Chapter 274: Too Many Apologies

Tera was surprised. "You did what?"

The younger one spoke for the first time, still face-down in the dirt. "They do not know we left."

Tera looked over at Ermin, who was just as surprised.

"We—we have been in that forest for more than thirty days now—"

Tera stopped listening for a moment, because her head was busy.

They had come without permission. That changed the entire situation because for them to have come all the way here meant they were desperate.

Naiya was going to lose her mind when she realised two of her clan members had come all the way here. Whatever happened to these two when they went back down was not going to be pleasant, and they had to have known that before they set off.

"—and our food is—"

"No."

The older one stopped.

"No, hold on." Tera put a hand up, slightly frowning. "You don’t get to do that."

They weren’t going to get sympathy points from her just like that. Who would come to her after the history between them, say they wanted to beg, and then straight on head into gushing about their sad predicament.

If that was even remotely true.

"You don’t get to walk up here after everything and start listing things you need like I’m some storehouse."

"We are not—"

"You said you came to beg. Fine. You barely even did that, and you just went straight into what you want from me, like that was the whole thing."

Tera felt she might be acting petty about this, but she didn’t care.

Something about their behaviour especially pissed her off.

"I don’t need an apology," Tera said. "Let’s be clear about that. I’m not standing here waiting for one, and I don’t need anything from any of you."

She pointed sideways.

"But what about him?"

Both males went still while Ermin jumped when Tera nearly jabbed her finger in his chest. But she didn’t know, as she was still looking at the Jackdaw males rather.

"You threw him out, especially when he hadn’t done one single thing. Not one. He was thrown out because of me, and he spent a long time without his family because of you. His uncle was sick, and he has passed now, and you couldn’t even ask about that? You didn’t even bother to ask after the sick old man. Do you have anything to say about that? Or did you only rehearse the part about the food?"

The males paled while Ermin stared at Tera with awe.

[Calis admires Host’s immense consideration]

[Ermin is touched by Tera’s loving care and gesture]

[Ermin doesn’t know what he’d do without Tera]

’Oh, no, don’t say that!’

Tera had been about to address Ermin right then and there but decided to push it off till later when they had more privacy.

If she hadn’t caused Ermin that much trouble in the first place, he wouldn’t have been kicked out of the tribe.

But then again, after the disaster they had just faced...

Tera shook her head, not wanting to dwell on it.

"And another thing." She was rolling now, and she could not have stopped if she had wanted to. "Why are you even here? Why me? I am a shiftless beast like you constantly reminded me. Surely a whole tribe of proper beasts doesn’t need help from something like me. I am sure wherever you are is managing perfectly well without a troublesome shiftless beast like me being involved in it."

Both of the Jackdaw males were looking at the ground, and the expression on both their faces was so openly wretched that it surprised Tera.

They looked so ashamed and guilty that she almost felt sorry for them.

Then the older one turned to Ermin and began to apologise.

It came out badly, the way things come out when somebody has not planned the words and has been carrying them for too long. He said he was sorry, and had watched it happen without trying to defend him, including how there had been no reason for Ermin to be sent out like that.

Tera, Ermin, and Calis had just been stunned by how swiftly he had started apologising to Ermin, and almost immediately.

The younger one joined in from where he was sitting in the dirt, profusely apologising to Ermin.

Off to the side, Calis had folded his arms and was watching the entire thing with open fascination. He had not said a word since the two of them came up the path. He was following every exchange like a male at a very nerve-wracking but interesting fight.

But he noticed something strange about how they avoided talking about Tera when apologising to Ermin. It felt like they were being careful about what they said while also apologising to Ermin.

"Please, stop." The panther shook his head, and the males stopped.

"That is enough." Ermin sighed.

He then looked at Tera. "It wasn’t really necessary, but thank you, Tera."

Tera faintly smiled, happy that Ermin had gotten some closure, no matter how tiny.

The males looked relieved, but also uncomfortable and ashamed at the same time for having to be told to apologise when they should have done it in the first place.

That was when Calis spoke up.

"Why are you not apologising for banishing her?"

Everyone went quiet.

[Uh oh]

[?????]

[Host’s past is about to catch up with her present]

’Fuck. Stop it! It’s not my fault SOMEONE threw me into the body of someone who had done such a terrible thing.’

Tera did not feel comfortable. She didn’t know how she was even going to explain this to Calis. How would he feel when he learned of what she had done?

For the first time in a while, Tera felt a slight wave of anxiety.

She didn’t want him to know why she had been exiled, but she would have to have that discussion with him.

[Sorry, Host]

[( ?•ω•? )]

[HOST!]

[(⊙_⊙)]

[Host has gained +5 construction stat, and +5 influence stat from completed shelter]

[Host has gained 3,000 Legacy Points]

[Feron is working hard—]

’NOT NOW!’

[(ˊ????? ? ?????ˋ)]

[Sorry, Host]

That announcement couldn’t have come at a worse time for Tera.

She quickly focused on what was more important.

"You have apologised to him," Calis continued, pointing at Ermin. "But not Tera at all."

The two Jackdaw exchanged a deeply uncomfortable look.

"Calis—" She turned toward him fast. "Don’t worry about me. That isn’t necessary at the moment, I—"

Calis was confused, not liking this. "But you deserve—"

"Later, I—"

The males started profusely apologising to her.

’YOU IDIOTS!’