Chapter 144: The Stone Decides

The six beastmen eventually approached Sora together.

They had been standing at different places around the festival square, but after seeing the growing number of males surrounding Sora, they had reached the same conclusion.

They couldn’t wait any longer.

Sora noticed the familiar figures approaching her from different directions.

Xavier.

Ace.

Lukan.

Lucas.

Ryan.

Damien.

Seeing all six of them staring at her with expressions that were difficult to describe, Sora couldn’t help feeling confused.

She looked from one person to another.

"Why are you all coming over?"

Xavier was the first to answer.

He had never been particularly good at hiding his intentions.

"I came to ask whether you’ve chosen your gift."

Sora blinked.

"Gift?"

"Isn’t there still another day before the date?"

Xavier’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"But we can’t wait anymore."

The others silently agreed.

Ace stared at Sora with burning eyes.

After seeing her performance tonight, he had become even more determined to know her choice.

He wanted to know whether his feather dress had won her heart.

Lucas was equally interested in the answer.

Lukan remained calm, while Damien simply watched Sora.

Ryan, as usual, didn’t show much emotion.

But Sora could tell that everyone wanted an answer.

She thought about it for a moment.

The Moon God Festival was supposed to be a day when the female chose the beastman she wanted to spend time with.

But Sora had a problem.

She didn’t want to hurt anyone.

More importantly, she hadn’t finished her strategy.

She still hadn’t completely figured out Ryan.

And Damien was another question mark.

If she chose one person directly, the others would inevitably feel disappointed.

Sora’s gaze moved around the group.

Then an idea suddenly appeared in her mind.

"Then follow me."

The six beastmen exchanged glances.

None of them understood what she was planning.

Nevertheless, they followed.

Soon, the group arrived at the wild kitchen.

Sora walked around the area and looked down at the ground.

There were plenty of small stones scattered nearby.

She picked up several.

Then she found a relatively flat place and sat down.

The beastmen watched curiously.

"What are you doing?"

Ace leaned closer.

Sora ignored him.

She picked up a piece of charcoal and began drawing on the stones.

One stone.

Then another.

Then another.

Her movements were quick and deliberate.

Soon, each stone had a different symbol painted on it.

A wolf.

A phoenix.

A snake.

A fish.

A tiger.

A bear.

The beastmen stared at the strange collection of stones.

Sora counted them carefully.

There were six.

Exactly enough for the six of them.

She placed all the stones into a pottery jar.

Then she turned toward them.

"I’ve drawn each of you on one of these stones."

Everyone looked at her.

Sora continued explaining.

"Later, I’ll reach into the jar and choose one."

She gave the jar a slight shake.

"Whichever stone I touch will determine who I’ll go on a date with tomorrow."

The six beastmen were stunned.

Sora smiled.

"That way, I don’t have to choose anyone myself."

She had thought about it carefully.

In a primitive society, there was no paper for drawing lots.

So stones were the most convenient substitute.

It was simple.

Fair.

And most importantly, nobody could accuse her of deliberately favoring someone.

Sora placed the jar in front of them.

"Ready?"

Nobody answered immediately.

She reached into the jar.

Her fingers moved among the stones.

She deliberately mixed them around several times before finally grasping one.

Then she pulled her hand out.

"That’s the one."

She opened her palm.

The others immediately leaned forward.

A fish.

The symbol of a fish was clearly visible on the stone.

Sora stared at it.

She hadn’t expected that result either.

Her eyes shifted toward Ryan.

"So..."

She smiled.

"I’ll go on a date with Ryan tomorrow."

Ryan froze.

For several seconds, he simply stared at the stone.

He had never expected this.

In fact, none of them had.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

The beastmen looked at Ryan.

Ryan looked at the stone.

Then he looked at Sora.

The situation was almost absurd.

Among all of them, Ryan had probably been the least eager to pursue Sora openly.

Yet somehow, he had been selected.

Sora couldn’t help thinking that perhaps this was actually a good thing.

She needed an opportunity to spend more time with Ryan.

Now the opportunity had fallen directly into her hands.

What a coincidence.

Or perhaps fate had decided for her.

One of the beastmen watching the scene was amused.

He had been paying attention to Sora from the beginning.

Every time she did something unexpected, she managed to surprise him again.

He had originally come because of the guidance of the Heavenly God.

He wanted to see what kind of female the Heavenly God had pointed him toward.

But after spending more time around Sora, his thoughts had gradually changed.

She was clever.

Interesting.

Capable.

And always able to come up with something nobody else expected.

The stone-drawing method was another example.

He couldn’t help admitting that having a female like Sora around wasn’t such a bad thing.

Compared with his amusement, the reactions of the others were completely different.

Ace stared at the empty jar.

His face looked as though he had suffered a tremendous blow.

He had spent so much time searching for beautiful feathers.

He had carefully chosen colors.

He had made that feather dress specifically for Sora.

And now?

It had accomplished absolutely nothing.

Sora hadn’t chosen him because of the dress.

She hadn’t even chosen anyone.

She had simply left the decision to a handful of stones.

Ace looked down at his colorful feather outfit.

If I had known this would happen...

He felt deeply frustrated.

I could have just found some stones.

Lucas wasn’t much happier.

He looked at the bracelet he had painstakingly made for Sora.

He had spent considerable time searching for beautiful materials.

He had carefully crafted the bracelet because he wanted her to like it.

But now the bracelet seemed almost irrelevant.

Lucas glanced toward Ryan.

Then toward the stone in Ryan’s hand.

His expression became complicated.

Ace, Lukan, and Xavier had already managed to become closer to Sora.

He had thought that perhaps it would finally be his turn.

Yet Ryan had somehow obtained the opportunity instead.

Lucas couldn’t help wondering if he should privately negotiate with Ryan.

Perhaps Ryan would agree to switch?

But then Lucas immediately remembered something.

Ryan had never seemed particularly interested in Sora.

Why would he even want the date?

Lucas looked at him suspiciously.

Meanwhile, Xavier had been unusually quiet.

From the moment Sora invited them to the wild kitchen, he had felt that something was wrong.

He had watched her carefully.

When she picked up the stones, he still didn’t understand.

But the moment she placed them into the jar, everything became clear.

Xavier’s lips twitched.

Sora is clever.

She had found another way to avoid directly choosing her favorite.

Xavier had been watching Lukan closely.

He had assumed that he and Lukan would eventually become rivals over Sora’s choice.

But instead, the person who had unexpectedly gained the opportunity was Ryan.

No.

More precisely...

Ryan had gained his stone.

Xavier couldn’t help shaking his head.

Sora really was becoming smarter.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face.

There was even a trace of helpless affection in his eyes.

Lukan had a similar reaction.

He had believed that the practical things he gave Sora—the shoes, the food, the things she needed—would increase his chances.

He had thought his warm actions would make her choose him.

Instead, Sora had simply handed the decision over to fate.

Lukan couldn’t help laughing softly.

She really was something.

But the most shocked person present was Ryan.

He was still staring at the fish-shaped stone.

I was chosen?

He couldn’t believe it.

Of all six people...

Sora had actually selected him.

Ryan had never imagined that he would one day have a date with Sora.

He looked toward her.

Sora was smiling at him.

Ryan’s expression became complicated.

He knew what the Moon God Festival’s third day really meant.

Nobody in the tribe openly explained it.

But after witnessing the festival several times over the years, he had understood.

Usually, when a female and a beastman had mutual feelings but had not yet formed a totem together, they would exchange gifts during the festival.

Then, on the following day, they would spend time together.

A date.

But in reality...

The meaning of the date was far more intimate than simply walking around and talking.

The sounds coming from the tribe during the third day of the Moon God Festival were always noticeably different.

Even without anyone explaining it, a person could understand what was happening.

Ryan’s expression stiffened.

If Sora expected him to become intimate with her tomorrow...

He immediately shook his head.

No.

Absolutely not.

He couldn’t do that.

Ryan instinctively looked at Sora again.

His gaze slowly moved over her figure.

She had lost a considerable amount of excess weight recently.

Her body had become much more proportionate.

Compared with the past, her figure was undeniably better.

Perhaps...

Her figure was acceptable.

Ryan’s gaze slowly moved upward.

Then he looked at her face.