"Hello everyone, my name is Flora!" Evangeline's eyes curved into crescents as she introduced herself.
Her voice was alluring and pleasant, a seductive sound that was completely at odds with her ugly appearance. It was the kind of voice that made one's heart itch with curiosity.
Before long, a male Beastman sidled up to her. "Flora, what clan are you from? I want to be your Beast Husband. I'm a Bear Clan Beastman!"
As he spoke, the male Beastman's body shifted, and he transformed into a massive Brown Bear that stood three meters tall!
Its body was immense, covered in a coat of thick, heavy fur. Each strand was as thick as Evangeline's finger, and the fangs in its mouth were fearsome enough to make anyone shrink back in awe.
Evangeline watched, fascinated. This was the first time she had ever witnessed a Beastman transform between their beast and human forms with her own eyes.
"Flora! I'm a Three-star pattern Earth Element Beastman! I'm one of the best hunters in the Midridge Tribe, so I'll never let you go hungry! We Earth Element types can dig caves. No matter how big of a rock cave you want, I can dig it for you. That way we can store more food for the Cold Season! I can also have cubs with you! Our cubs would definitely be talented!" The Brown Bear before her opened its great maw, its voice booming out.
All male Beastmen possessed a Beast Crystal, and these crystals were naturally attuned to an element—metal, wood, water, fire, or earth, the five elements.
Of course, there were also some exceptionally gifted individuals whose Beast Crystals would mutate. A case in point was the original owner's Beast Husband, Thorne of the Snake Clan, who had cultivated a Thunder Beast Crystal. A pity...
Evangeline glanced at the Bear Beastman. Atop its furry head was a Three-star pattern.
She reached up to touch her own forehead and sighed. "But I don't have a Star Pattern."
The Disguise Pill completely altered one's appearance, not just hiding the Star Pattern but even erasing the Contract Mark on her waist.
The Bear Beastman froze. His dark bear eyes stared intently, and only then did he realize that the little maiden before him truly had no Star Pattern—not even a One Star Pattern! This meant she was completely incapable of bearing children!
The next moment, the Bear Clan Beastman zipped back into his human form and scurried away, looking utterly dejected. He seemed terrified that Evangeline would call him back and, through hell or high water, insist on forming a Contract with him to become her Beast Husband.
This was the reality of the Beastman Continent. Whether it was bearing cubs, finding a female, or finding a Beast Husband, the Star Pattern was the most important factor.
Evangeline sighed with emotion, her heart once again filled with pity for Danton.
'He's a perfectly good Five-star Patterned Beastman, not to mention pure-hearted and kind, and so handsome on top of it all. How did he get fooled by the original owner's sweet talk? His whole life has been ruined.'
'No way! I have to inherit the original owner's "legacy" and conquer a Beast Husband like Danton for myself.'
'In the summer, I'll be lounging on a chair eating grapes while he sits in the pond singing to me. Wouldn't that be wonderful?'
'Yes, wonderful indeed.'
A faint, almost imperceptible smile bloomed on Evangeline's lips.
The people of the Midridge Tribe, however, were not smiling. Their initial enthusiasm receded like a tide. They began to point at Evangeline, their expressions turning strange. No Star Pattern meant no ability to have children. What was the point of supporting a female like that? She would be nothing but a waste of food.
Verdant was also stunned. She stared at Evangeline's forehead; it was completely bare, with no Star Pattern in sight.
The abilities of a Witch were varied, but she had never heard of one that could alter a person's appearance and also conceal their Star Pattern.
"I have nowhere else to go. Could you let me stay for just one night? I promise, I'll leave tomorrow." Evangeline pressed her palms together. Her beady green eyes glistened with tears, and her seductive voice was choked with sobs, making the hearts of those who heard her ache in sympathy.
The surrounding Beastmen fell silent, looking at one another. Some of the male Beastmen even showed expressions of pity.
"You'll sleep at my place tonight." Before the crowd could react, Verdant grabbed Evangeline's hand and started leading her toward her own rock cave.
Along the way, Evangeline saw many Beastmen.
Most of these Beastmen were in their beast forms. After all, they were still fundamentally beasts. Even though they could take human form, it was mostly for convenience. Their beast forms gave them a greater sense of security. Evangeline even saw cat Beastmen and dog Beastmen.
Clearly, the Midridge Tribe was also home to many different cohabiting clans.
Back at the rock cave, Verdant began to rummage around but couldn't find the shimmering Mermaid Tail Skirt no matter where she looked.
Her expression turned grim. She turned to a tall, burly man with a thick beard. "Mundo, I remember putting the Mermaid Tail Skirt right here. Why is it gone?"
At this point, even though Verdant didn't want to believe Evangeline's words, she had no choice but to accept them.
Hearing this, Verdant's several Beast Husbands grew anxious and immediately started searching.
They knew how much Verdant adored that Mermaid Tail Skirt. Even though she couldn't fit into it, it was sparkly and gorgeous. If they took it to the tribal trading gathering, it would surely fetch a good price. If not a Wild Beast's Beast Core, it could at least be traded for several days' worth of prey without difficulty.
Mundo was an honest and simple-minded fellow. Failing to find the Mermaid Tail Skirt, his expression also soured.
He scratched his head and said in a booming, muffled voice, "We were all out looking for you today. Could someone have snuck in and stolen it?"
Evangeline sat at the entrance of the cave, swinging her long, dark-skinned legs back and forth.
Hearing Mundo's words, she didn't even turn her head as she chuckled softly. "Don't worry, it'll definitely be found tonight."
Upon hearing this, the Beast Husbands inside the cave glanced at each other, then at the female with no Star Pattern, and then back at Verdant, unsure of what to say. How could she possibly know about the Mermaid Tail Skirt?
Verdant bit her lip and said, "All of you, go outside. I have something to discuss with… with Flora."
The Beast Husbands were obedient and filed out one by one.
Verdant hesitated for a moment, then went and sat beside Evangeline, whispering, "Are you sure it was the Witch?"
"The one in your tribe who disposes of the prey's remains is a Porcupine Beastman, right?" Evangeline asked lightly.
Verdant's face turned pale. "Yes," she stammered, "it's Mang. He's the only Porcupine Beastman in our Midridge Tribe."
Evangeline turned to look out at the communal life of the tribe and shrugged. "Well, there you have it."
She propped her chin on her hand and looked at Verdant with a smile. "I saw him drag you to Thorncliff with my own eyes. Otherwise, after being bitten by a One Star Pattern Wild Beast like the Prismatic Python, why do you think the tribe didn't save you? Why did they throw you out before you had even breathed your last? And who in the tribe could possibly order a Porcupine Beastman like Mang around?"
It was a simple matter of logic, but most Beastmen had simple minds and strong bodies, so it was perfectly normal for them not to see it.
Verdant was speechless. "But the Witch…" she choked out, "Why?"
Evangeline rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, her expression flickered. "She's here."
"Wh-Who's here?" Verdant wiped her tears, her body still wracked with sobs. She had just looked up when she saw her Beast Husbands returning.
Mundo spoke in his rough voice, "Verdant, the Witch is here!"
"What?!" Verdant jumped, her face turning deathly pale with fear.
"Get a grip. Aren't you just broadcasting that you know everything?" Evangeline shook her head. 'Stupid!'
Verdant shivered. That was the Witch! H-how could she not be afraid?
A moment later, Evangeline saw a person dressed in a long robe—a silk robe at that, which looked soft to the touch.
She gave the robe a few surprised glances. 'So the Beastman Continent isn't as backward as I thought. They know how to weave silk?'
"Verdant, I heard you ran into the Prismatic Python today. Are you injured?" the robed person stepped forward and asked in a gentle voice.
Evangeline raised an eyebrow, looking the robed person before her up and down.
This was clearly the Witch of the Midridge Tribe.
On the Beastman Continent, not every tribe had a Witch. It was a sacred position, one that held abilities granted by The Beast God and could convey The Beast God's commands. For example, the original owner's Beast-mother, the Witch of The Oasis Tribe, possessed the power of healing. She didn't even need medicinal herbs, making her ability somewhat similar to a Healing Ability from a post-apocalyptic world.
The Witch of the Midridge Tribe was also a female—and a fair-skinned one at that.