Chapter 76: Payback Is Sweet

Serena stumbled backward after Sora accidentally bumped into her. The collision stung a little, but she barely noticed the pain.

Her entire focus was on exposing Sora.

Come on...

Let everyone see those disgusting sores.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Serena grabbed the edge of Sora’s long fur coat and used it to pull herself upright.

With one dramatic tug—

The heavy coat slipped from Sora’s shoulders.

Serena’s eyes lit up with triumph.

Finally!

The entire tribe was about to witness Kaelira covered in festering sores.

Only...

The victorious smile froze on her face.

"..."

"...What?"

Underneath the oversized coat, Sora was wearing a beautifully tailored fur dress that hugged her newly slimming figure perfectly.

Her skin—

Smooth.

Healthy.

Creamy and radiant.

Not a single blister.

Not one sore.

Not even the slightest rash.

The morning sunlight reflected off her fair skin, making it glow so brightly that several females couldn’t help gasping.

Serena’s pupils shrank.

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible!

That medicine should have caused painful sores by now!

The wounds should already be festering!

How can she look... prettier than before?

For a moment, Serena wondered if she’d somehow poisoned the wrong person.

Meanwhile...

Sora looked down at her own exposed shoulder before lifting her head with an innocent expression.

She tilted her head slightly.

"Sister Serena..."

Her voice was full of confusion.

"Why do you look so... disappointed?"

"..."

Serena’s smile instantly stiffened.

Had...

Had Kaelira noticed something?

No.

Impossible.

The medicinal powder had been hidden beneath the animal hide.

No one could have discovered it.

Quickly forcing herself to calm down, Serena laughed awkwardly.

"N-No..."

"I was only surprised."

"You were wearing such a thick coat."

"Oh?"

Sora blinked.

"This coat?"

She picked it up proudly and twirled once.

"I made a few new outfits recently."

"I thought this one looked especially elegant."

"So I wanted everyone to admire it."

The crowd fell silent.

Serena nearly coughed up blood.

You wore a winter coat...

In the middle of summer...

Just to show everyone your fashion?

Has your brain melted?

But Sora wasn’t finished.

With exaggerated confidence, she strutted around the square like a runway model.

One hand rested on her waist.

The other dramatically lifted the edge of her coat.

She even added a playful spin.

"So..."

"What do you all think?"

"Doesn’t it look amazing?"

The older women exchanged amused looks.

"It is rather stylish..."

"It looks expensive."

"I’d die from the heat wearing it..."

"But she’s wearing it beautifully."

Clare immediately nodded enthusiastically.

"I like it!"

Zainabu raised both hands.

"I’ll learn how to make one today!"

Several younger females quickly joined in.

"I want one too!"

"It looks elegant!"

"I never thought long sleeves could look this nice!"

The beastmen standing nearby suddenly wore expressions of horror.

"Oh no..."

One whispered.

"Not another fashion trend..."

His friend looked ready to cry.

"My mate just finished making three leopard dresses."

"If she asks for a fur coat now..."

"I’ll have to hunt another mammoth."

Another husband sighed dramatically.

"I survived Leopard Skirt Season."

"I don’t think I’ll survive Coat Collection."

Several men silently observed a moment of mourning for their future hunting schedules.

Meanwhile...

Serena’s eye twitched.

Was this tribe beyond saving?

They actually thought this looked fashionable?

Before she could recover from the shock...

A strange itch spread across her arm.

"Hm?"

She scratched absentmindedly.

The itch only grew stronger.

Then another appeared on her neck.

Then her shoulder.

Within seconds...

Tiny red patches began spreading across her skin.

"..."

"...What?"

She scratched harder.

The itching intensified.

Soon painful bumps began rising beneath her fingertips.

Then...

Another itch exploded across her face.

Her expression froze.

"No..."

"No, no, no..."

She hurriedly rubbed her cheek.

Her fingers touched swollen skin.

Something soft.

Something wet.

A blister.

Serena’s face instantly turned pale.

"N-No..."

"It can’t be..."

She frantically scratched another spot.

Another bump.

Then another.

Within moments, her beautiful face felt as though hundreds of ants were crawling beneath her skin.

"AHHHHH!!"

A shrill scream echoed throughout the square.

Everyone jumped.

Before anyone could react...

Serena clutched her face with both hands and sprinted toward the nearby pond at full speed.

She ran so fast that one of her shoes flew off halfway there.

Nobody even had time to stop her.

The crowd stared after her in complete confusion.

"..."

"..."

"...What just happened?"

One elderly woman frowned.

"Wasn’t she fine just now?"

Another scratched her head.

"Why did she suddenly scream?"

A young beastman blinked.

"Did... did the coat scare her?"

Someone else whispered,

"Maybe she remembered she’d left stew on the fire."

The entire square burst into confused murmuring.

Only Sora understood exactly what had happened.

She pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing.

Then she sighed dramatically.

"Perhaps..."

"My sister suddenly realized how beautiful my coat is."

"She rushed to the pond to admire herself."

The crowd nodded thoughtfully.

"That makes sense."

"She has been paying a lot of attention to clothes lately."

Clare bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

Zainabu lowered her head, shoulders trembling.

The two girls exchanged one glance...

And instantly understood.

They didn’t know exactly what had happened...

But somehow...

Sora had won again.

After successfully tearing apart the white lotus’s carefully prepared scheme...

Sora lifted her chin proudly.

Mission accomplished.

She turned on her heel and marched back toward her house with the confidence of a victorious general returning from battle.

The moment she disappeared behind her door—

She yanked the heavy fur coat off her body.

"Good grief!"

She fanned herself furiously.

"I nearly cooked alive in that thing!"

"Revenge feels fantastic..."

"But next time I’m choosing a plan that doesn’t involve becoming roasted meat."

She poured herself a large wooden cup of water and drank it in one gulp.

"Much better."

Outside...

Damien stood quietly among the crowd, watching Sora’s retreating figure.

A slow smile curved across his handsome face.

"She’s..."

"Ridiculously entertaining."

His golden eyes gleamed with amusement.

Life had never been particularly exciting.

Until Kaelira appeared.

Now...

Every day brought another surprise.

Maybe...

Forming a beast totem with her wouldn’t be such a terrible idea after all.

Life with someone like Kaelira...

Would never be boring.

Not far away...

Ryan returned from outside the village carrying several bundles of medicinal herbs.

His silver eyes casually swept across Damien.

For only a brief moment...

Their gazes met.

Ryan narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly.

That man...

He’s hiding something.

Damien merely smiled lazily as though he hadn’t noticed the silent scrutiny.

Ryan looked away first.

He wasn’t sure why...

But something about Damien felt dangerous.

Far more dangerous than he appeared.

Back inside her cave...

Sora finally relaxed.

She stretched lazily before collapsing onto a woven mat with an exhausted sigh.

"If I ever pull another stunt like that..."

"I’m inventing air conditioning first."

She had barely rested for a few minutes when someone knocked politely on the wooden door.

Knock.

Knock.

"Is anyone home?"

Sora blinked.

That voice...

She stood and opened the door.

"Lukan?"

The handsome wolf stood outside with his usual calm expression.

"Aren’t you supposed to be hunting today?"

Lukan smiled gently.

"The Chief asked me to bring you over."

"My father?"

Sora looked surprised.

"What happened?"

Lukan shook his head.

"He didn’t say."

"He only asked me to fetch you."

Curiosity flickered across Sora’s face.

"Alright."

"I’ll come."

Martin, the tribal chief, hadn’t gone hunting that morning.

Instead, he sat alone inside the largest house in the village, quietly staring out the doorway as though deep in thought.

This was Sora’s first time entering his home since arriving in this world.

It was enormous.

Large enough for seven or eight people to live comfortably.

Yet only Martin, Lyra, and occasionally Serena stayed there.

Mark already had his own house.

The six beastmen each lived separately as well.

Looking around the spacious home...

Sora couldn’t help thinking,

What a waste of real estate...

The house even had a proper kitchen...

A storage room...

And enough empty space to host an entire family gathering.

As she looked around curiously...

Lyra noticed her.

The older woman’s expression instantly darkened.

She shot Sora a glare sharp enough to cut stone before turning around and walking away without a word.

Sora blinked.

Seriously?

Does glaring at me burn calories or something?

She’s been practicing every day.

She almost wanted to applaud the consistency.

Glancing around again, she noticed Serena wasn’t anywhere inside.

Probably still soaking herself in the pond, Sora thought cheerfully.

Hope the fish appreciate the company.

A light cough interrupted her thoughts.

Martin smiled faintly.

"Kaelira."

"You’re here."

She nodded respectfully.

"You wanted to see me?"

Unlike Lyra...

Sora held no real resentment toward Martin.

He hadn’t been especially affectionate toward the original owner...

But neither had he been cruel.

He had fulfilled his duties as a father and as the tribe’s chief.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Martin gestured toward a smooth stone chair.

"Sit."

Sora sat down obediently.

Lukan quietly took the seat beside her.

Once everyone was settled...

Martin finally spoke.

"The tribe’s salt has completely run out."

He looked at Sora earnestly.

"The last time we spoke..."

"You mentioned the salt source."

He paused.

"Can you take us there?"