After that, everything was peaceful.

I got closer to the people I met while looking for Roselin’s guardian, often chatting and having tea with Ternya. Of course, Idrish accompanied me at those times.

“Is that true? You were that popular, sir?”

I urged Lyudmila for the next story. Lyudmila had told me her experiences all the way on the train ride, and they were all fascinating stories.

“Yeah, my husband was quite goodlooking back then. So, how I wooed the most popular guy in town… oh, dear, Silla.”

“Yes?”

“Your husband came to look for you again.”

“Ah… again? I was having so much fun.”

“Right, Silla’s husband must find it hard to bear even a moment without Silla, haha! Newlyweds are wonderful, wonderful. My husband at that age would carry me around, not just escort me, but literally carry me.”

“That’s not quite it… Anyway, I’ll go ahead. Please continue the story tomorrow!”

“Okay, we’ll arrive at Central tomorrow afternoon, so you have to come early in the morning. I have a lot to tell.”

“Sure.”

I waved goodbye to the people.

And then turned to glare sharply at Idrish.

“Isn’t it too early?”

“If I hadn’t come now, I would have been late again, with a sly smile.”

“I intended to go back on time this time. And lately, even without this, the ‘there’ condition has improved much.”

“Don’t say ‘there.’ It sounds weird.”

“What should I call ‘there’? Okay, fine, I mean the cursed chest.”

“…That’s even stranger.”

(This is a time separator.)

I entered the guest room. I flung my shoes and dove straight into the bed.

“Come here.”

I patted the spot next to me on the bed, thumping it with my palm. Idrish narrowed his eyes but obediently came over without a word.

Idrish pulled up and took off his shirt. I should have gotten used to it by now… but I haven’t.

“I’ll begin.”

I placed my hand on his chest. Lately, not just for one hour but whenever there was spare time, I had been doing this. Moreover, I had been sleeping close to Idrish all night.

At those times, Idrish would hold me tightly, unable to go or come.

It seemed that he unconsciously sought me more to alleviate his pain when asleep.

It’s a good thing I didn’t suffocate to death.

At first, I tried to push him away because it was stuffy, but humans are adaptable creatures.

And it was tiring and bothersome, so I just fell asleep.

Anyway, the effect of this was evident; the black mark had noticeably diminished. The scar covering his chest had shrunk to the size of Idrish’s large palm.

I lay still, staring blankly, and then opened my mouth again.

“Idrish. But you said before that female ducks don’t lay eggs.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, can different species of animals marry each other?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, I see.”

I nodded seriously.

“Why ask?”

“Mrs. Lyudmila, she told me she’s a cow, you see.”

“Have you become close enough to exchange such information?”

“Yes, I said I was a wolf, so don’t worry. Anyway, her husband is said to be handsome, so I wonder if he’s a cow too. Because they have a child.”

“It could be or not. Marriages between different species are obviously possible. They live more as humans than animals.”

“Then if a duck and a raccoon marry and have a baby, does it become a duckraccoon?”

“That’s unlikely.”

“Isn’t it? Then what happens? If a hedgehog and a tiger have a baby, will it be a tiger with spikes…?”

I stopped talking and quickly covered my mouth.

But the words had already gone out and reached Idrish’s ears, with some to spare. As if to confirm that, Idrish’s eyebrows flicked up.

My face turned hot for a moment. I felt like I knew what Idrish was thinking.
“No, I just thought of it as a possibility, that’s all I was suggesting. Don’t make such a strange face. I don’t know many beastmen!”

“Right.”

“Right? It seems like you’re thinking differently inside? Hey, don’t misunderstand anything strange. Really.”

Her breath was hot. Without looking, it was clear that her face was as red as a roasted sweet potato.

Of course, she had thought about whether she and Idrish could have a child.

It was when they were struggling with baby Roselin last time.

Idrish was terrible as a father. It would be hard to educate properly. But could children be born between different species?

So it was merely her consciousness drifting on its own. She never wanted to have a child with Idrish, or marry him, or love him…

She swallowed hard.

Even though it was a thought, she couldn’t say she didn’t want to.

There were times when she had the urge to suddenly grab Idrish’s large hand, times when she was thrilled by the sound of him calling her name. She always wanted him to be jealous because of her.

She enjoyed being with Idrish and wanted to be with him for a long time.

Love with Idrish…?

She thought hard about it.

She wanted to.

For various reasons, her emotions that had been ignored and set aside were certainly so.

This is serious. It seems she really likes Idrish.

“You can give birth.”

She was startled.

“What, what will I give birth to?”

“You asked if children could be born between different beastmen.”