V2 Chapter 183

“This is…?!”

Cornelia’s eyes widened in shock.

“Are, are you going to give them to us…?”

Harley bit her lips, suddenly realizing what Cian meant after seeing him taking out such a pile of food. Though she finds it hard to believe, knowing that everything has a price, but at this moment, even if it had, they are desperate.

Whatever Cian wanted, he would surely get it from them, especially after presenting suck precious things.

She turned at him, somewhat hopeful.

Cian chuckled seeing their drooling expressions.

“…you can have it, of course,” he said.

He has more than enough monster corpses to feed this village for a month or so without a problem.

When he said so, to his amazement, led Harley, even Cornelia and all the people in the village started prostrating in front of him, all while saying their heartfelt thanks and gratitude. They started kneeling in reverence, their expression full of excitement and joy.

Cian scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed. He was never the type to do something like this.

In the past, pretending to be a Philanthropist was always done because there is a need to, and there is a benefit to reap. This perhaps was the first time, he had done it without clear ulterior motives behind. Well, at the very least, not something out of his list of plans.

I guess sometimes… improvising is not bad~

After saying their thanks to Cian, perhaps they were really desperate, they didn’t hesitate for long and started to carry and dismember the corpses.

… … …

Lighting up a bonfire in the middle of the destroyed village, children and the elderly, even the Harpies were filled with excited smiles on their faces, running around the fire.

Judging from their faces and elated expressions, Cian could easily see that they haven’t had such a large amount of food for a long time.

As usual, he collected the hearts, and after, the people split the corpses between each other, starting a bonfire party.

Some dance, while some started cooking on the fire, grilling meat.

Perhaps, they were trying to forget their grave situation for a while, and indulge themselves in this dream-like day.

The dance was not any beautiful like those from the castle, but it was still fun to watch. Placing both of their hands on their hips, then putting the right arm through the partner’s left arm, the Beastmen formed two rings around the bonfire.

They were accompaniment by the sounds of horns and began to move clockwise, with each step, they would throw the other foot to kick forward while shouting “Ha!” The other beastmen were clapping with their hands in the pace of all the dancer’s footsteps, accompanying each round with faster applause.

The extremely fast rhythm moved the masses; they one after another reached out with their own hands to clap in accordance.

[[Awareness] ability has been successfully plundered!]

[[Night Eyes] ability has been successfully plundered!]

[[Silent Step] ability has been successfully plundered!]

While eating his food, Cian watched them from the large tree just beside the house that he was led to by Harley and Cornelia. Apparently, it had been given to him as a temporary resident in his stay in this village. Well, Cian didn’t refuse and accept it without a problem.

Behind him, Leona was quietly sleeping. And beside him was the Harpy Roma who seemed to have become extremely attached to him, lying on his lap. Since she was quite a beauty, Cian didn’t really care about it and even stroke her hair as she slept.

After filling her stomach with the food coming from his storage rings, already cooked and dressed with spices, she seemed very satisfied that she immediately got sleepy.

“Thank you very much,”

Cian turned towards the voice and saw Harley and Cornelia walking towards him with a smile.

“You don’t know how valuable food to us. Once again, thank you very much, Sir Cian,”

Harley once again bowed, followed by Cornelia.

“Though, I hope my daughter is not disturbing you or anything,”

Cornelia said with a wry smile as she stared at Roma happily while using Cian’s lap as a pillow.

“No, it’s nothing… in fact, she looks quite cute,”

Cian answered with a faint smile.

“If that’s what you really feel, then I would surely be happy about it.”

“…still, your beastman tribe and the Harpie—ah, no, Varkas, rather, you’re quite close with each other. I heard that Varkas tend to be a race that dislikes associating with other races,” he smiled and suddenly patted the spot beside him as if inviting his sweetheart to sit with him.

It was somewhat shameless, but what’s strange was that Harley actually didn’t say anything and just sat down gracefully beside him. Even Cornelia sat at the other side of him—now, with him as the center, Harley sat at the right while Cornelia sat at his left side.

Their actions natural and seemed not out of place.

Cian with his usual indifferent smile, while the other two with graceful and charming smiles, seemed to make the scene seemed quite picturesque.

“Well, that is because our tribes have always been with each other since a long time ago. Lending each other hands when it’s necessary…”

Harley replied as she accepted Cian’s offered grilled meat. Biting into it, she savored the almost unfamiliar good taste of spices and seasonings.

This is different from the Tribe’s cooking, as this was what Cian personally did, showering it with seasonings and spices that were uncommon in this place, to make it even more delicious.

Harley and Cornelia both happily devoured the meat in their hands. Spices in this place are something extremely valuable…much valuable than gold.

“…aside from that, I and Harley married the same husband, the former Patriarch of the Bearman tribe,”

Cornelia said.

“With our union, both of our tribes were connected with each other.”

Looking at her using the claws attached to her wings was somewhat adorable to watch.

“...judging from your tone, is not a pleasant union? A political marriage?” he asked.

“Powitikal?”

“You know something like union out of convenience, or purpose, not out of love.”

“Oh, if that’s what you mean… then perhaps, that’s what it was. I don’t love him particularly nor do I dislike him either. In the first place, Love in this land is something found only in dreams and children stories. Living here, you will understand after you got older, that such a thing is a luxury you can do without…”

Cornelia muttered with a wry smile.

“Well, in the first place, since I was…rather special, in our tribe, I was chosen to be the Bearman’s Patriarch’s mate ever since I became aware. So, love is the farthest thing away from me…”

Harley smiled bitterly as she listened to Cornelia’s mumbling.

This was her husband she was talking, after all…

However, she has nothing to say. Since what Cornelia said was true. In this day and age, there is no such thing as true love.

You’re married because that’s what you are told, and was convenient.

That’s all.

This is the way of the world…

“…hm, well, if that’s what makes you happy, it doesn’t really matter. There are those who chose the one they love or the thing they wanted, still, in the end, they were living a pitiful life. Sometimes, it’s better to let someone dictates rather than fate because it’s convenient…”

Cian smiled indifferently.

“However, of course, not like I’m saying that we should let someone dictates our lives. I’m just saying it because of convenience. Anyway, I, myself, am one of those types who wanted to go against it… typical types who didn’t like their lives following the written script handed to them by someone else,” he regarded them with a grin, which struck the two women speechless.

“… …”

“I believe it’s more fun, that way~”

Cian let out a laugh, but his expression was full of confidence and carefree aura that it dazzled the two women.

“You really are hard to understand,”

Harley smiled bitterly.

Cian chuckled in amusement of her words.

“…Let’s change the topic. Even if you are able to have your fill today, that doesn’t change anything. It will only delay the inevitable,”

Even just small-scale parties like this, laughing while filling their tummies, it was already an act that could be described as an extravagant gesture for them. Cian who was clear about their impending crisis gave a sigh with a bitter smile. Hence, he doesn’t really want to say anything else that might hurt hearts. However, this is not something one can easily ignore.

“We understand that. However, we can only endure and persevere,”

Harley shook her head.

“…there should be other villages and tribes that might take you in,”

Cornelia and Harley smiled bitterly.

“Indeed, perhaps there will be. However, we will just be reduced into slaves…I’d rather die than become slaves by those animals…” Harley sighs.

Cornelia nodded her head.

“We, Varkas can leave and find another lair, but that can only be the last resort. We had already been with the Sorgon Tribe for so many years, and leaving them so simply is something we cannot do. The Sordan Tribe wouldn’t forget our friends, even in the end.” she smiled faintly, causing even Cian to be somewhat touched.

Her exquisite charm as a mature woman displayed before the unprepared Cian, and he was somewhat entranced.

With amazing willpower, he was able to quickly control his feelings; still, this harpy woman was exquisite…

“…besides, we had already sent out our younglings away, seeking for a new place. Even if we die today, our bloodline will still live. So, there is nothing that we can regret…”

The ones left in this village, are those Harpies that didn’t like leaving their friends or family in this place, hence they stayed.

There were people within the Varkas that had married a human as well, their children not having wings, possessing a Beastmen appearance. Therefore, they cannot leave this place as well.

“So you choose death, rather than violating your principles…is that right?”

Cian shook his head with a wry smile; “Hardly a praiseworthy action… that’s only a fool’s choice,”

If it were me, I would have left long ago.