Completely exhausted, their bodies screaming in pain and their feet nearly dragging along the ground, the children finally reached the village.

  They walked on autopilot as they passed through the gate, while the guards watched with excitement as Christopher, Sebastián, and Mathias carried parts of a magical beast. It was a source of pride to witness the growth of the village’s future adventurers.

  “They’re on the right path,” commented the first of the two guards stationed at the entrance.

  “They’ll be excellent adventurers,” the other added. “Especially the girls… even Lord Alexander can’t keep up with them!”

  He was referring to the fact that even Alexander was carrying materials, while the girls walked along gracefully, without a single trace of grime on their hands.

  Meanwhile, the boys noticed a few curious details. That day, the guards on duty were two humans they hadn’t seen before. On top of that, the village was especially busy—people were running back and forth, occupied with refining new sources of income.

  At last, they arrived at the Hope family’s home and placed the parts of the Electric Antlered Deer into the refrigerator, the magical device used to preserve food and prevent spoilage. They did so because they wouldn’t be cleaning the parts until dawn, and they didn’t want the smell to seep into the house.

  While Selestia examined the parts of the beast they had hunted, Christopher chatted with his Mama between laughs, occasionally pointing toward the girls.

  ? ? ?

  “I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE THEM!”

  Valentina completely lost her mind with affection.

  So much so that, for a moment, she completely forgot she even had a son. She practically shoved him aside and lunged toward the girls, hugging them tightly and showering them with all her love.

  Christopher—now tumbling away like a sack of potatoes—had kept his promise and told his mother about the girls’ desire to protect nature.

  And just as Alexander had unintentionally hinted, Valentina completely lost herself to affection once again.

  She showered Selestia and Anita with kisses on the cheeks, endless hugs, and tender caresses.

  Anita turned completely red. She had never imagined that the beautiful Lady of Gignit would treat her that way… though, truthfully, she didn’t mind it at all.

  Selestia, on the other hand, wore a smile overflowing with happiness. Why would anyone think poorly of her? She deeply admired and idolized Valentina. From her perspective, Valentina was someone she aspired to become.

  That was why receiving affection and pampering from the person she revered so much… was a gift she would treasure with her entire soul.

  “My beautiful girls… I already knew Selestia was a little angel, and now I see that Anita is one too! I’m completely in love with both of you.”

  Valentina dropped onto the sofa behind her and pulled the girls onto her lap—Selestia on her right, Anita on her left… with Diana nestled in the middle. She hugged them tightly, surrounding them with a mother’s warmth.

  “I truly love you all so much… it makes me happy to know that there are still such lovely little souls like you, who care about the forest.”

  She rubbed her beautiful face against the heads of the three girls, all of whom were glowing with happiness.

  “In this village… we need more girls like you. On the other hand…” Valentina’s demeanor shifted abruptly as she turned her gaze toward the three boys.

  She fixed them with a cold, almost merciless expression.

  “And you… why can’t you be like that?”

  “M-Mama, wait!” Christopher quickly called out, stopping her before a scolding could begin. He tried to calm Valentina’s rising anger. “We don’t harm the forest either! We always take care of it!”

  Valentina nodded like a war general, clearly pleased by her son’s words.

  Then her merciless gaze slid immediately toward Alexander, who swallowed hard and took a step back.

  “Valentina, my dear… I always take care of your plants and—”

  “We’ll talk later, Alexander. You still have a lot to improve.”

  With that said, she went right back to pampering the girls, her tenderness renewed once more.

  But after a few moments… it seemed that Valentina had finally lost her mind. Or rather, she had gone even more insane than she already was.

  She jumped to her feet in one swift motion.

  With her right arm, she grabbed Selestia around the waist like a sack of potatoes. With her left, she hoisted Anita the same way. And finally… Diana was perched happily on her shoulders.

  “Very well! I’ve decided!” Valentina declared, nodding with absolute determination as she stared boldly into the future. “I’m adopting them!”

  “Girls, listen carefully. From today on, you can call me Mom. I’m going to have a very serious talk with your parents right now. You’re my daughters now, and you’ll be living here with your new mother.”

  “Huh…?” Anita murmured, wearing a completely baffled—and hilarious—expression.

  Diana clapped excitedly, finding the whole situation incredibly entertaining.

  “L-Lady Valentina, you’re going to fight my parents so I can become your daughter?!” Selestia covered her face with both hands, steam practically coming out of her elven ears. “I—I don’t know what to say! But… I can’t do that to my parents! But… ah! Anita, what do I do?!”

  “I… I have no idea either…”

  With a single kick, Valentina smashed open the door of her own house and shot forward like a magical attack traveling at extreme speed.

  Without stopping—and leaving behind a comical trail of dust—the leader of Gignit sprinted toward the girls’ homes.

  A bead of sweat slid down the necks of everyone present as they watched Valentina disappear into the distance at terrifying speed.

  “I’m not helping you fix your door,” Sebastián said flatly.

  “Me neither,” Mathias added.

  “Dad… do you think Mama will really try to adopt them?” Christopher asked, his tone playful.

  “What nonsense are you talking about… of course not. You know your mother.”

  3… 2… 1…

  Both of them bolted after her in near-comical desperation.

  “She’s totally capable of doing it! We have to stop her!” Christopher shouted, running as fast as he could to catch up with his mother.

  “Of course she’ll do it—your mom is crazy!” Alexander yelled back.

  In a ridiculous scene, father and son sprinted through the village after Valentina, kicking up a massive cloud of dust in their wake.

  All that remained were Sebastián and Mathias, watching as Christopher and Alexander vanished into the distance.

  “Hey, I saw there are hamburgers in the refrigerator. Want to eat them?” Sebastián asked.

  “Definitely. I’m starving,” Mathias replied.

  ? ? ?

  “IT’S NOT FAIR! IT’S NOT FAIR! SELESTIA IS MY DAUGHTER NOW! GIVE HER TO ME! SHE’S MY DAUGHTER!” Valentina shouted as Christopher and Alexander held her back, desperately trying to pull her away.

  Anita followed close behind, both confused and deeply embarrassed.

  Selestia’s parents smiled with visible awkwardness. The scene unfolding before them was far from ordinary, and they weren’t quite sure how to react.

  Selestia’s mother hugged her daughter and smiled warmly, knowing that—at the very least—the little girl had had a great deal of fun.

  Meanwhile, Selestia kept her face covered, completely flushed.

  “I’m really sorry, Lady Valentina… but I can’t be your daughter. I already have parents.”

  The funniest part was that she said it with complete sincerity.

  ? ? ?

  At last, after several days of waiting, the time came to begin the journey to the city of Nopal.

  Even though it was still very early and the horizon was only beginning to glow with the first rays of sunlight, the village of Gignit was already alive with activity. People hurried about, making final preparations for the trip, which was expected to last more than a week.

  Among all the goods prepared for sale, the most notable were bundles of coffee beans, clean and fresh vegetables, and illustrated magic books designed for easy reading. There were also bread rolls, sweets made with a new recipe, beautiful Gignit-style garments, and many other items—all packed and ready to be sold.

  On the other hand, there were those who had devoted themselves to hunting magical beasts.

  Christopher and his group—awake at such an early hour for obvious reasons—watched the subdued creatures with a mix of awe and nervousness. A faint shiver ran down their spines as they imagined what other terrifying beasts might still be lurking within those forests. They truly had no idea that creatures so ferocious existed beyond the Feathered Serpent and the Electric Antlered Deer.

  “Hey… look at that,” Sebastián said, pointing toward the corpse of a magical beast.

  The creature was relatively intact… and absolutely terrifying.

  “Is that a Manticore?”

  “I see you recognized it,” a voice said from behind them.

  It was Mansot Taigiur, Mathias’s father, smiling beneath the familiar scar on his face.

  “Tobias and I hunted it.”

  “Whaaat?!” Mathias exclaimed, his pride impossible to hide. “Seriously, Dad?!” He threw his arms around him in a tight hug.

  The Manticore was an extremely dangerous and aggressive magical beast.

  Its head closely resembled that of a human—albeit in a monstrous way—with twisted features and a pair of warped horns. Around its head grew a mane similar to that of a male lion. Its body was also lion-like, though its fur bore an unusual reddish hue.

  However, it lacked the classic lion’s tail. Instead, it possessed a thick, powerful scorpion tail, from which it could fire venomous spikes or wield it like a deadly whip. Its venom was even more potent than that of the dreaded Feathered Serpent.

  As a final trait, once a Manticore reached adulthood, a pair of enormous bat-like wings would grow from its back—turning it into an even more lethal threat from the skies.

  “That’s incredible, Mr. Mansot,” Christopher said, genuinely impressed. A single misstep against such a beast was enough to be poisoned, torn apart… or devoured whole.

  “And only the two of you handled it?”

  Mathias’s father smiled again, pride clearly showing.

  “That’s right—but don’t think it was easy,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “In fact, it was much harder than it looks. It even got away from us a couple of times. We had to chase it down; we couldn’t afford to let it roam free. It could’ve become a threat to the village at any moment.”

  “I think that was the best decision,” Selestia commented as she slowly approached the Manticore’s tail. She was completely absorbed, unable to take her eyes off it. From the tip of the stinger, traces of venom were still dripping.

  Just as she was about to touch it, a strong arm grabbed her by the belt, lifting her a few centimeters off the ground.

  “Daughter, don’t touch that.”

  The group turned toward the voice.

  It was an elf—Selestia’s father—greeting them with a kind smile… while still holding his daughter suspended in the air.

  “Good morning, Mr. Salesio,” all the children greeted him politely.

  Though friendly, the elf always found it amusing how formal they were with him. The children were incredibly courteous and respectful toward him, even though he was simply an ordinary villager.

  “Kids, you don’t have to be so formal with me… you’ll make me feel like an old man,” he laughed kindly, still holding Selestia at his side.

  “We can’t help it, Mr. Salesio,” Anita said honestly. “You make us feel protected and safe.”

  Salesio laughed. He would gladly take that as a heartfelt compliment.

  “What is that you’re carrying, my good friend?” Mansot asked, eyeing the item Salesio was holding. “Is it merchandise?”

  Salesio looked at his friend—they got along very well—and replied,

  “Ah, yes! They’re Elemental Magic books, designed to make learning easier. You know… not everyone can afford proper materials.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” Mansot added.

  “Dad… can you put me down now?” Selestia asked, her face flushed with embarrassment. “You’re embarrassing me in front of my friends.”

  All she wanted was for her father to stop embarrassing her.

  “Oh! Sorry, sweetheart—but I don’t want you getting anywhere near a Manticore’s tail again, understood?” Salesio said, also looking at the other children. “The same goes for you kids. It’s very dangerous.”

  After that, he set Selestia back on the ground and checked his books before loading them onto one of the carriages.

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  Mansot realized that the Manticore’s corpse was far too dangerous to leave exposed.

  “Mathias, come with me for a moment. Help me cover it up,” he said.

  They said their goodbyes to the others and went off to find a thick blanket to cover the beast’s body.

  ? ? ?

  The sun rose steadily, and the preparations were finally complete.

  The travelers were excited—especially those who would be visiting another city for the very first time. The leaders of Gignit approached the area with smiles on their faces, taking in the joyful expressions all around them. The enthusiasm was unmistakable.

  Of course, not everyone could make the trip, so many entrusted their products to those who would. The people of Gignit trusted one another blindly. They knew no one would betray that trust… because in this village, everyone was honest.

  “Mama… we want to go too,” Christopher complained.

  “That’s right, Lady Valentina,” Sebastián added. “It’s not fair.”

  Selestia shot both of them a sharp glare.

  “Do you dare question Lady Valentina’s decision?”

  Anita let out a resigned sigh.

  “Come on, guys… you know it’s very dangerous for us.”

  “Just as I thought,” Valentina remarked with a teasing tone. “In this group, Selestia and Anita are the smartest ones. I hope Diana grows up to be like you girls… and not like them.”

  “What did you say?!” the three boys exclaimed in unison, annoyed and rolling their eyes.

  “Honey…” Alexander called, following her with his gaze. “It’s time to decide.”

  “I understand,” Valentina replied, suddenly serious.

  They stepped forward to face each other, while everyone else formed a circle around them, watching closely.

  The tension in the air was palpable. All eyes were wide open… fixed on the decision about to be made.

  The boys were sweating buckets, while the girls clenched their fists tightly, tense about what was coming.

  Alexander and Valentina raised their right fists, pulling them back as if preparing to throw a decisive punch.

  “Come on, Alexander! Don’t let her beat you!” Tadeo and Tobias shouted cheerfully, hugging each other with excitement.

  “Lady Valentina, don’t lose!” some of the girls yelled—elves, humans, and semi-humans alike. Even several boys joined in to support her.

  “Ready?” Alexander asked.

  Valentina nodded, her expression serious.

  “More than ready.”

  The situation was becoming surprisingly serious. The onlookers—and there were many—began placing bets on who would come out on top.

  “What do you think will happen?” Sebastián asked, a bead of sweat sliding down his cheek.

  “I don’t know,” Christopher replied. “I just hope everything turns out okay.”

  Selestia cheered passionately for Valentina.

  “You can do it, Lady Valentina! Show him how strong we elves are!”

  Selestia’s parents, beads of sweat trickling down their faces, joined the cheers in support of Valentina.

  Only one person among all those present let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose in clear annoyance.

  “Please… could you be any more dramatic?”

  They both threw their hands.

  For a moment, everyone went silent.

  Then half the crowd erupted into cheers as Alexander emerged victorious—his hand showing rock… while Valentina’s was scissors.

  “WOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!”

  Everyone shouted, and some—like Tobias—even began to howl.

  The children let out a collective sigh of relief. Everything had gone well; no one had gotten hurt. And once again, Herman sighed with visible exasperation.

  “Then I’ll go, and you’ll stay behind to protect the village, my dear,” Alexander proclaimed, as his friends lifted him into the air amid cheers.

  Valentina sighed.

  “Honey, you know I didn’t even want to go. I just wanted to put on a little show to entertain everyone.”

  Even so, Alexander stuck out his tongue at her and went off to celebrate with the others.

  ? ? ?

  “Everyone, get ready!” Alexander ordered.

  People quickly moved to their assigned places. Many would make the journey on foot, while others would travel in carriages. The heaviest packages were loaded onto wagons.

  Both the wagons and the carriages were pulled by sturdy horses, raised by Beastmen and semi-humans—experts in breeding strong, resilient animals.

  There were at least five carriages and eight wagons ready to depart.

  The travelers formed a truly diverse group.

  Among those fortunate enough to make the trip were Alexander, followed by Herman—who, for obvious reasons, would accompany his lord—Tobias the Wolfman, the elven brothers known as ONE and TWO, and the self-proclaimed “Power Trio”: three warriors consisting of a human woman, a feline-clan semi-human, and an elf.

  And, of course, many other villagers as well.

  In fact, there was a group of ten individuals considered the strongest in the village. There was no official ranking—they were simply recognized for their strength.

  Among the strongest were Alexander, Valentina, Herman, Tobias, Tadeo, Mansot, the brothers ONE and TWO… and two mysterious figures whose power was known to only a few.

  Those last two were members of the night guard.

  “Sweetheart… are you sure you can handle the bakery on your own?” John Valencia asked, Anita’s father, as he watched with pride while his daughter wore clothes fit for an adventurer. “If you want, you can close it until I get back. You don’t have to work.”

  “Don’t worry, Daddy,” Anita replied. “Lady Valentina’s friends are going to help me open the bakery, so you can leave without worrying.”

  “That’s right, Mr. John!” several girls said as they approached with cheerful smiles. “You just go—and bring back all the gold you can for your daughter!”

  John smiled, and everyone around him followed suit with playful grins, while one of the girls hugged Anita affectionately.

  “And most importantly…” they added, trying to regain their composure, “you have to bring back a new mom for Anita… she needs one!”

  John’s face nearly burst from embarrassment, while the little girl—her cheeks crimson—covered her face with both hands.

  A mom? Anita thought, torn between happiness and confusion.

  She honestly didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or hide.

  Those present laughed as if it were all a joke… but it wasn’t. Even wrapped in laughter, they had meant it seriously.

  Anita was a sweet girl who deserved a mother’s warmth, and her father—one of the most beloved men in the village—also needed a companion to share his life with. Even his late wife, before passing away, had asked him to keep moving forward. And now, perhaps, that moment had finally arrived.

  He gently patted his daughter’s head.

  “I’ll be back soon, sweetheart… and I’ll bring you lots of little gifts.”

  The girls nearby squealed like excited schoolgirls.

  They knew that the seed they had just planted… had already begun to sprout in good John’s heart.

  ? ? ?

  The preparations were finally complete. It was time to depart.

  “Please… take good care of yourself,” Valentina whispered, hugging her beloved and giving him the most tender kiss.

  Seeing them, Christopher quickly looked away, his face slightly flushed. Like any child, he felt a bit embarrassed watching his parents be so affectionate in public.

  “Behave yourself, my sweet girl,” Alestia said, hugging her daughter with so much love it was almost overwhelming.

  “We won’t be gone for long. In the meantime… you’ll stay with Lady Valentina,” she added with a wink.

  She knew perfectly well how much Selestia admired her.

  Selestia nodded a thousand times… all in a single second.

  “Dad, bring me something back,” Mathias pleaded, clinging tightly to his father’s leg while his mother tried to pull him away.

  The man laughed warmly, said goodbye to both of them, hugged his son, and kissed his wife.

  “Protect our home, son. I trust you,” Herman said, smiling as he watched his son nod with complete seriousness.

  “Yes, Dad!” Sebastián exclaimed as he received a warm hug from his father. It wasn’t a rough embrace… Herman truly loved his son.

  Suddenly, Herman’s serious demeanor vanished completely when Diana wrapped her arms around his leg.

  “I love you,” she said, radiating so much sweetness that Herman nearly suffered a heart attack. Only a single breath stood between him and fainting.

  In the end, he hugged his daughter tightly while crying… in a comically exaggerated way.

  “MY GIRL, MY SWEET GIRL! DO YOU WANT ME TO BRING YOU A TOY?!”

  Diana nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining, just as Sebastián and his mother felt beads of sweat trickle down their foreheads.

  “I forgot Dad can’t resist Diana’s cuteness either,” Sebastián said out loud. “How do you handle it, Mom?”

  “I can’t either,” Rachell replied. “She has me wrapped around her finger too.”

  ? ? ?

  At last, the caravan began to move.

  They advanced at an unhurried pace until they left the village behind.

  When they reached the gate—standing open, with no guards in sight—Alexander turned his head slightly. In the distance, above the wall, a pair of figures watched him in silence.

  Alexander simply smiled and gave a small nod. Moments later, the figures vanished.

  I should bring something back for those two as well… information would probably be the best gift I could offer them. Although… I know she loves sour candies. Yes, I should bring her a few packs.

  They had already left the area.

  It seemed as though everything would finally calm down… but that would be a grave mistake.

  Valentina’s expression hardened. Every trace of a smile disappeared, and with a firm voice, she began issuing new orders.

  “Organize the guards. Have them begin the gate patrol immediately.”

  “Yes.”

  “All sentinels who didn’t depart are to return to their posts. Have them watch their assigned zones… and also cover the areas of those who are absent.”

  “Yes.”

  “Tadeo, gather some men. In one hour, I want a group patrolling the outskirts of the forest,” she ordered as she began to walk. “They are not to go farther than one kilometer. I need to know if there’s any threat nearby.”

  “Remember, several of the Ten Strongest are away… and we don’t want a repeat of what happened with the Feathered Serpent.”

  “If there’s any threat… eliminate it as quickly as possible.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you two, children,” she said, looking at both her son and Selestia—who would be under her care for the next few days. “It’s time for breakfast.”

  At that exact moment, both of their stomachs issued a silent threat: Feed me… or perish.

  ? ? ?

  “This is delicious, Lady Valentina!” Selestia exclaimed with overflowing joy, thrilled to have the chance to taste a breakfast prepared by the person she admired most.

  “You’re such a sweetheart,” Valentina replied, gently tugging Selestia’s ears.

  Breakfast consisted of slices of assorted fruit with peanuts, honey, and sweet pastries—for both Selestia and Valentina. Christopher was served the same… but with the irresistible addition of strips of ham and bacon.

  “Hey, Mama,” Christopher called out. “What’s the city of Nopal like? Have you been there before?”

  Valentina sighed.

  “To be honest… yes. At least a couple of times,” she said, taking a sip of the juice she had prepared. “The city is very beautiful, but… certain inhabitants…”

  She fell silent, her gaze drifting away.

  The children exchanged glances.

  Since Christopher’s mouth was full, Selestia was the one who spoke.

  “What do you mean by ‘certain inhabitants,’ Lady Valentina?”

  Valentina hadn’t realized her thoughts had slipped out loud. It was a topic she didn’t want to discuss with children… at least not at their current age.

  So, using her wit, she completely redirected the conversation.

  “Kids, how are you doing with magic?” Valentina asked casually. “I hope you’re not limiting yourselves to just my lessons, and that you’re studying on your own as well.”

  And just like that, she achieved her goal: the curiosity about Nopal’s inhabitants faded, replaced by their passion for magic.

  “Of course!” Selestia replied, brimming with pride, a smile of pure satisfaction on her face. “I’m just about to be able to use Elf Magic.”

  She said it with even more enthusiasm, her face lit up with happiness.

  It was a genuine achievement… and she knew it.

  “That’s amazing, Selestia!” Christopher exclaimed, genuinely happy for his friend’s progress. “As for me, I can already cast more magical attacks without getting tired.”

  Now it was Selestia who looked surprised.

  “You’re always one step ahead of me…” she commented, her tone friendly, followed by a small laugh.

  Once breakfast was over, both of them helped wash their plates.

  They were just about to get ready for magic class, but—

  “Umm… kids, I’m really sorry, but I have to suspend the lessons until everyone returns from the trip,” Valentina apologized, scratching the back of her neck with some discomfort.

  “And why is that, Lady Valentina?” Selestia asked, clearly disappointed. She was always the most eager to receive lessons from her favorite teacher.

  Christopher spoke up.

  “Is it because you have too much work and need to supervise the defenses?”

  Valentina smiled to herself. Christopher had hit the mark perfectly.

  A good portion of the village’s key personnel had left with the caravan, and now order had to be restored. It might only be four days… but there was an overwhelming amount of work to be done.

  “That’s right, my love,” Valentina confirmed. “There are many things that need attention in the village, and I have to help take care of them.” She looked at the two children. “But don’t worry… I’ve prepared a few tasks for you as well.”

  ? ? ?

  “Thank you so much, kids. Truly, I’m incredibly grateful.”

  At the moment, the children were cleaning the home of one of Valentina’s many friends. The woman was a young semi-human of the Feline Clan—a cat-type—and appeared to be around eighteen years old.

  She had long brown hair, completely braided. She wore a lovely greenish dress, and at the back—right where her tail emerged—there was a triangular opening that allowed it to move freely, swaying happily from side to side.

  Christopher, Selestia, and Mathias were in charge of tidying up and cleaning the house. There was a reason for that: the young woman couldn’t do it herself due to her pregnancy. She was still at least three months away from giving birth.

  “Let me help you… at least a little—”

  “NO!” the children shouted in unison, protesting for what felt like the thousandth time since they had arrived.

  “Please, Kathy,” Christopher said, bringing over a rather comfortable folding chair and placing it beside her. “Just sit down and let us handle things. You shouldn’t be exerting yourself.”

  “That’s right. Just sit and watch us,” Mathias added firmly, though his smile was kind.

  “But kids… I feel a little bad letting only you work, when this is my house,” the young woman said, her feline ears drooping with a mix of embarrassment and tenderness.

  “Don’t worry about that, Kathy,” Selestia said as she emerged from the kitchen with a glass of fruit juice she had prepared for her. “This is a mission Lady Valentina gave us, after all.”

  As she spoke, she looked at Kathy’s rounded belly with affection and gently placed a hand on it.

  “We don’t want you doing anything that might hurt you… that could be bad for your baby.”

  Kathy accepted the juice with a soft smile. She placed both hands over her belly, caressing it tenderly as her tail moved slowly.

  The children paused for a moment, then approached her carefully.

  “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” Christopher asked with genuine curiosity.

  The three of them gathered in front of her, sitting on the floor and gently touching her belly with great care. Inside, the baby seemed to move.

  “I don’t know yet,” she replied with a faint smile.

  “What would you like?” Selestia asked sweetly.

  Kathy glanced toward Mathias and reached out to stroke his ears, instantly leaving him completely frozen in place.

  “A boy…” she answered, her face flushing. “Although my husband wants it to be a girl.”

  “Well, I hope it’s a girl,” Selestia said, crossing her arms and closing her eyes proudly. “That way she can learn magic and play with Diana, Anita, and me.”

  Kathy found the gesture absolutely adorable.

  “I hope it’s a boy,” Mathias said with a sigh. “That way he can train with us.”

  That made Selestia frown, clearly annoyed.

  Kathy smiled gently.

  “Although… we’d both like it if they were twins. Maybe a boy and a girl… one human, and the other semi-human.”

  “Wait…?” Christopher frowned, visibly confused. “Isn’t your husband a semi-human like you?”

  Kathy smiled, showing her teeth just a little, a blush of love—and modesty—coloring her cheeks.

  “No.”

  “HE’S HUMAN?!” Selestia and Mathias exclaimed in unison.

  Now all three children were even more intrigued.

  “That’s amazing! I wonder… what will the baby be like?” Selestia said, brimming with excitement.

  “What if it has a cat tail?” Mathias suggested, stretching his own to show it off—even though he was a tiger-type. He let go of it and grabbed his ears with both hands.

  “But not the ears, right? Or maybe it’ll just inherit the fangs.”

  “Or it could be the other way around,” Christopher added thoughtfully. “Or maybe… it’ll be completely human.”

  Kathy couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun talking with children.

  Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she imagined her future child speaking to her, looking at her with affection, calling out to her.

  Mommy…

  Ever since she’d told her partner she was pregnant, he hadn’t let her make even the slightest effort—going so far as to treat her, lovingly, as if she were fragile or incapable. It wasn’t out of malice. On countless occasions, her husband had shown her that he loved her more than his own life.

  Kathy knew better than anyone that he was crazy about her… and he’d proven it in every possible way: emotionally, affectionately… even intimately.

  She thanked all the gods for giving herself the chance to be with him.

  Kathy had a very painful past.

  Before being rescued by Alexander and Valentina, she had suffered horrors at the hands of her former master—a man who took pleasure in hurting and torturing her. She had been a slave.

  She had deeply hated humans… but it was this village—and especially her husband—that had changed her view.

  She decided to play along with the children. After all… imagining what her future child might be like was fun.

  “Well, I want my baby to be born human,” Kathy said, touching her ears. Her tail swayed gently, revealing how emotional she felt.

  “And why?” Christopher asked, tilting his head. “I think your ears and tail are really pretty.”

  A natural charmer in the making.

  Selestia frowned when she heard that—something Kathy noticed immediately… which was why she quickly changed the subject.

  “It’s just that they’ll probably be like their dad… and want to become an Adventurer.”

  An image of her husband came to mind: a man who had always loved that adventurous life—fighting beasts and earning gold in return. For obvious reasons, she herself had chosen not to become one.

  But she had a feeling that her child—son or daughter—would want to follow that same path.

  That was why she wished her baby would be born without inheriting semi-human traits. That way, they wouldn’t face problems within the Human Empire.

  Of course, that wasn’t something she would tell the children. They were still far too young to know about the cruelty of the world beyond the village.

  “I want to be an Adventurer too!” Mathias added enthusiastically. “But my mom says that if I really want to be one, I’d have to go to the territory of the Beast Empire… and Beast-Land is really far away!” he complained, crossing his arms.

  Beast-Land—the Beast Empire.

  Even though an apparent “peace” currently existed, tensions between Hyuman-Land and Beast-Land remained extremely high. In the past, when three of the four great empires had gone to war, thousands of souls were lost. It was the peace treaty that, to this very day, maintained the fragile balance between the empires.

  Kathy understood Mathias’s mother perfectly. Living a happy life within the Human Empire would be nearly impossible for him.

  Selestia looked away from Christopher, slightly annoyed.

  “Kathy… you want your baby to be more human. What does your husband want?”

  Thankfully, the tension Kathy had been feeling vanished instantly.

  She let out a soft laugh as she thought of her beloved. With her right hand, she tugged gently at one ear, and with her left, she held her tail. Then she smiled widely, showing her small feline fangs.

  “Look at me! I’ve got these cute little ears, fangs, and this cat tail… take a guess how he wants our child to be born.”

  “As a semi-human!” Selestia exclaimed, letting out an excited giggle.

  They chatted about a few silly things.

  Kathy felt immensely happy being able to share that moment with them. The children were wonderful, and their imagination filled her with hope.

  Since they had spent so much time talking, it started getting late. They still had to continue cleaning… so, laughing, they got back to work.

  “Perfect. While you clean, I’ll—”

  “NO! YOU JUST REST!” the kids shouted in unison.

  Kathy made an adorable pout, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks like a scolded child.

  “You’re just as bad as my husband! You won’t let me do anything,” she complained—though her voice was so full of tenderness that no one could take it seriously.

  The cleaning continued with laughter, made-up songs, and the occasional bit of mischief. Mathias tried to sweep using his tail, Christopher failed miserably at arranging the cushions, and Selestia scolded both of them while helping out. Kathy watched from the sofa, a smile she couldn’t wipe from her face.

  Inside her, a warm feeling spread like a calm fire. For the first time in years, Kathy wasn’t thinking about the past, nor about the scars etched into her soul.

  She could only see the children, the new home, the baby growing inside her, and feel… that this was where she belonged.

  When you’re born, she whispered to herself, caressing her belly, I want you to grow up here. To hear these laughs. To have friends like them.

  Her eyes filled with tears—not of pain, but of hope.