Starting with No Game No Life: Infinite Chests

"Then why is that human so close to Fia…?"

The chief of the Werebeast tribe fell silent for a moment, then finally voiced his biggest doubt.

"Yeah, could the princess please explain this to us?"

All the senior werebeasts turned serious, looking to Fia for answers.

Enemies becoming close friends overnight? It was too strange to ignore.

"To be honest, I've already decided to join forces with him," Fia said quietly, but seriously. "To end this crazy world together. I'm tired of running, always on guard against other races or forced to hunt them just to survive. I've had enough."

"What?!"

"Princess, you can't be serious!"

"He's a human! He's not to be trusted! And among humans, he's clearly an outlier!"

"This concerns the very survival of our tribe, Princess! You can't make this decision on your own!"

The elders exploded, slapping the table and leaping up, voices raised in protest.

Those who are not of our kind must have different hearts in this world; that saying was the law.

"If he wanted to wipe us out, he would have already done it," Fia countered, her hair lifting in a windless gust as her aura pressed the elders back into their seats. "He found our hidden home, and we're all still alive."

That made the elders fall silent, realising she had a point.

"Riku has unlimited potential," Fia went on, eyes distant but firm. "A year ago, he was an ordinary human. Now he's stronger than me, stronger than even a Flügel. If we become his first allies, we'll be giving help when it matters most. If we back him to win the seat of the One True God, our tribe will flourish."

"A year ago…"

"That's… insane."

The elders looked at each other, astonished. Was his potential really that terrifying? Could someone like that actually defeat the fabled God of War someday?

"What Fia says makes sense. But how can we know he really trusts us and isn't just planning to use us, then cast us aside?"

The chief looked much more relaxed, but was still cautious. The others nodded. That was the key.

"I've only known him for a day, but I trust him," Fia said urgently, growing anxious. "My instincts tell me I'm not wrong about him."

But instinct alone wasn't enough to sway the council. No matter how strong she was, Fia couldn't make this kind of alliance on her own.

"Fia, something like this isn't a game. Instinct isn't enough," the chief said with a wry smile.

"How about we observe him for a while first?" suggested another elder.

"No, that would only make him suspicious," Fia said. "An alliance only works if there's no doubt, and besides, I already promised him. If we go back on that, the consequences could be disastrous."

The room grew tense and quiet, everyone weighing the risks and rewards.

"Hurry up and decide. Riku will be expecting an answer after his bath," Fia urged, looking genuinely eager. Deep down, she admired Riku and wanted to stand alongside him to end this mad world. Not just for her tribe, but maybe for herself too…

"Actually, if we're going to form an alliance, I have the perfect solution," the chief said, finally raising his head and looking around, fixing his gaze on Fia.

"Chief, what is it? Tell us already!"

"Yeah, no more suspense!"

The elders were impatient now, all eyes on the chief.

"Grandpa, please tell us if it's something I can do, and if it means we can ally with Riku, I'll do it!" Fia said, not quite understanding, but desperate to persuade them.

"No hesitation at all, huh?" The chief smiled. "The method is simple, really…"

He smiled mysteriously and began to outline his "perfect" plan.

"So what is it...?"

The chief paused on purpose, not saying it right away. Everyone stared at him expectantly. Fia even looked like she might yank out his beard if he waited any longer.

"The solution is for Fia and Riku to get married."

The chief's grin widened as he spoke. "If Fia and Riku become husband and wife, then the risk of our tribe being abandoned drops to almost zero. In fact, it puts us in an even better position."

"——!"

At that, Fia completely froze, her pretty face turning bright red, her crimson eyes glued to the scheming old chief.

"Wow, that's actually a smart idea!"

"Chief, you're right. The only problem is, will Riku even like Fia?"

"Stop calling him 'that human', he's Riku-sama now. And come on, Fia's got talent, power, and she's cute. What guy could resist?"

"But wait, there's never been a marriage between different races. Could that cause trouble?"

"Doesn't matter! Just because it's never happened doesn't mean it can't. Honestly, their talents and strength are a perfect match."

In an instant, the meeting room erupted into cheerful chatter. These usually serious elders suddenly turned into gossipy matchmakers, all talking at once.

The chief just stroked his white beard, smiling like he'd solved everything.

Sure, this was basically a political marriage, but since Fia seemed to trust Riku, he didn't think she'd be unhappy.

"Chief Grandpa, what are you even saying?!"

Fia snapped, her face burning, storming over to grab his beard.

"Ow, ow! Please, my dear, let go of my beard!"

The chief winced and laughed. "It's a little crazy, but this really is the best plan."

"But..."

Fia was totally flustered. She really did respect and like Riku, but marriage? That was way too fast!

And she was only 17! How could these old geezers just sell her off like this?!

"You already like him, right? It could work out well. There's not much difference between our species, anyway. And it's for the good of the tribe," the chief said, trying to reassure her.

"...Fine, I'll try," Fia said at last, after a few minutes of blushing, tail flicking, and hesitating. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Ordinary people wouldn't have heard it, but werebeasts had sharp ears, so everyone caught it.

At once, all the elders grinned from ear to ear. With Fia on board, why would they object?

"Hmph!"

Fia turned her head away in a huff, sulking. I'll definitely pull out all your beards someday, you old fools!

——

Meanwhile, Riku had finished his bath and was walking out in a crisp new kimono, provided by the tribe's maids.

He could've used his transformation ability to change clothes, but figured it was better to fit in here.

The bath had helped relieve the strain from using Eight Gates. Plus, now that he'd secured an alliance with the werebeasts, he was in a pretty good mood.

"Lord Riku, please come with me," one of the maids said politely, curiosity in her eyes.

A human being treated so carefully by the princess and elders, no matter how strong he was, was unheard of. The whole tribe was dying of curiosity about him.

"Alright," Riku said, smirking slightly as he followed.

Clearly, the negotiations between Fia and the elders had ended. The maid wouldn't be so polite if they'd said no.

'I wonder how Fia convinced them... It shouldn't have been easy. I figured they'd drag this out for days, but it's already settled,' Riku thought, glancing around as he walked.

"Riku-sama, the princess and the elders are waiting for you inside. I'll take my leave," the maid said as they arrived at a fancy doorway.

Riku nodded and pushed open the door.

Inside was a large table, with a bunch of middle-aged and older werebeasts in the tribal council. At the head, in two ornate chairs, Fia sat in her kimono, while the seat to her right was empty.

"This is a serious setup… Not quite what I expected."

Riku scanned the table and the faces of the tribal elders, most of whom were smiling. But what stood out most was Fia, cheeks bright red, her expression caught between embarrassed and annoyed.

He'd honestly thought they'd be cold toward him, maybe even try to intimidate him a little this felt way too friendly.

"Welcome, Riku-sama!"

The chief came over, beaming, and guided Riku to the seat of honour, right next to Fia.

"Please, you're our honoured guest, sit here."

"Yes, welcome!"

All the other elders stood up and greeted him warmly, practically showering him with respect.

This strange vibe made Riku even more suspicious.

Once he'd sat beside Fia, it finally clicked: only those with the highest status got these seats, and guests never got the place of honour, especially not at the chief's right hand.

Do werebeasts have the same customs about seating? Still, this is weird…

"Since you and Fia have been sparring for so long, you must be hungry. We prepared a special meal for you," the chief said with a broad smile.

"Thank you, Chief."

Riku smiled back, figuring there was no harm in accepting the hospitality. He could sense no malice, just genuine friendliness.

Soon, they started eating. Riku didn't bother to worry about poison, he just dug right in, unfazed.

The elders were quietly impressed by his confidence.

Every so often, Riku would glance at Fia as if to say, What's going on here?

But she just blushed even more, avoided his eyes, and kept eating quietly.

After the meal, Riku's mood turned serious.

"I assume the chief and elders know about my alliance with Fia. Have you made a decision?"

"Yes, we have," the chief replied, all smiles, nodding as the other elders looked on in silence.

"After some discussion, we, the werebeast tribe, are willing to become your loyal allies."

"Oh?"

Riku didn't smile, just watched and waited for the catch.

"There is one condition, Riku-sama."

The chief's tone was still friendly, but his eyes were sharp.

"What is it?" Riku asked, unbothered.

Meanwhile, Fia's face had gone completely red, her ears and tail twitching.

"It's simple, really. We all hope you'll marry Fia. That way, our alliance will be unbreakable."

The chief beamed, stroking his beard.

"Huh?!"

Even Riku, usually unflappable, was stunned, staring at the sly old chief in disbelief.

He'd expected some kind of trick, but this was beyond what he'd imagined: a full-on political marriage, with Fia as the prize.

Riku glanced at Fia, who couldn't meet his eyes, blushing so hard there was practically steam coming from her head.

Well, that's a hell of a move. I guess this is how they want to tie the alliance together…

"So, Riku-sama, what do you think?" the chief asked, still all smiles.

"I'm not opposed… but I want to be sure Fia's serious about this."

Riku pressed his fingers to his forehead, glancing at Fia.

The elders all turned to her, waiting for her answer.

Fia, taking a deep breath, managed to whisper, "I am serious."

That soft answer, the way she was blushing, her tail flicking back and forth… Riku had to admit, she was really cute.

"Alright, then. Let's do it," he said with a small smile.

Not only did he get the tribe's strength on his side, but he also ended up with a werebeast princess for a wife. Who'd say no to that?

"Wonderful! From now on, the werebeasts and humans will be the closest of allies," the chief declared happily, as the elders cheered.

Fia just squeezed the edge of her kimono, cheeks flushed, her eyes a mix of shyness and happiness.

"Looking forward to working together, Fia," Riku said, reaching out to shake her hand.

"Mm…"

Fia's hand trembled as she took his, heart pounding in her chest.

This time, she didn't pull away when Riku patted her head—she just closed her eyes and enjoyed it, her ears and tail twitching with pleasure.

"If you're getting married, have you set a date?"

"How about tomorrow?" the chief suggested. "I imagine you have a lot to do, Riku-sama. Better not wait."

"I agree."

"Me too!" the elders all chimed in.

"That soon? Well, alright," Riku said after a moment's hesitation. He did have a lot on his plate.

"Then it's decided! Tomorrow, we'll hold the wedding of Princess Fia and Lord Riku!"

The room was filled with laughter and chatter. An hour later, everyone dispersed, and a maid led Riku to his guest room.

Even then, he slept easily, just leaving a bit of his mind alert for trouble. He really was exhausted.

Fia, meanwhile, couldn't sleep at all. She huddled under her blanket, lost in thought, occasionally letting out a small, embarrassed squeak.

——

The next morning, the entire werebeast village was buzzing. The news that their princess was marrying a human had everyone in an uproar—some angry, some jealous, some just curious.

But in the end, no one dared protest. The decision had been made by Fia, the chief, and the elders. Anyone causing trouble would be punished, and once the reasons were explained, people settled down, mostly just grumbling out of jealousy.

Dressed in red, looking sharp, Riku rode calmly down the road, the wedding procession following behind.

Even among the werebeasts, weddings were never this big, usually, even the elders' ceremonies were much simpler. But this was a special occasion, and everyone wanted to see.

Riku enjoyed the attention, smiling as he looked over the crowds.

At the palace, the wedding ceremony began, witnessed by the chief and all the elders. Everything went perfectly, no surprises.

With most of the formalities done, it was time for the wedding night.

Riku took Fia, dressed in a white bridal kimono, face flushed, tail wagging with happiness, by the hand, ready to go to their room.

Both of them felt a mix of excitement and nerves. This was a big day.

Riku was still debating what to do—was it right to take things further? Would that be too much?

"Riku-sama, don't overthink it! The wedding night is a tradition for us, werebeasts. Don't break the custom."

The chief whispered, grinning, as he passed by Riku.

"Uh…"

Riku couldn't help but freeze up, feeling a bit awkward. This old man really was pushing things!

Of course, Fia heard too, her face turning even redder, her body trembling with embarrassment as she glared at the chief.

"Ahem. Don't worry, our bodies are tough, and Fia's the strongest of us all. Just go for it."

With that, the chief scurried away, afraid Fia might really lose her temper.

"That old guy…"

Riku couldn't help but smile wryly, guessing the chief just wanted the alliance cemented as soon as possible.

Still, it completely ignored how Fia might feel about it.

Am I really that kind of guy? Riku wondered. In my world, this would be illegal for sure…

Fia just huffed, determined to get her revenge on the chief once the wedding was over.

"Let's go," Riku said quietly, leading Fia to their room.

"Mm…"

Fia nodded, keeping her head down, her tail wagging shyly behind her.

The other werebeasts just watched, cheering them on.

Soon, Riku and Fia slipped into their wedding chamber, closing the door behind them, leaving the others to celebrate outside.

"Do your best, Fia! The tribe's future depends on you!"

The chief and elders all watched the door, sighing, but also smiling. They felt a little bad for pushing her, but believed it was for the good of everyone.

After the wedding ceremony, the village was buzzing with excitement. The werebeasts celebrated with food, drinks, and laughter something they hadn't enjoyed in a long time.

Riku and Fia stood side by side, accepting congratulations and well-wishes from elders and friends. Even those who'd once been sceptical now smiled and cheered for the new couple.

"Congratulations, Riku-sama! Princess Fia! May your union bring peace to our tribe!"

As the sun set and the celebration continued, Riku felt a strange mix of pride and nervousness. This alliance was more than just politics, now it was becoming real.

Soon, the elders gathered around, gently nudging the couple toward their room with knowing smiles. "Time to enjoy the wedding night! Don't be shy now!"

Fia's cheeks turned red as she clung to Riku's sleeve, both of them feeling the pressure (and the teasing) of their well-meaning elders.

With everyone watching, Riku and Fia finally entered their room and closed the door, leaving the noise and excitement behind.

Their new life together was just beginning.

"Uh…"

Hearing the chief's advice outside the door, Riku couldn't help but pause awkwardly. This old man is really something else…

The chief, having delivered his "pep talk," slinked away before Fia could retaliate.

Fia, the tribe's strongest, of course, heard everything. Her face, hidden beneath the veil, went from pink to deep red. She trembled, glaring at the closed door where the chief had just vanished.

"Don't mind him," Riku said softly, squeezing her hand.

Fia huffed, cheeks puffed out in annoyance, but her eyes still sparkled with happiness.

"Your tribe really has some… unique customs," Riku joked gently, trying to lighten the mood.

"Mm…"

Fia nodded, still blushing but not angry.

Sitting together at the edge of the bed, there was a long, slightly awkward silence. Riku looked at Fia, her delicate face half-hidden by her hair, her ears twitching with nerves.

"If you're not comfortable, really, it's fine, you don't need to care about those stupid traditions," Riku said sincerely. "We can just rest. No pressure, okay?"

Fia hesitated, then shook her head. "It's not that… I just… I want this. I want to be with you tonight, and from now on."

Despite her embarrassment, her eyes met his, determination shining through.

"Alright," Riku smiled softly. "We'll go at your pace."

They leaned into each other, the world outside fading away. The details belonged only to them, a night of gentle laughter, soft words, and a new bond formed.

As the sun began to rise, Riku held Fia close, both of them finally relaxing after everything that had happened.

Life can be unpredictable, he thought, watching the light slip through the window. Who would've thought a trip for a treasure chest would lead to this? An alliance, a wife… and a future that suddenly feels a little less lonely.

With Fia sleeping peacefully beside him, Riku allowed himself a rare, contented smile and drifted off into dreams of what came next.