CHAPTER 70: BACK TO NORMAL

Two weeks later...

"Aaaaah, Shion," Haru panted, giving his husband a kiss. "That was amazing. Ever since you got your sight back, you love me even more, huh? But you know I’d always love you and–"

"I just want to show you how grateful I am," Shion said, running his hand over Haru’s naked body under the blanket.

Haru smiled, and they kissed again.

"I’m really happy I get to wake up to something this gorgeous every day," Haru laughed.

"Same here," Shion replied.

Haru’s smile widened.

After such a chaotic time... we finally had two quiet weeks. Shion and Shion the Second handled the paperwork like usual, and I got to spend time with the kids, Maldie, and Gari.

I feel happy and calm... something I’d really been missing.

"Guess it’s time to start a new day, huh?" Shion said.

"Yeah."

Outside the window, morning birds started singing like they were agreeing with them.

*

Lánshuò looked out the window. Nothing unusual.

Just like I thought. Silence. They don’t want me hunting them. Good. I can wait – time only weakens you, gods.

Over the last dozen days I managed to eat a few divine corpses, so my power grew. I can protect my lady even better now.

Shion the Second yawned, sat up, and stretched. He glanced in Yuri’s direction – and froze.

"Holy crap, what is that?!" he burst out. "Y-Yuri! What’s that monster by your bed?!"

"S-so you see it too?" Asahi stammered, already up and halfway to his desk. "Yuri, we’ll protect you from that thing!"

"Relax," Yuri said, yawning. "She’s my guardian."

"That thing?!" Shion the Second yelled.

"No way! Absolutely not!" Asahi couldn’t belive it.

"Oh my god, seriously," Yuri sighed, lazily sitting up and rubbing one sleepy eye. "Lánshuò, say something."

"What my lady says is the truth. I serve her loyally – she’s the only heir of the one who created me," Lánshuò said, bowing. "I’ve been with you since you returned from the hot springs. It seems that... due to certain events, I can now be seen and heard by people who don’t have a strong spiritual sense."

"I’m getting Mom!" Asahi said, heading to the door.

"Mom knows," Yuri mumbled, yawning again.

Before Asahi could open the door, Haru and Shion stepped in.

"Mom!" Asahi shouted. "You knew?! About that scary thing guarding Yuri?!"

"Scary thing?" Shion repeated, then looked toward Yuri’s bed. The moment he saw Lánshuò, he involuntarily flinched – something about her made him uneasy. "Haru, you knew about this and didn’t tell me?"

"No reason to freak out, my darlings," Haru said with a calm smile. "Lánshuò serves Yuri of her own free will. I’ll explain later, love. It’s a bit complicated."

Shion nodded, then looked at his son.

"So? Ready for another day of training to be a ruler?"

"Ugh... if I have to," Shion the Second sighed.

He get out of bed and trudged over to his parents.

"Dad, can I come too?" Asahi asked, eyes sparkling with hope.

"I don’t know... It’s not fun, Asahi. We do serious stuff there. You’ll get bored fast."

"No I won’t! Pleeease! I promise I’ll behave, pleeease, please, please!" he begged, staring straight into Shion’s eyes.

Shion sighed.

"Okay, since you want it that badly."

Haru laughed.

"Well, if you’re taking both boys, I’ll stay here with Yuri. Take Gari with you to keep an eye on Asahi, and ask Maldie to come here."

"Got it," Shion said, briefly locking eyes with Lánshuò.

Yuri chuckled — she knew Lánshuò really wanted to stick her tongue out at their dad, but couldn’t do it without turning back into her scary true form.

"What’s so funny?" Shion the Second asked her.

"Oh, nothing. Dad just looks at Lánshuò in a funny way. She really doesn’t hurt me, Dad."

"If Haru saw you before and didn’t sense any danger, then I trust his judgement. Alright boys, let’s go," Shion said, ushering them out.

"Didn’t you forget something?" Haru teased.

Shion leaned in and kissed him.

Asahi gave an exaggerated "blegh!" and pretended to throw up, while Shion the Second burst into laughter.

"Really, boys? Stuff like this is still funny to you?" the king sighed. "When you’re older, you’ll get it. Alright, now that the goofing around is done, let’s go."

They headed to the office. Haru sat on the bed across from Yuri. Lánshuò watched him.

"So, what do you want to do today, Yuri?" Haru asked gently.

"Hmmm... let’s go to the library and read something! I haven’t had time to read!" Yuri said.

"Sounds perfect," Haru smiled.

A moment later Maldie joined them.

"So what are we doing to – holy shi... what is that?!" she shouted, staring at Lánshuò.

"Her bodyguard. We brought her back when we returned from the hot springs. Probably has something to do with your little shrine adventure."

Maldie froze.

"Wait, you’re telling me that the terrifying thing Ayame and Rouhuo fought is now here, in this room, just casually guarding Yuri?"

"Yes. I know it sounds insane, but yes."

"Don’t worry, Grandma," Yuri said, hopping out of bed. "I told her to look less scary."

"I’ll stay like this until the right moment. When I need my full power to protect Yuri, I’ll have to return to my original ’ terrifying thing’ form," Lánshuò said, delivering the last three words with obvious irony as she looked at Maldie

"I don’t trust you," Maldie muttered. "There’s no way you’re doing this out of kindness."

"I feed on gods. Yuri is the only heir of my lady, so staying with her means I’ll feast as much as I want."

"...Wait, what?

"Can we stop talking about this?" Haru cut in. "Honestly, after everything that’s happened, I’m done with gods, space stuff, and cosmic nonsense. I just want the rest of summer to be as calm as the last two weeks."

"Fine, fine, I’ll shut up," Maldie said with a sigh. "How’s the work on rebuilding our house and bakery?"

"Shion ordered it a week ago. They should finish in about a week and a half. Everything will be rebuilt exactly as it was," Haru said with a smile.

"Well, that’s something," she muttered, glancing again at Lánshuò. Big mistake. Maldie shivered from head to toe.

Can I really trust her? But if Yuri feels safe and Haru says she’s no threat, then... I guess it’s fine.

"So, let’s go?" Yuri said, cheerfully grabbing Maldie’s and Haru’s hands.

Lánshuò stood right behind her.

"Ugh, does she really have to come with us?" Maldie groaned.

"I never leave my lady’s side. I’ll protect her even at the cost of my life," Lánshuò said.

"If you say so..." Maldie sighed.

"I haven’t read anything in ages either. No time lately," Haru said, shifting the topic and lightening the mood.

They left the room and walked down one of the long corridors. Maldie and Haru chatted the whole time, holding Yuri’s hands. Yuri chimed in sometimes, though most of the conversation went over her head.

Haru was so caught up in talking that he missed a step and almost fell, but Lánshuò appeared behind him and caught him in her cold grip.

"Haru!" Maldie shouted in panic. Haru let go of Yuri just in time to avoid pulling them both down with him.

"Hm. So it’s true. I’ve grown strong enough to have a physical body," Lánshuò murmured.

Haru felt weird – it was like hugging a cold, slightly damp window.

"T-thanks for the save. C-can you let me go now?" he asked shyly.

"Yes. But I wasn’t only protecting you, mother of the one I serve."

"Right, because if all three of us fell, that would’ve been even worse. Good thing Yuri’s fine. The rest – well, me and Maldie would’ve managed."

"That’s not what I meant, mother of the one I serve. I wasn’t only protecting Yuri, I was protecting the new light inside you."

Haru returned to Yuri and took her hand. Only then did it hit him what Lánshuò actually said.

"Wait. W-what do you mean ’new light inside me’?"

"You’re pregnant, Haru?" Maldie asked, shocked.

"That’s impossible, the wish..." Haru said, confused.

"Your husband’s divine abilities after the ritual can now... lead to interesting consequences. He loves you so much and was so happy with you that he must’ve thought about adding another member to the family – and it came true, mother of the one I serve."

"I-I will have another brother?" Yuri blinked. "Or a sister! Yaay! Oh, I want a sister!" she cheered as they walked down toward the library.

Maldie and Haru were still in shock, and Lánshuò glanced from his stomach to Yuri’s bright smile.

Maldie and Haru stayed quiet for a moment, still trying to process everything, while Lánshuò kept watching Haru like she was making sure he wouldn’t trip again.

Yuri skipped ahead a few steps, humming happily, completely unaware of how huge this news actually was. Haru squeezed her hand gently, trying to calm the chaos in his head.

A new baby... after everything they’d been through? It felt unreal. But underneath the shock, something warm started to spread in his chest.

Maybe... maybe this really was a sign that their life was finally settling down.

Maybe things will finally feel normal again.