Gara and Wina stared at each other in shock. Once again, Gara was pregnant with more than one child. The healer had said twins, but it could just as easily be triplets or even more, considering the healer could not see past the barrier inside Gara’s womb.

What was even more shocking was the pregnancy itself. It was already four months along, even though it should have only been two.

Gara immediately recalled the reward he had received during his pregnancy. The pill that could accelerate pregnancy. He had not expected it to double the speed of his pregnancy.

For a brief moment, he worried that the babies might not receive proper nutrition if the pregnancy progressed too quickly. But he soon remembered that all items granted by the system always prioritized his children above everything else.

The healer had also said that the babies were perfectly healthy. Their movements felt normal. The pill clearly had no negative effects.

Gara’s worry slowly transformed into happiness, or perhaps relief. Who would not feel relieved knowing he only had to carry a pregnancy for four or five months, cutting the actual duration in half?

Back at the Duke’s mansion, Gara immediately told Wina about the pill that could accelerate pregnancy. He lied, saying that he had obtained it from an alchemist at the Alchemist Association.

After Gara reassured him that the pill was safe, Wina finally breathed a sigh of relief. He did not want his son to suffer through a long pregnancy either.

Gara also informed Madha about the situation, so Madha would not be confused when their children were born earlier than expected.

...

Little by little, Gara began to return to his former self. He started to accept Madha’s absence.

His growing belly did not burden him. Instead, it felt like a constant injection of happiness.

Wina once said that some babies could actually bring happiness to the mother or father carrying them.

You could say this pregnancy is making me produce a lot of endorphins, Gara thought, trying to come up with a more scientific explanation.

Still, he gently stroked his belly. "It’s not endorphins. It’s you who make me happy."

Gara felt like he was starting to resemble parents who were afraid their children might overhear something bad from them.

Come to think of it, Gara was not a new parent. He already had four children. Even so, every pregnancy still gave him new experiences.

As if pregnancy was not just a number, but something deeply important in his life.

His thoughts drifted to the streamer he used to watch before his death. He wondered if he was acting foolishly like that streamer. Had he treated his children properly?

Gara let out a heavy sigh. The triplets and Bel were growing up healthy and happy. Still, he had to admit that he rarely spent time with them.

He was no different from streamers who focused too much on making money, treating communication with their children like a task rather than something a normal parent should naturally do.

The Alrova Merchant House is running well under Hilda’s management. Money is no longer an issue. My position as the Duke’s heir also keeps me safe from druid attacks. After I graduate from the academy, I should spend more time with my children.

Gara silently promised himself that he would focus more on them.

"Hey! Aren’t you going back to your room?"

Gara’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a red-skinned man. Realizing it was Xerath, Gara immediately turned his face away.

He didn’t read my thoughts, did he? Gara panicked inwardly.

As if on cue, Xerath said, "Don’t look so scared. I don’t read other people’s minds without permission."

That only made Gara even more nervous.

"Alright. I’m leaving." Xerath raised his hands, like an innocent civilian falsely accused by the police.

As he walked toward his room, Xerath glanced back at Gara. According to their classmates’ chatter, Gara had started to look normal again over the past few days.

He was no longer a maniac in class. He was still impressive, but he no longer overexerted himself. The top rank now rotated between him, Revan, and Fian.

Xerath did not know what Gara had been like before. All he knew was that Gara’s attitude had changed after Madha left.

Seeing Gara standing alone in the corridor, lost in thought, Xerath felt that Gara had not truly recovered. Perhaps he was still suffering from the loss.

Even though Xerath was not on the same side as Duke Eshaan’s grandchild, he felt a bit of sympathy for him as a classmate.

Meanwhile, the person Xerath pitied was still standing in the corridor. Gara really was spacing out, but not because he felt gloomy, unlike what Xerath assumed.

He was waiting for Rea.

The white squirrel was supposed to return to the dimensional home with him, but she still had not shown up.

Gara was already planning to scold Rea when the adult squirrel finally emerged from the floating stone. She was practically an unofficial student by now. She could even operate the floating stone on her own.

"Why are you so late?" Gara asked, his tone clearly annoyed.

Rea, now sitting neatly on the young black-haired man’s shoulder, immediately started chirping nonstop.

From her story, Gara learned that Rea had just finished eating with her new friend.

"You already made a new friend?" Gara could not imagine who would befriend a squirrel.

Rea felt irritated by his disbelief, but she still happily explained how kind her new friend was. She was always brought snacks in the back garden after classes ended. And the snacks were really delicious.

Rea ended her chirping by telling Gara to prepare a gift for her new friend.

"You’re the one who made the friend. You’re the one getting snacks. Why do I have to prepare a return gift?" Gara asked, pretending to be annoyed.

Rea’s chirping filled his ears again. The gist was simple. Friends help each other. And since Gara was Rea’s friend, he had to help Rea give a gift to her other friend.

Gara could only shake his head. The way this little furball thought was truly strange.

Still, he agreed. "Fine. I’ll prepare something later."

If someone was genuinely kind to Rea, he did not mind preparing a gift for them.

He also wanted to introduce himself. If anything bad ever happened to Rea and that person happened to witness it, they would know who to find.

Having one more person looking out for Rea in such a large academy made him feel a little more at ease.

A week later, after Gara finally had some free time, he kept his promise and prepared a gift for Rea’s new friend.

He made coconut mango tarts, a new menu item from Alrova Drink Shop. From Rea, he knew that her friend often brought food from the shop.

Thinking that this person was likely a fan of his store’s food, Gara decided to prepare a menu that had not yet been released to the public.

They agreed to meet at the back garden, where Rea usually met her friend.

The back garden was not popular among students. It faced a forest that looked intimidating. No one went there unless they wanted to avoid other students.

When he arrived, Gara saw a familiar girl sitting on a garden bench. He immediately understood why Rea’s new friend liked this place.

"Vania... you’re Rea’s new friend?" Gara asked, genuinely shocked.

A year ago, Vania had been arrogant, harsh, and often targeted him. It was hard to imagine her having a gentle side.

Still, he had to admit that she had changed a lot recently.

Vania stiffened when she saw him. She had not expected to meet Gara like this. Just as she was about to speak, Gara suddenly turned around and left.

Vania’s heart sank. She looked down at Rea, who also seemed confused. The white squirrel climbed onto Vania’s lap, as if trying to comfort her.

"I’m fine," Vania murmured to Rea. "So your name is Rea, huh?"

Rea nodded enthusiastically.

"But you also suit the name Snow," Vania added.

Rea immediately shook her head fiercely, strongly disagreeing.

Vania giggled. "Alright. I’ll call you Rea."

Only then did Rea smile brightly.

Their conversation was interrupted when Gara returned, slightly out of breath. He approached Vania, who stared at him in surprise.

Gara handed her two paper-wrapped packages. "One is a thank-you gift for helping Rea before. And the other is a gift from Rea."

He had rushed off earlier to get the second gift, deciding it would be better to give them together.

Vania was stunned. She had thought Gara left because he hated her, not because he wanted to bring her another gift.

"Thank you," Gara said.

Vania shook her head, then nodded. Her sudden quietness made Gara a little uncomfortable, but he knew the situation was awkward for both of them.

In the end, Gara left, allowing Vania and Rea to enjoy the gifts in peace.

The next day in the cafeteria, something unexpected happened.

More precisely, Gara made something unexpected happen.

"Vania, come join us!" Gara invited her to eat at their table.

All the S-Class students at the table stared at him in shock. Everyone knew what had happened between Gara and Vania in the past.

Vania hesitated, but eventually agreed.

Seeing Lysa searching for a place to sit, Miki immediately called out, "Lysa, come here! All the S-Class students are sitting together!"

Lysa wanted to shut the rat boy’s big mouth, but she ended up joining them anyway.

For the first time, all the S-Class students ate together at the same table.

...