Chapter: 798
The safari I’d seen in the western part of Yuben was being recreated near Kroita.
Herds of water buffalo and bison roamed in hundreds. Ostriches dashed around as if patrolling their new playground. Giraffes and elephants strolled leisurely, unfazed by anyone else. It truly was more than enough to be called a kingdom of animals.
No, since we’re just getting started, let’s call it a semblance of an animal nation. The term ‘kingdom’ feels a bit exaggerated.
“Behemoth.”
– Ah. Is that you?
As I approached the hero who created this animal haven, Behemoth, who had been bowing his head to the ground, slowly turned to meet my gaze.
– I’m taking good care of the children you and the Emperor sent over. They’re very gentle and healthy. In just a few years, they’ll increase substantially.
Upon seeing me, he immediately began talking about the beasts. It seems my gift was well received.
‘Thank goodness.’
I had worried he might see it as an unwanted burden, but of course, a seasoned caretaker like him, who looked after Royal livestock, would feel differently. He takes joy in caring for any creature.
Thinking back, even right after learning of the demise of the Trika Empire, Behemoth had diligently cared for the livestock. Even while crying and stuck in a pit, he would still come out to feed the animals.
Truly, he was a deity of livestock overseeing all. Trusting Behemoth to handle the imported beasts was a splendid choice.
“Look forward to it. These children will live not only around Kroita but also in the surrounding territories.”
– Is that so? That’s good news. Since they’ll be living in a strange environment, it’s best if they have ample space.
Behemoth nodded in satisfaction at my words.
He assured me that with sufficient land, he would breed the beasts to his heart’s content. The more they multiplied, the more buffalo horns the Empire would be able to harvest.
Just imagining that is thrilling. Horns from buffalo we collected directly from the Empire, rather than importing from Yuben. Soon, 100% self-sufficiency in military supplies won’t be just a dream.
“But what were you doing? Is there something peculiar about the ground?”
It was a fleeting moment of happiness I had from giving a great gift to the Vice Captain, but I stopped Behemoth, who was about to bury his head back in the dirt.
Normally, he lay quietly watching the beasts or patrolling around. I hadn’t seen him actively searching for anything before.
What’s with the behemoth, normally sleeping peacefully but now hunched over inspecting the ground? Even the beasts instinctively warm up to him might be taken aback. I’d flinch too if a talking building suddenly looked at me.
– It’s nothing much. I was creating a pond since we now have new kids.
“What?”
His reply was rather bizarre.
“A pond?”
– Don’t those kids need water to drink and wash? Besides, some of the children you sent live in water.
Images of crocodiles and hippos swam through my mind. This was definitely a deliberate effort to create a tourist trap, gathering everything in sight.
But the thought of Behemoth making a pond by himself was unexpected. Is he treating the water supply as part of livestock care and utilizing his powers for it? If it’s related to animal husbandry, does that mean everything is possible?
‘Impressive powers.’
Had Behemoth been discovered in another country, there could have been seismic shifts in the continental power rankings. If it had shown up in the winter tri-nations, weak nations could have skyrocketed up the tiers.
Leviathan and Jiz are also incredibly useful cheat-like beings, but leaving Behemoth alone would transform the very industry of the nation he belongs to. He could secure an immense amount of meat, leather, and other materials.
“…If you ever need anything, just let me know. We sent them for our convenience, so we ought to take responsibility.”
– I will do just that. But you have already fulfilled your duty by sending me these children. There’s no greater treatment than being under my care.
A chuckle escaped me at Behemoth’s prideful statement.
He wasn’t wrong. Sending them to the best parent and caretaker possible is a top-tier responsibility.
– But the little ones didn’t come along this time, did they?
“This time, I came alone. Are you disappointed?”
– The little ones genuinely liked taking care of the ones sent over. As one responsible for them, how could I not be fond and delighted?
As he spoke, Behemoth glanced around for a moment before letting out a short moo, like a cow.
– Moo!
Then, from a distance, a little calf came running. It dashed over like a child responding to a parent’s call.
– I’ll leave this child in your care for a bit. Show it to your little ones, and tell them if they want to visit more cute babies, they should come back in a month.
“A month? That long?”
– It will take that long for the new kids to adapt perfectly, and for this place to become ideal for them.
He was an expert, so I merely nodded.
Besides, with Tannian’s wedding approaching, I’d be heading out again soon. A month from now, I could visit Behemoth leisurely after returning from the Holy Kingdom, well in time for the New Year’s Ball.
‘The Holy Kingdom, huh.’
I let out a sigh internally. It’s pretty pitiful that it hasn’t even been long since I returned home and I’m already heading out again.
However, once I attended Lather’s wedding, my entry into the Holy Kingdom became an unavoidable future. Had I missed all the weddings of foreign members, it wouldn’t have mattered. But if I attended even one, I’d be compelled to attend the rest to avoid any accusations of favoritism or bias.
‘My kids will have fun with the new friend while I’m gone.’
As I patted the head of the calf that cautiously approached me, a wry smile crept onto my face.
If this dad keeps heading out one after another, I won’t be able to play with my kids. However, with a new friend like the calf temporarily living here, I believed that my absence wouldn’t be too much of a void.
– Moo.
‘Adorable, indeed.’
And while raising a calf might be troublesome at home, it could be manageable.
Honestly, if cows were only smaller, they’d make the perfect pets.
*
A year is coming to an end. The day of a new sun rising is approaching.
This signals that we are entering December, the last month of the year. In no time, it will be mid-December.
‘The wedding is right around the corner.’
This also means that my wedding with Sister Alexandria is just around the corner.
Thanks to this, the Holy Kingdom, which values chastity, is becoming increasingly lively. Everyone is celebrating the union of the next saint and the cardinal as if it’s their own affair, rejoicing in the long-awaited occasion for the sect.
Even though there was an awkward moment of becoming new life before marriage, as time passed, people consoled us with phrases like, “How much could one miss seeing their parents’ faces to arrive so soon?”
I truly appreciate that. Instead of chastising our transgression, they chose to embrace us.
– You’ll definitely go down in history.
My dear friend chose laughter over scolding me for my immaturity.
– I never imagined the next saint would break her virginity before marriage. Who would have expected it to be with a cardinal?
My brother Erich on the other side of the communication device laughed out loud.
Just a few moments ago, he seemed so stiff after my shocking confession. Yet now, he was back to a grin, proving he wasn’t an ordinary person.
Perhaps his experiences have made him tougher over the years.
– What’s more, the people of the Holy Kingdom are truly loyal. No one knows that I got pregnant a few months ago.
A smile naturally spread across my face at those words.
“Indeed. I’m truly blessed with the people around me.”
He was right. Sister Alexandria has been carrying new life for over half a year now. Quite a lengthy time, yet no one in the Holy Kingdom aside from them knows of her pregnancy.
All they know is that she has been on leave. The whole continent’s secular nations haven’t even caught wind of it either. This required the entire family and siblings of the Holy Kingdom to come together and remain silent.
Otherwise, Brother Erich, being the brother of the Minister of Internal Affairs and a member of the Imperial Assembly, would have heard about Sister’s pregnancy faster than anyone else. He qualifies for the privilege of being the first to grasp such information.
– Have you told the others?
“Not yet. Aren’t you planning to come to the Holy Kingdom yourself? I should tell you first.”
– Ah.
His expression darkened slightly at that.
“Ha-ha. I knew you were a warm-hearted person, but I never thought you’d cross the border just for friends from another country. That’s a virtue I should learn from.”
– Virtue? What are you talking about?
I couldn’t help but chuckle at seeing my brother impatiently holding back the words he wanted to say.
I understood well why he was sulking like that. It’s not right to be hopping around countries while freshly married and right after seeing their kid.
But what can you do? The Empire won’t leave my dear friend Erich alone.
“You mentioned you were with a child in Yuben, right?”
– Oh, right.
“Then come along this time too. If it’s your child, that makes it my niece as well, right? I can offer a blessing or two.”
At that, his previously gloomy expression brightened significantly.
Even being a rookie dad, a dad is still a dad. He’s focusing more on his child’s happiness than on his own fatigue.
‘Guess I’ll be like that too.’
In a few months, my child will enter the world. My only family that shares the same blood as me.
Even that brief imagination caused my heart to race. Children of others were cute enough, so how lovable would my own be?
I worry I might end up more invested in my paternal duties than my saintly ones. Although I’m still at an age where I need to attach ‘next’ to ‘saint,’ I’m already facing serious trials before officially becoming one.
Yet if these are the kinds of cute trials, I welcome them. Surely, the heavenly Lord wouldn’t bestow impossible trials on me.
“Well then, we’ll meet at the wedding. Please let my nephew know this uncle praises him in advance.”
– I’ll say he has a heart and mind as white as his head.
“Ha-ha, that sounds great.”
How wonderful would it be if my little nephew understood those words?
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