Together With New Life (3)

That name meant more to Rurin than even the gods.

Even in this moment, desperately calling out to her, she realized the voice was El’s.

Though she couldn’t recall who El was, she was certain this voice belonged to El.

-Who is El?

Ugh.

The pain intensified, but somehow an overwhelming sadness surged at not recalling the being behind that name.

And tears fell from Rurin’s eyes.

-Rurin. Come back. If you don’t, I will die. Why? Because I will take revenge no matter what happens to the one who took you.

That revenge will end in death. For the one who took you is such a being.

Die?

The owner of the voice dies?

That can’t happen.

Absolutely not. The voice’s owner dying—

Means dying with herself.

She once said. No, she always said. She wanted to die before El. Because she did not want to see El die.

But.

Now it was different. She did not want to leave El behind and die.

She didn’t want to leave him. She hated the thought of El living in a world she didn’t know.

If she could cancel the empty wish made on a shooting star that fell on a snowy day.

That wish would be—

-To die together with El.

To be together even in death.

So she hated it. She could not die. She would return to nothingness, and El would die.

That is not dying together.

-So I hate that!

Rurin snapped her eyes open and reached out to the light in the darkness. At that moment all memories returned and the darkness turned pure white.

“Ugh?”

Opening her eyes, Rurin realized she was lying on a stone bed. Her back hurt.

“Where is this?”

Rurin tilted her head and spoke. Before her was the Elder.

Her grandfather. Of course, Rurin sought El more than the Elder.

“Elder! El! Where is El!”

Then Medidana chuckled and pointed to one side.

El was collapsed.

“You! Youuuuu?”

Rurin rushed toward El.

“Elder? Why is El like this?”

“He’s fine. He collapsed from overexertion trying to bring you back from the natural order’s grasp. He will wake.”

“El…?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Rurin pressed her lips shut. How much had she received from El?

El’s nearly infinite heart.

How much had she repaid?

Because of such thoughts.

“He went to the Sanctuary’s underground to bring you back. It must have been hard. That place is endured by mental strength alone.”

Ugh!

Her heart ached. Rurin went to El’s side and bit her lip hard. Blood trickled from her bitten lips.

“I’m a fool, Elder. Truly a fool.”

“My child? No, you’re not. And having overcome the natural order, you and El have become whole beings.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Rurin tilted her head. The Elder quietly stared at her then spoke again.

“Ah, and though it’s strange to say now, child, you are pregnant.”

“…Pregnant?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to be a mother?”

“Yes.”

“El’s baby?”

The Elder quietly nodded.

“El once said he wanted to have a child. I don’t know well, but if El wants it, he will have it. So if I’m pregnant, that’s good.”

“Really? Then Rurin, you have two choices.”

“Choices?”

What choices? She already decided to have the child. Seeing Rurin’s face, the Elder spoke again.

“To lay eggs as a dragon and brood until they hatch, or to give birth like a human with a human body. Which will you choose?”

That was the question?

Rurin laughed. There was no need to hesitate.

“Of course human! I’m a dragon, but El is human. I love El. And since I haven’t done anything for El, no matter what, I’ll live as a human. Giving birth will be the same!”

“Laying eggs as a dragon is no trouble, and the baby will be fine either way. Even if born human, the child can become a dragon later.”

“I will! Be by El’s side, including human pain!”

Rurin said firmly.

“My baby becoming a dragon—that’s the baby’s issue. But I will live and die in human form, like El.”

“I see? As the Elder of Dragons, I don’t know what to say, but it’s no longer something I can stop.”

“Still, I am a dragon. I will not forget the meaning of that existence. Don’t worry. I only want to live my life looking like El.”

Rurin said this as she laid her body on El’s back.

Warmth entered her chest.

“My dear. Let’s go back! To our home!”

And so Rurin and El disappeared from the Sanctuary.

The Elder watched and thought.

That he should visit around the time of the birth.

Because looking at them, if he didn’t go to them, it seemed they wouldn’t show up.

Rurin laid El on the bed.

At that moment, seeing wounds on El’s hand, a sudden surge of emotion welled up.

“My dear, what hardship have you gone through? Without me knowing. That can’t be.”

Rurin bit her lip.

“Hmm?”

Just then El woke.

El opened his eyes!

“Oh! You!”

Rurin was lying beside El, stroking his hand, then startled and sat up.

“Are you alright, my dear?”

“Fool, that’s what I should ask. Are you alright?”

El looked briefly surprised, then suddenly hugged Rurin. Rurin nodded inside the embrace.

“Y-yes. I’m fine. You came to get me from the darkness, I was okay. I who forgot you was the worst trash…”

“Huh?”

El was startled.

Because tears were falling from Rurin’s eyes. Rurin began crying uncontrollably in El’s embrace.

“That’s right. I’m trash. A fool. Stupid. I should die! But if I die, you must die too, so that can’t happen… Ughhh.”

“Fool, what are you saying? You’re back, that’s what matters. And Rurin didn’t forget because she wanted to. It’s just nature’s trick. Now, stop.”

El stroked Rurin’s head.

Her fever vanished like a lie and her mind cleared. That meant she had perfectly defied and trampled that natural order.

El finally felt relieved.

“Is that so? Then don’t cry.”

Rurin stopped crying and fell into El’s embrace.

“And you…?”

“Hmm?”

Rurin fell off the bed, hesitated a moment, then spoke.

“I think I’m pregnant. The Elder said so.”

“Oh, right? Seems like it.”

El smiled brightly and said,

“Will you give birth?”

“Of course I will, what kind of question is that?”

“Good, then I’ll deliver it!”

Rurin nodded vigorously and declared.

“Oh my, thank you.”

“Hehehe.”

Rurin finally started to laugh. She had just been crying moments ago, but the change was too sudden.

“My dear.”

“Hmm?”

“For today only, I’ll serve you. Holding back embarrassment is truly, truly hard!”

“What?”

Having declared she’d give birth, Rurin, who was dithering outside the bed away from El, suddenly rushed back to him.

“My dear!”

Then she boldly hugged El.

El wondered if this was really Rurin.

“Rurin?”

“Why?”

“That’s good, but you mustn’t throw your body around like that anymore.”

“…Why?”

“You’re pregnant!”

“I’m fine. My baby is a dragon, so it’s strong. Not like human babies. Hehe.”

Now that he thought of it, their future daughter had said Rurin was a strict neglectful parent.

El already felt a sense of that emerging in his mind.

“But still, no! Now, sit down.”

“Ugh?”

What the—she had finally decided to do all sorts of things. Rurin sulked but sat on the bed when told to. When she tried to sit normally, El carefully supported her body and gently helped her sit.

“My dear! I’m still fine. And this body is strong… Kyaa?”

El lifted Rurin’s shirt. A pure white belly was exposed. Not at all swollen.

El gently caressed the belly.

“Ugh? My dear?”

“Is it inside here? The baby?”

“…I don’t know about that.”

“That’s something.”

El pressed his ear against the white belly. Naturally, Rurin giggled.

“My dear, that means it’s still very early pregnancy! What are you doing? Ugh.”

“How do you know it’s early?”

“…I know these things. Because it’s this body.”

“…? Then did you notice you were pregnant before?”

“I didn’t know.”

What kind of knowledge is that? El was dumbfounded. Such shamelessness was typical of Rurin though.

“So, ugh!”

Rurin flipped up El’s shirt and touched it.

“Why is my belly like this?”

“I just copied it. Today, I decided to do everything. This kind of thing is possible.”

“Huh?”

Rurin tried to take off El’s pants, so El picked her up.

“Ugh? What now!”

“Well, I’m telling you to be careful. You can’t move so violently.”

El called Rurin’s grabbing of his pants a violent move.

Rurin was dumbfounded.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Well, well, whatever it is, lie down first. Lie down and calm yourself. You went through a lot going to the Sanctuary.”

El didn’t even notice Rurin’s bold actions, thinking it was like the first time they met, because she was overwhelmed by the news of pregnancy.

“……”

Rurin looked at El resentfully for a moment. Her face flushed, ears turned red, and her heart pounded.

“My dear.”

“Hm?”

“Then lie down beside me.”

“Beside?”

At that, El lay down beside her, and Rurin quickly climbed onto him.

“Hehe, I won. You’re caught. Under my butt!”

“…Huh?”

“And you. I come before the baby! Got it!”

Rurin shouted that as she leaned toward El’s lips. Their lips met.

“Of course, Rurin, I love you the most.”

Though he’d love their daughter just as much.

El said this in his heart. For now, just in his heart.

“I love you too! Love you! Love you so much. I can’t live without you! Absolutely not. Yes! I love you, love you, love you. Much more than you!”

Rurin repeatedly said “I love you” to El as if pouring out a lifetime’s worth at once.

El stared blankly at Rurin for a moment, then realizing her flushed face from embarrassment, suddenly pounced on her.

“Kyaaa! My dear! No! No! That’s, that’s the belly! Why do you only like the belly! The baby isn’t out yet!”

Rurin’s scream echoed through the lair.

-End of Part 2-

Author’s Note

Hello.

This is my first author’s note.

Some of you may wonder why it ends so suddenly. But The Archmage’s Restaurant is actually a story perfectly concluded at Part 1.

Because many lamented, I made Part 2, but in truth, Part 2 is more like a collection of side stories.

That collection finally ran dry and ended with pregnancy.

I’m sorry too, but once you start, you have to finish!

Of course, it’s not a perfect ending.

I hope someday I can write Part 3, telling the story of El and Rurin struggling to raise their extraordinary daughter.

I hope to meet you again, but for now, The Archmage’s Restaurant will end here.

Thank you very much for reading my imperfect work all this way.