Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Hero Who Wants to Make a Baby
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"Elf traditional attire."
We're getting married in Alvheim.
Naturally, we're following elven traditions.
In a way, it was a pretty decent compromise.
I thought about our respective races.
Ashy's race is half-angel, so we should follow heavenly traditions.
Kang Ajin is a human completely detached from this world.
A modern civilized wedding would feel the least awkward for him.
Of course, this is a novel world.
Noble weddings had a lot in common with modern ones.
Still, it felt unfamiliar.
So with the mindset of just going with elven traditions, we donned the ceremonial outfits.
"You look beautiful. I'm serious."
Ashy appeared wearing elven clothes.
"Wouldn't it be fine if you just went naked?"
"No man hates bare skin, that's true."
Elven traditional attire.
Their sense of formality was far removed from human concepts.
It was definitely ceremonial wear, but the exposure was extreme.
"But doing the wedding like this feels a bit off."
A pure white dress would have suited her too.
More skin was exposed than covered by fabric.
Palm-sized patches over the nipples and crotch were all there was.
Does that even make sense?
With my conservative values, I couldn't accept this outfit at all.
It pissed me off that other elves could see Ashy's skin.
"Heh heh, jealous?"
Ashy just grinned at my sharp reaction, clearly delighted.
She seemed much more relaxed with the wedding approaching.
"Doesn't it bother you? Normally, you'd kill anyone who sees you naked."
Only I should be able to see Ashy's bare skin.
I'd been subconsciously secure in that thought.
Even without me policing it, Ashy would take care of anyone who looked.
I trusted Ashy.
But Ashy was acting like it was no big deal.
"Not really?"
"It's fine? With your breasts fully out and your ass on display?"
"I don't know. No elves are looking at me with those human eyes, so... tsk."
Ashy tilted her head.
Her huge breasts, her ripe lower curves like fruit—my dick got hard.
If it weren't for the chastity cage, we'd probably end up doing outdoor exposure play on impulse.
"I can't just kill them all. Then we wouldn't get the World Tree's blessing. Might even get cursed instead."
Ashy acting rationally felt unfamiliar.
I missed the crazy hero who swung her holy sword at the slightest provocation.
It wasn't just Ashy exposing herself.
I was wearing elven ceremonial wear too.
A bizarre outfit that bared the upper body and only covered the groin.
'Might as well run around in just drawers... This feels less embarrassing.'
Even calling it cultural differences, it was hard to accept.
Everyday clothes were normal, so why was the ceremonial wear like this?
Ashy slyly sidled up to me and groped my ass.
"My body's yours anyway. No one else can touch it."
Ashy's fingers slipped into the deep crevice.
My rear accepted her finger all too easily.
Squelch, squish.
"Eut...!"
"In return, Puppy, only I get to touch your body."
Ashy pulled her finger out.
The same finger that had just been probing my ass—she sucked on it casually.
My dick twitched without even cumming.
Felt like precum was drooling out long strings.
"...Hero, it's almost time...!"
"Got it."
An elf came to fetch us.
The wedding would start the moment the World Tree awoke, so punctuality was key.
"...Lots of elves."
The hero had visited Alvheim.
Even reclusive elves couldn't ignore the hero's presence.
World destruction threatened all races.
The World Tree awakens.
No fireworks or fanfare.
Just a subtle light as its energy spread.
The elves prayed toward the World Tree.
Hundreds of them—it was a spectacular sight.
"Wow..."
We were stunned by something else.
Flowers carpeted the path to Yggdrasil.
Not a virgin road, but a flower road.
The plants, blessed by the World Tree's energy, bloomed in stunning beauty.
We walked their blessed path.
Young elves scattered petals.
They looked like kids, but were probably older than us.
Countless elves cheered us on.
The World Tree Yggdrasil's blessing.
I felt nothing, but traditions are like that.
No father to escort the bride, no family to celebrate.
Ashy's father was surely alive, but...
The story never mentioned him, so I didn't know.
Still, she smiled happily.
Ashy seemed to love this wedding.
"Never thought a day like this would come."
Ashy murmured.
Her voice brimmed with emotion.
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at me.
We hadn't even started yet.
The pent-up lust from two weeks of endurance evaporated.
Facing her joy made my own desires feel dirty.
The Ashy I knew was an emotionless mad hero.
A woman living selfishly, by her whims.
Even after awakening as hero, she had zero sense of responsibility.
In the original story, many suffered because of Ashy.
But this time was different.
This Ashy had changed.
I didn't know the details of her first life.
Now, she had truly awakened.
She was still selfish, swinging her holy sword whenever she felt like it.
But now she stepped up to save others first.
What massive progress.
Having read the original, the emotion hit harder.
We clasped hands and walked forward.
The virgin road, flower road sparkled.
"......"
The elves stopped clapping.
In the quiet flower path, the World Tree shone brightly.
Even the World Tree had opinions, it seemed.
—Child.
"......"
A strange auntie's voice rang out.
Thinking someone spoke to me, I craned my neck and looked around.
No elf addressed me.
Only Ashy noticed my movement.
Ashy interlaced her fingers with mine and looked at me.
"What?"
"Nah, thought someone talked to me... "
"......"
We didn't stop walking.
We reached the end of the flower road and stood before Yggdrasil.
The high elf elder blessed our marriage.
That elves and humans could unite through our bond.
And praying the hero's path of devotion to the continent be bright.
Will you love each other forever?
The atmosphere suggested such vows.
Then the auntie voice spoke again.
—Child.
'...Who the fuck is this?'
—Maybe because you're with 'that hero', you're not right in the head either.
'......'
No one else heard it.
The high elf elder droned on, Ashy grinning at the ceremony.
The voice echoed only in my head.
'World Tree?'
The protagonist hero Luke experienced this too.
In crises or calm before storms, gods or someone warned him.
'Why me?'
Something wrong?
Ominous thoughts crept up.
—I'm speaking to you because...
I focused on the World Tree's voice.
Then the world slowed.
"Heeeeroooo Ashhhhhyyyy..."
The ceremony neared its end.
The high elf elder asked Ashy.
Will you love your husband Kang Ajin until his bones turn to dust and earth?
Considering elven lifespans, it was a declaration sharper than "forever."
Ashy was ready to answer.
Her mouth opened.
—I have a request for the hero by your side, Ashy Greyfield, so I'm telling you separately.
'...To Ashy?'
Why not tell her directly?
I swallowed that thought.
World Tree's message?
Lucky it wasn't an insult.
Ashy wouldn't take it nicely.
That made sense.
The World Tree had to go through me.
—Quick on the uptake.
What could it be?
I pondered.
A near-divine being spoke.
Nothing about Ashy warranted a chat otherwise.
'Did they find out about the regression?'
I wasn't hiding it much.
Regressed or not, I was rampaging everywhere.
'If that was it, they'd have come sooner.'
Timing too sudden.
Not about regression.
—The Sun God has hidden himself.
'Sun God...?'
—About a month ago.
With the World Tree's words, I pieced it together.
Perfect timing—I couldn't miss it.
Ashy's regression and the Sun God's disappearance were linked.
—Fortunately, he hasn't forgotten his role. If he'd withdrawn all power, the sun—not the Demon King—would be the problem.
'...Isn't that bad?'
—Not yet. But not much time left.
The World Tree warned.
—The demon realm is the issue. If they notice the Sun God's power weakening, they could invade immediately.
'...Ah.'
—That's why I'm conveying this. Ashy Greyfield is heaven's daughter, a demigod.
'Demigod?'
Not angel?
'...The original didn't detail that much.'
Silver hair flowing, pure white wings spread.
Anyone would think angel.
Even her father Victor mentioned loving an angel.
'Half-angels can't get pregnant either, but demigod?'
Head throbbed, sighs escaped nonstop.
—Ashy Greyfield ignores even gods. There's a limit to recklessness. The hero by your side isn't sane.
'Huh?'
—You must control Ashy Greyfield. Don't you want to save this continent?
I do.
Ideally, end it without war.
—If the Demon King invades, corruption spreads. The middle realm demonizes. Countless lives will bleed. Will you stand by?
'I'm weak.'
I'm weak.
A total pushover who can't do shit.
Collar on neck, cage on dick.
No masculinity whatsoever.
—It's fine. It's something only you can do.
The World Tree bolstered my courage.
Elevating me, the hero's plaything, to great warrior.
—Can't strike the Demon King yet. But with Ashy Greyfield's power, reducing demon numbers is possible.
'Yes, summon and kill them.'
—Yes, motivate her more. You can do it.
'......'
—Only you can move Ashy Greyfield. If you don't want a blood-soaked continent, lead her to erase demons.
Something felt off.
Ashy was trying her best.
Aiming for quickest peace, she was active.
'...If I tell her in a god's name...'
First-life Ashy might ignore it.
Second-life would listen.
—...You must lead naturally. If Ashy Greyfield moves directly... People will die by her hand, not demons'.
'......'
The World Tree had a point.
Had to acknowledge as her comrade.
Tell Ashy directly?
She might Hell Chain Assemble a kingdom as sacrifice.
To open a portal to the demon realm.
'I admit it. Guess I have to step up.'
—Glad words got through. Was nervous as Ashy Greyfield's comrade. Feared you wouldn't listen.
'......'
The World Tree sighed in relief.
An abstract entity sighing.
Ridiculous.
—Now to the main point.
'Wasn't this it?'
—...I'll bestow a blessing.
A green breeze blew.
The world resumed speed, Ashy's answer came.
"Yes, I swear."
Ashy, who showed no fatigue after erasing demons.
Now she panted.
Glared at me with flushed excitement.
"And you, Kang Ajin, in any time or situation, swear to stand by Ashy Greyfield?"
"...Yes, I swear."
Should be Ashy protecting me.
Forcing a worthless me into a man's role.
Chivalry, I guess. Let it slide.
"Under the World Tree Yggdrasil's blessing... You two shall walk one path. Groom and bride, the vow's kiss..."
"Mmph?!"
Before I could react, Ashy pulled me in and kissed.
Grabbed my head and pounced.
Smooch, smooch.
Slurp, mmmph!
Before countless elves, Ashy devoured my lips.
Forcing her tongue in, it was near rape.
Tried to push away.
For a gentle kiss, just a bit.
But our eyes met.
After that, I surrendered everything.
Held Ashy's waist, accepted the kiss.
Vulgar makeout, but I couldn't pull away.
On this joyful day, tears like chicken shit dripped from Ashy's eyes.