CHAPTER 84: PASSING TEST

Four months slipped by quickly. Gara’s belly had grown so large it left people genuinely worried. Even considering the twins, the size looked unreasonable. Wina and Fian were so anxious they refused to let him walk, ordering him to stay in bed instead.

Of course, Gara had no intention of following their orders. Idris himself had said there was nothing wrong with his body.

The healer had checked on him only a few days ago and decided not to return to the county. Instead, Idris stayed in the Falopo town until the birth, which was expected within days.

Walking around their small bamboo house, Gara caught the accusing looks from Wina and Fian as if he’d committed the greatest crime in the world.

"I really don’t feel any trouble at all. My herbs are working perfectly," Gara repeated for what felt like the hundredth time.

And it was true. Other than the heaviness of his stomach, he had no complaints.

Niskara tea soothed the nausea and dizziness, keeping his energy and spirits steady.

He had also prepared other herbal mixtures to strengthen his bones, muscles, and joints so his body wouldn’t ache.

And he didn’t have any sleep problems, thanks to the sleeping pills, which were safe, made from only a fraction of his herb-based anesthetic.

Still, his habit of circling the house every morning and evening was something Wina found unreasonable.

After all, Gara wasn’t going to deliver the baby naturally, so walking to "make childbirth easier" was pointless.

But Gara did it anyway. It calmed his heart, a way to convince himself that because he had done something, the delivery would go smoothly.

Once he finished his walk, he sank into a lounge chair. Fian immediately came over with a cup of Niskara tea.

"Thanks," Gara said with a gentle smile.

Fian nodded, his ears reddening before he quickly returned to training his Talent.

He couldn’t afford to fall further behind Gara, who—despite his heavy stomach and busy schedule of experiments—still made time for his own practice, and was clearly much stronger than he was.

...

That afternoon, just after Gara woke from a nap, Madha arrived with a deep gash across his arm.

"What happened?" Gara asked in shock.

"An ambush outside the city gate," Madha replied casually. "They were members of the gang Vice-Captain Emir arrested four months ago. Their leader was executed, and it looks like they’ve been planning revenge ever since."

A chill ran through Gara. That gang must have been the same thugs who once attacked Wina and Lita’s carriage.

He had thought they were small-time criminals who would scatter once their boss was dead. He hadn’t expected them to strike back with a final, deadly assault.

"And the medicine I gave you?" Gara asked, remembering the countless jars he had handed Madha over the months.

"Used up," Madha admitted. "I gave them to the guard patrolling with me. It was just the two of us against about thirty. He nearly died, but your medicine pulled him back. I wasn’t too bad off thanks to my Flesh Shield Talent."

Gara didn’t know whether to feel relieved or horrified.

Without another word, he ushered Madha inside to treat his wound.

Entering the house, the front room looked different now. Beside the racks of porcelain jars containing experiment results and the experiment tools, three wooden cribs stood side by side, shelves were stacked with children’s toys, and tiny clothes filled the racks.

"Everything’s ready, huh?" Madha murmured.

The dark-haired man in front of him chuckled softly. "Only my heart isn’t ready yet."

Madha fell silent. He was worried too. Once, Gara could crouch or kneel to tend his wounds. Now, with his large belly, he could only work while sitting.

Madha could only hope the delivery would go safely.

Catching the way Madha’s gaze lingered on his belly, Gara spoke up. "During training, I heard you weren’t just building strength, you also studied reading and general knowledge."

"That’s right. There was a final test. I passed both. I’m officially a town guard now, not just a cadet."

"Congratulations, Madha. You’ve always been so capable," Gara said warmly. Madha smiled back, but Gara noticed a flicker of unease in his eyes.

"Madha," Gara asked softly, keeping his voice steady, "from what you’ve studied... do you know that human males can’t get pregnant?"

If Madha hadn’t been so kind, so selfless, Gara would never have brought up something that was meant to stay his secret.

Perhaps it was the comfort and warmth in his heart that blurred his judgment. But one thing he was certain of—Madha could be trusted.

Surprise flickered in Madha’s eyes, but it quickly softened. "I know. Long before the training."

This time it was Gara’s small face that showed shock. "You knew? But you never said anything?"

"I..." Madha hesitated. "I didn’t want to bring it up in a moment like this. I wanted to wait for the right time..."

Gara swallowed hard, nervous. What could make Madha so uncertain and restless?

Then, Madha’s hesitant gaze turned firm. "I like you, Gara! I don’t care about your race or your form. I like everything about you."

Gara froze.

For him, Madha’s own feelings had always been so clear, almost like flipping his palm. But he had forgotten that Madha had never once said it out loud.

For someone their age, confessing for the first time must have been nerve-wracking.

In that instant, Gara found him unbearably endearing. Before he could act on impulse—like reaching out to ruffle Madha’s hair—he quickly restrained his own hand.

Madha waited, but Gara only stared back at him with an amused look. Did Gara not take his confession seriously?

"Anyway!" the tall young man with a firm build blurted out, "Whatever you are, it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll stay by your side and protect you."

With that, Madha shot up from his seat and strode out of the house, trying to calm his racing heart.

Gara blinked several times. What was that? He had been hoping for... something more. Not lewd, of course—

...