I am overwhelmed. Thank you again to a special somebody for the ko-fi. Another bonus chapter for you guys. Also, this is the last chapter of this arc. Tissue warning.

　　Translated by EveZJ8kVw

　　Edited by Sora Harukawa

　　The research was in full swing. Furthermore, it seemed like the terrain was sternly warning them, as this winter was endless.

　　Story translated by .

　　One month, two months, three months…….It originally was time for spring to arrive, but it continued to snow hard outside, without any sign of warming up. This winter was originally abruptly pushed forward, giving the beast people no time to prepare for the winter as they had before. Also, because the beast tide was relatively large-scale, it caused periphery areas of many towns, small and large, to be attacked and suffer damage. So, even before spring had arrived, rations had already run out. The hungry beastmen, who were unable to endure, had no choice but to leave home and enter the jungle once again despite the danger, hoping to come find something to fill up their stomachs., However, no matter whether it was animals or plants, everything had been killed by the heavy snow. There was practically no sign of life whatsoever.

　　Because of the low temperature and their hunger, the first to face trouble were the elderly beast people, the pregnant sub-beastmen, and the young newborns who were still weak. The faces of many beast people were filled with uncertainty towards the future, and pain for their loved ones. They pa.s.sed each day numbly, praying to the Beast G.o.d for protection before going to bed. However, each time they awakened, they sunk one step deeper into despair. 6r4WKS

　　"You guys take the prey……." Sui Yuan glanced at Monroe and Moya with a complicated look in his eyes. The two beastmen had thinned down considerably, compared to before. Fortunately, their vitality was still not bad, and they were not dispirited.

　　This time, they had agreed to enter the jungle with several other beastmen to hunt. Despite walking for ages, they had only come across a single guinea pig den. However, they were able to restrain their own hunger and brought it back to give to Sui Yuan. Sui Yuan had to say that this made him feel very touched, and also made him even more unable to accept their kind intentions.

　　Sui Yuan paused, before continuing, a bit helplessly, "Thank you, but you guys need this more than I do."

　　"You really don't need this?" Monroe wrinkled his brows, a bit discontented as he watched Sui Yuan's small and thin body shrink into a ball beneath his blanket, "As far as I know, Leonard rarely goes to the jungle to hunt. Do you really have enough to eat?"agkTd1

　　"Rarely going doesn't mean I never go. On the contrary, this just means that my efficiency is much higher than yours."

　　Story translated by .

　　An indifferent voice replied in place of Sui Yuan. A black panther entered the room with a plump giant elk, placing it next to the emaciated guinea pig, wordlessly showing off, "Eli is going to be my mate, I can naturally take care of him. There's no need for you guys to worry about him."

　　Moya's expression changed slightly, showing a bit of unwillingness, and a bit of admiration. There was even a bit of relief. He silently took back his guinea pig.

　　"……How did you manage to do this?" Monroe could not help but admire Leonard's strength. It seems that ever since Leonard regarded him as an enemy on account of Eli, Monroe hadn't since been able to find an opportunity to one-up him. On the contrary, every time Monroe went to provoke him, he ended up firmly suppressed by the other. There was no leeway for him to change his fate at all, making Monroe, who had always had a high self-esteem, feel very uneasy.ohOiLK

　　"I naturally have my ways. Even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to do it," Leonard said inscrutably, completely apathetic, acting like a pretentious p.r.i.c.k.

　　"……..System exchange?". Sui Yuan shrunk into his blanket, quietly exposing Leonard.

　　"Yes, it was definitely a system exchange., 5237 nodded his head in great agreement, "Food is the cheapest item you can buy, requiring the least amount of points."

　　Leonard："………………"sKXeBY

　　Monroe & Moya: "…………？？？"

　　After ruthlessly driving Monroe and Moya out, Leonard who had once again returned to the house swept a glance at Sui Yuan whilst also beginning to sort out the "system exchanged" elk. Sui Yuan felt a bit hungry. His ears were perked up while his tail was swaying impatiently and expectantly. He looked just like a little kitty that was waiting for his owner to feed him.

　　"How's the research progress?" Leonard asked in a gentle tone as he lit up the stove and set up the grill. He then silently watched Sui Yuan, who had quietly moved to his side.

　　Sui Yuan sniffed the air and stared unblinkingly at the roasted venison on the grill, absent-mindedly answering, "Just about there."X4aRWo

　　"Is it time to die?" Leonard paused his movements.

　　"Yeah. Probably within these two days," Sui Yuan nodded his head earnestly.

　　5237: "……. Really don't know how to describe this conversation of yours……."

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　　In the original plot, during this time, Allen and company had finally completed the research and were able to draw the first Incantation that would be capable of reversing the release of spiritual energy.WPjo0J

　　Having been the person who had drawn the Incantation, Allen originally had planned on experimenting its effects on himself. However, Eli, who had also partic.i.p.ated in the Incantations research, was opposed to Allen being the one to be credited for this great matter. So, Eli took the lead instead.

　　Eli, who was at the lowest point of his life, thought this when faced with the possibility of standing at the peak of the second phase of his life: if he were successful this time, as the very first person to use the Incantation, he would inevitably be marked down as a glorious and magnificent person in history. He could possibly turn this hopeless situation around. On the other hand, he didn't have anything to lose even if he were to fail. Because of Allen, he was detested and abandoned by Leonard, and blamed by his family members.

　　—- As such, while holding onto this sort of thought, he replaced Allen as the one who would first use the Incantation, and ended up losing his life. The Incantation was not at all successful. Or rather, it was successful to a certain extent. Everyone had been confused by its apparent perfection, completely forgetting that no force can be made from nothing. The reason why this charm can release the spiritual energy is because it absorbs a certain other power — the spirit, spiritual energy and even vitality of the person who uses the Incantation.