Chapter 75: Ugly Sores?

Sora hadn’t forgotten one important detail.

Ryan hated being stared at.

The silver-haired beastman valued his peace almost as much as he valued silence, and she had no intention of testing his patience.

The moment their eyes met, she immediately looked away as though nothing had happened and briskly continued toward her cave.

Behind her, Ryan merely lowered his head again and resumed stitching the fish-skin garment in his hands.

The steady movement of the bone needle continued beneath the moonlight, as graceful and unhurried as its owner.

That night, the tribe was as lively as ever.

From every direction came muffled laughter, affectionate whispers, and the occasional unmistakable sounds of newly reunited mates.

Normally, Sora treated the nightly chorus as background noise—a rather embarrassing lullaby she’d long since grown used to.

Tonight, however...

Sleep refused to come.

She rolled onto one side, then the other.

Then back again.

Her fingers absentmindedly stroked the soft fur blanket beneath her.

Her thoughts, unfortunately, kept circling back to one person.

Damien.

"No..."

She sighed into her pillow.

"The problem isn’t Damien."

"The problem is that ridiculous blind-box system."

If she knew whether he was one of the strategy targets, things would be easy.

Instead...

She was being forced to gamble with her own life.

After another long moment of thinking, Sora finally reached a decision.

"Forget it."

"I’ll just treat him normally."

Not too warm.

Not too cold.

Just...

Normal.

If fate wanted to play games with her, then she’d simply stop trying to predict it.

Time would reveal the answer eventually.

Once she’d organized her thoughts, the knot in her chest loosened considerably.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

She gently patted the fur blanket.

"The real priority isn’t Damien."

"It’s Serena."

That white-lotus actress had already poisoned her once.

Now that Sora had proof...

It was only fair she returned the favor.

Well...

Not poison.

Just a tiny little lesson.

One she would never forget.

Thinking about Serena’s smug face turning pale tomorrow instantly improved Sora’s mood.

She drifted to sleep wearing an innocent smile that absolutely did not belong on someone plotting revenge.

The next morning...

Before dawn had fully broken...

Sora was already awake.

After completing her usual morning run and washing up, she opened the wardrobe she’d made from woven vines.

Instead of choosing one of her fashionable leopard-print outfits...

She deliberately picked the least attractive thing she owned.

A long, thick fur coat with sleeves that reached her wrists.

It wrapped her from neck to ankles.

Completely.

By the time she stepped into the village square...

She looked less like the tribe’s newest fashion icon...

And more like someone preparing for a blizzard.

In the middle of summer.

The breakfast queue instantly fell silent.

"..."

"..."

"..."

One beastman rubbed his eyes.

Another scratched his head.

Finally, the young wolf standing at the very end of the fruit line couldn’t hold it in anymore.

"Why is Kaelira wearing long sleeves?"

He looked toward the blazing morning sun.

"It’s hot enough to roast meat outside."

"Has she lost her mind?"

His question spread through the line like wildfire.

Another beastman stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Wait..."

"What if this is another fashion trend?"

Everyone froze.

That...

Actually sounded possible.

After all...

Just a few days ago Kaelira had worn a strange leopard-print outfit nobody had ever seen before.

The females had laughed at first.

Then...

Within two days...

Half the tribe was wearing copies.

One unlucky beastman immediately looked horrified.

"No!"

"My mate just made me hunt six hides this week!"

"If long-sleeved coats become fashionable too, I’m finished!"

Another nodded gravely.

"I’ve only just recovered from Leopard Skirt Season."

"I can’t survive Winter Collection."

Several nearby husbands silently mourned their future.

Meanwhile, the women had already started whispering among themselves.

"In this weather?"

"Long sleeves?"

"That’s ridiculous."

Another female frowned.

"Didn’t she just make dozens of beautiful outfits?"

"She can’t possibly have nothing else to wear."

Just then...

An older female who already had three cubs smiled knowingly.

"Oh..."

"I understand."

Several younger women looked over curiously.

"You do?"

The older woman laughed.

"In this heat..."

"Covering herself from head to toe..."

"She’s hiding something."

"What?"

A young unmarried female blinked innocently.

"What could she be hiding?"

The older woman leaned closer with a mischievous grin.

"Love bites."

The younger females instantly froze.

"..."

"..."

"..."

One girl’s entire face turned scarlet.

"S-Sister!"

The older woman chuckled.

"After spending the night with several handsome beastmen..."

"It’s perfectly normal."

Another married woman nodded in complete agreement.

"Exactly."

"Young people have energy."

The unmarried girls immediately covered their burning faces.

"T-That’s..."

"So shameless..."

One elder laughed loudly.

"Shameless?"

"That’s called being happily married."

The conversation exploded.

Soon...

Every pair of female eyes landed on Sora.

Some looked envious.

Others looked jealous.

Many simply sighed.

Seriously...

How unfair.

Kaelira wasn’t even the prettiest female in the tribe.

So why...

Why had fate blessed her with six absurdly handsome beastmen?

Meanwhile...

Standing quietly within the crowd...

Serena listened to every word.

The corners of her lips slowly curled upward.

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Love bites?

How laughable.

Only she knew the truth.

That long coat wasn’t hiding romance.

It was hiding disaster.

By now...

Those poisonous herbs should have already done their job.

Underneath those sleeves...

Kaelira’s skin was probably covered in ugly sores.

Disgusting blisters.

Perhaps even festering wounds.

The thought alone filled Serena with delight.

"It serves you right."

She sneered inwardly.

"Let’s see how those handsome beastmen react once they see your disgusting body."

She almost laughed aloud.

The only disappointment...

Was that only Lukan happened to be nearby this morning.

Lucas, Xavier, Ace, Ryan, and Damien weren’t present.

Otherwise...

They could’ve witnessed Kaelira’s hideous appearance with their own eyes.

Still...

It didn’t matter.

The sores wouldn’t disappear overnight.

Sooner or later...

Everyone would see.

Including them.

Satisfied with her own imagination, Serena smoothed her expression into one of gentle concern before walking toward Sora.

Her voice was as soft and caring as ever.

"Kaelira?"

"Why are you wearing such a heavy coat?"

"Are you feeling unwell?"

The moment she heard those syrupy words...

Sora lowered her eyes to hide the dangerous smile threatening to escape.

Finally...

The fish had taken the bait.

She instantly slipped into character.

Her shoulders trembled ever so slightly.

She clutched the collar of her coat tightly with both hands, as though terrified someone might see beneath it.

"N-No..."

"I’m fine."

As she spoke, she subtly took two small steps backward.

Watching Kaelira guard her clothes so desperately...

Serena’s excitement nearly burst through her carefully maintained smile.

She’s hiding it.

There really are sores underneath.

Pretending to be worried, Serena stepped forward again.

"Don’t move."

"Let me check your temperature."

She reached out with practiced gentleness and began adjusting Sora’s collar.

Her fingertips deliberately tugged downward.

Sora reacted immediately, clutching the coat even tighter.

"N-No!"

"I’m really alright!"

Seeing such a panicked response...

Serena almost couldn’t contain her joy.

She’s definitely covered in ugly wounds.

Otherwise why would she panic like this?

She stretched out a hand again.

"You’re acting strangely."

"Let me feel your forehead."

Her palm lightly touched Sora’s forehead.

At the same time...

Her other hand "accidentally" hooked the edge of the coat.

"Oh!"

"My hand slipped!"

She gave the fabric another subtle tug.

At that exact moment...

Sora stumbled forward as if she’d lost her balance.

"Oh!"

The two women collided.

"Ouch!"

Serena winced dramatically.

Sora hurriedly reached out to steady her.

"I’m so sorry!"

"Are you alright, Serena?"

Serena barely heard her apology.

Her attention was completely fixed on the coat.

This was her chance.

As she pretended to regain her footing...

She firmly grabbed the loose edge of Sora’s outer robe.

Then...

With one swift pull—

The heavy coat slid gracefully from Sora’s shoulders.

Serena’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Finally.

The entire tribe was about to witness Kaelira’s "hideous" body.

The triumphant smile on her lips grew wider...

Certain that in the next heartbeat...

Kaelira would become the biggest laughingstock in the entire tribe.