Limitless Evolution Through Conquering Primal Beauties-Chapter 12 - Auctioned Like Trash

Leonard read it carefully. Stage 4. Higher than Borami’s Stage 3. Evolution Progress 3,147 out of 10,000—meaning he was about a third of the way to Stage 5. But still weaker than Beatrice, though.

’Is he the tribe chief?’ Leonard wondered.

Tharun was conversing with the men around him. His voice was deep and booming, carrying even to where Leonard stood. They were discussing the hunt—how they fought a fanged beast and a Hungerman, who killed the most, and new hunting techniques.

Leonard took a deep breath and stepped forward, out of the shadows.

His approach didn’t go unnoticed. Their conversation slowed, then stopped entirely. All eyes turned to him.

Leonard stopped a few steps from the fire circle. He hesitated, opened his mouth to speak, but—

"Hey! The one who lost to the little rabbit!" someone shouted from the side, followed by laughter.

"Look at that! A hairless ape!" another chimed in.

"So skinny! What did they feed you in your hometown? Leaves?"

Leonard clenched his jaw, restraining himself from replying. He chose to ignore them and focus on Tharun.

But before he could speak, Tharun spoke first.

His voice was loud and energetic, not dismissive like the others. "Hey! You must be Leo, the one I’ve heard about!"

Leonard blinked. "Y-yes. I’m Leo."

Tharun laughed heartily, slapping his large thigh. "I heard about you from the rabbits! They said you suddenly appeared in the forest, naked, with memory loss, got captured, and there were some misunderstandings!"

He laughed again. "What bad luck!"

Leonard didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Yeah... something like that."

Tharun leaned forward, narrowing his eyes as he examined Leonard, but not with contempt. More like genuine curiosity.

"You really don’t remember anything?" he asked. "About your family? Your homeland?"

Leonard shook his head. "Not at all."

"Hm." Tharun nodded. Then suddenly asked, "Are you sure you’re from the ape tribe?"

Leonard froze. "What do you mean?"

Tharun gestured at Leonard’s body with his large chin. "Apes have fur. A lot of fur." He pointed to himself, then to the men around him. "Look at us. Furry. Look at you. Almost none."

Leonard swallowed. This was the question he had feared.

"I... I’m an ape," he said, trying to sound confident. "Maybe from a different kind. One with less fur." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Some of the men laughed. "A kind of ape with less fur? That’s not an ape!"

But Tharun didn’t laugh. He stared at Leonard for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine. If you say you’re an ape, you’re an ape." He stood up and turned to face the crowd.

"HEY! EVERYONE! LISTEN!"

His booming voice overpowered the crackling fire and chatter. Everyone turned.

"This is Leo!" Tharun pointed at Leonard with a hand as big as an oar. "He’s from our ape tribe! Just arrived in our village! He’s lost his memory—doesn’t remember anything about his past! But he’s an ape, just like us!"

Silence.

Everyone stared at Leonard.

Then a few people snickered. Others smirked. No applause. No warm welcome. Only looks that said, Oh, the one who lost to that rabbit girl.

Leonard stiffened his jaw. His hands clenched at his sides.

Tharun, seemingly unaware or unconcerned about the reaction, turned back to Leonard with a thoughtful expression.

"So... you have no memory, no family here, no place to stay, no job," Tharun summarized. "And you came here asking for help, right?"

Leonard nodded.

Tharun sighed, then turned back to the crowd.

"HEY! Listen! Leo needs a place to stay! Who wants to take him in? Give him a bed and food until his memory returns?"

Silence.

Leonard felt like he was being auctioned off. Like an orphan offered to families. Like... trash.

A man near the bonfire called out mockingly, "Take him in? Why take in trash like that? A man who lost to that stupid rabbit!"

Laughter erupted.

"And he’s not even furry!" someone shouted. "I’d be ashamed to have a hairless ape as a housemate!"

"Give him to the women! Maybe they need some entertainment!" another jeered, prompting louder laughter.

Leonard stood amid the laughter and ridicule, feeling the urge to leave that very second.

His jaw hardened.

His teeth clenched. His fists tightened at his sides. He wanted to shout, to argue, to hit someone. But he knew that in this world, with his weak body and ruined reputation after losing to Lily, protesting would only make things worse.

Let it be, he told himself. Just let it be. As long as I get a place to stay. As long as I survive.

Tharun, sensing the tension in the air, laughed loudly. His massive hand slapped Leonard’s shoulder again, harder this time.

"Don’t worry, brother! They’re just not used to seeing an ape as smooth as you!" He laughed, and a few men joined in—not kindly. "The important thing is that you’re healthy. Your wounds are healed?"

Leonard nodded.

Tharun nodded in satisfaction. Then he scanned the crowd, looking for someone. His eyes stopped on a middle-aged man sitting slightly apart.

"Hey, Barka!"

The man looked up.

Tharun pointed at Leo. "See this? He’s our brother who lost his memory. Just arrived in the village. Confused, doesn’t know what to do." He paused. "Will you take him in? Give him a place to stay?"

Barka, a middle-aged man with white chest hair, looked Leonard up and down. His expression was unreadable. Then he laughed and shook his head.

"I’m not going to take care of a bed-wetting child, Chief."

Some men laughed. Others chimed in.

"Just give him to the women, let them raise him!"

"Yeah, maybe he still needs breast milk!"

Leonard stood in the middle of the laughter and mockery and felt like walking away right then and there.

Tharun kept trying. He pointed to several other men around him, offering Leonard like merchandise.

"What about you, Grok? Your house is big, right?"

The man named Grok glanced at Leonard briefly, then shook his head with a cynical smile. "My house is big, but not for trash. Besides, I don’t want the hassle of taking care of a grown man who lost to a little girl."

Laughter erupted again.