Reproduction Is Nature's Providence

Reproduction is nature's providence. Yeah, getting squeezed dry is part of it too... Back in the day, my mother once told me, "Son, if you make a woman hate you, you're in for big trouble." Sorry, Mom. I think I'm really fucked right now.

While Seria was off handling her duties, Isabel came into the room to check on me. The moment she saw my eyes open, she burst into tears. It looked like she'd been carrying a heavy burden. Yeah, I'm the sinner here. If I weren't, there'd be no reason for me to suffer like this.

"...Die. Just die..."

"Huhu, thank you for your hard work, Hero."

"Now I'll never be able to get married..."

She whispered in a voice that melted like sweet candy.

"Huhu, but you already promised to marry us, didn't you♥"

I inwardly applauded my 'Big Shot' for its diligent performance. It had really done an incredible job. My partner.

Once Isabel's excitement faded, she turned her head away. The trembling in her body, however, remained.

"...It's not like I wanted to do it or anything. The young lady struck first, so... that's why..."

In short, she'd felt jealous and impatient. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like an idiot for having rejected the two women before.

I lowered my gaze. There was my partner, hanging limp. Still, it had given its all. Good work.

I shed emotional tears for BIG SHOT, my greatest partner who'd been with me since birth. At the very least, it reminded me that I was a man.

Goblin and giant cocks? Who cares. As long as it functioned properly and both sides were satisfied, that was enough. Yeah, right now my self-esteem was completely full.

Only...

If only I could move.

Since I couldn't move, I was simply getting devoured by them. It was like lions and tigers fighting over discovered prey. Honestly, it made my chest swell with pride.

"Hero."

Isabel called my name in a low whisper. Maybe because she was lying beside me. Or perhaps because our bodies had been intertwined just moments ago. A faintly erotic atmosphere lingered in the air.

Of course, I might have been the only one feeling that way. Let me repeat myself—I'm not a pervert.

Because of the bandages, I couldn't turn my head. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Isabel realized this and, suppressing her embarrassment, climbed on top of me.

"...Didn't we just finish?"

"Eek! I-I'm not such a lewd woman!"

Thwack. She flicked my forehead. It stung. Still, this kind of daily life was probably what peace felt like.

"...It's okay for us to look at each other's faces a little, you know."

Naturally, at a distance where our breaths could mingle.

"...One more time."

"Ugh, where did the confident Isabel from earlier disappear to?"

"...D-don't tease me!"

Her face flushed bright red like a ripe tomato. The reason I'd fallen in love with Isabel was probably moments like this. She tried to act cool but couldn't hide her expressions at all. The so-called gap moe.

"Let's rest a little first."

"Huhu, you can't move right now, can you, Hero?"

Exactly right.

"Then... we can stay like this for a while."

"I-Isabel?"

"I love you."

She kissed me without hesitation. Because Isabel rarely revealed her feelings so boldly, I could sense just how special this moment was.

Get to work, Big Shot. This isn't the time to sleep.

The moment Isabel's lips parted, a thin, transparent strand stretched between us.

"...Then, I'll enjoy my meal♥"

With that whisper, we docked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for exploration.

Birds sang joyfully. Sunlight piercing through the leaves illuminated me.

Because of the daily rotations of milking, I could barely keep my senses straight. But today was finally the day. The day these bandages could come off!

I wouldn't get devoured anymore.

Even Isabel, who used to be so cool and cute, would do a complete 180 at night. They say you shouldn't set bad habits during the first experience... but it seemed she was fully enjoying it now.

To be precise, she paid attention to and savored everything—my expressions, movements, voice, the works. It was so adorable and commendable that I unconsciously surrendered myself to her.

...What a lascivious woman Isabel was.

Not to mention Seria. She would whisper with terrifying intensity as she sucked me in. Since we spent so much time apart, it seemed she was unleashing all the obsession she'd built up during that time.

The so-called protein supplementation hour.

"Haa..."

Still, I was happy. Was this what it meant to live life?

Are you watching, Odin? This is what happiness looks like.

"...What the hell. Why are you making such a disgusting face?"

"Oh, Riana's here? Haha, come sit down."

"...Something's wrong. This isn't the hero I knew!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What's with calling a person 'this'? 'This.' I just... realized the truth of the world, that's all."

Humans love. When humans love, they naturally reproduce. Yeah, mating is simply that natural of an act.

When one life meets another, shares love, and conceives new life. You cannot defy nature's providence.

"The world... is bright."

"Hiiik!"

Riana recoiled in horror. That idiot was terrified, claiming this wasn't the hero she knew.

"...Damn it! I'm out. I'm leaving this party—"

"Riana, you may enter as you please, but leaving is another matter."

"Even if you say that with such a benevolent and merciful expression, it won't work!"

Oh dear, how precious you are. Even if you're a half-insane masochist, there's still a use for you, isn't there? Like as a meat shield, for example.

"...Meat shield is too much. Hngh..."

Oh my, would you look at this girl?

I glared at her with sharp eyes. Riana's body trembled slightly.

"W-what...?!"

"You say that, but you actually like being a meat shield, don't you?"

"No! Just what do you take me for?!"

A crazy bitch who gets off on being hit. Ah, and as for the meat shield? Other than that... uh... wait?

"Too much..."

"It's your own fault."

Meat shield. Hmm, yeah. It was because Riana felt sexual excitement from pain, and it suited her aptitude perfectly.

I'm not trash enough to use people as meat shields. Riana sighed. Of course she wouldn't like it, since I'd called her over only to mess with her.

Riana cleared her throat. It was to dispel this shitty atmosphere.

In a somewhat calmer state, she asked me.

"So why did you call me? It can't be just to show off your weird mental state."

"What do you take me for?"

"A hero. At the same time, a man who's better than anyone at throwing insults."

"...Isn't your mental state the weirdest one here?"

I felt relieved watching Riana giggle. She must have suffered the most from my unreasonable request. Or maybe she'd actually enjoyed it? According to Isabel, she'd gotten beaten quite a lot while trying to stop her. Well, no need to worry. It had ended on a good note.

I shook my body and stood up. It was a bit stiff, but after a week, all my wounds had healed. At the very least, if they told me to head back to Helheim, I could fight immediately.

I roughly threw on some clothes—something easy to move in, along with simple pauldrons.

"Let's go out for a bit."

"Huh? Just what the hell are you thinking, you man?!"

What nonsense was this all of a sudden? What exactly did she imagine?

"Asking me on a date when you already have those two..."

"Anyway, Seria and Isabel are busy preparing for the warriors' funeral."

"That's true... I can barely see their faces except in the evenings..."

The problem was how they relieved all their built-up work stress on me, though.

"But fuck, what the hell are you thinking?!"

I'm not that kind of trash. Besides, two was already overwhelming. Three? Who wanted to die from climaxing too hard? Just thinking about it made my body shiver.

"...Hero, if you were to confess to me, I have no intention of accepting."

Was this the legendary zero confessions and immediate rejection I'd only heard about? It felt strangely awful. I hadn't confessed, hadn't even considered it, yet I'd been rejected. What the hell was this feeling?

Ugh. I waved my hands, banishing the horrible imagination. Marry Riana? I had no taste for hitting people.

"Riana, I know you have high self-esteem but... yeah, it's a bit much."

"W-what? Don't look at me with those pitying eyes like I'm some poor woman...!"

No.

"O-or it might actually be good... Haa... Haa..."

"Enough. It's time to change your weapon, so let's go."

"...Hmm?"

I grabbed Riana's axe with both hands. It was heavy. Not impossible to hold, but carrying it for long periods would be difficult. She wielded this thing with one hand? She was an amazing woman in many ways.

"If Isabel were free I would've asked her. But everyone's busy, so I'm just asking you to come along."

"Hmm... This axe is still fine for now, though."

"No."

I picked up Bete's thorn sword and skull, chuckling.

"Things like this need to be recycled."

Every time the blacksmith hammered Bete's skull, he suffered a seizure. Well, it wasn't something an ordinary person could endure. But what could you do? This old man was the greatest dwarf in Vanaheim. You'd have to account for at least this much.

"Just endure it a little. Don't you want the money?"

"...Ugh! You're trash, Taesik."

"Puhuhu. I've got a favor to ask."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

He hammered the red-hot iron. As it gradually spread and took shape, both Riana and I could only stare with our mouths agape.

"More importantly, the Commander of Solitude? You're always bringing such strange things."

"So you don't like it?"

"...The truth of life is money, as they say."

"Puhuhu."

I shook the pouch full of shillings. The jingle jangle of coins created a harmonious melody that rang in our ears. It was a sound that shook the human heart. The temptation of money was impossible to resist.

The reason I'd entrusted Riana's weapon to this old man was precisely because of that. Do you remember the Shield of Frost? The shield crafted from the skull of the corrupted Frost Giant King Thrym. That too was this blacksmith's masterpiece. The fact that I'd been using it for a full year said everything. It was a true work of art.

"Hero, what do you plan to use this thorn sword for?"

"Hmm... I'm not sure yet. I brought it anyway..."

The thorn sword Bete used to wield. The one that could freely change direction. The black blade caught my eye.

"No matter how I swung it, it wouldn't bend."

It was strange. Bete could stretch it in zigzags effortlessly, but when I used it, it was nothing more than a spiky blade.

"If you can't use it, we should destroy it."

"...That's a very dangerous way of thinking."

"What does it matter? It's not like it wears out. We can just turn it into useful equipment."

If possible, I'd prefer it as an accessory. Something that would let me use Bete's Authority of Solitude. Of course, whether that was possible or not, we'd find out once it was made. Even if the sword disappeared, it wouldn't be a waste. It meant I didn't feel any need for it in my current state.

"Urgh, looks like I'll be up all night again."

"Work hard. I'll compensate you properly."

I shook the money pouch. The blacksmith's eyes followed its every movement. I felt satisfied watching his gaze shift with every shake.

"I'm not sure about the thorn sword, but we'll never get another one of Bete's skulls."

"...I know."

The same went for the thorn sword, but as I'd said, I felt no need for it. If it couldn't properly display its power, it was no different from trash.

"I'll trust you. Handle it with care."

"Leave it to me!"

Several hours passed like that. The blacksmith endured the lonely solitude. His obsession with money had triumphed over the commander's authority. I wasn't sure whether to be proud of that or despise it... but since the result was good, it was fine.

I tossed the money pouch into his hands. He snatched the arcing pouch out of the air and broke into a wide, satisfied grin.

A jet-black axe was placed into Riana's hands. She looked somewhat moved.

"...It's beautiful."

The blade of the jet-black axe was razor sharp. Its massive size emanated an aura of death just from looking at it. This was what you could call a proper hero's companion.

It felt like spending real money on a game character's weapon. In other words, I didn't feel like I'd wasted any ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠money.

I was sincerely grateful to Bete. I was also grateful to all the commanders who'd died by my hand until now. You guys always made us stronger. You were like hidden material warehouses.

"Then let's head back."

"Yeah, thanks, Hero."

"If you're thankful, you should repay me with your body."

Since a meat shield makes the best tanker.

"D-don't leave out the important part!"

"It's not wrong, is it?"

"...T-that part is good, though. Haa...♥"

"Enough, come on. Or should I leave you behind?"

Just as we were about to return to the mansion—

Crack!

A sound that should never come from an axe rang out, and then—

Bete's voice echoed.

Why the hell was this guy appearing here?

"You—what the fuck."

That lasted only a moment. Bete's voice cracked as if breaking, and he was horrified by his own condition.

Hehe. For some unknown reason, a sense of satisfaction made the corners of my mouth stretch all the way to my ears.

"Puheheheheh."

"It's been a week, Bete. Did you sleep well?"

More than that, this guy. Didn't his personality seem different? The solitude was gone... How should I put it? It was like his original personality from when he was alive.

On both Riana's face and mine...

Hehe. Our smiles were filled with satisfaction.