Chapter 58 - 058: Wild beastman

Morning had already settled over Ravenfall when Anaria finally opened her eyes. She lay beneath the furs for a moment, feeling the heaviness in her body, then something rang in her mind

Anaria turned to the space beside her, and it was empty "Kenai?"

There was no answer. His things were still there, but judging by the cold bedding, he had been gone for a while.

Anaria sighed "He could’ve said something before leaving."

She sat up, immediately feeling the familiar heaviness in her stomach and the tiredness in her limbs, wanting to make sure everything was fine, she called the system.

The familiar panel appeared.

[Yes host]

Ananria told it to do a self scan on her.

[Pregnancy Status: Stable]

[Fetal Condition: Stable]

[Host Physical Condition: Fatigued]

[Warning: Host should avoid excessive physical strain.]

Anaria nodded "Alright"

At least there was nothing dangerous, she dismissed the scan and got ready. A servant soon arrived to tell her the bathing water was ready.

After her bath, Anaria dressed and stepped out of the room, already wondering if she should return to bed.

Then she heard voices coming from the dinning area, she hadn’t expected to find all three males there.

Rylan was sitting near the table with Kai beside him. Kenai was there as well, already dressed and back to his usual responsibilities.

All three looked up when Anaria entered.

Kai was the first to speak.

"You look exhausted."

Anaria glanced at Rylan and Kenai before looking back at him.

"I didn’t get enough sleep, that’s all. Thanks for asking."

Kenai looked at her stomach.

"How is the baby doing?"

"We’re okay," Anaria replied with a small smile.

Rylan immediately moved to offer her a seat.

Anaria smiled at him and shook her head.

"I’m too tired to eat anything right now. I just want to go back to my room and rest. I only wanted to see you all this morning."

Kai watched her carefully.

"Is everything okay?"

Anaria smiled.

"Yes. Don’t bother yourselves. I’m just feeling sleepy, nothing more."

She turned toward the door, then paused and looked back at them.

"Please, don’t bother yourselves. Just maintain this tranquility, okay?"

"We will," Rylan assured her.

Anaria smiled at them once more before heading back to her room.

The moment she closed the door, she went straight to the bed, she had barely settled down when

Ding!

Her eyes opened.

The System appeared.

[New Task Available!]

Anaria’s tired expression disappeared "Not now, please..."

[Task: Soothe Berserk Beastman]

[Reward: Beauty package ×1, Building package ×2, Host soothing package×1]

[Penalty: Serious back pain for 5 days and loss of hair]

Anaria stared at the task panel "Soothe a berserk beastman?"

She waited for more information but nothing came.

"Where is he?" Still no answer, her tired expression slowly turned into irritation "Why are you giving me a task without even telling me how I’m supposed to find him?"

Ding!!!

Anaria’s eyes lit up with a little hope.

Then the next notification appeared.

[Good luck, Host.]

The System blacked out.

Anaria stared at the empty space "...You have got to be kidding me."

She stood.

"If the System isn’t going to tell me, I’ll find him myself."

Anaria left her room and began asking the people around the residence.

The first servant shook her head.

"A berserk beastman? No, Lady Anaria. I haven’t heard of one."

Another servant said the same.

The guards didn’t know either.

Anaria’s patience began to wear thin.

She asked anyone around the residence who might have heard something, but the answer remained the same.

No one had seen a berserk beastman.

No one had heard of one being brought into Ravenfall in a long time.

Anaria stood there, arms folded.

"This is ridiculous."

She had a task, a penalty she definitely didn’t want, and absolutely no idea where her target was.

By midday, she was already tired of searching.

She returned to her room and sat heavily on the bed.

"What exactly am I supposed to do?"

The System didn’t answer.

Anaria glared at the empty space in front of her.

"You know what? Fine."

She had asked around. If no one knew anything, there was nothing more she could do.

"I can’t soothe someone I can’t find."

She leaned back, deciding to leave the matter alone for now.

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.

By evening, Anaria had almost forgotten about the task.

Almost...

She was sitting inside with Rylan, Kai, and Kenai when a strange sound reached them from outside.

A loud crash echoed from outside.

Anaria lifted her head.

The three males also reacted immediately.

Another crash followed, then shouting.

Kenai stood. "Something is wrong."

Before anyone could move, a servant came running toward them, breathing heavily.

"Leader" she gasped. "A wild beastman has entered the village! He’s causing a commotion and injuring people!"

Kenai’s expression hardened "Where?"

"Near the outer residences."

He immediately turned to leave, Rylan and Kai moved to follow.

Kenai stopped and looked back at them "Who is going to stay with Anaria?"

Kai hesitated.

Kenai looked directly at him "You stay with her."

Kai nodded. "Alright"

They had barely turned toward the entrance when

CRASH!

A wild beastman tore into the residence.

Several servants screamed as he knocked through the wooden entrance, sending pieces of wood flying. One servant fell aside, injured, while another scrambled away.

The beastman charged straight toward them.

Rylan immediately stepped in front of Anaria.

Kai moved beside him, ready to defend her.

But Anaria wasn’t afraid.

Her eyes widened with excitement.

Fate had brought him right to her.

"The System’s target..."

She immediately tried to push past them.

"Anaria!" Rylan caught her arm.

"Calm down."

"Let me go."

"What are you doing?"

Anaria glanced at the wild beastman.

"If I’m lucky, nothing will happen to me."

She pulled herself free and moved forward.

Kenai turned sharply.

"Anaria, stop."

"Hold up."

She swallowed hard and looked at the beastman.

He was breathing heavily, his movements wild and unpredictable.

Anaria took a slow breath.

Then she closed her eyes.

"You better work, System."

She stepped closer.

One step.

Then another.

The beastman growled.

Anaria swallowed her fear and reached out.

Her hand touched his fur.

The soothing ability immediately spread through her.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the beastman’s breathing began to slow.

His tense body gradually relaxed.

The wildness in his eyes faded little by little.

Anaria kept her hand against him, maintaining the soothing effect.

Slowly, the beastman calmed.

His body shifted.

The wild form began to shrink, fur receding as his features changed.

Within moments, the beastman returned to his original form.

A cheetah beastman.

Anaria barely noticed the chime.

Ding!

[Task completed]

[Rewards obtained: Beauty Package, Building Package, Soothing Package]

She smiled. She had done it. Then she looked back at her mates. None of them were smiling.

Rylan stared at her with an expression she knew too well. Kai looked stunned, like he was trying to understand why she had walked toward a berserk beastman while pregnant. Kenai was the worst. He just stood there, face hard, eyes fixed on her.

Her smile faded. She knew what they were thinking. It was not about her soothing ability. They already knew about that. It was about what she had done. She had walked toward danger instead of waiting. And she had done it while carrying their child.

Rylan came first. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

Kai followed. "Did he touch you?"

"No."

Kenai finally spoke. "You should not have gone near him."

She knew that tone. She could explain she had trusted her ability, that she had kept control, that the beastman had calmed down. But looking at them, she knew none of that would help. They were worried.

So she made a decision. A terrible one. A very Anaria one.

She swayed. Her knees gave way. Rylan caught her. Kai’s face changed. Kenai stepped closer. She let her head fall against Rylan’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

"I do not feel very good."

The reaction was immediate. Rylan supported her carefully. Kai crouched beside them. Kenai placed a hand on her forehead and told Kai to get water.

Inside, she was pleased. Their attention had completely changed. No more questions about the beastman. No more angry looks. Now all three were focused on whether she was alright.

She opened one eye slightly. Rylan was still watching her. Kai returned with water. Kenai stayed close. She quickly closed her eye before they noticed. She had no intention of ending the performance too soon.

Outside, the village was settling down. The beastman had been taken away. Inside, however, Anaria had become the center of attention. She could not help the small smile that appeared.

She had completed the task. She had earned the rewards. And she had successfully avoided the lecture.

Kenai looked down at her. "Do not do that again."

She remained still and gave no answer.

Rylan adjusted his hold. Kai stayed beside them.

Anaria hid another smile. Perhaps pretending to collapse had been worth it.