Chapter 38: Putting Beastmen In Their Place

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Putting Beastmen In Their Place The afternoon sun hung high, casting long shadows as ten towering beastmen approached. Their footsteps were heavy, their presence undeniable. Dressed in nothing but animal-hide skirts, their muscled bodies gleamed under the golden light, exuding raw strength and intimidation. Ophelia shifted nervously beside Isabella, wringing her hands together. "They’re so... big," she whispered, as if the mere mention of their size would make them notice her. Shelia, on the other hand, crossed her arms, watching them approach with narrowed eyes. "Took them long enough." As soon as the beastmen stopped a few feet away, their expressions turned serious. Then, to Isabella’s surprise, they all lowered their heads slightly—not a full bow, but enough to acknowledge respect. One of them, the tallest, stepped forward. His voice was deep, carrying authority. "The King has sent us to find an important woman," he declared. "One who will help improve our village greatly." Isabella rose to her feet, which, in hindsight, wasn’t the best move. Standing up only emphasized how hilariously small she was in comparison. Even Ophelia was bigger than her, and these men? They could probably use her as a dumbbell. Still, she lifted her chin, exuding confidence. "That would be me." Silence. Then— A laugh. A full-bodied, mocking laugh erupted from one of them, a younger beastman with a smug grin. "You? Don’t joke, little one." His sharp canines flashed as he smirked. "How can someone as small as you even have a brain?" (Being covered in charcoal was not helping her either) Shelia bristled immediately, her hands clenching into fists. "You better watch your mouth before I—" Isabella held up a hand, stopping her. Her eyes locked onto the one who spoke, her expression unreadable. "I see," she mused, tapping her chin. "So, according to you, intelligence is directly proportional to size?" The beastman blinked, caught off guard by her calm response. "Uh... well—" "By that logic," Isabella continued smoothly, stepping forward, "shouldn’t you be the wisest one here? Seeing as you have such a big, big head?" A few of the other beastmen snorted, barely holding in their laughter. The smug one scowled. Isabella wasn’t done. She tilted her head, eyes filled with mock curiosity. "Tell me, oh great, large-brained one—do you use that magnificent brain of yours for anything other than flexing your muscles and making dumb comments?" The beastman’s jaw clenched. "You’re mocking me." Isabella smiled sweetly. "No, I’m analyzing. There’s a difference. Mocking is what you did. I, on the other hand, am merely pointing out facts." A low chuckle came from another beastman in the group. The first one shot him a glare, but it was too late—the damage was done. Respect had shifted, even if only slightly. Isabella crossed her arms. "You think strength is everything, don’t you?" She motioned at their bodies. "You’ve spent your whole lives relying on brute force, and yet, here I am, standing before you—a small, ’weak’ woman—who has something you desperately need." The leader narrowed his eyes. "And what is that?" She spread her arms dramatically. "A functioning brain." Silence. Then Shelia cackled, slapping her knee. "Oh, that’s good!" Even Ophelia, ever nervous, covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. Isabella took a step forward, her confidence unwavering. "Listen up, muscle-heads. I may not be as physically strong as you, but I don’t need to be. What I bring to the table is knowledge. The ability to think, to innovate, to make your lives better without breaking a single sweat." She lifted a brow. "Unless you’d rather keep struggling with simple things like hygiene, disease, and basic tools?" One of the beastmen shifted uncomfortably. The mention of ’hygiene’ seemed to hit a nerve. The leader studied her, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "You talk big for someone who hasn’t proven anything yet." Isabella shrugged. "I don’t need to prove anything. I am the proof." She gestured at Shelia and Ophelia. "They’ve already seen what I can do. That’s why I was summoned. So, the real question is—" she smirked, "—are you smart enough to take advantage of that?" For a moment, nobody spoke. Then, surprisingly, one of the older beastmen stepped forward. His gaze was sharp but... intrigued. "If what you say is true, then what will be your first task for us?" Isabella hid her grin. Finally. Some progress. She crossed her arms, pretending to think. "First task?" She tapped her foot. "Hmm... let’s see. How about something that proves I can make your lives easier and make you look less like cavemen?" The leader frowned. "We do not look like cavemen." Isabella gave him a pointed once-over. "No shirts, no shoes, no proper tools? Yeah, sure, let’s go with that." Shelia was grinning wildly now, clearly enjoying the show. Ophelia, still anxious, clutched her hands together but looked hopeful. Isabella finally sighed. "Alright, since I am such a generous and capable woman, I’ll start with something simple." She smirked. "But before that, I need materials. Do you think your big, intelligent brains can handle that?" The beastmen exchanged glances. Though skepticism remained, there was a shift—a reluctant willingness to see what she had in store. And as they waited for their orders, one undeniable truth settled in: Isabella had just gained their attention. {+5 persuasion points} SOME MINUTES OF CLEANING UP LATER Isabella wasted no time putting the men to work. With sharp instructions, she listed the tools they needed to build a well, explaining each one in perfect detail. But, of course, words weren’t enough. She had to get her hands dirty—literally—touching all sorts of strange, slimy, and downright disgusting things just to make them understand her vision. Meanwhile, she kept Shelia and Ophelia occupied, ensuring they were too busy to notice when she quietly slipped away. The moment she reached her river, relief washed over her. Finally—finally—she could scrub away the grime. Sinking into the cool water, she let out a sigh of pure happiness, relishing the feeling of being clean again. Once satisfied, she rinsed her clothes, storing the once-filthy garments in her space before changing into fresh ones. Without a mirror, she could only hope she looked presentable—but then again, when did she ever not look good? Feeling refreshed, she made her way back to her hut. The moment she stepped into view, everything stopped. The beastmen—who had been carving, shaping, and assembling the tools needed for the well—froze mid-task. Even Shelia and Ophelia, deep in conversation, fell silent.