Harem King's Collection: Turning Beastkins Into Desperate Wives!-Chapter 69: A Miracle

Aster blocked the tiger’s escape route and stepped forward. His voice cut through the courtyard air.

"OUST! APOLOGIZE, NOW!"

The tiger’s snarl erupted from somewhere deep in his chest, a sound that made the watching crowd step back. Oust’s lips pulled back from his fangs as he spat his response.

"FUCK YOU, RUNT!"

Aster didn’t slow, shouting back as he closed the distance.

"Say what you want about me, but that was wrong, and you know it! Apologize to him! NOW!"

The tiger’s massive frame moved with fluid grace as he advanced, closing the distance until only a few feet separated them. The alcohol on his breath was sharp in the morning air. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of someone who had given up caring about consequences.

"No, I have no remorse for the stupid beast. It should have just left me alone! Just as you would, if you have any sense!"

The word ’stupid’ hit Aster like a physical blow. He had watched Milky approach the tiger with nothing but kindness, had seen the gentle creature’s face light up when he offered his gift. The whole courtyard had witnessed Oust passed out in the dirt that morning. Word traveled fast in places like this, and Milky, with his simple heart, had decided to help.

"He was just trying to be kind to you!" Aster’s voice cracked with anger. "If you weren’t such an insufferable prick, he wouldn’t be the only one still trying to cheer you up... The only one that cared if you passed out drunk in the dirt! If you would just stop being such an asshole for a single second and actually think about someone besides yourse—"

Oust’s claw whistled through the air between them. Aster threw himself backward, the razor-sharp points missing his chest by inches. His shield materialized on his right arm as he found his footing, the familiar weight of it grounding him.

"See? That’s your damn problem, right there!" Aster dropped into a fighting stance, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "You lash out in anger at anyone who actually tries to help your stubborn ass be slightly less shitty or miserable! Fine! Let’s settle this, since violence and force are all you seem to know... But you are going to apologize to him..."

Aster braced for the attack that would surely come. His muscles coiled, shield raised, every instinct screaming that the tiger would launch himself forward with deadly intent.

But Oust didn’t move.

The stillness stretched between them. The tiger’s bloodshot eyes stared at him with an expression Aster couldn’t read. Something shifted in that gaze, not the rage he expected, but something deeper, more complex. The seconds ticked by in silence.

The tiger only stared at the smaller human for a short while longer, thinking back to his "conversation," with Sir Corper the previous night, before he simply closed his eyes for a moment. His massive chest rose and fell in a long, deliberate breath.

When his eyes opened again, the fury was gone, replaced by something that looked almost like exhaustion.

Without a word, Oust turned away from Aster and walked back toward Milky.

Every eye followed the tiger as he approached the still-sobbing canine. His movements had changed, the aggressive swagger was gone, replaced by something almost careful. He lowered himself to his haunches beside the trembling ball of fluff.

The flower lay crushed where it fell. White and orange petals scattered across the stone, the stem broken and bent. Oust reached down with surprising gentleness, his claws carefully gathering the damaged bloom. When he offered it to Milky, his movements were slow and deliberate.

Milky sniffled a few times, his large eyes still wet with tears. Two trembling claws reached forward to accept the ruined flower. The simple creature looked closely at the crushed petals with the care of someone handling a precious treasure.

Then, a smile spread across his features, his tongue lolling out in pure joy. His tail began to wag, thumping against the stone in a rhythm that seemed to unlock something in the watching crowd. Was that warmth?

Oust bowed his head. The gesture was slight, but unmistakable, a show of respect from the powerful to the innocent. When he spoke, his voice was different. Softer. The harsh edges that usually defined his words were gone.

"I am sorry. I will fix this before I leave this place... Thank you for the gift."

The words fell into the courtyard like stones into still water. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Aster felt his own breath catch. He had pushed for this moment, but hearing it actually happen was something else entirely.

The tiger stood and began walking back the way he had came. As he passed Aster, who still held his shield ready, the beast spoke two words to him without ever turning to face him, his voice much quieter then so only Aster would hear, stunning him more than the sudden apology to the canine had.

"Thank you."

Aster only watched the tiger disappear into the shadows beyond the courtyard. His mind struggled to process what had just happened. He quite clearly just witnessed a miracle.

The realization left him feeling strangely hollow, as if he had spent so much energy preparing for a battle that the sudden peace left him with nowhere to put his accumulated tension.

"Thank you, indeed, human, for standing up for Milky. Allow me to repay your kindness."

The voice came from behind him, sultry and warm. Aster turned to find Madame Mist standing where no one had been moments before. Her peacock plumage caught the light in ways that seemed to bend the air around her. She moved with fluid grace, her presence both comforting and unsettling.

Aster nodded at the avian. "Don’t worry about it... I’m just glad they are ok... I’m sorry about the lute... I’ll help work to pay for a new one since it was my comrade that broke it."

The peacock waved a dismissive, feathered hand. "No need, this isn’t the first time such an accident has happened."

The avian squatted down, where Milky was still happily gazing at his flower, her silk dress pooling around her like water. The canine looked up at her with eyes still bright with tears, but now they were tears of joy rather than sorrow. Madame Mist extended her hand over the broken instrument.

Just as every other incantation, Aster couldn’t understand a word of it as the pieces of the broken instrument started to vibrate and shake themselves back into shape. The strings reattached themselves automatically as the impossible puzzle was reassembled perfectly.

Aster watched in heartwarming delight as she pulled her touch back, revealing the perfectly fine acoustic, repaired beyond all belief. The human smiled at the avian, speaking in his excitement.

"That’s incredible!"

Mist only giggled slightly. Her soft laughter was like music itself. She ran her feathery fingers across the strings, drawing forth a clear, sweet note that made the simple, white beast’s ears perk up with delight, drawing his attention back to their repaired toy.

The look on the canine’s face brought great joy to the human, as the ball of fluff happily picked it up and began strumming a basic tune, their tail thumping along behind him.

Mist rose gracefully, her hand gently patting Milky on the head in a gesture of benediction, before she turned back to Aster.

"Follow me, if you would."

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