Normally, she would sit facing him, but due to the beast-kin occupying the front seats, she had to sit this way.

‘What’s going on?’

As Yeoreum glanced at Kang Jinho, the wolf-eared woman cautiously began to speak.

“So, you’ve already used the Blessing of the Beast God?”

“Yes. It was an item saved by our guild’s children.”

Our guild’s children.

The term conveyed a sense of community, and Yeoreum’s shoulders rose with pride.

The wolf woman’s expression soured.

“I’m well aware of the rules of this world. Our beast-kin tribe also strives to abide by them.”

“Yes. Then you must know that items obtained in dungeons belong to the guild, according to the rules?”

“Yes, I am aware. But the Blessing of the Beast God is different in its significance.”

The Blessing of the Beast God.

An item that births the king of the beast-kin.

That such a significant treasure was used by humans, not beast-kin.

The aggressive lizard beast-kin gritted his teeth, but Kang Jinho seemed unbothered.

“I understand it’s valuable, but what can we do with something that’s already been used?”

“Normally, one would be punished according to the rules of the beast-kin…”

“Rules?”

“Yes. If someone unworthy consumes the blessing…”

The wolf woman trailed off, but everyone in the room understood.

The rule was that if someone unworthy consumed the blessing, they would be executed.

Kang Jinho scoffed at the beast-kin’s audacity.

“Go ahead and try.”

“Excuse me…?”

“If you think you can, then go ahead.”

An indescribable, immense aura rose from Kang Jinho’s body.

The young beast-kin were overwhelmed by Kang Jinho’s formidable presence.

“Turning the entire beast-kin tribe into enemies-”

“Oh? What will you do about it? You think the entire beast-kin tribe can win against me?”

“……”

The female beast-kin fell silent.

While the other members of the Daybreak Guild were strong, Kang Jinho was on another level.

Even if the previous beast-kin king and the previous one as well were alive and at their prime, the Beast-kin Tribe still wouldn’t have been able to defeat him.

“Ah, I haven’t finished speaking. May I continue?”

“Let’s hear it then.”

Kang Jinho’s intense aura seemed to soften.

The two beast-kin sighed in relief, unnoticed.

“Normally, we would follow our tribal rules, but we have no intention of breaking the rules of this world.”

“And?”

“We would like to meet the one who consumed the blessing and assess if they are worthy of being a king.”

The worthiness of a king.

That was unlikely.

Gyeoul was just an ordinary child in extraordinary circumstances.

Yeoreum wanted to object but knew it wasn’t her place to speak.

All she could do was silently plead with her eyes to Kang Jinho.

“What if they’re deemed unworthy?”

“We will train them ourselves. The child’s learning ability must have improved.”

So, the beast-kin tribe would help Gyeoul harness the power of a beast-kin king.

It was a decent proposal, but there was one problem.

The lack of trust.

“How can you assure us you won’t kill the child afterward?”

“We beast-kin are few in number. We have no intention of making enemies, including you Earthlings.”

“I see.”

As a minority, they feared provoking the wrath of Earthlings.

The statement seemed somewhat trustworthy.

“Fine. But I’ll accompany you.”

“Thank you.”

Yeoreum watched the wolf woman bow and thought to herself.

She should probably give the ssamjang to the Guild Master.

✱✱✱

“Ugh.”

I lay on the box bed, staring at the ceiling.

I was clueless about how to fulfill the girl’s request.

-Can you introduce me to your friend later?

Asking to be introduced to a non-existent friend.

Having lied about having one, I couldn’t just backpedal now.

‘What should I do?’

If I admitted I had no friends, how would the girl react?

I didn’t know what she would do, but ridicule was certain.

Maybe she already knew I had no friends.

‘Should I say all my friends died…’

Would she believe that?

I turned over, burying my face in a pillow made of old clothes.

The fact that it might have been where the girl rested, leaving behind a pleasant shampoo scent, irritated me even more.

Why has my sense of smell become so sharp?

Annoyed, I shook my legs up and down, and then I heard the sound of multiple footsteps approaching me.

“Huh?”

This place isn’t one where people usually come.

Why are there so many footsteps?

Startled, I hastily fled into the shelter.

Please, don’t come this way.

I closed the lid of the shelter and prayed fervently, hoping they wouldn’t find me.

But contrary to my wishes, the footsteps headed straight toward me.

I picked up the sounds of four people’s footsteps.

Such knowledge felt worse than a visit from a wild boar.