An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

As they walked, Arthur couldn't help but admire the wolf beastkin women around him.

Unlike the women of noble society, these wild beauties wore little more than leather patches, revealing their toned midriffs, muscular thighs, and well-defined arms.

Their wild silver, brown, or black hair was mostly unkempt, tied in simple braids or left loose. Their piercing golden or blue eyes gleamed with untamed fierceness, and their sharp fangs peeked out whenever they smirked or laughed.

They weren't delicate flowers but warriors, hunters, and fighters—and that was enticing in its own way.

One particularly tall wolf woman caught his attention. She stood with arms crossed, her body adorned with tribal tattoos curling over her tanned skin. She noticed Arthur's gaze, smirked, and licked her fangs teasingly before turning away.

Alicia, noticing his wandering eyes, elbowed him sharply. "Enjoying the view?"

Arthur grinned. "Appreciating cultural differences."

Alicia noticed where Arthur's gaze lingered and gave him a light nudge. "Enjoying the view?" she whispered, raising an eyebrow.

Arthur smirked, whispering back, "Just admiring the culture."

Before Alicia could retort, their guide stopped before a grand structure made of dark timber and reinforced with thick animal pelts. "The Chief is in a meeting," the wolfman said. "You will have to wait here until she is available."

Cedric frowned. "Tch, I hate waiting." Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, intricately carved token—the same one Kaela had given him back at the academy. He held it up with a smug grin. "I'll take care of it."

Arthur and Alicia exchanged glances as Cedric activated the enchanted token, sending a subtle pulse of energy through the air.

Moments later, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and then—

"Cedric! You actually came!"

A lively voice called out, and a blur of silver and dark leather shot forward.

Kaela, the Chief's daughter, burst into view, her wolf ears perked up, her golden eyes gleaming with excitement. Without hesitation, she leaped at Cedric, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. The impact nearly knocked him off balance.

"H-Hey! Watch it!" Cedric protested, though his ears were noticeably red.

Kaela pulled back, grinning mischievously. "Don't act so stiff. It's been a while." Then she turned to Alicia and Arthur, her expression brightening. "Alicia! Arthur! I didn't think you'd come too."

"We couldn't let Cedric have all the fun," Arthur chuckled.

Kaela laughed, then motioned for them to follow. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone before we go see my mother. You don't need to wait out here."

She led them deeper into the main hall, introducing them to various members of the tribe along the way—guards who stood at attention, maids who offered respectful nods, and even a few of her cousins, who greeted Cedric with knowing smirks that made him fidget.

Arthur simply watched, amused. It seemed Kaela had already spread some rumors about her human classmate.

Kaela led Arthur, Alicia, and Cedric through the heart of the wolf tribe's settlement, her excitement evident in the way her tail swayed behind her. Everywhere they went, the beastkin greeted her with respect—some with bows, others with warm smiles or teasing remarks. It was clear that she was well-loved among her people.

"Come on, let me show you around!" Kaela said, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.

Their first stop was the Great Hunt Hall, a massive open-air structure made of thick wooden beams and reinforced with leather and bones. Inside, freshly hunted game hung from sturdy racks—massive boars, wild deer, and even a few demonic beasts with distinctive blackened horns. A group of beastkin were busy cleaning and preparing the meat, their sharp claws and deft hands making quick work of their task.

"This is where we store our best hunts," Kaela explained. "Only the strongest warriors bring their kills here, and only the best parts are chosen for the chieftain's table."

Arthur glanced at the enormous carcasses hanging from the racks and smirked. "You guys sure don't mess around when it comes to food."

Kaela grinned. "Of course not! A warrior's strength comes from good meat!"

Next, she took them to the Warrior's Den, a large clearing where beastkin of all ages trained. The sight was both impressive and endearing—on one side, towering, muscular warriors sparred fiercely with spears and axes, their blows sending shockwaves through the ground. On the other side, young wolf cubs—some barely old enough to shift into their humanoid forms—practiced hunting techniques, pouncing on stuffed dummies with their small claws and fangs.

"They start young," Alicia noted, watching as one particularly energetic cub tackled a wooden dummy with a growl.

Kaela folded her arms proudly. "Of course! By the time they're ten, they're already joining hunts. And by fifteen, they're warriors."

Cedric raised an eyebrow. "That explains why you're so aggressive."

Kaela elbowed him. "Shut up, softie."

They continued on, visiting the Moonlit Arena, where beastkin warriors settled disputes through combat, and the Healer's Lodge, where injured warriors rested under the care of shamans. Each place was alive with the sounds of the tribe, a mixture of battle, laughter, and tradition.

But then, Kaela brought them to one last place—the Tribal Shrine.

Unlike the rest of the settlement, which was full of life and energy, the shrine felt… empty. The stone pillars were covered in dust, the large ceremonial fire pit at the center was long extinguished, and the carved wolf statues that stood as guardians were cracked and worn.

Arthur's sharp eyes noticed how the floor was layered with untouched dirt and fallen leaves. This place hasn't been cleaned in months.

Kaela's cheerful expression dimmed the moment she stepped inside. Her ears lowered slightly, her tail stilling behind her.

Cedric, oblivious to her change in mood, casually glanced around. "Huh. This place looks abandoned," he remarked. "From what I know, beastkin are deeply connected to their god, right? You draw power through your totems. But this place…" He gestured to the unkempt shrine. "It looks like it's been forgotten."

Kaela didn't respond immediately. She merely stared at the shrine, her golden eyes shadowed with something unreadable.

Kaela let out a long sigh, brushing her fingers against the cold, dust-covered altar. The wolf carvings etched into the stone had faded, their once-powerful presence now nothing more than forgotten relics.

She turned back to Arthur, Alicia, and Cedric, her usual energetic demeanor replaced by something more solemn.

"This shrine was once the heart of our tribe," she said, her voice quieter than before. "We used to gather here, pray to our god, and receive his blessings. Our ancestors swore loyalty to Fenrir, the Great Wolf, and in return, he granted us strength beyond that of any other beastkin tribe."

Cedric frowned. "But now it's abandoned."

Kaela nodded. "That's because Fenrir… disappeared."

Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly. "Disappeared?"

Kaela crossed her arms and leaned against the altar, her golden eyes dark with frustration. "About ten years ago, Fenrir stopped answering our prayers. No signs, no dreams, nothing. It was as if he just… vanished."

Alicia tilted her head. "Did something happen before that?"

Kaela shook her head. "Not that we know of. One day, he was still watching over us, and the next, he was gone. At first, we thought it was a trial—gods sometimes test their followers, after all. But years passed, and he never came back."

She clenched her fists. "We tried everything. Rituals, sacrifices, even asked the gods of the other beastkin tribes for answers. But no one knew what happened to Fenrir."

Arthur glanced around the empty shrine, taking in the dust, the overgrown vines, and the long-dead fire pit. It wasn't just a forgotten place. It was a reminder of loss.

Kaela exhaled sharply. "Since our god disappeared, people stopped coming here. At first, they visited out of duty, but when no blessing ever came, they lost faith. And over time… the shrine was abandoned."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

Cedric finally broke it. "And what about the tribe?"

Kaela's expression darkened. "It's weakening." She looked at them seriously. "Once, our Wolf Tribe was at the top of the Eight Great Clans. We were feared and respected. Now? We're at the bottom."

Alicia's eyes widened. "The bottom?"

Kaela nodded. "Other tribes see us as weak, and they want to devour us. If they succeed, the Eight Great Clans will become seven." She scoffed bitterly. "If not for my mother—who is the strongest warrior among all the tribes—we would have already been wiped out."

Arthur folded his arms. "Your mother is holding the entire tribe together?"

Kaela nodded firmly. "Yes. But no one knows how long she can keep it up. She's strong, but even she can't fight an entire war alone."

Arthur remained silent, absorbing the information.

Cedric scratched his head. "Why bring this up now? Did something happen recently?"

Kaela hesitated for a moment before answering. "A few days ago, we received news that the chiefs of the other tribes have gathered for a meeting. That only means one thing."

Arthur's gaze sharpened. "They're plotting something."

Kaela nodded grimly. "Most likely. My mother may be strong, but she cannot go against all seven tribes at once."