Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Pregnant Woman's Resolve
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The goblin that was born was shared and eaten by the staff.
I listened to Olivia No. 1's true feelings and understood them. Not perfectly, but I'd come to grasp her motivations for acting that way.
I could understand if I tried.
'Just put myself in her shoes.'
To win the heroines' attention, she'd gone a bit overboard with her antics. Framed like that, Olivia No. 1's sudden outburst wasn't so hard to comprehend.
"No. 2 is you in the end. Get along with her."
"...I'll handle that myself."
Olivia quickly reverted to her prickly true self. The sharp glare she shot me was as thorny as ever.
That abrupt switch-up reminded me of Tina.
Bloodlines don't lie. The thought hit me anew.
'If I ever had a child... would they end up looking just like me?'
Hard to say if that'd be a good thing or not.
'I'd prefer they took after Denis.'
No real upside to resembling me. Might even feel bad for them.
I'd just want them to inherit more of their mother's traits. Denis was a beauty, after all. It wouldn't hold the kids back in life.
'...Not that it's ever gonna happen.'
Being happy for a fleeting moment was enough.
I shook off the lingering bitterness and headed back to the inn. Olivia No. 1 trailed right behind me.
Ding-a-ling—.
The inn hall was bustling. The victims, now assigned rooms, had all come downstairs.
"...Thank you so much for saving us."
They offered their thanks once more. After bowing to Charlotte and Nine, they turned to me with polite nods.
"Just doing what needed doing."
I hadn't gone there specifically to rescue them, after all. Admitting that would kill the mood.
So I kept my mouth shut.
"Thanks to you, we survived."
They'd endured awful things at the goblins' hands, but they'd lived. Better than the alternative—even if they were pregnant with goblin spawn.
"Rest easy. Focus on recovering your health first... We'll deal with the other issues later..."
People in the hall started glancing around. All eyes converged on one person. The awkwardness made me cringe.
Every time I looked at the woman whose belly bulged like full-term, I shrank inwardly.
"......"
Even Olivia No. 1 had clammed up. I could imagine the tension hanging in the air.
"...I'm okay."
The pregnant woman stepped up to break the ice. It didn't really help.
"...Like the others said, surviving is what matters..."
In this world, monster abductions happened all too often. Was that why?
She seemed determined to play it off casually.
I had no idea how she truly felt, but pretending not to notice felt like the right call.
"Aren't you all hungry?"
Had they even eaten properly while captive in the goblin village? No way those little monsters fed them right.
Right on cue, stomachs growled. The pregnant woman's was especially loud.
Lucky it happened all at once. Otherwise, we'd all be blushing and stammering excuses.
"Alright, time to show off my skills!"
Denis, behind the counter, rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen. Lisa followed right after.
Olivia No. 2 hovered near the kitchen, itching to help Denis.
"Pfft."
A warm, cozy air filled the hall, drawing soft smiles from the victims.
"Dig in—it's delicious!"
Denis cooked while Lisa served. Cradle of Abundance Formation A.
Add Dyke chasing off troublemakers, and you've got the complete Formation A.
Me helping with serving made it Formation B. Sticking to the kitchen was Formation C.
"Formation C's been a while."
"...Didn't we agree to drop those weird names?"
"Why? They're fun."
"......"
No expectations meant no disappointments.
Denis had stopped expecting anything from me. Naturally, less letdown too. She just gave me that pathetic-fool look and handed over the golden-roasted chicken.
"It's delicious..."
The goblin victims snatched up drumsticks and tore into them. Faces smeared with grease, they demolished the tender meat in no time.
They'd played it cool, but they were starving.
'Days surviving on nothing but goblin cum... Of course they'd devour it.'
The women chowed down voraciously. Plates emptied in a flash.
Lisa and Olivia No. 2 darted around, clearing empties and piling on more meat.
We'd burn through every scrap of stored meat at this rate. Their appetites were insane.
I'd probably eat like that too, so I got it—but still...
'Our fault for not stocking up more in the first place?'
Could spin it that way.
Hm—.
I focused on stuffing them full. Squatting by the fire, I turned spits and roasted chickens nonstop.
Had I ever been this busy?
'Sweating like this feels fresh.'
Still satisfying. Seeing them gorge earlier, then get shy now—it filled me with pride.
"Anyone wanting a proper wash can use the bathhouse out back."
They'd "washed" in the goblin village, but that was just a splash. Calling it a shower was a stretch.
Their bodies had to feel grimy still.
They might want to scrub hard. So I let them know baths were available.
"...Then..."
One victim cautiously stood.
"Bathhouse has soap, shampoo, body wash—everything."
This was the NTR Tsukuru game world. Anachronistic items were everywhere.
Shampoo, body wash, condoms, dildos, onaholes, you name it.
'Dildos aren't out of the question.'
Chastity belts existed surprisingly early, from what I recalled. Essential for men heading to war.
One found her courage, and the rest surged up, hurrying out to the bathhouse.
They were on their own now. Couldn't chase them there to babysit.
"Whew, finally time to breathe."
"Good work."
"What work? You had it tougher, Sis."
Couldn't say stuff like that in front of the victims. Constantly fretting over hurting feelings.
I filtered every word heavily.
"Dyke."
Olivia No. 1 approached me. No. 2 scampered behind Denis to hide.
"What?"
"That pregnant woman—the one knocked up by the goblin. I've got a useful spell for her."
"......"
A faint killing intent laced Olivia No. 1's words. Malice, maybe?
Didn't sound like a nice spell...
"No killing."
"...You think I'm some bloodthirsty maniac? It's not that."
"Then?"
"Not killing the woman—just the goblin in her belly."
"The goblin?"
"Abortion. I can handle it with magic."
Might seem easy in this world, but it wasn't at all.
'It's a setting to stop pregnant heroines from aborting.'
Messing with the fetus risked the woman's life. Like the mother's and fetus's souls were linked.
Abortion was impossible.
Even protagonist Dyke couldn't push for it once he learned a heroine was pregnant.
"You can do it?"
"Yeah."
Olivia No. 1 declared it boldly. Her confidence made it seem legit.
"Then hurry up and do it."
Bit harsh, but she might have experience birthing monster spawn in the goblin village. Stuck there long enough, births were inevitable.
Didn't mean it wouldn't affect her. This wasn't something you "got used to."
Better avoid if possible. Clear-cut right answer.
"Gotta ask her something first."
"...What? Just do it..."
Bad vibe.
"Not planning some snide remark again?"
I asked, and she scowled, glaring daggers. As if I'd ever think she'd stoop that low.
'Wasn't it?'
She'd done it to me.
"Anyway, there's a way. I'm heading to ask about the abortion now."
"Good. Should've mentioned it sooner."
"......"
"Hurry and take care of it. She's gotta be suffering."
"I will, so quit rushing me."
Olivia No. 1 let out a heavy sigh.
"Anyway. If mana flares up big at the bathhouse, don't freak. That's what I'm telling you."
"Ah, got it."
If that's all.
Olivia No. 1 left the inn. About 30 minutes later.
No. 1 returned with the women.
"?"
But the pregnant woman's belly was still massively swollen.
"What? Why?"
I approached Olivia No. 1 for answers. She smirked.
"Said she'll just give birth."
"Why?"
"Abortion magic would've made her infertile."
"......"
I looked at the pregnant woman. She smiled sheepishly and bowed her head.
"I appreciate the consideration... but someday, I might meet a good man and have kids of my own...? Don't want regrets then. Better tough it out today."
"......"
She'd already steeled herself. To birth the goblin spawn—
Then.
"Ah... Aaaah...!"
The woman suddenly clutched her belly. The goblin inside, sensing the threat to its life, began kicking wildly as if it had been waiting.
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