Chapter 56
Nina decided to take a softer approach.
“You shouldn’t cut meat like that. It’s so easy to slice your fingers. That must hurt p>
Yanai waved it off carelessly. “It’s nothing. For a male, this kind of injury is like being scratched by a feather. I wouldn’t even lose a chunk of flesh. And even if I did, it would heal in no time p>
He truly didn’t mind—but Nina’s concern stirred an unexpected warmth in his chest.
No one had ever cared whether he felt pain. Yet this little female worried that such a tiny cut might hurt him.
For the first time, he began to understand why Mino and Sal were drawn to her.
Lowering his gaze, an unconscious softness flickered in his eyes.
Nina, meanwhile, thought: I’m not worried about your flesh. I’m worried about mine.
She forced a small smile. “Let me teach you properly p>
She stepped beside him and gently adjusted his hands. “Curl your fingers inward like this—slightly tuck them in. Keep the blade angled outward or downward. That way you’re less likely to cut yourself p>
Yanai froze.
Her small, incredibly soft hand brushed against his fingers. The spot she touched tingled as if struck by lightning—like when he’d once been hit by a thunder-element ability in battle. A numb sensation traveled straight to his chest, making his heart tremble.
He stared down at their touching hands, the tips of his ears slowly turning red.
“And you need to slice the meat along the grain,” Nina continued. “That way the pieces are more tender and easier to chew. Understand p>
Yanai hadn’t heard a word.
“Hmm?” Receiving no reply, Nina turned her head. “Yanai p>
He jolted back to himself. “Y-Yes. I understand p>
He quickly corrected his grip and repositioned the meat. “Like this p>
He kept his head lowered, not daring to look at her. His ears burned hotter, and his heartbeat thudded uncontrollably fast.
Nina examined his posture. “Mm. That’s right. Just like that p>
As he resumed cutting, Yanai silently tried to steady his racing pulse.
Does this little female have some strange ability? Why does being touched by her feel so… odd?
When Nina saw that he had finally stopped throwing away perfectly good meat, she returned to her seat with relief.
By the time the dishes were finished, Mino had just returned.
He inhaled the fragrance in the air and cast Yanai a suspicious look. “You didn’t make Nina cook herself, did you p>
“Of course not. The little female taught me. She teaches a hundred times better than you. See? Doesn’t this look proper? So clearly the problem before was you,” Yanai retorted.
Mino snorted. “No, the problem was that you’re slow p>
Yanai ignored him and instead prepared Nina’s utensils, serving her a bowl of food and handing it over.
“Thank you,” Nina said as she accepted it.
“You don’t have to be so polite with me,” Yanai replied, a faint shyness creeping into his expression.
For some reason, when he looked at Nina now, he no longer felt as calm as before. There was a strange, unnameable feeling in his chest.
After the meal, Mino pulled Yanai aside.
“Memorize these vegetables. Next time, you’re going out to hunt and gather p>
Yanai nodded. “Alright p>
Mino took vegetables out of his storage space one by one, introducing them carefully.
“This is wild greens. Nina likes them a lot—if you see them, gather more. This is radish. Also food—bring back as many as you can find. And this p>
This time, Mino had thoughtfully uprooted entire plants so Yanai could recognize them more easily.
Yanai listened attentively. Whenever Mino mentioned something Nina liked, he unconsciously paid extra attention.
“Did the little female teach you all this too? You never knew so much before,” Yanai asked.
“Of course. I told you—Nina is amazing,” Mino said proudly.
Yanai glanced in Nina’s direction, admiration flickering in his eyes.
She truly was remarkable.
That afternoon, Leah and the others came to visit.
“Nina, we’re here to see you!” Leah called from outside.
Nina set aside the nest she was weaving and responded, “Wait a moment, I’ll be right out p>
She turned to the eggs and whispered, “Who wants to come outside and play with Aunties p>
Three eggs wobbled enthusiastically. Nina chose the one shaking the most. “You seem the most eager. Mommy will take you p>
She addressed the remaining babies, “Now we’re going to play a game called hide-and-seek. Mommy is going to hide you first. Don’t move, okay? Whoever moves loses—and Mommy won’t sleep beside them tonight p>
The eggs immediately wobbled in protest, their rhythm clearly signaling agreement.
Nina found a secure hiding spot and tucked the remaining eggs away carefully.
In case of unexpected trouble, it was safer this way.
She had already decided to leave the tribe. The fewer people who knew about her seven eggs, the better.
Looking at the hidden babies, she sighed softly in her heart.
I’m sorry, little ones.
She needed to think carefully about their future and leave as soon as possible. For some reason, she increasingly felt that Pine Stone Tribe was not safe.
Holding one egg in her arms, Nina stepped outside.
Sal stayed behind, curling protectively around the hidden eggs.
“Nina, is this your baby? The shell is so beautiful!” Bibi exclaimed excitedly, staring at the egg.
“Yes. This is my baby,” Nina said with a smile.
“Can I hold it?” Bibi asked eagerly.
“Of course p>
Nina passed the egg to her.
Bibi received it with utmost care, cradling it like a treasure. Leah and Minnie hovered nearby, their eyes fixed on the egg in envy.
Before long, Leah couldn’t help herself. “Bibi, you’ve held it long enough. Let me hold it too p>
“Wait! I’ve barely had it a moment,” Bibi protested.
“Nina, look at her,” Leah complained.
Nina laughed lightly. “Let her hold it a bit longer. You’ll get the same amount of time afterward p>
“Fine,” Leah relented. “So—how are you feeling after giving birth last night? I heard Dora gave birth too, but she had severe bleeding. It’s serious—she can’t even get out of bed p>
“I’m fine. No discomfort,” Nina replied.
After taking the postpartum recovery pill, she had recovered quickly.
“That’s good,” Leah said, relieved to see Nina looking so well.
“Nina, did you see the strange phenomenon in the sky last night?” Minnie asked.
“Strange phenomenon? No. I think I heard thunder, though p>
Nina hadn’t found it unusual. It sometimes thundered before rain.
“Thunder? The sky lit up and kept changing colors. It was breathtaking,” Minnie said excitedly.
“Really? I was probably giving birth at the time—I didn’t notice,” Nina replied.
“That’s a pity. But your babies are more important,” Minnie said.
“Mm p>
They continued chatting happily.
Meanwhile, at the tribe chief’s stone house—
“Chief, there’s a beastman from the Elder’s Tribe outside. He says he has something very important to discuss with you,” a male reported.
“A beastman from the Elder’s Tribe? Did he give a name?” Chief Tali asked.
“No p>
The chief frowned thoughtfully but decided to meet him.
At the tribe entrance, he realized he didn’t recognize the visitor. “Who are you? What business do you have with me p>
“My name is Chaolu. I have something important to discuss. Chief Tali, could we speak somewhere private?” Chaolu said.
After a brief hesitation, the chief nodded.
They moved to a secluded spot. Suddenly, Chaolu darted away swiftly—and a figure stepped out from behind the nearby trees.
Chief Tali’s eyes widened in shock.
“It’s you p>