Piggyback Ride

When Kai and Valerie had sent Lisa back home and into her mother’s arms, the older woman had a face full of tears. She profusely thanked the two, clutching her precious daughter tightly in her arms.

Seeing Lisa's sweet interactions with her mother, Valerie couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

For some reason, she had been craving genuine warmth from a person. How long had it been since she had felt the love of a family?

Maybe in this new world, she would be able to find them. Would it be hard for her to do just that?

"We have to go now," Valerie said as she crouched down and grinned at the little girl. Then, she poked her cheek with her index finger and said, "Lisa, don't make your mother worry about you, okay?"

"Yes," Lisa nodded.

"And I will hope for you to become a powerful wolf female beastman in the future," added Valerie as she stood up, waving her hand. "Bye-bye!"

"Bye-bye!" Lisa waved her arm at Valerie, her mother, and Kai as she walked beside Valerie and Kai as they planned to head back to where Valerie could stay the night.

They have decided earlier that Valerie will stay in the village until she was fully healed. The first-aid performed by Kai to the wound on Valerie's shin seemed to be working well, and they just had to clean the wound and replace the medicinal leaves from time to time.

As they continued to walk, Valerie thought about how important it was for a beastman to become a fully adult wolf—seeing how the little female beastman, Lisa, wanted to become one to protect her friends.

"Do you think Lisa would be able to become a C-ranked adult wolf as she wanted?" asked Valerie as her eyes fixed on Kai's fluffy ears that looked similar to that of a wolf. "I saw you transform into a wolf as well back then. Are you an example of the adult wolf that she wanted— Ah!”

As they were walking, Valerie suddenly felt the pain in her right leg intensify. She did not notice it sooner, but it must have been becoming more painful as they continued to walk around the village.

"Are you okay, Valerie?" asked Kai with a genuinely worried look on his face.

"Damn." Valerie raised her right heel to rest it on the ground and then placed her other foot on top. "My leg seems to be feeling worse."

“Your bandages haven’t been changed in a while,” Kai observed. “And you’ve exerted way too much strength on it. Here, allow me.”

Much to Valerie's surprise, Kai stood before her, slightly bending his knees and guiding her arms over his shoulders. Then, he reached straight back with his arms underneath her legs and slowly raised Valerie by straightening his legs.

"Wooh, wooh," exclaimed Valerie as Kai successfully carried her on a piggyback ride. "This is a little bit scary!"

"I am sorry," Kai apologized as he slightly angled his head to the right. "Your safety is my utmost priority. I can’t let you keep walking around like that."

"Thanks, Kai." With a smile, Valerie's face lit up and exclaimed. "This is amazing! The air here at the top sure is fresher!"

Valerie remembered how his father used to piggyback her when she was a young child. But she grew up reminiscing those moments with a warm heart. Now, she did not expect that another man aside from her father would be able to give her one.

The positive comment made by her made Kai chuckle as he started walking.

"I am sorry for not explaining to you about the ranking system," he began, "I thought you knew.”

Valerie shook her head. Her hair flew a little in the wind as she did so.

“As you have noticed, our pack is considered a wolf beastman,” Kai continued to explain. “There are other types of beastmen like us as well."

Valerie nodded, still enjoying the breeze on her face. "I see. Please go on."

"Like mentioned earlier, every beastman is born as an E-class," Kai said as he walked. "The little girl we saw earlier was one, but once she hits puberty, she will most likely ascend to D class."

"Then, how do you explain you becoming a dog then suddenly transforming into a wolf?" asked Valerie as she could not resist touching Kai's fluffy ears.

"I was a D-class when you saw me in my beast form as a wolf pup. That might be why you thought I was a dog," explained Kai. "But for some reason, I was able to rank up and became a C class, thus transforming into a wolf. I think it’s because of you."

"I think that is a great thing," remarked Valerie as she continued to touch Kai's ears. They were so fluffy and soft! "What about the next class?"

"For A and B?" Kai slightly felt ticklish and blinked his eyes twice. The sensation felt addictive. "Um, only leaders of beastmen villages will be able to achieve this stage. My dad is a perfect example of a B class."

"I see," Valerie nodded. "I guess A is the highest class?"

Kai shrugged, shaking his head a little, bobbing it left and right, then up and down confusingly. "No and yes. Rumor has it that the highest rank is the S or SS class. It is nearly unheard of and highly difficult to breakthrough, though, so most people regard it as a mere myth."

"Nah," Valerie encircled her arms on Kai's neck as she said. "I am confident that Kai will be able to achieve the S rank! I mean, you’re so strong and smart. Besides, you’re still young. You’ll have plenty of time to better your skills"

As Kai's face was flushed with emotion, he muttered under his breath bashfully, "Thank you for the compliment, Valerie. But for now, I want to focus on hurrying back to the house. You need to rest."

Kai’s words brought a faint smile onto Valerie’s face. She leaned her head on his warm shoulder, breathing deeply. A wave of calm washed over her as her eyes fluttered close, too comfortable and content.