Virtual Idol in the Beast World: Five Clans Fight Over Me

Alex quickly finished the large portion of food Gu Ning had left.

Only two large apples remained on the small table.

Alex cleared the table and left without a word.

Seeing him leave just like that, Gu Ning touched her face.

She had deliberately left off her head covering, wanting to see Alex’s reaction.

’Things have already progressed this far. Hiding my face now would just be burying my head in the sand.’

However, Alex acted so naturally it was as if she’d never worn a mask at all.

’Does he really not care at all that I’m a Female?’

Gu Ning was still pondering Alex’s reaction when he came in with a bowl of steaming liquid.

Gu Ning looked at the brown "soup" before her and guessed it was probably the same medicine she’d had yesterday.

’But... such a huge bowl?’

The color drained from her face.

Yesterday, the medicine had been a powder mixed with just a tiny sip of water, and even that had been torture to get down.

Seeing the young Female’s look of utter dread, Alex’s lips curved into a slight smile. "I had a new fever reducer made for you. It’s not bitter anymore. Go on, try it."

Gu Ning sniffed it. The smell was indeed different from yesterday’s medicine.

She lifted the bowl and took a tentative sip.

’Hmm... It tastes a bit like dried citrus peel? It isn’t bitter, just tastes like herbal medicine. But compared to yesterday’s dose, this is practically a gourmet delicacy.’

After Gu Ning downed the medicine in one go, she saw that Alex had already unwrapped two candies and placed them on the table. "You’re not fully recovered yet," he said. "You’ll need to drink this for about two more days to be sure."

Watson had spent all night researching data on Heavenly Beast Clan Females, and had even consulted an old friend at the central hospital in Zone One, all to create a fever-reducing prescription tailored to Gu Ning’s constitution.

The formula was simple, and the ingredients could be found in Zone 19. Its fever-reducing effects were clearly excellent.

Alex took Gu Ning’s temperature again. It was now just over 37 degrees Celsius.

"Still cold?" Seeing Gu Ning wrapped tightly in the blankets, Alex moved the heater by the bed a little closer to her.

The temperature outside had already dropped to over ten degrees below zero. As for the cold, Zone 19 was nothing compared to the North and South Ice Field. The truly unbearable things here were the environment and the Mutant Species. Aside from those two factors, the temperature in Zone 19 wasn’t considered particularly cold for a Beastman.

Gu Ning didn’t feel particularly cold at the moment. Alex’s bedding was soft and thick, and combined with the warmth from the heater, she felt toasty all over.

’It was just that her stomach felt a little... off.’

Gu Ning wanted to answer Alex, but when she felt around her waist, she couldn’t find a pen and paper.

Seeing the young Female’s silent expression, Alex said, "I’ll be in the living room. If you need anything or have something to say, just let me know."

With that, he began to get up and leave.

Gu Ning reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"Please..." She managed to force out a hoarse syllable.

Alex froze, his gaze fixed on her. He didn’t move, his breathing even slowing as he waited with patience and anticipation for her to continue.

Gu Ning’s heart pounded in her chest. It took all her courage to speak to him.

"Please, give me... give me..."

"What do you need?" Alex asked, his eyes encouraging. "Take your time. Don’t rush."

"Fire... basin... alcohol." The words were halting and unnatural in the Beastman language. Her palms were slick with nervous sweat as she forced each word out. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Fire?" Alex asked gently. "A lighter?"

Gu Ning nodded.

When she’d gotten her period before, Cook had always burned her used sanitary cloths to prevent any lingering scent.

Back then, his degeneration hadn’t worsened, and he had even learned how to help her sew the cloths. She still had quite a few unused ones left over from after her last period.

’She had planned on saving them for her next cycle, but the sanitary briefs Alex had made for her were much more comfortable.’

’They were only good for a single use, though, since they couldn’t be disassembled for washing.’

Alex didn’t ask any questions. He simply brought her a lighter, a bottle of alcohol, and an iron bucket.

Gu Ning got out of bed and went to the bathroom to change into a fresh sanitary brief. Then she took the items he’d given her back into the bathroom, tossed the used one into the iron bucket, poured on some alcohol, and set it on fire.

Alex watched the young Female hurrying about. He followed her to the bathroom and stood in the doorway, watching as she burned the blood-stained brief.

Gu Ning crouched in front of the iron bucket, waiting for the brief to finish burning.

Glimpsing the tall figure in the doorway, Gu Ning glanced up at him before quickly looking down again, her eyes fixed on the flames in the bucket.

’She hadn’t intended to hide this from Alex.’

’The moment she decided to speak to him, she had already resolved to be honest about her identity.’

’And this was just further confirmation that she was, through and through, a Female.’

’She had never met a Female Beastman, but surely Alex knew that Females had menstrual cycles, right?’

Gu Ning hadn’t been sure before if Females in this world even had periods. ’Beastmen... they’re at least half *man*, so they should, right?’ she had thought.

’But now, seeing the stack of sanitary briefs Alex had made for her, the answer was clearly yes.’

’How else could he have made them so perfectly?’

"COUGH, COUGH..." The smoke made Gu Ning choke.

Alex strode over and knelt in front of her, moving the bucket aside. "Leave it," he said, looking at her. "I’ll handle it."

Gu Ning met his gaze. In that moment, her eyes no longer darted away. She looked right at him, choosing to trust him.

Alex raised a hand toward her. When the young Female didn’t flinch, he gently placed it on her shoulder. "Don’t worry. I’ll take you back to Zone 5. I’ll get you out of here."

"Zone 5 is one of the safest cities on the Central Continent," he added.

Gu Ning was so touched by his words that her nose began to sting.

’She was so tired of being on guard every single moment in this strange, dangerous world. Finally, there was someone else she could trust, someone who allowed her to lower her defenses and relax, even if just for a little while.’

"Does anyone else know who you are?"

Seeing the young Female lower her red-rimmed eyes, a pained look entered Alex’s own, and his voice grew even more gentle.

"Cook," Gu Ning said, her voice hoarse and thick with emotion.

Hearing that name, Alex’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He remembered how she had mistaken him for Cook when he held her last night.

’It seemed Cook had often helped her mask her scent this way.’

Alex wanted to stroke Gu Ning’s head to comfort her. He raised his hand, but then placed it on her shoulder again, patting it twice. "Is Cook the only one who knows?"

Gu Ning nodded.

A thoughtful look crossed Alex’s eyes.

’Just as I thought,’ he mused. ’Gu Ning doesn’t know that Barto already knows who she is.’

"Zone 19 is currently under lockdown; no one can get in or out," Alex said. "The outside is crawling with Mutant Species. Once the military has dealt with them and the routes are a little safer, I’ll take you back to Zone 5, alright?"

Gu Ning sniffled and nodded emphatically.

Alex continued, "But until we get back to Zone 5, no one else can find out who you are. That will be the best way to guarantee your safety."

Gu Ning looked up, her tear-filled eyes meeting his. "I... understand. You, me, Cook. No one else."

Alex fought the urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her. Instead, he reached out and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you."