Ch.134Cradle of Life. Scofield Baby Factory (4)

“Wake up. You’re my woman.”

“Hueeng…”

7 AM.

Though the sun wouldn’t rise for another two hours, my wife and I had woken up a bit early.

Of course, after last night’s passionate encounter, my wife was thoroughly exhausted from the friction of our bodies, and I had to carry her and wash her myself. But given her incredible figure, I had no complaints whatsoever.

After thoroughly washing away the remnants of the previous night, my wife recovered enough to walk on two feet, so we lay back down on the bed and embraced each other.

“Looking at you makes me question whether men’s sexual desire is really stronger than women’s.”

“That’s right. I’m a lewd woman after all.”

My wife giggled as she pressed her violent physique, covered by only a thin cloth, even closer against my body.

Of course, having released all our pent-up sexual desire the night before, we didn’t go as far as intercourse again, but it was tempting enough to share kisses from early morning.

“Huaaah… By the way. I wonder why I haven’t gotten pregnant yet? We haven’t even been using protection.”

“Who knows. Maybe it’s because I’m an Aura user?”

“Heee…”

Naturally, the difference between Aura users and non-Aura users is clear.

The difference in reproductive cells must be obvious too, so it wouldn’t be strange if my overwhelmingly strong sperm mercilessly tore apart my wife’s fragile eggs.

“Then, I should quickly become an Aura user too.”

“That would be nice.”

My dream is to make a pilgrimage to the 52 wonders of the world, but I haven’t set a specific timeframe. It would also be nice to settle down somewhere suitable to raise children, and then go on adventures as a family when the children reach an appropriate age.

Come to think of it, I’ve reached an age where I’m seriously considering starting a family. How times have changed.

In Parchifal, I struggled so desperately just to survive, but now I’m having such peaceful concerns… Is this why nomadic tribes become inexplicably weak once they settle down?

“Raisha.”

“Yes, master.”

“How many children would you like to have?”

“I’ll have as many as you want.”

Gaaah.

What words to stir a man’s heartstrings!

Is my wife perhaps descended from succubus blood?

No matter how I think about it, this isn’t the kind of behavior you’d expect from a woman raised in the tough urban working class…

Ah. Maybe I’m the same?

After all, an ordinary orphan couldn’t wander the streets killing thousands.

“What a unique couple we are.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s just lie here a bit longer before going down. Today is a free day.”

“❤”

Yesterday we had some awkward time left over, and more importantly, everyone was somewhat tired from the Derikson village incident, so I declared today a day of free rest.

How to spend the day was up to each party member.

Being the party leader didn’t exempt me from being a party member, so I planned to spend some quality time with my wife.

So we stayed stuck together like rice cakes wrapped in plastic until sunrise, and when 9 o’clock came, we went downstairs to eat.

*

“I never imagined I’d be staying at inns like this every day.”

“Me neither.”

Inns aren’t fundamentally businesses that cater to ordinary people.

Motels and hotels are for ordinary people. Inns primarily serve adventurers, so if ordinary people wander in unknowingly, they might end up shedding tears of blood after paying several silver coins instead of a few copper coins.

On the flip side, the average quality of meals was better than most restaurants, so ordinary people with money weren’t restricted from using them.

Some wealthy people actually preferred inns to hotels because inns were filled with adventurers, making them safer than hotels in emergencies.

“There was a time when I’d grind my teeth over a few copper coins. Not anymore though.”

“That’s true.”

Even earning the same amount of money, adventurers paid no taxes, so ordinary people often envied adventurers’ earnings.

Of course, earnings up to the Firewood rank were quite meager. At Metal rank, you might earn more money, but your life was often at risk, so there was some balance.

Just look at me—I was once crushed by a Yeti.

Fortunately, I awakened my Aura then. If I hadn’t, I would have died instantly, potions and spells notwithstanding.

“Excuse me. May I take your order?”

“What’s popular here?”

“Um… Roast veal, grilled ox tongue, and bacon soup.”

“Two portions of each.”

I handed over exactly six silver coins, and the waiter politely accepted them before rushing to the kitchen.

Six silver coins!

It hasn’t even been a year since I was delighted to receive forty copper coins, but now I can spend several silver coins without batting an eye.

“To be honest, I don’t want to go back to counting every copper coin.”

“I agree. It reminds me of when we were poor…”

I nodded.

I was sick of buying ugly vegetables at the market and getting stale bread at bargain prices.

Meat, fat, and oil were limited to the occasional hodgepodge stew that Aileen would bring…

But now here we are, filling our stomachs with a hearty meat-filled meal even for breakfast.

“I wonder how Aileen is doing now…”

“Who’s Aileen?”

“Just someone. Like a mother hen.”

“…?”

My wife wore a puzzled expression, and in the distance, a waiter was walking toward our table carrying plates in both hands and on his head.

“Your meal is served. Enjoy your food.”

*

After finishing our meal, we walked around the streets looking for a skilled blacksmith.

After asking around, we found a rather large ironworks. Judging by its size, it wasn’t much different from the place where I bought my sword in Parchifal.

“Anyone here?”

“A customer?”

When I called out, a young man who appeared to be an apprentice opened the door, and we entered through it.

The inside of the ironworks was filled with the sound of various machine tools operating, but they must have had noise reduction devices because it wasn’t painfully loud.

“I need plate armor made.”

After saying that, I tossed one gold coin to the apprentice, who caught it and called for his master with wide eyes.

“Master! An order for plate armor!”

“Plate armor?”

An old craftsman who looked like he was buried in black iron filings appeared, tucking his tools into his chest pocket. He stared at the gold coin his apprentice handed him and asked me:

“By when?”

“By today.”

When I said that, he stroked his discolored beard and then held up one finger.

“If you want it that quickly, there will be an additional charge.”

I took out another gold coin and tossed it.

Again, the apprentice hurriedly came forward to catch the gold coin, and the master nodded and gave his apprentice a measuring tape.

“Take his measurements. I’ll check our inventory.”

“Ah.. Yes! Master!”

The fired-up apprentice awkwardly approached me, and I followed his clumsy instructions as he measured my height, body circumference, and went through various procedures.

And from far away…

“Listen up! We have an armor order! It needs to be finished today, so don’t even think about slacking off!”

“Gyaaak! I was supposed to go on a date with my wife today!”

“What’s more important, your wife or two gold coins?”

“Of course, two gold coins are more important!”

…Are all craftsmen like this?

It seemed truly strange that the apprentice trembling before me would someday develop such a gruff personality.

“We’re staying at Scofield’s finest inn. Call for us when the armor is complete.”

“Um… Your name, sir?”

“Viktor Walker.”

“Ah. Understood, Viktor.”

“Address me with proper respect! You lowly thing!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

*

After ordering the armor, we headed to the market to replenish our nearly empty spatial storage.

Ding! Ding!

We rang the bell at the market entrance, which was used to summon attendants. It was typically used by knights, nobles, or wealthy people who considered shopping themselves beneath their dignity.

“Did you call, my lord?”

“Yes. Go and buy fresh vegetables, meat, grains, butter, alcohol, and tea.”

The attendant silently held out his hand, and I gave him one gold coin.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The attendant put on special glasses to look at us, which were enchanted to assess the capacity of our spatial storage.

“Please wait comfortably. This humble servant will return shortly.”

Such attendants earned quite well, making the competition fierce.

I had applied for such positions several times in Parchifal but was rejected every time.

Now that I’m a knight, it’s a different story altogether.

“Let’s sit and wait.”

“Yes, master.”

I held my wife and sat on a nearby chair, and before long, the attendant approached us pulling a cart full of supplies.

We put everything into our spatial storage, and when the attendant handed me the change, I said:

“Keep the rest for yourself.”

“Thank you, my lord! May the gods bless you!”