When she finished, she spread her clothes across the rocks to dry in the sun.
After all that work, she suddenly felt the need to urinate. Finding a flat spot, she squatted down, but her eyes soon caught something red and long like chili peppers in the nearby grass.
After relieving herself, she walked closer to check—yes, it was chili. A pleasant surprise. She immediately picked a handful and headed back.
Nolan was grilling fish by the fire, and the aroma indicated they were nearly ready.
It was said that focused men were the most attractive, and watching such a handsome, wild-looking man proved it true. Compared to him, modern celebrities from places like Korea and Obama seemed almost dull.
Sasha had to admit that his looks were striking. If she were still a young, untouched girl, she might have been overwhelmed by him. But after being emotionally hurt, she no longer allowed herself to trust men easily.
Pushing aside her wandering thoughts, she approached Nolan and handed him the chili peppers, asking him to crush and sprinkle them over the fish.
"What is this?" Nolan asked, his fair, handsome face full of doubt. Could this red thing really be eaten? Would it be poisonous?
"This is chili, a seasoning," Sasha explained seriously.
Seeing the certainty in her eyes, Nolan chose to trust her. Worst case, he would taste it first before giving it to his female.
He had always looked down on males who groveled around females, lacking dignity or intelligence. Yet ever since meeting Sasha, he slowly began to understand them.
Nolan crushed the chili effortlessly into powder and sprinkled it onto the fish.
Sasha stared at his effortless strength in amazement. It was like watching a living machine.
Soon, a strong, sharp fragrance filled the air. The pungent scent tickled Nolan's nose, and he sneezed several times uncontrollably.
"What is this smell? It's strange." Surprise filled his eyes, and he moved back slightly.
The scent made Sasha's mouth water. She took a bite of a grilled fish. The meat was soft, tender, and delicious.
Savoring the taste, she told Nolan, "Try it. It's good, though a little spicy. It would be even better if we had salt."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. Salt? Powdered salt?
"There is salt, but it's rare, found far away near the sea. Orcs trade for it. It's precious."
Then he softened his voice. "But if you want it, I'll get it for you."
The sea? What kind of place was this world exactly? Sasha thought that since she had already arrived in this beastman world, she should learn to adapt quickly. She also wanted to go out and learn more about the world beyond this forest.
Watching her enjoy the food so happily, Nolan also picked up a fish and bit into it. "Oh." His eyes suddenly widened, the green pupils filled with disbelief.
How could something taste this good?
Seeing his adorable reaction, as if he had stumbled upon a brand-new world, Sasha couldn't stop herself from laughing.
The two of them shared the grilled fish with great delight.
Thinking about the sea area Nolan had mentioned earlier, Sasha lifted her gaze toward him, her beautiful eyes curious. "Where is that sea area? And how far is it from here?"
Being stared at by the female he liked—such a beautiful one at that—Nolan felt his heartbeat quicken. "Do you want to go? At my usual speed, it would take about a year."
He was referring to his speed in beast form, and it would probably take even longer if he brought her along.
Although she was curious about such a faraway place, she eventually decided to drop the idea.
"I don't want to go to the sea. I just want to leave this forest. Life here is too simple, I can't stay here forever."
After hearing what Sasha said, Nolan fell into serious thought. She was right. What if she encountered danger while hunting? Or got targeted by wandering orcs? He didn't want either situation to happen.
This misty forest housed many stray beasts, and without rules, the strong often preyed on the weak. Now that he had a female, he wasn't suited to remain here.
The Moonclaw cat clan preferred living alone, so he had been on his own since he was young and had never joined a tribe. But now he had a partner. For safety, it was time for him to choose one.
"We can join a tribe. It's safer and more stable."
But Nolan's eyes drifted toward Sasha's unusual clothing. "What you're wearing is too strange. You need different clothes. You already have me, so you shouldn't draw other males' eyes."
Strange? Sasha looked down at her skirt, then at the animal skin tied around Nolan's waist. Right. Standing next to him like this, she clearly didn't blend in.
"But I don't have anything else to wear." She frowned.
Nolan lifted his chin. "I'll make one for you."
He drew out a piece of soft green snakeskin from his space. After giving Sasha a quick look, as if checking her size, he sliced the hide with his sharp nails and began stitching it using a bone needle and silk threads of matching color. His expression was focused and serious.
Sasha observed the thin, long bone needle in his hand while listening to him explain—it was made from the bones of a sea fish, extremely sturdy and sharp.
The threads used for sewing came from spider silk, available in all kinds of colors, incredibly tough and durable, perfect for stitching animal-skin garments.
Nolan worked with full concentration, and his hands moved fast. Before long, a tube top was finished.
Sasha sat beside him. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't help thinking Nolan resembled a capable little wife, which contrasted amusingly with his cool and handsome face.
Because she moved closer, Nolan's heartbeat sped up again, though his hands didn't stop. Soon, he had completed a matching skirt.
"Here, see if it fits." Nolan picked up the leather skirt and tube top, handing them to her, his green eyes filled with anticipation.
Sasha took the freshly made outfit and headed into the cave to change.
The fit was perfect, and the snakeskin was soft and breathable—much better than her original bra. Its surface was covered in light blue-green scales that shimmered beautifully under the sunlight.
The pea-green snakeskin skirt softened the allure of her features, giving her a fresh, elegant aura.
When Sasha stepped out of the cave, Nolan's gaze locked onto her instantly. She looked stunning.
Her face was soft and delicate, her dark eyes bright and lively, her body exquisitely shaped, and her slender waist was impossibly graceful.