[Congratutions, you have reached Level 2 in Sex][Unlocked bonuses: Greater stamina, improved control, subtle increase in perceived attractiveness to opposite-sex NPCs]

  Kai blinked a couple of times. Level 2… really? He hadn’t known that kind of thing could be leveled up. He looked at Sira, who was still lying on her side, with a sleepy smile on her lips.

  Night had fully fallen when Kai stepped out of the hut. The cool outside air hit his face like a sharp reminder after the stifling heat that had remained inside with Sira.

  He could still smell her on his skin, the sweat mixed with that sweet, feline scent that clung to his senses.

  He quickly adjusted his pants and looked around. The vilge bonfires flickered at several points, casting long shadows over the new buildings. Some of the catgirls were still moving about, finishing small tasks before going to bed.

  Sira appeared at the threshold behind him, her tribal skirt half-fixed, her white hair tousled, and a satisfied smile she didn’t try to hide. She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms under her chest.

  “Are you leaving already, Master?” she asked, her voice still hoarse, with a subtle purr beneath the words.

  Kai turned his head toward her. The light from the nearest bonfire illuminated one side of her face, making her blue eyes shine brightly.

  “I’m not leaving yet,” he answered calmly. “But tomorrow morning I head to the city. It’s several days away. I need supplies, tools, soldiers, and maybe information about her. We can’t keep growing just with what we hunt and gather here.”

  Sira tilted her head slightly, her ears moving with curiosity. “And you leave us alone?” she said, though the tone held no reproach, only pyful teasing.

  Kai shook his head. “I’ll tell the rest tomorrow morning. I want it clear who’s in charge while I’m gone. And what to expect.”

  Sira let out a low giggle and took one step closer, brushing his arm with her tail. “Then go. I’ll stay here… recovering a bit.” She winked at him before turning and disappearing back inside the hut, leaving the door half-open.

  Kai took a deep breath, letting the cool air clear his mind. The pn had been forming in his head for a while. The vilge had reached level 2, but that wasn’t enough. He needed metals for better weapons, seeds for more varied crops, maybe maps or rumors about nearby dungeons.

  The human city was the logical pce to start. But first, he had to make sure everything stayed in order here. He didn’t want to return to chaos.

  He walked with firm steps toward Ivark’s house. The tall structure stood out above the rest of the vilge except his own, its raised roof casting a long shadow under the starlight.

  The orc was sitting at the threshold, sharpening a new weapon, an axe he had surely made in this short time, running a smooth stone along the bde. The rhythmic scrape of metal against stone was the only sound breaking the night silence nearby. Ivark looked up when Kai’s footsteps crunched on the packed earth.

  “Master,” the orc greeted with a slight nod, setting the stone aside. His green skin looked darker in the dim light, but Kai noticed that the recent scars on his torso had almost completely faded thanks to Katherine’s healing.

  Kai stopped in front of him and crossed his arms, sizing up the orc for a second before speaking. Ivark was loyal, strong, but not stupid. He knew his presence could complicate things in human territories.

  “Ivark. Tomorrow I leave for the city. I want to know if you’re coming with me.”

  The orc blinked once, clearly surprised. Then he let out a deep, grave ugh, as if the idea almost amused him. He scratched the back of his neck with a calloused hand, the sound of his nails against rough skin echoing softly.

  “I’d really like to, Master. Walk by your side, see you grow stronger against weak humans, protect you if needed… it would be a great honor.” He paused, lowering his gaze to the axe resting in his p. “But I can’t. Orcs aren’t allowed in those pces. Most of us live in dungeons, in wild cns. It’s not common for us to get along with humans. They see us as monsters, and for good reason in most cases. If I enter a city, they’ll kill me at the gate or chain me to sell as a sve.”

  Kai frowned slightly, tilting his head. He looked at the orc more closely. Since joining the group, he had made him smaller and more pleasant-looking with the ability to shape subjects. His skin was less rough, his posture a bit straighter, and his attitude was no longer that of the arrogant orc from his first impression before being converted.

  “You don’t look as orc-like as before. Your skin is lighter, and your size isn’t as intimidating. You could pass for a warrior from somewhere else, or a half-breed from some border. It wouldn’t be so obvious.”

  Ivark shook his head firmly, though a crooked smile appeared on his lips. “I appreciate you saying that, Master, but no. It’s not just the appearance. It’s the dungeon smell I carry, the way I walk, the growl that slips out without meaning to. The guards smell it from far away. And if trouble starts, I don’t want to drag you down with me. Better I stay here, watching the vilge. I’ll keep order, protect the catgirls. When you return, everything will be ready for the next step.”

  Kai looked at him in silence for another moment. Ivark didn’t look away; there was real conviction in those eyes, no fear. It was pure pragmatism, the same that had kept him alive in the dungeon before joining. Kai exhaled through his nose and nodded once.

  “Alright. You stay. But if anything happens while I’m gone, don’t hesitate to use all your strength. I don’t want dead heroes, but I also don’t want intruders let in.”

  Ivark struck his fist against his chest with a dry sound.

  “Always, Master. You can count on me.”

  Kai turned and started walking back toward the center of the vilge. The bonfires kept flickering, but the air felt colder now, as if the night was deepening. As he walked, thoughts began spinning in his head like gears. With Ivark’s refusal, he wondered if going alone with Kat would leave him too exposed.

  Katherine is useful for healing, but in combat she’s almost useless for now. She doesn’t know how to handle a weapon beyond the basics, and her instinct is to run rather than fight. On a long road, with bandits or wild beasts, just the two of them would be easy targets. He could take Sira. She’s fast, clever, good with daggers and stealth. Her feline appearance wouldn’t raise too many suspicions; this is a fantasy world, there are surely mixed races everywhere. She could pass for an explorer or a merchant.

  But right then the question came up: Will the catgirls obey Ivark if Sira isn’t there? Katherine is too soft; she doesn’t command respect on her own, though her healing makes her valuable in my group. The catgirls see her as one of them, not as a leader.

  Ivark has brute strength, yes, and loyalty, but to them he’s still the big green orc, the stranger who came from far away. Some respect him out of fear, but others might challenge him if Sira isn’t there to mediate with that mix of charm and threat that only she has. What if an internal fight breaks out? Or if someone decides to ignore orders just because of jealousy or old grudges?

  Kai stopped for a moment next to one of the smaller bonfires, so many questions coming up, holding his hands out to the warmth to chase away the cold starting to sink into his bones. The fire crackled softly, sending sparks up toward the starry sky.

  He looked around: a few catgirls were still wandering, picking up tools or talking in low voices. He couldn’t leave the vilge without solid leadership. Maybe he should go alone. It would be faster, more discreet. He could use his skills to avoid trouble on the road. Combat Step to escape, Body Fortress to endure if needed. But alone… that meant no backup if things got ugly in the city.

  He took a deep breath and kept walking toward his hut. The pn wasn’t complete yet. He would decide at dawn tomorrow. For now, he needed sleep. The system and the goddess Nyara gave no answers, only numbers and bonuses.

  He entered the hut and closed the door behind him. Sira was already asleep on the mat, curled up with her tail wrapped around her own body. Kai y down beside her, staring at the straw ceiling. His internal clock told him it was close to midnight. At 12, the vilge would be completely silent. And he, with his mind still spinning, would try to rest before the journey.