Fat and Ugly Villainess Wins Back Her Five Beast Husband

The rich aroma of roasted chicken drifted through the forest, drawing the tribe toward the fire almost instinctively.

The beastmen had traveled all morning without rest. Although the wild fruits had barely filled their stomachs, they could not compare to the warm, savory scent now spreading through the camp.

One after another, people followed the fragrance until they found Kaelira and Xavier sitting beside the fire.

Sora held a small piece of roasted chicken in her hand while the blackened mud shell from the beggar’s chicken lay cracked open beside her.

A younger beastman swallowed hard before blurting out, ”Sister Kaelira... did you really make this? It smells incredible.”

The corner of Sora’s lips lifted slightly.

The chicken was almost gone now. After sharing half with Xavier, there was not much left. Still, seeing Martin standing at the center of the crowd, she tore off another piece and handed it over.

”Father, try it.”

Martin looked surprised for a moment before accepting the meat from her.

Ever since Sora revealed her water ability during the flood warning, his attitude toward her had softened slightly. He still valued strength and usefulness above all else, but at least now he no longer treated her like someone invisible.

Martin bit into the chicken.

His expression immediately changed.

The meat was unbelievably tender. The fragrance of the banana leaves blended perfectly with the spices, while the roasted juices burst across his tongue. It was unlike anything he had ever eaten before.

Even the usually stern chief could not hide the flicker of shock in his eyes.

And everyone nearby noticed.

Martin glanced at the dirt still smudged across Kaelira’s hands before speaking in a calmer tone than usual.

”Your mother said you ran off alone.” He paused. ”It’s dangerous when night falls. Stay close to one of your beast husbands.”

Sora’s smile instantly stiffened.

Her eyes unconsciously swept across the crowd.

Lukan stood quietly beside the others, arms folded across his chest.

Lucas avoided her gaze entirely, pretending to examine the feathers on his shoulder.

Ace lazily leaned against a nearby tree with a dark expression, clearly uninterested in participating.

As for Xavier—

The snake beastman had already disappeared somewhere after finishing his portion of chicken.

Not a single one looked eager.

Sora suddenly felt a headache coming on.

The atmosphere became awkward enough to choke someone.

Fortunately, before Martin could continue, Sora noticed Lyra staring fixedly at the roasted chicken in her hands.

Her eyes immediately brightened.

Without hesitation, she turned and walked straight toward Lyra.

Lyra’s expression softened slightly.

Seeing Kaelira approaching with the chicken, she naturally assumed the girl had finally learned some filial piety and intended to share food with her mother.

But the next second—

Sora walked directly past her.

Lyra’s smile froze.

Sora stopped in front of Lukan instead and held out the roasted chicken.

”Try some,” she said warmly. ”It’s really good.”

The entire camp fell silent.

Lyra’s face darkened instantly.

Sora pretended not to notice.

After all, compared to pleasing Lyra, winning over a reliable protector was far more important.

Especially tonight.

Lukan lowered his eyes toward the piece of chicken in her hand.

”For Aunt Lyra,” he said quietly.

Clearly, he intended to refuse.

Unfortunately for him, Sora moved faster.

Before he could finish speaking, she shoved the chicken directly into his mouth.

Lukan froze.

The surrounding beastmen widened their eyes in shock.

Even Ace nearly choked on his saliva

Meanwhile, Sora calmly smiled up at Lukan as if nothing unusual had happened.

”Well?” she asked. ”Is it delicious?”

Lukan slowly chewed.

The rich flavor spread through his mouth instantly, warm and fragrant in a way he had never experienced before.

His silver-gray eyes flickered slightly.

”...Yes.”

The answer came reluctantly, but everyone heard it clearly.

Sora’s smile widened in satisfaction.

Nearby, Serena bit her lip in frustration.

Originally, she had wanted to speak up and gain attention again, but the moment she smelled the roasted chicken, she immediately abandoned the idea.

At a time like this, offending Sora was obviously a terrible decision.

Especially when Sora still controlled the food.

The remaining chicken disappeared quickly, but fortunately the fire still concealed several roasted sweet potatoes beneath the ashes.

Originally, Sora had planned to save them for dinner.

But now that half the tribe had gathered around her fire, refusing to share would only create resentment.

So she picked up a stick and began digging through the dirt.

Soon, steaming sweet potatoes emerged one after another.

The surrounding females stared in amazement.

”Kaelira, what is that?”

”You can roast things besides meat?”

”It smells sweet...”

In the tribe, fire was only used for roasting prey. Everyone ate fruits and plants raw. No one had ever thought to bury food beneath the fire.

Sora handed several sweet potatoes over with a smile.

”These are roasted sweet potatoes. Peel the skin before eating.”

The beastmen immediately accepted them.

The first person peeled back the blackened skin and took a bite.

Instantly, hot steam mixed with sweet fragrance spread into the air.

His eyes widened.

”It’s delicious!”

The others hurriedly copied him.

Soon, sounds of surprise spread through the camp one after another.

”It’s so soft...”

”Sweet!”

”Much better than wild fruit!”

The atmosphere around the fire became lively almost immediately.

Seeing everyone’s reactions, Sora could not help laughing softly.

”Don’t rush,” she said. ”There’s still more buried underneath.”

The younger females quickly gathered around her with sparkling eyes.

”Kaelira, can you teach us?”

”How did you make the chicken taste like that?”

”Can we cook sweet potatoes like this too?”

For a brief moment, Sora was stunned.

In the original owner’s memories, the females of the tribe had never approached her kindly before.

Most avoided her.

Some mocked her openly.

Others simply pretended she did not exist.

But now...

They were looking at her with admiration.

Sora’s expression softened unconsciously.

”Of course,” she said. ”I’ll teach you.”

The females immediately cheered.

Several younger females immediately gathered around her with sparkling eyes.

”How do we make it?”

”Do we really cover the chicken in mud?”

”Will it actually taste that good?”

Sora laughed softly at their eager expressions.

”Yes. First you clean the chicken, then season it. After wrapping it in leaves, you coat it with mud before roasting it in the fire.”

The females looked amazed.

Even the beastmen nearby quietly listened while pretending not to.

In this primitive world, food was simple. Meat was usually swallowed half-cooked or roasted plainly over fire. No one had ever thought about using leaves, spices, or mud to trap flavor inside.

To them, Sora’s methods were almost magical.

Ace leaned lazily against a nearby tree, golden eyes fixed on the fire. He bit into another piece of roasted sweet potato, his expression unreadable.

But the speed at which he ate exposed him completely.

Lucas, standing beside him in silence, lowered his gaze to the sweet potato in his hands. The warm sweetness spread through his mouth, making his usually cold expression soften slightly.

Even Lukan, who rarely cared about food, found himself glancing toward Sora again and again.

The females around Sora were laughing now, carefully copying her actions as she instructed them step by step.

”Not too much mud,” she warned. ”If it’s too thick, the heat won’t go through evenly.”

”What are these leaves for?” one female asked.

”To keep the meat juicy.”

”And those strange things you crushed earlier?”

”Spices,” Sora answered. ”They remove the smell and make the meat taste better.”

The group listened with fascination.

Even the beastmen nearby quietly leaned closer while pretending not to care.

As Sora patiently explained how to wrap meat in leaves and roast food beneath the fire, many people stared at her with complicated emotions.

Especially Martin.

As chief, he understood the true value behind what she was doing.

Food that improved morale during migration.

Cooking methods that preserved flavor.

Knowledge that made survival easier.

These things were not simple tricks.

They were resources.

Valuable resources.

Not far away, Lyra silently watched Kaelira surrounded by the crowd.

Her expression became increasingly complicated.

She had expected Kaelira to embarrass herself again during migration.

Instead, somehow, her neglected daughter had become the center of attention.

Meanwhile, Serena quietly clenched her fingers inside her sleeves.

Originally, everyone’s attention should have been on her.

But ever since Sora revealed her water ability and began making strange foods, the tribe had slowly started noticing her more and more.

Serena bit her lip lightly.

It was only cooking.

What was so impressive about that?