Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 314
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Bub, ab-bub.”
“That nuance is good, they say. They’re asking for a truly ordinary name that would blend into the crowd and never stand out.”
“….”
“….”
Child, what on earth is your problem? Dealing with this Starving Child, naming them—nothing about it came easily. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my forehead with my palm. Cha Cha, noticing my distress, linked arms with me and spoke in a wheedling tone.
“Don’t carry everything alone, Evan. This is our child, we’re raising them together, so we’ll share the pain equally!”
No, honestly I’m more worried about Cha Cha than myself. I won’t be in the Underworld long, so Cha Cha is practically doing all the parenting alone. Just thinking about whether the two of them could get along without fighting made stress flood in, and my stomach churned.
…So this is the gastritis that Sunbird has been suffering through his entire life.
“Then, respecting our younger sibling’s wishes, let’s choose an ordinary name!”
“If that’s what the child wants, we can’t help it.”
“Yes, dear. With looks this striking, they might actually prefer an ordinary name.”
Everyone was comforting me. And Hubert, you’re such an unbreakable child—that’s because Gerth raised you well. Gerth truly seems remarkable.
“They mentioned Tom or Hans, but it seems they don’t want to use those names?”
“What about something like Ben? It’s a common name, and it has a subtle charm to it.”
“Ub….”
“They say it’s too short, feels like a nickname, and if affection is poured into it when calling them, it would give them chills.”
“Isn’t it good when affection is there?”
“They don’t like it, so let’s think of longer names. What about Gilbert?”
“Brub.”
“They say it looks too good-natured, so they don’t prefer it.”
So they’re aware their own personality isn’t good. Still, I like that my child has an objective and resolute assessment of themselves.
The Officials held a presentation of various common names, but something bothered me, so I asked Obero and the newborn a question.
Now that I thought about it, when I saw Obero earlier, didn’t they sigh even more heavily than they had at me? I may have sins to answer for, but Obero had just arrived. If they were unilaterally harboring hostility toward their older sister or looking down on me, that would be a serious problem.
“Obero is your half-sister. It’s rude to show displeasure and sigh from the very first meeting.”
“Mother, I’m fine with it.”
“No, we need to establish hierarchy from the start.”
That’s how younger siblings are supposed to be raised—by being trampled on. When I said this, Obero made a confused face, and the baby hatched from the Egg made a look of utter despair while uttering “ub-bub, ab-bub.”
“Hmm…, uh-huh?”
“What did the child say?”
“Um, um, I think you’re overestimating me….”
What did they say that made Obero seem flustered and embarrassed? When I urged them to speak honestly, Obero continued with that same bewildered expression.
“It’s just that, being born as an ordinary younger sibling to someone who walks around immediately and delivers sermons while casually saving tens of thousands of people—a savior figure—and thinking about how my future life will be marked by comparisons with my older siblings makes me feel hopeless.”
“Cha Cha and I wouldn’t make comparisons like that.”
“Including deliberately not comparing me out of concern for my pitiful self, it all feels hopeless.”
“….”
I have nothing to say. Obero isn’t ordinary either, but Cha Cha’s child is far from normal as well. As I was mulling this over, I recalled a certain family from a religion that existed ten thousand years ago. The younger sibling in that household was named, well….
“What about Jacob?”
“Pa-pa!”
“How delightful! It sounds just like the ordinary name of the sibling of the one who performed the miracle of the five loaves and two fish!”
Yes… Jacob, you really are quite the formidable little one.
“Jacob does seem a bit too much like a village extra’s name, doesn’t it…?”
“It is rather common, isn’t it?”
“Well, what does it matter! If you don’t like it, he can change his name when he grows up!”
Hubert, so you were already prepared to let him change his name whenever he wished if he became a tiger. In any case, since everyone agreed the baby was charming, we concluded the matter. We welcomed Jacob as our newest family member.
“The child has been born and given a fine name. This is cause for celebration.”
“Let’s prepare a feast. Evan Laef, stay and dine with us tonight.”
“All right.”
“Then shall I send an official notice throughout Serpent King’s Tower declaring today a holiday in celebration of Jacob’s birth?”
That would be best, wouldn’t it? We should all celebrate together while resting. Besides, things have been quiet lately—neither dragons nor humans have been attacking. Though I have been receiving reports that monsters are increasing in number and attempting to climb the Tower more frequently.
“Ab, ab-bu, bu-ba-bba.”
“Oh, does our guest of honor have some opinion to share?”
Magania lifted Jacob high and asked what his wish might be, and Obero dutifully translated for us.
“He says he wishes to be sent back to the Underground Chamber of the Underworld so he can savor his solitude alone.”
“That’s not happening. Today is your birthday.”
“Abuuu…”
Living means doing things you don’t want to do. I decided to encourage Jacob and enjoy the party. After I spread word to friends about the birth and told them to eat and drink their fill, the weekend flew by in an instant, and Cha Cha departed for the Underworld the moment Monday arrived because Jacob was being fussy.
When I checked in later, Jacob had apparently crawled into the dampest, darkest chamber among all the Underground Tombs of the Underworld and was contentedly savoring his solitude. My children really are all difficult in their own ways.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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