I stand my ground before the village head and his daughter, the air heavy with tension. I could have stayed silent and walked away, but I refuse to let this turn into a fight. Causing trouble on my very first mission would destroy my credibility as an adventurer before I even have the chance to build a reputation.

I glance toward Reinga. Rage twists her once-beautiful face into something ugly. Her furry ears stand stiff and twitch with hostility, while her majestic tail bristles as she glares daggers at Pico. At the same time, the village head stares at Pico with undisguised disgust. Pico shrinks behind me, one small hand clutching the back of my shirt while the other holds her baby tightly against her chest. Her body trembles faintly. The sight sends a sharp ache through my chest.

I speak calmly, but my tone stays firm. "I choose Pico because I already know her. She is the only reason I accepted this mission in the first place."

Pico’s grip on my shirt tightens immediately. I can feel her shock through that tiny gesture, but she wisely remains silent. The village head furrows his thick brows, the scar on his face pulling taut as he continues glaring at her with open contempt.

"Pico?" he scoffs loudly. "That weakling? She already has a child out of wedlock. She can barely hunt ordinary animals or even the weakest F-rank monsters. My daughter Reinga is a true D-rank warrior—strong, untouched, and worthy of any hero."

Reinga folds her arms beneath her full chest with a smug expression, lifting her chin proudly. She clearly expects me to reconsider after hearing how worthless Pico supposedly is. But the hateful glare she gave earlier has already erased whatever interest I might have had. I release a slow sigh.

"My decision stands," I say evenly. "I want Pico."

My words hit Reinga like a slap across the face. She snarls, her lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth, and suddenly lunges toward us. The village head quickly grabs her arm and yanks her back, his own face burning with fury.

"Fine!" he spits. "If you wish to take the trash of our village, then so be it. I have no obligation to stop you. Clearly, you were never worthy of my daughter after all."

Despite the arrogance in his voice, I still catch the flash of wounded pride in his eyes. My rejection struck his ego hard. I give him a respectful nod, refusing to escalate the situation further. Then I reach behind me, take Pico’s trembling hand firmly in mine, and pull her gently against my side.

"Come," I tell her softly.

I lead her away from the brick house without another glance back.

I can still feel the eyes of the village head and Reinga boring into us, but I keep my posture straight and my grip firm around Pico’s hand. She stays close to me, her soft furry arm brushing against mine, her swollen breasts pressing lightly against my side as she walks. The scent of warm fur and milk fills my nose, grounding me. I just stood up for her before her entire village. The weight of that choice settles warmly inside my chest.

We walk back toward her hut in silence for a while. The moment we pass out of sight of the village head’s house, Pico suddenly stops. Tears spill freely down her flushed cheeks as she looks up at me with wide, glistening eyes, her baby resting quietly in her arms.

"Jacob... did you really mean what you said back there?" she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion.

I turn fully toward her and gently cup her cheek, brushing away a tear with my thumb. "Yes. I’m taking you with me. You’ll stay by my side from now on. I’ll be your master, Pico. And you’ll be a good girl for me."

Her breath catches in her throat. Then pure joy blooms across her face. Her soft tail sways excitedly behind her, moving faster and faster. She nods eagerly, her ears perking upright.

"Yes... Master," she breathes softly, testing the word on her tongue. Somehow, it sounds perfect coming from her lips.

I glance down at the pup nestled against her chest. "What’s the baby’s name?"

"Zen," she replies quietly, adjusting the little one in her arms. The pup’s tiny furry ears twitch slightly at the sound of her name.

I nod once. "I’ll take care of both you and Zen. I’ll train you, Pico. I’ll turn you into a strong warrior so you never have to feel weak or afraid again."

A radiant smile spreads across Pico’s face. Her tail wags even faster, thumping lightly against her thighs. I reach over and pat her head gently, stroking her soft furry ears. She leans into my touch with a happy little sound, her body language radiating complete trust and loyalty. I’ve asserted my dominance, and she has already accepted it completely. From this moment onward, she belongs to me.

Pico reaches into her small pouch and pulls out the ten gold coins I gave her earlier. She raises them toward me with both hands. "Master... you gave me these. Are you sure?"

I smile faintly and close her fingers around the coins. "Keep them. You may need them later. They’re yours."

Her eyes soften with gratitude. I continue, "Once we return to the city, I’ll buy you proper clothes. Something that fits you nicely and shows off your beauty."

Pico nods obediently, her cheeks deepening into a darker blush. "Thank you, Master. I’ll be a good girl. I promise."

We continue walking toward her hut. Her hand remains in mine the entire way, warm and trusting. Every so often, I catch her glancing at me with quiet adoration and excitement. Her swollen breasts bounce softly with each step, faint damp spots forming across her thin top where milk still leaks through. The sight stirs a low heat deep inside me, but I keep it restrained for now. There will be more than enough time for that later.

Once back inside her modest hut, I watch her carefully lay Zen down on the small bed in the corner. Then she turns toward me, her tail still swaying behind her as she waits patiently for my next command.