Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Beast World (11)

“A female?”

A raspy, unfamiliar voice echoed behind Qi Yuan.

He turned, a chill running down his spine.

The oppressive aura radiating from the Rogue Beastman, reeking of countless kills, made Qi Yuan’s body tremble uncontrollably. Fear welled up within him as he inhaled deeply, forcing himself to remain calm.

“I don’t want to hurt you. Come here willingly.”

The Gray Wolf’s coaxing tone, like a predator luring its prey, was transparently manipulative. Qi Yuan frowned and instinctively began to back away.

“Trying to escape?”

“A frail female like you stands no chance.”

“Rather than face punishment before I take you, why not obey me and leave quietly?”

The Gray Wolf licked his claws, then shifted into his human form—an unremarkable middle-aged man with cruel eyes and a torso scarred with healed wounds.

Qi Yuan clasped his hands behind his back, his nails digging into his flesh. His face remained impassive, cold, and expressionless.

“I may not be able to escape, but do you truly believe you can take me away?”

“By now, your scent has likely reached the Tribe. Males drawn by the scent are already on their way. I advise you to leave immediately. You know the consequences for a Rogue Beastman who dares harm a female.”

He was stalling for time. In truth, he had no idea if any Beastmen were coming. His only thought was survival.

Qi Yuan’s words failed to move the Gray Wolf.

In an instant, he was slung over the wolf’s shoulder, his stomach pressed against the Beastman’s bony shoulder. He nearly vomited.

“Slower…”

He was truly at his wit’s end.

The faster the Gray Wolf ran, the more miserable Qi Yuan felt. He desperately wished he could just pass out and be spared the agony.

Just as Qi Yuan had abandoned all hope, a deafening tiger’s roar erupted behind them.

The sounds of crashing trees and violent collisions grew closer and closer.

A Beastman was closing in.

Who could it be?

Qi Yuan struggled to lift his head.

He saw a massive lion charging toward them at full speed. Its golden mane, as radiant as the sun, immediately reminded Qi Yuan of Cyril—the lion’s fur was practically identical in color to Cyril’s hair.

Realizing he couldn’t shake Cyril off and that the distance between them had shrunk to mere meters, the Gray Wolf skidded to a halt, dumped Qi Yuan to the ground, and gripped his throat threateningly.

Cyril leaped forward, transforming into his human form, his expression dark and hostile.

Today, the Chieftain had led the Hunting Team out on a hunt, while Cyril rested at home. His cave was near the edge of the Tribe’s territory, and his keen sense of smell had picked up a familiar scent drifting in the wind—along with the pungent stench of an unfamiliar Rogue Beastman. He instantly understood what had happened.

He transformed into his wolf form and raced to the scene, but he was a step too late. By the time he arrived, Qi Yuan had already been taken by the Rogue Beastman.

A massive hand clamped over Qi Yuan’s throat, cutting off his air. He struggled to break free, but against the Gray Wolf’s strength, his efforts were as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Forced to give up, his eyes rimmed with red. He whispered Cyril’s name, “Cyril…”

Cyril responded instantly, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

He wanted to reassure Qi Yuan, but he knew the situation demanded more than comfort. The priority was how to snatch Qi Yuan from the Rogue Beastman’s clutches.

“Is he your mate?” The venomous voice coiled around Qi Yuan’s ear like a snake.

Qi Yuan refused to answer, turning his face away in disgust. His lips pressed tightly together, his mind raced frantically, plotting a countermove.

He had never been one to sit idly and wait for death, whether in reality or the Dreamscape. He always actively sought solutions to any challenge.

“So he’s not your mate.”

“A suitor, perhaps?”

“Hey, you really like the female in my arms, don’t you? Look how desperate you are.”

“Want me to let her go?”

“Too bad. I live to see you Tribe Beastmen suffer.”

The Gray Wolf chattered incessantly, completely oblivious to the deathly glare Cyril was giving him.

Then, he roared, “Qi Yuan! Duck!”

Ever vigilant, Qi Yuan reacted instantly. He lashed out with a rear kick, targeting the Gray Wolf’s groin—a universally vulnerable spot.

A piercing shriek erupted as the Gray Wolf’s hand loosened its grip on Qi Yuan’s neck.

Seizing the opportunity, Qi Yuan collapsed to the ground, rolling away to safety.

When he finally stopped, he witnessed Cyril batter the Gray Wolf to death with a few brutal blows.

To be honest, it was quite gruesome.

Qi Yuan closed his eyes, refusing to watch any further.

His stomach churned violently. Turning away, he bolted behind a large tree and vomited violently.

Qi Yuan was truly exasperated. He couldn’t understand why he had to endure such torment—he’d reached his breaking point.

He was furious, but what infuriated him even more was that he didn’t even know who to blame.

They walked to a flowing stream, where Qi Yuan rinsed his mouth while Cyril washed his hands beside him.

“Thank you, Cyril,” Qi Yuan said.

After a moment to compose himself, Qi Yuan finally spoke, expressing his sincere gratitude. He was genuinely grateful to Cyril for saving his life.

Cyril, his head lowered, meticulously scrubbed the bloodstains from his hands.

“No need for thanks. Protecting the… females of the Tribe is what males should do.”

“To prevent a repeat of today’s incident, if you ever want to gather Sweet Fruit near the Tribe’s edge again, you can ask me to come along. With a male accompanying you, those Rogue Beastmen won’t dare approach.”

The golden-haired Beastman spoke with earnest sincerity. He lifted his gaze to meet Qi Yuan’s, a subtle hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Cyril’s hands were now clean, but a few drops of blood remained splattered on his face. Seemingly oblivious to them, Qi Yuan, ever the stickler for cleanliness, couldn’t help but notice. He always carried small packets of tissues with him—convenient for just such occasions.

Qi Yuan pulled out a tissue, moistened it, and gently approached Cyril. As he wiped away the bloodstains, he replied, “Sure, I’ll definitely ask you next time I go gathering Sweet Fruit. That would be a great help, Cyril.”

Cyril blinked, his body tensing as Qi Yuan drew closer. Hearing Qi Yuan’s words, his lips parted slightly, and he murmured, “It’s no trouble at all.”

“Anything for you will never be a burden.”

The magnetic voice brushed against Qi Yuan’s ear, utterly unlike the sensation Gray Wolf evoked. He rubbed his ear, a peculiar tickle lingering.

After wiping the blood from Cyril’s face, Qi Yuan found himself being carried back to the Tribe on Cyril’s back.

He didn’t forget to retrieve his fallen basket and Sweet Fruits. Xu Fu had a sweet tooth; no matter how many Sweet Fruits were available, he would devour them all within three days.

Qi Yuan wanted to make Sweet Fruit jam, but he lacked the raw ingredients. He had to venture out to gather some and experiment slowly. High-sugar foods provided quick energy boosts and could even be life-saving in a sudden hypoglycemic crisis. He figured it was best to keep some on hand, just in case.

Of course, he wouldn’t make it himself. He’d instruct Xu Fu to do it. After a few days of sampling Xu Fu’s cooking, Qi Yuan had concluded that the man had a knack for it.

As Qi Yuan entered the Tribe, he was nearly at the cave entrance when a figure darted toward him, accompanied by frantic shouts.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!”

“Qi Yuan! Are you alright?!”

Qi Yuan recognized Xu Fu, who was running toward him, his face streaked with tears and snot.

Xu Fu grabbed Qi Yuan by the arms, his tear-filled eyes scanning him up and down. He dabbed at his eyes with one hand as he checked for injuries, only relaxing when he confirmed Qi Yuan was unharmed and mentally sound.

“How could you be so unlucky? To get captured by Rogue Beastmen!”

“And why didn’t you invite me when you went to pick Sweet Fruit?”

Qi Yuan looked at him helplessly, pulled out a piece of paper, and wiped Xu Fu’s tears.

“Invite you? You wanted both of us to get captured?”

Xu Fu thought for a moment and realized Qi Yuan was right. Two weaklings together would just mean two captives instead of one. His entire face crumpled in a frown.

“Yeah, you’re right. If I’d been there, I probably would’ve just made things even more complicated for the Tribe.”

Zuo Yu, standing nearby, chuckled, but the amusement quickly faded as a serious thought struck him.

“Normally, all the Rogue Beastmen near the Tribe should have been driven away already, right?”

“And our Tribe is renowned for its strength in this region. Why would suicidal Rogue Beastmen dare to come steal Females?”

“Unless…”

As Zuo Yu spoke, his expression darkened, mirroring the grim faces of the surrounding Beastmen. It seemed they all shared his suspicions.

But Qi Yuan and Xu Fu weren’t natives of this Beastman World. What was obvious to the Beastmen was lost on them.

Xu Fu sniffed. “Don’t leave me hanging like that. I’m still curious.”

Zuo Yu flicked his forehead, thinking him a fool, yet patiently explained, “Unless… the entire continent is in chaos. It’s not just our war—other places are fighting too, driving Rogue Beastmen to flee here. They don’t know how strong our Tribe is, so they dare approach us and snatch our Females.”

“This is just a theory, but we must be vigilant. If it’s true, our Females absolutely can’t wander outside the Tribe. They need to stay safely at home, preferably nowhere else, until the war-induced turmoil settles.”

Xu Fu nodded, understanding.

Qi Yuan lowered his gaze, calculating their food reserves. If they couldn’t go out, they’d have to devote all their energy to processing dried meat. That’s going to be a huge task, he thought. Xu Fu and I will be busy.

Just then, someone shouted, “The Hunting Team is back early!”

Everyone startled and rushed toward the commotion.