Chapter 203: Change of course
They chose a spot within the safe zone and set up camp for the night.
Kith and Mino led Ridan and the others off to prepare a celebratory feast for Sunny’s hatching. Viann and his team took charge of patrol, while the rest of the males each went about their assigned tasks.
Sal and Aviel stayed behind with Nina, keeping her company as she rested. Nearby, the cubs played happily on their own, while Taru and the others kept a watchful eye on them.
With nothing pressing to do, Nina called out inwardly, "Little Bun, have you found a way to break the curse yet?"
[Host, not yet. This curse is extremely complex. I haven’t been able to analyze a solution so far. You’ll have to wait a bit longer.]
Nina sighed softly. "Alright..."
It seemed she really would have to make a trip to Phoenix City after all.
Her attention shifted to the pile of treasures Roro had brought back. There were so many crystals—far more than she expected—and not just fire-element ones either.
Where on earth did it get all of these?
She picked out two Flame Crystals. These would go to Setan. One for what he came for—and one more as thanks for his help.
Just as she finished sorting, Ghost Wolf and his group approached.
"Lady Nina, these are the supplies we’ve gathered for you over the past two days."
They set down a large pile before her.
"Thank you." She turned to Sal and the others. "Check everything, then pay them with beast crystals."
Sal and the others quickly got to work, sorting and verifying the materials. As each batch was confirmed, Nina stored it away and exchanged it through the system.
With this latest haul, combined with what she had accumulated before, Little Bun leveled up again.
[Host, the shop has upgraded! When you have time, take a look. There are many new high-grade weapons and medicines now. We won’t have to fear mutated beasts anymore.]
"Great, I’ll check it out."
She skimmed through the upgraded interface. There were indeed far more advanced items available now. Not bad. This would make future battles much more manageable.
Still, a faint unease lingered.
That old monster... she had a feeling he was still alive. And if he was, he would come back.
The problem was that she had no idea what methods he might use next. And that made him difficult to guard against.
Meanwhile, Sal and the others finished tallying the supplies and paid Ghost Wolf’s group. The wolves were thrilled.
If we keep helping Lady Nina gather resources, we can earn even more beast crystals and grow stronger.
After dinner, Nina gathered her mates together.
"I’ve thought it over. Since the curse on me can’t be lifted for now, I’m planning to change our route. We’ll go to Phoenix City first, and head to Sea Blue City later."
She looked at all of them. "Does anyone have any objections?"
Some of them were city lords themselves. She didn’t know if they had other obligations, so it was better to ask.
Odian’s eyes lit up faintly. "Of course I have no objections."
He had wanted to bring her back to his homeland anyway. More importantly, this was for breaking the curse.
"I don’t mind either. Wherever you go, I go," Aviel said with a smile.
"I’ll just follow my mate," Kith added.
"Same here."
The others voiced their agreement one by one.
"Alright." Nina nodded, then turned to Mino, Finch, and Dian.
"Go ask your fathers what they plan to do. We’ll change course tomorrow."
She paused, then added, "Mino, ask Yanai and the others as well."
"Got it."
They each went off to relay the message.
Yanai and Ming’s group both agreed to come along.
But on Rosen’s side, there was a bit of a complication.
"Rosen, let’s head back to Sea Blue City first," Lani said. "Phoenix City is still a long way off. We don’t know how long Nina will stay there, and we can’t be away for that long. It’s better if we wait for her in Sea Blue City."
He was honestly worried that if Rosen followed along, she might never want to come back.
"But..."
Rosen wanted to stay with Nina, but she also knew she had already been away for quite some time. Back home, her other mates were still waiting for her.
And Nina didn’t even know how long she would remain in Phoenix City—Rosen couldn’t just wait indefinitely.
With a reluctant sigh, she nodded. "Alright. We’ll head back first and wait for Nina in Sea Blue City."
"Mother, you go ahead. I’m staying with Nina," Lex added.
Rosen turned to him, then smiled faintly. "Alright. Stay with her. I’ll be waiting for good news from you. As for those noble females back in the city—I’ll handle them for you."
In her eyes, Nina was already her chosen daughter-in-law. All the others could step aside.
"Thank you, Mother," Lex said quietly.
He would keep trying.
Rosen sighed softly, then instructed her mates to pack up and prepare to leave for Sea Blue City the next day.
That night, Sal brought Nina to a nearby hot spring.
He held her close in his arms as they soaked together, the warm water lapping gently around them while silver moonlight shimmered across the surface.
"Sal," Nina asked softly, "are you disappointed that Sunny isn’t a little leopard?"
She wanted to know what he truly felt.
"At first... a little," he admitted. "Kith and the others all have cubs now. I just couldn’t understand why I didn’t."
A trace of uncertainty lingered in his voice. "Nina... do you think I’m just... not..."
He trailed off, unable to finish. No male would willingly admit such a thing.
Nina let out a soft laugh. "Of course not. You’re perfectly fine. Don’t overthink it—it’s just a matter of luck."
If anything, she thought wryly, he was too capable.
Sal rested a hand against her stomach, his touch gentle. "But we’ve been together for a while now. Why haven’t we had a little leopard yet?"
"That’s because I haven’t been in heat," Nina explained calmly. "With how strong all of you are, it’s not that easy to conceive. Even Odian and the others haven’t."
She covered his hand with hers. "The only reason it happened so easily before was probably because that drug triggered my heat cycle early."
In this world, females had the highest chance of conceiving during their heat. Outside of it, the chances dropped significantly.
Normally, heat would come naturally at certain times, accompanied by heightened desire—but certain substances could induce it prematurely.
"Yeah... that scent back then was overwhelming," Sal muttered, resting his chin against her shoulder.
Next time, he thought, he’d make sure to guard her closely—no other males getting anywhere near her.
"By the way," he added, concern creeping into his tone, "how did you deal with it before? Did any other males ever..."
His voice tightened.
Given how badly her father had treated her—and how strong her scent must have been—how had she managed all those times?
The thought made his chest ache.
Even remembering that he himself had once taken advantage of her left him conflicted—guilty, yet oddly relieved.
At least it had been her.
In this world, once a female reached maturity, she would begin experiencing heat. After the first cycle, she could bear offspring.
"No," Nina said. "That was actually my first time."
She paused, frowning slightly. "Maybe the poison in my body suppressed it before."
Sal exhaled, relief washing over him. He tightened his hold around her.
"That’s good... From now on, I’ll stay by your side through every heat cycle."
No one but her mates would be allowed near her.
"Sal..." Nina looked at him gently. "Do you really want a little leopard that much?"