Chapter 29 - 029: Unexpected task
Anaria stared at the bear, waiting for his answer. "Does that mean I’m free?"
The bear remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Yes. The order to keep you imprisoned has been lifted."
Anaria’s eyes immediately brightened. "Finally!"
She almost jumped with excitement. After everything she’d endured here, she could finally leave.
The bear watched her before adding, "Before you leave, however, I’d like to give you a small token of appreciation."
"Appreciation?"
"For helping Ravenfall with its food problem."
Anaria waved a hand. "You don’t have to give me anything. I just want to go home."
"You helped my village. It would be disrespectful to let you leave without giving you something in return."
Anaria hesitated. She didn’t really need anything, but after everything she’d suffered, perhaps she could take advantage of the opportunity. Food, supplies, maybe even some money.
She nodded. "Fine. But make it quick."
"It will be."
Anaria was about to follow him when she suddenly stopped. "Wait. I need to bathe first."
The beastman looked at her in confusion.
"What?" Anaria pointed at herself. "I’ve been stuck in that prison for days. I need to clean myself up."
The bear glanced at a servant. "Take her to the bathing area."
"Yes, Leader."
Anaria followed the servant away, relieved to finally have some privacy. Once inside, she waited until the servant left before calling the System.
"System."
The familiar fox-like presence appeared in her mind.
Anaria suddenly remembered the reward she’d received. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh, right. I got a beauty reward."
[Beauty Care Package ×1.]
"Can I use it now?" Anaria asked.
[Yes.]
Anaria smiled. "Then bring it ."
A warm sensation spread through her body as she used it on her body after that she looked toward her reflection, her skin had become smoother and brighter, and the tiredness on her face seemed to have disappeared.
She touched her cheek. "Whoa.", moving closer to the mirror in the bathing area, she turned her face from side to side. "Not bad. Actually... very good."
For once, Anaria genuinely liked what she saw. She admired herself for a moment before muttering, "Maybe this is why those beastmen haven’t been staring at me like I’m some terrifying creature lately."
A sudden beep interrupted her thoughts.
Anaria’s smile faded. "What now?"
[New Husband Candidate Detected.]
[Name: Kenai | Identity: Village Leader]
[Compatibility: 72%]
Anaria frowned. "Why are you only telling me this now?"
[Earlier interactions were not enough.]
[After Host stayed close to him, cured his previous rut, and compatibility increased, the System can now confirm him as a husband candidate.]
[Third Husband Candidate Confirmed.]
[Match cannot be rejected.]
She lowered her hands and glared at the empty space "You’re joking right???"
[If the host rejects the candidate, compatibility and trust will decrease.]
[If trust falls below the required level, the host will be returned to the villagers.]
[Probability of death: High.]
Anaria stared at the notification. "Why does every punishment you give me end with me dying?"
[Host has survived previous situations.]
"That’s not reassuring!" She began pacing around the bathing area. "So what am I supposed to do?"
[Establish the bonding]
Anaria stopped. "How?"
A new line appeared.
[Required: Pregnancy.]
Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
[Fertility Restoration Elixir activated.]
[Infertility status: Removed.]
She stared at the floating words. "...I’m not infertile anymore?"
[Correct.]
[The village leader’s bloodline is currently at risk of extinction resulting to it going on rut all the time because it hasn’t found a suitable mate ]
[Host has been identified as a high-compatibility mate capable of preserving the bloodline.]
[Primary objective: Establish a bond with the village leader through pregnancy.]
[The village leader’s next rut cycle is approaching. This period presents the highest success rate.]
Anaria’s eyes widened.
"Pregnancy? You’re telling me the bond only works if I get pregnant?"
[Correct.]
She stared at the empty space in disbelief "Are you serious right now? I just wanted to leave this village, not carry a child for a man I barely know."
[This is the most efficient method to cure the ongoing rut and preserve the bloodline.]
Anaria covered her face with both hands and let out a frustrated sound "I wanted freedom... How did I end up being told to get pregnant instead?"
******
Meanwhile, outside the village leader’s residence, Rylan and Kai were still searching. They had spent the morning moving through Ravenfall, asking anyone who might have seen Anaria, but by late afternoon they had found nothing useful.
At the market, they approached another villager. Rylan carefully described her "She’s a small fox beastwoman, fragile and not too presentable. Have you seen her?"
The villager’s eyes widened. "You mean the witch healer?"
Kai’s expression darkened by the word witch "What did you call her?"
The villager stepped back. "I-I didn’t mean"
Kai grabbed him by the throat. "Who are you calling a witch?"
"Kai." Rylan’s voice remained calm but firm. "Let him go."
Kai’s jaw tightened before he finally released the man. The villager stumbled back, rubbing his throat.
Rylan stepped forward. "Where is she?"
The villager swallowed nervously. "The female you’re looking for is being kept inside the village leader’s residence."
Kai’s eyes widened. "Kept?"
The villager nodded quickly. "They say she’s strange. She healed a wounded warrior who should have been seriously injured."
Rylan’s expression changed. "Why would they keep her there?"
"I don’t know," the villager answered. "Some people think she’s dangerous. Others think she’s some kind of witch."
Kai’s fists clenched. "She’s not dangerous."
The villager looked frightened. "I only told you what everyone is saying."
Rylan stepped closer. "Where is the village leader’s residence?"
The villager quickly pointed toward the deeper part of Ravenfall. "That way."
"Thank you."
The villager hurried away.
Kai turned to Rylan. "They imprisoned her."
Rylan’s expression hardened. "And we’ve wasted enough time looking for her, we should hurry up before something happens to her".
They immediately moved through the village, unaware that Anaria was still inside the leader’s residence, sitting in the bathing area and trying to process the fact that the village leader had just become her third husband.
Anaria suddenly stood. "System."
No response.
"System!"
[What is it?]
"What am I supposed to do now?"
[Attend the appreciation ceremony.]
Anaria frowned. "Then what?"
[Establish the bond.]
She sighed. "And after that?"
[The host will know when the time comes.]
Anaria stared at the empty space. "I hate when you talk like that."
[Noted.]
She let out another breath. Earlier she had thought she was finally free to leave Ravenfall. Now she wasn’t so sure. Somewhere along the way, the village leader had stopped being just the man who locked her up. He had become her next husband.