THE SKILL TREE

In a town so underdeveloped it could barely be called one—perhaps just a poor village—no more than a hundred huts stood scattered across the land. Yes, huts, not brick houses. What set it apart from a mere village, though, was the hint of progress.

The roads, though plain, were well-kept, and every fox-kin demihuman dressed in proper attire, having world bending beauty in them that felt out of place in such a struggling economy. Every fox kin was like international model from his past world, exactly looks how the novels had described their appearance.

Down the main road, a group of armored figures marched forward. Behind them, a lone human followed, his hands bound in heavy chains that clanked with each step. Rave. After six grueling hours of walking, he had finally arrived in this place—a town, or rather, a village known as Star Path Town.

"Star Path Town? What a weird name," he mused, his thoughts wandering even as he trudged behind his captors.

The villagers, however, had no such distractions. Their eyes bore into him, filled with disgust and barely concealed rage. He could feel their hatred in the way they glared, as if his very presence tainted their land. Rave didn't let it get to him, though. Instead, he found himself thinking, So, humans and beastkin really do have some kind of deep conflict here.

Breaking the silence, he casually called out, "Hey, Old Woman Seji."

The moment the words left his mouth, the air tensed. The fox-kin soldiers stiffened, their ears twitching in irritation. Anger flashed across their faces—this lowly human had just spoken to their revered elder without a shred of respect. One of them even raised a fist, ready to strike, but before the blow could land, Seji lifted a hand, stopping him with a mere gesture.

Her sharp grey eyes turned to Rave. "What? What do you want?" she asked, her voice strict and unyielding.

Rave scratched the back of his head, offering a lopsided smile. "That's… uh, where are we going now?" He wasn't scared, wasn't panicked—just curious. Either he was incredibly naive or just too dumb to grasp the weight of his situation.

Seji studied him for a moment before answering, "We're going to the acting leader of our clan."

Rave didn't flinch, didn't even blink. He just kept walking, as if she had told him they were heading to a market instead of potentially deciding his fate. His carefree attitude was unsettling, even to her.

Her expression darkened slightly. "Don't do anything foolish there," she warned, her tone carrying a sharp edge.

"Huh? Why would I?" he replied, tilting his head. Then, with a chuckle, he added, "I already know what'll happen if I mess up, so why bother?" His voice was light, almost teasing, as if this entire situation was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Seji didn't respond. She only cast him a single, piercing glance before continuing forward.

After a few more minutes of walking, they reached the center of the town. Rave and the soldiers halted in front of a house that was slightly larger than the others. It wasn't grand, but compared to the simple huts surrounding it, it held a presence of importance. They stood there in silence, waiting for Seji, who had gone inside a few minutes earlier.

As they waited, the doors creaked open. Seji stepped out, flanked by two soldiers who looked far more intimidating than the ones beside Rave. Their armor was bulkier, polished to a gleaming shine, and their spears, sharper and deadlier, reflected the candlelight from inside the house. Unlike the others, these two carried themselves with a disciplined demeanor, their eyes locked onto Rave as if assessing a threat.

Seji barely glanced at him before saying in a firm, no-nonsense tone, "Come with me."

Without a word, Rave followed her inside.

The moment he stepped in, the atmosphere shifted. The warm night air was replaced by a chilling stillness. The house was dim, illuminated only by the flickering glow of candlelight. Shadows danced across the wooden walls, making the space feel smaller than it was. As Rave took another step, the heavy doors behind him swung shut with a dull thud, locked by the two soldiers outside.

He was alone with Seji now.

Before them stood a simple wooden table and a single chair. There was no one else.

Rave frowned. No one? He glanced at Seji in confusion, but before he could say anything, she suddenly bent forward in a deep bow, lowering her body from sixty degrees to a full ninety. Her voice was steady, filled with respect.

"Leader. This is the human I spoke of."

Rave blinked, his confusion growing. Who the hell is she talking to?

And then—movement.

A blur of white leaped from the chair, landing gracefully on the table.

Rave's eyes widened. A fox.

Not just any fox—its fur was a pristine, snow-white color, glowing faintly under the candlelight. Its icy blue eyes shimmered as it observed them, moving with an elegance that put even the most refined catwalk to shame. Every step was poised, every movement deliberate, as if it wasn't just an animal but something far more… intelligent.

Rave could only stare shock.

"Human."

The voice came suddenly, yet the fox's mouth never moved.

Rave stiffened. His first thought was telekinesis, but then his brain caught up. Wait… what? Did that fox just speak? His eyes widened in disbelief.

It was surreal. He had read about things like this in fantasy novels, but experiencing it firsthand was a different matter. The sheer unnaturalness of it sent a shiver down his spine.

"Are you the human who killed our wolves?" the fox asked, its tone calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

Rave snapped out of his shock and answered without hesitation. "Yes."

His gaze flickered toward Seji, who was still bowing deeply, unmoving, as if even the slightest mistake in posture would be disrespectful.

The fox studied him for a long moment before speaking again.

"Then prove it to me."

Its words carried an unmistakable demand, not a request.

The next second, the door opened, and a soldier stepped in, carrying two spears with him. He bowed toward the fox with utmost reverence, awaiting for further instructions.

The fox didn't look at him. Its piercing blue eyes remained locked on Rave.

The soldier took that as his cue and walked toward Rave, offering him one of the spears.

At first, Rave didn't take it. His fingers twitched, but he hesitated, looking at the fox instead. "I don't know any spear techniques," he admitted bluntly. His voice was devoid of emotion, just stating a fact.

The fox's tail flicked slightly. "Just show your Tier 2 skill," it said, still telepathically, but this time, its tone carried a hint of amusement. A small, almost smug smile tugged at its lips.

Rave's eye twitched. What the hell is this fox thinking?

Showing his skills to someone like this felt… wrong. It was like standing naked in front of an audience. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, revealing one's abilities carelessly was the same as handing over a blade to his enemies. Even if he didn't like it, though, what choice did he have?

With a deep breath, he took the spear, his fingers tightening around the shaft. But just as he did—

Ding!

A translucent prompt materialized before his eyes.

Rave's breath hitched. His shock deepened as he stared at the unexpected notification.

This system… it has this kind of function too?

Excitement surged through him. He hadn't expected this.