Chapter 99: Apparently, the forest eats people now

Kanan continued to chat with his family, the pressure of the current situation unknowingly leaving his stressed body. With how much he had been working, he didn’t have time to just sit down and talk about random things like he used to.

’Maybe I should work less, especially now with my children on the way. Heh, I wouldn’t be surprised if Chief Solan assigns a female servant to me to help with child care so I can continue working. He’d probably hope I impregnate her as well.’

Viola had asked if Kanan had remembered the times when she wanted to become a warrior when they were little, his reply making her smile as he replayed the whole memory out in real time.

There were moments when she had to cover his mouth just so she wouldn’t hear the embarrassing parts she had hoped he’d forgotten.

"How could I ever forget those times, Viola? You were so cool. Especially when you acted as if you were the leader of the warriors and led us into a glorious battle."

"Lalalalalala! I don’t know what you’re talking about! Lalala! Can’t hear you!"

"Fufu. Kanan, were you a warrior in Viola’s fantasies as well?" Glena asked

"Ohh, no. I was the horse she rode into battle. Do you not remember when she would have me crawl on all fours and ride on my back?"

"W-Wait, that’s what you two were doing? I thought she just liked being on you. I didn’t know you were playing her horse."

"Neither did I until she told me to ’neigh’ one day so I could play my part."

Glena couldn’t contain her laughter. Each time she looked at Kanan, she couldn’t help but imagine him as a horse and would laugh even harder.

"You know, that’s not very nice." He grumbled

"My apologies, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, mighty steed."

"Ouch."

Viola, still pouting, elbowed him in the arm. "Sucks, doesn’t it?"

"Getting made fun of? Yeah, it does."

"A horse. Hahahahaha!" Glena knew she would sleep well tonight after such a good laugh.

As time passed, night fell, and Kanan gave up thinking that the chief would call him today, so he decided to go to sleep instead of waiting around.

He had cleaned up, telling Viola and Glena to meet him in the room when he heard a knock on the door.

"Guess we won’t be sleeping together tonight?" Viola asked

"I doubt it. I don’t think the chief would call me this late unless it was something important. That is, if the person outside was sent by the chief or someone on the council."

As he walked over to the door and opened it, he saw that it was one of the messengers that the chief usually sent when he was too busy to find someone himself.

"Ah, Shaman Kanan, I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time. It’s the chief; he has called for you. Are you able to make an appearance?"

Kanan leaned back inside his home. "Uhh, Viola, I don’t think we’ll be sleeping together tonight after all."

"I’ll let Glena know." After giving him a kiss on the cheek, Viola closed the door after Kanan left.

---

Kanan walked into the council room, the elders and chief, including Omula, already seated. He spent so much time in this building that it was practically a second home. All it was missing was a bed for him to sleep on.

"Ahh, Kanan, you’re here. Please, sit." Solan led him to a chair next to Omula

’Not very subtle, are we?’ Kanan knew that Solan was still trying to get him with his daughter, and he didn’t mind. Sure, he could accept Omula as his mate, but he didn’t feel as if it would be genuine.

He wanted Omula to truly love him for who he was, not because he was the shaman. Before the Blessing Ceremony, they were only acquaintances, so their friendship needed to bloom before their love could blossom.

That being said, Kanan couldn’t help but admit that she was beautiful. Her boobs weren’t as big as Viola or Glena’s, or any of the women he had bred, but her ass was definitely the fattest.

Omula wasn’t stupid either. She saw the way Kanan eyes her lower half. So she made sure to wear a more revealing tribal tunic to seduce him.

"Now that Kanan is here, we can talk about the rescue team we have prepared."

"I want to join it." Kanan blurted out.

"Absolutely not!" Everyone said in unison, even Telah.

"What do you mean no? And don’t say that it’s because I’m the shaman!"

"It’s exactly because you’re the shaman, Kanan. You’re too important." Solan tried to remind him.

"I get that, but these are the lives of our people we’re talking about. I can’t just sit down and do nothing, knowing that they could be in danger when I have the power to help them."

"Are you not formulating a plan with us right now?" Elder Trena asked

"Yes, but–"

"No, Kanan." Elder Lars interrupted him. "Don’t even suggest something like this again. The whole village would sacrifice themselves before a hair on your head could be touched."

"And of the times I had to fight?" Kanan asked

"A dire moment in our village. We all have agreed that if there is a crisis, you can act."

"Is this not a crisis?"

"Not enough for us to risk your life," Solan said with a neutral expression, signifying his seriousness.

Omula held Kanan’s hand underneath the table, hoping that it would quell his rising anger.

"Now, as I was saying before, the rescue team has been formed and will be deployed first thing in the morning. Kanan, I have called you here for another reason."

"Oh? And what reason would that be?"

"Apparently," Telah began speaking. "The forest eats people now."

There was a long, silent pause in the room where no one spoke and only the chirping of the night bugs could be heard.

It was only after three minutes of complete silence that Kanan finally broke it.

"Oh, you’re not joking."