While Althea and the others were worrying about the children, Newcomers watched as the territory get rebuilt at the speed visible to the naked eye.

"So this is Alterra..." Nana mumbled as she looked around, observing and absorbing the new sight. The others, as well as the dwarves who were hanging off of them, were doing the same thing.

Walls of the structures were cracked, dust and grime were everywhere, many trees and shrubs had been burned or uprooted, and there was debris everywhere.

The town had mostly been decimated, and there was no part of the territory that remained untouched.

This was natural after a war. Rather, the usual sight after a war was like this: destroyed streets splattered with blood and grime, and the entire territory filled with desolation.

This was regardless of whether they won or not.

In a big war, there was only a loser and a bigger loser.

Even if a territory won, a good portion of them would’ve been killed. Bodies littered the streets, and most families would’ve lost someone. Possibly, unnecessarily.

On the winning side of a bloody war, only those up top would probably be celebrating. The commoner folk were too busy trying to recover what they could, all while attempting to heal their wounds.

But in Alterra, they felt something a bit different. It was very...orderly? People were sad and forlorn, but there was a certain strength emanating from them.

It was difficult to describe. All they knew was that these people gave the impression that everyone would keep moving forward, even when the present was heavy.

There were people actively restoring the place. In every street, there were people taking the uprooted shrubs and trees, carrying them to another area.

There were also plenty who were clearing out the debris, placing them on a broat-pulled cart filled with various trash and miscellaneous items.

The rescue operations seemed to be endless, and the corpses were all lined up properly at the side.

They could see many people head to this place, nervously checking the faces of the corpses. Sometimes, they would see someone falling down and crying over a body, while others find comfort in not finding their relatives in the area. At least for now.

When someone fainted from the extreme emotion, they would be taken directly to get treated as well.

It was all quite...gentle.

There was no body splayed out carelessly, and no matter how injured or hopeless, they were all treated with respect. Those who still had a breath—even the faintest ones—would be carried over to get treated elsewhere.

Even those who had lost a limb or two—which were usually considered ’dead’ already, regardless of whether they were still breathing—were all treated with care, as if the rescuers truly wanted to rescue them. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

There was a sense that no one would be abandoned.

As for the enemies, they were also piled up, but in a different area. At the same time, if there was also an injured enemy, especially if it were a slave, they would also get treatment.

"They’re part of our team now," Baku said when they asked why this was. "Each one could help Alterra. They would be filtered out later after some oaths, but until then, they would be treated as part of our forces."

What use was a prisoner of war if they could no longer move? They weren’t charity, particularly to those who had once been their enemies.

Baku was guiding the party to the Center to register and gain temporary residency, as well as to make oaths. Baku himself was dead tired, but he found renewed energy after finding a sister.

Speaking of sisters, a very pregnant one was jumping over, seemingly forgetting that she was gestating.

"NANA!!!" she screamed, though a certain fox orc caught her before landing, carrying her to them instead.

"MAOAMAO! GOCHI! WUUU!" Nana screamed, rushing over to them. Her children, who were hanging at her back, were deftly taken by the other female orcs, giving time for Nana to reunite with her old friends without worry.

The three embraced for several moments, eyes leaking tears. Although they had all been praying for a reunion, in their hearts they knew how unlikely that would be.

But look! All four of them were together!

How was that not a miracle?

"I knew you would find us!" Maomao said, sniffling as she spoke. "We reserved a tree house for you!"

Nana didn’t know this, and her heart was so warm it felt like burning. It was around this time that she felt a bump, and then she looked at Maomao’s stomach, her eyes widening. "WOW!"

"Y-You’re pregnant!?"

Orcs and half-orcs found it very difficult to conceive, and it was unimaginable to get pregnant in less than a decade. Baku had told her that Maomao and Gochi had been together, but how long ago was that?

But she didn’t think too much, knowing it was happy news regardless of the details.

But then she remembered that their pregnancy was also very dangerous, so she couldn’t help but feel worried. Nana knew she was very lucky, and part of that was because of her abilities.

Her innate ability was related to her feathers. Holding one had some healing capability, but it only worked on orc-blood, which was why she still had her feathers on her body at all.

"Are these my niece and nephew!? KYAAA! SO CUTE SO CUTEEE!" Maomao exclaimed as they parted. The cute eyes on her were too prominent, so she ended up looking at them, and the bunny hopped over to take them into her arms.

She rubbed cheeks with the two toddlers, feeling they were so adorable, while Gochi was also unable to stop himself, and he patted their little heads.

He wondered what his children, who were still months away, would look like.

They must also be very, very lovable.

He had no idea, at this time, that each and every one of the kids in that litter would cause major headaches.

They would call a certain Meatball their boss, after all.