Episode 32
Episode 32
Just as we were sufficiently rested and about to fall asleep, another problem arose.
With only two beds available, a competition broke out over who would sleep with whom.
I casually lay down on the remaining bed and watched the two of them heatedly arguing with Aron between us.
'The tension is really intense. Is it that important?'
It's true that being in Aron's embrace feels nice, but it's not essential.
It's something that's nice to have, but you just miss it when it's gone - that's all.
Although it felt slightly uncomfortable watching the other two women compete over Aron, probably due to something like possessiveness, I decided not to pay attention since we're not lovers anyway.
After watching for a while, I made the first suggestion.
"Why don't we take turns sleeping with him each day? In that case, Seoryeong unni can sleep with me today."
At my calm voice and suggestion, Seoryeong unni's gaze turned toward me.
With an indignant expression, she tapped her tail on the floor and spoke.
"You want me to watch this fox-eared girl sleep alone with Aron? That won't do!"
"Then can't Eri yield?"
At my suggestion, Eri also slightly furrowed her brow.
For her, who rarely shows changes in expression, this was an extremely unusual expression change.
"I also find it somewhat uncomfortable to watch this fox sleep alone with Aron. I'd rather both of us give up."
Hearing this, Aron clapped his hands and approached me.
I quickly tried to kick at his sudden approach, but he stopped my foot with his hand.
"Then should Mia and I sleep together? Wouldn't that work for both of you?"
I frowned at his suggestion.
"Just sleep with all three. The bed is big enough - if we sleep close together, three can fit."
I glared at Aron who was holding my foot.
Even though we've been sleeping together until recently, I didn't want to get involved in the women's power struggle like that.
Aron looked at me with an expression asking for help, but I ignored him.
'I also want to sleep alone comfortably sometimes.'
Thinking this to myself, I looked at Eri and Seoryeong unni visible behind Aron.
When their eyes met, they both nodded.
"Shall we do that then? We can sleep together on both sides."
"Indeed. There shouldn't be any problems if we sleep on both sides. Mia will also be happy to have more space on her bed."
The two approached from behind and grabbed Aron's arms.
Watching Aron being dragged away by the two, I lay down on the bed satisfied.
Soon the lights went out, and whispers could be heard from the bed across.
The room was small enough that it should be audible, but whether they were controlling it or not, only whispering sounds could be heard. Or maybe they used magic.
'I can't hear properly. Should I just use aura?'
Since they told me not to use it until my growth was complete, I decided to just endure it.
But a little bit should be fine, right?
Since it's been a while since I slept alone, it felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Without the warmth that was always beside me, the bed felt a bit cold too.
'Why is this so uncomfortable...'
I kept tossing and turning.
Fidgeting in bed, I had to breathe in the cold bed and uncomfortable air.
This inexplicable discomfort kept washing over me.
Even with the blanket pulled up to my face and hugging the pillow, it felt like something that should fill the space was missing.
"So annoying..."
After fiddling with the pillow alone for quite some time, I finally managed to fall asleep.
*
"What are you looking at."
Having finished preparations early in the morning and looking at Mia, Aron received an irritated response.
A sharper gaze than usual and an uncomfortable expression.
Though Aron had spent about a month with her, having seen so many different expressions, he could immediately tell her mood.
That's the expression of someone extremely sulky and irritated.
'Why is she like that again? Did I do something wrong yesterday?'
I thought she might just be tired, but soon realized there was something more to it.
Even after meeting the Merchant Leader and getting in the cargo compartment, her expression didn't change.
She just stared outside expressionlessly.
"Aron, why is Mia so irritated like that?"
It was so obvious that even Seoryeong couldn't ignore it.
Though Eri didn't ask, she also sensed Mia's strangely bad mood.
"I don't know either. She's been like that since this morning."
"What is it? Is it just mood swings from growing up?"
"Does that happen?"
"I don't know the reason, but girls tend to have pretty severe mood swings when they're growing up. Go take care of her quickly. This is when you should."
Seoryeong didn't want to easily give up Aron either. But ignoring Mia who was growing as a beastkin was even more unpleasant.
She was someone who wanted to do everything she could for her at the very least.
Eri also seemed somewhat disappointed but nodded.
"That's right. Go hug her quickly and ask why she's like that. If we both go in the middle, you two should be together, but if she stays like this, it'll be difficult."
Eri also had no intention of ignoring Mia, who was at least 1000 years younger than herself, even if they were competing.
To Eri, Mia who was just over 20 years old was practically a newborn baby.
With both of them saying that, Aron eventually had to move.
He slowly approached and sat next to Mia.
"What are you so dissatisfied about? Is it because you didn't eat breakfast?"
"...It's not that."
"If you're tired, then sleep. We have to travel for quite a while anyway."
The moment Aron approached, Mia's heart felt at ease.
Her fluctuating and unpleasant mood settled down and became calm in an instant.
Aron's body temperature and scent felt from beside her.
As these permeated her body, what was lacking felt filled and her mood immediately improved.
'Isn't this almost dependency? It's too uncomfortable without it.'
With her mood improving so instantly, Mia thought that too.
Eventually, that evening.
After finishing preparations for camping, taking advantage of the moment when Aron disappeared briefly with Eri, Mia approached and sat next to Seoryeong.
"Unni, are beastkin normally very sensitive to scent or body temperature?"
At the sudden question, Seoryeong who was stirring soup stared intently at Mia.
"Why? What exactly does it feel like?"
"How should I put it... It's a feeling of extreme discomfort and irritation when it's absent. I get angry because of it, but when they approach, my mood improves."
"At that level, the engraving is almost complete? It'll get better with just a little more time."
"But what exactly happens when the engraving is complete?"
"Your estrus will come. Then you'll work hard making babies with that partner."
At the shocking answer delivered in a calm voice, Mia opened her eyes wide and stared at Seoryeong.
Her face slowly grew hot and her lips twitched.
'I have to marry Aron and even make babies?'
Though that thought occurred to her, she immediately shook her head vigorously.
Strongly denying it, she asked Seoryeong again.
"Are all beastkin normally like that?"
"Usually they engrave themselves on someone they truly believe in and can be with. Originally, engraving is instinctual rather than a choice."
"Did unni also engrave?"
Even without asking who the partner was, Seoryeong immediately understood.
Looking at Mia who was at a loss with unfamiliar emotions, Seoryeong nodded.
"I completed my engraving quite some time ago. But since Aron didn't want it, I've been holding back on pregnancy."
"I see..."
Mia felt regret that wasn't quite regret.
While regretting that if she had asked properly when learning about it before, the engraving might not have happened, her heart was pounding loudly.
That pleasant pulse resonating throughout her body represented emotions she hadn't yet realized.
"Don't worry too much. Beastkin originally solve things more by instinct than by thought. Smell their scent until you get used to it, or rather, cling tightly to them."
"Won't that make it worse? Lately it feels almost like dependency... to the point where it's somewhat burdensome."
"No. It's like puberty - it'll get better later."
Hearing that answer, the worry in Mia's heart diminished.
'Right, it'll be fine once I get used to it. It's just because it's my first time. Originally being male, there's no way I could like a man.'
Feeling relieved that she could embrace Aron with a more relaxed heart, Mia felt at ease.
Just then, Aron appeared walking from afar.
With her heart feeling much lighter after consulting with Seoryeong, Mia immediately left her seat and rushed toward Aron.
"Aron!"
Though slightly taken aback by Mia's sudden behavior after looking moody all day, he lightly embraced her as she rushed over.
"Why did your mood suddenly improve so much? Did Ryeong-i use some magic or something?"
"I got some counseling. More importantly... shall we do that thing we always do?"
"Huh? Now? But now...!"
Before Aron could stop her, she tightly embraced him and buried her face in his neck.
After just one day without smelling him, Aron's familiar scent was mixed with a fishy smell.
It had an alluring, female scent.
"...Aron, did you just come from being with Eri?"
Her excited voice instantly fell flat.
Her expression and behavior that had been fully expressing joyful feelings turned cold in an instant.
"You couldn't wait that short time and went with another woman? It feels unpleasant to smell. Like adding an ingredient that doesn't belong in delicious soup."
"No, it's..."
"Don't make excuses. I'm annoyed, so I'm going to stay like this until only Aron's scent remains."
"Huh? Uh, uhh..."
The flustered Aron had no choice but to understand and accept it.
Quietly holding Mia with both hands, he supported her so she could be comfortable.
Only now, thanks to Seoryeong making her accept being a beastkin, did Mia finally behave properly like a beastkin.
"Wow... Mia was really serious."
Even Seoryeong watching from afar was impressed.
Clutching Aron tightly while hanging onto him, she inhales his scent. Using that scent as fuel, she emits thick pheromones from her entire body.
Like a wolf beastkin devoted to her mate, she immediately covers Aron with such intense pheromones that they erase all other scents.
The scent was so rich and sweet that even Seoryeong was taken aback.
"How on earth did Aron yield yesterday? She seems even worse than that woman."
Seoryeong found herself becoming afraid of Mia after returning from the Red Canyon.