Chapter 232: Quiet Gratitude
Qiong Xing was too sleepy to notice his surroundings, but in fact, in the corner of the room someone was quietly sitting on a chair.
"Eh, e-eh... wh-what should I do?"
The voice muttering anxiously went completely unheard by Qiong Xing who is lost in dreams.
...
He had been told to wait here and though he was restless, he fidgeted with anticipation, knowing he would see them soon.
He had been worried for a long time.
Recently, it had been difficult to meet face-to-face with Qiong Xing and Naz had been concerned that something might have happened.
However, when the vice-guild master came by to check him, he told him that Qiong Xing have been giving birth to a child and Naz immediately froze.
"Eh? Bu-but... Little Lian was just born the other day..."
"This time, it seems to be a beastkin child. Well, given the circumstances, I don’t know much myself. But it’s probably cute."
When Little Lian had been brought before, the vice-guild master had said the same with such delight and this time was no different.
Naz’s curiosity was piqued.
"Um... s-so... vice-guild master, don’t you dislike beastkin?"
Naz rarely went out, but even so, he knew that beastkin were treated poorly in this country.
They were not even considered fully human.
They couldn’t resist and could not escape because of the collars they wore.
He had seen a woman who is likely the master of a beastkin child hit and kick them in town a few times, but he had been too scared to intervene and ran away instead.
Through meeting Qiong Xing, he had opportunities to interact with beastkin who always following him.
And from their conversations,she realized that aside from having slightly different ears, they weren’t really any different from humans.
"I don’t dislike them at all. There are a few beastkin children working in our guild, after all. I just... hadn’t thought about it the way he has, I suppose."
"?"
"Qiong Xing sees us humans and the beastkin in his family as the same people. There are small differences, of course, but he says they are the same people, the same lives, the same precious family."
Same... people. Same... lives.
"I was surprised he could think that way. We ourselves had some doubts about how the country treats beastkin, but we never voiced them or took any action. We accepted it with words like ’they’re beastkin,’ and that was enough for us."
Because they’re beastkin, it’s only natural they’re slaves.
Because they’re beastkin, anything can be done to them without issue.
Because they’re beastkin, it’s fine to kill them.
"Isn’t it strange to say that actions forbidden to humans are okay against beastkin? That you could even kill them? Just for existing, when half the same human blood flows through them?"
"..."
To Qiong Xing, "because they are beastkin" is not a reason to discriminate.
Some may have committed crimes, but most were born innocent and forced into slavery.
"He didn’t just think it, he put it into action and showed them properly. That’s why he can still smile happily today, and that’s why he has children now."
Qiong Xing’s ability to spend his days smiling came from his own efforts.
Thinking about it, he had always smiled.
When he had been allowed to meet Little Lian, he had looked genuinely happy and just watching him had made others happy too.
"The children... I’m really looking forward to them."
"Ah. little Lian was so cute. Surely the beastkin child will be just as adorable as her."
Naz felt ashamed for clinging to the past for so long.
He had lost his parents and been betrayed by those people around him, but meeting Qiong Xing allowed him to brew wine with Uncle Duzy, eat good meals with friends, and have so much in his life. Yet he had given nothing back to him.
Even now, he still feared interacting with others. But wanting to repay even a fraction of what Qiong Xing had given him, he headed quickly to the vice-guild master Sarin who had invited him to come out for the first time in a while.
"Q-Qiong Xing?"
He spoke to the sleeping profile, but there was no response.
He had dark circles under his eyes, which likely from lack of sleep.
Still, the joy of seeing him after so long made him quietly gaze at his face and feeling grateful.
"It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Um... I’ve been doing my best. Trying to make you happy even a little. Well... every day is fun. I get to brew the wine I love, and my uncle helps too. Thank you... thank you, Qiong Xing."
He wanted to say it while he was awake, but it felt wrong to wake him up.
After he whispering his gratitude, Qiong Xing suddenly opened his eyes. He then lifted a hand and gently stroked Naz’s head.
"You did well."
He wasn’t sure if he had been awake.
Perhaps he had been half-asleep, but the gentle and smiling touch made his heart warm.
He was glad he had come today.
After he feel grateful to the vice-guild master for inviting him, Naz quietly left the room so as not to disturb the sleeping Qiong Xing.
While Qiong Xing slept in the next room, Sarin happily took care of Lian and the twins.
"–By the way, who are you?"
Albe who always came with Qiong Xing was familiar, but the man who is busy holding and soothing the twins next to him was unknown.
Asking Qiong Xing directly would have been faster, but he prioritized getting the exhausted Qiong Xing to sleep first.
Since the man was already accompanying Qiong Xing, there was no immediate danger, yet Katarina who called Qiong Xing her grandson needed to be reassured.
"Huh? Me? My name is Isuelnura. I’m Qiong Xing’s mates~"
"..."
Katarina furrowed her brow like she had with Sarin when she saw him sitting next to them.
This frivolous-looking man is Qiong Xing’s mates?