Fear crept over her like fog on mountain ridges. She might end up dying here after all. While being f*cked and having her milk sucked.

Murat, who had been observing her pale complexion, quietly embraced her shoulders.

“Relax. It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

Saya also seemed to understand that his words had frightened Riena. He shrugged his shoulders to express that his question had no particular intention.

“I’m just asking. Would we really try to draw milk from you, the one given to us by God? We won’t treat you like a medicine chest, so don’t tremble too much.”

She had been about to reveal that the world she originally lived in wasn’t the divine world, but at this point, it seemed better to keep it secret. If she made herself a sacred being, she would be less threatened.

She had already told Murat a little, but what about that? If he had shared the facts with others, it would be troublesome, but if not yet, she would have to cleverly persuade him to keep his mouth shut.

“Thank you, Saya. I had a scary thought for a moment, but I’m glad it’s not like that.”

“But my itching might be a temporary symptom, and Rud’s boils might be coincidental. Since I can’t guarantee the healing power, could we do a little experiment?”

“How?”

“Do you see that person with a scar on his face? His name is Den.”

Riena slightly bowed her head to Den in acknowledgment. Den looked to be around thirty, seemed to be the oldest among the tribe members, and had long claw marks carved from one ear across his entire cheek.

“Den was clawed by a beast on his face, so as you can see, the scar is large. I’m curious what would happen if we fed your milk to Den.”

“It looks like a very old scar.”

“So if that disappears, it would undoubtedly be divine power. Even if there’s no effect, it doesn’t matter. No matter what anyone says, Riena is a gift from god.”

Riena, still frightened, scattered her gaze among the men surrounding her. She was troubled about how to respond.

“Then do I have to spend time like last time again? Do I have to…… show my br*asts?”

“That would be necessary, probably. But this time I’ll pay more attention to safety. How about if only Murat and Den are with you, Riena?”

Saya didn’t seem to think Riena would hate having her milk sucked.

Was it because she didn’t particularly show dislike while trying to find ways to get along by pleasing the men? Or was it because she was often seen easily embracing Murat? The other men were simply thinking they could get close to her like Murat.

It was difficult to refuse here. Then Saya would become serious and develop wariness toward her. If she tried to return to the divine world they thought of, they would naturally try to hold her back.

She had no one to help her and it was hard to find an escape route. What should she do? While rolling her troubled eyes around, she met Murat’s gaze.

His eyebrows stretched like eagle wings were tilted crookedly. With a clearly displeased expression, he crossed his arms and listened to Saya’s proposal. His fingertips tapped nervously on his forearms.

‘Murat also hates this talk. He’s definitely opposed.’

She remembered his confession that he didn’t want to share with other men. Surely he would help her get out of this predicament. At least it would be better than her worrying alone about a way to avoid having her milk sucked by Den.

“Alright. I’ll think about it and talk later.”

“Later? When later?”

Then Murat intervened. His hands, which had been fidgeting because he wanted to object from the start, crossed in front of Saya’s chest like a bolt.

“Don’t rush, Saya. Riena just regained consciousness today. If you pressure her and she gets sick again, will you take responsibility? What if she returns to the divine world?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

From what she could observe, Saya seemed to want to be deeply involved in matters related to Riena. He wanted to get close, and tried to make suggestions or add meaning. She didn’t know if the chief’s son automatically became the next chief, but he seemed to have considerable influence in the tribe.

Along with feeling she shouldn’t be disliked, she couldn’t let her guard down either.

Murat stood in front protectively.

“Let’s decide later as Riena said. Right now, recovering her health is urgent.”

The other tribe members also nodded.

“And remember what I told you beforehand? Riena is someone who purifies her mind and body daily. So let’s go to the ridge cave in the order we decided.”

One man straightened his shoulders and replied.

“I’m first. I’ll be ready.”

“Please prepare as well, Riena. It would be better to go and come back early.”

Murat seemed to want to end the gathering before Saya continued talking about milk. She also wanted the same, so she quickly got up from her seat.

***

Everyone scattered to start their daily tasks, and the man approached carrying chair-shaped luggage on his back. It was a wooden chair suitable for Riena to sit on with shoulder straps added.

“I’m Jair. Please take care of me, Riena.”

“It must be heavy, so I want to apologize first.”

“I don’t think it will be at all. Please sit down first.”

Jair excitedly bent down below her knees. He was tall but a bit thin, so she felt sorry about being carried. But she didn’t have confidence to walk around on foot. She hadn’t even walked a few steps from the low table to the chair, but sharp things got stuck in her toes.

Jair, who lightly lifted her and stood up, shouted in a lively voice.

“Look at me. You’re not heavy at all.”

“Thank you.”

“But the scent really comes up strong. Riena, really. Whoa…… I’ll keep my wits about me and walk looking only ahead.”

Murat was constantly monitoring from the side. He watched Jair’s expression sharply, worried he might do something inappropriate. His glare was fierce as if he wouldn’t let it slide if he acted recklessly.

When Jair headed toward the mountain, Murat walked alongside.

“Riena, Jair and I will go together. Since today is the first day, we’ll accompany you, and it might change as we repeat this daily.”

“Do you mean Murat might not come?”

The path narrowed so Murat followed from behind. While he silently delayed his answer, Riena had to clearly feel his gaze looking at her. The chair was designed to sit facing backward, so she couldn’t escape Murat’s view.

“If possible, I want to stay by your side all the time too. But there are unavoidable things I must handle first.”

As the expedition leader and commander among the surviving tribe members, that would make sense. She easily accepted this while looking at the mountain ridge. Murat seemed to think she was hurt and added detailed reasons.

“Tigers and bears sometimes come down to the village. I think we need to catch the beasts that harm people first. I’ll probably go hunting within a few days.”

“Ah, beasts……”

When she nodded with her back turned, he finally stopped his excuse-like explanation.

Jair, who carried the backpack, was in better condition than she had worried. He clenched his jaw tightly and focused only on walking to avoid becoming confused. Thanks to this, they could arrive at the cave safely.

The hot spring cave was located on the mountain ridge, so it was called the ridge cave. While Riena waited at the entrance, Jair checked if there were bugs or foreign substances in the hot spring. Because it was a sacred place, the two men waited nearby while she soaked in the hot spring alone.

Washing after several days made her feel much more alive. The aftereffects of the severe cold remained, but she felt lighter thanks to the hot spring bath.

Murat and Jair didn’t bother to turn their gazes away. They watched with interest as she undressed and bathed. Well, since they had caused such a commotion on the first day, there wasn’t much meaning in being modest now.

“I wonder if I’m taking up too much of your time. The village seemed to have a lot of work.”

Jair, who had been gaping with his mouth open, snapped to attention when he heard Riena’s voice.

“Oh, that’s not it. No, not at all. Serving you is the most important task.”

“If it’s really bothersome, I could come to wash every two or three days.”

“Carrying you back and forth like this also becomes an opportunity to have contact with you, Riena. Saya’s method was dangerous. Carrying you while getting fresh air seems like quite a good method.”