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I spent the rest of the day burying myself in the items from my inventory bag. Truth be told, I was just afraid—afraid of becoming a father. And I didn't want to embrace a woman I barely knew. Many people might think it's fine to sleep with strangers, even call it a dream come true.
But reality is far different from those naïve fantasies. When two people come together to create life, it's sex. When they share warmth and intimacy, it's making love. When it's purely for pleasure, it's still sex. But to me, it's more than just an act of intimacy—it's something sacred. If the moment when two people become one to create life isn't sacred, then what is truly pure and holy?
I made up my mind: I wouldn't sleep with anyone until I was familiar with them.
Just as I was about to open the door, Meliss called out from outside.
"Dennis! It's almost time for dinner. We need to head to 'Lungpui.'"
What timing.
I stepped outside, looking for my guards, but they were nowhere to be seen. So, I followed Meliss toward Lungpui, determined to learn more about the women who would bear my children.
On the way, she explained that they had completed the selection process, ensuring that all the candidates were healthy enough for childbirth.
"By the way, how many people from each tribe are coming?" I asked.
"Oh, around ten or twelve from each clan," she replied.
"Ten?!"
"Is that too much?"
"No... um..."
"Speak up."
"Um… I mean, is that enough to grow the entire clan's population?"
"This is just the first batch. And our bodies are different from humans. When we take in a seed, we store it in our ovum and can conceive up to ten children from a single act."
I was dumbstruck.
"Oh… oh… is that so?"
She chuckled. "Did you think you'd have to impregnate them every single time they wanted a child? That would be too much of a strain on your body. After all the tribe leaders arrive, they'll set a schedule for the 'borers' of each tribe."
"By the way, you mentioned another man before. Was he from Earth, or was he from this world?"
"Umm… I don't know much about him except that he was my father. He was kept in the northernmost region, but he never cooperated with our clan. He always tried to escape. In the end, he convinced two women to side with him, brainwashed them, and they all fled to the Empire. They were never heard from again," she said, her tone sharp with anger.
Did she hold any feelings toward her father? Would I end up like him?
Soon, we reached Lungpui. The large tent was packed with people. I spotted the leader of the Northern Tribe, their 'borer,' Lani and her daughter, and across from them sat ten people from the Lula Tribe. To my surprise, both of my guards were among them.
I took a seat at Lani's right side, while on my left sat Aalas, chief of the Northern Tribe.
Before long, the cooks served food in clay bowls. The main dish was a massive roast hog, nearly the size of a trash bin, seasoned with various herbs. Alongside it were huge eggs. When I asked about them, Meliss explained that they were quail eggs, harvested from domesticated birds raised for their feathers, eggs, and meat.
Before we ate, Lani and Aalas gave a short speech about why we had gathered here—for the survival and prosperity of their clans. Then, the feast began.
The roasted hog was divided into six parts. Our group received the head and shoulder, while the Northern and Lula tribes split the rest.
They ate with their hands, devouring everything quickly. Their appetites were enormous—but then again, so were they. Big bodies meant big stomachs, and big stomachs meant more food. It was that simple.
Once dinner ended, Lani clapped her hands, and the room fell silent.
"Today, we have gathered here..."
Her speech was mostly about the importance of repopulating the clans. She spoke of how the 'borers' held an honored role and should take pride in their duty. Meliss translated for me, but I could understand most of it on my own. I had been learning their language, though I wasn't fluent yet.
Lani talked for nearly half an hour, explaining how the Northern Tribe's 'borers' would stay in the Ancestral Mountain until they had received my seed—a process that would take about two months. Then, it would be the turn of the second eldest tribe, followed by the third and fourth, and finally, the youngest tribe.
She also announced that a new house had been prepared for us to stay in for the next two months.
After Lani finished speaking, Meliss and I walked toward the large hut set up beside the tent. From the outside, it looked similar to my previous hut. Inside, however, it was simple—no rooms, just two windows and a door. And inside were ten massive women from the Northern Tribe.
I hesitated, then gathered my courage, waved from the doorway, and said, "Hello."
"....."
"....."
"....."
No response.
Well, it was only the first day. We had plenty of time to get familiar with each other.
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