Chapter 224: A New Beginning
She said it jokingly and the two of them laughed together.
"Please take care of him. He’s probably already happy... but make him even happier. That’s something only you can do."
"I’ll do my best."
He didn’t know exactly how he should do it.
But they would be together until the end of their lives.
Surely, he would find a way.
"It’s alright. You don’t have to worry."
"...?"
As Qiong Xing was about to ask what she meant by her confident tone.
"For my sake too, give birth to a healthy child. And don’t push yourself, alright? You’re human. Don’t compare yourself to us beastkin. You can stay just the way you are. Those children will surely become his hope."
"...What?"
He couldn’t fully understand what she was saying.
Still, the mention of a child sank in and without thinking, his hand moved to his stomach.
"Fufu, it seems you hadn’t noticed after all. Joa could be a bit slow about these things too. Don’t worry, it’s definitely his child. If you don’t believe it, have him smell you. When beastkin are pregnant, their scent changes. And of course, the only one who can notice it is the child’s father."
Pregnancy. Child. Joa’s child.
The words kept coming, but his thoughts couldn’t keep up, leaving him confused.
"That’s all I can tell you. Joa, and you as well—you both must become happy, no matter what. I have to go now. We won’t be able to meet again... but I have one request. Tell Joa... tell him, ’Thank you for loving someone like me.’"
"I will. I promise."
After pulling Qiong Xing into one last tight embrace, Vita quietly disappeared.
...
Qiong Xing’s shoulder had been damp with tears, but he said nothing about it.
"She said, ’Thank you.’ She said, ’Thank you for loving someone like me.’"
"What an idiot... when I was the one relying on her all the time."
Though his voice was thick with tears, Joa spoke with a faint sense of happiness.
"Vita also said she wants you to be happy. You don’t need to think that you failed to save her or that it was your fault. The only thing she wished for... is your happiness."
"Yeah... you’re right. I’ve got you now too. And we’re even having a child. I’ve gotta live as long as I can."
"Of course. It would be sad for the children if their father wasn’t around."
More than anything, Qiong Xing needed Joa.
"So that’s why you haven’t been feeling well lately... I thought you were just tired from everything that’s been going on."
They had been busy going to the castle, working as adventurers, building a new home.
So even when Qiong Xing lost his appetite, he hadn’t thought much of it and assuming it was just fatigue.
"Take it easy until things settle down. No going out for a while either."
Ehhh!!
"It’s written all over your face. I said until things settle down. We don’t even know yet, do we?"
It couldn’t be helped.
Though he was dissatisfied, Qiong Xing decided to endure it for the sake of the child.
"Then once things settle down, make sure you take me out properly."
"Yeah. It’s a promise."
With their conversation settled for the moment, Joa went to call the others.
Soon enough, Leandrr and the rest came rushing in—not just hurried footsteps, but loud thud, bang noises echoing as they arrived.
"Are you hurt!? Does anything hurt!?"
"Qiong Xing! Qiong Xing!!"
"I’m actually in pain right now."
"S-Sorry!!"
Leander had thrown himself at him, while Elias had grabbed his face firmly, so when he said it hurt, they quickly pulled away in a panic.
Cari came over too while rubbing his eyes sleepily.
Qiong Xing lifted him onto his lap and gently stroked his back.
He soon drifted back to sleep after he felt reassured.
Mayo had grown too big for Qiong Xing to hold, so he simply rested his head on him instead and Qiong Xing gently patted him.
"Albe was worried too, wasn’t he? But I have some good news."
"What is it?"
Qiong Xing then smiled an ld turned his gaze toward Joa.
"Qiong Xing’s pregnant with my child."
"Huh?"
The sudden announcement left everyone frozen in shock.
As Qiong Xing smiling when he look at their reactions, he had Lian who had been in Elias’s arms to be laid down beside him gently.
Lian’s eyes looked slightly red and it’s likely because Qiong Xing hadn’t been there for these days.
"I’m sorry," he whispered softly as he stroking the child’s hair so as not to wake her up.
"Lian is still so little, and now there will be a second child... so please take care of us."
With Lian still unable to stand or speak, there was no way Qiong Xing could take his eyes off her and once the second child was born, his attention would likely be divided.
When he asked for their help, he was met with joyful voices and then everyone pulled him into an embrace.
"Seriously? That’s amazing."
"Then I’m next. I want a girl who looks like Qiong Xing."
"That’s not something you get to choose."
He retorted to Leander, then told everyone to get some rest for the day, knowing they must be exhausted.
The change came the very next day.
Calling it a "change" might not have been quite right, but the morning sickness he thought would come later arrived much sooner than expected.
"Ugh... bleh..."
"A-Are you okay?"
Even just the smell was unbearable.
Before he could even reach the dining hall, the nausea immediately overtook him.
Elias quickly brought him to the restroom and gently rubbing his back as Qiong Xing vomited until his stomach was empty
"I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do it... Could you all go eat without me?"
Normally, he would happily head to the dining hall and looking forward to food.
But now, it felt like hell.
He didn’t want to make Elias and the others who must be hungry wait on him, but as expected, Elias refused to leave him.