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

Seth placed his hand on Gu Ning’s shoulder, and the slight pressure stopped her from backing away.

Gu Ning tried to push his hand away, but it wouldn’t budge.

Though the young wolf before her had only just come of age, his build didn’t seem much smaller than Alex’s. Even with him sitting and her standing, he was still taller.

Seeing Seth staring at her in a daze, Gu Ning felt a growing sense of unease.

Just then, Kloer’s weary voice called out as his towering figure came into view. "You’re back?"

The sound of his voice snapped Seth back to his senses, and the hand on Gu Ning’s shoulder loosened its grip.

Gu Ning easily broke free and circled to the other side of the table, putting some distance between herself and the young wolf.

Kloer walked over, yawning, and clapped Seth on the shoulder. He picked up a steamed bun from the table. "Did you guys eat..."

Kloer spotted the first-aid kit on the table. He took a sniff of the air, his gaze shifting from Gu Ning to Seth.

"Who did this?"

When Kloer saw the bruises on Seth’s face, his eyes widened, all sleepiness vanishing in an instant.

Snapped out of his thoughts, Seth sheepishly pulled his gaze away from Gu Ning. "Some guys from the Military Department’s Dog Team."

Kloer frowned. "Did you recognize them?"

Seth shook his head. It was his first time in Zone 19. Though the Dog Clan and the Wolf Clan didn’t get along, he had always lived in Zone 5. He’d run into other wolf packs more often than he’d ever run into members of the Dog Clan.

’But...’

Seth thought for a moment before saying, "They must have recognized the Boss."

Kloer understood immediately.

Ever since the military moved into Zone 19, their Dog Team and Wolf Team had it out for Alex. Seth was one of his and carried his scent, so those mutts must have cornered him and given him a beating.

"Do you remember their faces?" Kloer asked again.

Seth nodded.

"It’s nothing." Seth glanced at Gu Ning, who was silently packing up the first-aid kit with her head bowed. Afraid of upsetting the little Mixed Breed, he added, "I fought back. It was one against five. I didn’t get the worst of it."

Kloer took a bite of the bun. "Alex trained you guys to be too damn honest. I’m going with you to get lunch later."

’So you don’t get your ass kicked again.’

Seth snatched the bun from his mouth. "Little Boss hasn’t eaten yet."

"..."

"Fine." Kloer crossed his arms, annoyed. "I’ll eat after *your* Little Boss is finished."

Seth replied, "Just go eat at the cafeteria. I didn’t get any for you."

"..." Kloer’s gaze swept over the pitiful amount of food on the table, and his expression grew stern. "You’re a wolf. How could you let a pack of mutts push you around?"

’They even took his food. How is that not getting the worst of it?’

Seth opened his mouth slightly but didn’t speak.

’It wasn’t that he didn’t have a temper. It was just that if he’d really made a scene with those dogs, Little Boss wouldn’t have gotten any breakfast.’

’The Boss’s mission for him was to take care of Little Boss. Even if the sky were falling, he had to put her first.’

Gu Ning looked over and met Seth’s gaze, and she seemed to understand.

A spark of anger ignited within her.

’She’d spent so much time with Seth; she had a good sense of his personality.’

’Who would bully such a gentle wolf!’ 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Kloer shot to his feet. "Let’s go!"

’He couldn’t stand to see his own people get bullied.’

Seth pushed him back down. "Go where? I told you, it’s fine."

He then gave Kloer a subtle shake of his head.

’We still have to look after Little Boss. She’s a Mixed Breed and can’t handle that kind of excitement. We can’t just drag her into a fight, can we?’

’The Boss would kill me.’

Kloer followed his gaze to where the small Mixed Breed was sitting, and his fiery anger died down.

’It wasn’t that he was afraid to bring Gu Ning to a fight. He was worried the excitement would cause her mutation levels to spike. This wasn’t like Zone 5, which was at least free from the influence of Mutant Species.’

After a moment of calm consideration, Gu Ning handed Kloer a note: Wait for Alex to get back.

’She was worried they’d act rashly. After all, it was just the two of them; they’d be outnumbered.’

’She didn’t want to see them come back covered in injuries, like Cook.’

’She was also confident that Alex would have a way to handle it. He wouldn’t let Seth be bullied for nothing.’

"Fine," Kloer said, sitting down with a huff. "Those mutts from the Military Department are hot-headed. You were just unlucky they caught you. Stay clear of them for the next few days. I’ll get the food from now on."

Seth nodded.

Gu Ning gave Seth a comforting pat and pushed the breakfast toward him.

"I’m not hungry. You eat, Little Boss." Seth gave Gu Ning a wide grin, which tugged at the cut on his lip. He hissed in pain. Then, suddenly recalling the scent of her fingers from earlier, he blurted out, "Your hand smells really good."

Gu Ning: "..."

Kloer laughed and ruffled Seth’s hair. "What’s that nonsense? You must be starving. I’ll go get some breakfast."

With that, Kloer headed out.

Seth’s comment startled Gu Ning. Worried he might figure something out, she tried to keep her distance. At the same time, she was afraid he would impulsively run out to pick a fight, so she grabbed a book and sat on the sofa. Hiding her face behind it, she secretly watched him while waiting for Kloer to get back.

Even though he’d taken a beating, Seth wasn’t one to hold a grudge. Besides, he’d fought back, so he didn’t feel like he’d lost. More importantly, Gu Ning’s gentle treatment when she was patching him up had soothed his anger. He started chattering away to her as if nothing had happened.

Gu Ning stayed curled up on the sofa, not bothering to move. As long as Seth didn’t go out, she was fine with it.

Seth noticed Little Boss was keeping her distance and ignoring him. He suddenly realized he might be talking too much today; he didn’t usually say this much to her.

Worried he was annoying her, Seth fell silent. He sat back down in the middle of the living room, picked up his unfinished wood carving, and went back to work.

’All I have to do is guard Little Boss.’

Gu Ning held her book, but her attention was fixed on Seth.

He had suddenly gone quiet, his head lowered in silence. To Gu Ning, he looked exactly like a dejected puppy.

’Damn it!’

’Who the hell bullied him!’ she cursed inwardly.

BANG BANG BANG!

The loud banging on the door startled both Gu Ning and Seth. They snapped their heads toward the entrance simultaneously.

The banging stopped for a moment, followed by a thunderous BOOM! that was even heavier than before. Gu Ning felt the entire wall tremble, as if the door was about to be kicked in and collapse at any second.

Seth stared at the door for a second, then dropped the wood carving. He took two steps forward, but then seemed to think of something. Turning back to Gu Ning, he walked over, lifted her off the sofa, and pushed her into the bedroom. "Don’t come out."

Then, he shut the bedroom door.

Stunned for a moment, Gu Ning’s immediate impulse was to open the door, but she stopped herself. Instead, she pressed her ear against the wood, listening for any sound from outside.

She heard Seth open and then close the main door, followed by silence.

She waited anxiously in the bedroom. After a few moments, she could faintly hear muffled thuds coming from outside. Unable to wait any longer, she put her hand on the doorknob.

’Judging by the noise, whoever was out there meant trouble. But what could I do if I went out? I couldn’t even stand up to a single one of those Beastmen.’

But perhaps from having spent so much time in Zone 19, her first reaction wasn’t fear, but rage. A fire seemed to be blazing in her chest.

’I can’t just wait here while Seth gets beaten up. I have to do something.’

’A weapon... I need a weapon.’

A gun. The thought struck her.

’It’s the only weapon I have that could stand a chance against a Beastman.’

’But I didn’t bring my gun. It’s still at...’

’Wait.’

Gu Ning turned and found the gray backpack in the corner.

It was the one Barto had given her, filled with snacks, some daily necessities, and...

Gu Ning felt around inside a hidden pocket in the backpack. Her fingers brushed against something hard at the bottom. She unzipped the pocket and pulled out a small, silver handgun.