"Do not exaggerate my actions, Killa."

"But Priestess…"

"No buts, we are guests. It is not our place to announce what we have done. It must be known that all I have done was out of my duty and love for my people. It is not something we should brag about." Lilith somehow managed to tell off Killa about bragging… while working to lift her name up to a higher pedestal.

A magnificent show of glorious hypocrisy.

She… was an opportunist, if nothing else.

Lilith was already prepared to fight. She thought a fight might have broken out due to Killa's words; the fact was that the Werewolf Leader was actually overwhelmed by the zeal these daemons had for the child.

It diminished their fighting spirit.

'Well, this is rather convenient… I should use their zealousness in something more fun later.' Lilith found a new weapon to use. She was not used to dealing with others' zeal being directed to her.

The one thing she had before was her subordinates' hate, and it was not as fun dealing with such a thing.

Lilith suddenly raced her hand, "Shadow Troops, go out and defend the Tribe while the guards eat. Let them have a peace of mind…."

"Please, you do not have to." The Werewolf Leader tried interjecting Lilith's orders, fearing the repercussions of letting her work.

"No, please, let me do this. We have disrespected your culture and beliefs, and this warrants us to make amends. Please, this may not even be enough, but for now, accept this little gesture as an apology."

The Shadow Troops disappeared as they left for the woods. They would never go against Lilith's orders.

Lilith then continued her words, "I also do not mean to be disrespectful. I wish to honor them if I could, and unworthy as I may be, please accept the food we give. I also have Werewolf companions… they are like family to someone like me … I do not wish for their children and fellowmen to go hungry."

Lilith pushed further. She had learned Werewolves were prideful beings. They did not readily accept others' help, and they do not bend easily, but as Lilith piled up the guilt, she slowly made them change their minds.

"O-okay, I shall accept this offering… we shall eat the feast you have graciously prepared." The Werewolf Leader said with an awkward expression.

Though it was not clear, this Priestess before them was now seen as trustworthy, albeit foreign in nature. She referred to them as companions, begetting them to lower their guards. Lilith was slowly chipping away the armors in their hearts.

Then, as they all ate, Lilith made her move, "Can I first ask why your people have so little food? Do you not have a Meat Core to harvest food with?"

"Meat Core?" The Werewolf Leader was confused.

Lilith subtly creased his brows as she thought that there might not have been Meat Dungeon in this place. That would be impossible as Lilith already had five Meat Dungeon Cores to harvest their meat from.

Lilith knew that other places have Meat Dungeons, so she tried to explain, "The Core of Meat Dungeon where you get unintelligent beastly daemons meant to be turned to cattle."

"Oh, do you mean a Meat Crystal?" The Werewolf Leader finally saw the light.

'It would appear that they have different names for it, though it is still the same. Culture is a bitch.' Lilith made a mental note, "Yes, that's exactly what I meant. The Meat Dungeons are the primary source of food, correct? The Village and I have a farm of sorts that we use to harvest food. Do you not have anything like that?"

"We do, but… three months ago, our Meat Crystal, or Meat Cores as you call it, were taken away by the [Two Heads]. We tried getting them back only to suffer severe casualties. It only became harder to make another attempt. Due to this, as our food reserves dwindled, we grew weaker, and when we tried to raid a Scourge Dungeon, we even fail in penetrating its depths. We were left to scour the Forest for wild animals and hope for Meat Crystals to be created from Chaos, only to be hammered by reality. It had been weeks since the children had a proper meal… you saved us all. I am deeply thankful to you, Benefactor." The Werewolf Leader graciously bowed.

Ding!

[Mission: The Conqueror (non-mandatory)] (Side-Quest #10)

Requirements for Passing:

[] The Werewolves have been placed in a precarious situation because of the Two Heads; you are to help the Werewolf Leader recover their Pride and help them get their revenge.

[] Get back the stolen three Meat Crystals.

[] Note: If you are to accept this mission, you will be seen as an enemy of the Two Heads… the scent of the Werewolves will linger on your body, and the Two Heads will see you as an immediate enemy. This scent would not disappear until you complete this mission.

Reward/s:

[] 100,000 SP

[] Loyalty of this Werewolf Tribe

[] Store Upgrade

[Do you accept? Y/N?]

Reading the mission details, Lilith felt something in her heart. She looked ahead and turned to the Werewolf Leader, tears falling, "This is unacceptable! For them to do such horrendous acts! Do they not know that children reside in this Tribe!? Do they not have hearts!? Compassion for the meek!?"

Lilith's voice grew louder with the passing second. Emotions ran wild; the wind picked up with every intonation of hate she carried in her heart reverberated outside.

Her shouting surprised the Werewolf Leader, whose eyes trembled as Lilith stood up furiously, wiping her tears, covering her countenance from the others.

She stormed out of the abode.

"Great Benefactor, where are you going!?!" the Werewolf Leader asked, concerned.

"I will get the Crystals back. If we do not do anything, the children will only grow hungrier with time, and the honorable warriors would be left without sustenance. I cannot let such a thing happen."

The Werewolf Leader could feel her heart thumping wildly at her words. Her weakened spirit roused, her eyes shining as she felt every word uttered resonating with her soul.

The defeat their Tribe underwent time and time again caused the many warriors to raise their heads.

Their bodies convulsing, their spirits roaring.

The Werewolf Leader wished to howl! She wanted to announce her agreement, yet, she stopped herself, "I am happy to see that you want to do such a thing for my Tribe, and I am thankful for the food you have given us, but I cannot hope to bother your honorable self with such a problem. This is our problem. Letting you do this will be going against the teachings of our Ancestors. This is a matter of lost Pride. We will reclaim it with our own hands!"

It was shocking to hear Lilith's words before the Werewolf Leader actually decided to do anything. The Elite Werewolf Warriors listened to their Leader's prideful announcement, and their fervor increasing. Their blood, boiling.

Lilith turned to the Werewolf Leader, "We may not have known each other for long, but as you are of Granny Giathe's race, I am willing to stick my neck for you and your people. I understand your words, pride, and desires, but will you at least let me assist you? Your men had been weakened by having so little to eat, and their previous confrontations leave them vulnerable. For everyone's sake, I wish to help you, at least in reconnaissance. Let me and my people do the grunt works to pave an easier path for the others. If you are reluctant, then let us just say that you owe us a favor. I… I do not wish to see the needless loss of your people's blood."

This tiny being's insistence stemmed from her own pride and honor. The Werewolf Leader could see how much she cares about the Werewolves, the genuine hate underneath her gaze stemming from the injustice suffered… The Werewolf Leader could see it!

"I can now see what your followers are talking about—the courage to step up for those in need and the ones she sees as her own. However, I cannot possibly accept your help, for you have already done so much for us… thus, I ask of you if you could help us instead."

They were not connected to each other except for the fact that Lilith had Werewolf people of her own… but that was enough to make her care for them. For the Werewolf Leader, Lilith was more honorable than herself or anyone she had seen. Lilith was a perfect leader, and it would not be the least dishonorable to be helped by her.

Lilith answered with a smile, "Of course."

Killa and the others from the Village did not say anything, for they knew this would happen. If they consider her magnanimity, it would be easy to see this event happening.

And Lilith smiled as she thought, 'Store Upgrade! Here I come!'

She was happy to help them out of the goodness of her heart.

Cerberus, who was outside, heard it all and giggled, 'She managed to make them so obedient, how admirable.'