CHAPTER 575: THE VIGIL

When Luca stepped into the Dungeon-linked barn, the first thing he heard was his good brother’s voice, high and panicked, echoing off the rafters.

"—and it’s starting, I don’t know what to do, what if something goes wrong—"

He stopped in the doorway, blinking at the sight before him.

Ollie was clutching his knuckles like they were the last anchor to his sanity, pacing beside the pig pen. His mother, Marquise Julienne, appeared as a hovering holographic projection, her usually poised expression pulled tight with alarm.

"Oliver Mylor," she said sharply, "are you telling me someone is giving birth right now?"

"Yes!" Ollie blurted.

From the back of the barn, Kyle’s dry voice cut through. "To piglets, my lady. Piglets. Not a human baby."

The Marquise paused, then sighed with visible relief. "Say the important details first next time, Oliver. I nearly woke your father."

Kyle asked, "Should I still inform you if such a thing actually happens?"

"Yes, please do," she replied without hesitation.

Ollie spun toward him. "Mom! Why would Kyle have to be the one to tell you? Shouldn’t it be me?!"

"It should," she agreed, "but what can I do when you didn’t even tell me about having a boyfriend? At this rate, you might have a baby before you remember to tell your parents."

The blonde froze. "How do you—"

"Honey, it’s obvious. Look at you now. How could it not be so? And didn’t you already promise your first child to Kyle? Mylors do not go back on their word."

Ollie turned crimson. "Oh. Oh yeah. Mom, are you... angry?"

"Why would I be angry?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Eh??? Shouldn’t there be screams, accusations, and frantic wealth deals to convince the partner to leave?

If there was none, was it safe to put all the money he had stashed for an elopement back in his account?

"I don’t know... I have this friend and... umm, the dad of my friend’s brother didn’t take it too well when he found out."

"Oh? Was it bad?"

The little mechanic nodded eagerly, only for his mother to say, "Well, sometimes parents take time to warm up to ideas. But parents who love their children will likely see the light someday. Although it helps if they are not always shocked like this. That’s why, remember to inform your father once you’re ready. And you can tell me so I can prepare medical equipment."

"What?! Mom!"

"No worries, he’s still relatively young and now knows how to eat his vegetables. He should be fine."

Ollie was left staring, dumbfounded. There had been no resistance. He had prepared for disaster, yet somehow the ease of it made him question if he was truly loved and cherished.

"Mom! How come you’re just giving me away like this?! Is it because I’m not your true child?!"

"Oliver. Look at yourself and look at your family members. How could you say you’re not part of the family?"

"Because I’m short!"

"Oh, well, there is that. But my dear, even if you took tests, you are still our son. And let’s say we adopted a child, they would still likely be treated the same. After all, who are we to take away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to have a partner who could actually handle you?"

"You are so loved that we have grown older just worrying about your future. And now that it’s guaranteed, are we supposed to fight over it?"

"Eh???"

Multiple heads, including those who had just arrived, listened to the Marquise’s speech while feeling something was very off.

"Ah, no matter. Us parents will just have to figure something out as we cope with our children leaving the nest. It may be difficult to understand, but maybe with the birth of the piglets, it will be easier to relate."

Shaking her head slowly, she adjusted the shawl around her shoulders. "Anyway, take care of each other. We’ll come over soon. I just can’t leave right now because your father is asleep, and that might not be fair. But we’ll visit to talk about the auction."

They might have kept talking, but a high, undignified squeal came from Jax’s direction, followed by the sound of straw scattering. Everyone outside instinctively leaned toward the pen.

"Oh no! I think I have to go, Mom," Ollie said quickly, cutting the connection.

And it was a good thing, because the first piglet was on its way.

Before anyone could rush in, Xavier calmly advised that it would be better to cushion their arrival with spiritual energy, so as not to stress the mother in labor.

When Luca and the others stepped into the barn, they were met with a sight straight out of an oddly reverent painting.

Jax was already inside the pen with Elder Pao Xi, crouched low in the hay like a soldier guarding his commander. His eyes were wide and alert, posture tense, as if the sow’s every grunt required his immediate intervention. Elder Pao Xi knelt by the sow’s head, his expression calm but his hands precise as he worked.

The rest of them—Luca, Ollie, Kyle, and Xavier—stood just outside the pen, looking in like an audience watching history unfold.

"She’s holding up well," Elder Pao Xi said without looking away from the sow. "This is her first litter, so we’ll take it slow."

The sow let out a low, drawn-out grunt, shifting in her hay nest.

Ollie clutched Luca’s sleeve, eyes wide. "Brother, that sounded painful. Is that supposed to happen?"

"She’s fine," Elder Pao Xi reassured gently, though there was a definite twitch of a smile at the corner of his lips.

Jax, crouched by the sow’s side like a knight guarding a queen, spoke with absolute sincerity. "She knows we’re here for her. I think she can feel it."

Luca nodded as if hoping for the same thing. "Well, I hope so. Hopefully she’s not too bothered by us."

Ollie leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "We’re basically her cheer squad right now. Maybe we should’ve come with a dedicated signboard?"

Jax added without missing a beat, "I’m aiming for favorite human status. This is my big chance."

Luca’s brows drew together thoughtfully. "Then I should say something encouraging."

Ollie immediately gestured toward the sow, whisper-shouting, "You’re doing amazing, sweetie!"

Jax hummed approvingly. "Yes. She’s responding to that. I can tell."

Kyle raised an eyebrow from the side but didn’t say a word. Xavier also stayed silent, the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth the only sign he’d heard. Neither man was about to ruin their partners’ heartfelt illusions.

Earlier that day, Jax had been the one to notice the signs—her belly dropping, teats swelling, refusal to eat, and her constant return to a corner of the barn to arrange hay.

Obviously, this was all new to the young farmer who had never seen such a feat.

Alarmed, he’d gone to Elder Pao Xi, who confirmed she was getting ready to give birth. That had been all it took for Jax to declare a "barn watch," which Luca and Ollie had immediately signed on for without knowing they’d be arriving mid-labor.

Another grunt came from the sow, and Jax straightened, glancing at the elder.

"Here we go," Elder Pao Xi murmured.

They all leaned forward at once.

A slick, wriggling bundle slid into the world, tiny limbs kicking weakly.

The onlookers gasped in perfect unison.

"She’s amazing," Jax breathed, awe softening his voice.

"It’s so... new," Ollie whispered, his expression somewhere between wonder and shock.

"Healthy," Elder Pao Xi said as he gently cleared the newborn’s airways while scanning the newborn.

Luca felt pride swell in his chest, as though he had personally helped. "One down," he said, looking at the others.

Xavier’s lips curved faintly. "Looks like you’ll have your hands full."

None of them realized just how many hands would be needed before the end.