"What would you like to have first?" The fox asked as he made his way ahead. His legs were long and he moved fast, so Ayra was struggling to catch up.

"Anything," she brushed off the question with the reply as she followed. Her eyes caught sight of some men brutally cutting off the head of a huge bull before them. One they had probably caught for a meal. She watched as their weapons went through its neck, felling it as blood spilled all over them. They were casually about it, but Ayra couldn’t help but shiver.

[Ding!]

[Mate Stat]

[Fox Beastman]

[Affection Level: 0%]

Ayra blinked at the system. There were no signs of increment in his affection stats at all. So it made no sense that he suddenly wanted to treat her to a meal and accept their cub. Ayra grew suspicious. What tricks was he trying to play now?

[New System Task]

[Host - Increase Ash’s affection level by 5%]

[Reward: Soap and Body Wash for a Beauty bath and beauty stat improvement!]

Ayra sighed. She guessed this would become her fate from now henceforth. But perhaps as long as she could get beauty kits like these, she could manage.

But how the hell was she supposed to increase his affection level when she didn’t even know what was running through this devil’s mind?!

---

Ash arrived at a side of the woods after a brief walk. The strong scent of alcohol attacked Ayra’s nose as she brushed her hands against her face.

Before them were beastmen sitting down on their rocks and woods, alcohol in containers and jars before them. These men were loud with their talks and laughs while they got drunk on what they had.

But as soon as Ayra and Ash came in, they paused and stared at them.

"That’s the vicious female.. what’s she doing here?" one murmured loud enough for everyone to hear.

"She’s still alive?"

"And why does she look rather... Different..?"

"Yes. Maybe I’m too drunk or seeing things, but why does the female look more presentable by face? She looks better."

While these drunk men admired while questioning the strange face of this female, another quickly reminded them. "This vicious female is known for being a heavy drinker. She drinks endless rounds and gets wasted without care. So is she here to snatch the best wines from us?"

They panicked. "Makes sense. If she dares, I swear I’ll cut off her head!"

At that moment, it clicked to Ayra. The original host was a drunkard. She loved drinking, getting drunk and forgetting about logic while doing the dumbest things ever. And seeing that Ash brought her here, it made sense that he wanted to get her drunk with something the original host could never refuse—alcohol.

Ayra scoffed as she thought. "He wants to make me talk while drunk?"

Just then, the big beastman rushed out from his little wooden shop to meet Ash. He was a chubby looking middle aged man with long pig ears and a huge pig nose. He cast his shocked eyes on Ayra as soon as he arrived but refrained from speaking about her.

He smiled at Ash. "How may I help you, My Lord? We have all the best wine in stock again! All to your liking! Which would you like today?"

At that moment, Ash smiled as he turned to Ayra. "You’ve always loved wine, right? So I’ve brought you here for some. It’s said that it’s always best to enjoy some good wine before a solid meal," he smiled. "And this place has all the best possible wines you could ever think of. So make your choice!"

Ayra hesitated while she stared at the men. Their cold eyes on her. But she kept her calm as she smiled at Ash. "Sorry, but I don’t think I can have it at all."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone was shocked. How was this possible? The few times this vicious female made her way to their tribe, she was always drinking and getting drunk! She would take any wine she saw around here and would drink.

But this female was saying she didn’t want any?! They couldn’t believe their ears at all.

"What?" Ash was shocked but smiled. "What do you mean?"

Ayra smiled. "I don’t take alcohols anymore..." She smiled at him while she gently ran a hand through her stomach. "I mean, I’m bearing the lord’s cub. How could I possibly be careless and get drunk?"

"..."

Everyone stared in shock.

"Cub?" The drunkards stared at each other confused. "What’s she talking about?"

"She’s bearing the lord’s cub?"

"Is she insane or am I insane for hearing things?!"

Ash was struggling to keep a smile, especially as Ayra leaned closer to him with a smile. "So let’s not harm our little one now, okay?"

"..." The pig was simply shocked.

Ash cleared his throat and stepped backwards. He still couldn’t believe that this didn’t work! He was betting on this because the female he recalled could never reject alcohol.

But now she didn’t want it because of the cub? He was surprised.. when did this F-rank female get so sensible like this?

But Lord Ash was quick to adapt. He casually smiled with a nod as he said, "Okay. Is that so? No problem then. Let’s go and eat then." He had a plan B.

Ayra smiled. "Okay." She had to find a way to increase his affection level if she wanted those rewards for her next bath. So as she followed Ash out, she found herself plotting ways to make his affection level increase.

And while they left, the pig immediately sat down amongst the other drunkards and proceeded with their gossip.

"Did you also hear that?! The female is pregnant with Lord Ash’s cub?!"

"I thought I was hearing things! Turns out we all heard it together! It means I’m not even fully drunk yet because I also heard them say that she’s pregnant for all the tribe leaders at once!"

"Exactly! I heard that! That she is bearing all their cubs at once for a year now."

"Exactly! I heard that too!" They all chorused as the pig stared at them in confusion.

"Huh?"