Chapter 239: Side Story – Enlistment (1)

“Hoo.”

It was a bright, sunny day.

Just like always, I was hanging the bedsheets out in the sun.

It had become a daily routine.

After all, the sheets were always soaked in sweat thanks to the intense nights that continued without fail.

Watching them freshly washed and drying under the sunlight gave me a sense of satisfaction—but also, a bit of embarrassment.

Had I ever imagined things would get this... frequent?

Swapping out sheets every single day made me feel like I was running a motel or something.

What was truly surprising, though, was that this current situation was only being maintained by Ner and Arwin.

Sien had been taking care of her body after giving birth, so we hadn’t been intimate since then.

Her health had always been fragile, so we were being extra cautious.

I let out another sigh and looked at the bedsheet.

There was nothing particularly special about the scene, but a smile crept across my face anyway.

Embarrassment was one thing—feeling happy was another.

I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this peaceful and at ease.

“...Sniff...”

Just then, someone appeared beside me and buried their nose into the sun-dried sheet.

She kept inhaling deeply, again and again.

“...”

I stared at Ner as she did this.

It looked like she was trying to check if the laundry had been done properly.

I watched her for a moment and asked,

“Did the laundry come out—”

“—It’s all gone...”

But Ner muttered with an expression of deep disappointment.

I glanced at her face and asked,

“...What is?”

“The scent. Ours.”

I glanced at the sheet again—it was the one Ner and I had used.

After that beast-like night we spent together, it had definitely been... well-used.

I looked at Ner, who by now radiated a sensual aura no matter the time or place.

It wasn’t even her heat cycle, but somehow her actions felt like a reflection of how deeply she loved me.

While I was still speechless at her words, she approached me with sorrowful eyes and melted into my arms.

Then, as she sniffed at my scent, she wrapped her tail around my thigh.

“Since I can’t smell it anymore… let me smell you instead. Just stay still for a bit.”

“...”

Normally, I’d just find this side of Ner cute—but for some reason, I could sense something intentional behind it today, and a chill crept down my spine.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d approached me with a plan from the very beginning.

But maybe that was just my imagination, because Ner simply stayed in my arms without saying or doing anything more.

Relieved, I let out a quiet breath and gently held her back.

—Tap.

But just as I embraced her softly, her hand slipped down and landed on the waistband of my pants.

And then, she began to apply gentle pressure… right there.

She whispered.

“...Should we?”

Of course.

I gulped.

My instincts were never wrong.

Honestly, with how beautiful Ner was, and the way she seduced me—it’s not like I didn’t want to give in.

A part of me wanted to just give in, right then and there.

...But wouldn’t that be too animalistic?

Besides, I had already spent a wild night with Arwin just last night.

I needed some recovery time too.

“...Uhhh...”

As I struggled to come up with an excuse, a sound echoed from inside the house.

‘Waaah! Waaah!’

—Thump!

Adam had saved me.

I quickly pulled Ner away and said,

“Ah—I should check on Adam.”

“...Hmph.”

“...Ner?”

“I’ll let it slide this once.”

She waved me off with a flick of her hand and turned back to the laundry.

It really felt like her whole vibe had been shifting lately.

Scratching my neck awkwardly, I made my way back inside the house.

.

.

.

The moment I stepped into the room, Sien was already there.

Cradling our son in her arms, she was playfully soothing Adam with a gentle, teasing smile.

It had been a few months since she gave birth.

Her body had long since returned to how it used to be.

I’d heard her menstrual cycle had normalized, too—healthy and regular once more.

So focused on Adam, Sien hadn’t even noticed me come in as she continued chatting to him.

“What made our little boy so sad this time, hmm?”

Not even the most precious treasure would be treated as gently as that.

It was impossible not to see just how much Sien cherished our son.

And of course—I understood that feeling completely.

She was my beloved Sien, and the child in her arms was one who carried both our blood.

Even his name was chosen after a dearly beloved older brother.

How could he not feel like a treasure?

I walked over and gently gripped Sien’s shoulder.

Noticing me at last, she smiled and planted a kiss on my cheek.

“Aren’t you tired, Sien?”

“Hmm? Why?”

“He kept crying since early this morning.”

“I’m not tired at all.”

One look at the smile on her face, and I knew she meant it.

With a small shrug, I reached out my arms, wanting to hold the baby.

It always amazed me how small a person could be.

It felt like I could wrap his entire body in my hands.

Carefully, ever so gently, I took Adam from her.

“Waaah! Waaah!”

But the moment I did, Adam burst into loud cries.

Caught off guard, I hesitated, only for Sien to giggle as she took him back.

She looked at me playfully and said,

“Looks like Adam likes his mommy better, huh?”

As if in agreement, Adam immediately stopped crying once back in her arms and blinked up at her with wide, innocent eyes—like nothing had happened at all.

“Adam—ah.”

Just then, someone called out his name from behind.

Turning around, I saw Arwin standing there.

She had a stiff expression and was hastily hiding something behind her back.

Looking closer, it seemed to be a handmade toy—something she must’ve made for Adam.

With a quiet cough, Arwin stepped into the room.

Her affection for Adam was clear, and I truly appreciated her for it.

“You got here before me, I see?”

Even as she spoke, her eyes never once strayed from Adam.

Everyone already knew how much Arwin adored him.

She watched him for a while, then smiled and offered a suggestion.

“Shall we go for a short walk later? I’m sure Adam would love to see the outside world.”

Both Sien and I nodded.

It was a good idea.

But then Arwin added,

“Oh, Sien. The food downstairs—”

“Ah!”

With a small jump, Sien suddenly remembered something.

Then she turned to me.

“Bell. Can you watch Adam for a bit? I left something on the stove...”

“Sure.”

But the moment I took Adam back in my arms—he cried again with all his might.

Giggling at the sight, Arwin stepped in and gently took him from me.

As if nothing had happened, Adam calmed down immediately and stared at me with those curious, sparkling eyes.

“...That stings a little.”

I muttered honestly.

Sien and Arwin chuckled at my reaction.

Meanwhile, Sien quickly headed off to the kitchen.

Left alone with us, Arwin gave Adam a bright smile, rubbed her nose softly against his, and then looked at me.

“Adam is truly adorable.”

“...”

“He might just become my second favorite human—right after you.”

I let out a small chuckle at Arwin’s words.

She whispered to Adam,

“Grow up strong, okay?”

As I watched the heartwarming scene, Arwin added something else.

“...So you can protect all your younger siblings.”

“...”

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

Maybe Arwin had a very specific reason for doting on Adam so much.

Coincidentally, Adam glanced sideways at me too.

As if he also sensed something strange about Arwin.

“Bell.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know what I think about whenever I see Adam?”

“?”

Just then, Arwin’s warm gaze turned cold.

Her smile still lingered, but her voice carried a sharp, unmistakable edge.

“...That our baby is late.”

“...”

“...Don’t you think so too?”

With Ner, and now Arwin, I was feeling the pressure from all sides.

Quietly, I swallowed hard.

Trying to defend myself, I stammered,

“W-well, I mean—I did try last night with—”

“—Ahh.”

Arwin nodded knowingly.

“You mean those attempts you keep wasting outside?”

Her pointed remark left me speechless.

With a shrug, she continued.

“I understand wanting to deepen our bond as husband and wife.”

Trying to change the topic, I awkwardly looked around and muttered,

“...Maybe we shouldn’t talk like this in front of Adam...”

“—Then maybe you should behave so we don’t have to.”

But my feeble excuse didn’t work in the slightest.

Still smiling brightly at Adam, Arwin had delivered those words with a sweetness that made cold sweat run down my back.

“...”

With my hands stuck awkwardly mid-air, I froze, not knowing what to do next.

I couldn’t even hold Adam properly, and folding my arms or putting my hands behind my back just felt... wrong.

Everything felt awkward—like I was sitting on a bed of thorns.

“Still, it’s okay.”

Just then, Arwin broke the tension with a gentle tone.

Her eyes curved into little crescent moons as she smiled.

“...As long as the next child is ours, there’s no problem.”

“...Huh?”

“A child that isn’t Ner’s or Sien’s... but mine and yours. I mean—our child should be the next one born in this house.”

“...”

“The answer, Berg?”

I could tell Arwin wasn’t just saying that casually.

It wasn’t a wish—it felt more like a warning.

Her message was clear: The next child must be ours.

Of course, I did want to have a child with Arwin.

Seeing how lovingly she cared for Adam only made that desire grow stronger.

And yet... why did it still feel like my stomach had dropped?

I cleared my throat and tried to respond.

“W-Well... wanting something doesn’t always mean it happens that eas—”

But once again, my words had no effect on Arwin.

“—Your answer?”

“...”

The same warmth she showed Adam was now flooding over me, tinted with a deep yearning to have a child of her own.

In the end, I couldn’t come up with anything else to say.

“...Yeah.”

All I could do was nod.

– – The End of The Chapter ––

 

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