those traces hers? If you brought her, why are you suspiciously hiding her instead of informing the village?”

The man who approached abruptly lowered his head to Olivia’s nape. Following Prow’s signal to stay still, Olivia also stood frozen in place with the most composed face she could manage. Half of her confidence came from the thought that ‘if Prow’s words were true, it should be fine since we’re distant relatives anyway.’

“Looks like you’ve gotten very friendly with the kids.”

The man wrinkled his nose and turned around sharply. Though Olivia hadn’t noticed, having been surrounded by the children while playing with them, various pheromones from the children were thickly smeared on her body. Thanks to this, the man didn’t notice that she was of mixed blood and merely glared suspiciously at Prow for hiding Olivia’s presence.

“Sheesh, if I inform the village, you’ll all find out anyway!”

“Why is that?”

“B-because, I, I haven’t received an answer to my courtship yet!”

Unable to find a suitable excuse, Prow blurted out a reason that no one would easily challenge.

“Courtship? Don’t tell me this woman is your mate?”

“W-what, why? What’s wrong with that?”

“You complained about the island being suffocating, and now you’re saying you want to take a lost child you just brought back as your partner. The elders will be furious if they find out.”

“Mind your own business. I’ll handle it myself. If you understand, please just leave. Your presence is bothering me right now.”

“Come to think of it, your heat cycle……”

The man, counting something on his fingers, seemed to understand and lightly patted Prow’s shoulder. Prow, horrified by the man’s suggestive gaze, shook his shoulder vigorously.

“As a fellow male, I hope you get a positive answer. Try to send the children to us at an appropriate time. Don’t keep them around and witness something you shouldn’t.”

Prow’s face turned bright red as he silently watched the man and his group leave the clearing.

Though she didn’t know the village customs, Olivia could tell from the atmosphere that Prow had just made a considerable effort to protect her. She bowed deeply to him, expressing her utmost gratitude.

“You really have no idea that I just endured the greatest humiliation of my life to save you.”

“Thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”

After stomping on the ground for a while to shake off his embarrassment, Prow approached Olivia again.

“You said you need to get back quickly?”

“Yes. The duke must be very worried. If he finds out I’m here, he might try to come himself.”

“Do you mean that man who looked like he wanted to kill me last time? The one who was stuck right by your side?”

“Yes! You remember him?”

“Absolutely not. You might not know, but he cannot come here. It would be a disaster. I can’t handle that.”

Prow’s expression, which had been casually listening to Olivia until now, suddenly turned pale with fear. He kept glancing nervously toward where the group had disappeared, then grabbed his hair and collapsed to the ground.

“I was wrong to tell the kids about you. If I hadn’t, they wouldn’t have gone out to sea to see a human, wouldn’t have discovered you, argh! What do we do! Why did you come to this area anyway? Don’t you live in the Empire?”

“I have my reasons… Is it really that serious? Because Alois is human and not mixed blood?”

“Of course! Plus, that man is cursed.”

“You noticed that when we met before too. But he’s not dangerous. He’s not as dangerous or aggressive as the old rumors……”

“Are you stupid?”

Prow stood up abruptly, pounding his chest in frustration. He was at a loss for where to begin explaining to Olivia, who showed no understanding of the gravity of the situation with her innocent eyes. Looking up at the distant sky, lamenting his karma, Prow murmured quietly with clouded eyes.

“You fool. That curse was placed by our tribe.”

Olivia, who had been waiting curiously for Prow’s explanation, found her mouth gradually falling open. Her trembling eyes asked him several times if it was true.

“If you understand, move quickly. You need to leave here so that human doesn’t come here.”

Prow roughly grabbed Olivia’s arm and pulled her along. In a dumbfounded state, Olivia allowed herself to be dragged, still stunned by what she had learned.

What in the world is going on here?

* * *

The rough, bumpy stone floor pricked her feet. Despite the sharp pain, Olivia didn’t complain and simply hurried her steps. Her only thought was to return to Alois as quickly as possible.

“Is this cave connected to the continent?”

“Yes. Apparently, this used to be a passage to the continent. While that island is indeed our homeland, we haven’t always lived there our entire lives. There are records that we lived throughout the continent before humans began to conflict with other races.”

Just as other races were to Olivia, the ancient war between humans and his kind, or the stories from before that time, felt like unreal myths to Prow as well. So even though it was a painful story, he remained calm and indifferent.

As they went deeper into the cave, the narrow passage gradually opened up into a larger space. The ceiling was so high that it was hard to believe they were inside a cave; its end wasn’t visible. Only the stalactites hanging from above occasionally reminded them that they were still in a cave.

“It feels like I’m time traveling.”

The paintings scattered across the walls were so faded and ancient in form that they looked like something from a museum or archaeological site. Prow glanced at her and nodded.

“This place has the feel of our tribe’s ancient ruins, temple, historical artifacts, that sort of thing. Though it’s desolate now, it used to be an incredibly splendid and mysterious place. Everyone has left now, but in the past, all the mysterious powers of nature were born here. Try to imagine what that must have felt like.”

“But how did it come to be like this?”