Since it was the animalkin pushing for peace, then I was in a place where I could make requests. I crossed my arms and smiled. Perhaps I was overdoing it, as the animalkins from the rodent family looked like they were about to pass out. It was remarkable they managed to rally themselves to go against King Roth in the first place. Then again, they had been depending on me weakening Roth enough and destabilizing the army enough. I was sure if he came back victorious, they would have quickly bowed down. For freeing them from their tyranny, I felt a little entitled to something.


    “Alright, I have three demands for peace,” I spoke frankly.


    Those behind him tensed, but he nodded as if he expected this. “Speak.”


    “First... the entirety of the wilderness will be recognized as my territory by Dioshin. Not Aberis’s territory... mine.”


    It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Prince Edward, but I felt like having Dioshin uniquely acknowledge my ownership of the land ahead of Aberis would put me in a safer position. There was a time where I never would have considered such things, so I felt a bit proud of myself for that one. It wasn’t something I had been told by Elaya but had come up with on my own.


    “That sounds reasonable.” He responded with a short nod.


    “Second, I want a passageway of safe travel through Dioshin to Jespain, for any merchant or trader coming out of Chalm.”


    Those words caused the men in the back to let out cries of surprise.


    “Outrageous!”


    “We can’t...”


    This was a unique time where I had all of the tribes gathered at once. They could work out some safe paths that people could travel. A trade route to Jespain where none existed before would be a major game-changer for the eastern continent.


    Duran lifted his hand to silence their bickering. “We’ll do it.”


    The others looked uncomfortable, but once again they shut their mouths.


    “The third option is the easiest,” I responded. “I want your alliance.”


    “Our alliance?”


    “A promise... from all twelve tribes. There will be a time when trouble will come, and the world will be in danger. I want all of you to ride with me, and to defend our world.”@@@@


    He frowned, not sure how to respond. “Do you know of some threat?”


    “It doesn’t matter! You, Lydia... you and her, you’re one. Our loyalty to the both of you will be undying!”


    “You mean until you find someone stronger.”


    “N-no!” Her cheeks turned pink, pressing her fingers together. “We happen to know Master is very kind to his women, so we too do not want to be thrown away. That’s why... whether you’re a man, or a woman, or anything else... we’ll keep Master happy!”


    “I’ve been wondering that too.” Miki suddenly spoke up. “Master and Lydia have bonded again.”


    “What about it?” Terra asked.


    “Does that mean... that Master is a futa?”


    All the girls froze, and many eyes suddenly fell on my crotch. I felt a sudden intense predatory instinct. Like a gazelle, I began to run.


    “Get him!”


    I only made it a few steps before the girls were on top of me. They pulled down the pants and...


    “Master is a woman?”


    “A vagina?”


    They looked up to see breasts and then a blushing girl. “You can be rough... if you want.”


    “Ahhh... it’s just Lydia.”


    “They split up again!”


    The naughty Lydia was into the play, while I wasn’t, so our souls parted once again. I ended up phase-shifting away just in time. In the future, I’d have to be careful about when and where I soul bonded. With a sigh, I got and bushed myself before returning to Chalm.


    “There he is!”


    As I walked back to Chalm, I was followed by twenty lionesses. It seemed like my life was only getting more complicated.