1/2
There was no doubt about it.
Humans don't grow fluffy white tails.
When characteristics belonging to beasts appear on humans, these creatures usually have another exclusive name - beastmen.
No wonder, from the strange name "Animal Gang", to Lisa's description of their monstrous strength from an outsider's perspective, and finally their displays of not being very smart - when these elements were put together, Reji actually had a vague feeling early on.
And now, with the white-haired woman "revealing her tail", it undoubtedly put the final nail in the coffin for this conclusion.
So after elves, the next new race to "descend" upon this world was...beastmen?
In the first playthrough of the game, there were only two races in the world - humans and demons.
Now in the "second playthrough" a thousand years later, good heavens, it's been less than two months since I arrived, and already two foreign races have appeared.
Moreover, it's not right to say that beastmen are the next after elves.
Rather, it seemed the appearance of beastmen should have actually preceded the "descent" of elves.
Reji now quietly observed the white-haired woman's reaction again.
Upon realizing her tail had appeared, she initially showed surprise, then quickly a look of joy as if she had regained something precious. However, soon, the white-haired woman became serious and slightly anxious, looking towards Reji and Vielsia, the two "humans" present.
Many members of the Animal Gang inside the dungeon also came to their senses and immediately did the same. On their rugged, somewhat barbaric faces, there was now vigilance, caution, and even deeper, a few traces of lingering fear.
This fear, of course, was not directed at the two of them now.
After all, in the eyes of the Animal Gang members, they were just passersby in need of help.
Thinking about it this way, what these beastmen feared should be the fear of their identities being "exposed".
But when it came to her lips...
"That, this tail is... that..."
Seeing the stammering white-haired woman, Reji also withdrew his speculative thoughts, a little surprised.
He could see that the beastman identity seemed to be a taboo for these people, really important and could not be exposed.
Yet, despite the importance of this matter, the white-haired woman was only thinking about explaining and trying to fabricate lies. Reji completely did not see any intention in Kitsune's eyes to "kill to silence him."
Reji didn't make it difficult for Kitsune either. He said very naturally, "Miss Kitsune, your tail, could it be a curse from the dungeon?"
"Ah? A dungeon curse?"
Reji nodded earnestly, "Yes, actually, I am also a dedicated dungeon scholar. The more powerful the dungeon, the more curses it imposes on the adventurers who enter it, and the effects of the curses might even intensify as one explores deeper levels."
"I once had the honor of studying an dungeon called 'Abyss'. On the first floor of that underground city, you would feel dizzy. On the second floor, you would feel nauseous and vomit. Further on, there would be auditory and visual hallucinations. It's even said that the powerful curses in the deeper parts could transform the physical body."
"So I'm thinking, could the abnormality on Miss Kitsune's body now also be..."
Reji threw out this stepping stone and even gave examples as proof. For the beastmen of the Animal Gang, they might not have understood Reji's explanation very well, but Reji spoke in a pompous manner and said a lot of words, so they just listened to him.
"Right! That's right! It must be that, uh right! Curse! Damn it! I was still careless!"
"Then Miss Kitsune, why don't we hurry up and retreat..."
Reji pretended to mention it slightly, and sure enough, it immediately drew the white-haired woman to wave her hands repeatedly.
With the wonderful excuse of the dungeon curse to disguise her beastman identity, Kitsune and the people of the Animal Gang completely relaxed and were no longer nervous. The joy and happiness that had been suppressed before immediately surged up.
Kitsune waved her hand, and the snow-white fox tail behind her butt wagged excitedly. She patted her impressive big chest at Reji, with a don't-worry look, and said,
"No worries! This little curse is no problem for me. Since we said we'd help you, let us handle this whatever dungeon next!"