The storm of desire within the illusion barrier finally subsided, leaving a silence that contrasted with the hustle and bustle of previous activity.
Different from Charlie who looked fresh and fit as if he had just woken up from an afternoon nap, Kei lay on her back on the beanbag with her legs spread wide forming a V, her breathing still slightly labored.
The fatigue Kei felt now was worse than before they rested, a mixture of mental exhaustion from fighting Goblins and intense physical activity. Even so, her still flushed face showed satisfaction, a small smile floating on her lips.
To clean themselves, Charlie easily used Water Spirit Arts. A perfectly controlled stream of clear water rinsed Kei's body that was still sweaty and mixed with sticky white fluid, cleaning her gently. Then, followed by a warm and gentle blast of Wind Spirit Arts, drying Kei's skin in a short time, leaving a fresh feeling.
Their rest time clearly had to be extended because of the unexpected sexual activity earlier. Charlie let Kei lie down for a moment to recover her energy.
"Charlie-san."
"What is it?"
Charlie looked at Kei who was now sitting and tidying her clothes that were still slightly disheveled. His eyes even caught the marks of caresses and bites on the girl's breasts—traces he had left himself.
Kei didn't care about that heated gaze, her face instead showed hesitation.
"Could it be... that I'm actually the one who's infertile?"
"Hah?" Charlie was slightly surprised hearing that sudden question. "Why do you think that?"
Lowering her head, Kei rubbed her flat stomach with a sad expression. "We've done it quite often... but I still haven't gotten pregnant until now. Shouldn't there... already be signs? Is there something wrong with me?"
For her, a woman's value was closely related to her ability to continue the lineage. If a woman couldn't bear children for her partner, she felt like a failed woman.
After all, the cultural background of Japan where she came from highly valued lineage and inheritance. Politics, medicine, business—everything was passed down through bloodlines. For ordinary people, without a respectable lineage or good family background, achieving success was almost impossible.
This notion of bloodline supremacy didn't just exist among Japan's elite, but also permeated and influenced all aspects of society. This could even be clearly seen in popular Japanese manga and anime. For example, the three main shonen series: Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.
In Bleach, the protagonist Kurosaki Ichigo's father was a powerful Shinigami (Death God), and his mother was a pure Quincy—his bloodline was extraordinary.
In Naruto, the protagonist Uzumaki Naruto was initially considered an ordinary orphan, but later it was revealed his mother came from the powerful Uzumaki clan, his father was the Fourth Hokage, and he himself inherited Asura's chakra.
In One Piece, Luffy's grandfather was a Marine Vice Admiral, his father was Dragon the leader of the Revolutionary Army, and even the seemingly ordinary Gomu Gomu Devil Fruit later turned out to be the legendary Nika Devil Fruit.
Clearly, the concept of lineage was highly valued in Japanese culture.
Thus, Kei who now thought she couldn't give Charlie offspring felt very devastated.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Kei. But one thing I can say, it's not your fault." Charlie spoke calmly. "If there's anything 'wrong', the fault is with me."
"Hah?" Hearing that, Kei looked at him with a mixed gaze—confused, shocked, then turning into sympathy. "So... Charlie-san is the one who's infertile? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
*TOK!*
Before Kei finished her sentence, Charlie had stood up from the beanbag and approached her, then gently knocked the top of her head with his knuckles.
"Ouch!" Kei held her head, though it didn't actually hurt much.
"That's your punishment for talking carelessly." Charlie said in a flat tone, though his eyes blinked irritably. "When did I say I was infertile?"
Even someone usually patient and controlled like Charlie couldn't stand being mocked as infertile by a woman, especially when it wasn't true.
Sitting behind Kei on the same beanbag, Charlie hugged her from behind, calming her while beginning a logical explanation.
"Listen, Kei. First, look at Aishia. She's a Spirit, while I'm technically still categorized as human. We are two essentially different races. Her case is similar to gods or goddesses making love with humans or other races in this world—they're almost impossible to have children together because the difference in life essence is too far, like fire and water."
"Aishia and I are in the same situation. In long history, among many love stories between spirits and humans, there's only one recorded case that succeeded in having offspring: The Great Wind Spirit Aria and the Strongest Hero Albert Waldstein. It's not an exaggeration to call their child a miracle that couldn't possibly be repeated."
Charlie gently rubbed Kei's stomach before continuing.
"Now, let's discuss why you and I also don't have children yet, even though I always... yes, 'plant seeds' in fertile ground, even on your dangerous days."
Kei listened carefully, her body slightly more tense.
"To understand it, we need to understand Falna more deeply. Falna isn't just Status and Skills. It's stimulation, a 'trigger', from gods to awaken and maximize someone's 'vessel' potential."
"Leveling up isn't just getting physically or magically stronger. It's an increase in existence, essence of self. High Class Adventurers have endurance, longevity, and perception of reality that far surpass ordinary humans, approaching the basic attributes of gods."
"Technically, the higher an adventurer's level, they're slowly in the process of 'shedding' their ordinary humanity and approaching divine essence."
Charlie paused for a moment to make sure Kei was listening.
"The gods descended to the Lower World to seek Excitement. Adventurers who reach the peak of power, like Level 7 or higher, are living works of art for the gods. Their strength makes the gods feel 'closer' to the power dynamics they usually had in Heaven."
"I'm currently Level 6. I'm in that process—getting closer to divinity. And as I mentioned earlier, gods and mortals... it's impossible to have offspring."
Kei fell silent, digesting every word carefully. Her face that was previously gloomy slowly began to brighten as that burden of guilt lifted.
"So... because Charlie-san is getting stronger, your Level is getting higher and your essence is getting closer to gods... then me who's still an ordinary human has a very small chance, almost none, of conceiving a child from you?"
Charlie nodded slowly, his embrace slightly tighter, as if giving comfort. "That's the gist of it. Not because you're less fertile or I'm infertile. But because of the basic laws of this world, and because of the path I'm taking as an adventurer."
Kei smiled with relief, she turned her body and hugged Charlie's neck. "Then, I have to train even harder so I can keep up with you, right?"
Charlie chuckled. "Yeah, that's one way."
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