Chapter 136: Baby Problem.
They were done for the night. Everyone had finished their portion of the meal and were getting ready to retire. Tomorrow was another day of the competition.
But Maren couldn’t fall asleep. The little one had suddenly started crying out of nowhere, and even Azure couldn’t stop her.
"Calm down, Maren... stop crying... stop..." Azure was already feeling stressed, trying to get the kid to stop crying. But she kept crying like there was no tomorrow.
Sunnie sat close, trying to figure out why she was crying. She had checked her, and there was no sign of her having wet herself or anything. So she didn’t understand what the problem could be.
[Ding!]
[Baby Raising System]
[Maren feels uncomfortable and can’t fall asleep.]
[Task: Find the reason for her discomfort and put Maren to sleep comfortably.]
Sunnie knew that would be the task. She guessed the little one wasn’t comfortable in this space at all. Since she was wide awake, falling asleep here would be difficult, especially because she didn’t even know why she was uncomfortable.
"Hand her over..." Sunnie requested.
They watched as Sunnie held the baby in her arms, trying to coax her to sleep by patting her back and all. But Maren continued crying.
"Are you sure she didn’t hurt herself or anything?" Eris inquired.
Azure looked around the cub’s body but didn’t see anything. "I doubt..."
At that moment, while Sunnie was carrying her, she realized what the problem was. "I think little Maren messed on herself."
They all paused and stared at her. "Huh?"
Sunnie smiled as she held the crying Maren. "Is that why you’re feeling so uncomfortable? Because you pooped on yourself?" Maren was still crying.
Sunnie patted her hair while she said, "Oh, oh, don’t cry. We’ll get you all cleaned up just in time for bed." She smiled as she adjusted her loincloths.
The smell filled the room as the beast husbands stepped back, staring at her from a distance. Even Little Black and Zukka had stepped back too.
Only Sunnie was close, carrying Maren. "I think she needs to get washed and changed right now."
"I’ll do it," Azure suddenly volunteered.
The other beast husbands stared at him. "Are you sure about that...?"
He nodded as he stared at the little one, who was still crying. "I’m the father, so this is something I should do... or learn to do, at least."
Sunnie smiled as she stared at him. She had been the one doing the changing for a while now, so she was surprised to see him volunteer. "You? Really? Why?"
"You’ve worked so hard making the meal and all. So let me learn this at least. It’ll free you from the stress while I also learn."
Sunnie was impressed by his dedication. She guessed this was what happened when you gave your husband cubs.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Eris asked. "I’ve heard that cleaning up can be scary and tricky."
Azure swallowed hard as though he was getting ready to go to war. But he nodded as he got up to his feet. He smiled. "Don’t worry, she’s my daughter, so I’ll handle it. I’m sure."
She smiled as she said, "Okay then, sure. Let’s go outside. I’ll oversee."
He nodded as he approached Sunnie and stretched out his hand. "Hand her over... I’ll carry her."
Sunnie smiled. "Don’t worry, I’ll carry her out."
"No. I want to carry her. You’re already doing a lot, so I want to handle everything so you can rest well."
Sunnie smiled.
[Ding!]
[Mer husband is voluntarily helping and pampering the host!]
[Bonus: +1,000 heart coins!]
Sunnie gently handed the baby over to him. He accepted her while his hands were shaking. The smell was still there, but Azure was trying his best to hold it in.
He smiled as he stared at the crying baby. "Maren... look here... Daddy is here. I’ll clean you right up. You’ll be sparkling clean," he assured.
Maren opened her eyes while still crying, her big blue eyes on her father as she continued crying.
"Don’t cry... okay?"
Sunnie smiled. "Let’s go outside and handle it." Sunnie led the way as Azure followed closely behind with the little one crying in his arms.
While they left, the others watched them go, blinking and shaking their heads.
"He is one brave beastman," Eris said.
Karl shook his head. "I can’t do that... No, I won’t," he insisted.
Little Black scoffed. "Of course you will. When you fall deep in love with Sister Sunnie and can’t hold yourself back, you’ll have lots and lots of babies and will have to obediently take care of them."
Zukka covered his mouth as he snapped, "Where did you learn all that?" He questioned as Little Black struggled to free his mouth.
Karl glared at Little Black, arms folded. "I’m never going to do that. Bring myself down and obey the female? Have babies? In your dreams. That’s not happening."
---
They got outside with the baby still crying. Beastmen who were passing by saw them moving with the crying baby and simply snapped at them.
"What’s with the noise this night? Can’t someone get some sleep because of you and your kid?"
"So annoying! Take that kid away."
"All these monsters and their cubs! So frustrating."
While they snapped, Sunnie and Azure ignored them. They made their way to the backside where there was water. It was night, so no one could see them move through the route.
Soon, they arrived. It wasn’t the official river of the tribe, but it was one of their rivers—mainly where they took their baths.
Azure looked around. "Here? We’re going to clean her up here in this water?"
Sunnie smiled with a shrug. "Where else, of course?" She knew what she was doing. She pointed to the rock at the side. "Set the kid down there. Let’s begin. I don’t care if they use this water or not."
It was Sunnie’s way of giving them a little punishment.