"Nah, you’re forgetting one more thing."

"What’s that?"

"I’m also friends with a really powerful dragon." Austin muttered proudly, and his words genuinely made the dragon lady very happy.

Of course she tried to hide it, but that was easier said than done, because right now she had a really huge smile on her lips as she said.

"You cheeky little human. So you see me as your friend, huh." Tatiana muttered while still staring and smiling at the sky.

"Well, we’ve been talking for hours now, and I believe enemies don’t do this sort of thing, right?"

"Hmm, I guess you’re right about that." She chuckled softly and felt really happy to have her first friend outside of someone she considered family.

Her late mother had been the only one she had ever known, so her mother had also been like a friend to her.

However, this would be the first time Tatiana had a friend who wasn’t her mother.

Anyways, the two remained there together, exchanging a few more words before Tatiana finally asked.

"I’ve been thinking, is it really necessary to be wearing these things?" Tatiana gently tugged at the soft white wrappings around her chest.

They served as her current clothing, but the beautiful dragon lady found it annoying to be wearing anything when her whole body could be enjoying the cool wind of this beautiful night instead.

"You don’t like it?" Austin asked.

"Mother and I certainly had no problem walking around without anything on, but your friends here, particularly that elf lady, made a big fuss about how a lady was expected to dress, and how it wasn’t proper for a lady to be seen walking around without clothes."

"Yeah, walking around without clothes isn’t something people do around here, but those who do tend to keep it indoors."

"You all are so strange. You have friends yet still hide things like your body from them. What a strange race you all are."

Austin chuckled softly before saying. "I don’t think anyone would stop you if you limited it to just your own room."

"I see, so I can do whatever I want in my room, right?"

"That is correct."

"Very well then. If I’m in my own room, anyone staying with me will have to do the same. If they don’t, they’re not allowed to become my friends."

Hearing this, Austin chuckled as he lifted himself to sit up on the grass. "You certainly have a strange way of choosing your friends."

"Yeah, and if anyone doesn’t like it, they can step out of my room."

"Alright, I’ll keep that in mind." Austin assured her before calling it a night.

He stored both the demon core and the blood moth safely inside his item box, then said his goodnights to Tatiana before making his way back to the mansion.

Upon arriving at his room, Austin gently eased the door open.

He tried to be careful not to make a sound so as not to wake Nora or the baby.

But just as he stepped inside and quietly pulled the door shut behind him, the soft rustle of sheets filled the room and Austin’s eyes widened when he heard his beautiful wolfkin’s voice.

"Hubby?" Nora’s sleepy voice drifted toward him as she opened her eyes and slowly sat up.

"Yes, my love. It’s just me." Austin replied softly.

"Where did you.....?" She asked cutely in a drowsy tone.

Her eyes were barely open and her silver hair was now tousled and loose.

Meanwhile, Austin smiled as he slipped quietly into the bed beside her before pulling her gently into his arms.

Then he held her as though she was the most precious and irreplaceable person he could have ever wished for.

Well, she was exactly that, so there was no way he could resist cuddling his soft and beautiful wife.

Nora, on the other hand, let out a soft happy sound as she felt his familiar warmth wrap around her.

"I just headed out to see a friend, that’s all." Austin replied softly.

"O-okay." She had barely heard his words, but she snuggled even deeper into his chest and before she knew it, she was already fast asleep again in his arms.

Seeing this, Austin couldn’t help but fall in love with his wife all over again as he stared down at her peaceful sleeping face.

’I can’t wait to spoil you with all the affection you deserve, starting from tomorrow.’ He uttered softly in his mind as he gently pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

But just as he was settling in and his eyes were beginning to grow heavy, Austin’s system screen suddenly appeared in the corner of his vision.

Noticing this, Austin blinked once, and the system screen expanded before him.

[Congratulations to the Host. A new mission is now available.]

[Would you like to take a look at it?]

’Huh?’

’A mission?’

’Come on, I just survived a very deadly experience and was unconscious for five whole days, so why give me a mission when I’m supposed to be resting and raining kisses on my wife right now.’

’Seriously, if these missions are about training and getting stronger, I’m definitely not doing any of them.’ Austin muttered seriously in his mind before urging the system to display his new mission, but to his surprise, rather than being bombarded with at least three missions, the system had only provided one.

’Oh, I only get one task this time?’

’Alright, let’s see what it is.’

[New Mission: Welcome To Fatherhood.]

[OBJECTIVE: Your wife has just given birth and her body needs time to heal and recover. As her husband, your first duty is to make sure she is comfortable, well fed, and feels loved during this period. Spend the next three days by Nora’s side. Bring her meals, give her a foot massage every morning and evening, and make sure she gets enough rest. After all, a happy and well-rested mother raises a happy child. Good luck, Host.]

[Reward: Will be revealed after the mission is complete.]

Seeing the string of words displayed on the screen, Austin couldn’t help but smile.