Chapter 363

Although it was a sudden statement, Irene wasn’t surprised.

“Don’t tell me… you’re planning to go see them to get parenting advice?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Michael nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Irene stared blankly at the stack of childcare books piled on the living room table.

“Michael, I think right now you could probably raise a hundred children and still do a good job.”

Her belly hadn’t even begun to show, yet he was already making baby food so well.

Thanks to that, Chomp-chomp, who got to eat all the leftovers, was the most excited of all.

Michael glanced at Chomp-chomp, who was happily eating leftover apples, kale, and other vegetables and fruits, then shook his head.

“No. Life is all about real experience. No matter how many books you read, firsthand testimony from those who’ve actually done it is always more valuable.”

Was he going to listen to parenting war stories or battle war stories?

She had to admit, there were similarities between the two, but seeing Michael so full of grim determination, Irene was left speechless.

“Do you really… have to go that far?”

At this rate, Irene couldn’t even imagine what Michael might do next.

“That far? I still think it’s nowhere near enough. Oh, while I’m out, I’ll also stop by the nearest kingdom’s library to look up information on child growth and development…”

“Stop! Stop! That’s enough!”

If she just left him, he’d probably end up researching the entirety of human nature.

“Alright, I’ll get ready and come out quickly. You’re planning to go straight through the monster realm like last time, right?”

“What? What do you mean?”

At Irene’s words, Michael’s eyes widened as if the sky had fallen.

“What if the miasma ends up having a negative effect on your body? First, I have to find all the relevant research and confirm that traveling through the monster realm is safe during pregnancy…”

By now, both Chomp-chomp and Hand of Appraisal, who had been listening in, looked thoroughly fed up.

As if there would ever be research like that…

“Michael.”

Irene cut him off. Then, pointing back and forth between the two of them with her finger, she said,

“You do know how high both your and my miasma resistance and magical power are, don’t you?”

“……”

At Irene’s words, Michael fell silent.

This was a child conceived by two people overflowing with magical power.

There was no way a child like that would be affected much by the monster realm’s miasma.

“Still…”

“And, I’d been meaning to say this.”

Once again, Irene cut him off firmly and continued,

“Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I’ve lost my arms and legs. My belly hasn’t even started to show, and I don’t have any symptoms at all. I’m living exactly as I always have.”

She spoke seriously.

Seeing how happy Michael was about the pregnancy, Irene was happy, too.

Honestly, she’d worried that, since he’d been so diligent with contraception until now, he might have trouble accepting the idea of a child.

But those worries were unnecessary. He was overjoyed.

At the same time, though, he was suddenly being overly protective.

“Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I’ve suddenly become weak, right? If I need help, I’ll ask you. So until then, I hope you’ll treat me the same as always.”

“……”

At Irene’s words, Michael looked as if he’d just been hit on the head.

Then, after a long pause, he finally nodded.

“…I’m sorry.”

Michael realized his mistake.

Whether or not there was a child, the way he treated Irene shouldn’t change.

Irene was precious to him simply for being Irene. Nothing else could alter her value.

* * *

Admitting he’d been overdoing it lately, Michael hurried to finish getting ready to go out.

Then, Hand of Appraisal, looking down from the table, said,

[Are you going to take that damn dog with you? Please say yes.]

“Yip!”

Under the table, the puppy barked at the Hand, eyes burning with longing for the lost toy.

• Author
• Recent Posts

elphie

Latest posts by elphie (see all)