Ch.147Remaking the NPC (2)

In the game, the beast-folk village felt like a repair shop in the “Spirit Realm of Siltra.”

The elven village was the main base, while the beast-folk village was more of a place you’d stop by for weapon repairs when you were out working. You know what I mean?

And that was true in reality as well.

The quaint little forest village was home to various beast-folk with animal ears living closely together…

“Hey! Human brother, wanna arm wrestle with me?!”

“No!! Leave that weakling alone! Try a strength contest with me!!!”

“Forget that stupid dog and the ignorant monkey, how about taking me on? They call me the grizzly of this village…”

“Kekeke! Look who’s talking, you lazy bear.”

“Haha. I’ll, uh, make time later.”

“Huh?!”

“What kind of man backs down when he’s supposed to be Miho’s husband!!”

“Does Miho have no taste in men?”

They’re crowding around me so much it’s actually exhausting!!

Every beast-folk I meet sniffs at me or challenges me to a strength contest, calling me Miho’s husband. It’s honestly really annoying!!!

“Ah!! The gentlemen are busy!! Move aside! Move!”

“Kyeng?!”

“Uh, eek?!”

“Ch-Chikuyo! This is Miho’s husband, our village’s cutie!! Th-this much is…!!”

“He’s not her husband yet!! How many times do I have to say it?! Shoo, shoo!! Get away!”

As I stood there with an awkward smile, unable to properly escape, Chikuyo came over and shooed the people away like flies.

“Sorry. They’re not usually this bad, but I guess everyone’s excited because Miho has returned after almost two years.”

“It’s fine. They seem like good people. And watching that, I can understand why.”

“……”

As I spoke and turned my head, Chikuyo followed my gaze and smiled bitterly without saying anything.

We had entered the village together, but Miho had been completely separated from us by the female beast-folk who had suddenly gathered around her.

“My, my, look at her. Her fur is so glossy!”

“And her tail! Look!! Her tail is much more vigorous than before! Is your husband good to you at night?!”

“Well, he certainly looks much stronger than my husband. Must be something in bed too, huh? Where did you find such a male?”

“Um, excuse me!! Hyat?! D-don’t grab my tail…!!! Ahng?! Not the ears!! Kyahung?!!”

“My goodness, look at her. I knew Chikuyo touched you a lot before, but your chest has gotten bigger?”

“At least you won’t struggle with milk production when you have a baby. I had such a hard time because my chest was too small.”

“But if white tiger Miho marries that human, what kind of child will they have?”

“Well, since he’s just a normal human. Won’t the child just be born as a normal tiger?”

“A-auntie!! Jack and I aren’t in that kind of relationship yet!! D-don’t squeeze my chest!! I’m not producing milk yet!!!”

To be honest, I had always thought Chikuyo was the reason Miho became a pervert.

If it had been some unknown beast-folk instead of Chikuyo, who was a party-eligible NPC, I might have confronted them about warping a child’s boundaries. But…

‘…Good thing that’s not the case. These beast-folk seem to be like this by default. I almost accumulated bad karma for nothing.’

The female beast-folk, especially the older women, were aggressively touching Miho’s bottom, stroking her hair, and caressing her ears while trying to pair her with me.

Miho couldn’t firmly push them away and was spinning around with a flushed face.

Is this really okay? Isn’t this happening because of Miho’s condition?

“It’s not because of her condition. Beast-folk are naturally affectionate with each other. And most people don’t know about Miho’s condition.”

“Wait. So…”

“Yes, everyone just accepted Miho as an extremely shy child. You know what happens after three days of contact, right? But she happened to be a tiger, from the beast family. And not just any tiger, but a white tiger, said to be the strongest. Yet she was living ‘timidly’ and cutely. That made her even more adorable. So when our Miho said she was leaving the village to go outside, many more people were worried.”

Chikuyo’s expression momentarily turned sad as she emphasized the word “timidly.”

Right, I know. Miho isn’t a timid person. She just couldn’t help but act timid because of her crazy condition.

Even now, I can clearly see that despite saying she dislikes it, she’s not pushing away the women welcoming her. Instead, she’s moving closer, rubbing bodies and cheeks with them.

…Hmm.

“Sigh. Can’t be helped. Miho seems busy, Chikuyo.”

“Ah, yes. Right, let’s leave Miho as she is and go to the mar…”

*Ears perk up!!*

*Startled!!*

Just as we were about to move on, both Chikuyo and I reacted simultaneously.

I was startled by a sudden presence behind me that had evaded even a veteran ranger’s detection. Chikuyo moved like a cat that had just discovered a cucumber behind it.

As we both swung our arms behind us…

*Swish*

“Gah?!!”

“Kyaang?!!♡”

Chikuyo and I both let out strange screams. What the hell?!!!

“Hohoho. Nice buttocks indeed. A male’s strong loins come from elastic buttocks, yes, yes.”

“W-what the hell? Who is this old woman?!”

“Ah!! E-Elder!!!”

“Hohoho, it’s been a while, Chikuyo. I’m glad to see you still have childbearing hips.”

The old woman had approached us without making a sound and stroked our buttocks. The elder, whose beast type I couldn’t identify, just smiled gently despite my outburst.

But wait, she easily avoided my hand just now? What the hell?!

“Augh!! I told you not to do that!! I’m already twenty-two!!”

“Hohoho, to me, people in their 20s are still babies. But since such babies have brought their potential husbands, I came out.”

Saying that, the old woman reached out to me again, and this time I twisted my body to avoid her hand…

*Swish*

“?!!”

“Hmm, a well-trained body indeed. With this, night activities should be possible at least six times…”

“Ugh?! P-please let go?!!”

I definitely dodged. I twisted my body to completely avoid contact, yet somehow the old woman’s hand was stroking my chest and stomach.

I backed away with a creeping sensation and immediately checked my status window.

[-Profession: Martial Artist- Level: 319]

What?

I paused as I saw the status window that appeared before my eyes, and looked back at the old woman, and…

“As expected. Just as the chief said, you can see it, can’t you?”

“…Pardon?”

My eyes met with the old woman who had been chuckling until just now. Wait, what did she just say?

“W-wait, what are you talk—”

“Elder?! What are you saying…!!”

“No, Chikuyo. You don’t need to know yet. More importantly…”

The old woman, her expression back to normal, turned her head away as if ignoring our words and looked at Miho, who was still being nuzzled from all sides in the distance.

No, just now… what was that about? Was she talking about the status window? No way!! Can she see it too?!!

I couldn’t organize my suddenly dizzy thoughts and just blankly watched the actions of the woman called the elder, who cleared her throat with a “hmm-hmm.”

Wait, I don’t know what’s going on, but first let me get back to what we were talking about…!!

“Ah!! This male is truly excellent!!! His buttocks are more elastic than a horse beast-folk’s!! And his chest is so firm, almost like a gorilla beast-folk! My, my! It makes my mouth water! Tonight, with this male…!!”

*BANG!!!*

The first to react to the old woman’s sudden incomprehensible words wasn’t me in my bewilderment, nor was it Chikuyo who was covering her buttocks with her tail.

“No!!! Even if you’re the elder, you can’t have Jack!! Grrrr!!!”

Miho, who had been surrounded by female beast-folk far away, somehow squeezed through them in an instant and was now growling on all fours in front of me.

…Wait, Miho’s movement just now was faster than usual too? What is going on…

“Hohoho, Miho. It’s been a while?”

“Grrrng! E-Elder, are you really after Jack…!!”

“Won’t you greet me properly?”

“…Hello.”

Though still on all fours, Miho’s tail, which had been standing straight up, lowered a bit as she verbally greeted the old woman while still showing some hostility.

Seriously, what is happening right now…?

“Well, now that everyone who needs to be here is here, you three follow me. The rest of you, disperse now. The sun is high; don’t you have work to do?”

“Yes~”

After dismissing all the female beast-folk, the elder started walking ahead of us, indicating we should follow, and I looked at Chikuyo in confusion.

No. What is this situation?

“…Let’s go. It seems the chief knew you were coming.”

“What? What does that mean?”

“……”

Both Chikuyo and Miho closed their mouths at my question.

No. They knew I was coming? Did they know by scent like Chikuyo? Wait, even if that’s the case, I’m still human?

The elder comes out to escort a human to the chief? I was planning to meet them anyway, but… The incomprehensible situation continued, and my Windows 98 brain was making cooling fan noises as it approached a crash.

No. What is this? What’s going on?!!

“Did you hear that?”

“Yeah, I heard it. He could easily go 5-6 rounds at night, they said.”

“My husband can’t get it up these days, so I’m struggling. Maybe if I talk to Miho, I could also…”

“Is his butt really that elastic? I want to touch it too.”

“The elder even mentioned horse beast-folk, so his lower body must be…”

…As I was frantically trying to process everything, the dispersing female beast-folk passed by us, dropping these comments, and my brain finally crashed.

Crazy beast-folk. Damn it, they won’t even give me time to think properly.

“…Ahem. Ahem. Jack?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“D-don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

…Pfft. Miho protecting me. Maybe someday when her level increases more, but right now, there’s truly an insurmountable wall between us.

Nevertheless, seeing her golden eyes looking at me seriously as she spoke, I couldn’t help but smile.

“…Alright, got it. That’s reassuring.”

“Come on, both of you follow me. Let’s go.”

Somehow Miho positioned herself behind me, and Chikuyo in front, as if guarding me, and we began following the elder.

And my heart was racing madly with the feeling that something I hadn’t anticipated was about to happen.

Yes. It definitely wasn’t racing because the female beast-folk were whispering with gleaming eyes, “Did you see him smile just now?”

…Probably not.