Kana is growing steadily, and it's honestly kind of amazing to watch it happen right in front of me. Right now, she could already start trying to crawl, and the funny thing is, she was already doing it without anyone teaching her. She could even push herself up and stand on her own for a bit without any kind of assistance. It wasn't stable yet, and her balance still looked a little shaky, but the effort was there. Walking, though, that was still something she hadn't quite figured out. Even so, I could already see it coming. The way she moved, the way she kept trying, it felt like she'd be taking her first proper steps any time soon.

"Kya…!" she shouted, her voice filled with energy as I chased after her.

She didn't even look back properly, just kept moving forward like it was a game she absolutely refused to lose. Watching her crawl like that, wobbling a little, her tiny hands and knees moving in uneven rhythm, made it almost impossible not to smile.

She looked ridiculously cute.

There was something about the way she waddled around that made the whole thing even better. It wasn't graceful at all, and that's exactly what made it so fun to watch. If anyone saw this, they'd probably just stand there and stare for a while without even realizing it.

Honestly, it was still kind of hard to believe she was my child.

Something this cute really came from me?

That thought alone felt a little strange. Calling her my spawn crossed my mind for a second, though it sounded way more demonic than I intended. Still, that was the closest word that matched what I was feeling at that moment. It wasn't like I meant anything bad by it. Just one of those weird thoughts that pop up out of nowhere.

"I got ya!" I said as I finally caught up to her.

"Kyaa… Hehehehe…!"

The moment I grabbed her, she burst into laughter, her tiny body squirming in my hands like she was trying to escape, but without any real intention of actually getting away. It was more like she was enjoying the moment and just reacting however she wanted.

Her little arms and legs moved around as she struggled lightly, but I made sure to hold her properly. Firm enough that she wouldn't slip out, but not too tight to make her uncomfortable. She kept wriggling anyway, like she thought she had a chance to break free if she tried hard enough.

"She seems to like you very much, Master," Gabrielle said from the side, watching us with a gentle smile.

Her tone was calm, almost warm, like she genuinely enjoyed seeing this kind of interaction.

She was still calling me Master.

Even after I told her more than once that she didn't have to. I had already said it was fine if she started calling me Leon instead. At this point, it honestly felt more natural that way. She was Kana's mother. She was the one who gave birth to her. There wasn't really a reason to keep that strict distance between us anymore.

Still, she insisted.

She wanted things to stay the same.

Well, I couldn't exactly force her to change how she saw things. If that was what she was comfortable with, then there wasn't much for me to argue about.

"She's growing up quite fast," I said, glancing down at Kana as she continued to giggle in my hands. "I kind of feel bad that I didn't get to spend much time with her before. Which is why, now that I'm actually free for once, I think I'll spend as much time with her as I can."

"Right, Kana?" I added, lifting her up with both hands.

"Kyaa…! Hehehehehe!"

Her laughter came out louder this time, like she really enjoyed being lifted like that. Her tiny legs kicked slightly in the air, and her hands reached out like she was trying to grab onto something that wasn't there.

She couldn't really talk yet, at least not properly. Words weren't forming, but she was definitely trying. The little sounds she made, the random syllables, they weren't meaningless. You could tell she was expressing something, even if it didn't come out clearly.

It felt like she was already starting to become a smart kid.

And honestly, I wanted to see more of that.

While I was still playing with her, my eyes drifted toward the other two women nearby. Both of them were sitting down, their posture more relaxed than usual, but their condition was obvious at a glance. Their stomachs were already starting to show clearly.

Irene and Rose.

They were close.

Really close.

They sat quietly, eating their meals with a kind of focus that made it obvious they weren't just eating for themselves. Each bite felt intentional, like they were carefully choosing what to take in for the sake of the children growing inside them. It wasn't rushed either. Just steady and mindful.

They were making sure everything went well.

It probably wouldn't be long before they gave birth.

Thinking about that made something stir in my chest.

Excitement.

"Leon seems really excited about seeing our children be born," Irene said, looking at me with a soft, knowing expression. "You're looking at us with such anticipation."

"You should spend more time taking care of us, you know?" Rose continued. "It's not exactly easy bringing something like this into the world without the support of the one who gave them life."

There was a hint of teasing in her tone, but it wasn't entirely a joke either.

"Well, that's exactly why I'm taking a break from everything else," I replied. "I've decided to stay here and watch over both of you. That way, I'll be there when you give birth."

"That's sweet of you, Leon," Irene said, her smile softening. "But you don't have to worry that much. I think we'll give birth safely even if you're not here. Of course, I'd prefer it if you were, but you've been dealing with a lot lately. It's fine if you can't stay with us the whole time. Rose is just teasing."

"Well, I'm not entirely joking," Rose added, glancing at me. "I do think it would be comforting if Leon were there. But I'd understand if you couldn't make it."

So even though they both said it was fine, there was still that small part of them that wanted me there.

That much was obvious.

I shifted Kana slightly in my arms, making sure she was still comfortable as she calmed down a bit from laughing.

"Well, it doesn't matter what kind of calamity comes up," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I'll be there for their births. I want to see my children come into this world with my own eyes."

For a moment, both Irene and Rose looked genuinely surprised.

Their eyes widened just slightly, like they didn't expect me to say it that firmly.

Then, almost at the same time, their expressions softened.

They smiled.

Warm, quiet smiles that said more than words needed to.