4. Winning Favor

“Grrr… I’m hungry again.”

Clar had only just returned to the cave, and she still hadn’t eaten dinner. Beastfolk in this world apparently didn’t eat fish—they thought there were too many bones. Perfect. That just meant more for her.

Grinning, Clar gathered some flexible grasses by the river and quickly wove them into a small net pouch. Growing up in the countryside had taught her plenty of basic weaving skills. This was nothing. She fastened the net to a wooden stick, creating a simple fishing scoop, then waded quietly into the water. Before the fish could react, she lifted the net in one swift motion.

To her surprise, the fish were abundant and completely unafraid—probably because no one ever hunted them. She easily scooped up several.

“Oh no…” She slapped her forehead. Grilled fish without seasoning? Why did every transmigrator in novels get cheat codes? Where was hers?

Just then, a patch of purple caught her eye.

Perilla leaves.

She nearly laughed. “The heavens haven’t abandoned me after all.”

She pulled several stalks, cleaned the fish of scales and entrails, and headed back happily. She hadn’t gone far when Kawa returned.

He paused when he saw her—clean and pale under the moonlight. For a moment, surprise flickered in his eyes. So the original Clar looked like this beneath all that grime?

Then his gaze dropped to the fish in her hands.

“Clar, what are you doing with thornfish? You can’t eat those—they’ll get stuck in your throat.”

Clar knew no one in the tribe ate fish, and she didn’t feel like explaining.

“Thanks for the reminder,” she said. “I’ll try it. If it’s not good, I won’t eat it.”

She turned and left without waiting for his response.

Kawa watched her retreat into the darkness, stunned. She had said thank you? Today’s Clar was… different.

Then he dismissed the thought. Probably another attempt to get his attention.

Back in the cave, Clar stuffed the perilla into the fish bellies and set them over the fire. Maybe later she could search the Beast Domain for ginger, garlic—even chili peppers. While the fish roasted, she dried the cleaned animal pelts by the flames and laid a fresh one over the stone bed.

As she tidied up, a yellowish stone rolled out from a corner. She picked it up.

Salt.

Crude, mixed with grit—but salt nonetheless.

She scraped some off and sprinkled it over the fish. Even without elaborate seasoning, it was far better than raw meat.

After eating her fill, she lay down. On her first night without a phone, she counted the moons of the Beast Domain until she drifted to sleep.

The next morning, Bob and Ben’s shouting jolted her awake.

“Hurry! Alex and Lucas are back!”

Clar blinked, then sat upright. The vicious female supporting character’s beast mates had returned.

She hastily tidied herself and rushed outside.

Two female bear beastfolk stared at her in shock—her pale skin almost made them forget their words.

“What are you standing there for? Take me to them.”

Snapped out of it, they led her to the central square. Beastfolk crowded around. Clar pushed forward, squeezing through.

In the middle lay two blood-soaked males—and a pink-haired female.

The heroine.

Alex’s red hair spilled across the ground, his fox tail curled weakly. Lucas’s gray hair hung loose over his shoulders. Blood covered them both, making it impossible to tell whose it was.

Clar ran to their side.

“Alex! Lucas! How are you? I’ll get the shaman!”

Alex forced himself upright slightly, disbelief flickering in his eyes. The vicious female… worried about them?

Clar didn’t hesitate. She turned to Bob and Ben.

“Please help me carry them to the shaman’s cave. I’ll repay you.”

They frowned but nodded.

“You don’t need to promise anything. We’d save them anyway.”

Together they carried the two wounded males away.

Not far off, Ava’s peach-blossom eyes glinted with killing intent.

In this timeline, Ava had regained awareness—and she had a system. A system that rewarded “good deeds.” If she raised a future mate’s favorability, she could exchange points in the shop for modern items.

She already knew her future would be filled with powerful, handsome beast mates. She had carefully followed the original plot, planning to earn Alex and Lucas’s affection. But now something was wrong.

Clar had changed.

The poisoned meat plan would need to move forward. Better to eliminate the vicious female first. Then she could monopolize Alex’s attention.

Currently:

Alex’s favorability: 15%.

Kawa’s: 10%.

At 25%, she could redeem an item.

Lucas’s: 0%.

No matter. With her beauty and charm, he would fall eventually.

The shaman sighed deeply when the injured males were brought in. He raised his staff, and green light flowed over their wounds.

“Watch them. I’ll gather herbs.”

When he left, only Clar and the wounded males remained. Unsure what to do, Clar returned briefly to her cave, fetched clean pelts, and carried water back in broad leaves to wipe away the blood.

As she pressed a damp cloth against Lucas’s overheated skin, he let out a low, relieved hum. She nearly dropped it.

Of all people, she feared Lucas most.

In the original story, when the vicious Clar was poisoned to death, it had been this quiet, feline-like youth who disposed of her body—with terrifying efficiency.

Yet in front of the heroine, he was soft and obedient, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He and the merman had competed the fiercest for affection.

Clar swallowed.

This world was far more dangerous than grilled fish and crude salt.

And she was only just beginning to understand it.