“Is she okay?” I question as I look upon Jen, who Kin is carrying. Blood is still spilling out of her nose, and she is using this weird gesture that makes her look goofy.

And I got to be honest; her face is really red right now.

“I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?”

A very worrisome response.

In the eastern forest from Baricka, Jen, Kin, and I walk deeper into the woods. As we do, the area's atmosphere begins to grow darker, the crickets that chirp around the forest are no longer making a sound, and the soothing calm wind has stopped its advance. The deeper we went in, the harder it was for me to put down my guard.

My Natural Instincts skill was going all over the place, screaming that I should keep full alert. It was annoying. I knew that this place was welcoming for all demi-humans, so I shouldn’t worry about being jumped. However, it seems my Natural Instincts had different ideas.

Your Natural Instincts has ranked up to Rank B! +3 PER

At least it ranked up. Anyways, where's Lilith? Is she at the camp already? Or is she doing something else?

I shake my head and continue walking.

“So Kin, what kind of relationship do you have with Nisuki?”

I mean, Kin is one of Nisuki’s students, so it should be your typical teacher and student relationship.

Kin freezes. It takes me a while to notice as I walk, but I turn around to see Kin with a face of horror when I do. “I don’t want to talk about it.” I confusingly blink at Kin but decide it's something I prefer not to know.

It takes Kin a couple of minutes to calm himself until he finally starts walking again.

Was it that bad? If it was, I understand since Nisuki nearly killed me with her damn breasts.

I suddenly yawn as I begin to notice my lack of sleep.

Now I think about it; I barely got any sleep ever since I entered Baricka. If I were still human, I probably wouldn't be able to walk due to exhaustion. I got to be thankful for not being human anymore, but at the same time, I don’t want to think that way. I was given this power through sacrifices, and those sacrifices were some of my emotions and death to nearly everyone I loved. But… I’m sure they would all forgive me. I’m not going to let their sacrifices be in vain.

...I wouldn’t be thinking this way if the orb hadn’t changed me so much. If it didn’t, I would probably still try to murder Lilith. It's just that I knew doing something like that will end up with me and Charles dead. That’s why I have to live with it and continue living, all the while doing what I always wanted to do, venture out and do what I believe is the right thing.

Well… it isn’t what I imagined, but seeing one of those fat bastards controlling someone innocent, pisses me off.

My eyes widen at that moment.

...Wait, pisses me off? I thought the orb prevented me from feeling that way. Does it only limit a certain amount? If so, why don't I want to kill Lilith? Wouldn't that anger me more? Maybe Natural Sense has something to do with me not being aggressive towards her? But that wouldn't make sense. Besides, I still felt like murdering her even after the effects went off. ...I might ask Lilith or Charles about this after the invasion is over. They might know something about it.

A special action has been performed! +1 INT

...It hasn't been a thousand years yet, but somehow I got smarter.

I continue to stay in deep thought until Kin bumps me a little. “Aden, you alright? I said your name a couple of times, but you didn’t respond.”

I snap back into reality and reply to him, “Yeah, I’m alright. What is it?”

“This is going to be your first time in the demi-human camp, right?”

“Yup, is there something I need to know?”

“Be careful of my sister.”

“Wait, sister? Isn’t she supposed to be studying back in the eastern region?”

Kin shakes his head to this. “So Nisuki told you about that too.” I nod. “Thought so, yeah my sister wanted to go too, and they allowed her. She joined this invasion for my sake.”

“Your sake?”

“Yeah, she is always worried about me. Back in the eastern region, I always used to do dangerous things, such as go into dungeons alone.”

“Alright, but why should I be careful of her? She already sounds fine to me.”

“She’s desperate.”

“What?”

“She’s desperate for a lover.”

“...Oh.”

“Yeah, just… be careful around her.”

Well, this is going to be annoying. I thought I’d be able to relax around there without my mask. It looks like a bad idea after all.

I made a sad expression as I thought that.

“Okay, we’re close.” I shake off the gesture and look forward. That is when I'm able to sense something at the end of this deep forest. I run ahead. Kin smiles and follows suit.

I keep on running until fazing through some sort of invisible barrier and then blinded by an unknown light. I quickly close my eyes and shield them with both my arms, attempting to protect them from this sudden burst of light. I stay like this for a while until slowly opening them. That is when I finally saw it, the demi-human camp.

There is an enormous open field in the middle of this vast forest, half as big as Lexigon. Within that treeless area are lines and lines of large tents. It is similar to what a military campsite will be like when in the middle of an invasion. There are large white tents everywhere, along with lit torches that shine the night. The people who move around here can be similar to humans, but they are different.

Every singular form of life that moves around the camp were that of many races. Reptiles, beasts, every single kind of species is here. Everyone is talking, working, laughing, and just enjoying life.

I stare at the colorful camp as I feel… happiness—a sort of joy that I’ve cherished for so long before losing it.

“Aden, ADEN! Are you there!?” I shake my head and turn to Kin, who has a worried face now. “This is the second time. Are you really ok? You’ve been staring unconsciously for a while now.”

“Really, I’m fine! I probably need some sleep.”

“Sure looks like it. You’ve been losing focus a lot lately. Anyways, come on, let’s go meet up with Jen’s parents.” I nod and follow Kin into the camp.

But the moment we step into the campsite, people already begin to surround us.

“Hey, isn’t that Kin?” A person questions.

“It’s Kin!” Then all of a sudden, there are cheers. Everyone begins to cheer as they group up around Kin and me.

However, within these cheers of celebration, “Who’s that kid next to him?”

I knew something like this would happen. Oh well, I like to stay the mysterious type anyway.

Kin continues walking through the camp, looking around as people wave and shout for his return. He keeps searching until he finally finds them.

“Mr. Irian! Mrs. Irian!” The couple’s cat ears twitch, and they turn around from what they are doing to see Kin carrying someone important to them. The black-eared cat known as Mr. Irian and the pink-eared cat known as Mrs. Irian stare in shock as if their promise has been completed.

“Kin! Jen!” The couple yell and they both run up to Kin. They hug him along with the unconscious Jen, who still has that goofy red face. They both tightly hug them until Kin takes a step back and lends Jen to her parents.

“As promised,” Kin smiles, “Jen.”

The parents begin to tear up and accept Kin’s offer. They both put Jen in the middle of their hold, then cuddled around her. Then a second later, they both cry out. Kin smiles at this as people around the area begin to turn to see the scene that is currently happening. However, many of them turn back to what they were doing as it seems it's already being handled.

Kin turns around and looks like he was about to talk to me until...

“I see you’re back, Kin.”

“N-N…” Kin quickly turns his body to his left with a terrified face, “Nisuki-Sensei!” As he yells that, Nisuki slaps him in the face with one of her tails, sending Kin flying. I watch with everyone that just confronted this situation as Kin flys straight into one of the tents. The tent itself collapses as Kin slams into one of its balancers.

For some reason, I wanted to laugh for a moment but knew that was a bad idea.

Nisuki walks towards the red-cheeked Kin and picks him up by his tail with one of her own. Kin struggles savagely but stops as Nisuki hugs him.

“You idiot!”

“S-sensei?” Kin looks confused but isn’t any longer, as he sees tears coming down Nisuki’s cheeks.

“Y-you don’t know how many times I’ve prayed that you’ll return….”

“Sensei…” Nisuki kissed Kin on the forehead. Kin’s face turns entirely red.

“Make sure you don’t do anything risky like that again! You hear me!?”

“Y-yes, sensei!” The two kitsunes smile at each other.

I continue to watch this family reunion as if it's a movie until hearing another person call out to Kin.

“Kin!” Kin turns his head, as another person he most likely knows runs through the crowd and unto Kin. Most of the males get nose bleeds simply by looking at her. She is gorgeous, even with that small body of her’s.

“Sister!?” The girl who is just as big as Kin lands him with arms opened wide.

“Kin!” The girl yells his name again with joy. She gives Kin a big hug that looks like it's filled with love.

“B-big sister Aruko!?” Kin yells in confusion. He tries to balance himself but fails and then falls crashing to the ground.

The girl’s seven golden fox tails flail around wildly as she hugs him. Her similar red eyes stare straight into Kin’s eyes as she sits up on top of his belly. Her golden hair softly moves with the wind, and her fluffy ears twitch as her almost perfect aura shines the atmosphere brightly, as she is one of the most beautiful and cutest girls everyone has ever seen.

At least in my perspective.

Aruko smiles as her red-colored kimono, compared to Nisuki’s, has a shorter skirt that exposes most of her rosy white legs. Otherwise, most of her kimono looks about the same.

Aruko tilts her head, “You’ve come back.”

Kin’s eyes stare at Aruko widely until, “Yeah… I’m back, big sister.” Aruko giggles in response and gets off of him. Kin sighs as he stands up and dusts his back.

“So,” Aruko begins to ask, “did this masked boy help you by any chance?”

Kin's body twitches, and he begins to sweat. Then all of a sudden, everyone’s gaze is fixed on me.

Well… this isn’t good. One moment everyone was celebrating Kin’s return. Now all their attention is on me.

I stand silently, not reacting to everyone’s sudden stares at me.

But, of course…

“Aden!” Everyone turns their gaze to the person who yells my name, but most of them stand in shock, as the person who yells it out is no other than Nisuki.

Then suddenly, one of Nisuki's green tails shoots out and immediately wraps around me.

I knew it was coming, but I also knew I couldn’t do anything about it. So I just stood and did nothing.

When the tail finish wrapping around me, it pulls me to Nisuki at dangerous speeds. Before my face would land on her breasts, another tail swipes away the mask I had on. Then just like that, my face is stuffed into Nisuki breasts.

Nisuki giggles as she hugs me tightly. Aruko stares in shock, but Kin…

“Nisuki, stop! If you keep doing that, you’ll suffocate Aden to death!” Kin tries to help me, “GAH!” But instead of supporting me, one of Nisuki’s eight tails slaps him away, and he is sent flying… again. Then crashes into a tent… again.

Well, in my imagination, at least, since I can't see a damn thing!

“Ahh… Aden ~ ♡. I missed you!” Nisuki says with a blushing smile. She then proceeds to hug my body harder.

“It’s only been half a day.” I tried to say bluntly, but all that comes out is mumbling.

“Nisuki-san,” Aruko asks out loud while walking towards Nisuki.

“Yes, Aruko-chan?” Nisuki questions while putting most of her focus on me.

“May I ask? Who is... that person?”

“Oh! Excuse me.” Nisuki coughs to herself with a blush, still keeping my head entirely into her breasts. “This is one of Lilith-chan’s entertainers.”

“Lilith? Why is she here?” Aruko questions, sounding irritated about hearing her name. “Isn’t she supposed to be destroying important key points of the Northern Region?”

“She came from Lexigon. That was where she picked up this cute little dragon ~ ♡.”

“Dragon?”

“Mind showing them, Aden-kun?” Nisuki finally lets go of me; that is when everyone sees my face.

I take a deep breath of fresh air as I'm released from her iron-bending hug. “That hug was a lot longer than usual, Nisuki. And what’s with the Kun thing? Why did you add it at the end of my name?”

However, the moment I ask those questions, I begin to hear many girlish screams. I blankly blink for a few moments, feeling rather annoyed as I listen to boys, girls, women, and even men talk and whisper about me. I turn around, walk to my stranded mask, pick it up, dust it off, and wear it again.

I did a heavier sigh than before, then, “Morph.” Everyone around me watches in awe as some parts of my body begin to change. After a few seconds, my morph is finished. I put up my clothing sleeves, exposing more of my morphed body with some human features.

Everyone stands in silence until Aruko responds, “This looks like a lizard, but it feels more dreadful than a simple one… So, he really is part-dragon.”

Then a sirene voice is heard behind Aruko, “...A young one, it seems as well.” I widened my eyes as my Natural Instincts pierced at my very soul, filling it with dread. Just behind Aruko is another beautiful girl.

Aruko turns around, “Oh, Sensei Jun! I see you’ve woken up.” Jun smiles as her similar color, but a bit paler, skin nearly touches Aruko’s.

“Yes, I assume Kin’s return is what made the crowd here. Besides the crowd, however, I've sensed something strange, so I have come to investigate.”

Jun looks about a few years older than Aruko, but even if she did, most of her body looks like it isn’t fully developed, as her breasts still look pretty flat. Her thick eyebrows were this one big circle until they made a curve to opposite ends, almost like a falling teardrop. She has long, white twin-tail hair that goes all the way down to her kneecaps.

Wrap to a strand of her hair on the left side is a weird, thick, and silver string with fluffy white balls hanging down from both ends of the odd, metal-colored line. Jun also wore the same kimono as Nisuki, except hers is white, but it also seems looser. Making her clothing look easier to move around in. She is bigger than me, not too big since the top of my forehead stops near her eyes. Her eyes seem to be closed as well, like Nisuki’s, but I feel like… there is a bigger reason why her eyes are closed.

Is she blind? Or is there a bigger reason?

Not only that, she didn’t have fox ears or tails. Is she a different type of species? Or is she hiding it?

It didn’t matter. What did moment is when she appeared. The moment she did, dread instantly filled me to the point of forgetting she is an ally. It is... the same feeling when my skill first detected Lilith. Is she as strong as Lilith?

Jun… who is she? What is she?

Jun shifts her head and looks towards one of the destroyed tents, “I know you’re still conscious, Kin.” Kin rises out of the tent.

“Looks like I can’t fool you.” Kin awkwardly laughs.

“Don’t insult me. It will take many decades for you to conceal yourself from me. I suggest you stop trying to hide from me. You’re not an assassin.”

Ow, that gotta hurt.

“O-ok, sensei.” Jun sighs. I stare at Kin as Jun did so.

So Kin has two masters, weird… wait does sensei mean master? Anyways, why does he have two masters? Not only that, Aruko called her Sensei Jun, could Jun be…

“Now then…” Jun makes the same smile as she did when she first arrived, then turns back to me. “I sense an attractive and brave aura about you. Must be the reason why Nisuki took such a liking to you.”

Nisuki turns to Jun with a rather red face. Jun giggles a bit, “Don’t get me wrong, this intense aura attracts me as well.” I blankly stare at her as she faces me. “However,” Jun begins, “that isn’t the only thing that piques my interest.”

Jun takes her first step in my sights, but the moment she does, she instantly appears right in front of me as if a blur. Making me take a step back in surprise. The moment I did, Jun takes a sniff. She nods, “Yes, you smell like a new-born dragon. Not only that, you contain a similar scent to hers...”

“Lilith?” I question out loud.

However, the moment I answer her question, dread instantly fills me again. Before I noticed, I feel a very sharp blade touching and piercing a bit of my neck. I pause as the girl I thought was my ally is pointing a weird but dangerously sharp weapon at me.

It looks... like a katana.

Wait... what's a katana? This is my first time seeing such a sword.

Her eyes are still closed, but I can sense them looking at me threateningly. “Don’t you dare say her name!” Jun, all of a sudden, begins to breathe heavily, “I swear, I’ll make her pay for harming one of my students!” But the moment Jun says that, she pauses. “O-OH!”

Jun is a few steps away in a blink of an eye, and the blade she wields is no longer in sight. Jun coughs a few times awkwardly, “My apologies… that was childish of me.”

For the first time in all my life… I’ve never sweated this much in fear, at least.

Jun returns her usual smile. “Please forget what I just said.”

That isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Your Natural Instincts has ranked up to Rank A! +3 PER