Cousin?

After that conversation with Layla, I went ahead into the forest. Since Fragrant Grass usually can be found at shady area near water while Light Flowerbud can be found at area with direct sunlight. The best place will be around the place I go right now I wanted to collect both at the same time.

Using Detection, I head straight to the place. It's quite nostalgic as this is the place where I used to come for material gathering. Arrived, I used shadow clone to collect the materials more efficiently. I get some extra for my own use, so that I can either gain extra pocket money or emergency use. Around one hour later, I finished the job and take some tour. More like to reminisce old time. I remember there's a cave I used to rest when camping here for quests. Maybe I can head there and grab some things I left there.

After some times, finally I found the cave. Ahhh… What a nostalgic feeling. The place I used to go when I need to rest for long quests since it's one of the most ideal to get materials and survival needs. It's near a river, many edible life form can be found and perfect shelter against weather. But, the entrance which I blocked the last time I'm here was lifted a bit. Is there any intruder here? Perhaps, since I didn't come here for the last seven years.

Using detection, I found a group of four people inside the cave. It seems these people had their circumstances, but I still need to recover my properties here. With that in mind, I proceed into the cave while preparing for the probability of being ambushed by the inside party. This way I can perform counterattack if the need arise.

Not long after I proceed, I'm rained with slash and claw attacks. I can see the silhouette of the attackers, which all of them had quite a feature; animal ears and tails. Despite having human appearance, these feature made them standout. What's more, all of them was a girl around 13-16 years old.

Good thing that they seems wary and agitated, else they might be influenced with my constitution. With a flick, I deflected their attack and they were bounced back to the wall. The impact was quite hard, that I can see the wall cracked a bit. Crap, perhaps I didn't held back sufficiently that they went unconscious. I bound them with shadow magic, disarmed them and healed them in case they got injured. If I watched carefully, all four of them seems identical. All of them have animal ears and tails, cat one to be exact. It's my first time seeing someone with this feature, which proven to be a half blood of Human-Beastfolk.

Actually, in this world there are three different kind. A pure blood which is a pure breed of certain races, half-blood which comprises of two different breed in their blood and impure blood which consists of several different bloodline. The major bloodline of a person will manifest as the main trait, followed by the next major until the minor bloodline. Aside from that, there is five major power races existing in this world. Human, Beastfolk, Undead, Demon and Dragonian, all these five races have their own kingdom in different continent.

The greatest population among these races is Human, in which their variety includes human and some subspecies (Ancient human, Lost Human, Mini Human etc.), elves (including their subspecies; High Elf, Blood Elf, Elemental Elf etc.), dwarves (including their subspecies; Mountain Dwarves, Steel Dwarves etc.) and some more with human appearance fall under this category. This races boasted the highest versatility, as different subraces and subspecies has different specialty.

Next is Beastfolk. This race comprises of many subraces like typical animal kingdom, with deeper classification based on their subspecies. For example, existing under Canidae is the Dog Races and Wolf Races, Tiger Races and Cat Races under Felidae, Bear Races under Ursidae and so on. These races fall under Mammal major races of Beastfolk, in which comprised of subspecies of respective races such as Husky Races under Dog Races and Leopard Races under Tiger Races. As for others, I don't really know as I never encounter them myself. Well, more likely I know but with loophole between my memories I need time to remember the back. All Beastfolk are bipedal, with major animal appearances. This races boasted the highest physical strength.

Moving on, we have the undead. This races, boasting the highest vitality have several subspecies such as Ghoul, Zombie, Vampire, Ghost etc. with their own further subraces. This races typically is nocturnal, with the exception of some subraces. For example is Vampire Lord, Ancient Ghost, Devouring Zombie etc. The differences between them and undead type monsters/beasts is they have consciousness and sanity. This races typically has longer lifespan compared to others, unless being truly killed. That's why some people believed that they are immortal.

Then, we have Demon races. Their composition is almost the same as the Undead, which consisted of several major races such as Vile Demon, Succubus, and Elemental Demon etc. with their own subraces. The different is they can used both magic and curse, with curse as their specialty. This races often being stigmatized as the enemy for other races due to their ability to use curse, but in reality the usage of curse is already almost extinct. The difference between them and demon beasts is that they have consciousness and sanity since their born, while demon beasts evolves from demonic beasts which gives them consciousness and sanity. To check for this, just ask for the last thing they can remember as Demon races has a very good memory.

Last but not least is the Dragonian. The races which is the master of ancient magic is the most reclusive compared to other races. They didn't really contact with outside world, with not being good with interaction makes them even more mysterious. The only thing I know about the races is they have several subraces. The difference between them and the dragon type monsters is the same with the Undead, having consciousness and sanity. Despite having the smallest kingdom, they're the strongest compared to others due to their mastery on magic and ancient magic.

Aside from these five major power races, there are actually some other major races. But due to the different in population, only these five are recognized by public. Some of these unknown major races are the Angels and Gigant. These unknown major races can only be known either due to being in the same bloodline, personal encounter or passed down knowledge. The reason I know about these unknown major races is due to the books I found in Luna's house. For minor races, most of them was absorbed into major races after the Great Calamity thousand years ago.

Back to business, I need to deal with these half-blood intruder. These cat girls seems having it hard, as they're somewhat thin. Maybe I'll cook something for them first before interrogating them. I scoured the place to check on my items. It seems untouched as I hide them inside my safe behind the cave wall. Plus all of them are I good condition due to preservation type magic. I didn't touched the intruders' resting place whatsoever. All good to go.

I pulled a magic item which is connected to my house (Luna's to be exact) to let her out. Since it's quite a time for her to be outside, plus there's no other people aside from these intruders, might as well ask Luna to help with cooking. Once out, I gave her another magic item with the appearance of a brooch to conceal hear appearance. I didn't use this method at the town as she's quite eye-catching, plus it's her own request. I greet her with a kiss before explaining to her what happened before she agreed to help.

Taking some ingredients from the safe, I prepared them with the help from Luna. Done preparing, I started with our menu for today's lunch. It took quite a while, since I'm preparing many things for the intruders as well as for both me and Luna. Around half an hour, everything's finished. I took some tableware from my shadow storage and done preparing for all of the guests. Done with serving, I asked Luna to wake the intruders after unbind them and replaced it with control type spell which limit their action.

"I've too many things to ask, but since your stomach had been making rock concert since the time you all ambush me then sit first and have some meal. I wouldn't take no as an answer. Enjoy your meal".

Luna sit beside me, while asking the intruders to sit. At the same time, I pour the drinks for all of us before I started to eat followed by Luna. The intruders seems hesitated at first, but seeing me being so nonchalant make them lower their guard before they sit and started eating. It seems they didn't have any proper meal for quite a time, as they eat their portion greedily. Well, since they seems to enjoy their meals that makes me satisfied as the chef. Not long after the meal, I tried to interrogate before I detected a group of people coming to the caves.

I planned to ambush the new intruders before the girls rushed to the entrance. It seems their sense are quite sharp, given that they can detected the presence before the actual encounter. I followed them to the entrance while holding hands with Luna. With current circumstances, I planned to let the girls deal with the intruders. Once there, I'm shocked.

"I'm back everyone. How's everyone behaving?"

"…."

"Something's wrong. Be careful."

This can't be… That face… They're save! It's… My chest feels tight…

"It can't be…."

"??!!"

"Is that you, Brother Ash?!"

The first newcomer gasped, the second one turned speechless and the third one rushed to me. Crying after throwing a hug to the dumbfounded me, it sink down in me. That faces… It's been a long time. Finally, found the first three important person to me. They're someone that's precious as they always meekly following me in our younger days. They became attached to me as they always being bullied by others, being saved by me even if I'm bullied after that lmao. Well, I wanted to be low-key. No other choices, they're bullied for being said as incompetent.

They're my cousins.