Raising the Elf’s Genius Slayer

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Chapter

The gentle breeze heralds a pleasant morning.

As Eirinne opened her eyes, she absentmindedly petted Rionne’s hair for a few minutes before stepping outside.

Staying at Jayura’s House wasn’t uncomfortable, and it seemed Jayura enjoyed having people around, so the group continued to occupy Jayura’s residence.

Eirinne sat on a low hill, vacantly watching the Beastman children frolicking about.

It was peaceful.

There was no atmosphere suggesting that anything out of the ordinary was about to happen, and ever since reaching the demigod level, there hadn’t been any real crises.

If one wanted to stir up trouble, charging into the empire and challenging the Emperor would suffice, but really—why bother?

“Oh.”

Suddenly, the God of Life and Death came to mind. That deranged elf. I wonder what the unfortunate man is doing now.

He was probably still wandering the desert, lost to reason, but the thought of visiting him crossed Eirinne’s mind.

With the Sword God, Rionne, and Eirinne together, wouldn’t it be rather safe?

Then again, would her and Rionne’s overcoming their lifespan issues only serve to deepen his sense of deprivation?

‘I’ll think about it later.’

After all, there’s plenty of time.

Lying in the grass, Eirinne enjoyed the light breeze tickling her nose.

“What are you doing?”

Rionne’s voice called out. She just waved her hand and giggled.

“Brings back old memories.”

“What kind of old memories?”

“When Eirinne was little?”

“Hmm. Not that long ago, right?”

“Well, you’re saying that because you’re older now.”

“Right?”

Rionne sat down next to Eirinne, who rolled over and buried her face in Rionne’s thigh.

“I’m sleepy.”

“After sleeping enough as it is.”

“Still.”

As Eirinne sluggishly rose, Rionne brushed a blade of grass off her face.

“Hey, look over there.”

Following Rionne’s fingertip with her gaze, she spotted the Beastman children still running around, showing no signs of tiring.

“Aren’t they cute? Should we have one of our own?”

“I’d prefer a daughter.”

“Suddenly?”

With Rionne laughing, Eirinne chuckled too.

“Yeah. I hope she looks like you.”

“That’s a tall order… But, isn’t it kind of odd to decide it so deliberately?”

“You’re right. I don’t want that either.”

Eirinne stood up, shaking the grass off as Rionne reached out to her.

“What’s that over there?”

Rionne pointed again, her fingers thrumming in excitement.

“I wonder if it’s time…”

Just then, Eirinne got an idea.

“Rionne.”

“Hmm?”

Not entirely sure, but leaning on hazy memories, Eirinne knelt down.

“Eirinne?”

As she pulled out a small box from within her robes and opened the lid, Rionne’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s nothing special… Just a little gift.”

Eirinne randomly rolled her eyes and drew out a female ring from a pair.

“C-Could you, um, extend your hand?”

Why was this so embarrassing?

Still, her cheeks flushed against her will, and she awkwardly scratched her face.

“……”

Rionne seemed slightly embarrassed too, reddening a bit and extending her hand.

With delicate, white fingers.

Staring blankly at them, Eirinne slipped a ring onto Rionne’s left-hand ring finger.

“Uh, well… About kids…”

“Eirinne…!”

Rionne suddenly wrapped her arms around Eirinne.

Hehe, a somewhat silly laugh echoed in her ears.

“I love it.”

“Um….”

“Tell me! Eirinne, what about you?”

“Yeah… I do. I-I love you.”

Wagging like a puppy’s tail, Rionne’s ears flapped playfully.

“Hehe.”

As she smiled at Rionne admiring the ring on her finger, Eirinne attempted to put on the remaining ring on her own hand. Or, at least that’s what she meant to do.

“Ah! Let me do it!”

Rionne nimbly snatched the ring and slid it onto Eirinne’s left-hand ring finger.

Eirinne looked back and forth between her new ring and Rionne’s hair ring with a grin.

“Nice, huh?”

“Right? So… Shall we go ahead and make a baby now?”

“Eh?”

Bam! Rionne scooped Eirinne up in her arms and flashed an innocent but mischievous smile.

“It’s still quite a ways home, huh?”

“Rionne…?”

“This is all Eirinne’s fault!”

Kidnapped.

*

“Hmm~.”

A week had passed since the ring was given, and even now, Rionne was feeling jubilant.

“I should brag about this at home.”

The time they’d spent turned out to be longer than expected. But that concluded today.

Packing their bags, the group exchanged goodbyes with Jayura.

“I’ll come again, Jayura.”

“Rionne, do come more often. If you only visit in a hundred years or so, I might not be around.”

“W-Wait, I don’t plan to take that long!”

With her tongue out, Rionne grabbed Eirinne’s hand.

“Let’s go, Eirinne.”

“Yup.”

With Tsukiyo and Undine included, no one was left behind as Eirinne led the way home.

Zap-!

In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed in a flash.

“Speaking of which, I should consider moving out soon.”

As Rionne returned home after a long time, she casually mentioned her thoughts about independence.

“Can’t you take your time thinking it over?”

“But wouldn’t it be better to do it before the baby arrives?”

“Huh?”

Eirinne tilted her head, and Rionne quietly whispered into her ear.

“I’m pregnant.”

Eirinne froze, mouth agape in shock.

With a giggle, Rionne burst through the door.

“Mom! Dad! I’m back!”

As Eirinne stared blankly at Rionne’s retreating figure, Tsukiyo gave her a comforting pat on the back.

“Looks like you’ve become a dad. Congratulations.”

Then, he followed Rionne into the house.

[Wow, that tiny kid is going to be a dad? Can’t believe it.]

Undine perched above Eirinne, laughing heartily.

Eirinne remained frozen, her heart racing, hand on her chest.

“Is this…?”

Could it be the thrill of becoming a dad? Upon closer inspection, there was an even more fundamental reason.

[Dad! Do I get a sibling too?]

Suddenly, Eri spun in front of Eirinne, gleefully landing just before her.

Staring into the iridescent eyes of the spirit, Eirinne dazedly nodded.

“Uh… maybe?”

[Wow! I’m so excited!]

Behind the bouncing Eri, nine tails popped into view.

If they were modeled after the Master of the Forest, this must be their fully grown form. Yet, Eri still looked like a child.

Curiously, when Eirinne asked, Eri smiled brightly.

[Don’t be shocked!]

Then she twirled in the air and,

Boom—

With a tiny sound, she revealed her true form.

“Wow…. ”

Eirinne, looking up with all her might, gasped in awe.

“It’s bigger than our house.”

It was larger than the Sword God’s mansion, which was like a palace.

The massive, purple fox gazed down at Eirinne, bolts of electricity crackling around it.

[Isn’t it huge?]

“Yeah. Your power has also grown.”

At the fringe of Grandmaster rank. With a little more push, wouldn’t she reach the demigod level?

Staring at Eri’s absurd growth, Undine, who had been lounging above her head, began bouncing with excitement.

[No! This is absurd! This just can’t be!]

“What’s wrong?”

[That little thing is stronger than I am! How is that even possible!?]

“Right? Hey Undine, why are you still the same?”

[What are you implying? Who are you teasing here!?]

“Yep.”

[Ugh…! Seriously!]

Even though Undine was in a frenzy, Eirinne was now stronger than her, causing a smirk to break out on his face.

“Eirinne! What are you doing? Come inside already!”

Turning to Rionne’s voice, Eirinne saw the Sword God and Roxanna peering in.

“Why are you just standing there…?”

“I heard the news, son-in-law. Rionne is pregnant, right?”

“Wow, wow! Looks like a baby is going to raise a baby.”

Apparently, Rionne had told them everything.

Seeing the ring on Eirinne’s finger, Roxanna poked the Sword God in the ribs, seemingly having heard about the ring as well.

“Kids do stuff like this. What about you, dear?”

“Hmm… Come to think of it, I forgot to water the plants. I’ll be right back.”

The Sword God swiftly vanished. Undine clicked her tongue at that.

[Here we go again, he’s bound to prepare something grand about now, isn’t he? Just a yearly event?]

“Ha ha, if you’re envious, Undine, find yourself a good partner.”

[A spirit? What partner?]

Grumbling, Undine whizzed off, disappearing.

Roxanna chuckled before addressing Eirinne.

“Dinner is ready, so hurry inside.”

“Ah, okay.”

Did elves also take about ten months to give birth like humans?

Eirinne, steadying her wildly beating heart, hurried along.

*

Time flew by quickly.

As Rionne’s belly grew larger day by day, Eirinne spent the whole time just gazing at it.

“Eirinne, aren’t you bored just staring?”

“Not boring at all.”

“Then sit here beside me.”

“Sure.”

Eirinne skuttled over and sat next to Rionne, still fixated on the swollen belly.

“Want to touch it?”

As soon as Rionne finished her sentence, Eirinne gently placed her hand on her belly.

“Oh….”

She could feel the vibrant life wriggling inside.

Was it because of Rionne’s power connected to life? The child’s vitality felt extraordinary.

She’d heard that as one’s level increased, conceiving became more difficult. However, whether it was because both had reached the demigod level or simply luck out of pouring their seeds in, who knew? Either way, Eirinne felt fortunate.

“Eirinne, have you thought of a name?”

“Yeah. How about Boksil?”

“…Let’s save that for a nickname.”

Rionne sighed a little, laughing softly.

Eirinne had already experienced her dreadful naming sense, but Boksil seemed to have popped up from nowhere.

“Actually, I thought of one knowing you’d suggest that.”

A name that suitably combined Eirinne and Rionne. Rionne paused for a moment before casually saying,

“Eirinne. What do you think?”

“…Eirinne.”

Eirinne repeated the name several times, her smile growing as she finally felt a sense of warmth.

“Perfect. Eirinne.”