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

When Jite heard Jeff mention the laws of the Beast Alliance, he gave it some serious thought.

According to the laws of the Beast Alliance, underage Beastmen—whether they have degenerated or not—are forbidden from entering dangerous zones as long as they aren’t mutated. If this law is broken, their guardian will be held responsible. In severe cases, accountability could even extend to their entire clan.

"He should be an adult, right?"

Jite wasn’t too sure.

Based on his size, the little Mixed Breed didn’t look like an adult Dwarf hybrid.

Besides, before they had started secretly protecting the little Mixed Breed, they hadn’t even known Alex had a brother.

Alex was a Beastman raised by a Beast Mother’s side. The chances of someone with such excellent genes having a Mixed Breed for a brother were incredibly slim.

"Here, take this." Jeff’s voice cut through Jite’s thoughts. He handed over the prepared medicine. "If he’s an underage Beast cub, don’t use the medicine prescribed before. His constitution is probably very weak. I’ve reduced the dosage based on the prescription you gave me. I wrote down the new instructions. Make sure Alex reads them carefully."

Jite took the new medicine. "Thanks."

Then, he added, "He’s an adult."

’I can’t let Jeff suspect the Boss brought an underage Beastman to Zone 19 illegally. If Jeff reports him, the Boss will be in a world of trouble. He might not even be able to return to Zone 5.’

Jeff waved the prescription in front of his face. "This is a prescription for a Beast cub. Don’t question my professional expertise, young man, even if there’s not much call for it around here."

’He brings me a prescription like this and then claims it’s not for a Beast cub. What a pointless lie.’

Jite snatched the prescription from him. "There’s no Beast cub. You’re mistaken."

Jeff tapped his own head. "You don’t think I can’t remember it without the prescription, do you?"

Jite: "...What do you want?"

Jeff gave him a look that said, ’You think you can pull one over on me, kid?’ "Look, it’s not that I want to stick my nose in your business, but I’m the one who handled this little Mixed Breed. If someone comes looking to assign blame, I’ll be on the hook, too."

Jite’s face was a mask. "If you don’t stick your nose in, then this never happened."

Jeff said, "Don’t be so tense. I’m just giving you a friendly warning. If he has any more problems, come straight to me. Even the best doctor can make mistakes without a direct examination, and the other doctors in Zone 19 are no better than I am. Besides, I doubt you’d dare see anyone else, would you?"

Jite didn’t argue further. Filled with doubt and worry, he took the medicine and returned to Alex.

"Something else?" Alex asked, seeing Jite hovering at the door, looking like he had something to say.

"No..."

Alex started to close the door, but Jite quickly spoke up again. "Boss, is he an adult Mixed Breed?"

"He is." Alex paused, then asked, "Did Jeff say something to you?"

’I just read the instructions Jeff wrote. He was meticulous, reducing the dosage from Lanuo’s prescription even further. He must have figured something out.’

Jite told him what Jeff had said in the medical room.

Alex listened and thought, ’This Jeff is sharp. It’s a good thing he just thinks Gu Ning is an underage Mixed Breed.’

"Don’t worry. He’s an adult Mixed Breed, just naturally frail since he was a child." Alex didn’t want to lie to Jite and the others, but he couldn’t tell them the truth just yet.

"That’s a relief." Jite’s mind was put at ease.

*

Back in the bedroom, Alex helped Gu Ning sit up and fed her the medicine.

The medicine was in powder form. He mixed it directly with water and had her drink it.

"RETCH..." Half-asleep, Gu Ning gagged on the medicine’s bitterness.

Alex fed her another mouthful.

Gu Ning: "RETCH..."

Seeing that she had thrown up most of it, Alex tasted the medicine himself.

’...’ ’It really is bitter.’

He had rarely been sick a day in his life, aside from a few external injuries, and had almost never taken any kind of oral medicine.

But the little female had to take her medicine. Seeing her throw it up like this was no solution. Alex had Seth and the others find some sugar to make sugary water. Then, he mixed the powdered medicine with a minimal amount of water, had Gu Ning drink it all in one gulp and, before she could react, quickly followed it with a mouthful of the sugary water.

This time, she didn’t throw up. She just frowned and muttered, "Damn it... Who’s feeding me poison...? This is murder..."

Alex held her, listening intently to her sleep-talking. He couldn’t understand her words, but he could clearly hear the discontent in her voice.

’Is she cursing me?’

’I didn’t realize she was sick sooner, and I let her go up on the wall and face danger. I deserve it.’

A small smile touched Alex’s lips as he continued to give her the sugary water.

The little female said no more. She smacked her lips, lifted her head, and began to drink the sugary water on her own. The glass was empty in no time.

"COUGH COUGH COUGH!" She had drunk too fast and choked.

Alex quickly patted her back to help her catch her breath.

She still looked thirsty, so Alex mixed another glass for her. This time he was more careful, feeding it to her in small sips instead of letting her drink it all at once.

After feeding Gu Ning the sugary water, Alex checked her temperature again.

Her fever had already reached 41 degrees Celsius.

The medicine wouldn’t take effect immediately, but she couldn’t keep burning up like this.

Alex compared the methods Lanuo and Jeff had suggested for reducing a fever. Combining their advice with his own basic medical knowledge, he began to bring her temperature down physically.

First, he wiped her down repeatedly with a warm towel to help dissipate the heat. Then, he had Jite bring back some snow in a plastic bag and applied it to her forehead and the nape of her neck.

After about two hours, Gu Ning’s temperature finally began to drop, and she stopped shivering.

Alex looked at the medical monitor, which now read 39 degrees Celsius. The knot of anxiety in his chest finally loosened.

The fever-reducing medicine was also starting to work, and Gu Ning fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

Alex hadn’t left Gu Ning’s side for a moment. He had just checked her temperature again when he heard a commotion outside the door.

He listened closely. It sounded like Jite and Seth were arguing with someone.

After a moment, the argument stopped, and then a message from Jite popped up on his terminal:

"Boss, the atavistic fox who lives with the little boss is making a scene. He demands to see you."

When Alex saw the word "fox," his gaze lingered on the little female’s face. He carefully tucked the corners of her blanket in before replying to Jite.

"Take him to the office downstairs. I’ll be right there."

...

Alex told Jite and Seth to stand guard at the door, then went downstairs.

He pushed open the office door, his eyes immediately drawn to the figure sitting on the desk.

"CLICK..."

It was the sound of a bullet being chambered.

The office was pitch-black. A ferocious light glinted in the fox’s eyes as he aimed the gun unceremoniously at Alex.

"Where is she? Where did you hide her? Give her back to me!"

Alex ignored the gun in his hand and turned to shut the office door.

Barto watched Alex’s unguarded back, his finger tightening on the trigger. "This gun can blow your head clean off."

His tone was cold and vicious. Alex had no doubt he would pull the trigger.

But he also knew Barto wouldn’t do it just yet.

"Her?" Alex walked over to the coffee table and poured a glass of water, his voice calm. "Are you talking about Cook, or Gu Ning?"