Chole brought the milk as usual, carefully placing the cups near the working area. The familiar warm scent spread through the air, but this time, Serena was clearly dissatisfied. Normally, there were four cups—two for Tyler and two for her. Today, however, one cup had already been claimed by the small white spider.

Dia was drinking quietly, holding the cup with her tiny legs.

Serena stared at her, tail flicking in irritation.

"Meeow..." she complained.

Chole smiled gently and said, "Don’t worry. Now I can make more milk... I just need a little boost from someone. Moo"

As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward Tyler, who was struggling nearby, hauling thick wooden trunks across the ground. His clothes were soaked with sweat, muscles strained from the constant labor.

She picked up a cup and walked toward him.

"Here," Chole said softly. "Have some. Moo"

Tyler took the cup without hesitation and drank it in one gulp. The familiar taste instantly refreshed him. As he swallowed, he noticed small yellow fruit stone chunks mixed into the milk, enriching the flavor and giving it a faint sweetness.

"That’s tasty..." Tyler said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

He looked at the empty cup, then at Chole.

"Can I get more?"

"That’s the last milk for today. Moo," Chole replied shyly. In truth, she could make more than four cups a day now, but she lowered her gaze and subtly signaled him with a faint blush.

Tyler chuckled softly, "I’m completely exhausted. If you want to squeeze me dry, then you’ll have to wait until I restore my stamina."

Chole nodded, understanding immediately. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she replied in a soft voice, "Then... tonight. You can also squeeze me dry Moo(too)."

Tyler smirked. Chole is getting bolder and bolder everyday.

To change the subject, Chole glanced at the wooden frame nearby.

"Are you going to use that different technique again?" she asked.

"Oh, interlocking wood?" Tyler replied. "It’s called Kumiki. It’s an old technique developed by some really intelligent people. Before, since I didn’t have nails in the forest, I made crude ones and built the old house. But this time..."

His eyes brightened as he glanced at Dia, who was currently wrestling with Serena over a piece of string, "...I don’t need those."

He picked up the spider’s shed leg and cleanly sliced the logs into smooth planks with practiced swings.

Tyler worked through the evenings and rested at night, then resumed again in the mornings. Slowly, the structure took shape. He fitted the planks together carefully, using Dia’s sticky web fluid as glue.

Dia could produce several types of webs —this one was thick and incredibly strong, acting like a powerful adhesive. Whenever Tyler pointed, she sprayed precisely from her mouth. Web-making was her innate skill in this body, and she used it with surprising accuracy.

Kristina and Chole also helped him.

With Dia’s help, Tyler managed to build a slightly larger, two-story, sturdier house in just one week.

But he didn’t stop there.

He crafted beds, used spider silk as thread, and even made clothes. With his copper pot, he was able to process and weave multiple fabrics with ease. He gathered soft bird feathers — not the stiff ones — and used them to make bedding, pillows, window screens, and anything else he needed.

By the end of the second week, Tyler stood back and admired the result.

In just fourteen days, he had built a proper home.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Night settled quietly over the newly built house.

On the ground floor, Kristina lay on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above her. Her cheeks were puffed out in a clear pout, and her eyes were wide open. Earlier, she had been gently— but firmly— sent downstairs by her mother and Tyler.

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"...Moe."

She turned her head to the left.

Beside her, Serena was already curled up comfortably, tail wrapped neatly around herself. Dia lay nearby as well, her small white body tucked in, eyes closed, breathing slow and even. Both of them looked completely at peace.

Kristina sighed.

Everyone sleeps so easily...

Above her, on the top floor, the atmosphere was very different.

Tyler and Chole sat side by side on the bed, the newly crafted wooden frame creaking faintly beneath their weight. Tyler pressed a finger lightly against the mattress, testing it.

"Well," he whispered, leaning closer, "let’s test whether the bed has enough durability."

Chole’s cow ears twitched immediately.

Her face warmed, and she nodded shyly.

"Moo..."

Before she could say anything else, Tyler moved quickly. Her dress was torn apart in one swift motion. Chole didn’t protest— not even a little. Tyler had already made several identical copies of her clothes beforehand, so she didn’t care in the slightest.

Tyler moved with the enthusiasm of a hungry animal pouncing on its prey, completely confident in his craftsmanship.

Downstairs, Kristina stiffened.

Her ears twitched as well.

The faint creaking of wood reached her ears... then louder sounds. The bed shifted. There were dull thumps, rhythmic movements, and unmistakable noises of her mother’s moan along with her "moos" traveling straight through the floor.

Kristina pulled the blanket over her head.

"Moe..." she muttered angrily.

Dia’s eyes fluttered open.

She lifted her head slightly, curiosity immediately sparked by the unfamiliar sounds. Slowly, she crawled toward the edge of the bed, peering upward as if trying to locate the source.

She prepared to jump.

Before she could move—

Serena’s paw shot out.

The orange cat wrapped Dia firmly in her arms, pulling the small spider back against her chest. Serena adjusted her position, trapping Dia completely, then closed her eyes again as if nothing had happened.

Dia struggled weakly for a moment.

Then sighed.

Left with no other choice— and unable to escape the cat’s grip— she slowly relaxed and fell back asleep, curiosity unresolved.

The night passed.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the windows.

Outside, birds chirped softly.

Near the washing area, Chole stood quietly, scrubbing the bedsheets in a wooden basin. Her face was red from ear to ear, steam practically rising from her head.

She avoided looking at anyone.

Tyler, passing by, pretended not to notice.

Kristina watched from a distance, cheeks still slightly puffed.

Serena stretched lazily in the sun.

Dia blinked.

The house stood strong, Very strong.

Kristina walked straight toward Tyler and said, "There seems to be some monsters footprint nearby."

Tyler expression turned serious.