NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99: Chapter : 99 : This Is How Happiness Starts, Isn't It?
Morning had come, cutting through the darkness, but the dense leaves of the trees made it impossible to know, but the slight brightness, which made it easier to look around, made it clear.
Aiden was looking through his system.
"Hmm..." He muttered to himself.
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[YOU HAVE UNREAD MESSAGES AMD REWARDS]
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"Show."
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION!]
CONGRATULATIONS, USER!
YOUR BOND WITH LUNA NIGHTSHADE HAS TRANSCENDED THROUGH THE ACT OF LOVE.
MASTER AND MATE ARE NOW FOREVER LINKED BEYOND MERE CONTRACT.
REWARD UNLOCKED: ETERNAL BOND – STAGE ONE
PASSIVE SKILL: SHARED LIFE – WHEN ONE PARTNER IS WOUNDED, THE OTHER'S STRENGTH SURGES TO PROTECT.
PASSIVE EFFECT: SOUL RESONANCE – EMOTIONS, DESIRE, AND INTENT ARE NOW FELT CLEARLY BETWEEN YOU AND LUNA.
SPECIAL BONUS: (SECRET) (YOU'LL KNOW IN NO TIME, USER.)
HIDDEN EFFECT: YOUR INTIMACY WITH LUNA WILL GRANT ADDITIONAL POWER WHEN FIGHTING SIDE BY SIDE.
SYSTEM MESSAGE: "LOVE IS STRENGTH. PASSION IS POWER. YOUR PATH TO ETERNITY BEGINS HERE."
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"Good."
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BOND POINT: +500 (LUNA)
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He turned toward Luna, who rested her head on his shoulder, looking pale.
He wrapped his arm around her, "Luna, not feeling good yet?" He asked, worried.
"My head still hurts. Feels like I will throw out." Luna said, her voice soft.
Aiden felt her pain, in the form of emotion.
He leaned in, kissing her forehead. She smiled toward him, before clossing her eyes again.
"Ly,-Mummy..." Leona called from Lysandra's lap, voice filled with worry, "What happened?"
Leona rubbed her small hand on her back.
Luna glanced toward Leona, smiling softly, "Dear, don't worry. Mummy will be fine."
"Mii~" Fluffynugget said warily from atop of Ivy's head.
"How long until we leave the forest," Arisha called out to Zera.
"By sunset." Zera replied.
Aiden pulled Luna closer, "Why is this happening?She was fine until last night before we slept." His voice filled with concern and worry.
Widen was ruffling her hair at the same time.
"System!" He called out, "Why is Luna sick?"
No reply came.
"Huh? Why aren't you coming out?" He called, getting anxious.
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[BAKA!]
[FIND OUT YOURSELF]
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Aiden's jaw dropped, his eyes twitched, his facial reaction comically exaggerated.
"Stupid system." Luna said softly.
Leona giggled.
Lysandra smiled nervously including Ivy and Thristle and Arisha.
Vegia burst out laughing, "True!"
"Huh!" Aiden said.
Luna lift her head from Auden's shoulder, felling a bit better now.
"Feeling better now?" Aiden asked.
"Mmm..." Luna nodded, softly.
Then she leaned back on his shoulder again, looking toward him, "Master... Can I get a kiss?"
Aiden didn't hesitate. He leaned in, kissing her softly.
Lysandra instantly pressed her hand on Leona's eyes.
Ivy looked away, including Vegia.
Arisha stared, blushing.
Thrsitle and Nyxion smiled mischievously toward them.
Breaking away from the kiss, they stared at eachother lovingly.
She closed her eyes again, trying to sleep.
"She acts like mama goblins when they get babies in tummy." Ivy said, teasing her.
Aiden chuckled softly, "Yeah... Bab-" his eyes wideded.
Everyone blinked in surprise as if they uncovered a mystery.
Luna sat back, cheeks red, slowly placing her hand on her belly, trying to feel it.
Aiden turned toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders, his eyes filled with emotions.
"Let me check." Vegia said, coming toward her.
Vegia knelt beside Luna, her hands glowing faintly with a soft green hue as she placed them gently over Luna's stomach. The air grew quiet, everyone holding their breath.
Seconds stretched long until Vegia's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Congratulations, you two. It's faint, but there's no mistake. A seed of life is inside her."
The words hit like a thunderclap.
Ivy gasped loudly, her eyes sparkling. "Onii-chan! Onee-Chan is really gonna have a baby?!" She bounced in place, clutching Fluffynugget to her chest.
Lysandra froze, "…A-A child… already?" She looked away, smiling faintly.
Arisha, still red-faced from the memory of last night, blinked rapidly. "Congratulations Luna. I am happy fir you." Her voice was a mixture of shock and something deeper.
Thristle elbowed Nyxion, whispering with a grin, "Guess the wolf girl worked harder than all of us, huh?"
Nyxion chuckled, "Worked? More like fought tooth and claw for it. You should had heard her moaning last night, before Heartlord did something to block it."
Leona tilted her head innocently, her little voice breaking the tension. "Ly-Mummy's tummy… has baby inside?"
"Yes, darling," Luna whispered softly, her hand pressing gently over her belly, tears shining in her eyes. "You'll be a big sister now."
Leona's mouth formed a perfect 'O' before she threw her arms around Luna's neck from Lysandra's, nearly knocking her back. "I'll protect the baby! Promise!"
Aiden's throat tightened. He placed his hand over Luna's, resting firmly atop her stomach. His eyes softened, trembling with emotions he couldn't quite voice. "Luna… we…"
She leaned into him, smiling through her tears. "Master… this is our happiness, isn't it?"
"…Yeah." His voice cracked, but he didn't care. He kissed her forehead again, whispering, "The start of everything."
Lysandra smirked knowingly, "Better get ready, Sir. A pregnant wolf bride won't be easy to handle."
"Oi!" Luna puffed her cheeks, glaring faintly, though her blush betrayed her joy.
Everyone laughed lightly, the air filled with warmth and relief.
"She seems to be pregnant for a week." Vegia told them.
Aiden nodded, feeling overwhelmed and happy at the same time.
Suddenly, Luna threw her arms around Aiden, hugging him, pressing her cheeks against his chest.
Aiden hugged her back. Fluffynugget flew toward them, and started circling around them, sparkles falling.
"Mii~"
Then—
The sliding window burst open. "Sir! We've finally left the forest!" Zera shouted.
They toward her. Zera was baffled, looking toward Luna and Aiden, "Did I missed something."
They nodded at the same time.
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"Eh?" Zera looked toward Luna, "Congratulations Ma'am." Beaming toward her.
Luna touched her belly, smelling, holding on to Adien's arm, "Hmm... Our baby." Smirking knowingly toward the other.
Instantly, veins popped on Thristle and Nyxion's forehead.
"You want to fight?"
Lysandra and Arisha smiled nervously.
"So... How long until we reach the capital?" Vegia asked Zera.
"Well... Maybe like... An hour." Zera replied.
"Hmm... I just want to find a inn and let Luna rest." Aiden said, protectively.
Luna leaned in, blushing, basking in his warmth. Her tail wrapped around his leg.
"So how long until the capital?" Vegia asked.
"About an hour," Zera replied.
"Good," Aiden said, stroking Luna's hair. "I just want to find an inn and let her rest."
Luna blushed, tail coiling around his leg.
"Where exactly are we going?" Nyxion asked.
"To the capital city of Albinos," Aiden confirmed. "The city of humans."
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The system finally chimed again.
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[SYSTEM UPDATE!]
[SPECIAL BONUS REVEALED]
USER, YOU TOOK YOUR SWEET TIME FIGURING IT OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS ON ACHIEVING: DUMBASS PARENT MODE – ACTIVATED!
NEW STATUS: EXPECTING FATHER
SYSTEM MESSAGE: "GOOD LUCK, YOU'LL NEED IT."
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Aiden's jaw fell open. "…Are you serious right now?"
Lysandra covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Fitting, isn't it?"
Vegia howled with laughter. "Dumbass Parent Mode—pffft! The system finally spoke the truth!"
Even Ivy was giggling, "Onii-chan really is a baka sometimes."
Luna weakly leaned closer toward Aiden. "Master, don't listen to them. You're the best." Her pout quickly melted into a smile, soft and glowing.
Arisha looked down, still blushing. "At least it recognizes your bond… that's… beautiful."
Thristle leaned back, arms crossed. "I am not even sure anymore if it's with you or against you."
"Oi!" Aiden scowled.
Nyxion smirked. "Better start practicing your apologies now, Heartlord. You'll need them."
Leona, from Lysandra's lap, tilted her head in confusion. "What's a dumbass?"
Everyone froze.
"…Ask your father later," Lysandra said quickly, glaring at Lysandra and Nyxion who were stifling laughter.
"Mii~" Fluffynugget chirped like it agreed.
Aiden rubbed his face with his palm. "This system is gonna kill me one day."
"Not before I do," Luna teased, snuggling closer, her hand still protectively over her belly.
The tension broke into warm laughter again, filling the carriage. Despite the teasing, despite the nerves, the air was soft and light—like a family sharing something precious together.
Outside, the path widened, the trees thinning. Beyond the canopy, faint outlines of high stone walls gleamed in the distance.
"Look," Zera called from the driver's seat. "The capital of Albinos is just ahead."
Everyone leaned toward the window, catching their first glimpse of the human city rising against the horizon.
Ivy, bouncing excitedly on her seat, pointed toward the walls in the distance. "Onii-chan, Onii-chan! They're so big! Bigger than the goblin walls!"
"Of course," Lysandra replied smoothly, brushing Leona's hair back. "Humans have more influence and power than us, they're the top race who defeated the demons."
Aiden raised a brow at her. "And yet those walls couldn't stop a hundred-year war.
*Wait... How do I even know that?* He thought to himself.
Suddenly, he was pulled in into something, something like an wormhole. He was sucked in. All around him was fragments of memories which happened or yet to happen.
"Want the fuck!" He shouted, as he struggle to stop himself.
His eyes laid onto a memory fragment. It was-
Before he could see it proper, he was pulled back, to the real world, where he originally was.
Lysandra smirked faintly. "…Touché."
Aiden started breathing heavily, looking around himself *What just happened? What were those, memories, but whose. I don't remember them.*
Thristle stretched his arms with a yawn. "Bet they'll faint when they see you bringing a wolf bride, a goblin princess, and a whole circus into their capital."
Nyxion grinned. "Hope they've got healers at the gate. They'll need them."
"Oi." Luna sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let's try not to start a riot five minutes in."
"Too late," Vegia said, snickering. "The second they see Luna's ears, they'll lose it."
At that, Luna perked up, her wolf ears twitching. She leaned against Aiden with a teasing pout. "Master… you'll protect me if they say anything, right?"
"Huh? Yeah... Of course," he replied without hesitation, tightening his arm around her.
Leona raised her hand like she was making a vow. "I'll bite anyone who bullies Mummy!"
That earned a round of chuckles.
"Master... Are you alright? You look tense?" Luna whispered to him, worried.
"It's nothing." Aiden whispered back.
Arisha, still sitting quietly, spoke up after a pause. "Do you think… humans will accept us? I mean, goblins, elves, and… beasts…"
For once, Aiden didn't answer immediately. He looked out at the walls, his face unreadable. "…They'll have to. Because I won't let anyone hurt my family."
Lysandra glanced at him, her lips curving into a small, proud smile.
The carriage jostled over a stone path, slowing as the towering gates of Albinos came into full view. Guards in polished armor lined the entrance, their eyes already turning toward the strange company approaching.
Zera tugged on the reins. "Here we are—the gates of Albinos."
The carriage came to a halt. The chatter inside faded, replaced by the weight of anticipation.
Luna squeezed Aiden's hand, her blue eyes shining despite her pale face. "Master… let's go together."
"Yeah," he whispered back, steadying himself.
The gates loomed above them, massive and unyielding—the threshold of a new world.
And waiting on the other side, the human capital.
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END OF CHAPTER : 99 : THIS IS HOW HAPPINESS STARTS, ISN'T IT?
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