Pampered by Beasts: My Wild Protectors

Chapter 3: Azari

“You silly girl, how could you be so careless? That leopard really has no idea how to control his strength! ...But it's all right. You're awake now, that's what matters... Are you hungry? Thirsty? Azari made some soup. I'll go bring you a bowl...”

She was about to stand when, almost without thinking, Mianna reached out and caught her sleeve.

Liora froze in surprise and looked down at her.

Mianna parted her lips, wanting to say something.

But her throat was too dry.

In the end, only two words came out.

“...Mama.”

Liora's eyes instantly reddened.

She blinked hard, nodding repeatedly.

“Yes, yes! Mama's here. Mama's right here!”

Then she practically ran out of the hut.

“Azari! The soup! Bring the soup quickly! Mia's awake! She called me!”

Mianna watched her flustered figure disappear through the doorway before slowly lying back down.

Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions.

She never thought she would get to see her mother again...

Quad floated cautiously in front of her.

【Host... do you still want to die? (｡•︿•｡)】

Mianna was silent for a long time before finally answering.

【...I'll stay alive for now and see how it goes.】

She couldn't bear to lose Mama again.

Quad nearly burst into tears on the spot.

Thank heaven!

Thank earth!

Thank the Main System!

Thank my very first host!

(＾∀＾●)ノ

Not long afterward, Liora returned carrying a bowl of steaming soup. A tall, powerfully built man followed behind her, carrying an even larger stone bowl.

A pair of thick, curved, brownish horns grew from the man's head, impossible to miss. One of them was damaged, with only about half of it remaining.

He was shirtless, his body covered in sharply defined muscles. His shoulders were broad, and his powerful chest was particularly eye-catching. His skin was a beautiful bronze color, though unfortunately, it was covered with scars of various sizes. His left arm was bandaged, while a simple piece of dark animal hide was wrapped around his waist.

His entire body radiated a wild, primal strength.

His hair was a muted milk-tea gray, slightly wavy and lacking much shine. His bangs hung low enough to partially cover his eyes, making it difficult to see them clearly. There even seemed to be a faint bruise on his exposed cheek.

After entering the hut, the man glanced at Mianna.

Then he lowered his eyes, placed the bowl on the small table beside the bed, and silently stood off to the side, keeping watch.

Mianna was startled.

Looking at this rather gloomy, grayish-looking man, she couldn't help wondering if he was some kind of slave here.

Quad's voice immediately sounded in her head.

【Host, host! That's your husband! Your First Mate! Azari, a mouflon beastkin, fifth-rank Earth ability user, twenty years old! He and the original Mianna were childhood sweethearts with a betrothal arranged when they were little. He's taken care of her since they were children. He took the most beatings, but never once complained! Young, strong, and with an absolutely wonderful personality! ( ᐢ ᴗ ᐢ )】

【My husband?!】

【He took beatings?! Don't tell me those injuries were caused by “me” too?】

【The original owner really was sick... She hit him way too hard...】

【Wait. You're so loud! And you're floating right here! Can they see you? Hear you talking?】

Quad replied smugly.

【(‾◡◝) Relax, relax! Our conversations are on a private channel, of course! Nobody else can see or hear me! From now on, whenever you call me Quad, we can communicate telepathically~】

【The injuries Azari has now were caused by your other male mate, the snow leopard, when Azari tried to protect you! But his other old injuries were caused by the original Mianna when she went crazy~】

There was a lot to process.

So this was my cheap slave—

No.

My cheap hus—

No, wait.

My male mate.

Mianna had read a few transmigration novels set in beast worlds before, so she had at least a vague idea of how this kind of world worked.

Quad had rambled on about a bunch of things earlier, and she hadn't really been listening.

Something about having several male mates...

Which meant...

She had several husbands?

Mianna's brain began racing.

Before she could sort everything out, Liora's voice interrupted her thoughts.

“This is the meat soup Azari made. Drink it while it's hot.”

Liora helped Mianna sit up, then scooped up a spoonful of soup with a wooden spoon. She carefully blew on it to cool it down before bringing it to Mianna's lips.

Mianna's attention immediately shifted back to Liora.

She opened her mouth and took a sip.

Warmth spread through her chest, and her eyes grew slightly misty.

Mama was feeding her.

Whatever.

She'd just enjoy being cared for by her mother for now.

Surprisingly...

The soup was delicious.

The meat had been cooked until incredibly tender, and some kind of herb had been added to the broth, giving it a faint, pleasant fragrance. As she drank, she could feel a comforting warmth settle in her stomach.

She glanced up at the man standing nearby.

**【Ding! You have a new mission! Please check your system notification!】**

Quad's cheerful voice rang beside her ears~

【Beginner's Bonus Mission】

【Mission: Please interact positively with your First Mate, Azari! Complete it to receive a Beginner's Gift Pack!】

【You really know how to seize an opportunity! I'm still sick!】 Mianna complained inwardly before looking at her mission target again.

He stood there with his head lowered, his fingers unconsciously rubbing together.

When he noticed her gaze, he looked up.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

He immediately lowered his gaze again.

After a long silence, the man asked softly,

“Is... the soup good?”

Mianna answered simply,

“Mm.”

The man seemed surprised that she had actually responded.

He raised his head, standing there with an uncertain, almost bewildered expression.

Liora watched the two of them interact, surprise and relief filling her eyes. She didn't stop feeding Mianna, and her eyes grew slightly red.

“Good, good... As long as you can eat, that's all that matters!”

**【Ding! Mission complete!】**

**【Reward: Beginner's Gift Pack!】**

【Congratulations, Host, on completing your very first mission! You're doing amazing! ♡(´ε｀ )】

Quad's voice was accompanied by the sound of tiny electronic fireworks going off.

Mianna almost choked on her soup.

【As expected of a beginner's bonus mission. That was ridiculously easy.】

-

“You silly girl, slow down! There's no need to rush~” Liora gently rubbed her back.

Immersed in the warmth of a mother's love she had thought she'd lost forever, Mianna drank the entire bowl of meat soup. By the time she finished, she finally felt a little strength returning to her body.

Just then, another person walked in through the door.

He appeared to be around thirty years old, with a pair of fluffy red ears on top of his head. He was a handsome man with delicate features and a somewhat... alluring charm.

Well, judging by the customs of this world, he was a male beastkin.

“Lady Liora! Something's happened at Old Wang's place again. They need you to go take a look!”

As he spoke, the male beastkin suddenly noticed Mianna sitting up in bed.

“Mia's awake?!”

“Yes! She just woke up. She seems to be doing pretty well~” Liora smiled at him, then turned back to Mianna with a gentle expression.

“Mia, Mama has something to take care of. It's getting late, and you're still not completely recovered, so get some more rest for now. Azari will take care of you. I'll come back with the Healer tomorrow to check on you again, okay?”

With that, Liora helped Mianna lie back down and carefully tucked the animal hide around her.

It seemed she had no intention of letting Mianna make small talk with the male beastkin.

“Mm.”

Mianna felt a little reluctant, but she wasn't a child anymore. She obediently nodded.

“Azari, I'm counting on you to take care of Mia!” Liora reminded Azari, who had been silently standing off to the side like part of the furniture.

Azari solemnly nodded.

Together, he and Mianna silently watched as Liora and the other beastkin left the little hut.

【Quad... I don't live with Mama...?】

Mianna still felt reluctant to part with her mother, so she couldn't help asking.

Quad immediately explained.

【Host! It's like this. In the Beast World, once beastkin reach adulthood, they're expected to establish their own families. Azari is the mate Mama arranged for you when you were little. Even though you don't live together, Mama still comes to visit the original Mianna quite often.】

【I see...】

Mianna couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

【Host, don't be sad! You can go visit Mama whenever you want! (´･_･)`】 Quad comforted her.

Mianna thought about it and realized Quad was right.

She had simply become too caught up in the overwhelming emotions of getting her mother back, and she couldn't quite pull herself out of them yet.

Now, only Mianna and Azari remained in the little hut.

### Silence was the Bridge of Cambridge Tonight.

Azari was still standing exactly where he had been, head lowered, as though someone had turned him to stone.

Mianna lay there for a while before deciding that the silence was getting awkward.

She turned her head toward the silent figure and blinked at him.

“Ahem... Azari? Are you going to keep standing there? Don't you want to sit down and rest for a while?”

At her words, Azari immediately looked at her.

“Mia... you... you're awake?”

Mianna froze at the question before instinctively replying,

“Mm. I'm awake~”

The moment he heard her answer, it was as though the stiff, frozen beastkin had suddenly been filled with new energy.

Azari broke into a smile.

It was a genuine smile, one that came straight from the heart.

His whole body seemed to radiate a gentle, warm feeling.

He walked over to the wooden table in the corner, picked up a stone jar, and poured a bowl of water.

Then his tall body knelt beside the bed as he held the small stone bowl out toward her, gazing at her expectantly.

“Does Mia want some water?”

Now that he was closer, Mianna could finally get a good look at Azari's face.

Despite the bruises and injuries covering his face, she could still make out his strong, well-defined features. He had a high nose bridge, slightly full lips, and a somewhat mixed-race look to his features.

Through his bangs, Mianna could see his eyes.

They were a deep brown.

Clear and innocent, like the eyes of a little lamb.

They were filled with anticipation and happiness, shining brightly as he looked at her.

Mianna had just finished an entire bowl of soup and was actually pretty full.

But she simply couldn't bring herself to reject those hopeful eyes.

“Mm. Just a little...”

She was about to sit up when Azari moved with astonishing speed.

In one smooth motion, he slipped an arm behind her and helped her sit up, letting her lean half against his chest. With his other hand, he held the bowl steadily to her lips.

Not a single drop spilled.

It was hard to imagine that someone as tall and muscular as Azari could be so gentle and precise.

Wrapped in his arms, Mianna felt as though she had been surrounded by a living furnace.

Azari's body was incredibly warm, almost radiating heat.

A faint, dry scent of grass and wood lingered on his skin, like a garden wrapped in afternoon sunlight.

Her head rested comfortably against something soft yet firm and springy, accompanied by a steady, powerful vibration.

That had to be Azari's...

Mianna took tiny sips of water, feeling a little nervous and slightly dizzy.

What kind of gentle, attentive man was this...?

She had never experienced this kind of pampering before.

So steady.

So reassuring.

“Azari, I'm done drinking. You can put me down now!”

Mianna shifted slightly in his arms, feeling as though his body heat was about to burn her alive.

Azari placed the little stone bowl on the table beside the bed, then gently lowered Mianna back onto the mattress. He carefully tucked the animal hide around her before kneeling beside the bed and watching her.

“Does Mia feel cold like this? Do you want another animal hide?”

As he asked, Azari hesitated and mumbled softly,

“Or... I could sleep with you... like we did when we were little...”

As he finished, he looked at her again with those innocent lamb-like eyes.

“No, no, that's not necessary. I'm perfectly comfortable like this.”

Mianna was shocked.

Her heart was pounding.

Wasn't this going a little too far?!

Nope. Absolutely not.

She immediately shifted her gaze elsewhere, only to notice the bandages wrapped around Azari's arm.

“Is your injury okay? Shouldn't you go get some rest? You don't have to keep watching me.”

Azari glanced down at his left arm and shook his head.

“I'm fine. They're just minor injuries. I should have protected you better... I'm sorry...”

As he spoke, he lowered his head.

The little lamb looked as though it had been caught in the rain.

Seeing how clearly dejected he was, Mianna couldn't help feeling sorry for him.

“You don't have to apologize. I'm fine now, aren't I? And I should be thanking you for taking care of me~”

The moment he received her reassurance, Azari seemed to come back to life.

It was as if someone had plugged him back in.

“Mia, you're so nice. You should get some rest! I'll stay right here beside you. If you need anything, just call me!”

Mianna really was beginning to feel tired.

She gave a small nod.

“Mm. Then I'll sleep. If you get tired, go rest yourself, okay?”

Azari nodded in response.

Only then did Mianna close her eyes and settle down to rest.