Chapter 394: Happy Home The messenger bird flew off and he read the letter in full. [Azel, Alright, listen up, you gorgeous bastard... my stupid family finally agreed to meet you. I don’t know what kind of black magic you used but apparently it was enough for them to stop screaming in my face for a whole ten minutes, so congratulations. Anyway, they want you to come over for the "official marriage discussion." YES. Marriage. Don’t start panicking, don’t run away, and don’t play dumb like you don’t know I’m talking about marrying YOU. Since you survived all the shit around me and still somehow want me like a freak you are, my clan decided they want to "evaluate your qualifications as a future Astra husband." Whatever the fuck that means. Our territory is in Astra City, so drag your pretty ass over here when you’re done babysitting your other wives or whatever the hell you do all day. If you embarrass me, I’ll kill you. If you don’t come, I’ll hunt you down. If you show up looking stupid, I’ll stab you in the leg. But if you come properly... ...I guess I won’t mind being your wife or whatever. Don’t be late. I love you, dumbass. —Sybil Astra] Ever since he and Sybil started dating, Azel had realized one terrifying truth: the girl talked absolutely insane in writing. Her letters were very unhinged. A swirling vortex of curses, threats, and strangely romantic promises that made him question whether dating her increased his lifespan or actively shortened it. She couldn’t verbally say half the filthy, aggressive madness she wrote down, but once she had a pen in hand? All hell broke loose. This one was quite tame compared to the ones she had sent these past few weeks about being horny. "Damn..." he muttered as he read the latest one, folding the paper slowly as if it might explode. [I still can’t believe you have three wonderful goddesses waiting for you and you’re there chasing mortal skirts.] Elarielle’s voice chimed into his head, she was sassy as usual. ’I’m sure we established I can’t do anything intimate with any of you until I leave the Diviner rank. Unless one of you wants my body to literally explode.’ [Hmph!] The connection cut. The loli goddess loved teasing him at random times just to keep his soul trembling. Azel rolled his eyes and tucked Sybil’s letter into his pocket. ’I’ll just leave tonight,’ he thought. If he finished up quickly, he could avoid being dragged into Sybil’s plans... and he’d arrive back in the town within a week. Sybil’s parents were, according to the game, strong-minded but sane. They were nothing too dramatic... Probably. He stood up. "Sir, where are you going?" the assistant asked as Azel walked past. "I want to see my wife," he answered simply. The assistant flushed bright red. "S-sir, that’s the women’s dressing roo—" "Do you think the activities required to make that child in her belly were done while we were wearing clothes?" Azel asked flatly. The young man froze, his face turning crimson. "L-last room on the right," he whispered. "I can’t leave my position to guide you." "Thanks." Azel walked through the hallway and reached the door. He knocked once out of courtesy, then opened it. Inside, Medusa stood before a mirror, beautifully dressed in a soft floral gown designed to fit her pregnancy perfectly. The dress hugged her torso just enough to accentuate her belly without being tight, and the skirt flowed like petals when she turned. She spun toward him with a shy smile. "Hey, darling... how does this look?" "I think it looks beautiful on you," Azel said as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. His gaze moved to his daughter next... Lillia stood in a miniature version of Medusa’s dress, twirling with equal excitement. "I— She wanted to try a dress like her mother," Medusa said quickly, embarrassed. "Papa, can you get this one for me?" Lillia asked, spinning again. "Of course I will." Azel knelt and straightened the bow on her waist. "Money isn’t a problem." Medusa lifted a few dresses from a nearby chair. "I tried others too. I picked these." Azel sifted through them... soft fabrics, calm designs, gentle pastel colors. Then he reached the last one... and blinked. "...Wait. What is this dress for?" The chest and ass area was far more revealing than anything else. The seamstress woman behind Medusa blushed deeply. "I made that for couples who... prefer to remain active during pregnancy." Azel slowly raised an eyebrow at Medusa. She turned red from her neck to her ears. "I—I bought it for relaxation! And besides, you’re too big for that anyway!" "Oh my~..." the woman murmured under her breath. When last had she heard that? ... When they stepped outside again, Lillia tugged at Azel’s sleeve. "Father, it’s raining." He winced. Lillia looked adorable in her new dress but the sky had turned dark out of nowhere, and heavy raindrops began to fall like the heavens themselves were dumping buckets on Lepreun. "Meda, will you be fine?" Azel asked, scanning the clouds. "A little rain won’t hurt me," she said, tilting her face upward with a smile. "It feels refreshing. Like a cold shower." The rain intensified. Wind pushed against their clothes, and droplets clung to their eyelashes. Then, at the corner of the street, two soaked figures came sprinting through the downpour... Veyra and a black-haired boy. "HEY HUBBY!" Veyra waved like lightning wasn’t cracking behind her. She was drenched head to toe, her cloak was sticking to her like a second skin and her hair was practically dripping down her shoulders. The boy beside her slowed and stared at Azel, more confused than anything. He saw the little girl being carried, the pregnant woman, and the ridiculously handsome silver-haired man smiling gently at them. "This is Rene," Veyra said proudly. "Our new son." Azel approached him slowly. The boy stiffened. He was used to pity and distance so he braced himself instinctively for rejection. Instead, Azel placed a warm hand on his head. Rene froze. Azel smiled. "Welcome." Inside the boy’s body... a darkness stirred. A curse he never asked for neither had he ever understood, one that covered him like a storm cloud. But at Azel’s touch, divine energy suppressed it without harming him. Rene inhaled sharply as something inside him... lightened. He swallowed hard. Azel withdrew his hand. ’Damn,’ he thought. ’I suppressed the curse with divinity for now. As long as he doesn’t draw on that darkness, he’ll be fine.’ The rain continued to fall, soaking them all. Lillia stared at Rene curiously, Medusa smiled warmly at the boy and Taffi shook rain off her fur like an angry fluffy mop. Azel rubbed his stomach and let out a very unglamorous groan. "How about we get home and have lunch?" he asked. His stomach rumbled loudly a second time, proving his point. Medusa giggled behind her hand while Veyra beamed proudly at her new son. Rene blinked in surprise... lunch? Together? With them? He felt... warm. Warm in a way he hadn’t felt since before he could even remember. Veyra nudged him gently. "Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go home."