14. I'm Preg...
"...ris."
"...Chris."
"Chris!"
"Yes?" I turned my head as my name was called. Ahead of me stood Peytra—Mother—her eyes filled with worry.
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked gently, hesitantly reaching toward my ear. It seemed my powers had enhanced my regeneration a bit. One ear looked chipped, but there was no longer any bleeding or frozen traces. It resembled an old injury more than a fresh wound.
The way she kept moving her hand closer, the pained look on her face—it felt like she was the one who had been hurt. I hated seeing her like this. And worse, knowing I was the reason.
So I leaned in slightly, letting her hand touch the damaged ear to speed things up.
As her fingers brushed against it, she almost yelped, her face going pale.
*Thump.
"I'm fine, Mom. It doesn't hurt," I reassured her with a small smile.
The excuse I gave them about the injury? Nothing concrete.
I told them I didn't know how it happened, that it was already like that when I woke up.
Because of that, today we were going to the church.
Both of them dropped their work immediately just to accompany me. I tried reasoning that I could go alone, but that was shot down instantly.
Naturally, both my parents are devout followers of the God of Steam and Machinery—given their professions and passions, it wasn't surprising. At the church, the priest said there was nothing wrong with me. Not physically, and certainly not mystically.
That helped ease their concern. They visibly relaxed after hearing the priest's words. But just when I thought we were heading home peacefully, they dropped a bomb on me.
"Let's go to the Church of the Lord of Storms," my father suddenly suggested.
My eyes widened. "Huh?"
Mother nodded with a straight face. "Then we can stop by the Church of the Evernight Goddess after that."
I blinked at them, completely thrown off. Meanwhile, Grandar and Peytra chuckled at my expression.
"Listen well, Chris," Mother said kindly.
"It's never a bad idea to get a second opinion," Father added with a grin.
...
Haha, I would have laughed and agreed if this were my old world.
But in this world—where "He" and "She" were more than just words—yeah... I broke into a cold sweat.
Let's hope none of 'He' or 'She' nearby to overhear. I awkwardly nodded, agreeing.
*Thump.
Thanks to Father's connections, we were able to meet with higher-ranking members of both churches. Not the top brass, but definitely above what regular citizens had access to.
In the end, the result was the same: there was nothing wrong with me.
Finally satisfied with these second and third opinions, my parents were able to relax. They asked me to rest for the day—even after I insisted I was fine.
Now, I lay on my bed.
Every time I closed my eyes, vivid images of what I'd done—of murder—came rushing back.
It didn't make me nauseous, but it definitely made me frown. My stomach twisted in discomfort.
Sleep refused to come.
So, if I couldn't sleep… I'd do the opposite.
I sat up, mind shifting gears. There were too many things that needed to be done, and fast.
"What should I do first—"
Thump.
...What was that?
A fraction of a second later, I noticed something off. A fleeting sensation, but my instincts screamed at me not to ignore it.
I closed my eyes and focused—all my attention turned inward.
My breath.
The familiar scent of my room.
The subtle movement of my body as I breathed.
And then—the sound of my own heartbeat.
Its steady rhythm brought a strange calm.
*Thump.
Suddenly, it broke.
I frowned, staying still, listening again.
*Thump.
Another one. Out of sync.
And now I was sure—I wasn't imagining it. The frequency was growing shorter, quicker.
I placed a hand on my stomach.
A double heartbeat.
My eyes widened.
F*ck!!
Did I touch something I wasn't supposed to?!
*Thump.
*Thump.
%^$%&!!
Heh… haha…hahaha I'm pregnant.
In a panic, I checked my pulse—just one steady beat at my wrist. Only one heartbeat. The other wasn't mine.
And that's when I realized…
I stared at the white bracelet on my wrist with dead eyes.
So it's just you...
Thank goodness I was alone in the room, or I'd be digging a hole in shame right now.
Wait… it's you!!
The white marble grew hot—scorching. And then, something—'It'—emerged from inside it.
I was still conscious, just like before. But my body? Completely out of my control.
I watched helplessly as my own hand moved to swallow the thing that came from the marble.
Then—bam.
A not-so-familiar pain crashed into me like a dump truck.
The system blared to life.
??? has been consumed.
Assimilating with the body...
Failure = Death.
Chance of Success: 43%
Do you wish to increase the chance?
Yes / No
"Y-You!" The illusionary voice rang out again—familiar and furious.
'You let part of me get devoured by others?!'
'That's it! I'm done! I'm going on strike! You can do your own damn work!'
The voice was absolutely fuming.
'I don't care anymore!!'
Then suddenly… silence.
Like She had realized something.
'Wait… can you hear me—'
But just like that, She vanished again.
Or maybe I simply couldn't hear Her anymore.
Still, I had the feeling that last line was meant for me.
But I had no time to think.
Because the pain exploded—inside, outside, everywhere.
Yes.
I chose without hesitation.
Understood.
50,000 Truth Points will be deducted.
Error! Insufficient Truth Points.
Current Points: 31
A loan is available.
Do you wish to take a loan?
Yes / No
"Ugh…" I groaned.
I just got out of debt… and now this again? Is this hell?
Wait, 50,000?!
Are you robbing me? How many years will I have to work to pay that back?
The system calmly repeated:
Do you wish to take a loan?
Yes / No
"F*ck—fine! Fine! I'll take it."
"You can only enjoy your money if you're alive, right?"
Understood.
Success Chance: 43% → 78%
Do you want to reduce the loan?
Yes / No
Huht... that's an option?
Hell yeah, I want to reduce it.
Understood. No food for those who don't work.
Initiating transfer...
Preparation complete.
A bright light engulfed my body.
And once again—I blacked out.