A Former Police Officer Who Died And Get A Second Life!-Chapter 49: Morning at the Hideout

Seeing the embarrassed smile on his back as he walked away made a smile spill onto Qiong Xing’s face as well.

After wandering around for several minutes, he returned to the room to find that everyone except Cari was already awake.

"This place is truly amazing. I wouldn’t be able to come and go on my own with my abilities, but I really admire a hideout like this."

"Please don’t disappear when you wake up. It’s bad for the heart."

Leander grabbed his right hand and Elias took his left while dragging him back onto the bed.

"I’m sorry. I just got a little excited. I went exploring inside."

Joa and the others had said he could look around freely, but with some beastmen still harboring hatred toward humans, he felt bad about walking around openly.

So he had woken up early, knowing there would be fewer people, and explored then.

"I get that, but if you’re going, take us with you properly. Leaving you alone just makes us anxious."

How rude, he thought.

But seeing Leander nodding in agreement with Elias’s words, Qiong Xing decided it must be anxiety born from being mates and nodded along.

"How was last night? Was Cari all right?"

Because Qiong Xing had stayed in Joa’s room until late the previous night, by the time he returned to the room he had been given, little Cari had already fallen asleep.

Elias hugged him from behind and sitting cross-legged with Cari on his lap, while Qiong Xing’s outstretched legs rested on the knees of Leander who was sitting in front of him.

It was probably a compromise born from both of them not wanting to let Qiong Xing go.

Leander was making slightly suspicious movements, but considering how he had made them worry by not returning until late last night, Qiong Xing decided to let him do as he pleased.

"It didn’t work out. A few people greeted him, but Cari got scared and wouldn’t move."

Apparently, he was shy around strangers.

"On the other hand, Leander was really popular. Kids were clinging to his arms and legs, and he kept throwing them off."

Throwing them?

"...I don’t think I could win even against beastman children."

"Yeah. Better not. It’s dangerous."

Apparently, beastmen had high physical abilities even as children.

For Qiong Xing who hardly did any real exercise, all he could see in his future was getting injured.

"Wasn’t there a child like Cari?"

He had never seen any demons besides Cari, but with this many people gathered here, he had thought there might be at least one.

"If you mean demons, then no, there weren’t. In the first place, it’s rare for demons to come over to this side at all."

"This side?"

"The places where we humans live. Apparently, demons have a place where only demons live and it’s called the Demon Realm."

Beastmen had no choice but to live alongside humans, yet demons had a place called the Demon Realm.

Qiong Xing couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

"I see. Then we’ll have to give up on finding someone of Cari’s own kind and hope he can make friends among the beastmen instead."

Not pressing for further details was very much like Qiong Xing, but because he didn’t ask, he once again failed to notice the existence of magic.

"With Qiong Xing around, it might be fine. Hey, Elias, switch."

Switch? As Qiong Xing wondered what that meant, he was this time picked up by Leander and seated on his lap.

Naturally, his legs ended up resting on Elias’s knees.

It seemed they were taking turns.

"Do beastmen dislike demons?"

"No. I told you, it’s rare to even see a demon. You wouldn’t hate something you never see."

That was true.

If they weren’t disliked, then there was still a possibility.

Qiong Xing really wanted Cari to make some friends.

Friends weren’t necessarily essential, but he still believed it was important for children to play and talk with other children their own age.

As he was wondering what to do, there was a knock at the door, and Fei peeked his head inside.

"Uh, well, it’s almost time to eat, so what do you want to do?"

Qiong Xing felt a little puzzled when Fei’ cheeks flushed slightly upon seeing them, but he thanked him anyway.

"Thank you for coming all this way. We’ll head over once we’re ready."

It seemed time had passed while they were deep in conversation.

Escaping from the hands that had somehow ended up stroking his waist and legs, Qiong Xing gently woke Cari and headed toward the dining hall.

There was truly no room for carelessness.

...

While carrying a still-sleepy Cari in his arms as he headed to the dining hall, Qiong Xing saw that most of the members seemed to have already finished eating.

While a few people sat here and there and quietly eating breakfast, he spotted a familiar face and headed over in that direction.

"Good morning, Joa."

"...Ah, morning."

Perhaps because he felt embarrassed about having cried yesterday, Joa greeted him while averting his gaze.

Qiong Xing didn’t mind at all, he just sat down beside him, and then shared the breakfast that Elias had brought over with Cari as they ate together.

It was simple, but the seasoning brought out the natural flavors, and Qiong Xing was satisfied.

He ate while saying how tasty it was with Cari, but when he glanced to the side, he saw Joa sitting there with spoon in hand and completely motionless.

Qiong Xing opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again, unsure of what to say when he saw his awkward reaction and he couldn’t help but laugh.

"Joa."

"H-huh? What is—ngh!"

The moment Joa turned his head, Qiong Xing shoved a small piece of bread he had torn off beforehand straight into Joa’s mouth.

"Hey! What are you doing? You scared the hell outta..."

"It’s delicious, isn’t it?"

"Huh?"

"The food. It’s delicious, right?"