Chapter 23

“That shouldn’t be possible. Our mating season is still quite a few months later…and also, Lafetti is still young; hence, the influence on her would be quite minimal. In fact, she was never like that before…perhaps it was your influence instead?” Sarete teased with a mischievous smile.

A gust of wind blew through. Her gorgeous honey blonde hair and the thin animal fur robed that seemed just simply-made fluttered behind her. Her coat was so loose he feared it might blow up enough for him to see inside. And they surely not enough to hide the sexuality overflowing from her womanly body.

Perhaps it was a custom of this world or just a preference or tradition among the Lamians. But aside from the coat and cloak that the other sometimes use, especially when going out, but the people here only wrap their chest and waist simply—it looked like they are wearing extra revealing bikinis instead. Worst, there were even people who didn’t bother hiding anything at all.

Their breasts were revealed in all of their glory and feasted his eyes.

Though, it’s acceptable since they had never had men before, but since now they have him, it would surely be better to at least change some things, right?

Or at least that’s what Rain thought.

Sarete’s skin visible from below the fur robe was milky white and firm. This was not a beauty that relied on youth. It was a maintained adult beauty that was only found in a woman who had undergone the greatest beauty treatments and wore the highest quality makeup back in the previous world. Anyone who saw her would naturally decide they would gladly die for her.

She was the epitome of nobility and gentleness that would trample even the greatest in history of Earth.

Rain averted in his eyes and returned his gaze at the ground he was tilling, feeling his heartbeat wildly. Fortunately, Sarete seemed to be quite focused on collecting [Rarantalion Leaves] as she didn’t seem to notice Rain’s fervent gaze at her just now. That would be awkward as hell.

“An, anyway, please don’t place the blame on me for that. It would look as if I’m a pervert… however, I’m also quite troubled as well, you know. Ever since we have met, Lafetti has always been quite aggressive. I thought it was normal for a Lamian, but now that I think about it…perhaps, not?”

If it was, then, perhaps he would have been gang-raped by all those horny Lamians around him? At least, it seems like they still have some sort of propriety or reservations to act like it, even though Rain should be considered as their slave.

“Well, depending on the situation, yes. But on normal occasions, you’re actually not wrong. If I’m not mistaken, Lafetti always tried to avoid doing such activities when there was a chance before. And you should know, we Lamians have always been known as a race that was second only to Dryads and Succubus. Perhaps, it just accumulates…” Sarete covered her mouth and laughed softly. “Though, in her case, perhaps… rather than venting her sexual urges, it seems to me that she’s probably marking what she owned…or something like that,”

“I feel conflicted somehow. I feel happy, but also a bit agonized by the result…” Rain sighs.

“Why? You don’t like it?” Sarete grinned mischievously.

Rain shook his head; “Actually, I’m very happy as well, feeling blissful, in fact. I’m still a normal man, after all. Doing it with the woman you love, of course, it’s something I would never refuse. However, it’s not a matter of emotions…but rather, a concern for my physical body. I don’t think I would be able to cater to her needs every night, unless, my level rose higher and my body would also become stronger. Then, I might be able to fight her for almost every day if she wanted. But until then…” he shook his head again with a wry smile.

“…then, why don’t you tell that to Lafetti. She should be able to understand that,”

“Well, even if I could. I don’t think I would actually tell her that myself.” Rain smiled bitterly.

Nahh, I wouldn’t even think about it!

“Why? You don’t trust her?” Sarete looks at Rain with a frown.

“No, it’s not that I don’t trust her or anything. Rather, I just don’t want to disappoint her perhaps,” Rain replied. “If she wants me that is my happiness. If I ask her, perhaps she will try to stop. However, later, she might start worrying about it. And before we knew it, things might get awkward. There might be reservations coming between us… I don’t like such things becoming obstacles in our relationship.” Rain said with a warm, affectionate smile that even stuck the Lamian's heart.

"This is my first relationship, and I wanted it to be the best—I wanted her to always be happy. In any case, I'm a man... being naughty and making a man suffer and endure, is a woman's prerogative. I take myself as someone mature to at least bear such lovely sufferings,"

“You really love her, do you?”

Rain chuckled in amusement. “I think I’m feeling Deja Vu. Elder Sister Zarda had also asked that to me before… but was it really that surprising? I think it’s quite normal for couples actually? Though I will still answer the same,” Rain wiped the sweat on his brows with his dirty hand, causing some dirt sticking on his forehead. However, it didn’t reduce the gleam of his expression; “I love her. I really do, and I want her to be happy all the time.”

Sarete looked at the youth.

She suddenly that the way he said those things and with even that expression just now was so unfair. Even her heart almost jumped out from her chest. Suddenly she felt envious… now I know and understand why Zarda was being like that. This human…

“…I’m done here. Elder Sister, what should I do next?”

As Sarete fell in deep silence, Rain who had finished tilling the ground for the new herbs to be planted slowly stood up and asks. When he looks at Sarete, he tilted his head in wonder. He didn’t notice Sarete’s queer expression—well; he was someone who never had any experience in this kind of things, after all.

“Oh? Then, can you help me carry those things to my hut?” she answered while pointing at the large bundles of plants and herbs. If Rain didn’t recall wrong, those things are the things that the other Lamians had collected when they went out hunting.

“Certainly… please leave manual labor for me. I may not be strong, but I can still carry one or two,” Rain rubbed the dirty hands on his shorts subconsciously and then started jogging towards the gathered bundles.

“Be careful, some of them are poisonous,” she warned

“I will,” Rain carried the large bundles one at a time. Though, it’s not actually that heavy since they are just gathered plants and herbs, its best to take caution on this kind of dangerous things.

Living in the tribe for quite a few days already, Rain once again couldn’t help but feel that life in this place is really tough. It is filled with troubles, dangers, misfortunes, and unreasonable situations—often, groups of monsters would suddenly come and attack out of nowhere. But if one can endure it, they will find some sort of happiness.

With her back turn against him, Sarete turns her head and reveals a bright smile to him.

Rain smiled back before walking towards her hut.

Unlike most of the people in the tribe, there were only a few huts that can be properly called a house—with floor, walls, and a roof. Aside from the already extravagant house of the Tribe Chief, Zarda’s there’s also Sarete, the Blacksmith’s forge, Storage House and few others that needed proper walls.

They seemed to make proper shelters if they deemed it really necessary. Sarete have one due to the fact that she was an alchemist and was dealing with potions and stuff. It was important, actually very important.

Women in this Tribe have strong wills, and strong hearts, but they are gentle to their family—this what makes Rain respect and appreciate them even more. After all, all the inhabitants in this village were women. Hence, Rain finds that women are very respectable, and he has a deep respect for these people.

Situated at the slight corner of the forest, the tribe was like a small ordinary village. With perhaps over twenty to thirty households, and over forty population—including the young and the elderly, with only less than thirty which was currently abled for work and hunting.

Almost all people, except the children, were warriors, or at least can consider as one, with ability to fight and use weapons in all kinds, though most spears, swords, and bows. Especially Magic. All of them can use it, even children in that matter.

The Lamian Village was surrounded or rather protected only by wooden fences, with north and the east side a cavern wall, making it a good terrain for defense. They have several small fields, one for the herbs which can be found beside Sarete’s hut, and two more in the west side of the Village, where edible things are planted and farmed. Though, most were berries and fruits.

The village’s livelihood centered on hunting rather than farming. And their primary consumption was meat. Worst, there’s no concept of cooking, which aggravates Rain even more. At least, he wanted to have a proper meal after a long time. But it seems like there’s no success in that regards for now.

Rain was trying several herbs and edible plants to create spices, though due to the plants and herbs having distinct tastes and strange appearances, it was difficult to accurately made the right materials and ingredients that he can imagine. Nevertheless, he still made one step closer to his ideal cooking.

Among the shelters found inside the village, most were a simple nest, as most call it. Though most were made in a tent-like appearance and were made of dried woods and leaves, extremely simple. They doesn't seemed that fond of lavish things. As long as it can help them repel the cold and rain, they wouldn't care. They turned their full attention to other matters necessary for surviving in this harsh place.

Compared to before, Rain actually has a better life inside the Tribe. Though, one thing that can only prove that he was a slave was that every day he needed to help the other Lamians with their chores and stuff. He can’t refuse nor object, even if the request was somewhat weird.

Fortunately, they are still wary and vigilant against him, so his chastity has still been somewhat preserved. Though, if this continues… even Rain was at a lost on what he should do in the future, after noticing some Lamians were eyeing him like wolves in front of a defenseless sheep.

At first, it was extremely awkward as many Lamians tend to avoid him but time passed by, Rain was approached by several Lamians, most were Lafetti’s close comrades and friends. At that moment on, Rain became a well-known existence within the tribe as the only human and only man.

Almost every time he was out in the open, he would be crowded with Lamians. There were always someone around him. And for some reason, he looks like a celebrity as he have a lot of female fans because of his good looks and manners and his ability to do anything well. Not like he was complaining.

Another advantage by his slave status was that, due to his work, he was able to learn some things like herbs, medicinal weeds, and plants and many things. It was taught to him by Sarete. She was growing and taking care of the garden of useful plants and weeds which was Rain’s first chore. And she was also the Tribe’s top Alchemist.

Sarete was quite amiable and they managed to become very acquainted almost immediately, though mostly due to Rain’s strong thirst for knowledge which Sarete found pleasant whenever Rain act like a student and ask her questions. She was never impatient in teaching him…

Rain enjoyed the life inside the tribe; still, he knows that many people were still observing him, especially Zarda. He knows that she still did not trust him completely and was only trying to test him all this time. However, no one made any extreme actions against him… not if a very rabid wild dog was following him all the time…

No!

Not a wild Dog, it’s Lafetti who for some reason was always guarding Rain. She was with him most of the time, only would leave if Zarda drags her away.

But Rain didn’t actually care about it. He goes his life in his own way. Besides, even though he wasn’t fighting monsters at all, his status was still rising steadily from the foods he was eating, albeit extremely slow…really such an absurd power.

After moving all the bundles of herbs and plants inside the hut, Rain made his rest.

“Here,” Sarete walked over and handed him a cup made of clay; “Thanks for the hard work,” she said.

“It’s my pleasure,” Rain slowly took a sip. It was like tea, but not tea. Obviously, it was made from medicinal herbs as with just one sip, Rain felt energized and his fatigue fading slowly. As expected of this fantasy world, even things like this you could surely feel its magical-like effects.

As Rain rested, he watched as Sarete did her work.

Stone Mortar and Pestle, with several clay flasks. As usual, she was going to refine some medicine and potions. There were many different kinds of herbs found in her table, and Rain can recognize a majority of them with the help of Sylphy.

Looking over the plants, its name and properties immediately appeared in front of his eyes, similar to that of a game.

Since Sarete had already told him some of them before and explained their properties and uses, Sylphy had recorded it and now, even without trying to remember them all, he can easily understand and recognized them without a problem.

Goat Eye Grass, Three Star Flower, Eagle Leaf grass, Blood Root, Steel-tipped Grass and so on… according to Sylphy, they were all Level 3 and Level 4 herbs and even most of them were quite rare in the continent.

Gotta hand it to the Desolate Cave though, infamous for it to be one of the most dangerous places, they are quite a number growing in this place.

“Rain, come here,”

“Hm?”

Suddenly, as Rain thought that he was just going to observe like usual, but Sarete called out for him. Then, she turned towards him and holds up a stalk of red grass with a metallic sheen. “Do you know what this is?”

Rain tilted his head, “…that’s Volcanic Heart Grass, a Lv3 Grass used to obtain Heat and Fire Resistance, as well as increase the effectiveness of any Fire-type Herbs and Medicinal Plants.”

“Hm, indeed this is the Volcanic Heart Grass.” Sarete nodded. Then, once again she holds up another yellow-colored plant and asks, “Then what about this?”

Rain looked at it and the description in front of his eyes. He smiled faintly, somewhat confident; “Dallatic Plant, it’s a Lv2 Medicinal Plant that can be found and planted in temperate locations that are neither too cold or too hot. You can use it either fresh or dried. It can be stored when dried and must be boiled first before using. It’s good for treating flesh wounds, bruises, sprains, and cuts by applying it to the wounded part.

It cannot be consumed, however. Otherwise it would cause a heavy sleep effect so deep one can’t wake up until a day had passed. Hence, it was also used for those who have a hard time sleeping. However, what’s noteworthy is that Dallatic Plants is a hidden ingredient used to create Lv3 Healing Potion due to its ability to reduce the aggressive nature of the other Medicinal Herbs.”

…something like a Homeostasis effect…