Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Never Even Dated, But Now a Mom
-----------------------------------------------------------------
27.
I've never even dated, and now I've become a mom.
I couldn't hide my bewilderment as I alternated glances between Ed, who'd blurted out that bombshell, and Billy, who was holding my hand. The kids, stunned by the revelation that I was Ed's mom, stared back and forth between us, frantically searching for any resemblance.
"They don't look anything alike!"
"Yeah! She doesn't look like a mom at all!"
Those words were music to my ears. I memorized the face of the kid who'd said I didn't look like a mom.
'Thanks, kids!'
I sent my gratitude silently in my head since I couldn't say it out loud. Then, curiosity struck—why on earth had Ed said something like that?
'He never showed it before, but maybe he misses his parents who passed away young?'
The thought made my heart ache. Living in a place without other kids his age, seeing peers now might have triggered those words unconsciously.
I didn't deny Ed's words or let go of his hand—instead, I gripped it tightly.
Even though these were the same kids from last time, most of them were Carnivore Beastkin, so my hand trembled faintly. Ed held mine firmly in response.
Meanwhile, the kids' attention had shifted from me and Ed to somewhere else. Billy, who'd quietly released my hand and retreated behind the classroom door, was their next target.
The excited kids rushed toward him but hesitated upon seeing him up close, backing away instead. Ed, unfazed, pointed at Billy and shouted.
"That's my dad!"
Before I knew it, I'd gained a wolf husband too. In an instant, I'd become a sheep with a wolf husband and child—but now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
"Waaah!"
It was because one kid suddenly burst into tears at the sight of Billy. I hurried over and hugged the child, who was shedding fat tears like chicken droppings.
"It's okay. He's not a bad Beastkin. The uncle just looks a bit scary, right?"
I tried comforting her from a child's perspective, but it felt awkward. Right after speaking, I glanced at Billy, worried I'd offended him—his eyebrow twitched, suggesting he was a little displeased.
But the kid showed no signs of stopping her wails. It was odd; she should've calmed down by now.
"Um... Lady Lami, could you come this way for a moment?"
As I sweated bullets while holding the crying child, the Director quietly called me to her office.
I entered the office with the now-exhausted, hiccupping child in my arms and heard a story I hadn't known before.
"Actually... in the Wolf Territory, the Family Head is an object of fear."
"R-Really?"
I'd meant to say a full sentence like, "An object of fear? What do you mean?" but it came out butchered.
I was somewhat used to Billy and Ed by now, but having a private chat with the Director—a Wolf Beastkin—in her office was harder than I'd imagined.
"I hesitate to say this to someone from another territory... but I thought you should know, Lady Lami."
The Director began cautiously. It was a tale about Billy's rumors, known to everyone in the Wolf Territory.
Originally, Billy's older brother was set to become the Rub Family Head. But his uncle, coveting the position, had disguised an accident to eliminate him.
Because of that, Billy lost his brother and sister-in-law in an instant, and even lost track of his young nephew. Billy himself was still a minor at the time.
Waiting only for his coming-of-age day, Billy honed his blade of vengeance and eventually executed his uncle in a brutal manner, reclaiming the Family Head position.
The story spread not just through the Wolf Territory but across all territories, naturally cementing "Billy Rub, the new Rub Family Head" as a terrifying figure.
"That's why adults scare misbehaving kids by saying, 'Billy Rub will come take you away.'"
"Ah, so that's why that child was scared of Billy."
"She must have grown up hearing those stories a lot."
Now I understood why the kids feared Billy and why that one had bawled her eyes out.
'I thought it was just because he looks scary.'
I had no way of knowing such intimate details, so I'd never guessed.
To be the boogeyman for children... Even in my past life, adults scared kids that way, but it felt strange knowing a Beastkin I knew was that figure.
And moreover—
'To go through something like that at such a young age...'
I knew from the original story that it had happened in brief terms, but hearing the details made it impossible to imagine how much Billy had suffered.
"No Beastkin says the Family Head's actions were wrong. They just fear him."
The Director glanced at my trembling legs and added,
"I thought he was impressive, but to do leg exercises even in everyday situations like this. Is it part of training to get stronger?"
"Pardon?"
"I've heard the rumors that you took down a gorilla, Lady Lami."
"Ah, haha."
With nothing to say, I gave an awkward laugh and looked at the child.
She'd finally stopped crying, was sniffling, and had fallen asleep using the Director's lap as a pillow.
I gazed at her with complicated eyes before standing and heading back to the classroom.
"You're back?"
Billy greeted me with a smile, seemingly unperturbed by earlier events. Maybe because of what I'd just heard, it was strangely hard to treat him normally.
I was scared too. The cold demeanor of Billy from the original story kept flashing in my mind.
Pretending not to notice, I avoided his eyes and asked,
"Where's Ed?"
Billy looked into the classroom at my question. Following his gaze, I saw Ed happily playing with the other kids.
Seeing him like this, he was the picture of a carefree child, bringing a warm smile to my face.
"Huh? Some of the kids from last time aren't here."
Then I noticed new faces alongside the missing ones.
"This is a temporary shelter. We send them off as soon as we find their parents or guardians."
That was welcome news. I'd thought all guardianless kids gathered here for care, but apparently not.
I watched the kids play, hoping the others would quickly find their families and go home.
Before long, it was time to return to the Rub estate.
"Bye!"
"Come play again sometime!"
The kids seemed to like Ed more than me now. Ed, having fun with peers, waved enthusiastically.
Shortly after boarding the carriage, Ed dozed off against me, sleeping soundly.
Silence fell. With just Ed's chatter gone, the carriage felt instantly quiet.
I'd thought I'd grown okay sharing a cramped carriage with Billy... but no.
I tried not to disturb Ed's sleep. But I couldn't control my restless body or darting eyes.
'If I show it this much, Billy will notice.'
He knew I feared Carnivore Beastkin, but showing more fear than usual would prompt questions about what was wrong.
Then I recalled the moment I'd completed the [Become Friends with the Wolf] quest. It said failing it meant lifelong phobia.
So now that I'd succeeded, I could overcome it if I set my mind to it.
I'd intended to start by not fearing the servants while wandering the estate with Ed, but my resolve strengthened.
'If I conquer this phobia somehow, I won't tremble even in front of Billy.'
I'll show him the might of the sheep who smashed a gorilla.
I pressed my lips tight and gazed at Ed with determined eyes.
Billy found Lami across from him particularly distracting today, but he pretended otherwise and sat calmly.
'I have an idea why Ed said that...'
Kids wish for parents. Since she cared for him well, he might see Lami as a mom figure.
Grabbing her hand when she seemed about to deny it had been instinctive.
Back home, he'd tell Ed not to say such things in front of others.
It was natural for him to wish the adult caring for him was his mom.
But him as dad?
'Never dated once, and now I have a wife.'
Before adulthood, romance held no interest. After, he was busy ousting his uncle and reclaiming the family—no time for love.
Once stable and searching for Ed, the butler suggested meeting nobles from Wolf or other territories.
He'd replied that since he'd pass the headship to Ed, he had no need for romance or marriage.
'Who knew it'd turn out like this.'
What a fateful connection. Billy recalled his deep memory of Lami.
He'd thought her dead, but spotting her unexpectedly, he recognized her instantly. With Ed refusing to leave her side, he brought her to the Rub estate.
Billy gazed deeply at Lami, now asleep with her head against Ed's.