Isn't It Natural for the Strong to Do as They Please?

Clack, clack.

The three of them sat around the circular table, exchanging brief words as they continued their meal.

"There were no unusual occurrences today either."

Setting her fork down with a soft click, Eruka swallowed her food and delivered her report to Tsuruka, who sat opposite her, chewing with small, delicate bites. Hearing her sister's stiff, formal tone, Tsuruka smiled gently and set down her own utensils.

"Eruka, dear, we are in the middle of dinner. You can save those reports for later. Why don't you tell me what is on your mind instead?"

"Nothing is more important than reporting to you, Sister."

Tap, tap.

Just as Eruka gave her firm, resolute reply, something nudged her foot beneath the table. She looked up to find the culprit and locked eyes with Casanova, who was staring back at her with a sly, knowing grin.

'What about me?'

The shameless man pointed a finger at himself right next to her sister. Eruka felt a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smile and a dry chuckle threatening to escape, so she quickly hardened her expression, baring her teeth in a fierce glare.

Shrugging his shoulders as if he hadn't expected any better, Casanova turned his gaze toward Tsuruka. "By the way, didn't you say you had somewhere to go today?"

Tsuruka blinked blankly at Casanova's question before letting out a soft "Ah" and nodding. "Ah, yes, Seobang-nim. I have to attend to a matter of great importance for the village."

"Sister is always busy managing the affairs of this village. She is quite different from an idle man like you."

Realizing her words had come out far too sharp, Eruka winced inwardly and stole a glance at Casanova. However, his expression remained perfectly serene. 'Why did I say that again...?' Feeling suddenly dejected, Eruka kept her eyes down, occasionally peeking at him as she continued to eat.

'So dishonest.' Having dealt with Eruka's tsundere outbursts more than a few times, Casanova didn't mind at all. In fact, her inability to be honest only made her more endearing.

"But... what is this important matter? I haven't heard anything about it..."

As the silence stretched over the table, Eruka looked between her sister and Casanova before tentatively breaking the ice. Tsuruka, who was delicately sipping her soup, spoke up.

"We are going to discuss how to handle the males who left the village."

"Ah...!"

Eruka stared at her sister in utter shock. How could she speak of such a critical matter so openly?

It had been decades since all the males had abandoned the village. Left with a severe shortage of defenders and the looming crisis of producing heirs, the village had long cut off all contact with the outside world. The issue of the departed males was a grave, sensitive topic that could never be spoken of lightly.

"Sister, that is..."

"Casanova-nim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is already aware of the situation, Eruka."

"What...?!"

A rare tribe of beastkin with no fighting-aged males, populated entirely by women. They had severed all ties with the outside world precisely because they knew what dangers would befall them if this vulnerability were exposed. Yet, her sister had laid it all bare to a human—the first outsider to set foot here in decades. Even if it was her sister's decision, Eruka couldn't help but feel deeply unsettled.

"But that is... a vital matter concerning our village's survival. If we consider the potential retaliation from those males, or even an invasion from outsiders..."

She rambled on, but her point was clear: Why are you sharing such secrets with an outsider? Even though her feelings for Casanova had grown and her perception of him had shifted, he was still an outsider in the end. A man who had already made it clear that he intended to leave.

Throb.

'Why am I... saying things like this?'

She wished he would stubbornly insist on staying. She wished he would act like his usual wicked self and say something crude, like, 'I'm staying right here to keep stuffing your tight pussy.' Instead, he was planning to leave for the human cities as if it were nothing. Looking at Casanova's face as he watched her with a faint, gentle smile, Eruka felt a surge of hot frustration flare up inside her chest.

"Casanova-nim is the savior of our village, and we have shared many fascinating and productive conversations. Because of that, I am planning to implement a new policy soon."

"A new policy...?"

"Yes."

Nodding, Tsuruka delivered a unilateral declaration to her naive younger sister.

"I intend to resume trade with the humans, with Casanova-nim acting as our primary liaison. We must also prepare ourselves in case the departed males return..."

Tsuruka closed her eyes, letting her mind drift back to several decades ago. She had been an apprentice priestess back then, and the prophecy delivered to her had torn the village apart.

The Hardline Faction had insisted on immediately cutting off all contact with outsiders. On the other hand, the Moderate Faction argued that they could not throw away years of built-up trust and relationships based solely on a prophecy.

The phrase "elevate him to the heavens" was an ancient expression, and its meaning was far from light. Thus, even as the village fractured, neither side was willing to back down.

Ultimately, the High Priestess, who led the furious Hardline Faction, gathered all the males of the village and prepared to leave. Tsuruka, who was the leader of the Moderate Faction, had begged her mentor.

"Mother—no, Master...! Please, think about this one more time..."

"I cannot. How can we stand by and watch a mere outsider ascend to the heavens as the prophecy foretells? We must leave this village."

All the males and a portion of the women packed their belongings and prepared to depart. While those who left would easily survive by rebuilding a new village elsewhere, the future of the Moderate Faction's village was bleak.

"The prophecy will not come to pass...! How can anyone ascend to the heavens in a village that is already divided? Please, change your mind...!"

"From this moment on, Tsuruka, you are the next High Priestess. A prophecy is not a trivial thing; it will always find a way to fulfill itself. You, too, will come to understand this."

With those final words, Tsuruka's master departed. Left ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠behind to care for the pregnant women and children who chose to stay, Tsuruka had grit her teeth. 'To hell with that stupid prophecy...'

Opening her eyes, Tsuruka blushed slightly at the memory of her youthful rebellion. She had been young and foolish back then. Who could have known that living a life without a male would be so lonely and agonizing? But now, thanks to Casanova's arrival, she felt as though all those years of hardship had been richly rewarded. She was truly happy.

"How could you...!"

Eruka slammed her hands onto the table, shouting. Tsuruka had expected this reaction. Eruka had deeply respected their master, who was like a mother to them, and shared many of her views. The only reason Eruka had remained in this village was out of devotion to her sister.

'Eruka... I will make sure you find happiness too...'

Tsuruka shook her head and looked firmly at her sister. "Sit down. Do not make a scene in front of our guest."

"Ugh..."

Stealing a quick glance at Casanova, Eruka slumped back into her chair. Casanova, meanwhile, was thoroughly enjoying the tense atmosphere. It felt like watching a house fire from a safe distance. He continued eating his meal, amusedly observing the silent war of nerves playing out between the two sisters.

"Why do you think Master insisted on cutting off contact with outsiders in the first place...?"

"There is still no sign of the prophecy being fulfilled, and if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we continue like this, the village will be in grave danger."

"We are not in danger...!"

"Sigh..."

The growth rate of the beastkin was slow. The children of the pregnant women from decades ago had grown, but the mature males had been swept away by their master's unilateral departure. Even if the remaining young boys grew up, Tsuruka knew they would either be taken by the Hardline Faction eventually, or, even if they stayed, they would be wholly insufficient to satisfy and sustain the village's female population on their own.

"Just recently, we struggled to defend ourselves against a beast attack. What will we do if something like that happens again?"

"Urgh..."

Tsuruka's argument was irrefutable. No matter how hard Eruka worked, it was impossible for her to secure the entire perimeter of the village alone. In the end, they had only survived the recent crisis because Casanova had stepped in to help, but there was no guarantee they would be so lucky next time.

"Even if it is now, we must resume trade and communication with outsiders to increase our population and secure external aid."

The Moderate Faction's village suffered from dwindling productivity and a shrinking population, whereas the Hardline Faction's village possessed everything they needed. For now, they were merely divided, but what if relations deteriorated to the point of open conflict? Tsuruka knew that her village would inevitably be swallowed up.

If that happened, her people would lose all standing and likely be reduced to pseudo-slaves in the Hardline Faction's village. While neither side currently had intentions of invading the other, she had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

"Even so... I am against it."

"An outsider is an outsider in the end. They will eventually leave us."

"Just like that human..."

Eruka couldn't find a logical counterargument to her sister's words, but she made her stance clear. She spoke in a flat, detached tone, but as she continued to speak and chew over her own emotions, tears began to well up in her eyes. She hastily turned her head away and stood up from the table.

Step, step.

"Thank you for the meal. I shall take my leave now."

"...Eruka."

"Yes, Sister."

"Do you truly have no intention of changing your mind?"

"...Yes."

"Even if it means we must ultimately part ways?"

"It is fine. My devotion to serving you will never change..."

"I see... Go safely, then."

Creak.

Tsuruka had an intuition: the prophecy had already been fulfilled. Her sister was merely wavering, her heart lost and her soul wandering in confusion. Praying that Eruka would soon realize her feelings for Casanova were far deeper than mere fondness, Tsuruka quietly finished her meal.

Having witnessed the entire exchange, Casanova suppressed a chuckle at the sheer drama of it all and stood up. He gently patted Tsuruka's shoulders to comfort her as her tail drooped dejectedly, then prepared to head outside.

"You two really care about each other deeply, don't you?"

"Casanova-nim..."

"Don't look so down when you said this was all part of your plan. Cheer up. I just need to go check on Eruka now, right?"

"Yes..."

"...I don't understand all the details, but I trust you, so I'll do whatever you want. To me, you two sisters are far more important than this village anyway."

"Fufu... is that as your slaves, or as your lovers?"

"Both, of course."

With a smirk, Casanova stepped out of the house. Ahead of him, Eruka was trudging along, her tail dragging lifelessly on the ground.

"Eruka."

Grab!

Pulling the dejected warrior into a tight embrace from behind, Casanova whispered softly in her ear. Startled by the sudden constriction, Eruka instinctively tensed her arms to push him away, but as his low, rumbling voice washed over her, the strength drained from her body, and she looked back at him.

"...Why are you here?"

She should have just welcomed him. 'Why do I always say things like this?' As Eruka wallowed in her own regret, Casanova tightened his grip around her waist.

"I came to cheer you up. Besides, I finished my dinner."

"......"

What did this man truly want from her? He was the despicable human who had tried to lay his hands on her sister, the beast who had claimed her as his slave and ruthlessly ravished her body, and yet, he was also the man who teased her playfully and acted so close to her. Walking beneath the rustling leaves of the forest as a gentle breeze blew, looking at her with that ever-present, mischievous smile... her feelings for Casanova were a tangled, chaotic mess, like paints swirled together on a palette.

She had started out closing her eyes and enduring his touch solely for her sister's sake, but somewhere along the way, she had transformed into a woman who craved his touch. Whenever he claimed her body while whispering in that low, husky voice, her womb would throb with a sweet ache, and her entire body would burn with heat. Spending time with him, handling village duties, and sharing trivial conversations only caused her feelings for him to swell further.

"What is it that you want from me...?"

Unable to contain herself any longer as he smiled and whispered sweet nothings into her ear, she finally asked. In response, his grin widened, and he murmured softly.

"Come up to my room tonight."

"Kh...! In the end, that is all you think about...!"

Strength returned to her droopy tail, and a familiar throb pulsed in her lower abdomen. Even as she gasped for breath and scolded him, her body was already trembling with anticipation. The memory of being repeatedly dominated by his masculine scent, his powerful arms, and his monstrous member was deeply engraved into her very flesh.

"Don't be like that. We don't have many days left together. Besides, aren't you glad that I'm leaving?"

"Of course I am. I won't have to look at your annoying face... ever again..."

She really wouldn't be able to see him anymore. If she kept rejecting her sister's proposal, her sister would eventually yield to her wishes. Of course, even if Casanova left, he might visit the village occasionally, but he was a mercenary of the human world—a wanderer whose very profession demanded he never stay in one place.

The sudden realization that she might never see him again sent a sharp pang through her chest, melting her stubborn resistance. He was an enigmatic, unpredictable human, but she didn't want to deny herself the time she had left with him.

"What time should I come?"

"Around midnight... Oh, and I have a small favor to ask..."

Whisper, whisper.

"W-What...?!"

She shuddered at the incredibly filthy words he whispered. Yet, seeing him look at her with such an earnest, pleading expression made it impossible to refuse. Beside, her sister wouldn't even be home at that hour, so she figured doing it just this once wouldn't hurt. Eruka slowly nodded her head.

"Fine... I have to go now, so hurry up and go back! How could you leave Sister to clean up the table by herself?"

"You walked out and left her too, didn't you?"

"Eek...!"

Watching Casanova jog away with a playful chuckle, Eruka let out a long sigh. It was a heart bound to be sorted out the moment he departed. Whether it was love or lust, it was an emotion destined to end, so she decided not to overthink it. She already had enough of a headache dealing with her sister...

"Haa... fufu..."

Even so, the promise of their late-night rendezvous sent a thrill of excitement through her flushed body. This much was fine. His departure was his departure, and her feelings were her feelings. But carnal desire had to be satisfied regardless. Yes, that was all it was. Repeating the clumsy excuse to herself, Eruka trudged forward, her steps slightly lighter than before.