Limitless Evolution Through Conquering Primal Beauties-Chapter 7 - Tradition

Leonard opened his mouth, ready to refute Alice’s words. But before he could get a word out, Beatrice spoke first.

"Alice."

Her voice was gentle, yet there was a firm undertone that made everyone fall silent.

"Tell me," Beatrice continued, her eyes fixed on her daughter, "what benefit would there be for someone trying to infiltrate us if they did strange things that only draw attention? Speaking unfamiliar words at the edge of the village, not even trying to hide, even making Lily suspicious?"

Alice fell silent. Her ears began to droop slightly.

"If he were truly a spy," Beatrice went on, "he would try not to stand out. He would ask about us. Absorb information. Not cause a commotion and get captured so quickly."

She let out a soft sigh. "That would be foolish. And self-destructive."

Leonard nodded inwardly.

Beatrice looked deeper into Alice’s eyes. "There is something you must learn, Alice. Do not jump to conclusions just to satisfy your ego. Do not let prejudice control your logic. Stay calm. Analyze with a cool head. Only then make a decision. Do not let your desire to be right blind you to other possibilities. Understand that you may be wrong."

Alice lowered her head. Her long rabbit ears now hung limply at the sides of her head. She nodded slowly, not daring to argue.

Leonard watched and thought, So this is... a mother teaching her child?

Feeling that the situation was no longer as dire as before, Leonard finally gathered his courage and spoke awkwardly. "Uh... in that case, could you release these vine bindings?"

He looked at Beatrice. "And... maybe... give me some pants? Do you have pants?"

Emma, Alice, and Lily stared at him. Beatrice raised a thin eyebrow.

Leonard attempted a weak smile. "I mean, I appreciate your hospitality so far, but standing naked in front of so many people... is a bit uncomfortable."

Beatrice studied him for a moment. Then, without looking away, she said, "Emma. Release him."

Emma snorted in annoyance, but she obeyed. With a rough motion, she untied the vine knots and pulled them away from Leonard’s body. The vines fell to the dirt floor. Leonard rubbed his reddened wrists where they had been bound.

Emma shot him a sharp look, as if to say, I’m still watching you. Leonard didn’t care. He was just relieved to be able to move freely.

"Alice," Beatrice continued, "please get him some pants."

Alice nodded and went to a corner of the room, opening a large wooden chest. She rummaged through it for a moment, then returned with a piece of... something.

Pants. Or at least, that was what they were meant to be.

They were made of animal hide—perhaps deer, or wild goat. The leather had been dried, roughly cut, and stitched together with cord along the edges. They resembled loose trousers with a leather tie at the waist. Simple. Primitive. But at least they covered him.

Leonard accepted them carefully. "Thanks."

Beatrice nodded.

"But that does not mean you are free from suspicion." Her icy blue eyes stared sharply at him. "You are still very suspicious."

"I understand," he said quickly.

Then Leonard glanced around the room. There were no partitions. No private spaces. Just a large room with a fire pit in the center and several fur mats in the corners.

Leonard looked at the pants, then at Beatrice. "May I... step into another room to put these on?"

Silence.

The four women stared at him with strange expressions, as if he had just said something foolish.

Beatrice tilted her head. "Why?"

"Well, to... to put them on..." Leonard gestured at the pants, then at his naked body. "I mean, I can’t put them on here, can I?"

Emma snorted. "Why not? We’ve already seen everything, you weirdo."

Alice nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we’ve been looking at everything this whole time."

Leonard felt his face heat up.

"Besides," Beatrice added, sounding genuinely puzzled, "I did not expect you to be so... enthusiastic... in a situation like this."

Leonard froze.

Enthusiastic?

Then he remembered. His body’s reaction when he first saw Beatrice. It hadn’t fully subsided. It was still—oh no.

His face burned all the way to his ears.

"B-but—"

Beatrice continued in the tone of a teacher lecturing a mischievous student. "How could you be like that? It is not proper. That should be reserved for your mate. Or at least, learn to control yourself. This is embarrassing."

Leonard wanted to sink into the ground.

’This is all because of you!’ he screamed inwardly.

But he couldn’t say that. He could only stand there in silence, his face red as a tomato.

How can they talk about this so casually? Like it’s normal? This is sexual harassment! This is absolutely sexual harassment!

Without waiting any longer, Leonard quickly turned around. He faced away from all of them—Emma, Alice, Lily, and especially Beatrice—and, in a flustered rush, put on the leather pants.

Uncomfortable. The rough material scraped against his thighs. The waist tie was too long, forcing him to knot it twice. But it was coverage. A barrier between his body and their stares.

Leonard let out a relieved sigh. At least he was no longer naked.

He turned back to face them.

"Okay. So... what should I do now? I mean, I really don’t know what to do."

Beatrice thought for a moment.

"Most likely," she said slowly, "you and your family were attacked by wild beasts. You ran away, hit your head, and lost your memory."

Leonard nodded.

"For now," Beatrice continued, "you may stay in this village while waiting for your memory to return." She pointed toward the door with her chin. "Since you are from the ape tribe, go to the ape settlement west of the village. Meet their chief. Ask for lodging and work. They will arrange it."

Leonard nodded again. At least now he had a goal. Something to do instead of standing around in confusion.

"All right. Thanks." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He had just begun walking toward the door when Emma suddenly spoke up.

"But isn’t there a tradition, Chief?" Her voice was sharp, still irritated. "For new male arrivals. They must fight first. Prove themselves worthy of being accepted."

Alice nodded quickly beside her. "That’s right. There is such a tradition."

Leonard shivered.

From the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

Fight?

He slowly turned to look at Beatrice with pleading eyes. Please. Anything but fighting. His only exercise was walking to the convenience store. He couldn’t fight strong and fast beastkin like them.

Beatrice looked at him for a moment. Then she sighed.

"There is indeed such a tradition."

Leonard wanted to cry.

A few minutes later, Leonard stood in the center of the village.

An arena. A large circle drawn on the ground with chalk or flour, surrounded by dozens of spectators. They came from various tribes. There were cow-eared beastkin with muscular bodies, goat-horned beastkin with sharp eyes, squirrel-tailed beastkin hopping around excitedly, and of course rabbit beastkin with long ears twitching curiously.

But most of the spectators were young. Men and women in their teens to early twenties. They whispered among themselves, pointing at Leonard, chuckling softly.

"Look at that, he’s from the ape tribe?"

"His body’s weird. Not muscular and not hairy at all."

Leonard heard the whispers. He swallowed hard.

Around the circle, several male beastkin stood with their arms crossed. Were they volunteers who would fight him? Or just overseers?

Leonard didn’t know. And he didn’t want to know.

He looked up at the sky. A bright blue sky, the sun shining warmly. The air was cool. Strange birds chirped in the distance.

Oh God, he whispered inwardly. I know I said I don’t believe. But if You exist... please... please get me out of here.