Chapter 252: Three Mates

’Obviously.’

[Please, do not worry so much, Host]

[The tools distributed through this system’s shop would prevent a situation like that]

[The tools are bound to this system’s operational parameters, and they can be flagged and restricted in its application]

[They are used for building and other useful purposes]

[Not for harm]

[If such a safeguard did not already exist within this system’s framework, this system would have implemented one before Host activated it]

Tera sighs, relieved.

[However]

Tera’s lips spread in a tight smile.

[Host needs to understand something]

’What?’

[These tools are this system’s tools, distributed through this system’s shop, and governed by this system’s rules]

[But Host is not just handing beasts tools]

[Host is teaching them how to BUILD]

Tera slowed her pace.

[The beasts who learn from Host will eventually create their own tools using their own ingenuity]

[Tools this system has no jurisdiction over]

’Hold on...’

[Yes, Host. As these beasts advance, they would start creating things on their own]

[They are learning from Host—This is a good thing!]

[But them creating tools that might eventually cause harm to other beasts is not something Host can avoid]

[It is the nature of progress]

Nadia cooed softly against her chest, completely unaware of the weight of the conversation happening above her head.

’Shit...’

[Don’t be sad, Host]

[(っ??? c)]

[Beasts already kill one another]

[Though that is rare due to the fragile population, it still happens]

[Adding tools to a world that already has violence does not CREATE violence]

[It creates efficiency]

[And that efficiency will be used for building far more often than it will ever be used for harm]

Even so, Tera didn’t like how that sounded. It reminded her of when she was back on Earth and would be seeing news of terrible things happening here and there around the world.

This place was likely no different.

[Host cannot control what every beast on this planet will do with knowledge she gives them]

[Not now or in the years to come]

{BeastWorldAddict says that the Host carries too much on her shoulders for things that are not hers to carry}

[Yes, Host should not worry about things beyond your control]

{PervyGoddess agrees}

{PervyGoddess says there is no point worrying about conflict when there are houses to build and wolves to bed}

Tera almost laughed. Almost.

She looked down at Nadia, who had given up on the feather and was now gnawing on her own fist with the kind of commitment that suggested she’d found something deeply important about it.

Beasts were already killing each other long before she arrived.

’I understand.’

{BeastWorldAddict wants to pat Tera’s head}

{PervyGoddess wants to pat Tera’s head}

Tera chuckles, strangely feeling a bit better. "Thank you."

[Worry not, Host]

[?( •? ? •? )?]

[The Craftsman Code is what secures Host’s tools from being used the wrong way]

’That’s what it’s called?’

[Yes!]

Tera shook her head. She was in the midst of this when she saw Calis.

He was lying down against the thick roots of a tree that curved out of the ground before diving back in.

His hair was damp, and he seemed to be asleep. Some of the males, especially the wolves, had gone to the stream to wash themselves after digging.

Happy to see him, Tera walked towards him, intending to just sit nearby and watch him sleep.

Calis’ eyes opened, and Tera nearly jumped out of her skin.

She thought he was asleep!

Calis, on the other hand, had only been half asleep when he felt Tera come close. He sat up, and his tail thumped excitedly when he saw her.

Tera smiled and sat down beside him, resting her back against his chest.

Calis’ heart jumped at the contact, and he felt very happy.

"I wondered where you were," Tera mumbled gently to Calis as she patted Nadia’s back.

Calis laid his head on Tera’s shoulder, a small sad smile on his lips.

Nadia had gone still against Tera’s chest, staring at Calis with the unblinking intensity that only cubs could sustain.

"I thought you would be spending time with your mates."

Tera looked at him, confused.

Calis wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was fixed somewhere ahead, his voice carefully neutral in that way she was beginning to recognise as him trying very hard not to sound vulnerable.

Why would he say this?????

"I saw you carrying your cub earlier and talking to your mates." He slightly pouted. "I thought you would be with them mostly when you came here."

Tera’s chest tightened.

She could understand a bit of it now, since she had mostly been going back to Xavi and Ermin, but in the first place he had also been pushing her away. Now things were different, though sadly she was busier.

But Tera still felt like pulling that mouth of his and twisting it.

Of course, she was going to spend time with him and—

Nadia, out of nowhere, swiped at Calis’ mouth to snatch it.

"Oh!" Tera’s eyes widened, and she pulled her cub out of reach. "Nadia!"

Calis had raised his head, alert and stunned at the same time.

Did the cub just try to attack him?

"No!" Nadia swerved her head. Then she looked between the both of them with a confused look, as if she hadn’t attempted to steal Calis’ mouth.

Then Tera could not believe her eyes as Nadia raised her hand sharply, then slowly brought it down her chin as if she was stroking an invisible beard.

Calis’ eyes were wide. "What is she doing?"

[(·•???•? )]

[It seems Host has very strong genes]

’Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!’

The system hardly said anything when the other cubs behaved strangely, but when her cubs did, it was something they got from her?!

Tera shook her head with a sigh, then looked at Calis, who was still surprised by Nadia’s strange behaviour.

Tera pulled Calis’ cheek.

His tail jumped, and his eyes widened more than ever before.

Why was Tera attacking him too?

"What are you talking about? You’re my mate too!"

A sudden look of realisation flashed across Calis’ face. He smiled faintly. "No, I would never forget that. I meant Xavi and Ermin."