Exiled Villainess: They Threw Me Out, Now Every Beastman Wants Me novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177: The Cost Of Survival

Calis’ eyes went wide in alarm. "I did not mean any insult towards your cubs—"

"It is fine." Tera smiled. "Shiftless females tend to have cubs that take after the father, or mother if the father is shiftless. My daughters merely inherited their fathers’ beast types."

Then again, nature was doing a pretty kick-ass job in limiting a shiftless beast’s ability to have cubs.

Tera silently chuckled at that.

"A shiftless beast like me being born is extremely rare." She turned her attention to the water, her smile fading as a loving look crept into Tera’s eyes. "Even if I have one as a cub, it does not make them any less deserving of love. And I don’t believe they are useless either. One being born with something they couldn’t control does not make them any less deserving of love."

Calis stared at her, his chest heavy at the gentle look on Tera’s face. His internal thoughts had been trying to reconcile what he had been taught with what he had witnessed. But they shattered at Tera’s tender gaze.

He found himself feeling almost guilty for some reason.

But... a shiftless cub would not be able to survive their rigorous life...

"So the fear that shiftless females will produce weaker offspring..." Tera shrugged lightly, apparently not finished. "It is not based on anything real. Their cubs are as strong as any other beast’s."

Tera then shook her head faintly.

She genuinely didn’t understand what the fuss about shiftless beasts was. Them being weaker than the usual beasts was not supposed to be this much of a deterrent.

Then again, Tera was going to change this world into one that a shiftless beast could easily navigate.

And if any of her future cubs turned out to be one, they were not going to embody any sort of self-helplessness.

Beasts had no concept of science. No studies, no records, or even data passed down through generations. They operated on instinct, tradition, and whatever the oldest beast in the room said loudly enough.

’Hmm...’

Tera had a sudden thought.

It was going to be a hassle, but what if she taught the beasts to read and write too? Not only would that be done for records, but it would also help them to read architectural drawings and building plans for the future.

’That’s genius, what the hell?!’

[( ╹ -╹)?]

[What is it, Host?]

’Tch! Do not spoil this moment. Go away!’

[(o.o *)]

Tera wanted her mind at ease, not having some silly conversation and planning with the system. She would discuss it with it later. But for now, teaching a beast or two to read and write would be helpful. Those beasts could then go on and teach the others for her.

"How do you know all this?" Calis’ quiet voice broke through her thoughts, and Tera turned to look at him, caught off guard.

"What?"

"About shiftless beasts. You seem to know so much. About this and other things too."

Tera smiled and winked. "It is a secret."

[This system finds it entertaining that Host keeps attributing its research to mystery and intrigue]

’Urgh! You again!’

[(¬‿¬)]

Tera looked back at the stars, and her expression sobered.

"The path your pack is on," she said carefully, "does not seem like it will last."

Calis frowned slightly. "I don’t understand."

"Did your pack used to have more females?"

Calis stilled, and the careful composure he had been maintaining cracked just enough for Tera to see something raw underneath.

"Yes... We had more."

Tera watched his face. There was a sudden tightness in his jaw, along with the way his eyes dropped to the ground.

"They didn’t die from monster attacks, did they?" she whispered.

Calis’ head turned toward her so fast that the movement was almost a flinch.

He looked confused and alarmed at the same time, shocked at how much Tera knew.

’What do you take me for? I have eyes and a brain.’

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