episode_0306

**Chapter 306 – To the Beastkin Nation**

Thump! Crack! Snap!

I showed no mercy.

I kept hitting him again and again, breaking his spirit until he completely submitted.

“Ruan! Stop it! I told you to stop!”

Pernia tried to stop me somehow, but I didn’t even pretend to listen.

“P-P-Please… spare me….”

Only then, when he finally swallowed his pride and rubbed his hands together like a fly, did I let go of the collar I was holding.

Thud!

The large man collapsed weakly to the floor.

“Haa… how refreshing.”

As I wiped the sweat from my forehead, feeling satisfied at the sight, Pernia smacked me on the back.

Smack!

“I told you to stop!”

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you against him too?”

“B-But still, you shouldn’t have done this to him! He’s the Tiger Beastkin Chief’s son.”

“Ah, I see.”

I had expected it since they mentioned an arranged marriage, but I never imagined he’d be the Chief’s son.

Though the cleanup might be a bit troublesome, I don’t particularly regret it.

I don’t have strong feelings like love for Pernia, but since we’ve built up a certain intimacy, I didn’t want to see her shrink back from a guy like him.

When I shrugged indifferently, Pernia sighed.

“Haa… You really have to listen to me next time, okay?”

“That’s not going to happen. How would I know if you’d tell me to do something weird?”

“Don’t nitpick! Don’t cause trouble, okay?”

“Yes, yes.”

At my half-hearted reply, Pernia glared at me, but seeming to think it was useless to say more, she focused on cleaning up the mess.

Soon, guards, having heard the commotion, appeared.

“Miss? What in the….”

“Cus picked a fight with my companions and got beaten. Take him and treat him.”

“Huh? This is screwed up! Aren’t we going to get complaints from the Tiger Beastkin?”

“So make sure to tell him this: Don’t run crying to his daddy after picking a fight so disgracefully. Understood?”

“Ah, understood! I’ll relay that.”

“Good. Then I’ll be going. I’m busy.”

Pernia roughly pushed Cus off onto the guards and quickly left the spot.

I stood beside her and said,

“By the way, Pernia. Is there no restroom here? I feel like I need to have sex.”

“What? Sex? You perverted bastard!”

Pernia, seemingly misunderstanding my words, clutched at her body and gave me a look of contempt.

This woman has no conscience.

‘And she’s the one who’s always asking for it.’

It’s absurd, considering she dragged me to the restaurant’s basement just a few days ago and practically offered herself.

“I wasn’t thinking of doing it with you.”

“It’s because I used my ability just now. I’ll go with Deborah for a bit.”

“What? Was that it? Come here. There’s a suitable place.”

Pernia led us to a restroom attached to a shop.

There, Deborah and I quickly and accurately finished our business and came out.

“Done. Let’s go.”

“Hurry. It’s almost lunchtime. We have to go before mealtime.”

It seems they strictly adhere to meal times.

Indeed, it’s not good for anyone to visit during a meal.

We soon arrived at the Chief’s residence.

He was located in the part corresponding to Fenrir’s head, meaning the center.

How can the head be the center, you ask?

Because Fenrir died coiling up.

Pernia familiarly approached the gatekeeper.

“Orca, long time no see. I’ve come to see my father, could you open the gate?”

“Ah, Young Lady. You’ve returned!”

“Not entirely. I’m here to receive the Bloodline Ritual. It wouldn’t be fair if I was the only one who didn’t receive it.”

“Hmm… I wonder if the Chief-nim will allow it….”

What parent in the world would be pleased to see their daughter, who left home as she pleased, return?

Moreover, her reason for returning isn’t regret or self-reflection, but simply to undergo the Bloodline Ritual.

If it were me, I might have broken her legs, as the rumors say.

However, Pernia was confident.

“This is an old tradition. Even Father can’t act so unreasonably.”

“But he will impose a very difficult trial. Will you be alright?”

“Yes. I have my companions. Just open it, please.”

“Understood. Please be careful.”

Orca bowed his head and stepped aside.

As we entered the gate, a spacious interior unfolded. It was somewhat primitive, yet a unique interior where tradition and culture breathed.

Only after passing through one more door could we finally face the Chief.

“Gasp…!”

Pernia flinched for a moment.

Not just her, but everyone in our group was startled and recoiled for a moment.

The Beastkin Chief, Garcia.

Unlike Pernia, from him, who possessed fur as red as blood, an immense aura was currently pouring forth.

From his vertically slit pupils, an intimidating presence seemed to surge, as if it could cut through anything.

The assumption that he would be weaker than a tiger beastkin just because he was a feline beastkin was merely a misconception.

If it were the Chief, he could shatter someone like Cus, who had just submitted to me, into thousands of pieces in a single move.

“Pernia… You’ve managed to return.”

As Garcia’s mouth opened, the oppressive feeling finally lessened.

Pernia led all her companions and sat modestly before Garcia.

“It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

“What is your business?”

“Seeing that you’re the same as before, you seem to have been well. I’ll be frank. I wish to undergo the Bloodline Ritual.”

The moment he heard those words, Garcia’s eyebrows twitched.

They quickly returned to normal, but it was clear that Pernia’s request had displeased him.

“The Bloodline Ritual, you say… Are you prepared to undergo the trial?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Then I shall bestow upon you a trial. Subdue the ruler of the Northern Forest.”

“What? The ruler? How could I…!”

“Can you not do it?”

At Garcia’s question, Pernia fell silent.

When he said ‘ruler,’ he meant a Lord-class entity, which would certainly be at least Level 300, even if it were the weakest.

For Pernia, who is just shy of Level 200, to achieve that is an outrageous demand.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t say anything, knowing that this was the absolute limit.

‘This is getting troublesome.’

My fault is likely a significant reason behind Garcia setting such a trial.

Since there’s someone right beside her who overpowered Cus, he must have judged that if he set the difficulty to match Pernia, it would be too easy.

The trial became tougher than expected.

“…Father. Are you trying to kill your only daughter?”

“That is for you to decide. Whether you abandon the Bloodline Ritual, or take on the adventure, it is your choice.”

“……I’ll do it. I will. I’ll subdue the ruler and return.”

“You chose well. I will look forward to it. You may go now.”

“Yes, Father.”

Pernia led everyone out of the room.

The moment she stepped onto the ground, she stomped on the floor irritably.

“Are you kidding me? What am I supposed to do?”

Thump! Stomp!

The ground was torn up haphazardly.

Orca, the gatekeeper, could say nothing even as he watched the Chief’s front yard being ruined.

Instead, I stepped forward.

“Pernia. Calm down. We’ll manage somehow.”

“Manage somehow? You don’t understand. The ruler of the Northern Forest is a Drakelord! If it decides to run, even you won’t be able to catch it!”

“Oh? Then we just have to make sure it can’t escape.”

“How? Drakelords are extremely sensitive to magic. Even decent stealth techniques would get discovered, wouldn’t they?”

“That’s why it’s fine. You’re here.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. With your ability, can’t you approach without being detected? We can just tear off its wings immediately. Then we can win easily.”

As I suggested a method, Pernia’s face contorted.

Her expression was more of, ‘Do you really think I haven’t considered something like that?’ rather than self-reproach for not thinking of it herself.

“Are you kidding me? At my level, I can’t pierce a Drakelord’s scales.”

“You won’t know until you try, will you?”

“Someone has already tried the same method! And that person could even use aura. Even so, it only ended with tearing off one wing. I’m guaranteed to fail.”

She bit her lip tightly.

It seemed she was vexed by the fact that she had to reveal her own weakness.

“Then just get stronger.”

“Is that easy?”

“You have to, even if it’s hard. I’ll help you.”

“Would it even make a difference….”

Pernia was negative.

It would be hard for her to believe that she could reach a realm she couldn’t attain despite countless efforts, in such a short time.

So, I threw her a carrot.

-If you reach Level 200, I’ll have sex with you anytime from now on. No conditions.

-What? Do you think I’d fall for something like that?

-So you don’t want it? Just so you know, if you refuse, sex will only be once a week from now on.

“You dirty scoundrel!”

Pernia, perhaps greatly surprised by the undeniable threat, even opened her mouth and shouted.

The companions merely tilted their heads, unsure why she was suddenly acting this way.

“What’s dirty about it? So, are you going to do it or not? If you really can’t, then come back later when you’re stronger. The Chief-nim didn’t set a deadline, did he?”

“Ugh! That’s…”

Pernia had an unapproving look.

She had returned to her hometown somewhat early to aid in the upcoming battle, so postponing it would be putting the cart before the horse.

She soon replied irritably.

“Alright. I’ll do it, won’t I? I’ll do it! But no getting annoyed. If you get mad because you’re frustrated, I’ll immediately drain you.”

“Crazy woman….”

“I’m serious! If you stress me out, I’ll just jump you, so be careful. Got it?”

“…Alright. Shall we go straight to the training room then?”

“No, first we need to decide on a room to stay in. Follow me.”

Pernia led the way with thudding footsteps.

I followed behind her, wondering how I should teach her.

*

After finishing lunch, we came to the training room.

“Come at me.”

“What?”

“I said, come at me. First, I need to know your current level.”

“…Alright. Here I come!”

Pernia took out Sakpung.

Realizing an important fact belatedly, I held out my hand to stop her.

“Ah, by the way, no artifacts. Use a regular weapon.”

“Don’t use it? What kind of rule is that?”

“Right here. First, you need to reduce your reliance on artifacts. That way, you’ll realize what you lack and try to fill it. Right now, you’re just coasting by on artifacts, aren’t you?”

Human development begins from deficiency.

Because it’s uncomfortable, one contemplates how to become more comfortable, squeezes out ideas, and pays the present price for a future reward.

In that sense, artifacts are like loans.

They provide immediate convenience with a lump sum, but gradually they tighten one’s own neck.

Currently, Pernia is so dependent on artifacts that she cannot advance beyond her current level.

Pernia, perhaps sensing this to some extent herself, clicked her tongue and said something crazy.

“Tch! In return, we’re having sex after training, okay?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? How does it come to that?”

“You told me to endure discomfort too! Then you should pay the price. And it’s not like you dislike doing it with me, right? You enjoy it too.”

“…….”

It was true, so I couldn’t refute it.

While I have others for the vagina and anus, the fellatio she gives with that rough tongue is irreplaceable.

In the end, I had no choice but to nod.

“Haa… Alright. I’ll do it after. So come at me quickly!”

“I was going to anyway!”

Clang!

Pernia took out a plain dagger, something she hadn’t used in a long time, and lunged at me.

Thud!

“Cough!?”

And in just 10 seconds, she was sent flying.