Chapter 50
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: 1/N
The itching had finally subsided. With that discomfort gone from my body, my fatigue lifted dramatically.
My movements felt light and easy.
But there was a backlash just as strong.
I couldn't even look Unit One Charlotte in the eye. Memories of last night kept flashing back, forcing me to avert my gaze.
'What was it I said...?'
I want to have a baby? Whose baby?
'Your worthless baby of mine...?'
Was it sincere? Or just something I blurted out in the heat of the moment?
Celine, who'd given birth to Charlotte, had hated my hands anywhere near her body. But Charlotte—Celine's daughter—had licked my filthy hole without a single complaint.
I stole a glance at Unit One Charlotte. She was helping adult Charlotte—Unit Two—prepare breakfast, acting as if nothing had happened.
After what we'd done last night, she was carrying on so casually. Only I felt this nagging unease gnawing at my heart.
'...It had to be a joke.'
What woman would ever want to bear my child?
Ever since entering Dyke's body, my self-esteem had plummeted. Everything else was fine, but my sexual dysfunction was a constant humiliation I couldn't shake.
"Father, breakfast is ready. Come eat."
We had a quick meal and set off. Our pace back to the Cradle of Abundance Inn was much faster than before.
All because that one itch was gone.
'At this rate, we'll arrive tomorrow.'
I checked Unit Two Charlotte's stamina and quickened our steps.
***
We arrived at the Cradle of Abundance Inn without incident. Unit Two Charlotte gazed around the village in a daze.
"This place is..."
"It's the village where you'll be living from now on. It's no Count Pigmon's city, but once you settle in, it's pretty livable."
The people staying at the inn came out to greet us.
I exchanged warm hellos with Denis and Lisa. Denis especially seemed thrilled.
I'd only gone out for meat, but who knew it'd take this long.
"Did you raise the meat yourself before butchering it or something?"
"Sorry about that. Things came up along the way."
Denis glanced behind me and muttered at the sight of Unit Two Charlotte trailing along obediently.
"Her, don't tell me...?"
"It's Charlotte."
"I can see that. She looks identical. Except Unit One's skin is all tanned..."
Tanned? That phrasing felt off.
To me, it was a healthy bronze glow. But hearing Denis put it like that made her sound like some country bumpkin.
"She'll be staying at the inn from now on."
"Great, it'll liven things up."
Denis beamed and approached Unit Two Charlotte. She was younger than Lisa, just a kid. Denis would take good care of her.
Unit Two Charlotte clung tightly to Unit One's thigh, eyeing Denis warily.
Maybe because she'd spent more time with Unit One—it seemed she felt safer with her.
"I'll make you warm up to me eventually, Mini Charlotte."
"Mini Charlotte...?"
Unit One Charlotte blinked blankly at the cutesy nickname.
Olivia Unit One stood there, arms crossed under her chest, smirking mockingly. Her voice was as prickly as ever.
"Mini Charlotte. Mini Olivia. Easier to say than Unit One and Unit Two."
But a man never gives up the romance of Unit One and Unit Two. I ignored Olivia Unit One and brushed past.
I headed to the kitchen and stocked the freezer with meat. It had subspace magic enchanted into it, allowing insane storage capacity and shelf life.
A rare freezer even big-city inns couldn't easily get. I'd snagged it as a hero's perk.
"Why'd it take you so damn long?"
Olivia Unit One followed me to the kitchen, grumbling.
I gave some vague excuse for the delay. No idea why I had to justify it to her, but she'd asked.
"Things came up, like you saw—I brought back Unit Two Charlotte."
"Took you a whole week for one kid?"
"A whole week?"
Yeah, about that long, I guess. Without the itching, I could've wrapped it up in three days. We'd wasted way too much time.
"It happens."
"......"
"You didn't come along, so it's not your place to complain. The inn didn't exactly grind to a halt without me."
I said it while piling up the meat.
I could feel Olivia Unit One's stare. Why was she just standing there, staring so intently...?
"...Don't just stand there—if you've got time, help—"
"Did your asshole itch slow you down?"
"......!"
How do you know about that?
"Ahem, cough!"
I swallowed hard and cleared my throat. Steadying my trembling voice, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Did Charlotte tell you?"
"Nah? Charlotte didn't say a word."
"......"
"She had no reason to. We already knew everything. Me, Nine—we all figured you'd be late because of you..."
"What?"
I froze mid-transfer from the subspace to the freezer. Forcing my stiff body to turn, I stared at Olivia Unit One.
"...What are you talking about?"
"We knew. That you and Charlotte would be late."
"......"
"Didn't expect you'd pick up Unit Two along the way, but the itching delaying you a day or two? Yeah, we saw that coming."
"...How?"
My brain wasn't processing. I'd planned to keep those embarrassing ordeals from everyone at the inn.
I never imagined it'd come out so anticlimactically. The sudden revelation left me flustered.
Olivia Unit One giggled. She looked down at me with arrogant eyes, like she knew everything.
Meeting her gaze sent chills down my spine.
"...This was your scheme."
"More like Charlotte's plan, really. She wanted your virginity."
"......"
All the misery from the itching flashed before my eyes like a montage. I felt wronged, furious.
'You all knew...'
How ridiculous must I have looked?
My hands and feet trembled. This shame was different from when I'd offered my ass—it swept through my whole body.
"Father, isn't it ready yet?"
Unit One Charlotte poked her head into the kitchen. Our eyes met.
"You told her, didn't you, Olivia?"
"Heh heh."
"...Father."
Olivia Unit One bolted like she'd been caught.
Charlotte frantically waved her hands. That confirmed it.
Olivia wasn't framing Charlotte to mess with her—they'd truly conspired.
"Why...?"
"I had no choice. To reduce your aversion to the medicine."
"Medicine?"
"The potion that strengthens semen. The one you apply to your ass."
Charlotte repeated her earlier explanation. I got her reasoning now.
"Without practicing with the itching potion, you would've refused it outright. Said you'd never apply it. But now? You're at least considering it. Your resistance is lower."
"......"
"I know you don't believe me, Father. But everything I said is true. Even wanting to bear your child."
Charlotte stepped closer, grasping my trembling hand and whispering.
"What Celine couldn't give you, I can. She betrayed you, but I'll devote everything to you. Believe me."
"...You could've just told me."
"And you'd have refused the potion. No rush for a baby right now. Your erectile dysfunction is showing signs of recovery anyway, even if conditional. You could've taken it slow."
"......"
She wasn't wrong. So I shut my mouth.
'Ass medicine. Without the itching, I'd have brushed it off.'
My instinctive revulsion to using my ass had faded, making it at least thinkable.
Just as Charlotte planned.
I fought down the shakes and cautiously asked Charlotte, who was staring intently at me.
"...You really want a baby? My baby?"
"Yes."
Charlotte answered firmly.
"As many as possible. It's the only way to save you."
"...What are you talking about?"
It suddenly hit me—the Units were regressors.
"Don't tell me I die? When?"
"Sixteen years from now. You die. By your own hand."
"......"
"Curious why?"
Knowing when and how I die wouldn't help. But I was dying to know.
Who could hold back from asking?
I nodded slowly, hesitation dragging the motion.
Charlotte spoke.
"The Demon King revives. He breaks your seal and descends upon the world. As the hero, you feel responsible and set out to defeat him again."
"...And you fail?"
"No. You succeed in killing the Demon King. Alone, perfectly."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Right before dying, he curses you. The one the hero cherishes most will die."
Upon returning after fulfilling his duty, Dyke Unit One found a cold, lifeless Denis. Unable to bear the loss, he took his own life.
"Luckily, we found a way. To save Denis and protect you."
"What is it?"
I asked eagerly, unable to help myself.
Hearing Denis would die made my heart race. I'd do anything to save her.
Charlotte said:
"We divide the Demon King's curse."
"...Divide?"
"Denis dies alone because she's your number one. What if there are multiple number ones?"
"...They all die...?"
"No. The curse has limits. It can't kill everyone."
Charlotte's words meant the curse's damage output was fixed.
"If all the number ones share the curse, we can save Denis."
"...Is that possible...?"
Sixteen years together, you said. And Denis is still number one, right?
"Ah..."
Charlotte gazed at me steadily. Emotions swirled in her clear eyes.
"That's why I want your child."
"......"
"Nothing's more precious than a child of your blood. The more children, the better—for saving Denis and protecting you."
"So that's it."
"Yes. That's why the itching potion. So you'd permit your ass sooner."
"......"