Chapter 80: Chapter 76: Wish
The existence of Half-Beastmen has been a tragedy from start to finish.
The war between Beastmen and humans stretched on for a thousand years, with each side viewing the other as their greatest enemy. Thus, after one side gained the upper hand, burning, killing, and pillaging became the expected methods of retribution.
Half-Beastmen were born against this backdrop.
In their veins flowed the blood of both humans and Beastmen. At best, they could possess the Strength of Beastmen and the wisdom of humans. At worst, however, they could inherit human frailty and Beastman foolishness.
This race, born of mixed blood, was continuously born and propagated throughout the millennium-long war. Their population grew and grew until, today, they have become a major race too numerous to be ignored.
But these beings, whose very existence was fraught with contradiction, were naturally welcomed by neither side.
Humans detested their bestial features, viewing them as aberrations. Even though time has washed away the worst of it and they can now coexist peacefully, the vast majority of people still subconsciously remain on guard against them.
Or, to put it more bluntly, disgust and discrimination.
The Beastmen, for their part, despised their impure bloodline, mocked their relative lack of Strength, and drove them from their territories to fend for themselves.
Born as Half-Beastmen, both Lena and Ali had experienced far, far too much ridicule and disdain...
Ali had tried to make friends, but upon seeing her partially bestial body, even kind-hearted people would just offer a slightly apologetic smile and hurry away.
What was more common, of course, was contempt and hatred.
She had endured far too much scorn and cruelty. So, finally, she hugged her scarred self, put on a mask, and learned to perform.
The bonfire flickered, and the chirping of summer insects filled her ears. In a daze, Ali suddenly felt the scene was familiar... like a dream she had often lingered in.
"Just like Lena said, you really are a very, very kind person."
She rested her chin on her arms, tilting her head slightly. The firelight reflected in her eyes.
"Is that so?"
Lin Mo smiled faintly. "I don’t really think so..."
What did they talk about that night?
Later, Ali couldn’t recall their exact conversation. She only remembered him sitting very close, his scent like the sun mixed with a hint of sweat. It wasn’t fragrant, but it wasn’t the least bit unpleasant either.
His face always wore a gentle smile—not forced, not evasive.
Ali’s toes tapped against the soft earth, her tail swaying gently behind her. The emptiness she had felt inside began to fill.
But this warmth was all too brief. He stood up, waved, and returned to his tent.
Ali stared blankly at his retreating back, forgetting for a moment to drop her smile. It finally faded, bit by bit, as the warmth in her heart cooled.
The girl bit her lip lightly, suddenly recalling a wish she hadn’t thought about in a long, long time—not since she had grown up.
’If only I weren’t a Half-Beastman...’
Shaking her head, Ali cast the stray thoughts aside. She composed her turbulent heart and slipped into her soft sleeping bag.
’I should get some rest. I have to get up for watch duty soon, and the adventure and battles continue tomorrow.’
...
As dawn was about to break, Lin Mo opened his eyes and took the last watch.
Alton, who took the first watch, and he, who took the last, had gotten the most rest. This was done to maximize the party’s Combat Power.
After all, the enemy they faced today would be no small fry like yesterday’s encounters.
The Earth Bear was an elite among Elite Level Demons. Its strength far surpassed that of a Mutated Goblin or a Large Slime; even a Cursed Cat Demon or a Minotaur couldn’t compare.
A single adult Earth Bear, with a Threat Level of 1, required at least a full party led by a Professional to even stand a chance.
This was a new term Lin Mo had only learned yesterday.
Just like Professionals, there was a huge disparity between different Elite Level Demons. Even within the same species, the gap between the weakest and strongest could be night and day.
Therefore, to clearly describe the danger posed by a Demon, the Adventurer’s Association used the term "Threat Level" to correspond them one-to-one with Professional Levels.
A Threat Level of 1 corresponded to Level 1 Professionals like Alton and Lin Mo.
Even so, this system could only delineate a rough range of power.
For instance, both Lin Mo and Alton were Level 1 Professionals, but Lin Mo felt he could take on two Altons at once.
And a stronger Level 1 Professional, in turn, could probably take on two of him.
The prerequisite for confronting, let alone hunting, such a Demon was that the party’s Professional could at least keep it occupied.
Alton wasn’t confident. Even though the Elite Level Demons one encountered just inside the Loran Forest Deep Forest Area were generally not too strong, this was an Earth Bear. A demon among Demons, an elite among elites, it was naturally a cut above the rest.
That was why he had wanted to recruit another member to boost the party’s Combat Power.
Having just woken up, Alton rubbed his eyes and looked at the young man sitting by the campfire.
’I can’t believe I hit the jackpot, recruiting a Professional so much stronger than me!’
’More importantly, he’s so young. His future is limitless.’
Alton wasn’t a fool. Though their time together might be brief, he knew that leaving even a small impression on such a person could lead to immeasurable benefits in the future.
’If it’s him, maybe Bena...’
Alton’s deep thoughts were interrupted by the scene unfolding before him. Ali emerged from her tent, stretching lazily. She seemed to wander aimlessly over to the fire and sat down not far from Lin Mo.
’Hmm, better forget it.’
’This promising young Professional seems to have some... rather special tastes...’
As dawn broke, the other three woke up as well. After a quick wash, they shook off the last vestiges of sleep and, starting with breakfast, shifted back into their adventuring mindset.
They had a simple meal to fill their stomachs, ensuring hunger wouldn’t affect their combat or judgment. The quiet breakfast passed, everyone packed up, and they set out once more.
"The Earth Bear’s territory is in the Deep Forest Area. We need to be even more cautious and careful today than we were yesterday."
Alton reminded his teammates. Even though it was common knowledge, he made a point to remind them every time before they entered the Deep Forest Area.
It was a lesson paid for in blood!
In Alton’s adventuring career, more than one team member had been lost forever in this vast forest due to a moment of carelessness.
"Understood, Captain."
Fortunately, there were no jokers in their current party. Even Solan, who usually seemed the most carefree and frivolous, never slacked off when it came to actual adventuring and combat.
"Alright then, let’s move out..."
