Chapter 5 : The Tribe

Gae: There is a two-horned monster 52 meters on the left and two one-horned monsters 36 meters on the right.

"Okay, then let's go straight."

The guardians are monitoring the blue screen. Once they detect a monster nearby, Gae will inform him so he can choose a different path. They had been doing this routine for five hours now.

"I'm so tired!" Tangtang murmured.

The four fluff balls felt heartache, but they couldn't do anything other than monitor the detector.

"You can do it, Tangtang!" Phi cheered him up. He used his fur to wipe Tangtang's sweat on his forehead.

This forest looks endless. He didn't know if he had already traveled far from where he came from, but he knew that he had already been walking for more than 5 hours and still had no tribe in sight.

Time limit: 9:34:12

Tangtang, looking at the shortening time limit, sighed.

"Earlier, I wanted to find at least one of the five largest tribes to guarantee my safety, but now I don't care anymore."

Ero: You can always leave and find another tribe if you're not satisfied in the future. They treasure sub-beasts in this world because of their rarity.

Phi: We will not allow anyone to mistreat you. 

"Let's rest for a while," Tangtang smiled and said as he approached a giant boulder. He wanted to sit and rest for a while when he heard Gae gasp.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Just walk faster, TangTang. You only have 9 hours left," Gae answered with a trembling voice.

Tangtang notices the sudden changes in Gae's voice. He immediately walks forward, ignoring the boulder where he was supposed to rest.

After 5 minutes, a giant black snake-like monster with five horns slowly wrapped its body around the trunk of the tree behind the giant boulder. It flailed its spiked tail that immediately shattered the rock into pieces. 

Gae heaved a sigh of relief when he confirmed that the monster didn't follow them.

Tangtang didn't ask why Gae reacted like that; he knew that he must have a good reason. His leg is already sore, and he doesn't have energy to talk anymore, but he still continues to walk for another hour before almost collapsing under the shade of a tree.

This is his second day in this unfamiliar world, and he doesn't know if he can live properly in this place.

He is neither smart nor talented. There is nothing special about him. Tangtang believed that everything he has on Earth is the result of his hard work and perseverance.

At the age of 10, his parents divorced. His mother left him to his grandmother. At that time, his grandmother was sick and couldn't take care of him. His parents didn't even leave a penny for him.

The last 10 years of his life feel like a joke. Both of his parents have never been doting and loving from the start, but he can't believe that they will just abandon him like that.

At a young age, he started working as a dishwasher in a cafeteria after school so he could buy food and medicine for his grandmother.

When his grandmother felt a little better, she started working again to support his studies. Despite her old age, her grandmother is collecting metal scraps, bottles, boxes, and broken appliances in the neighborhood to sell in a junkyard.

His grandmother wanted him to focus on studying because she believed that it would give him a better life in the future, but Tangtang still secretly takes a part-time job to help his sick grandmother with their finances.

He plans to graduate from a prestigious university, find a stable and highly paid job, and buy his grandmother her own house. Unfortunately, his grandmother died before his high school graduation.

After high school, he studies day and night so he can pass the XXX University entrance exam and get a scholarship. He wants to be a painter, but instead of fine arts, he takes financial accounting. He wants to work for the influential and powerful Dayun Conglomerate.

A friend of his who was employed at Dayun informed him that the company offered high salaries and generous benefits to newly hired accounting majors.

Tangtang believed that by doing so, he would fulfill his grandmother's last wish, for him to live a happy and contented life. 

In the end, all of his plans failed. He died and transmigrated to this world.

Tangtang sighed for the nth time.

After resting for half an hour, Tangtang continued on his quest. Because of the fruits he gathered earlier, he avoids getting thirsty and hungry.

After walking aimlessly for another two hours, the dispirited Tangtang suddenly heard Ero exclaim. "Tangtang!"

"Yes?"

Ero: A tribe has been detected!

"Really? Where?"

Tangtang's faces brighten, and his fatigue eases a little. The four guardians became energetic and started to bounce in the air.

Ero: 105 meters on your right!

Tangtang hurriedly ran in the direction of the tribe.

He was so excited to see what a tribe looked like.

When he had a glimpse of several tents ahead, he stopped and hid behind a tree.

"What's wrong, Tangtang?" Phi asked.

"I'm a little nervous!" Tangtang pressed his chest, which is beating fast. He doesn't know why he is nervous, but he feels happy that at last he found a tribe. "Is there a way to find out what tribe they are?"

"Let me check." Gae manipulated the interface to scan the tribe.

While waiting for Gae's response, Tantang walked closer until he saw the entirety of the tribe.

Standing on a small cliff, Tangtang could clearly see a wide valley below with countless tents. The two mountain ranges on both sides of the valley act like a wall protecting the tribe from wind and rain. The blue sky above, filled with cotton-wool-like clouds, is like a blanket, giving them warmth. 

A scenery that can only be seen in movies. It is both breathtaking and picturesque.

He felt like Simba, who was standing on the Pride Rock overlooking the savanna.

Tangtang was still engrossed in his own world when he heard loud rustling nearby. He immediately strutted behind a tree and crouched in the bushes, trying to hide his presence. 

"₹èlæîœ ¶Ωμ b¿"

"£№€±· ü0øã!"

Tangtang can hear people talking, but he could not understand what they were saying.

"Œïú èä¢№."

"Shhh..."

After a few moments, the voices faded.

'What's that?! I cannot understand anything!'

Tangtang became worried about how he would communicate with the people in the tribe if he couldn't understand their language.

'Does every tribe have a different language?' He asked, but no one answered.

Tangtang took a peek behind the bush, and when he made sure that the people talking earlier had already left, he slowly stood up while patting the leaves on his trousers.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him, blocking all the light.

"AHHHHHHH!!"

_______________.

Hou can't stop looking at the sub-beast beside him. He is the most beautiful sub-beast he has ever seen. He is undeniably much more beautiful than his mother.

His eyes glow as bright as the stars, his skin is white as snow, his soft black hair sways in the wind and emits a fragrant scent, and he is also wearing clothes he hasn't seen before.

Just looking at him makes his heart beat fast.

Unfortunately, he accidentally scared the sub-beast.

Hou was patrolling the vicinity of the tribe with his subordinates when he smelled a sweet, enticing scent. He followed the smell that brought them near the cliff. With the beasts heightened senses, they heard small movements behind the bushes.

Hou signaled the others to keep quiet as he slowly approached the bushes to catch whatever it was. Unexpectedly, it is a sub-beast—a beautiful sub-beast at that.

The sub-beast was frightened, and their first encounter was unpleasantly memorable.

Hou was ignored when he tried to talk to the sub-beast in an attempt to remedy the situation, but when Cai asked if he wanted to come with them to their tribe, the sub-beast nodded in response.

This makes Hou disheartened, but it's impossible to let an opportunity to leave a favorable impression on the sub-beast pass. He shamelessly ordered his team to continue patrolling, as he would personally escort the lost sub-beast back to their tribe.

Under the resentful eyes of his men, he guides the sub-beast with a grin.

Hou had no idea that the sub-beast, which appeared frail and innocent, was actually screaming inside.

'Ahhh! He is so handsome!'

Phi: Calm down, Tangtang!

'How can I calm down? There is a handsome man beside me! Ahhhh, so handsome! That face... AHHHHHH!!'

Tangtang thought that the guardians were exaggerating when they were describing the men in this world, but with the living example in front of him, he realized that his vocabulary is too limited because right now he can only think of two words to describe the man—hot and handsome.

'Look at those arms! those abs! those mermaid lines!!! Ahhh, choke me, daddy!!'

Nia: ...

Gae: ...

Phi: ...

Ero: Do you want me to choke you myself?

'Tss.. Such a killjoy!'

Tangtang thought that the four guardians were still young and was trying to control his words. It is also the reason why he is reluctant to let them hear his thoughts, but with the real deal in front of him, he forgets all propriety and unintentionally shows his true color.

He once again takes a peek at the man walking in front of him.

The man is so tall that Tangtang needs to look up just to see his face. His height is most likely more than 210 cm.

The man's long black hair was messily tied up. It didn't reduce his charm but instead gave him a much more carefree look that was really pleasing to the eye.

He has a sharp eyebrow, phoenix-shaped eyes that match the beautiful golden irises, a straight nose, and thin lips. 

'Ahhh, so handsome!'

In addition, those muscular arms, broad shoulders, and toned chest—even his waist—look powerful.

'So hot!'

The only hindrance is the small piece of cloth covering his lower body.

'Tss... Annoying.'

Ero, who understood what Tangtang meant, suggested, "Why don't you take it off, Tangtang?"

Gae: Ero!

'That's a brilliant idea.'

Gae: Tangtang!

Ero: Just pretend to trip and pull down his skirt.

Gae: Stop it, Ero! Don't give Tangtang any weird ideas. This is his first time meeting people, at least leave some good impression.

Tangtang sighed and tried to calm himself. Gae is right, he doesn't want to scare the handsome beast.

Despite this world being a primitive one, they are quite conservative when it comes to sub-beasts. It would be a big loss if the man got turned off because of his lustful thoughts.

'Anyway, Gae, what happened earlier? After you returned, I instantly understood them.'

The man tried talking to him, but since he couldn't understand what he was saying, he could only act scared.

Gae: After scanning the tribe's information, I recorded their language, analyzed it, and sent it to your brain.

'Can he understand me if I speak with him now?'

"Yes," Gae said, fidgeting.

'What's wrong?'

Gae: Ahmm, Tangtang, we're sorry. It's our negligence for not knowing their language beforehand.

Ero: We were also a little flustered when we heard them talk.

Phi: We're sorry, Tangtang.

'I see... That's why you guys were nowhere to be found when they appeared? Leaving me behind, huh?'

"Sorry," the four guardians sincerely said at the same time.

Tangtang laughs inwardly. He was just teasing the four fluff balls and doesn't plan to blame them.

'Gae, what is their tribe?' Tangtang asked.

Hearing Tangtang's question, knowing that Tangtang doesn't mind their mistake, the four fluff balls become lively once again.

"Yes! We were so lucky. The tribe we first found is the Winged Tiger tribe, one of the five largest tribes in Gaia," Gae happily answered.

"And the handsome man in front of you is one of the twin sons of the chieftain," Ero added, his childish voice full of teasing.

'What a coincidence.'

Tangtang became more eager to talk to the man. He first cleared his throat and shyly tugged the man's pinky. "My name is Tangtang. What's yours?"

Hou trembled when he heard the sweet and melodious voice of the sub-beast. The soft touch on his finger makes him frozen in place, afraid that a little force will make the sub-beast let go.

"What's your name?" Tangtang asked once again when the man didn't answer.

'Can't he understand me? Why is he not answering?'

Gae: I don't know Tangtang. I am sure you are now speaking the Gaia dialect.

Ero: I think he is just smitten with you.

"Hello!" Tangtang waved in front of the man.

"H-Hou... Hou, that's my name," the man answered after a few seconds.

"Nice to meet you, Hou!" Tangtang clasps the man's big hand without reservation and shakes it happily.

'Ahhh... Even his fingers are long!'

[...]

"T-Tangtang..."

"Yes?" Tangtang smiled.

The sub-beast's smile was beautiful and contagious "Nice to meet you too," Hou said with a daze.

When he sees that Hou is still not moving, he slightly pulls the man's hand to walk again in the tribe's direction with a smile on his beautiful face.

Tangtang was now looking forward to staying in this tribe.