Chapter 290 - 260: Wait Until I Finish the Application
Chapter 290: Chapter 260: Wait Until I Finish the Application
Gu Ning gently pushed Cook toward Vine.
It would be even better if they could take Cook. Not only did she want Cook to have more Beastmen looking after him, but she also hoped he could integrate into the group. Perhaps it would help with his degeneration.
She had looked into some information about Beastman degeneration, and a stable social group was known to help Beastmen delay it.
Mixed Breeds were unwelcome no matter where they went, so Cook needed more safeguards.
Aside from Barto and Seth, Vine was one of the few Beastmen Cook really trusted, likely because his older brother was also in Vine’s Wolf Pack.
"Sorry to trouble you, Captain," Gu Ning said politely to Vine, without her usual urge to avoid him.
’If I want Cook to join the group, then I have to do the same. I can’t keep trying to avoid them like I used to.’
’Even though her team-up with Vine and the others is temporary, I’ll have to integrate into Beastman Society eventually. It’s impossible to avoid interacting with Beastmen, so I might as well start with them.’
’After everything we’ve been through, at least I know I can trust them.’
’Although their personalities were still a handful, and Vine, in particular, always made her feel intimidated.’
Gu Ning looked up at Vine, offering a slightly stiff smile.
Vine lowered his gaze, taking in the small female’s smile and the way she had pushed Cook toward him. He paused for a moment before saying, "Wait until I finish the application."
Gu Ning asked, confused, "Application?" ’What application?’
Vine sized up her small frame, his tone uncharacteristically hesitant. "If you can’t wait, eat something first. You barely ate last night, so you probably don’t have enough energy."
Listening to the stiff, formal translation from her earpiece, Gu Ning could only grasp the basic meaning of his words. She didn’t pay much mind to his mention of an application—’It’s probably work-related, meaning he can’t watch Cook right now’—and just went along with it, nodding. "I am hungry."
She could already smell the aroma of food; Barto was making porridge for her.
A few minutes later, Barto placed the finished meat porridge and a glass of hot milk in front of Gu Ning. Beside them was a plate of freshly cut fruit.
With a soft CLICK, the door shut. Vine had left.
Gu Ning had a feeling the serious captain had something on his mind. After their conversation outside the restroom earlier, he had been silent, his gaze fixed on her. It wasn’t his usual cold sternness; he seemed lost in thought over something important.
’He seems a little strange today, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.’
Now that he was gone, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Does your stomach still hurt?" Barto asked.
Hearing Barto’s question, Gu Ning looked away from the door and stirred the rich, fragrant meat porridge in her bowl. She took a large spoonful before answering, "A little."
Barto saw that she wasn’t listless like last night and seemed to be in a decent mood, but her complexion was still pale.
’Probably from the blood loss,’ he figured.
He’d spent all night researching female estrus but hadn’t found any cases that matched Gu Ning’s symptoms. All he could do for now was monitor her condition and make her easily digestible food.
Gu Ning was halfway through her meal when Leo burst into the room, laden with bags of all sizes.
"Eating already?" Leo dropped his haul on the table and glanced at the food in front of Gu Ning. "How is this little bit supposed to give you any energy? Here, here, look at all the good stuff I brought back for you."
As he spoke, he started pulling food out of the bags and laying it out. There was fish and meat—all high-calorie foods—until the table was completely covered.
As far as he was concerned, aside from shots and medicine, the fastest way to recover and replenish energy was to eat a lot, and eat well.
’Since the little female isn’t sick, just weak from being in heat, then eating is the best way to get her strength back.’
’Though he still didn’t understand why being in heat would make someone weak. Shouldn’t she be more... agitated, if anything?’
When he went into heat, he was too wired to feel the least bit sleepy. Without an Inhibitor, he’d get so frenzied he could tear the entire house apart.
In school, Leo had either slept through his academic classes or skipped them for other courses. After coming of age, he went straight to the military, so he’d had very little contact with females. He didn’t know much about them and wasn’t about to make any rash judgments about Gu Ning’s condition.
Gu Ning’s gaze swept over the feast of fish and meat. The most conspicuous item, sitting right in the middle, was a giant... ’Egg?’
Gu Ning pointed to the egg, which was nearly the size of two of her heads. "This is... what kind of egg is this?"
She reached out and touched it. It was still warm; it must have been freshly boiled.
"It’s a bird egg. An ostrich egg." Leo held the egg out in front of Gu Ning, presenting it like a treasure. "I figured, since you’re from the Snake Clan, and don’t all snakes love bird eggs? I went and got you the biggest one I could find. Do you like it?"
’An ostrich egg?’ Gu Ning thought. ’Everything really is bigger in this world. This ostrich egg is several times larger than any I’ve ever seen.’
Barto snorted at Leo’s words. ’This stupid dog. Does he really think Gu Ning is from the Snake Clan?’
Just then, Philinos entered the room and came to a stop behind Leo.
Hearing it was a bird egg, Gu Ning glanced at Philinos, who was standing there as still as a statue. She had a feeling he was about to smack the "dog" with his scabbard again.
’Philinos is a Bird Clan Orc, and an ostrich is a bird. It’s probably better if I don’t eat it.’
Philinos keenly caught her glance. He paused for a beat, then walked to her side, tapped the ostrich egg with a knuckle, and began to peel it for her.
Gu Ning stared at the enormous ostrich egg, unsure of where to even begin.
’An egg this big would be enough to feed me for three days.’
Cook, however, seemed very interested in the egg, his eyes wide with curiosity and a desire to eat it.
Leo eagerly prepared to break the egg open for her with his bare hands, but Philinos shoved him aside, picked up a dinner knife, and cut the egg into several equal portions.
"Damn," Leo said, sniffing the air around Philinos. He made a face. "Did you put on cologne?"
Philinos said nothing, just gripped the knife handle and jabbed it backward.
Leo deftly dodged the attack. "Don’t push me. I’ll let it slide this once, but try that again and I’ll break your chicken wings."
"Eat, eat," Gu Ning interrupted, tapping the table. "Both of you, sit down."
Leo immediately and gleefully pulled over a chair, trying to squeeze in between her and Barto.
Just as Leo’s butt was about to touch the seat, Barto yanked the chair out from under him. Caught off guard, Leo tumbled to the floor.
"..." Gu Ning pressed her lips together and said softly, "Barto."
The corners of Barto’s mouth curled up. He shrugged at her, putting on an innocent expression.
"Red-haired fox! You looking for a fight?!" Leo yelled, scrambling up from the floor.
Philinos blocked Leo and placed a bottle of painkillers he’d been clutching in his hand in front of Gu Ning. "For the pain. I’ve taken them. They work pretty well."
Barto shot the bird a sideways glance. Remembering the faint scent of blood he’d caught on him earlier, he let out a soft snort.
Gu Ning took the painkillers and looked at them. "’You’ve taken them’?" she repeated. ’What does he mean by that?’
"You’re injured?" she realized, her eyes scanning Philinos. "Was it the Mutant Species?"
Many of the Beastmen in their squad had been hurt during the Mutant Species attack. Among the three captains, Leo’s injuries had been the most severe. She had asked Vine and Philinos if they were hurt, and they had both said they were fine—and they had looked it, too.
’Considering how little Philinos usually says, he was probably injured and just didn’t mention it.’
"Yeah," Philinos said. "Just a scratch. It’s almost healed."
Barto snorted again.
Gu Ning gave Barto a baffled look. ’What’s the little fox snorting about?’