I Raised the Beast Well

TL/PR : Nestaelle / YoruNoTsuki

“Mazetto must’ve been very upset. I don’t even realize that.”

“Of course, he’d be very upset. Mazetto has always been loved by you, after all. ” Aymon said as he caressed Belinda’s cheek.

Belinda rested her head on Aymon’s arm and snuggled into his embrace.

“I don’t even realize that Mazetto has been very stressed about that.”

“That’s because Mazetto didn’t tell you. It’s only natural that you weren’t aware of it.”

Belinda laughed in his arms.

Aymon made it out like it was only a trifling matter, but that made her more emotional than if others answered seriously. Because she already knew there was sincerity in each word he blurted out so casually.

How can there be such a handsome and reliable being?

As the emotional rush swept her again, Belinda pouted her lips.

“Are you sad again?”

Aymon kissed her lips lightly as if finding her action cute. Then he slowly pulled Belinda closer into his embrace and began to pat her on the back.

Belinda took a long breath whenever his gentle palm brushed against her back.

In the past, he’d comfort her with a smile, saying that her worry toward Mazetto was cute.

But why did I cry along with Mazetto today? And why am I so sad now? Pregnancy is surely weird.

Blink, blink-

Her eyes fluttered languidly as she lay in Aymon’s arms. Even at that moment, Aymon never stopped to place a gentle kiss on her, and the gentle touch sweeping down her back slowly pulled her into sleep.

His arms were large and she was feeling warm under the blanket.

‘I’m glad I picked up my kitty..’

With tears welled up in her eyes, Belinda slowly fell asleep.

Her breathing was getting quieter, so Aymon stopped sweeping her back and bowed to check Belinda’s face for a while.

A smile formed on his lips. She was unbearably cute, even just looking at her sleeping face.

“Good night.”

He looked very happy when he kissed the wet corner of Belinda’s eyes.

***

Belinda laid down absent-mindedly. Laying obliquely in the arms of sleeping Aymon, she looked down at her shiny dress.

Chirp!

Mazetto chirped from the top of her head once,

Thump-!

And she could feel the baby kicking.

Chirp, chirp!

Mazetto chirped again.

Thump, thump!

As if the child inside her stomach was responding, the sound was heard again.

‘…..My baby seems to like Mazetto.’

Belinda stroked her belly affectionately. Those cute little kicks made her feel like she was truly becoming a mother now.

There really isn’t much time left now. Her stomach was bloated and hard. The baby will be born soon.

‘I feel strange.’

It’s fascinating, and a bit scary as well. What will my baby look like? Will they be born human, or….

Belinda lowered her gaze and looked at Aymon’s paw. A trace of silhouette shone on top of his beautiful silky fur.

‘Maybe they’ll be a leopard just like Aymon. I’ll find out after I give birth anyway.’

She was ready to love her baby, whether they were daughters, sons, humans, or animals. They’d be undoubtedly lovely whether they resemble Aymon or herself.

‘And they’ll probably be very strong.’

It was the life that survived even after she was stabbed to death by Joseph. They must be as strong as Aymon because they continued living healthily inside a lifeless body.

“Owwww.”

Belinda stretched her arms upwards. Aymon slowly opened his eyes upon feeling the movement as she stretched her legs as well.

His fuchsia-colored eyes were shining under the sunlight, glowing like a melted jewel. Even if Aymon was awake, he stayed still in fear of shaking Belinda.

「What are you doing?」

“I was just watching my belly. Doesn’t it seem like they’re trying to match the beat of Mazetto’s chirp?

「That’s adorable.」

Aymon gradually got up. While Belinda sat up again, the beast with black fur turned into his human form, and his firm arms hugged her from behind.

Just like how she leaned against the black leopard, Belinda lay down on the man’s hard chest. His warm hand slipped from behind and began to rub Belinda’s belly. A firm hand full of warmth slowly swept down her belly.

Belinda caressed the back of his hand.

“I think my labor is really near.”

“I think so.”

Belinda hunched her shoulders upon feeling the ticklish sensation from his low whisper.

“Will they be born as a leopard? A cute black leopard like you.”

Aymon’s fingers halted, frozen at once. Belinda’s fingertips swept his stiff hand gently.

She knew the cause of his anxiety.

A black leopard.

Ever since he realized that a black leopard like him might’ve been born, he always had the same reaction each time he heard ‘a black leopard might’ve been born’.

Always anxious, restless, and uneasy.

The mother who gave birth to him. Even the mothers in his past lives had all died.

They were normal beasts who couldn’t cope with Aymon’s divinity, so they shut their eyes after giving birth to Aymon.

‘He must be afraid the same thing will happen to me. Even though he knew it’s not true.’

Belinda raised her head up, fiddling with his cold fingertips. Worry and anxiety were deeply ingrained in the eyes that stared down at her.

Now that my labor is really near, I need to fix his chaotic mind. I need to tell him that I’m really, really fine.

“Aymon.”

“Yes.”

Belinda learned more, putting most of her weight on him.

“You’re anxious, aren’t you? You’re afraid that I’d die, too.”

Aymon couldn’t even refute. He was scared that the words coming out of his mouth might’ve come true.

“I know what you feel. You’ve seen me die several times already.”

In his past life, or even in this life, he always witnessed the moment I closed my eyes forever.

Every time that happened, he broke down in desperation. Perhaps, the fear was always so intense that it was ingrained in his blood.

Belinda wriggled to turn her body around. And then she met his trembling, pretty eyes.

The creature who is mightier than anyone turned into a delicate flower fluttering in the wind each time he faced me. That part of him was lovely and heartwarming.

“Aymon. I won’t die giving birth, and I won’t die, leaving you first.”

Where am I going without my pretty husband?

Almost like uttering a declaration, Belinda waved her hand. The white light flew about in the air, drawing a light before it scattered away and leaving only the afterimage. The light spread in the air like crumbling sand.

The light reminiscent of the milky way was her divine power.

Aymon’s eyes grew bigger in surprise. Belinda stroked the area around his eyes and smiled.

“I’m starting to stabilize the divine power in my body properly now.”

The divine power that Aymon gave me. The ability of the original god who lived in the past. That power has enrooted again. With this power, none of what Aymon worried about will happen.

She wanted to soothe the anxiety that always enshrouded him. However, the only thing she felt bad about was the fact that she couldn’t wield her power freely.

But it was a different story now. Since she was able to manage some portion of her power, she’d be able to catch up to him if she trains properly after the delivery, even if she might not be as strong as herself in the past.

“…….”

Aymon couldn’t bring out the words easily. His astonished gaze was fixed on the air where the light left its traces, but then he lowered his head to find Belinda again. His eyes were filled with overwhelming joy.

Belinda was also overwhelmed with happiness that the flush rushed up to her cheeks.

Rest assured, Aymon. I’ll live happily forever with you.

Aymon carefully wrapped his arms around her and let out a long breath.

As if he was relieved now.

As peaceful as someone who greeted the morning after a very long night.

***

Grr….

The black leopard clawed the mansion door. But the door never opened despite his desperate gesture.

Aymon curled up on the floor, baring his canine teeth. The sound of a faint groan escaping through the door was deepening the crease on his already crumpled forehead.

“How is it? Can you hear anything, Aymon?!”

Mazetto asked, perching on Aymon’s neck with his wings flapping about. Aymon nodded weakly as if affirming that he heard something.

So what if I can hear it? It’s not like I can enter the room.

The groan coming from inside was Belinda’s voice. To be exact, the groan of the Shinsu’s partner who went through labor.

This morning, Belinda suddenly had a contraction. Lucy and the doctor who set up a temporary lodging near the mansion came running, and even Hala, who already went through labor, visited the mansion in a hurry.

Aymon, who will be the child’s father, and Mazetto were in the room together.

“Both of you, please leave!”

Soon after, they got kicked out by Lucy’s stern order.

Mazetto was charged with ‘a crime of flying haphazardly, making a great fuss and disturb Belinda’s psychology’. And Aymon was charged with ‘a crime of inducing Belinda’s anxiety by looking nervous all day long.’

Mazetto was flying around the ceiling and squeaked loudly. Aymon stayed next to Belinda and wiped the cold sweat on her forehead, occasionally stroking her hand. With a trembling hand, he couldn’t let go of her as if begging.

Belinda got annoyed by those two and drove them away at last.

“I’m really sorry, but I want you both to leave….”

Thus, they didn’t have a choice but get out under Lucy’s order.

But can you blame me for that? I’m so worried that it’s driving me crazy. The thought of her being in pain or having a hard time makes me anxious to death.

Aymon, who had been waging his tail as if revealing his anxiousness, abruptly got up. And he moved to the window with Mazetto on his back.

Aymon slowly brought his face to peek through the window, very carefully so as not to be caught.

He tried to watch closely with his ears all perked up, but unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything because of the lowered curtain.

「Breedee…….」

Aymon’s ears twitched as he called out Belinda’s name. His eyes were pinned on the blocked interior.

“Belindyaa….”

Even Mazetto chirped helplessly as he perched on top of Aymon’s head.

How long has it been?

As the sun rose up to the sky, Aymon, who had been watching the curtain blankly, suddenly moved his tail.

The movement inside was unusual. The atmosphere inside became chaotic and urgent. The sluggish Aymon, as one would expect, hurriedly held back his nervousness as he watched their movement closely.

“Uwaaah!”

“Uaaah!”

And before long, strange noises began to fly out from within. A voice that burst out loudly as if tearing the air. It was the cry of two pups who had just been born.

「Breedee!」

Eventually, Aymon couldn’t stop himself from breaking the window and entering. It was the moment when the black leopard became a father of two children.