Chapter 61
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The freezing, snowy season has ended, and the season of feeling the breath of new life has arrived.
The kids have grown up a lot, and it is clear that Licht is particularly excited about the arrival of this new season.
Since I wanted to let them enjoy this season to the fullest, I decided to take a vacation and go camping.
In addition to our family, the members included Alex-san, Theo-sama, and Glanz-kun.
Hector-sama, who has a job with a guest of honor from another country, shed tears this time.
The reason why Glanz-kun joined us was because Mintz-san recently became pregnant with Paris-san’s child.
Right after learning of the pregnancy, I thought that both of Mintz-san’s ‘pair’ would be too preoccupied with Mintz-san and the baby. So I asked if Glanz-kun wanted to come join us, and he wagged his tail happily.
Mintz-san and his partners were reluctant because they didn’t want to be a bother, but we thought Glanz-kun would be good playmates for Licht, and since it was a great opportunity, we insisted on bringing him along.
We had breakfast with Glanz-kun, who has stayed at our house since last night.
Recently, we often had pancakes as per my spouses’ request.
Douglas-san put plenty of butter and cream on top and added fresh fruit or jam, depending on his mood that day.
Although both Licht and Grants are smaller in size, they were gleefully biting down foods similar to Douglas-san’s on all fours. They looked so cute holding the pancake with both hands while biting down with their fangs on the edges.
In addition, their faces covered in cream made them look cuter.
Gail poured so much honey on the pancake that it couldn’t absorb it and ended up soaked, then ate it with an ecstatic expression on his face.
Since the crepe incident, I’m so glad he no longer has any reluctance to eat sweets.
I quickly finished my pancakes and fed Hikaru some baby food.
I slowly offered him soft rice with side dishes, vegetables, and fruits that have been cooked so that they retain their texture to a certain extent. However, lately, I felt like he was gradually developing a desire to eat them by himself.
The way he tried to grab the food with his hand was so different from what Licht did, and it made me feel warm inside.
After finishing our meal and getting ready to leave, I went to call Alex-san and Theo-sama.
Both of them were already ready to go, so we left immediately.
The place we are going to today is between forests and streams, about three to four hours away from the capital by Arvis1horse.
I heard that Douglas-san and Gail-san came here often when they were little, and it is a perfect place for camping.
Hikaru and I rode with Douglas-san on his beloved horse, Rex, while Gail-san took Licht and rode Noah.
However, as you would expect from a beastman child, Licht wasn’t being held in Gail-san’s arms like I was. He was sitting a bit balanced in front of Gail-san.
This surprised me a little.
Next, on Theo-sama’s Arvis, Sieg, there were Theo-sama, Alex-san, and Glanz-kun.
However, unlike me, Alex-san seemed to be used to riding. Instead of clinging to Theo-sama like I did to Douglas-san, he sat in front of Theo-sama and looked forward.
And in front of him was Glanz-kun.
Glanz-kun was moving so much that he had to be held by Alex-san.
We reached our destination without any trouble and with several breaks in between.
It was undoubtedly a perfect place to camp.
The river is very clear and inhabited by many fish, so as soon as we arrived, Licht and Glanz-kun ran towards it.
Gail-san and Alex-san were chasing after them in a hurry.
Beyond the stream and the adjacent flat land, a deep and vast forest reveals its beauty.
There are many edible magical beasts, fruits, and mushrooms in the forest, and I’m sure finding them can be another source of enjoyment.
After setting up the tents and other preparations (my two spouses and Theo-sama did it for us…), everyone was enjoying nature to their heart’s content.
Licht and Glanz-kun were bouncing around in the river, trying their best to catch the fish swimming around them.
Alex-san and Gail-san enjoyed a dip in the water, although they were careful not to go too deep into the river.
As I was about to head over there with Hikaru in my arms, Theo-sama approached me.
“Chika-dono, if you don’t mind, could you leave Hikaru in my care?”
“But this is a good occasion. Why don’t you enjoy it too, Theo-sama?”
“No, I want to be with Hikaru more…”
Various emotions could be seen in Theo-sama’s eyes as he looked at Hikaru.
I talked to Theo-sama while handing Hikaru to him.
“Theo-sama, as his parent, I want Hikaru to be happy. Theo-sama, do you want the same?”
“Of course. I can say now that my first love is you, Chika-dono. However, that didn’t come true. Instead… no, it would be disrespectful to Hikaru if I say ‘instead’. My instincts tell me it’s my job to make Hikaru happy.”
“First…love…?”
“N-no, you can forget about that. No, please forget it. I’ll be in trouble if you don’t.”
“U-uhh, I understand your feelings very well, Theo-sama. Don’t worry, I’m on Theo-sama’s side. I don’t know how Douglas-san thinks about this, but I can promise you that much. But, can you forgive me for putting Hikaru’s wishes first?”
“Thank you, Chika-dono. I actually…don’t want to let go of Hikaru, even for a moment. But I also know that I’m not allowed to do so. That’s why I would like to stay by Hikaru’s side and watch over him until he comes of age. What happens after that will be up to Hikaru.”
It is said that beastmen with strong animal nature can instinctively discern their ‘pair’ without exchanging magical power.
This is almost certainly already the case.
Unfortunately, Hikaru is a human, and unlike beastmen, he may not necessarily love his ‘pair’.
“In that case, I will do my best to support Theo-sama. I have heard that marriages between cousins are common in this country.”
“Chika-dono… I sincerely thank you. For your thoughtfulness and for bringing Hikaru into this world.”
Theo-sama bowed his head to me.
As I struggled to stop him from doing so, Douglas-san came over.
[Douglas] “Huh? What are you guys doing?”
[Chika] “Ah, no, I was just asking Theo-sama to look after Hikaru. Douglas-san, aren’t you going to the river?”
I signaled Theo-sama with my eyes to take Hikaru and leave this place.
“I’m not a big fan of playing in the water, so I’m thinking of running in the forest for a quick run.”
“In the forest…may I join you?”
“Yeah, of course, you may. But are they okay with this?”
Douglas-san asked while looking at the children and Gail-san, who were playing in the water.
“I will tell them first, but I can’t forget the ride on Douglas-san’s back during our trip back then… and I’m wondering if the forest has a lot of mushrooms and other ingredients. I’d be happy to get something to use for dinner.”
“I’m glad you like my back, but mushroom and other ingredients? I’m so lucky if I can count on my wife for these things.”
Douglas-san laughed as he transformed into his beast form and placed me on his back.
I called out to Gail-san and others who were playing by the water, and then the two of us headed into the forest.
Different from our trip back then, Douglas was running without much effort as he entered the forest from the meadows. I was desperately clinging to him at first. Still, gradually I became accustomed to it, and the exhilaration of running with the wind in my face and the flowing, ever-changing scenery around me was captivating.
“Phew, Chika, I ran a little too hard. Are you okay?”
“Yes, it felt very nice. The scenery was also breathtaking, and the more time I spent with Douglas-san and Gail-san, the more I liked this world.”
“I see… you like this world… Chi―”
“Ah! There are so many mushrooms growing there!! Douglas-san, you know which mushrooms are edible, right? Please teach me how to tell them apart, too!”
“O-okay.”
The mushrooms we harvested were a great catch, and there were so many other vegetables and fruits for the barbecue that our bag was full to bursting!
Douglas-san seemed to be thinking of something while I was happy that I had secured the ingredients for dinner.
“Is something wrong, Douglas-san?”
“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, should we go back soon? Gail will get mad at me if I monopolize Chika for too long.”
“Sure. I also feel bad for leaving the children so long, so let’s return.”
Just as we had come, Douglas-san carried me on his back, and we went around the forest and returned to our original location.
At the waterside, children were still having fun playing and fighting with the fish in the water.
Next to them, Gail-san, who had transformed into a beast, stuck one hand into the water and raked it out. The fish bounced off and washed up ashore.
Licht and Glanz-kun seemed to be mesmerized by it.
Licht spotted me and ran towards me.
“Mommy! Gail-sha, Amazing! Fish, a lot!”
Licht stared at me with sparkling eyes while wagging his tail.
Indeed, Gail-san seemed to be having fun catching fish one after another.
“Gail, this guy, being all worked up because Licht is here.’”
I could hear Gail-san’s voice from a little distance away.
[Gail] “Chika, welcome back. Licht, come over here. Let’s catch it together!”
[Licht] “Fish! Catch!”
Licht’s soaking wet body shook, sending water droplets all over the place, and he joyfully headed back towards Gail-san.
It was very heartwarming to see Licht trying to imitate Gail-san’s attempts to catch fish, but I think it would be impossible for him to do so since they are of different species and physiques.
Then Douglas-san headed over to Licht and tried to teach him how to catch fish.
Nearby, Glanz-kun managed to catch one and brought it to Alex-san, who was watching, by placing the fish in his mouth.
[Glanz] “Alec, the fish, for you.”
[Alex] “Eh, is it okay for me to have it?”
Glanz-kun nodded and offered the fish.
“Thank you, Glanz-kun. I’m so happy.”
“I can, catch more.”
Glanz-kun went back to fishing again, happily wagging his tail after being patted on the head by Alex-san.
I approached Theo-sama, who was watching the scene while holding Hikaru nearby.
[Chika] “Is your arm okay? I can take your place and carry him.”
[Theo] “No, I don’t feel any weight. It feels like I’m holding half of myself…”
[Chika] “I see, that’s good. Humans grow slowly so we’ll have to keep you waiting…Oh, but recently, he started to speak a little bit. Hikaruー”
I put my face before Hikaru and held out my index finger.
Hikaru seemed to notice this, grabbed my index finger, and smiled. He let out a small “maa-ma.”
Of course I am happy to watch my children grow and develop like Licht did, but I’m also delighted to notice the slight changes that happen to them daily, even if the growth is slow like Hikaru’s.
“It’s true. I’d love it if he could start calling me by name too, but I guess I’ll have to wait patiently for this.”
Theo-sama’s expression broke into a wry smile.
Theo-sama doesn’t show much emotion, but you can see that he’s slowly changing as he gets involved with Hikaru.
Hector-sama and Albert-sama even thanked me for the good changes they saw in Theo-sama.
I sat beside Theo-sama and stared absentmindedly at my child, my spouses, and the people I cared about.
Although my life on Earth was busy with work, those were fulfilling and happy days.
But if I had stayed that way, I would have simply continued to work, never leaving any offspring or starting a family.
And now, in this world, I was united with the love of my life, and I even had a child. What unfolded before my eyes was the family I had dreamed of since I was a child.
I could tell my tear glands were loosening, but I couldn’t spoil the fun atmosphere by crying in a place like this.
As I looked up and tried my best to hold back my tears, my two spouses and Licht came running from the other side.
“Mommy! Lich, catch fish. For you.”
Licht offered me the fish in his mouth in the same motion Glanz-kun offered Alex-san.
“Are you giving it to me? Licht is amazing, thank you.”
I took the fish and hugged Licht as hard as I could.
His black fur was still wet, but I didn’t care about that.
“Mommy, pain.”
“Oh, sorry, sorry. I’m really happy, thank you, Licht.”
After I said that and let him down, Licht happily spun around on the spot, wagging his tail.
[Gail] “Chika, you’re soaking wet, are you okay? I think it would be better for you to change clothes.”
[Chika] “Yes, I think I’ll get changed first and then prepare dinner.”
[Douglas] “When you said dinner, you mean that thing you’ve been researching with Sebastian for so long, right? He had said, ‘You can’t go camping without it!’ excitedly…”
[Chika] “Yes, I’m sure you will absolutely like it. Please look forward to it.”
I left the kids with the others, got changed, and started cooking with Alex-san.
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The freezing, snowy season has ended, and the season of feeling the breath of new life has arrived.
The kids have grown up a lot, and it is clear that Licht is particularly excited about the arrival of this new season.
Since I wanted to let them enjoy this season to the fullest, I decided to take a vacation and go camping.
In addition to our family, the members included Alex-san, Theo-sama, and Glanz-kun.
Hector-sama, who has a job with a guest of honor from another country, shed tears this time.
The reason why Glanz-kun joined us was because Mintz-san recently became pregnant with Paris-san’s child.
Right after learning of the pregnancy, I thought that both of Mintz-san’s ‘pair’ would be too preoccupied with Mintz-san and the baby. So I asked if Glanz-kun wanted to come join us, and he wagged his tail happily.
Mintz-san and his partners were reluctant because they didn’t want to be a bother, but we thought Glanz-kun would be good playmates for Licht, and since it was a great opportunity, we insisted on bringing him along.
We had breakfast with Glanz-kun, who has stayed at our house since last night.
Recently, we often had pancakes as per my spouses’ request.
Douglas-san put plenty of butter and cream on top and added fresh fruit or jam, depending on his mood that day.
Although both Licht and Grants are smaller in size, they were gleefully biting down foods similar to Douglas-san’s on all fours. They looked so cute holding the pancake with both hands while biting down with their fangs on the edges.
In addition, their faces covered in cream made them look cuter.
Gail poured so much honey on the pancake that it couldn’t absorb it and ended up soaked, then ate it with an ecstatic expression on his face.
Since the crepe incident, I’m so glad he no longer has any reluctance to eat sweets.
I quickly finished my pancakes and fed Hikaru some baby food.
I slowly offered him soft rice with side dishes, vegetables, and fruits that have been cooked so that they retain their texture to a certain extent. However, lately, I felt like he was gradually developing a desire to eat them by himself.
The way he tried to grab the food with his hand was so different from what Licht did, and it made me feel warm inside.
After finishing our meal and getting ready to leave, I went to call Alex-san and Theo-sama.
Both of them were already ready to go, so we left immediately.
The place we are going to today is between forests and streams, about three to four hours away from the capital by Arvis1horse.
I heard that Douglas-san and Gail-san came here often when they were little, and it is a perfect place for camping.
Hikaru and I rode with Douglas-san on his beloved horse, Rex, while Gail-san took Licht and rode Noah.
However, as you would expect from a beastman child, Licht wasn’t being held in Gail-san’s arms like I was. He was sitting a bit balanced in front of Gail-san.
This surprised me a little.
Next, on Theo-sama’s Arvis, Sieg, there were Theo-sama, Alex-san, and Glanz-kun.
However, unlike me, Alex-san seemed to be used to riding. Instead of clinging to Theo-sama like I did to Douglas-san, he sat in front of Theo-sama and looked forward.
And in front of him was Glanz-kun.
Glanz-kun was moving so much that he had to be held by Alex-san.
We reached our destination without any trouble and with several breaks in between.
It was undoubtedly a perfect place to camp.
The river is very clear and inhabited by many fish, so as soon as we arrived, Licht and Glanz-kun ran towards it.
Gail-san and Alex-san were chasing after them in a hurry.
Beyond the stream and the adjacent flat land, a deep and vast forest reveals its beauty.
There are many edible magical beasts, fruits, and mushrooms in the forest, and I’m sure finding them can be another source of enjoyment.
After setting up the tents and other preparations (my two spouses and Theo-sama did it for us…), everyone was enjoying nature to their heart’s content.
Licht and Glanz-kun were bouncing around in the river, trying their best to catch the fish swimming around them.
Alex-san and Gail-san enjoyed a dip in the water, although they were careful not to go too deep into the river.
As I was about to head over there with Hikaru in my arms, Theo-sama approached me.
“Chika-dono, if you don’t mind, could you leave Hikaru in my care?”
“But this is a good occasion. Why don’t you enjoy it too, Theo-sama?”
“No, I want to be with Hikaru more…”
Various emotions could be seen in Theo-sama’s eyes as he looked at Hikaru.
I talked to Theo-sama while handing Hikaru to him.
“Theo-sama, as his parent, I want Hikaru to be happy. Theo-sama, do you want the same?”
“Of course. I can say now that my first love is you, Chika-dono. However, that didn’t come true. Instead… no, it would be disrespectful to Hikaru if I say ‘instead’. My instincts tell me it’s my job to make Hikaru happy.”
“First…love…?”
“N-no, you can forget about that. No, please forget it. I’ll be in trouble if you don’t.”
“U-uhh, I understand your feelings very well, Theo-sama. Don’t worry, I’m on Theo-sama’s side. I don’t know how Douglas-san thinks about this, but I can promise you that much. But, can you forgive me for putting Hikaru’s wishes first?”
“Thank you, Chika-dono. I actually…don’t want to let go of Hikaru, even for a moment. But I also know that I’m not allowed to do so. That’s why I would like to stay by Hikaru’s side and watch over him until he comes of age. What happens after that will be up to Hikaru.”
It is said that beastmen with strong animal nature can instinctively discern their ‘pair’ without exchanging magical power.
This is almost certainly already the case.
Unfortunately, Hikaru is a human, and unlike beastmen, he may not necessarily love his ‘pair’.
“In that case, I will do my best to support Theo-sama. I have heard that marriages between cousins are common in this country.”
“Chika-dono… I sincerely thank you. For your thoughtfulness and for bringing Hikaru into this world.”
Theo-sama bowed his head to me.
As I struggled to stop him from doing so, Douglas-san came over.
[Douglas] “Huh? What are you guys doing?”
[Chika] “Ah, no, I was just asking Theo-sama to look after Hikaru. Douglas-san, aren’t you going to the river?”
I signaled Theo-sama with my eyes to take Hikaru and leave this place.
“I’m not a big fan of playing in the water, so I’m thinking of running in the forest for a quick run.”
“In the forest…may I join you?”
“Yeah, of course, you may. But are they okay with this?”
Douglas-san asked while looking at the children and Gail-san, who were playing in the water.
“I will tell them first, but I can’t forget the ride on Douglas-san’s back during our trip back then… and I’m wondering if the forest has a lot of mushrooms and other ingredients. I’d be happy to get something to use for dinner.”
“I’m glad you like my back, but mushroom and other ingredients? I’m so lucky if I can count on my wife for these things.”
Douglas-san laughed as he transformed into his beast form and placed me on his back.
I called out to Gail-san and others who were playing by the water, and then the two of us headed into the forest.
Different from our trip back then, Douglas was running without much effort as he entered the forest from the meadows. I was desperately clinging to him at first. Still, gradually I became accustomed to it, and the exhilaration of running with the wind in my face and the flowing, ever-changing scenery around me was captivating.
“Phew, Chika, I ran a little too hard. Are you okay?”
“Yes, it felt very nice. The scenery was also breathtaking, and the more time I spent with Douglas-san and Gail-san, the more I liked this world.”
“I see… you like this world… Chi―”
“Ah! There are so many mushrooms growing there!! Douglas-san, you know which mushrooms are edible, right? Please teach me how to tell them apart, too!”
“O-okay.”
The mushrooms we harvested were a great catch, and there were so many other vegetables and fruits for the barbecue that our bag was full to bursting!
Douglas-san seemed to be thinking of something while I was happy that I had secured the ingredients for dinner.
“Is something wrong, Douglas-san?”
“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, should we go back soon? Gail will get mad at me if I monopolize Chika for too long.”
“Sure. I also feel bad for leaving the children so long, so let’s return.”
Just as we had come, Douglas-san carried me on his back, and we went around the forest and returned to our original location.
At the waterside, children were still having fun playing and fighting with the fish in the water.
Next to them, Gail-san, who had transformed into a beast, stuck one hand into the water and raked it out. The fish bounced off and washed up ashore.
Licht and Glanz-kun seemed to be mesmerized by it.
Licht spotted me and ran towards me.
“Mommy! Gail-sha, Amazing! Fish, a lot!”
Licht stared at me with sparkling eyes while wagging his tail.
Indeed, Gail-san seemed to be having fun catching fish one after another.
“Gail, this guy, being all worked up because Licht is here.’”
I could hear Gail-san’s voice from a little distance away.
[Gail] “Chika, welcome back. Licht, come over here. Let’s catch it together!”
[Licht] “Fish! Catch!”
Licht’s soaking wet body shook, sending water droplets all over the place, and he joyfully headed back towards Gail-san.
It was very heartwarming to see Licht trying to imitate Gail-san’s attempts to catch fish, but I think it would be impossible for him to do so since they are of different species and physiques.
Then Douglas-san headed over to Licht and tried to teach him how to catch fish.
Nearby, Glanz-kun managed to catch one and brought it to Alex-san, who was watching, by placing the fish in his mouth.
[Glanz] “Alec, the fish, for you.”
[Alex] “Eh, is it okay for me to have it?”
Glanz-kun nodded and offered the fish.
“Thank you, Glanz-kun. I’m so happy.”
“I can, catch more.”
Glanz-kun went back to fishing again, happily wagging his tail after being patted on the head by Alex-san.
I approached Theo-sama, who was watching the scene while holding Hikaru nearby.
[Chika] “Is your arm okay? I can take your place and carry him.”
[Theo] “No, I don’t feel any weight. It feels like I’m holding half of myself…”
[Chika] “I see, that’s good. Humans grow slowly so we’ll have to keep you waiting…Oh, but recently, he started to speak a little bit. Hikaruー”
I put my face before Hikaru and held out my index finger.
Hikaru seemed to notice this, grabbed my index finger, and smiled. He let out a small “maa-ma.”
Of course I am happy to watch my children grow and develop like Licht did, but I’m also delighted to notice the slight changes that happen to them daily, even if the growth is slow like Hikaru’s.
“It’s true. I’d love it if he could start calling me by name too, but I guess I’ll have to wait patiently for this.”
Theo-sama’s expression broke into a wry smile.
Theo-sama doesn’t show much emotion, but you can see that he’s slowly changing as he gets involved with Hikaru.
Hector-sama and Albert-sama even thanked me for the good changes they saw in Theo-sama.
I sat beside Theo-sama and stared absentmindedly at my child, my spouses, and the people I cared about.
Although my life on Earth was busy with work, those were fulfilling and happy days.
But if I had stayed that way, I would have simply continued to work, never leaving any offspring or starting a family.
And now, in this world, I was united with the love of my life, and I even had a child. What unfolded before my eyes was the family I had dreamed of since I was a child.
I could tell my tear glands were loosening, but I couldn’t spoil the fun atmosphere by crying in a place like this.
As I looked up and tried my best to hold back my tears, my two spouses and Licht came running from the other side.
“Mommy! Lich, catch fish. For you.”
Licht offered me the fish in his mouth in the same motion Glanz-kun offered Alex-san.
“Are you giving it to me? Licht is amazing, thank you.”
I took the fish and hugged Licht as hard as I could.
His black fur was still wet, but I didn’t care about that.
“Mommy, pain.”
“Oh, sorry, sorry. I’m really happy, thank you, Licht.”
After I said that and let him down, Licht happily spun around on the spot, wagging his tail.
[Gail] “Chika, you’re soaking wet, are you okay? I think it would be better for you to change clothes.”
[Chika] “Yes, I think I’ll get changed first and then prepare dinner.”
[Douglas] “When you said dinner, you mean that thing you’ve been researching with Sebastian for so long, right? He had said, ‘You can’t go camping without it!’ excitedly…”
[Chika] “Yes, I’m sure you will absolutely like it. Please look forward to it.”
I left the kids with the others, got changed, and started cooking with Alex-san.
The freezing, snowy season has ended, and the season of feeling the breath of new life has arrived.The kids have grown up a lot, and it is clear that Licht is particularly excited about the arrival of this new season.Since I wanted to let them enjoy this season to the fullest, I decided to take a vacation and go camping.In addition to our family, the members included Alex-san, Theo-sama, and Glanz-kun.Hector-sama, who has a job with a guest of honor from another country, shed tears this time.The reason why Glanz-kun joined us was because Mintz-san recently became pregnant with Paris-san's child.Right after learning of the pregnancy, I thought that both of Mintz-san's pair' would be too preoccupied with Mintz-san and the baby. So I asked if Glanz-kun wanted to come join us, and he wagged his tail happily.Mintz-san and his partners were reluctant because they didn't want to be a bother, but we thought Glanz-kun would be good playmates for Licht, and since it was a great opportunity, we insisted on bringing him along.We had breakfast with Glanz-kun, who has stayed at our house since last night.Recently, we often had pancakes as per my spouses' request.Douglas-san put plenty of butter and cream on top and added fresh fruit or jam, depending on his mood that day.Although both Licht and Grants are smaller in size, they were gleefully biting down foods similar to Douglas-san's on all fours. They looked so cute holding the pancake with both hands while biting down with their fangs on the edges.In addition, their faces covered in cream made them look cuter.Gail poured so much honey on the pancake that it couldn't absorb it and ended up soaked, then ate it with an ecstatic expression on his face.Since the crepe incident, I'm so glad he no longer has any reluctance to eat sweets.I quickly finished my pancakes and fed Hikaru some baby food.I slowly offered him soft rice with side dishes, vegetables, and fruits that have been cooked so that they retain their texture to a certain extent. However, lately, I felt like he was gradually developing a desire to eat them by himself.The way he tried to grab the food with his hand was so different from what Licht did, and it made me feel warm inside.After finishing our meal and getting ready to leave, I went to call Alex-san and Theo-sama.Both of them were already ready to go, so we left immediately.The place we are going to today is between forests and streams, about three to four hours away from the capital by Arvis1horse.I heard that Douglas-san and Gail-san came here often when they were little, and it is a perfect place for camping.Hikaru and I rode with Douglas-san on his beloved horse, Rex, while Gail-san took Licht and rode Noah.However, as you would expect from a beastman child, Licht wasn't being held in Gail-san's arms like I was. He was sitting a bit balanced in front of Gail-san.This surprised me a little.Next, on Theo-sama's Arvis, Sieg, there were Theo-sama, Alex-san, and Glanz-kun.However, unlike me, Alex-san seemed to be used to riding. Instead of clinging to Theo-sama like I did to Douglas-san, he sat in front of Theo-sama and looked forward.And in front of him was Glanz-kun.Glanz-kun was moving so much that he had to be held by Alex-san.We reached our destination without any trouble and with several breaks in between.It was undoubtedly a perfect place to camp.The river is very clear and inhabited by many fish, so as soon as we arrived, Licht and Glanz-kun ran towards it.Gail-san and Alex-san were chasing after them in a hurry.Beyond the stream and the adjacent flat land, a deep and vast forest reveals its beauty.There are many edible magical beasts, fruits, and mushrooms in the forest, and I'm sure finding them can be another source of enjoyment.After setting up the tents and other preparations my two spouses and Theo-sama did it for us, everyone was enjoying nature to their heart's content.Licht and Glanz-kun were bouncing around in the river, trying their best to catch the fish swimming around them.Alex-san and Gail-san enjoyed a dip in the water, although they were careful not to go too deep into the river.As I was about to head over there with Hikaru in my arms, Theo-sama approached me.Chika-dono, if you don't mind, could you leave Hikaru in my care?But this is a good occasion. Why don't you enjoy it too, Theo-sama?No, I want to be with Hikaru moreVarious emotions could be seen in Theo-sama's eyes as he looked at Hikaru.I talked to Theo-sama while handing Hikaru to him.Theo-sama, as his parent, I want Hikaru to be happy. Theo-sama, do you want the same?Of course. I can say now that my first love is you, Chika-dono. However, that didn't come true. Instead no, it would be disrespectful to Hikaru if I say instead'. My instincts tell me it's my job to make Hikaru happy.Firstlove?N-no, you can forget about that. No, please forget it. I'll be in trouble if you don't.U-uhh, I understand your feelings very well, Theo-sama. Don't worry, I'm on Theo-sama's side. I don't know how Douglas-san thinks about this, but I can promise you that much. But, can you forgive me for putting Hikaru's wishes first?Thank you, Chika-dono. I actuallydon't want to let go of Hikaru, even for a moment. But I also know that I'm not allowed to do so. That's why I would like to stay by Hikaru's side and watch over him until he comes of age. What happens after that will be up to Hikaru.It is said that beastmen with strong animal nature can instinctively discern their pair' without exchanging magical power.This is almost certainly already the case.Unfortunately, Hikaru is a human, and unlike beastmen, he may not necessarily love his pair'.In that case, I will do my best to support Theo-sama. I have heard that marriages between cousins are common in this country.Chika-dono I sincerely thank you. For your thoughtfulness and for bringing Hikaru into this world.Theo-sama bowed his head to me.As I struggled to stop him from doing so, Douglas-san came over.Douglas Huh? What are you guys doing?Chika Ah, no, I was just asking Theo-sama to look after Hikaru. Douglas-san, aren't you going to the river?I signaled Theo-sama with my eyes to take Hikaru and leave this place.I'm not a big fan of playing in the water, so I'm thinking of running in the forest for a quick run.In the forestmay I join you?Yeah, of course, you may. But are they okay with this?Douglas-san asked while looking at the children and Gail-san, who were playing in the water.I will tell them first, but I can't forget the ride on Douglas-san's back during our trip back then and I'm wondering if the forest has a lot of mushrooms and other ingredients. I'd be happy to get something to use for dinner.I'm glad you like my back, but mushroom and other ingredients? I'm so lucky if I can count on my wife for these things.Douglas-san laughed as he transformed into his beast form and placed me on his back.I called out to Gail-san and others who were playing by the water, and then the two of us headed into the forest.Different from our trip back then, Douglas was running without much effort as he entered the forest from the meadows. I was desperately clinging to him at first. Still, gradually I became accustomed to it, and the exhilaration of running with the wind in my face and the flowing, ever-changing scenery around me was captivating.Phew, Chika, I ran a little too hard. Are you okay?Yes, it felt very nice. The scenery was also breathtaking, and the more time I spent with Douglas-san and Gail-san, the more I liked this world.I see you like this world ChiAh! There are so many mushrooms growing there!! Douglas-san, you know which mushrooms are edible, right? Please teach me how to tell them apart, too!O-okay.The mushrooms we harvested were a great catch, and there were so many other vegetables and fruits for the barbecue that our bag was full to bursting!Douglas-san seemed to be thinking of something while I was happy that I had secured the ingredients for dinner.Is something wrong, Douglas-san?No, it's nothing. More importantly, should we go back soon? Gail will get mad at me if I monopolize Chika for too long.Sure. I also feel bad for leaving the children so long, so let's return.Just as we had come, Douglas-san carried me on his back, and we went around the forest and returned to our original location.At the waterside, children were still having fun playing and fighting with the fish in the water.Next to them, Gail-san, who had transformed into a beast, stuck one hand into the water and raked it out. The fish bounced off and washed up ashore.Licht and Glanz-kun seemed to be mesmerized by it.Licht spotted me and ran towards me.Mommy! Gail-sha, Amazing! Fish, a lot!Licht stared at me with sparkling eyes while wagging his tail.Indeed, Gail-san seemed to be having fun catching fish one after another.Gail, this guy, being all worked up because Licht is here.'I could hear Gail-san's voice from a little distance away.Gail Chika, welcome back. Licht, come over here. Let's catch it together!Licht Fish! Catch!Licht's soaking wet body shook, sending water droplets all over the place, and he joyfully headed back towards Gail-san.It was very heartwarming to see Licht trying to imitate Gail-san's attempts to catch fish, but I think it would be impossible for him to do so since they are of different species and physiques.Then Douglas-san headed over to Licht and tried to teach him how to catch fish.Nearby, Glanz-kun managed to catch one and brought it to Alex-san, who was watching, by placing the fish in his mouth.Glanz Alec, the fish, for you.Alex Eh, is it okay for me to have it?Glanz-kun nodded and offered the fish.Thank you, Glanz-kun. I'm so happy.I can, catch more.Glanz-kun went back to fishing again, happily wagging his tail after being patted on the head by Alex-san.I approached Theo-sama, who was watching the scene while holding Hikaru nearby.Chika Is your arm okay? I can take your place and carry him.Theo No, I don't feel any weight. It feels like I'm holding half of myselfChika I see, that's good. Humans grow slowly so we'll have to keep you waitingOh, but recently, he started to speak a little bit. HikaruI put my face before Hikaru and held out my index finger.Hikaru seemed to notice this, grabbed my index finger, and smiled. He let out a small maa-ma.Of course I am happy to watch my children grow and develop like Licht did, but I'm also delighted to notice the slight changes that happen to them daily, even if the growth is slow like Hikaru's.It's true. I'd love it if he could start calling me by name too, but I guess I'll have to wait patiently for this.Theo-sama's expression broke into a wry smile.Theo-sama doesn't show much emotion, but you can see that he's slowly changing as he gets involved with Hikaru.Hector-sama and Albert-sama even thanked me for the good changes they saw in Theo-sama.I sat beside Theo-sama and stared absentmindedly at my child, my spouses, and the people I cared about.Although my life on Earth was busy with work, those were fulfilling and happy days.But if I had stayed that way, I would have simply continued to work, never leaving any offspring or starting a family.And now, in this world, I was united with the love of my life, and I even had a child. What unfolded before my eyes was the family I had dreamed of since I was a child.I could tell my tear glands were loosening, but I couldn't spoil the fun atmosphere by crying in a place like this.As I looked up and tried my best to hold back my tears, my two spouses and Licht came running from the other side.Mommy! Lich, catch fish. For you.Licht offered me the fish in his mouth in the same motion Glanz-kun offered Alex-san.Are you giving it to me? Licht is amazing, thank you.I took the fish and hugged Licht as hard as I could.His black fur was still wet, but I didn't care about that.Mommy, pain.Oh, sorry, sorry. I'm really happy, thank you, Licht.After I said that and let him down, Licht happily spun around on the spot, wagging his tail.Gail Chika, you're soaking wet, are you okay? I think it would be better for you to change clothes.Chika Yes, I think I'll get changed first and then prepare dinner.Douglas When you said dinner, you mean that thing you've been researching with Sebastian for so long, right? He had said, You can't go camping without it!' excitedlyChika Yes, I'm sure you will absolutely like it. Please look forward to it.I left the kids with the others, got changed, and started cooking with Alex-san.
