After finishing the meal, Sora returned to the tribe.
Before she could enter her house, she noticed Serena glancing toward it from time to time. A faint smile appeared on Sora’s lips. She patiently waited for the fish to arrive, already planning a special dish in her mind—a hearty stew for a certain white lotus.
By the time Sora returned indoors, night had fallen. The moon hung above the treetops, casting pale silver light across the settlement. Though bright enough to see by, it was already considered late in this primitive world.
The beastmen and females had finished dinner and begun their nightly routines. Seeing that Sora had successfully built her own house, several others were inspired to start building shelters as well. Unfortunately, none possessed the strength and efficiency of Xavier and Lucas, so progress was much slower.
As darkness deepened, the usual scramble for sleeping spots began. The best locations were limited, and many beastmen and females hurried into the nearby forest to claim them. Only a handful of elders and youngsters remained within the settlement.
Meanwhile, Serena watched Sora enter her house and smiled to herself.
After tonight, Sora would once again become the tribe’s laughingstock.
The only thing left was to lure Lukan into Sora’s house.
Originally, Serena had hoped to use Ace, but he had proven impossible to manipulate. Still, if a scandal involved Lukan, the result would be nearly as satisfying.
With that thought, Serena headed toward the path Lukan usually took after hunting.
As expected, before long, Lukan appeared carrying the day’s spoils.
Serena immediately stepped forward.
"Lukan, Kaelira was looking for you."
Lukan paused.
"Looking for me? What for?"
He was genuinely surprised. Sora hadn’t sought him out in a very long time. The last time had been before she jumped into the river to wash her beast-skin skirt.
"She said she made something for you to eat and asked you to come get it."
A trace of confusion flashed through Lukan’s eyes.
Normally, Sora delivered things directly to him. She never asked him to fetch them himself.
Still, perhaps she wanted to discuss something.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Thank you. I’ll go now."
Watching him leave, Serena’s smile widened.
Only after he had walked a considerable distance did she quietly follow behind.
Inside the house, Sora sat beside the fire, clutching a blanket and yawning repeatedly.
How much longer was Serena going to take?
She had been waiting so long she felt as though mushrooms might start growing on her.
Bored out of her mind, she stared blankly into the flames.
Finally, the door opened.
The moment the figure stepped inside, Sora sprang to her feet, grabbed his arm, pulled him into the room, and quickly shut the door.
Lukan blinked in surprise.
Before he could speak, Sora pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh."
Seeing her serious expression, he remained silent.
Then Sora stepped closer and lightly placed a hand on him.
In a low voice, she whispered,
"Cooperate with me. I’m trying to catch whoever tampered with my blanket earlier."
She loosely rested a hand against Lukan’s waist and leaned closer, deliberately lowering her voice.
"It’s so hot, Lukan. Help me..."
Outside the house, Serena crouched beneath the window and peered through a narrow gap.
The moment she saw Sora clinging to Lukan and heard those suggestive words, her eyes lit up.
There was no need to investigate further.
The charm-fruit trap had obviously worked.
A triumphant smile spread across her face.
Certain that her plan had succeeded perfectly, she quietly slipped away.
Inside, however, Sora’s lips curled with disdain.
That’s it?
Too easy.
Because Lukan stood with his back to the window, he couldn’t see Serena leave.
However, his keen wolf senses picked up every faint footstep retreating into the distance.
So that was the culprit Sora had mentioned.
He looked down at her thoughtfully.
She really had become smarter.
Noticing his gaze, Sora immediately stepped back and raised both hands in surrender.
"I didn’t do anything."
"I’m just acting."
"Please keep cooperating with me later."
Lukan remained silent.
His eyes slowly swept across the room.
Outside, the sounds of the tribe settling in for the night echoed through the darkness.
Inside the small house, the atmosphere suddenly felt strangely intimate.
Realizing this, Sora inwardly groaned.
She could only hope Serena would spread the rumor quickly so this awkward performance could finally end.
Meanwhile, Serena rushed toward the busiest part of the settlement.
Several older and younger females were gathered near the tribe entrance, chatting idly.
The moment they saw Serena approaching with a flustered expression, one of the older women stood.
"Serena, what’s wrong?"
"You don’t look well."
Serena hesitated, appearing conflicted.
The other females quickly gathered around her.
"It’s alright."
"Take your time."
"We’re listening."
Only then did Serena lower her head and speak softly.
"It’s not me..."
"It’s Kaelira."
The women immediately became curious.
"What happened to Kaelira?"
Serena bit her lip before answering.
"I think... she used that thing again."
"That thing?"
Several younger females looked confused.
The older women, however, immediately understood.
"The charm fruit?"
Serena nodded shyly.
"And... she even sent Lukan over."
The older female laughed.
"You’re worrying too much."
"Didn’t Kaelira already have that incident with Ace?"
"If something happens between her and Lukan, that’s hardly surprising."
"You young girls just don’t understand these things yet."
The crowd instantly became animated, exactly as Serena had hoped. Little did they know that Sora had already anticipated every step of her scheme.
Upon hearing the older female’s words, Serena’s expression stiffened for a brief moment.
Lowering her eyes, she added softly,
"But... I think I also heard something about being shameless."
The younger females immediately erupted.
"Kaelira is too shameless!"
"Trying to climb into someone’s bed again?"
"She’s ruining the reputation of all female beastfolk!"
"Exactly!"
"Before things get worse, we should stop her."
"If it’s really true, she needs to be taught a lesson."
The older female nodded firmly.
"Let’s go see for ourselves."
A crowd quickly gathered.
Following behind them, Serena hid a satisfied smile.
Kaelira, just wait to be humiliated.
Inside the house, Sora was already feeling awkward.
While waiting, she had drifted into thoughts about tomorrow’s breakfast when Lukan’s cold voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Someone’s coming."
A moment later, he frowned.
"More than one."
Sora chuckled.
Of course Serena wouldn’t come alone.
She had worked so hard to create this spectacle; naturally she’d want an audience.
Sora stepped closer and casually draped a vine across Lukan’s shoulders as if taking measurements.
Their distance instantly shrank.
Lukan stiffened slightly.
Although uncomfortable, he restrained himself after realizing she was continuing her act.
What confused him was why she was using a vine.
Meanwhile, Sora secretly measured his proportions and couldn’t help admiring them.
What an unfair physique.
Broad shoulders.
Long legs.
Perfect proportions.
Even by modern standards, he looked like a walking model.
Leaning closer, she deliberately raised her voice.
"Lukan, just stand still and let me get a little closer."
Lukan immediately stepped back.
"What exactly are you—"
Before he could finish—
Bang!
The door flew open.
"Kaelira! Do you have no shame?"
A young female stormed inside.
Sora blinked in confusion.
"What happened?"
Seeing her innocent expression only made the young female angrier.
The older female stepped forward and scolded,
"Did you use charm fruit again to seduce him?"
"Charm fruit?"
"Seduce?"
Sora looked genuinely puzzled.
"Are you talking about me?"
"Stop pretending!"
Another female pointed accusingly.
"Serena saw you clinging to Lukan!"
The young female beside her glared.
She had always admired Lukan and naturally couldn’t tolerate seeing Sora near him.
"Sister, how can you say I was seducing him?"
Sora raised the vine in her hand.
"I was measuring Lukan so I could make him clothes."
The entire room fell silent.
"Making clothes?"
Everyone stared.
Even Lukan looked surprised.
One female quickly asked,
"If you’re making clothes, then why did you say you wanted to get closer?"
Sora immediately looked wronged.
"I’m shorter than Lukan."
"How else was I supposed to measure him?"
Then she tilted her head.
"But how did you know I said that?"
Her eyes widened.
"Were you eavesdropping on us?"
The accusation struck like an arrow.
The older female instantly became embarrassed.
She turned and glared at Serena.
"Serena!"
"You dragged us here without understanding the situation?"
Serena was equally stunned.
Nothing had happened.
How was that possible?
She bit her lip, intending to put on a pitiful expression.
But Sora moved first.
"Sister..."
Sora’s voice trembled.
"Why would you accuse me and bring so many people to watch me?"
"Do you hate me?"
"No!"
Serena immediately denied it.
"You’ve always treated me well."
Sora lowered her gaze.
"Then is it because of Lukan?"
"Do you like him?"
"Is that why you’re doing this?"
The crowd instantly fell silent.
Serena froze.
Not only had she failed to embarrass Kaelira—
Now everyone was staring at her.
A trace of panic flashed across her face.
"Kaelira, how can you say that?"
"I was only worried about you."
"I was afraid you’d make a mistake again."
"A misunderstanding?"
Sora blinked innocently.
"I thought you were always paying attention to Lukan."
The words struck Serena directly.
"So you knew he was in my house?"
The surrounding females immediately exchanged suspicious looks.
That was true.
How had Serena known Lukan was there?
Serena’s heart skipped a beat.
"I... I heard some sounds."
"Oh."
Sora nodded slowly.
"So because you heard a few words, you assumed I was doing something bad?"
Her voice became softer.
"So in your heart..."
"I’m really that kind of person?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Normally, nobody would have cared.
After all, Kaelira’s reputation in the tribe had never been good.
But Serena was different.
She had spent years cultivating the image of a kind, gentle, understanding older sister.
One mistake could damage everything.
Now, under everyone’s gaze, her previous confidence vanished.