Chapter 31: Her First Cry.
Chapter 31: Her First Cry.
Another morning had passed, and two old midwives arrived at our dorm to assist with my delivery. The village head had brought them, for they were skilled in guiding women through childbirth.
Today was the day I would finally release my daughter from my womb.
Although I had grown stronger just yesterday, that strength did nothing against the heavy pressure in my lower belly and back.
Cramps twisted inside me, far more intense than the monthly pain women endured.
The restlessness refused to fade. Discomfort tightened with every passing moment, especially as a steady leak of warm fluid slipped from me.
Frustration flared. I cursed and grew impatient, desperate for everything to start quickly.
“Joseph, stop dazing off. Go and bring some warm water, quickly.”
“R-Right away, Grandma!” Joseph stammered, snapping out of his trance.
I almost forgot he was here too, supposedly helping. Yet his lovestruck gaze made me sick. He looked at me as if he had fallen in love at first sight.
How could anyone be so foolish, or so twisted, to look at a woman in labor that way?
Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.
“Young Miss, you can do it.”
Lynn’s voice cut through my thoughts, steady and calm.
I turned my eyes toward her.
“Yeah… I’ll do my best,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I feigned a fragile yet determined smile.
I owed her so much.
If she had not informed the village head, I would have faced this moment alone.
The midwives would never have arrived in time.
“Focus, girl.”
“Y-Yes…”
I had no choice but to obey.
I was still in the middle of giving birth.
A few minutes later, the preparations were complete.
The contractions became real.
My womb clenched and squeezed with merciless strength, sending waves of pain through my belly, thighs, and back.
Even with my strong physique, I could not reduce the pain.
My cervix stretched and dilated.
The pressure intensified, sharpening the agony until I nearly gave up halfway, overwhelmed by fear and torment.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, it hurts.
The words screamed silently inside me. I never imagined childbirth could be this painful.
The pain was so intense I nearly cried out, but I bit down on a white cloth and forced myself to endure.
My face went pale as paper, yet I pushed again.
“Haaah!” My cry broke through the room, raw and strained.
“Good, just keep going, girl. You are doing well,” the midwives urged, their voices calm and steady, anchoring me as I endured.
The baby shifted lower, pressing heavily against my pelvis. The sensation was brutal, as if my body were being forced open.
Burning and tearing pain ripped through me, deep and unrelenting.
Sweat streamed down my body. Tremors shook my limbs. Nausea surged until I thought I would vomit.
Thanks to my physique’s enhanced healing traits, those extreme side effects were lessened by half, but that did not mean it stopped hurting.
Even with the pain and ailments reduced, it was still excruciating.
•••
An hour passed in that storm of suffering.
At last, the baby’s head appeared. The burning grew so fierce it felt like death itself.
The voices around me blurred into muffled sounds, but I clung to each breath, refusing to stop. The shoulders emerged, and then the rest of the body slid free.
The worst of the pain eased the moment the baby was out.
What remained was only soreness and a faint burning, likely from the tearing or stretching of my vaginal tissues.
It was natural, expected after such strain, and compared to what had come before, it felt almost bearable.
Now that everything was over, I only wanted to rest.
I was about to close my eyes, desperate for relief, when a sharp cry pierced the heavy silence.
“Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!”
My baby’s voice.
“The baby is a healthy girl!”
“Ohh, so precious.”
“Young Miss, please hang in there. Look at your beautiful daughter.”
Their voices washed over me, full of relief and joy.
I felt completely drained, both physically and mentally.
My enhanced physique had already begun its healing process, easing the pain and repairing my body quickly, but my mind remained exhausted.
I needed rest, time to let my thoughts and spirit recover.
As for the healing of my torn tissues, I could not help but feel amazed.
Even the scent of my blood failed to draw attention, all thanks to the ring that erased those seductive smells.
My healing flesh would have been troublesome if anyone else saw it, but my maid Lynn could handle such matters.
For now, none of that mattered.
All that mattered was seeing my baby.
“Waaah! Waaah!”
“Here, young girl. See your beautiful daughter. At least it will ease your fatigue.”
“Thank you,” I whispered faintly.
They placed the baby on my chest, and I cradled her carefully.
Her tiny body was soft and warm, fragile yet alive.
As I caressed her cheek, she stopped crying.
My heart trembled, and questions stirred within me.
Haa. What is this feeling?
Did she truly know me?
Could she really recognize me as her mother?
A strange, overwhelming happiness surged through me, so powerful it made my chest pound.
So this was my daughter.
So small, so delicate, so precious.
Something unfamiliar stirred deep within me.
A small sprout of obsession took root, though I could not name it. All I knew was that I had to protect her at all costs.
“It’s okay, baby. Mama is here now.”
Her little body relaxed, and I smiled without meaning to.
A genuine, radiant smile spread across my face as I whispered gently, calming her in my arms.
Then the familiar voice of the system echoed in my mind.
🔔Ding...
[You have given birth to a healthy child. The system’s secondary function is now activated. You may receive a reward if you make the correct decision for your child...]
🔔Ding...
[The child has been safely delivered. Your correct determination grants you a reward. You may choose only one option...]
🔔 Ding...
⚠️ Warning.
Fate Anomaly Detected.
[Classification: Ultimate.]
[The newborn has been bound to an extreme fate. Potential trait unlocked: Ultimate Harmony Body.]
[Integration in progress: 1%… 2%…]
☠️✨[This fate exceeds normal parameters.]
[Do you wish to sever the binding?]
[Decision is irreversible.]
Yes / No
…
At first, relief and happiness filled me, thinking there was no explosion of mana after my daughter’s birth.
For a moment, I thought she was ordinary.
But reading the system’s message, I immediately realized she possessed extraordinary potential.
Not yet, but if I allowed the integration of the Ultimate Fate, she would gain a tremendously powerful physique.
I paused, heart racing, mind torn between fear and anticipation. Then, without hesitation, I made my choice.
Yes, I accepted it, system.
Confirming my decision with my thoughts, the system responded.
🔔 Ding...
❌⚠️[You have chosen Yes. The Ultimate Fate integration for the infant cannot be halted and has been completed...]
[The physique has been granted in a dormant state...]
[Awakening is impossible, as its power did not originate from the system...]
•_•
Not from the system?
I thought, astonished.
This was not a gift from the system. This was her own fate, far greater than I could have imagined for a newborn.
While my mind raced with wonder and anticipation for my daughter’s future, the voices of the midwives brought me back to the present.
“Young lady, you can rest for now. We need to prepare to cut the baby’s cord and remove the placenta carefully to prevent infection. Stay ready, but try to relax as much as you can.”
Ah, the cord. I remembered now. It had to be done after birth, though I had delayed it longer than usual.
“Please, take care of her.”
“Hahaha, you don’t have to worry, young girl. We have done this many times. There is nothing to fear. It is painless for both of you.”
“Yes, please do it,” I said, nervous but trusting them.
The midwives prepared their tools. They clamped the cord in two places to stop the blood flow.
Once it was secure, the other midwife carefully cut between the clamps with a blade.
It was exactly as they said. There was no pain for me, and my daughter remained calm, not crying at all. It made sense.
The umbilical cord had no nerves, so it could not send pain signals.
“Hoh, it’s done. Maid, help me clean this. You, young girl, can rest now.”
“Thank you…” I whispered.
“We are paid for this work. You don’t need to thank us. Just focus on resting,” one of them said with a warm smile.
The midwives’ calm and confident presence eased my tension.
Szélanya had given Lynn a budget, paying them five silver for the procedure.
With our original fifty silver, we now had forty-five left.
It would be enough for now, and more would come once we found work.
I needed sleep, but first I had to block out my enhanced hearing.
Noises from outside the door still reached me. Curious neighbors had gathered, their whispers and murmurs peeking into the room.
Thankfully, the old guard was stationed at the entrance, keeping everyone at bay.
“Back off! This is not a public market. Why are you lingering here?” the guard shouted, anger clear in his voice.
The crowd ignored him, standing just a meter from the door.
They claimed to care about the mother, but I knew their excitement ran deeper than their words.
“We just want to know if the mother is okay.”
“I am curious about that too.”
“I heard the mother is very glossy.”
“Yeah, I saw her a few days ago when the village head gave a long speech on the stage.”
“Yeah, she’s absolutely stunning.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes, it’s true.”
I rolled my eyes.
Geez… these people are so annoying. Can’t they just leave me alone so I can finally rest?
I closed my eyes and used my mana to suppress my hearing and sense of smell.
The voices and noises of the outside world vanished.
Finally, I could sleep in peace, my mind alive with excitement for taking care of my daughter and the knowledge of the incredible fate she carried within her.
