Apocalypse Prefer the Beast World Real Estate Market (Joyread) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Forced Loyalty Never Brings Good Results

Once everything was settled, evening had already fallen. Rosalie was pleasantly surprised to discover a small creek not far away, perfect for washing away the day’s fatigue.
She stepped into the water and called into her mind, “System, is there any medicine to enhance physical strength?”
“Query complete. Marrow Cleanse Pill detected in system. Effects include removing internal impurities and enhancing physical constitution.”
This was exactly what Rosalie needed. However, the number of points required made her wince. All of these points had been painstakingly earned in her previous life by killing zombies. Now, without a way to gain more, every point spent was precious.
“Exchange for Marrow Cleanse Pill.”
A dark-red pill appeared in her hand, and she swallowed it directly.
Instantly, Rosalie doubled over in pain, as if something inside her muscles and bones was being forcibly torn apart. A chill ran through her limbs, and she had to draw warmth from the cold river just to endure.
After a long while, the pain gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of relief. Her once-heavy body felt light. Raising her hand, she noticed her formerly thick, swollen arms had slimmed considerably.
In the moonlight, Rosalie stood in the river like a figure carved from stone. Though slightly plump, her presence exuded a gentle, refined elegance, like a piece of luminous gemstone.
The change was significant, yet subtle enough not to arouse suspicion. Rosalie’s heart swelled with delight.
A gust of wind blew, causing her to shiver. As she prepared to return, her legs gave way, and she slipped toward the water.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a protective embrace.
Rosalie’s face pressed against a warm chest, and she could even feel the steady heartbeat beneath it. Looking up, she saw Leon’s sharp features softened by a subtle, indescribable tenderness under the moonlight.
“Matriarch, are you alright?”
Rosalie’s face turned crimson as she pushed Leon away. He grabbed her wrist, planting a kiss on it.
His gaze locked onto hers, laden with an ambiguous invitation. “Matriarch, the moon is so beautiful tonight…”
Rosalie felt as if the kissed spot on her wrist was on fire. She dared not meet his eyes.
She had no feelings for Leon and had no intention of accepting his invitation.
She yanked her hand back and said calmly, “A lot happened today. I’m tired. Let’s rest early.”
She turned and walked away, completely unaware of the dark intensity in Leon’s eyes behind her.
The next morning, Rosalie rose early and ran a large circle around the forest. The Marrow Cleanse Pill could only purge impurities from her body; it did not enhance her constitution. Her slightly plump body still lacked health, so she needed to persist in training.
Mid-run, the system spoke in her mind. “Edible crops detected within 300 feet.”
Rosalie immediately stopped. She had no idea when the system gained this function, but if it said so, it must be true.
She searched carefully within a 300-foot radius and found several heads of cabbage hidden among the weeds.
Her eyes lit up. Cabbage was a treasure. It required no elaborate seasoning and was delicious no matter how it was cooked.
She picked several and held them to her chest. When she returned, the beastmen were already awake and stared in surprise. Normally, Rosalie did not rise until noon.
Today, not only had she woken early, but she also carried a bundle of unknown vegetables.
The fox’s foodie instincts kicked in, and it asked, “Matriarch, what is that?”
“These are cabbages. They’ll be delicious once cooked.”
Rosalie washed and chopped the cabbage, then sliced the leftover pork from yesterday into evenly thick pieces. She fried them in a pan to render the lard, frying them relatively dry, then added water to stew for a while before adding the cabbage.
She wasn’t sure if this world had soybeans to make soy sauce. Without it, she simply added more salt.
When the time came, Rosalie carried the cabbage and pork to the table. The savory aroma of pork mixed with the fresh scent of cabbage wafts far and wide.
None of the beastmen had seen such a cooking method before. Usually, they took turns cooking, with Cameron being the best, but he only knows how to roast the pork.
This method was a first, though Rosalie had never even stepped into a kitchen in her previous life.
Just as the dish was set, Declan, carrying a bag, started to leave, clearly intending to depart without even informing her.
“Stop.”
Rosalie spoke up. She didn’t need to stop him, but he had protected her from the beastmen’s attack yesterday, so she didn’t want to be indebted to him.
Declan’s pace didn’t falter. Rosalie stepped forward and grabbed his wrist. He tried to shake her off with force, but failed.
He had used seventy percent of his strength and was surprised he couldn’t free himself.
Rosalie looked him in the eye and said seriously, “I know you want to leave, but you are now my beastman, and you are registered in the tribe.
“If you leave now, you will become wanted. You know what will happen if you’re caught.”
Declan sneered. Of course, he knew. In this female-dominated world, any beastman daring to escape would face execution. He would rather die than serve this cunning female as his Matriarch.
“None of your business.”
He shrugged off her hand. Rosalie didn’t get angry, but spoke loudly and clearly, “Declan! If you want to leave, fine. But give me three months. After that, I will have earned enough silver, and you’ll be the first I let go.”
Declan froze mid-step and turned to look at her. Rosalie’s face no longer looked swollen like yesterday; her body was more slender, and she radiated a clean, convincing aura. Somehow, Declan’s grip relaxed, and he said, “Fine. In three months, even if you haven’t earned enough silver, I will leave on my own.”
Rosalie turned to the other beastmen. “The same goes for you guys. In three months, I will set you all free.”
Cameron’s hand trembled, and the pork fell to the ground. Elijah remained silent, studying Rosalie with a hint of scrutiny in his cold gaze.
But Rosalie was sincere. No matter what the future held, she would not cling to these beastmen. Forced loyalty never brings good results.
“Let’s eat.”
Rosalie picked up her fork and began to eat, not intending to skimp on her own meal.