Chapter 128

Chapter 128

128: Deficiency – (Revised) In the end, Josef brought an even sharper knife and drew blood from my shoulder. Even then, it wouldn’t cut, so he had to use magic. “Amazing, to the point where I barely manage to tear the skin even with Corte…” “A blade spell?” Josef gazed at the small scratch on my skin with an admiring look and nodded. If there was lust in that gaze, it would have been more depraved, but perhaps not. It seemed he coveted my skin, not my body. The process of treating the petrified limbs was quite complicated. “It will take some time to culture the tissue. Usually about a week? And then it will take more time to transplant it to your arm and make it grow again.” First, they would cut off the petrified part, and then transplant the cultured cells of the doppelganger into my body. The cells of the doppelganger, with their regenerative power, would gradually restore the wound, and by cutting the regenerated area appropriately and continuing to attach the cultured cells, it would eventually transform into complete limbs. …Frankly speaking, it sounded like a very time-consuming task just hearing about it. It might be better to undergo a complete transformation. “How long will it take?” “Well, it depends on the person, but it took about a month to grow a single finger, so I’m not sure how long it will take.” I thought I would only stay for a few days at first, but at this rate, I was stuck in the underground plaza. Is the answer really a complete transformation? But even if I tried to undergo a complete transformation, I needed a demon’s core, so it was impossible right now. Unless Quirjev came, but it was so expensive that I couldn’t just ask for it. “Oh, and I have a favor to ask.” “What favor?” And I had to leave some clues about Taliman. “Can you give me some paper and a pen?” My limbs were petrified, but my mouth was still there. Sending a note was possible. It wouldn’t be a difficult request. // For the next two days, I had to lie in bed and spend my time bored. Well, to be precise, it wasn’t like I had nothing to do at all.

-Gurgle.

My familiar, Arum, who moved as I thought, took care of me wholeheartedly, acting as my hands and feet. Doing trivial things like holding a book and turning the pages, slightly raising my body, or holding a cup and letting me drink water. Perhaps that’s why. Josef, who had initially offered to take care of me, was relieved when I managed to do everything on my own. He went back to focusing on his research and cell culture for my treatment.

-Rustle.

And, there were quite a few interesting books in the basement of the brothel where Josef stayed. Magic books, magic commentaries, things like that. Most of them were full of formulas I couldn’t understand, but if I ignored those, there were many that were quite fun to read. Except when my thoughts went off on a tangent.

-Rustle.

“….” Watching Arum skillfully turn the pages with its slime, I idly thought about random things. It was a little sorry to use such a cute and smart guy as a dildo, but when you think about it, he was living inside my uterus. Maybe Arum recognized it as a game of going in and out of the front door of his house. No matter how smart he was, there were limits as a slime. Sometimes he sent me images, and I could estimate Arum’s intelligence through them. He seemed to understand simple words, but I didn’t know more than that yet. Anyway, the day after spending two days like that, I was greeted by unexpected guests. “What, what is this…?” To be precise, I expected one person, but not the other. Mien and Quirjev entered the bedroom where I was resting. Mien, with her black hair neatly down, was looking at me with a shocked face, unlike her usual self, and Quirjev, though less so than Mien, also had a surprised look on his face. If you looked at their gaze towards my limbs exposed on the bed sheet, it might be a natural reaction. “…When I came to her, it was already too late.” And Josef was standing between them. As the one in charge of managing Pecus, Josef must have guided them and explained the situation. Thinking about it that way, I felt a little sorry for him. He must respect Mien, but this kind of meeting would be quite awkward. “Uh… hello?” And I was just as embarrassed, so I could only awkwardly greet Mien. In one corner of my head, I thought about shaking my petrified arm, but I stopped because it would only have the opposite effect. “How, how could this…” Seeing my appearance, Mien approached with a pale face and stroked my forehead. When her soft and smooth hand touched my forehead, I felt a warmth that permeated my heart. That warmth was quite unfamiliar. Even though we shared secrets and spent time together, I didn’t think she and I were that close. Was that just my own thought? Looking at Mien’s face with a complicated expression, the excuses I had prepared in my heart melted into oblivion. In the end, all that came out of my mouth were two short words. “…It’s been a while, Mien.” // Thus, my quiet bedroom was instantly crowded with people. Mien and Quirjev heard the whole story from Josef and me. Hearing the story, Quirjev sighed, holding his forehead. “I thought it was strange that the workshop was breached, it was that guy. I should have killed him back then…” If he had, this wouldn’t have happened, but it was too late to regret it now. I was immediately led to Pecus by Taliman, so I didn’t know what happened to Caldin. But if he ever encountered Quirjev again, he probably wouldn’t be safe. I didn’t have any particular ill feelings at first, but as the petrified state continued and life became inconvenient, my animosity towards him was slowly growing. I wouldn’t kill him, but I could at least take an arm off like me. “Then, how are you going to treat this?” Mien asked Quirjev, pointing to my arm. Except for being a little shaken at first, she seemed quite calm. Perhaps it was because she had already heard the general situation from Josef while being guided by him. If she had heard the story in advance, she could have prepared herself to some extent. “That… maybe this guy can treat it.” When Quirjev pointed to Josef, Josef nodded confidently and replied. “I can treat it. It will take some time, but I’m sure.” But it would take a lot of time. I’m sorry to say, but I didn’t want such a long method. Besides, if not now, I wouldn’t have a chance to try a complete transformation. “Josef, was it? How is it possible?” “I have succeeded in restoring doppelganger cells before. If I use that…” However, I couldn’t refuse in front of Mien and Josef, so I decided to obediently receive his treatment for now, and then ask Quirjev to try a complete transformation at the right time. Complete transformation is ultimately the unification of Qi and the body, and in the process, the potential dormant in the practitioner’s body is expressed to the fullest. Looking back on my memories and interpreting them from a modern perspective, it could be said that the most excellent genetic traits dormant in the body are revealed. “Let’s discuss the rest later.” Thus, the three discussed measures to fix my body for a while, and as time passed, they decided to break up. Perhaps they were continuing the story elsewhere, considering me as a patient. “…Laila, are you really okay being alone?” “Yes. I have a familiar, so I’ll call you if I need anything.” Mien seemed worried about me being alone, but I was more comfortable alone. I had a lot to think about, and I had to start preparing a plan for a complete transformation. And after the three of them left the room side by side, Mien’s voice saying something to Quirjev echoed through the door. “And, Quirjev. The story about that is not over yet.” “I don’t intend to insist on my argument until I reach this situation. Let’s talk after we fix that girl’s body first. Isn’t that what you want too?” “…That’s right. Let’s do that.” …I think the door isn’t very soundproof. It wasn’t something I shouldn’t hear, but I couldn’t help but feel a little concerned. ‘That story’. It smelled suspicious. Of course, I’m suspicious too. //

-Rustle.

In the quiet bedroom, the sound of turning pages echoed in my ears. Since all I had to do since coming here was read books, I was used to the regularly ringing sound of turning pages.

-Creak.

But that was only for a moment, and soon an alien sound tickled my ears. The metal hinge screamed softly, and someone’s figure appeared beyond the door. “…..” I could tell who he was without even looking at his face. I kept my eyes fixed on the page and opened my mouth. “You came earlier than I thought.” “…How did you do that? I’m sure there was no sign of chanting…” Quirjev was looking at me with a stiff expression. He must have been quite surprised. He must be hearing telepathy for the first time.

-Clack.

I ordered Arum to close the book and smiled slightly at Quirjev. “I’m sorry, it’s a secret, so I can’t tell you.” In the dim room, his figure revealed under the reddish light seemed to have more wrinkles for some reason. Quirjev stared at me for a while, then opened his mouth again. “…Okay, I understand. Then I’ll change the question.” He seemed to take a breath as if pausing for a moment, then continued. “You said the deal was done, what exactly does that mean?” // It was nothing special. I gave him what I promised, and it was just a story of wanting to receive the price for it. ….Or, maybe I want to think it’s nothing special. It was quite a big deal to say it was nothing special. For me, and for Quirjev. I composed myself and looked at Quirjev. His wrinkled face seemed confused, but he still maintained a blank face, making him look ruthless. Damn it, do I really have to say this? I really didn’t think I would say something like this. I let out a small sigh inside and opened my mouth. And calmly, quietly, I tell the truth as if reciting. “I’m pregnant.” “…..What?” Quirjev’s face as he retorted was quite ridiculous. // ———= Author’s Notes ———= Pregnancy attack part added