Hatching
Ding-dong~! Bang bang bang!!
"Open the door!"
Oh, he's here. Clutching the egg to my chest, I headed to the front door, which was being pounded on roughly.
"You're here?"
"You, that text you sent—!!! ...Who are you?"
"Ah."
The massive guy I faced at the door. Tae Hoon, who had been yelling as usual—
immediately froze with a flustered look on his face.
"Sorry! I must've gotten the address wrong!"
"Huh?"
"I'll apologize properly later, so give me your number—"
"What? Tae Hoon, Tae Hoon. Trying to get my number?"
...No way.
Because of how I look now?
Thinking about it—I'd probably fall for me too. It wouldn't be weird if the total virgin Tae Hoon got shaken.
"Sorry, but Tae Hoon."
"...Yeah?"
"See this?"
I lifted the egg in my arms slightly. Only then did Tae Hoon's gaze shift to it.
"It's my baby. What do you think? Pretty big, right?"
"Your... baby? No way, Yun... is that you?"
"Puhaha! Figured it out now? What, disappointed your first love is me?"
"No, that's bullshit— Haah... let's talk inside first."
"Come on in~"
I gave Tae Hoon a quick rundown of the situation. Surprisingly, he took it seriously.
"That kind of effect... Hm, yeah, that's definitely on me then."
"Right? This happened because of that magic beast sample you gave me."
"Haah... but you don't send texts like that."
"I became a mom overnight? I cleaned it up, but I laid this egg too. The floor was soaked in blood. That's why I tossed the mattress."
"...For real."
"But you believe me. I'd be suspicious if it were me."
"I have my doubts. But..."
Tae Hoon scanned me up and down. Then let out a deep sigh.
"You look different, but you're acting exactly like yourself."
"Whoa, touching~ So perceptive, how are you still a virgin? As an S-rank hunter, don't hot chicks overseas throw themselves at you?"
"You're the same."
"Sadly, I'm a virgin now~ Oh, wait, not after popping out a kid?"
A few pointless words flew back and forth.
Back to the main topic.
"So, what was that sample?"
"Well... I got it overseas."
"Oh, right, you went to America."
"Yeah. It was a gift from a research lab, but definitely..."
Tae Hoon paused for a moment.
"...the sample from the evil dragon Raguna, who blew away California 10 years ago, I think?"
"What?"
SS-rank magic beast. The evil dragon Raguna.
With a single breath— it incinerated a third of California, and the battle's aftermath— wiped half of it off the map.
Thank goodness it stayed in one place. If it had moved— America itself might've been done for.
"...Whoa."
This egg is the child of a monster like that? I couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
"Dude, aren't you scared?"
"Huh? Of what?"
Tae Hoon's expression hardened.
"If that egg really hatches into that monster's offspring?"
"..."
"If that evil dragon revives in this country, how many people do you think would die?"
It was a valid point. Undeniable.
I was too weak to just take responsibility blindly.
Tae Hoon extended his hand.
"Hand it over. I'll take care of it."
"..."
"It's not something you can handle. I'll look into your abilities. For now, give me the egg so I can deal with it before it hatches."
That hand— was broad and firm. Much more than mine right now.
Logically— handing it over to Tae Hoon was the right choice.
But.
"No."
"Hey."
Tae Hoon's voice turned stern on purpose. Defying it, I raised mine too.
"I said no!"
I hugged the egg tighter.
"It's my baby."
"..."
"I laid it, I carried it."
"..."
"What parent lets their kid get killed?"
Tae Hoon sighed.
"I get how you feel... but what if it really goes berserk?"
Berserk.
Hearing that— I hugged the egg even closer.
Thump— thump— The steady pulse from inside the egg.
As if— saying it was fine.
That pulse made it impossible for me to give up.
"It won't."
"Hey, Yun—"
Then.
Tae Hoon's phone rang.
"Hold on, phone... wait."
I curled up around the egg.
Berserk.
I'd never even thought of it.
I just hoped for a strong, healthy baby.
"...I..."
A week.
Holding it close.
Imagining a future living together.
"I..."
The lingering pain in my lower body.
Blood.
And— this child.
"I can't..."
"Guild master, right now—"
"I can't give up my baby!!"
"Ah, crap—"
A cold voice leaked from the phone.
"Tae Hoon... are you threatening her with force? A pregnant woman at that?!"
"No! It's not—"
"Get out! I don't need your help, so get out!"
"Hey! Seol Yun! Shit, seriously."
In the end.
Tae Hoon— was kicked out of the house, pushed out.
He didn't even resist properly, worried that as an S-rank hunter, he'd hurt Seol Yun if he did for real. The guest dismissal order was issued.
"...Tae Hoon. You're the worst."
"It's not like that..."
Tae Hoon sighed and headed to his car.
A moment later.
20,000,000 won deposited to Seol Yun's account
Tae Hoon set down his phone— and let out a deep sigh.
"Not even dating, what the hell am I doing. Sigh..."
He wondered if he should explain to the guild, but spreading word about an ancient dragon connection wouldn't help.
Just for a little while, until she calms down and settles...
The room after Tae Hoon left.
I stood there blankly for a while.
"...Ha."
Too late, I realized what I'd done.
Yelled at— and kicked out the guy who came to help.
"Still."
No regrets.
"It's my baby..."
Strange feeling.
Depressed— then randomly irritated.
Then— oddly warm inside.
Postpartum depression?
"...Haah, pathetic. Right?"
I murmured down at the egg.
To avoid overthinking— I picked up my phone.
WEP XX Bank: 20,000,000 won deposited
"...Huh?"
My eyes stopped.
Then— messages poured in.
"...Puhuh."
I burst out laughing without realizing.
"Acting all tsundere outside alone again. Kim Tae Hoon."
Tae Hoon was always like that.
Ticking me off to my face— but taking care of things behind my back.
"...But 2 mil is a bit much. Did he really fall for me? That'd be weird? Puhuhu."
I smirked and hugged the egg again.
"Generous me forgives you."
"You'll forgive your uncle too, right? He says sorry."
Thump— thump—!
"Yeah, says good."
"...Alright."
I faced reality again.
"What to do with this..."
I immediately logged into the gallery.
Summoner & Tamer Gallery.
Scrolling down— one post caught my eye.
Day 27 raising wyvern. First week after hatching just licked formula, now wants meat. Eats goblin meat but preferences vary. Mine loved orc meat best.
For fast growth, grind mana stones and feed like supplements. But expensive. Saying twice. Insanely expensive. Lowest-grade mana stone 5k won per gram. 5 mil per kg. Ok?
They eat 5-10kg a day min. Not for non-billionaires. Total no-recommend unless rich.
Recommend 29 / No 1
"Hm."
Definitely.
Raising from eggs— is mainstream for tamers.
"HatchingMaster would know best."
If stuck— ask again.
She offered support first anyway.
"For now."
I started shopping right away.
Change of clothes.
Bed mattress.
Groceries.
And— low-grade mana stones.
Total: 4.2 million won.
Mana stones jacked up the price bad.
Tae Hoon would yell if he saw, like "Told you to borrow 300k?!"
But parents want to feed their kids the best, right?
Money to repay anyway, might as well spend while I have it.
"Okay."
Done.
I flopped onto the floor.
Hugging the egg.
"Kuaaaah... so tired."
Fatigue hit all at once.
"Hatch soon... huaaam..."
Thump— thump—
"Koo..."
Before I knew it, I fell asleep on the floor.
The quiet room.
Only sounds— breathing.
And— thump— thump— thump— The heartbeat echoing from the egg.
That heartbeat— growing stronger.
And.
Crack— A fissure formed.
Crack.
Craaaack.
Cracks— spiderwebbing out.
"...Ppii?"
A small voice peeped through the crack, peering out at the world.
And— pop.
The egg fully shattered.
A black creature— emerged into the world.
Small.
Frail, but— definitely.
Alive.
It— lifted its head.
And met.
Pure white light.
Warm warmth.
The owner of the mana— that had enveloped it.
"...Ppii!"
The first cry since birth.
Its meaning— probably.
'Mom'.
