Chapter 281: His Resolution
༺ His Resolution ༻
"Frey?"
"Uh, yeah. Serena."
My mind, which had been frozen for a while, began to function once more as Serena's touch reached my cheek.
"Well, uh… So…"
No, it wasn't working, but it felt forced.
"S-Serena. This… Eat this."
Like forcibly winding a poorly lubricated spring, I found myself taking out the moonlight crystal and handing it to her.
"What is this?"
"O-our… fruit of love?"
"Oh my."
My voice sounded like a broken machine, and Serena covered her mouth and responded softly.
"But the fruit of our love is right here, isn't it?"
She then gently caressed the curve of her lower abdomen.
"Hehe."
She took my hand and quietly placed it on her lower abdomen.
– Swoosh, swoosh…
"Can you feel my belly, bearing your seeds?"
– Squeeze…
Then, as she squeezed my hand, she grasped her lower abdomen and whispered with a smile in her eyes.
"Congratulations on becoming a father."
Hearing this, I was at a loss for words and just stared blankly at her.
– Swoosh…
The softness of her belly under my hand felt unusually warm.
"It tickles."
As I unintentionally slowly stroked her belly, she buried her face in my neck and whispered softly while rubbing her own belly.
"Or maybe it's not because of you?"
"Ah, uh…"
Startled, I tried to withdraw my hand from her belly, but Serena giggled and took my hand back.
"I'm just kidding."
"It's just a joke?"
"Yes, It's still ovulating, and it's only been about a week anyway."
She looked at me with a shy expression.
"Remember when I told you I learned the Ovulation Spell last time? I was already ovulating to carry your seed then."
"That's… right."
"Is something wrong? Don't you remember because it was so intense?"
"T-That's not it, but…"
"Or maybe that doesn't matter to you?"
At that, Serena tilted her head, and I quickly shook mine.
"You beast."
"…"
"It's true, you were like a beast, so I had to keep my legs crossed for days to prevent your seeds from spilling out. My legs were so numb, I thought I was going to die."
My face started blushing at her carefully chosen words, continuously teasing me.
Finally regaining my composure from that, I tried to speak to her with a concerned look.
"It's going to be okay, Sere…"
"Okay, take this."
Taking the moonlight crystal from my grasp, she quietly blushed and placed something on my empty hand.
"This is…"
"I'm not sure what this crystal is, but this seems like a gift, so I should give you one too. I don't want to be a wife who only receives."
I quietly looked at my hand, and I was left speechless.
"Do you like it?"
In my hand was a magic tool. To be more specific, it was a pregnancy test.
"You seem to space out a lot today?"
Two red lines entered my vision, and as a man, how could I possibly stay sane?
"What about the daytime, Serena? Can you hide this?"
As I asked while still dazed, Serena scratched her head and replied.
"Well, I did cast a spell on it."
"W-What kind of spell?"
"A spell that temporarily halts its state right after fertilization, keeping it safe inside me. But, it's a bit tricky."
"T-Tricky?"
I have been out of it since a while ago, and I gently grabbed her shoulder and slowly seated her, to which Serena looked at me and said.
"This is my first time experiencing pregnancy, so the development of the spell was a bit delayed. I'm not sure if I cast it correctly."
"Ah…"
"If it's cast properly, I can use magic to control it at will, but if not… my belly might suddenly start swelling."
Saying that, Serena looked at my face with a mixture of joy and worry, and smiled faintly.
"I have Absolute Obedience Magic for this. If something happens, I'll just order myself not to be aware of it and just to cherish my lower abdomen, right?"
"…"
"And there are plenty of ways to hide it from prying eyes. Using illusion scrolls is very sim… Frey?"
As she continued to offer solutions, she noticed my rigid expression and widened her eyes.
"You stay home for a while. I'll figure out something…"
"Frey."
I broke out in a cold sweat, and she then grasped my hand and started speaking.
"Do you think I did all this without any thought?"
"…Then?"
"It was all planned, and I was prepared."
I could feel the strength in her hand.
"A few days before that night, I had already talked to Ferloche."
"Ah…"
"She mentioned the need for a 'vaccination' to overcome the Fourth Ordeal."
Her expression darkened as she continued.
"Am I really unable to handle someone as beastly as you on my own?"
"…Serena."
"Honestly, I really hate it. You are legally married only to me and frankly, I want to have you all to myself for the rest of my life."
She held my hand and spoke candidly, then sighed.
"But that would be selfish of me, wouldn't it? Monopolizing someone like you is just wrong."
"Serena, if you want…"
"…It's been in the back of my mind since the Third Ordeal."
She looked at me with a slightly guilty expression.
"You've sacrificed so much for everyone, and continue to do so, even though you have been deprived of happiness since you were a child, and yet you only want a little happiness, right?"
"…"
"Monopolizing you for my happiness wouldn't be a happy ending for you… or for others."
"Serena."
"What you want is a happy ending for 'all of us,' right?"
Hearing those words, it felt like I'd been hit by a hammer.
"Are you still only wishing for 'a happy ending for this world'?"
"N-No, no… of course not."
"A happy ending should include you too. We all need to create our happy ending together."
Serena spoke with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yet the selfish me wanted to be the only wife, monopolizing you till the end… but now there's a 'justification' for it."
"The Fourth Ordeal, right? That's…"
"You know how terrifying uncertainty can be."
She smiled again, then grabbed my arm and whispered.
"The reason I took the risk to 'fertilize' now was also to study magic."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a spell that temporarily suspends the activity of a fertilized egg. How could I possibly create such a thing when I've never been pregnant before? Even Irina, who is a genius in magic, can't do that."
"Then…"
"Did you plan to impregnate so many people at once? You really are a beast."
She licked my lips with a playful expression, then added with a smirk.
"You can't have all the Helpers retire at once. That would disrupt the plan. That's why I researched the spell."
"So…"
"I'll teach you the magic. If someone carries your seed, they can keep it inside until everything is over. Then, they will still be able to take care of themselves."
After saying that, she added with a stern look on her face.
"The first pregnancy is mine, though. And I won't yield that to anyone."
Then, a silence ensued.
"Uh, um."
Unintentionally revealing her true feelings, her face slowly flushed.
"And if possible, I'd like to be the legal wife…"
Serena blushed and mumbled as she looked at me for a moment.
– Swoosh…
"…Oh my."
I couldn't hold it back any longer and held her in my arms, and she gave me a shy look as she wrapped her legs around my waist, and whispered softly.
"The best moment of that night was this."
"I love you, Serena…"
I spoke while gently rubbing my cheek against her belly, and she blushed as she sat at the desk, slowly grabbed my head, and pulled me closer.
"There's life inside here, Frey."
"Yeah."
"It's currently on pause, and although the timing of the spell might not have been right, it's definitely there."
Carefully pressing my cheek against her belly, Serena whispered.
"I'm ready. I'll survive by any means. I'm not alone anymore, and you know what I'm capable of. I'll never recklessly risk my life or suffer, so please rest assured…"
"…Mwah."
"Haah!?"
I found her adorable, so I gently kissed her lower belly, causing her to tremble.
"Seriously, I really want to have you all to myself…"
She looked at me regretfully and muttered.
"Can't I be the first one to give birth to the first three kids? Oh… don't forget, I am the first to be pregnant, okay?"
As I stared at her in silence, she raised the corner of her mouth and began to speak.
"Aren't I better than a sly pigeon, a rude cat, a dog beastkin, or an old maiden past her prime, right?…"
"Uh, yeah…"
"I'll take care of the rankings, so why don't you take it easy for the rest of your vacation…"
She tightened her legs around my waist, and shyly covered her face with a fan, then she turned her gaze slightly, and whispered.
"…Honey."
Apparently, Serena planned to act like this whenever we were alone.
"Huuu…"
Mixed feelings of worry, fear, joy, and elation left me dazed at the sudden news. But still…
– Slurp.
"…Huph."
Somehow, my heart felt warmer.
'I have one more reason now.'
Aria and Serena. I would protect them no matter what.
Definitely.
.
.
.
.
.
"…Seriously, you beast."
"Hmm."
Blushing, Serena gently touched the saliva I left on her lower abdomen, and stared at the moonlight crystal in her hand.
"So, I just swallow this?"
"Yeah. Shall I get you some water or…"
"It's okay, it feels soft when I touch it. I don't think I'll need it."
As Frey, who suddenly became a father-to-be, noticeably panicked, Serena chuckled softly and whispered in a low voice.
"Shall I swallow it?"
"…Yes."
Blushing over a trivial matter, the boy and girl faced each other shyly.
The two, still feeling awkward about the whole thing, exuded an air of innocence that would bring a smile to anyone looking.
"Haah."
After playing with the moonlight crystal for a while, she quietly brought it to her mouth.
– Ssshhh…
As she did, the energy of the moonlight seemed to melt and spread inside her mouth.
– Chew, chew…
She found it very interesting, so her eyes were wide open as she chewed thoughtfully.
"…Gulp."
She then closed her eyes tightly and swallowed the energy she was savoring in her mouth.
"Bleeh…"
A moment later, she stuck out her tongue with a twinkle in her eyes.
"H-How was it?"
Frey was reminded of the incident a few weeks ago, he shyly turned away and asked, then Serena whispered with a smile.
"The color was like moonlight, but what was inside felt like star energy. It shimmered silver, and…"
"Yeah, I felt that too…"
"…It tasted somewhat like you?"
Frey looked stunned, and Serena covered her mouth with her hand and whispered.
"Just kidding."
Finally unwrapping her legs from his waist, she fanned her reddened face and murmured.
"I feel very clear-headed."
"Really?"
"Yeah, like my mind is spinning rapidly? Like I'm getting smarter? It's hard to explain, but it's something like that."
Frey quietly turned his gaze toward the door while pondering what would happen if the already intelligent Serena became even smarter in this state.
"Seems like we have some uninvited guests? Are they planning to attack?"
"Probably just the freshmen."
"Should I help you? Maybe show them a lesson…"
"Don't. You know that's not the right thing to do."
As Frey turned to leave, Serena gave him a soft smile and waved goodbye, while still trying to compose herself.
"Then, take care."
"Yeah, you too, rest well, Serena."
Frey smiled back, then cautiously opened the door and stepped out.
"Good… everything's going according to plan."
The moment the door shut, she stroked her lower abdomen with a satisfied expression and spoke.
"If it goes like this… the legal wife will naturally be me…"
Brimming with confidence, she began to mutter to herself.
"Coo–coo!"
"…?"
She looked puzzled as her owl suddenly flew into the room.
"What's wrong, owl?"
"Coo–coo–coo!"
On its leg was a newspaper that had just been released.
"What news could it be…"
Pondering, she stopped even her surveillance of the black cat doll she had commanded, curious about the news it brought.
"…"
Her expression then hardened sternly.
[Isolet Arham Bywalker, Scandal with Frey… Shocking.]
– Is the meaning of family an 'adopted son' or a 'husband'?
[Clana, the Third Princess of the Imperial Family, Reveals that the Covenant Cannot be Rescinded.]
– Frey is still my suitor, we're already entwined by magic…
[The Pure White Saintess is Actually a Dark Saintess?]
– Close associate reveals her and Frey's secret…
The simultaneous explosion of scandalous articles would have been suspicious to anyone.
"Owl."
"Coo."
After staring coldly at the articles for a while, she whispered to the owl in a low voice.
"Contact Miho. Let's play detective for a change."
"Coo!"
"And…"
She cleared up her space and quieted down, and for the first time in a long time, she had a menacing look on her face.
"…Contact the Royal Guards as well."
"Coo!"
"I was joking earlier… but somehow, I really do feel my mind working better."
Her eyes glinted with a moonlight hue as she said this.
.
.
.
.
.
"…Hmm?"
When Frey opened the door, he saw Roswyn standing right in front of him.
"T-To everyone… the seed…"
"Hey."
"…Ah."
She stared into space with blank eyes and mumbled something, but came to her senses when Frey started speaking.
– Fzzzt…
"Ugh…"
At that moment, Roswyn was slowly pushed back by the system.
Despite her desperate attempts not to be pushed back, she only managed to grimace and stumble backward.
"I-Its dangero…!"
She was about to say something when Frey, who had been watching the scene, pulled his gaze away with a cold expression from her.
"Hey!"
"Huh?"
"Follow me! We need to get out of here, fast!"
Glare appeared out of nowhere beside him, grabbed his hand, and started dragging him somewhere.
"Kid, where are you taking me…"
"I'll protect you!"
"What? What do you…"
He could only stare at her blankly.
[The 'Owner' of the Helper System is immune to the effects of the Fourth Ordeal.]
[The 'Helper' of the Helper System is the sole helper in the Fourth Ordeal.]
Before her, the moonlight system window was floating.
Chapter 282: Crossroads
༺ Crossroads ༻
"Um, hey… kid?"
"I'm not a kid!"
After being dragged by the kid and running for a while, I started to feel out of breath.
"…Are you getting tired?"
Feeling my body weaken a little, Glare, who had been dragging me, tilted her head and asked.
"You seemed quite strong before…"
Indeed, someone who could even take on the second-in-command of the Demon King's army heaving and panting was indeed odd.
But currently, I was purposely conserving my 'Blessing of the Stars.'
I needed to recover and save my strength for the massive battle ahead.
"Huff."
This kid, for some reason, was getting on my nerves.
She could be 'a coincidence' or a game-changer, but right now, she was just a headache.
If she kept sticking to me like this, it would be bad.
She was in the prime of her youth, she could get tangled in bad rumors and face difficulties when making friends.
And if she grew attached to me, this cute kid might get caught up in the Fourth Ordeal.
'I can't let this go on.'
I've let her be because of our past connection, and she reminded me of my younger sister, but I couldn't let this continue.
For her sake and mine, I needed to draw the line now.
"Kid, listen."
"I'm not a kid… I'm a big girl…"
I began talking with a cold expression, and she started to stammer.
"Listen."
I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her towards me, then I whispered quietly as I showed her my left arm, which had been gathering dark energy.
"I'm not the pitiable or amazing person you think I am."
"Is that so?"
"Enough, stop with your unnecessary meddling. I've been patient enough, but there's a limit to my patience."
After saying that, I turned around and sharpened my gaze.
"Now… it's your turn."
– Kwaang!!
Immediately after saying that, I grabbed my walking stick and slammed it hard on the ground.
"Argh…!"
"Kugh!"
"W-What is this power…!"
The students who had been following me stealthily collapsed all at once from the shockwave.
"…Sigh."
There was no need for a finishing blow. With just one strike, all the students who were charging at me were subdued.
In the first place, the strong ones would've gauged my power and chosen not to attack recklessly, so it was only natural that only the weaker ones would be here. This outcome was somewhat predictable.
But wasn't this a bit much?
I was outnumbered in the fight, but I subdued them all in one hit?
"…"
Feeling a strange sense of unease, I realized the students were giving me cold stares.
"What are you looking at?"
As I glared back at them even harder, their heads dropped silently.
"You all attacked at once and still lost. Shouldn't you at least feel some shame?"
That was the reaction I expected and was hoping for, so the corners of my mouth twitched upward.
"You shouldn't feel such petty anger."
Saying this in a mockingtone, the students started to squirm.
But no one dared to step forward.
Because they had just been defeated by me in a single move.
"How pitiful."
After firmly nailing down my point with a low voice to these eager yet inexperienced kids, I quietly pressed on my left arm.
– Sizzle…
Dark energy began to flow out of my left arm.
"Today, I will mark each of you with a slave's seal."
The students, who were watching me with dazed eyes, turned pale as I said this.
"T-That's illegal…"
– Swish…
"…Ah."
Before they could argue, the slave's seal was imprinted into everyone's arms, leaving a variety of expressions on their faces.
Needless to say, none of those expressions were positive.
'Now that I've marked them with the seal of slavery, I can make them work hard.'
I quietly took in their expressions, planning how to educate them when the school reopened.
"Hmm?"
I felt someone running towards me from behind, so I tilted my head and stretched out my hand.
"Eek!"
Suddenly, a kid popped out from nowhere.
"H-How did you know?"
She clung to my arm and asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Not many people can see through my stealth technique…"
"…Sigh."
It was indeed an extraordinary stealth technique. In fact, it was nearly perfect.
Even I wouldn't have noticed her if I hadn't detected the faintest trace of her technique.
'Could it be… she deliberately led those kids here?'
Now that I thought about it, it was her plan to grab me and take me here.
I thought she was just rushing somewhere, but she led me to a flat area, perfect for amplifying mana and shockwaves.
It could be a coincidence, but looking at her pleased smile, it seemed unlikely to be just that.
"What do I do now…?"
Despite dangling in mid-air, she smiled mischievously and then whispered.
"It seems I've lost to you, Professor."
She looked up at me and cautiously tried to kick my stomach.
– Thud!
"Hehe… I can't even resist anymore."
But her small act of defiance was easily blocked by my other hand. She smiled awkwardly and scratched her head.
"So, am I Professor's slave now?"
"What?"
"I heard that students who attack and lose to the Professor become 'slaves,' right?"
With one of her arms and legs caught, she murmured with her gaze down.
"I've used up all my mana creating traps here, so I'm helpless now."
"What are you…"
Contrary to her words, I could still feel an immense amount of mana from her, enough to surround the area.
It was so vast that any skilled mage might mistake it for the mana in the environment.
"I have no choice but to become a slave."
I was about to ask what this was all about, but her words left me speechless.
"Please make me your slave, Professor."
What should I do with this cheeky kid?
The answer was actually quite simple. Just as I made those who trusted me to turn their backs in the end, I needed to be cold to her.
I had only failed twice with this method.
Serena and Isolet were an exception. So, I knew very well how to deal with this kid.
"…Professor?"
But why was I hesitating so much?
I thought it was because I was inherently soft towards kids of this age because they reminded me of my younger sister. Or maybe it was due to receiving kindness for the first time in a long while, or possibly because of our past connection.
But it seemed like it was more than just that.
For some reason, I was instinctively reluctant to treat this child harshly.
"If I become your slave, Professor, what should I do first? Washing dishes? Cleaning? Running errands? Or maybe…"
Looking at her mischievous smile, something I remembered as 'pure' from the past, I kept thinking. Finally, I made up my mind and exerted force into my left arm.
– Sizzle…
Simultaneously, a dark energy arose.
"Hmm?"
But something was odd.
– Zzzzzz…
The dark energy leaking from my arm dissipated, unable to get close to the little kid.
"What is this…?"
At the same time, a faint but glittering light started emanating from her body.
"Indeed, looking into the Professor's eyes reminds me of that person."
In this situation, the kid now had a serious expression and whispered softly.
"The one who saved me that day…"
With that, cold sweat started to run down my face.
"Frey!"
A familiar voice rang out from behind me.
"…What's going on?"
Confused, I turned around to see Clana, looking anxious.
"O-Oh no… if I lose to her too, it's over for me…"
Almost tearful, Clana grabbed the hem of her skirt and rushed towards me, then quickly changed her expression as she started drawing attention.
"What misdeeds are you up to now?"
"…I'm just teaching them."
"Don't lie, you shameless human being."
To the public, she was still my enemy.
Clana wanted to openly support me, but it would've halved her popularity, so I desperately tried to stop her.
"…Huh?"
Then, Glare looked at her with a strange expression.
"Didn't you praise him the last time…"
"I-It can't be helped now that it's like this."
When Glare muttered so, Clana quickly switched the subject with a coy look on her face.
"As much as I hate it… I have to take you away today."
There was a moment of silence.
"So that's how it is, the love-hate relationship of adults…"
"Oh, Glare? Hello?"
"Eek!"
Breaking the silence, Clana hooked her arm with Glare and smiled. Then she started talking with a confident and adult-like expression.
"Do you remember that we agreed to be friends last time?"
"Ah… Yes."
"That's right, Frey. This cute 'little kid' is my friend. So, treat her right, okay?"
She spoke with a stern look, but then shrunk under my gaze, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I-If you must… to me…"
"How adorable."
"…!?"
At my teasing words, Clana blushed bright red, looking as if she had malfunctioned.
"E-Even if you say that, it doesn't make me happy at all… Ooh…"
"…A note."
As I watched the kid pull out a notebook with a sullen expression, I immediately sighed and gently hooked arms with Clana.
"…!!!"
Clana hardened like a statue.
"It's been a while since… I've been treated properly… Hehe…"
She lowered her head, giggling.
A mix of various expensive perfumes and a sweet smell wafted over from her. It seemed like she also mixed in pheromone magic.
"So, why are you here?"
"…Ah."
I asked softly and tried to soothe Clana. She, despite looking primed and proud, looks sullen after a long day at work. Then she opened her eyes wide and whispered.
"We need to get out of here as soon as possible."
"Huh?"
"Serena, Irina, and Kania are waiting in the carriage. I'll explain on the way. It's urgent."
Her voice was tense, so I nodded seriously, dropping the playful attitude.
"Let's go then…"
"Professor."
As I watched Clana burning with determination to protect me, and was about to walk with her towards the carriage, the kid called out to me, and I turned around.
"…What's that?"
An amazing sight unfolded before me.
"Hehe."
The little kid floated my stellar mana with the slave seal in the air.
"Hmm… this seems difficult…"
She tried to attach the seal to her arm, but it kept falling off due to her light, causing her to look troubled.
"Then…"
After a few seconds, she looked at the seal with a determined look.
"Nyam."
In the blink of an eye, she swallowed the seal that had been floating around.
"It worked!"
She then rubbed her stomach, and smacked her lips.
"From today onwards, I am your slave, Professor!"
Clana, still arm-in-arm with me, flinched at these words.
"…Be my assistant instead."
"Ugh."
When I finally responded, the kid made a strange noise, scratched her head, and muttered.
"Is that better…?"
It seemed like I've gained a troublesome assistant.
.
.
.
.
.
"That kid just now, she tore off the slave seal and floated it in the air, right?"
"Yeah, I guess?"
As we walked away from the square towards the carriage, I glanced back at Glare, who was following us, and asked Clana, who responded while breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Even Irina… can't do that, right? Or can she?"
"L-Let's ask her in the carriage later. For now…"
Continuously looking back at Glare behind them, Clana felt something strange and began moving closer and closer to Frey.
"…"
Soon, the two of them were forced to stop at a crossroad, not far from the carriage.
"Oh, hello there."
On the left path, Ruby, who was chatting with Aria, waved at us with a smile.
"…"
And on the right path, Roswyn was sitting on a bench with a blank expression.
"…This is driving me crazy."
Frey's forehead began to crease.