Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: A Moment's Rest (6)
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—Tweet tweet.
The chirping of birds reached the ears of the man and woman, who clung to each other as if craving each other's warmth even more.
"Mm..."
Disturbed by the dizzying chirps, Il-yeong furrowed his brow and tossed a bit before slowly opening his eyes. At that moment, something soft and yielding brushed against his cool chest.
"Hm?"
Shaking off his hazy drowsiness, he glanced downward. His vision was immediately filled with large, beautiful breasts. And at the same time...
"Hoo..."
Mori Yoshinari's soft breath tickled his collarbone. Only then did Il-yeong recall the events of the previous night, letting out an awkward smile.
'Got a bit too carried away, huh.'
To be precise, carried away by sex.
Harboring such a silly thought, he carefully scanned his surroundings so as not to wake her. And soon, he realized.
'...We really went at it.'
What a mess.
The tatami mats where they'd mainly made love were dotted with stains, and even though it was an open space visible from the courtyard, the faint lingering scent of their passion hung in the air.
Thanks to that, Il-yeong chuckled belatedly, imagining the samurai outside must have heard.
'Well, whatever.'
Everyone who needed to know already knew about his relationship with Mori Yoshinari. Even if they didn't fully trust him, anyone living in Owari would keep their mouths shut.
Power sure had its perks.
Thinking that, Il-yeong glanced down at Yoshinari, who was nuzzling deeper into his firm embrace.
"Hoo."
"Ha."
She looked utterly adorable, wriggling with a faint smile as if lost in a sweet dream.
'With breasts like these, and so terrifying on the battlefield wielding a spear... how is this fair?'
Il-yeong had thoughts that others might call bragging as he gently pulled her into his arms. He draped the thin garments that had kept his own bare skin warm over her body and quietly watched her sleep.
How much time passed like that?
"Hoo. Mm."
Her lips smacked a few times, parched perhaps from their intense kisses the night before. Yoshinari's eyelashes fluttered, her eyes blinking open like a lightbulb flickering on. They landed on Il-yeong, who was gazing down at her from right above.
"...Il-yeong?"
She froze at the sudden sight of him before her eyes.
"Sleep well?"
But as she realized she was naked and he gently stroked her hair while speaking, her pupils trembled as memories of the night flooded back.
However, at that moment.
A playful glint in his eye, Il-yeong curled his lips into a grin and slipped his hand slightly lower, caressing her smooth belly. It was still a bit slick from when he'd licked it the night before.
"I-I lye-yeong."
Startled by the sudden touch, Yoshinari looked at him in bewilderment. Her eyes held unspoken thoughts like 'Not in the morning too, surely?' or 'I'm sore...'
But his touch on her belly wasn't for that reason...
"Just wondering if our baby’s doing okay."
"B-Baby...!"
Baby.
At that word, Yoshinari's eyes widened dramatically before she directed her gaze to her lower abdomen. Trembling slightly, she brushed her hand over it, recalling the wild sex from the night before that she'd momentarily forgotten upon waking.
"Looks a little swollen."
Il-yeong whispered teasingly, making Yoshinari flush and fluster helplessly. It felt good, but now that sanity had returned, there were more than one or two issues nagging at her.
"I-If I get pregnant, I can't fight..."
But the biggest issue was that one.
If she got pregnant, battle would be impossible. Riding a horse would be tough enough, and any mishap could harm Il-yeong and their precious child.
If things went truly worst-case...
She bit her lip.
But then.
"Don't worry."
Il-yeong gently stroked her gray hair as she sank into gloomy thoughts and smiled softly.
"If it happens easily, great. And if you do get pregnant, I'll protect you and the baby no matter what it takes."
He spoke with full confidence.
He'd thrust so deep inside her—practically right up to her womb. Not once, but nearly ten times.
If that didn't result in pregnancy, one of them might have an issue.
"S-Still."
Even at his gentle whisper, Yoshinari's anxiety didn't fully lift; she mumbled. But at that instant.
—Rustle.
Il-yeong pulled her into his arms before she could say more, whispering low into her heated ear.
"How about we eat first?"
Predictably.
—Grrrowl.
A hunger pang echoed from Yoshinari's firm, slightly protruding belly. After a moment of silence, she...
"...Y-Yeah."
Nodded faintly in his embrace, burying her face deeper to avoid meeting his eyes.
*
The room where they'd made love was swiftly cleaned by the servants. A few ruined tatami mats had to be removed, and deodorizing plant juices were liberally applied to eliminate the odors.
Of course, everything was handled quietly by trustworthy servants.
The tatami were burned in the backyard of Il-yeong's residence.
Once things were more or less sorted, Il-yeong ordered the female servants—who were blushing knowingly—to bring food. He gently drew Mori Yoshinari, sitting beside him, into his arm around her shoulder. Smiling faintly at her absentmindedly stroking her belly under her clothes, he asked.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just."
At his question, Yoshinari turned to look at him, then murmured softly, gaze lowered with a light blush.
"...Wondering what it feels like to become a mom."
"Yeah, now that you mention it."
Il-yeong inwardly agreed with her concern.
Becoming a parent.
Truth be told, he hadn't really pondered it much himself.
'Makes sense—it's always felt so distant for me.'
He'd dated and confessed a few times, but none were serious. Somewhat draining... driven by shared loneliness, lust, or mere camaraderie.
'Not with Yoshinari, though.'
Grateful for her thoughtful worry, Il-yeong hugged her shoulder a bit tighter. And then.
—Creak.
"Young master. F-Food is here."
The servants entered with a neat, hearty meal, blushing at the couple's loving sight as they quickly set the table.
"Thanks."
Il-yeong gave them a simple thanks.
But then.
Sensing a peculiar gaze from beside him, he turned. Sure enough, Mori Yoshinari was pouting slightly, glaring at him. Anyone who couldn't guess why would be dense.
Il-yeong chuckled heartily.
"You look cute even when sulking."
"Only noticing now."
But perhaps the compliment was too cliché.
Yoshinari jabbed his side without mercy. What she'd overlooked, though, was that Il-yeong wasn't one to take it lightly.
"Only now? How hurtful."
He grinned slyly, caressing her lower belly before leaning to her ear. With pearly white teeth, he nibbled her earlobe and whispered.
"...After all that talk last night."
"...Eek!"
As expected.
Yoshinari's cheeks burned impossibly redder; her eyes darted. As Il-yeong opened his mouth to tease more, she urgently grabbed chopsticks from the table.
"L-Let's eat!"
To stop further teasing, she scooped rice and shoved it toward his mouth. She seemed cuter with every round of sex. Il-yeong smiled happily, opening wide to accept it.
—Munch.
—Chew.
The two began their meal.
Having expended so much energy the night before, they inevitably emptied their bowls quickly.
By the time their bellies were nicely full.
Il-yeong took a sip of water, gazing at her with an ahh-like look.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"What should we name the baby?"
"W-Well, obviously—"
Yoshinari paused mid-chew. It was more complicated than it seemed.
For starters, Il-yeong had two surnames.
Hirate family.
And Baek family.
One might think just follow the Hirate name—but delving deeper made it messy.
Unlike the past, since the Warring States era began, female warriors could become clan lords, so children could take the mother's surname.
But who was Owari's current lord?
None other than Oda Nobunaga.
And Il-yeong was her husband.
In other words, it implied Il-yeong joining the Oda clan.
Thus, a child with Yoshinari taking Il-yeong's surname could create a massive family tree mess.
'What to do?'
Yoshinari bit her lip.
She'd never considered such issues...
But then.
Il-yeong spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Just register under the Mori family, then."
"Huh?"
"I mean, yeah?"
The Mori family had no other heirs besides her. It'd actually be better that way. But hearing him, Yoshinari looked at him with slightly hurt eyes.
Maybe feeling he was drawing a line.
So, meeting her gaze, Il-yeong beamed.
"And for the Joseon name, use my Baek surname."
"Huh?"
"Mori for the Yamato surname. Baek for the Joseon one. Fair, right?"
"Ah..."
Only then did Yoshinari realize.
It was the best solution—at least his way—and even if not perfect, how much he'd racked his brain to avoid hurting her.
Of course, Il-yeong had just thought it'd be nice, but she had no way of knowing.
And soon, she.
"Yeah!"
Nodded brighter than even the night before.