Fat and Ugly Villainess Wins Back Her Five Beast Husband

”Father, we can’t go to the highlands,” Sora said clearly, her voice carrying across the square. ”If the rain becomes too heavy, the slopes could collapse. If a landslide happens, we won’t have time to escape.”

The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.

Then laughter exploded from every direction.

”When floods come, everyone runs uphill. She wants us to run downhill instead?”

”Hahaha! Has Kaelira finally gone stupid?”

”She already looks ugly enough. Now her brain’s broken too.”

The mocking words came one after another, sharp and merciless.

”She’s ugly and stupid.”

The cruel words rang through the crowd without restraint.

Standing nearby, Serena lowered her eyes with a faint, mocking smile. Lyra merely sighed softly, avoiding Sora’s gaze entirely. Even Martin’s face darkened in embarrassment.

Martin’s expression darkened immediately. Leaning heavily on his staff, he barked, ”What nonsense are you talking about? If we don’t go higher, where else are we supposed to go?”

Sora ignored the ridicule surrounding her and calmly pointed southeast.

”The southeast terrain is lower, but it’s far from the river and surrounded by stone ridges instead of loose slopes. Water can spread out there instead of gathering in one place. It’s safer than the mountain.”

The crowd stared at her as though she had lost her mind.

Even Serena, standing among the females, covered her mouth as she laughed.

”A flood, and she wants to go lower? She really doesn’t know anything.”

”Three-year-old cubs understand this better than her.”

The insults grew harsher and harsher.

Only Mark—Sora’s older brother—looked furious.

”That’s enough,” he snapped at the crowd. ”She’s still my sister.”

Nearby, the four beastmen all wore different expressions.

Lukan frowned slightly.

Xavier crossed his arms with narrowed golden eyes.

Even Lucas, who usually avoided conflict, looked displeased.

And Ace...

Ace looked openly annoyed.

No matter how much they disliked Sora, hearing the tribe openly humiliate her still made them uncomfortable.

Sora ignored every insult thrown at her. Compared to the apocalypse, ridicule meant nothing. Survival mattered more.

Her older brother, Mark, finally stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.

”Kaelira, stop talking,” he hissed. ”Don’t interrupt Father.”

But Sora gently pulled her hand free.

She lifted her chin and looked directly at Martin.

”I’m not speaking nonsense,” she said calmly. ”I awakened a water ability. I can sense changes in the river flow. The water is unstable. A massive storm is coming.”

The moment those words fell, the square became deathly quiet.

Abilities.

Those were gifts only a handful of powerful beastmen possessed.

Even among females, abilities were extremely rare.

Even Martin froze.

Xavier’s pupils contracted slightly.

Ace’s golden eyes sharpened.

Lukan looked genuinely stunned for the first time.

Without another word, Sora walked toward the riverbank. She raised her hand slowly, concentrating.

The muddy river water trembled.

Then several shimmering droplets rose into the air as though pulled by invisible strings.

Gasps erupted everywhere.

Sora flicked her fingers.

The droplets shot forward and splashed against the stone ground.

Everyone stared at her in shock.

Even the usually arrogant Xavier looked stunned for a moment.

Martin stared at the scene in disbelief before bursting into booming laughter.

”Hahaha! Good! Good!”

”As expected of my daughter!”

His attitude changed so quickly that Sora almost rolled her eyes.

Moments ago, he looked ashamed to even acknowledge her existence.

Now pride practically radiated from him.

Martin stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder.

The surrounding tribe members also looked at Sora differently now.

Some were shocked.

Some were curious.

Others looked openly jealous.

Abilities represented strength.

And strength meant status.

Martin strode forward and heavily patted Sora’s shoulder.

”Since you possess a water ability, we’ll follow your judgment today.”

Sora forced a small smile.

The sudden warmth from him felt unfamiliar.

Martin turned toward the tribe and raised his staff high.

”Any objections?”

This time, nobody spoke.

The crowd exchanged uncertain glances, but no one dared argue anymore.

Abilities changed everything.

Ugly or not, power earned respect.

Martin raised his staff high.

”Pack only what’s necessary! We leave immediately and follow Kaelira’s directions!”

The tribe scattered into motion.

—

Sora hurried back to her cave.

She had very few belongings—mostly animal skins and simple clothes.

There was nothing else worth carrying.

Remembering Martin’s instruction to travel light, she assumed everyone else would bring only necessities too.

But when she returned to the square, she froze.

The open clearing was now filled with enormous wolves.

Gray wolves.

White wolves.

Black wolves.

Large wolves carrying females on their backs alongside bundles of supplies. Some even held stone pots carefully in their mouths.

Sora blinked.

They were literally using wolves as transportation.

Before she could recover from the sight, countless eyes turned toward her.

Martin—already transformed into a giant gray wolf with Lyra seated proudly on his back—growled impatiently.

Kaelira! What are you standing there for?” he shouted from atop his giant gray wolf form while carrying Lyra on his back. ”Hurry up and ride one of your beast husbands! Everyone’s waiting for you!”

Ride... one of them?

Sora looked toward her four husbands.

Lukan had transformed into a majestic silver wolf.

Lucas stood nearby in his phoenix form, sleek feathers glimmering beneath the sun.

Xavier’s massive Black serpent body coiled lazily against a rock, slit pupils watching her with amusement.

And Ace...

Ace’s White Tiger form stood apart from the others.

His white fur gleamed like polished gem beneath the sunlight, his body long and powerful, golden eyes filled with cold impatience.

The moment Sora looked over, the four beastmen immediately understood.

They were waiting to see who she would choose.

Lukan would’ve been the safest option...

But before she could move toward him, Martin suddenly barked another order.

”Lukan! Go count the tribe members!”

Lukan immediately nodded and left.

Sora’s hopeful expression instantly collapsed.

Great.

Now only three remained.

Her gaze slowly swept across them.

Xavier was eliminated first.

Absolutely not.

Those snake scales looked painful.

Lucas was elegant, but bird beastmen flew too much for her peace of mind.

Which left—

Ace.

Sora looked at the White Tiger again.

Broad back.

Soft-looking fur.

Long body.

Comfortable.

Yes.

Very comfortable.

Before Ace could react, Sora marched straight toward him and climbed onto his back in one smooth movement, wrapping both arms tightly around his neck.

Ace: ”...”

The surrounding beastmen: ”...”

Even Xavier looked stunned.

Ace’s golden eyes widened in disbelief.

Wasn’t this woman usually terrified of him?

Had her courage suddenly increased?

And now she was actually hugging his neck with those chubby little arms.

His fur bristled in irritation.

The entire square froze.

Even Xavier looked shocked.

His ears flattened immediately.

”Do you have no shame?” he snarled coldly.

Sora ignored him completely.

Comfort came first.

Dignity second.

Ace clearly wanted to throw her off immediately, but Martin was still watching nearby, so he could only suppress his irritation.

Just then, Lukan returned.

”Everyone is here.”

Martin nodded before turning toward Sora.

”Which direction?”

Sora pointed southeast without hesitation.

”That way.”

The next second, Martin shot forward like lightning.

The wolf pack followed instantly.

Ace growled softly before launching after them.

The wind roared around Sora’s ears.

At first, she was thrilled.

Then she realized something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Ace was intentionally running over the roughest terrain possible.

Sharp rocks.

Uneven slopes.

Jagged roots.

Sora bounced violently on his back, nearly biting her own tongue.

”AH—!”

Her vision blurred.

Her soul almost left her body.

Below her, Ace’s shoulders shook slightly.

The bastard was laughing.

He was doing this on purpose.

The violent jolting nearly shook Sora’s soul out of her body.

”Ace!” she yelled, swaying wildly. ”Can’t you run properly?!”

Ace let out a mocking snort.

If she insisted on choosing him, then he would make sure she regretted it.

Sora immediately tightened her grip around his neck.

Ace nearly choked mid-run.

He stopped abruptly, glaring backward with murderous golden eyes.

Ace abruptly stopped and glared back furiously.

”Let go before you strangle me to death!”

Sora glared right back.

”If you stop trying to throw me off, I’ll loosen my grip!”

Ace gritted his teeth.

Sora glared right back.

”If you didn’t run like a maniac, I wouldn’t need to hold on this tightly!”

Ace’s tail lashed irritably.

”...Then stop squeezing my throat.”

”Run properly first.”

The two stared at each other for several tense seconds before Ace finally clicked his tongue in annoyance and resumed running.

This time, however, he avoided the rough paths.

The pace became much steadier.

Sora finally relaxed slightly.

Now that she wasn’t fighting for her life every second, she noticed something else.

Ace’s fur was ridiculously soft.

Smooth.

Warm.

Fluffy beneath her fingertips.

Honestly...

It felt amazing.

Sora barely resisted the urge to pet him.

The wind swept through the sleek black coat, making it ripple beautifully beneath the sunlight.

It looked... very touchable.

Sora’s fingers twitched slightly.

But remembering his horrible temper, she forced herself not to touch him.

Soon, the group approached a steep cliff.

Ace crouched slightly before leaping across the gap.

”Hold tight,” he warned coldly. ”If you fall, I won’t save you.”

Startled, Sora instinctively leaned forward.

But remembering their earlier argument, she avoided grabbing his neck again.

Instead, her eyes landed on his narrow waist.

Without thinking too much, she wrapped both arms firmly around his abdomen.

Ace froze mid-leap.

A strange sensation spread across his stomach.

Warm.

Soft.

Ticklish.

Ace’s entire body stiffened violently midair.

His leap almost failed.

A strange sensation spread across his stomach where her arms wrapped tightly around him.

His ears flattened instantly.

What the hell was she touching now?!

Ace landed heavily with an angry snarl.

Behind him, Sora clung to his waist for dear life, completely unaware that the tiger beneath her looked ready to explode.

”This damned woman...” Ace thought darkly.

Was she rubbing against him on purpose?