Then came an "Awooo!" Kuber suddenly felt something pounce onto his head—and bite his skull. His hand met a fluffy patch of fur. He’d touched this same thing moments ago: the adorable little werewolf.

Now the werewolf wore a ferocious scowl, fur standing on end, straddling Kuber’s neck and clamping down hard on his skull. From afar, it looked like Kuber wore an oversized fur hat. Those razor-sharp teeth would’ve drawn blood if not for Kuber’s thick skull.

Between bites, the werewolf mumbled fiercely:

"You got your fun for free and thought you could just leave? Not so easy! I’ll bite you to death! Damn human! Bite bite bite!"

"Holy crap, do you bite like a dog? Kid, get down—your drool’s on my neck."

Kuber’s face darkened. *Is this little werewolf’s brain broken? Acting like I stiffed him after a freebie?* Though... he hadn’t paid, technically.

The werewolf refused to budge. *I’ve got his weak spot! Such a perfect chance—I won’t waste it!*

"No way! You had your fun, so you *will* help me gather herbs! Or I’ll bite you dead!"

"Fine, fine! I’ll help you gather herbs. You don’t even need to get down—just loosen your jaw, okay? My head hurts."

Kuber’s headache wasn’t from the bite. It was this clingy werewolf. *Damn my luck—first I grope a guy, now he’s glued to me.*

Hearing Kuber’s promise, the werewolf reluctantly unclenched its teeth—but kept clinging tightly to his head. One sign of betrayal, and it’d strike again.

"Really? You’ll *really* help me gather herbs?"

"Of course. Would a handsome guy like me lie to a little kid?"

So Kuber began his herb-gathering journey with a tiny werewolf riding his neck. As they walked, he asked:

"Hey kid, why did you run when you first saw me?"

"Grandma said humans capture us as slaves if they spot us."

The werewolf’s voice was sweet and childish. Kuber understood instantly—this world still practiced slavery. Prisoners of war, criminals, debtors... all legally enslaved. But little A Luo’s fear? That reeked of illegal slave hunters targeting non-humans.

Kuber suddenly realized he didn’t know the kid’s name.

"Oh right—what’s yours?"

"A Luo. I’m A Luo. And you, Big Brother?"

The werewolf sounded shy when asked.

"I’m Kuber. Coburn William. An adventurer."

Following A Luo’s directions, they soon reached a cave. Lush yellow flowers bloomed at the entrance—the very herbs A Luo needed. Kuber felt the little werewolf tense up on his neck, tiny legs squeezing tighter. Something firm pressed against his skin, making his heart skip.

"Is there danger here, A Luo?"

"Yes... a huge, scary tiger lives inside. Can you beat it, Big Brother?"

"Of course. I’m an adventurer. A little tiger? Piece of cake."

Kuber strode toward the herbs at the cave mouth.