Chapter 157: The News

Aegis (Rank EX): The shield borne by Athena, the Goddess of War, to ward off other gods.

—Gorgonian Gaze (Active Skill): The eyes of Vengeful Medusa mounted on the front can freeze anyone with her cursed hatred. Be it gods or mortals. The eyes can either work passively or on chosen targets.

—Superior Resistance (Passive Skill): Gorgon's scales are resilient beyond doubt, capable of absorbing a huge amount of energy.

—Treacherous Wrath (Active Skill): The shield can shake the earth and summon storms at the user's will. The magnitude depends on the amount of magic supplied.

Price — 124,999 KP

Dang. This is crazy for offense and defense. The Greek gods' reaction will be funny if they recognized this. Medusa, the saintess of Athena. Poseidon, blinded by her beauty, ravaged her in Athena's shrine. Athena shunned her instead of Poseidon and cursed her for losing her virginity, turning her into a monster.

One of the less fucked up stories in Greek.

I shook my head. 'Buy it. It'll come in handy.'

225,000 KP was burned in seconds. It's worth it. Apollo wasn't going to stop at just one invitation.

The door slid open, and Saya walked out.

"What's the result?"

She turned with a smile on her face, a thin line of tears trailing down her cheeks. Those tears of relief made my heart skip a beast.

"We… did it."

I forced myself up and hugged her, as tight as my arms allowed.

"...I am pregnant."

"Congrats."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Who would have thought about being so happy over this?

"Are we going to tell others about it?"

"Yeah."

"I'll leave it to you."

"Sure."

I don't think anyone other than Nee-san and Yuriko wished to be pregnant now. Telling others was safe.

"Shall we return?"

"Um."

—x—x—x—

The trip back home was quiet.

we entered the living room. The girls stopped chattering.

"Onii-sama," Maya said. "Saya-san's face is terribly red. She also has a fever?"

Yuriko approached with an amused gaze, making Saya blush. Yuriko pulled Saya away from my arms and hugged her.

"Saya-chan will be fine. I'll make sure of it."

She went outside with Saya.

Wild Saya will come out if Yuriko pushes her more. How will that side of Saya react to this news?

Shiori poked my ribs. "Asahi-kun, are you free right now?"

The sly, all-knowing glint in her eyes revealed everything.

"What's the matter, Shiori?" Saeko asked. Her curious expression meant Shiori didn't tell her about Saya's condition. Saya's awful act was seen through.

Shiori shushed Saeko and pressed me for an answer.

"Sure."

I had no idea what she was up to… she might also ask for children.

Filled with skepticism, I followed her outside, where we passed by the mother and daughter having a heated discussion. Rather, it was Saya scolding Yuriko, who just chuckled at every complaint of her daughter. Flirty Saya owned everyone in one versus one fights.

In the yard filled with blooming flowers, Shiori stared at me and folded her arms on her chest.

"So Saya is pregnant."

"Huh?" Saeko's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"My guess was right…" Shiori stuck out her tongue. "Sorry for calling you out here to confirm that."

My guess was wrong though.

"What? You thought we wanted a child too?"

I quietly nodded at her correct assumption.

She shook her head. "I don't want to be out this early with a child. Asahi-kun needs our strength in the dungeon."

"That's my thought as well."

"Besides," Shiori continued with a grin. "It's never too late to have one. Right now, I want to focus on raising everyone's strength, so we can visit more worlds."

"We can treat Saya's child as our own," Saeko said with a smile. "She won't have any objections, would she?"

How spoiled will they become with so many overprotective mothers? I shuddered. The kid won't know his real mom if we don't tell.

"Aa-kun, dinner is ready!"

I turned around. Nee-san waved the ladle with a blinding smile. The white apron over her dress was colorful. A proof of her effort in the kitchen.

I slipped behind her and loosened her apron. "Did you have fun?"

"A lot. Cooking is fun."

"Nice."

We headed to the living room still filled with tables. Maya put so much effort into breakfast. Nee-san hopped around, serving everyone at the table.

Nao and Nee-san looked at me with eyes bursting with anticipation. I took a bite out of the grilled meat. My tongue exploded with spices.

A thumbs-up made the duo high five each other.

"We did it!"

"Yeah, Nao-chan. Saeko-chan's tips were helpful."

She found something to do. I hope it helps her condition, or I will have to drill the facts in her.

I quickly finished my dinner and waited while chatting with Klyscha. Once everyone was done, I clapped my hands.

"Girls, I have some good news… Saya is pregnant."

Saya spit out the water and coughed. The silent room echoed with her coughs. "Stu, cough, stupid."

Rika rubbed Saya's back and snickered. "Damn, that was so sudden."

"I will have a younger sibling? That's great!" Rini cheered.

Leme gave a bear-like hug to Saya. "Leme knew that Saya will succeed."

"Leme-chan…"

"Ask Leme for any help. Leme and Saya are friends."

They were such nice friends.

"So that's why Onii-sama asked for that…" Maya threw a sneaky glance at me. "Onii-sama, you should've told me from the start."

"We didn't want to jinx it. I hate flags like that."

"True!" Shiori supported me. "I hate when flags pop on my route."

"Congratulations."

Aimi's single-word-congratulation was accompanied by a million-dollar smile that stunned everyone.

"Thanks, Aimi-san."

Aimi shook her head.

Rika ruffled Aimi's hair with a toothy grin. "I knew you had it in you. Socializing is easy once you get used to it."

Nao went behind Saya. She rubbed Saya's shoulders. "You aren't allowed to fight now."

Saya showed puppy eyes. Ignoring how cute she looked, I gave a firm nod. "Saya Takagi is honorably kicked out from the party."

Saya groaned and nodded in acceptance. Nobody wants her jumping around in the dungeon, where a slight injury could be devastating.

"Aa-kun's first child… how cute would he be?" Nee-san mumbled with a faraway look in her eyes and forcefully shook her head. She turned to Saya with a close-eyed smile, a scary aura surrounding her. "Saya-chan, don't tell them I am Aa-kun's Onee-san, is that okay with you?"

"O-Okay," Saya stuttered.

"Aa-chan was an incredibly cute boy. He seduced a duty-bound soldier with his brightness."

"Shotacon…" Shiori muttered. "This gal should be thrown inside."

"Oi, are you forgetting my former job?" Rika smiled slyly. "I had connections everywhere."

"Corrupted shotacon."

I waited for their fight to settle and dropped another announcement.

"So… I should go now. Peeps there might suspect me. A god is already on my ass, I don't want more of them."

They are so freaking annoying. They never tell the origin of these monsters, yet they are always supporting the adventurers in this fight. A few gods such as Hephaestus, Loki, and Hestia treated their familia like a real family. Though the oppai loli really wanted to turn Bell into her family. As much as I liked her character, she was extremely clingy and possessive. She had every right to do so. After all, asking a million-year-old virgin to share her first love was cruel. Not everyone was as kind as Klyscha, whom I still didn't understand.

Hephaestus, on the other hand, was an incredibly charming woman. Loki, though sly and perverted, she wasn't a bad goddess. Still, I can't seduce every girl I meet…

"Asahi.." Saya whispered from my back. "Stay more?"

Heaving a deep sigh, I slapped my cheeks. Saya will hardly go to Orario now, while most of my time will be spent there. A better solution was required to let me be at two places at once.

(My love, do you want to buy a clone?)

'Tell me more later.'

I spent a few more hours spoiling Saya and others, and then returned with Saya, Nao, Rini, and Leme.

I forged Rini's documents at the village head's house. A mortal can't deny a god's order, now can he?

I teleported to the inn and swallowed the pill. Saya and Leme legally exited Orario and returned to Yotsuba's household. Leme promised to get back tomorrow, once Saya's excitement dies a bit.