After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

[44 days after The Migration]

The time for the children’s one-Xenoan month birth celebration had finally arrived.

It was a relatively big celebration, especially since it was for more than one event.

One was to officially welcome the children’s first month into this world, and the other was to celebrate the reunion of family and friends.

They invited all their friends, including the elders and the aborigines, to a small but wondrous gathering in their villa.

They set it late afternoon when the sun was cool and was about to set. They decorated the place well, very much an intimate but well-prepared celebration.

The setting sun bathed the villa with a warm golden glow as the guests walked around and admired the tranquil oasis—from the intricately-decorated house to the gardens that framed it.

The house on a normal day was already very beautiful, with its front and rear gardens, swings, and ponds. But today, it was especially beautiful with the new colors, flowing colorful fabrics, and decorations added to its facade.

In the garden, the plants that hadn’t flowered before were now in full bloom, adding an amazing mix of colors to their sights. Further, their combined scents enveloped the guests in a warm, relaxing, embrace.

The empty pond that reflected the orange hues of the sky was now with fishes—caught by Ansel himself. The fishes glided gracefully under the water’s surface, creating fascinating movements under the water, never failing to attract audiences to just watch them swim.

They only came in silver colors, however, even if in different shades. There were plenty of times Ansel jokingly said to paint these dull-colored fishes orange or yellow, to make them more ornamental.

There was also a small wooden platform extending above the pond, allowing for a more intimate view of the fishes as well as the young waterlilies—found in the warehouse as a random resource sold—slowly creating a tiny ecosystem in the pond.

Traversing the entire gardens were stone pathways that wound their way through the shrubs, trees, gardens, and meticulously maintained flower beds—dedicating the path to maximize their appreciation.

The trees—the pre-existing ones—were strategically placed and maintained, providing a comforting canopy to those underneath it. The newer smaller trees, on the other hand, were still growing and each one provided hope for what was to come.

It was all so well put that it amazed all the guests, especially the aborgines who weren’t used to such arrangements. Gaudi, who had been to two worlds, was also admiring.

It was like they entered another world after passing through the gates.

The party was set up within these beautiful gardens. There were flower arrangements and tables integrated with the beautiful sight of plants and flowers.

One of the first things to notice upon entering was the elegantly set tables, the pastel-colored cloth that covered them fluttering lightly with the breeze. Keeping the cloth in place were colorful ceramic vases adorned with fresh flowers.

Because it was set near dusk, some lighting had been turned on in advance. These were lightings covered in partially translucent youli stone, hanging down from posts, trees, and trellises. They cast a warm enchanting glow to the set-up, adding to the otherworldly feel it was already exuding.

Even Oslo, who grew up in the city, had never seen such a thing. Parties also had flowers and plants, of course, but they were never arranged so beautifully.

”This is beautiful. Who arranged it?” Oslo asked, his pale hand extending to touch the beautiful pink flower.

”I did,” Unexpectedly, it was Ansel who spoke up with a smirk.

Oslo blinked. This was really unexpected. Other than gardeners, mostly it was only women—specifically, ladies of noble houses—who would care for such details.

”Ansel should start an events management company.” Althea laughed, entering the venue with little Pepper.

Garan, who followed closely behind with their son, sneered.

It seemed throwing him in the barracks didn’t fix his sissiness.

Don’t get him wrong, he didn’t dislike soft men. He disliked Ansel being a soft man, because that meant he would definitely act like a baby when his wife was there!

Sure enough, Ansel sauntered towards his wife with a huge smile. ”You think so? You’ll sponsor me right, older sister?” He asked, pinching his voice a little and leaning down so his height was near hers.

Althea laughed and patted his head. ”Of course.”

Garan’s eyes twitched, but before he could extend his hand to hold his wife’s, Ansel pulled back and put an arm around Oslo’s neck for a brotherly tug instead.

The aborigines seemed to have a relatively open culture, so this little touch didn’t offend them.

”Friend!” He said, ”Let me show you more about this event.”

Oslo, who had been curious, nodded, and the two lost-brothers went out of their way.

Ansel effectively saved himself a few hours of harsh training that day.

…

The food was buffet style courtesy of both Harold and Cooke, who had become close friends (and went to morning exercises together with Clutch and Gru). They also learned a lot from each other, with Harold learning more technical techniques, and Cooke getting more understanding of the subtleties of homemade food.

Combining their two old heads together, they came up with a menu comprising of eight viands of various meat and fishes, a salad with two dressing options, rice, and tomato pasta.

There were also three types of desserts. One was the classic fruit platter, but the other two—tart and pie—used the new sugar that had been discovered and had yet to be readily available in the supermarket.

Each dish looked absolutely alluring.

Anyway, this buffet was already open and a lot of eyes were fixed in its direction.

Althea smiled, ”It’s an open buffet,” she said, ”You can take what you want before going to your seat, and you can come back there at any time.

”Sit where you wish, and I hope you enjoy the event!”

”Yes, Miss Althea~ Thank you~” They said in near unison, and without further ado, the small crowd gathered in front of the buffet table, trying not to drool on it.

The tables were slowly filled up with people and their plates and soon words of praise echoed in the gardens.

”Delicious!”

”Amazing..”

”I need to go back in case they run out!”

”Me too!”

Safe to say, the reviews for the food were stellar.

As the guest ate happily, the family of four went up the makeshift stage.

”Family, friends, and partners. Thank you for coming to our little gathering,” Althea began to speak with a beautiful smile. Next to her, her handsome husband stood dutifully, like a guard.

”Today is my children’s first month since arriving in this tumultuous world, a month since these new symbols of hopes for me, for us, were born.”

”I would like to thank my friends and husband for helping me raise these angels. Also thank you to Betty, Sheila, Oslo, Helios, and Hugo for bringing me help when I was about to give birth.”

At the sound of new men’s names, Garan’s eyes faltered and he stared at the aforementioned men.

His sharp eyes ended on Hugo, and realized it was one of the many (many) men looking at his wife differently. Their eyes met and they frowned at the same time, but quickly shifted their attention to the woman speaking.

”It was not easy,” she said and smiled when she felt her husband’s warmth next to her, ”But we got through it and it is such a blessing that has to be celebrated many times.”

”Not only this, but we also celebrate the reunion with families and our brethren lost many months ago. Now, they would build this new home together with us.”

She said this and she looked at her husband, who smiled with her. The audience clapped in agreement, many of whom smiling with each other, looking forward to their contributions to the territory.

Althea let the applause calm down before speaking again.

”I know this is a bit off-topic, but my husband and I would like to take advantage of this time to introduce the names of my children.” She turned to her husband who stepped forward, holding the two little puddings.

As if knowing this was all about them, the two children lifted their heads from being buried comfortably in their father’s embrace and stared at the audience. The people admired their cute faces, happily melting as they saw their large rounded eyes.

They were also adorable in their matching clothing, except Little Pepper’s was reddish, while Meatball’s was blue.

”Little Meatball is Alphonse Witt, in Terran language, meaning One of Noble Temperament,” she said as she watched the boy drool all over his father’s arm. ”Well, this is what we hope he’d grow to be.”

The audience giggled.

She turned to little Pepper, and Beany was already a little teary.

”My firstborn—Little Pepper will be named Nathalia Witt, in honor of Beany’s daughter who had left us too early.”

She paused, ”In Terran, it means the day of birth, a happy event.”

”Their names would signify their completely becoming part of this world, and what we hope for them. Thank you for witnessing it with us, and we hope everyone will find the happiness that we found.”

From the crowd, Beany raised his cup. ”Cheers!”

Smiling, everyone else raised their glasses, ”Cheers!!”

Together, everyone gestured to down their glasses.

The babies giggled along with the atmosphere, and the couple couldn’t join the cheer immediately because of it. Unexpectedly, the couple saw… that Little Meatball was floating, like a helium balloon.

”...”