Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Becoming a Mom. (3)
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My broken bones ached.
The Demon King, beaten senseless by the Hero, now receiving treatment from the Saintess—what kind of ridiculous situation was this?
I let out a small breath and bowed my head, only to notice my belly had swollen even more than before.
At this rate, it might as well be a balloon.
Once the baby inside fully grew, it'd just go pop.
"Are you alright?"
"...Thanks to you, I'm feeling better."
It was ironic that even a Saintess could heal the Demon King, but given that the goddess she served was that piece of trash, it somehow made sense.
She'd never let me die, no matter what.
I pressed a hand firmly against my rounded belly through my clothes and let out a sigh.
...I never imagined I'd become a mom before becoming a dad.
"Hmm, at this rate, it feels like it'll be born any moment now."
"It hasn't even moved inside yet, so isn't it too early to—"
I started to argue against the Saintess's words, but then I felt a sudden thump, and my words cut off as my body went rigid.
...This was it, right?
I gently pressed my palm against my belly, and as if complaining about the cramped space, it kicked back hard once more.
It was a snappy reaction, almost like it was telling me to watch my movements since it was in there.
Of course, that was just my imagination.
"By the way, have you decided on a name for the baby?"
"A name for the baby..."
A name for the baby.
It was an unexpected hurdle.
I'd just vaguely thought I'd have to give birth to a million or so, but now I had to name it?
Honestly, how could I name it when I didn't even know what it'd be?
What if I picked a boy's name and it turned out to be a girl? Or vice versa?
"No, there's no way I'd be doing something so womanly..."
"..."
"...Besides, I'm just giving birth to as many as I've killed. I don't deserve that kind of right."
I grabbed hold of my spiraling thoughts and sneered at myself bitterly.
What, did having a baby in my belly make me think I was a real mom now?
There was that saying about the mind following the body, and with pregnancy and childbirth looming, my brain must've turned to mush.
But I wouldn't give in. As if I'd turn into some broodmare over something like this...
"By the way, Saintess. I have a question."
"Yes, go ahead."
I wiped the cold sweat beading on my forehead.
So, um.
"...D-Does having a baby... hurt this much?"
"..."
It hurt. It hurt so damn much.
With the baby crammed in my womb, it felt like my guts were being crushed, twisting everything inside.
Less the baby's fault and more like my womb couldn't handle the baby's growing size anymore.
At this rate, the baby might just rip its way out of my belly.
Gripped by vague terror, I clutched at the Saintess's hem.
"S-Say something... Ugh, hnn..."
"B-But I've never given birth myself."
"Hah, hnn... Then at least hold my hand."
The crushing weight pressing down on my entire body choked my breath.
Was every pregnancy like this?
I groaned and reached out toward the Saintess's hand; she scooted closer to make it easy for me to grab.
As our hands intertwined, the warmth of another person brought a sliver of calm to my mind.
"...Saintess."
"Yes."
"...If I said I was scared, would you laugh?"
Sensation was starting to fade from my lower body.
I couldn't tell if it was just phantom fear or real, but the terror gnawed relentlessly at a corner of my heart.
I'm scared, goddamn it. So fucking scared.
Me, becoming the Demon King, getting raped by the Hero, getting pregnant, and giving birth?
It was an absurd turn of events. And it was happening so fast, like I'd boarded a runaway high-speed train.
Would I just shatter pathetically at this rate?
Once I gave birth to the baby inside me, could I even remain myself?
If I had to look with my own eyes at the baby coming out of my body, I felt like I'd lose my sanity for good.
"I'd never laugh. If anything, it's weirder to treat bringing life into the world so casually."
"...Is that so."
"It is."
She kept a calm face, but I could sense the Saintess was pretty tense too.
I'd thought the trembling hands were just mine, but up close, hers were shaking with tension as well.
Why was she so scared when I was the one giving birth?
If even the onlooker was this worked up, how terrified must the one actually doing it be?
The thought brought an almost miraculous peace to my heart.
Right now, whether I was a woman or had been a man until recently didn't matter. This was the time to focus solely on bringing the child inside me into the world.
"Saintess, what the hell are you doing?!"
...That is, if it weren't for the sudden arrival of that dwarf shitstain ruining what could've been a beautiful moment.
The Dwarf burst through the door yelling, startling both the Saintess and me at once.
I'd been bracing my belly against the pain, and the sudden interruption shattered that fragile balance—pure agony.
"Not content with letting the Demon King live, now you're helping it birth a spawn?! Is that really what a Saintess should be doing?!"
"B-But the birth of a child is something to be blessed!"
Chaos erupted.
The huffing Dwarf trying to charge at me, and the Saintess holding the little bastard back.
His approach alone felt like it might crush my belly flat, making my heart sink.
...That foul-tempered Dwarf shit, as small-minded as he was short.
Not just me, but the thick killing intent aimed at my unborn baby too—I reflexively wrapped my arms around my belly, hugging it tight.
'Never thought I'd be doing something like this...'
But better this than letting that dwarf take my baby.
"Have you already forgotten what demons are? Whether full-grown or mere spawn, they're stuffed to the brim with evil!"
"T-That's true, but..."
"Demons must be killed, no matter what. Don't forget that creed."
He'd clearly suffered plenty at demons' hands, and this time even the Saintess couldn't argue back.
Fair enough—in the story, demons were birthed as the ultimate little shits, so it wasn't entirely wrong.
They sucked their mother's life force dry at birth, then started killing small animals once they could walk.
A race forged from nature-vs-nurture evil amplified a thousandfold—which made their reactions somewhat understandable.
'But even if that's true...'
I couldn't just let it die.
Vanishing before even being born—wouldn't that be the most tragic thing in the world?
I shut my eyes tight, feeling with my whole body the baby thrashing inside, desperate to come out.
Kill demons no matter what? What bullshit.
No—even if that was right, I wouldn't let it die by that Dwarf's hand.
"If the baby born from my belly is a demon, I'll kill it with my own hands."
"Demon King, what are you saying?! Killing your own child—"
But I had no choice.
That thick-headed Dwarf shit wouldn't buy anything less than this vow.
A being who'd spent his life hating the Demon King and leading the charge against demons.
To sway a heart like that, nothing short of this would work.
So I said it.
With blood pouring from my heart, driving a nail into my own chest, I said it.
"I'll kill it myself with these hands, and then I'll die too."
A baby was life too.
One who killed life could never know eternal happiness.
Better to die than live unhappy.
"Demon King..."
"So give us one chance. Just one chance for the baby in my belly to see the light of this world..."
The Dwarf clamped his mouth shut at my heartfelt plea.
His face half-hidden by beard made his expression hard to read, but he almost looked sad.
Just a little.
After a brief silence, he took a step back, and I sighed inwardly in relief.
I'd worried he might charge anyway, but thankfully he wasn't that stubborn.
"Fine, but I'll watch the birth myself."
"...Isn't the Saintess here?"
"I only trust what I see with my own eyes. Who knows if you'll swap the baby?"
What utter nonsense.
How the hell did they assemble a hero party with assholes like this? It was baffling.
Damn it, I had to show that Dwarf me giving birth?
Imagining myself legs spread, birthing a baby—my whole body shuddered for some inexplicable reason.
As I suppressed the fury and shame boiling inside, the Dwarf's voice shot out like a bullet.
"Hurry up and give birth. I hope it's a demon so I can kill you both."
...Listen to this prick, you fucking dwarf shit.