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Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Wait, Why Am I a Dad Again?!

Allen turned back into the bedroom, leaning against the door as the sound of Zenith's heavier, pregnant breathing reached his ears. He let out a faintly mocking smile.

"Paul, you've always been dependable when it comes to your family… but when it comes to managing what's below the belt? Still just as terrible. Lilia… no cleaning that stain away."

He shook his head, muttering to himself.

'Participation score?'

A haze of smoke formed before his eyes.

[Current stage: Childhood Arc. Total Participation Score: 70]

Allen fell silent staring at the glowing 70.

Yeah… the truth was he'd been completely stalled these past six months. No matter how much he tried to raise Rudeus or Sylphy's affection, it didn't budge. Maybe the system was right—his relationship with those two had reached a kind of bottleneck.

He'd need a new angle to break through and rack up points.

That was the real reason he didn't bother barging in on that moment.

'The affair, Aisha and Norn's births… surely this is my chance to boost my score?'

His thoughts grew a little frantic. His early score had been so easy to rack up, mostly thanks to his early interference with Roxy's path. Like butterfly wings, every flap shot his points higher.

But since returning to the Greyrat household, he'd hit a plateau.

And in this world with no phones or radios, his ability to "locate satellites" was just too important—especially in a post-Displacement world.

[Opportunities for score increase still exist. Whether you make the best choice and earn the maximum possible depends entirely on you~]

The teasing scrawl of text in the air made his lips twitch.

'Wait a damn minute… why do you sound so gleeful? Is this fun for you?! Watching me squirm?!'

[Perish the thought~]

'No way. This time I'm gonna rack up enough points. If I keep stalling I'll never get that max reward. No wonder those max tasks are so sweet—turns out scoring above 60 is this damn hard.'

[Need a hint?]

'Spit it out.'

[Scores above 60 rely on deep participation in Mushoku Tensei's major events.]

'…Deep participation?'

Allen blinked. A certain mischievous "chaotic neutral" string plucked in his heart, and he couldn't help but grin.

'Hey… what if I sneak up to the door right now, and just as Paul finishes, scare him limp? That way Aisha still gets born, but maybe he stops cheating after this traumatic experience. Plus I'd be helping Zenith punish the scumbag, and it'd be a lesson for Rudy about mental stress and performance anxiety! Four birds with one stone!'

[…And then tomorrow, Paul sends you back to James faster than you can say "whoops."]

'???!'

——

The snow that winter in the 412th year of the Dragon Calendar fell heavier than usual, clinging endlessly to the ground. Whenever it seemed to stop, another flurry soon followed.

It was during this endless back-and-forth that Lilia realized she was pregnant.

Some things simply couldn't be hidden.

That night, after dinner, she tidied the table and returned from the kitchen without washing the dishes, walking back into the room before everyone.

Her unusual behavior drew everyone's eyes.

Zenith blinked.

"Lilia… are you not feeling well tonight? You've looked pale since dinner."

Lilia shot a quick glance at Paul—who looked just as shocked—then avoided Rudeus's and Allen's gazes. She drew a deep breath, lowered her head, and bowed slightly to Zenith.

"…I am deeply sorry. I am pregnant."

Zenith's smile froze, fading as she processed the words.

Paul's face changed instantly.

Rudeus stared dumbly between Zenith and the outwardly calm Lilia.

Allen had already slipped away from the table, leaning against the wall with the air of a bystander.

'In the original, Paul grovels and apologizes, and Rudeus is the one who resolves this family drama. He pins all the blame on Paul, gives Zenith a way to save face, and strong-arms her into accepting the affair and welcoming the new baby.'

'Honestly… that was cruel. Zenith was the only true victim here, and Rudeus forced his view on her, pressuring her to accept. Sure, he apologized later, but it felt hollow.'

'Either way, I'm staying out of the initial storm. Nothing I say now will get through to Zenith. The real chance to score points comes later—once she cools down. Then, with Rudy, and ideally the whole family, I can help her talk things through… then—'

Before Allen could finish plotting, smoke swirled before his eyes.

[Instant Mission: Lilia's Moment of Need]

[Mission Reminder: Though she appears calm, Lilia is already numb with despair. She fully expects to be cast out into the snow this winter and accepts it as her due punishment. Rudy has yet to act—it is time for you to step up!]

[Reward: Handle this well and you gain the Greyrat family's gratitude, taking Rudy's "position" toward Aisha in the original story. Participation Score: +20]

[Fail and earn 0.]

[At this crossroads of fate, can you choose the right action, and save Lilia's heart?]

[Mission Start!]

Allen stared at the jubilant text, his expression frozen.

His face might've been even paler than Paul's. Shock rippled through him on every level.

'Save Lilia's heart?! Shouldn't this be about helping Zenith?! Dammit—so you were just waiting for me to walk into this trap?! If I screw this up I'll get kicked out right along with her!'

(End of Chapter)

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