Chapter 55: Information

Nagu understood that Hamoyin wanted to take this opportunity to keep her by his side legitimately, making future actions easier, and not because he wanted something to happen between them. But the feeling of her face heating up just wouldn’t go away!

She felt she had been too stimulated since early morning, making her head a bit dizzy. “So, what should we do now?”

“Since Duogaluo already knows, he will handle the rest.” Hamoyin calmly and naturally shifted the responsibility to Duogaluo. “You don’t need to worry.”

I don’t need to worry, but what about Duogaluo? Nagu felt a pang of guilt. “This doesn’t seem right…”

“I will help him deal with Azuran, so there’s nothing wrong.”

“Huh? You’re going to help?” Nagu was surprised that Hamoyin decided so quickly. She had thought Hamoyin disliked Duogaluo and didn’t want to have deep interactions with him. “Then wouldn’t the old woman have died in vain?”

Hamoyin shook his head. “Whether it’s Duogaluo or Azuran, they would both choose to deal with Gongduo and the witch first.”

“Indeed, I’m glad you finally agreed.” Duogaluo suddenly appeared at the previously closed window. He had been standing there listening to the conversation inside. “Now we can help each other and kill Gongduo in four days. Don’t you think this is more secure?”

Nagu looked at Duogaluo, who was only showing his head at the window, with a complicated expression. “You were listening the whole time?”

“Yeah, I thought Hamoyin tacitly allowed me to eavesdrop.”

At this point, Duogaluo glanced at the hands of the two people inside the room, which were clasped together. “So, you’re going to take Nagu back to your place?”

Hamoyin didn’t respond.

“You know, since I already know your plan, it would be safer for Nagu to stay in the village and live at my place.”

“I think it’s safer for me to stay with Hamoyin… It’s not that I don’t trust you, but you’re usually surrounded by leaders and such.”

Duogaluo looked amusedly at the girl standing beside Hamoyin. “Do you always speak up for Hamoyin?”

Nagu shook her head, then nodded. “…Anyway, I think this isn’t the right place to discuss things. Let’s deal with the old woman’s matter first and then gather to talk.”

“Alright.” Duogaluo left the window and entered through the door. “Hamoyin, you should go hide for now. I’ll handle things in the village and with Nagu. Come to the smallest lake in the forest tomorrow evening.”

“How about that?” Nagu tilted her head to look at Hamoyin, who hadn’t spoken since earlier. “Let’s discuss everything tomorrow night and decide what to do next.”

Hamoyin had no reason to refuse Duogaluo and Nagu’s suggestion, even though he wanted to take Nagu back immediately. “Okay.”

Seeing that he agreed, Nagu finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Then you should leave quickly. It will be troublesome if someone comes here later.”

Hamoyin wasn’t one to dawdle. After speaking, he quickly left the witch’s house while Duogaluo had Nagu stay inside. “I’ll notify the others. When the other witches come to check the old woman’s body, just say you don’t know anything, that you woke up and found her like this.”

“Okay, I understand.” Nagu nodded. “But do I have to stay in this house afterward?”

Honestly, she didn’t have a particularly deep relationship with the witch. Moreover, the witch and Gongduo were hostile towards Hamoyin, so she felt more scared than sad. “I don’t dare sleep here alone.”

“You can sleep at my place tonight. I have other things to tell you.” Duogaluo patted Nagu’s shoulder. “As Hamoyin said, don’t worry too much. We’ll handle it.”

“How can I not worry…”

Duogaluo chuckled. “True, but for now, just stay here a bit longer.”

Then, like Hamoyin, Duogaluo left without looking back, leaving Nagu alone in the house, feeling uneasy. But she didn’t have to wait long before the people Duogaluo notified arrived at the witch’s house. Two young witches came in first and went straight to the inner room to check the body.

Nagu noticed that Gongduo had also arrived. He was whispering with a few other men. Then someone came to ask her when the witch had died, and she said she didn’t know.

“I woke up and found her like this.”

About ten minutes later, Duogaluo returned to the house. He spoke briefly with Gongduo and then went to the inner room to find the two young witches without looking at Nagu.

During this time, Nagu was very afraid something would go wrong. She feared the body would be found to have not died naturally, but Hamoyin’s actions were thorough enough. Around noon, the two witches responsible for the examination said there were no abnormalities and that the witch had died of old age.

Although Nagu, who was responsible for taking care of the witch, was blamed a bit, there were no other major issues. The old witch’s body was eventually wrapped in animal skins and carried out by the men. They said the witch’s body would be buried beside the Mother Goddess.

This sounded mysterious, but Nagu didn’t delve into it. She simply tidied up the stone slabs and furs in the house and followed Duogalu to his place.

“I saw you talking to Gongduo. What did you talk about?”

After Duogaluo closed the door, Nagu cautiously asked, “Gongduo shouldn’t know that you and Hamoyin are doing those things behind his back, right?”

“What do you mean by ‘doing things behind his back’? He started it first. I’m just trying to stop him.” Duogaluo placed the large bundle of stone slabs Nagu had packed onto the table. “But we didn’t talk about much, just the usual greetings.”

At this point, Duogaluo thought for a moment. “I killed that monster and made it look like it escaped to make Azuran suspicious. It seems the plan worked well. Not only is Azuran suspicious, but Gongduo is also starting to panic.”

“So, what’s next? Are you and Hamoyin going to deal with Gongduo and then Azuran?”

Duogaluo nodded. “Azuran is no longer a trustworthy leader. Gongduo is the same; they would sacrifice their people for their goals. Neither of them can stay.”

“After you get rid of them, will you become the chief? Or one of your other brothers?” Nagu was curious about the tribe’s power distribution system. It seemed hereditary. “Or will it be Azuran’s descendants? Does he have any?”

“He has three sons, but they’re still young.” Duogaluo hadn’t really thought about what would happen after getting rid of Azuran. “The witches will choose a suitable leader from among the other chiefs, so I might be the next chief.”

“It would be great if it were you.” Nagu actually trusted Duogaluo a lot, but she had to stand by Hamoyin’s side in terms of loyalty.

“Oh? Why do you think that?” Duogaluo was surprised by the compliment. He thought Nagu only had Hamoyin in her mind. “And what matters to you if I’m the future chief? Aren’t you planning to leave here with Hamoyin?”

So, he heard that, too.

Nagu awkwardly touched her neck. “I mean, it would be good for your people…”

“Aren’t you one of my people? Nagu, have you forgotten that you’re human too?” Duogaluo bent down to look Nagu in the eye. His tone was different from before, with a hint of reproach. “Although you’re cute when you’re friendly with Hamoyin, don’t forget what you really are. You’re human, and you’re different from him.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“I’m just reminding you. You don’t have to leave with Hamoyin. If you leave human territory with him, then what? Can the two of you find a place to live peacefully?” Duogaluo straightened up and took two steps back, spreading his arms to show his strong, muscular body. “If you stay in my territory, I can give you the best protection.”

“Hamoyin is ultimately a beast. Half of his blood isn’t human; it’s the blood of the enforcers. Although Hamoyin can usually suppress his instincts, can you guarantee he’ll always be like that? Why aren’t you worried he might do something excessive after taking you back?”

“I know you might not understand what I’m saying, but my main point is… Hamoyin is Hamoyin, but his blood has wildness. He might hurt you.” Duogaluo lowered his hands and looked directly at Nagu. “I’m not saying this out of disdain for Hamoyin. He saved my life, and I know he’s kind, especially to you.”

“But we’re not the same species. You’re human, and you should be with your own kind, not with Hamoyin.”

Nagu wanted to shake her head, but her body was stiff and wouldn’t move. She didn’t want to agree with Duogaluo, but a part of her mind understood.

Again, it’s this body’s instincts.

This body never agreed with anything related to monsters. Now, after hearing Duogaluo’s persuasion, it started to agree. Cold sweat began to form on Nagu’s forehead. She felt her tongue and mouth were somewhat out of control, but she could still speak with her willpower. “I… I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”

“Hamoyin… won’t hurt me. I knew that from the first time he saved me. He’s different from those monsters. He doesn’t see human women and…” Nagu’s tongue froze, and she couldn’t make a sound. “…”

Now, her mind was thinking, ‘Agree with Duogaluo,’ ‘Stay in the human tribe.’

These weren’t her thoughts but ‘Nagu’s.’

“It’s in a monster’s nature to want human women to bear their offspring. They like young ones that look similar to humans. It’s their nature.” Duogaluo wiped the large beads of sweat from Nagu’s forehead. “Have you ever thought that Hamoyin hasn’t forced you for other reasons?”

“…No, he wouldn’t do that.”

“That’s because he hasn’t reached the time when he would do such things. You’re just lucky.”

What does that mean…?

Nagu was still trying to suppress the chaotic thoughts in her mind, so she didn’t have the extra energy to speak. She could only look at Duogaluo in confusion.

“Am I not clear enough?” Duogaluo looked at the bewildered Nagu and shook his head with a sigh. “Hamoyin just hasn’t reached his mating season yet.”

“…”

Nagu’s eyes went blank, and her chaotic mind had to process this new information.

Mating season??

Chapter 56: Ornaments

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Duogaluo looked worriedly at the swaying Nagu in front of him. At first, he thought she was just anxious, but now, sweat appeared on her forehead. “Do you need some water?”

“No…” Nagu didn’t know how to describe her current feeling, especially since her body had become even more terrified after hearing the word “mating season.” Vague scenes she had no memory of began appearing in her mind.

Without exception, she was being pressed down by terrifying creatures, and the pain and suffocating despair began to invade her entire body.

“You’re shaking.” Duogaluo finally realized that something seemed off. But had he said something that scared Nagu? He was just saying that living in a human tribe was more convenient and safer than staying with Hamoyin.

Duogaluo knew that Nagu was one of the women captured by the monsters. Even if she didn’t say it, Duogaluo knew what she had gone through. He still didn’t understand why Nagu was so close to Hamoyin. “If you don’t want to hear me talk about this, I won’t mention it again. I just hope you and Hamoyin can find a suitable place.”

“…”

“Nagu?” Duogaluo looked at the silent girl with some unease. She had stopped shaking and seemed to have calmed down. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Everywhere felt uncomfortable. Nagu leaned against the table behind her, panting slightly. She had used almost all her strength to force herself not to think about those things, and now her legs were still weak. “I’m… okay.”

“Okay?”

“Don’t worry.” Nagu rubbed the edge of the table as she sat down. “Thank you for your concern, but I won’t leave Hamoyin. So after Azuran’s matter is settled, I will be with him…”

Leave.

But she couldn’t say the word “leave” because of the intense aversion in her heart. She didn’t want to leave with that monster. She wanted to stay in the tribe. Duogaluo could protect her; she didn’t need Hamoyin, the monster.

She could finally live among people, just like other girls, without being forced to endure the dark days of being violated by monsters and giving birth to strange-looking monster offspring. She didn’t want to experience that again. She wanted to stay in the tribe where someone would protect her. This was a rare opportunity.

“…I never thought about it that way.”

“What?” Duogaluo looked at the muttering Nagu. At this moment, her face had turned pale to a frightening degree. Duogaluo worriedly stepped forward to support her shoulders. “What didn’t you think about? What’s wrong?”

Promise him, stay in the village and never see that monster again. Promise him, promise him, promise him, promise him, promise him.

Cold sweat ran down Nagu’s back. She felt the warmth of the man’s hand on her shoulder being magnified infinitely, and the warmth was misinterpreted as a sense of security settling in her body.

She could now be sure that the original Nagu hadn’t died. After hitting her head, she had been in a coma, and for some reason, this body, which had been in a coma, was occupied by her. Until now, the body’s owner began to assert her sovereignty.

She would be driven out. She would be driven out of this body. What would happen after being driven out? Nagu had thought a lot about it. The original Nagu would definitely agree to stay in the village and never see Hamoyin again.

Hamoyin would feel deceived and hurt. What should she do? She didn’t belong here. She had no body, no memory, no name. If she was driven out of this body, wouldn’t that mean she was dead?

Actually, she and the original ‘Nagu’ could fight for sovereignty, but this was ultimately someone else’s body. She had suffered so much just to settle down in a safe place. Since she wasn’t dead, there was no reason for her to continue occupying this body.

Although she really wanted to stay with Hamoyin, Nagu was still enduring the mental pressure, feeling like she would be squeezed out if she relaxed even a little.

In the chaos, Nagu grabbed Duogaluo’s wrist. “I need to ask… you one thing.”

“You don’t look well. I’ll take you to the witch now, and you can ask after we get there.” Duogaluo said as he reached out to lift Nagu from the stool, but she pushed him away forcefully. “Nagu??”

“I’m fine. Let me ask first…” She didn’t want to refuse Duogaluo’s kindness, but her consciousness was already starting to blur. If she had to describe it, it felt like being kicked repeatedly and then pushed into the sea after being dazed. So, if she didn’t say what she needed to say quickly, it would be too late.

“Can the Mother Goddess… revive the dead?”

Duogaluo was puzzled by Nagu’s sudden question, but he answered seriously, “I don’t know. There’s no such record.”

No, she couldn’t be kicked out now. She had to explain to Hamoyin what had happened before she could leave.

Nagu gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on Duogaluo’s wrist, causing him to feel a bit of pain. “I need to… stay awake. You… hit me.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Were you poisoned?” Duogaluo ignored Nagu’s resistance this time and picked her up. “I’ll take you… What are you doing! Don’t do that!”

Duogaluo hurriedly pulled Nagu’s wrist out of her mouth, but it was already bleeding from a deep bite mark. “What’s wrong with you!?”

“I want to stay… No! I want… I want to stay…”

“Stay? Tell me what’s wrong.” Duogaluo was almost certain that Nagu had been drugged, but no one else had approached them along the way. It could only have happened while they were still at the witch’s house. Who did it? Gongduo?

Duogaluo was at a loss, not realizing that his thoughts were becoming skewed. Meanwhile, Nagu’s condition was becoming increasingly strange.

“Stay here… monster… I…” Her eyes wandered uncontrollably, her breathing rapid. She placed her hands on her neck, trying to strangle herself but failing, and finally, her hands fell on Duogaluo’s arms, gripping them tightly. “I… tell, tell Hamoyin…”

Nagu began to cough violently, tears and saliva dripping uncontrollably. “I like him very much. I would never hate him… but…”

Don’t say it, don’t say it, disgusting, don’t say it, don’t say it!!

Countless women’s shrill cries echoed crazily in her mind. These were memories from when she was locked in the cave, and these horrendous and terrifying memories were stopping Nagu from speaking further. She could only cry and shake her head while holding onto Duogaluo.

“…”

Finally, with trembling hands, she tore off the scale ornament Hamoyin had given her, which was tied behind her ear. She knew that if the real Nagu returned, she would throw these scales away. She stuffed the scales into Duogaluo’s hand, using her last bit of strength to speak.

“Keep… this… safe… don’t lose it, and don’t give it back to me… if I can come back.”

“Then give this back to me…”

Duogaluo hurriedly caught the girl, who fainted to the side after speaking. She was drenched in sweat as if she had been soaked in water.

Duogaluo looked confusedly at the ornament in his hand, then at the unconscious Nagu in his arms. After she fainted, her breathing became steady.

What on earth is going on…

Author’s note:

Nagu: I can’t squeeze onto this subway. I’ll wait for the next one…