Chapter 95 - Emergence (3)

Yao Yun was slumped on the table in his room. It had been seven, no, eight days since Emersyn went missing. He asked Althas but the only reply he got was a dry smile. He and the Central Marsh men were grumbling about food. Since they had only a little money, they decided to abstain from eating out. If they started spending it, there would be nothing left for the other expenditures. They shuddered. They had to go up to the surface to kill monsters and earn money. They also had to go back to the Central Marsh to report to the Elders. Ah… they had to also start making connections here in Tamel for their village's income.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Yao Yun reluctantly stood up as he placed his hand on his hungry stomach.

"Yes?"

"... is Emersyn there?" Nico asked worriedly.

"No. Besides, you will know once she arrives."

"Uh… that is true…."

"Why do you keep asking?"

"... I just have to make sure if she is here."

Growl.

"...."

"... you still haven't eaten yet?"

"We are saving every penny we have. Emersyn is the only one who is willing to cook for us for free."

Nico smiled stupidly as the woman he admired came up.

Yao Yun was dumbfounded as he looked at the man. This man was already claiming Emersyn as his. It somehow ticked him off. He was about to close the door when Nico spoke up.

"We have a cafeteria. You can eat food there for free."

"We already ate there. We can't just take more that is not as delicious as Emersyn's cooking. Damn… she already took us prisoners of her cooking…."

"I know, right? She is made to be a wife."

Yao Yun rolled his eyes.

"Why are you so obsessed with Emersyn?"

"She is my perfect ideal wife. I could ask nothing more if I took her as my wife!"

"...." Yao Yun placed his hand on his face. "Okay, fine. Go now."

"Eh? Why are you making me leave?"

"You don't have anything to do with us now, right?"

"What do you mean? Aren't you guys going to make connections for your village?"

"Once Emersyn comes back. We are really not in the condition to talk to people…."

"But there will be a welcoming event later. You guys aren't coming? If you didn't, it would be very rude since we prepared this event for all of you. Though we really need to find Emersyn before that…. She just said that she would be back and now, she went missing for five days."

"... she said something to all of you, yet none to us?"

"Oh… no, it's not like that."

"Then what?"

"Uhm… well… we are monitoring her in her room… and she said that she would be back."

"No. We didn't put anything here."

"Still, why would you do that to Emersyn?"

"We have our reasons."

"Oh really?"

Nico scratched his cheek then bitterly laughed.

"I'm sorry, but it is for our future."

Bullshit…, Yao Yun thought. Now, he became grateful that Emersyn wasn't here. He hoped that she would never come back and just go to the Central Marsh for refuge. However, someone broke him from his reverie.

"Brother Nico! Emersyn is finally here!"

Elan yelled as he ran.

"It seems she also brought someone!"

The Central Marsh men immediately stood up then rushed outside. Yao Yun and Nico also rushed out of the building. However… instead of a feeling of relief, it was met with confusion and shock. Emersyn stood there with a newborn baby in her arms and a very handsome man behind her, carrying two more newborns.

"E-Emersyn?" Nico called.

"Hello," Emersyn said as she nodded at him. "He really needs help, so I brought him over. I promise that he wouldn't do anything bad."

Suddenly, the baby in the man's arms cried as he reached for Emersyn. The man gently cradled the baby then handed him over to Emersyn who accepted him. Emersyn nuzzled the baby's nose then kissed his chubby cheeks.

"It's okay, Reagan. Mommy is here."

Wait… mommy? Mommy?!

"I'm sorry, but we really need to go to my room. My babies need rest. Follow me, Ignis. I'll take you to my room."

"Wait!" Nico bellowed. "You can't just take a man in your room! What if he assaulted you?"

Emersyn laughed as the two babies in her arms cooed.

"He can't do that. He's too innocent and cute."

Ignis blushed as he hid his face in the baby girl's neck he was holding. The baby squealed. He also lightly kicked Emersyn's foot as he g.r.o.a.n.e.d.

Nico was aghast. It can't be… it just can't be. Someone already stole her away from him.

"Hey… Ignis was it?" Nico said through gritted teeth.

"Yes?"

"Fight me!"

"No."

"Why not?!"

"My… babies... need me. Also, my… wife… will have a hard time taking care of them."

Nico's face turned purple, his mouth agape, shock evident in his face.

"What? What did you say? Wife? Your babies?"

"... yes, that is right. What's wrong with it?"

"Did you two do it?!"

"Of course," Ignis replied, though he didn't know what the man was implying.

"F.u.c.k.i.n.g…. You stole Emersyn from me! I will take her back! Even if she isn't a v.i.r.g.i.n anymore!" Nico bellowed.

"Pfft!" Emersyn couldn't hold her laughter anymore and it just bursted forth. "Ahahahahaha!!!"

Ignis smiled bitterly.

"What- what's wrong?!" Nico was confused.

Elan, Althas and Central Marsh men were also confused.

"These are all my babies. They somehow imprinted on me, and Ignis just became my friend when I was outside. He took me around and fought monsters with me. He was endan---in danger, so I helped him. Anyway, Reagan and Alrich are hungry. I am going to feed them in my room. Ignis, please follow me with Chelsea."

"Okay," Ignis nodded then they left.

"...."

"Well… that was anticlimactic. Let's ask Emersyn to cook for us!" Jairen exclaimed then ran after Emersyn and the Central Marsh men followed closely.

Meanwhile, Nico lost strength in his legs then sat on the ground. Elan scratched his cheek as he watched his brother sigh in relief. However, Nico suddenly tensed up then quickly followed the Central Marsh men, leaving Elan and Althas behind. Then, Cali approached them.

"Should we use them?"

"It seems Nico already thought of it," Althas mumbled.

"Hah… as expected. He's crazy about Emersyn after all."

"Okay, let's buy a house for Emersyn and Ignis."

Cali smiled bitterly.

***

It was 10:23 P.M in the bracelet of Emersyn. She was supposed to be asleep, yet she was awake as she gazed on the bed where the babies were sleeping with pillows surrounding them. While Ignis was flipping a book they got in the treasure troves that they raided. She was somewhat tired since she had to carry the babies and Ignis to the locations of the three troves nonstop. It was a hard trip because of the babies, but she didn't complain.

"You should sleep, Emersyn."

"I have to, right?"

Ignis meekly nodded.

"After all, you have been carrying us for a long time without any breaks."

"Well, yeah. Though I still have to hand over all the money your mother had."

Ignis shook his head.

"It's fine. You will stay with us anyway. You can manage the money."

"Is that so…," Emersyn smiled wryly. Did she even have the plan to stay? Her gaze landed on the babies, however, she still felt hollow. Her hand settled on her c.h.e.s.t where her heart was.

"Besides… you are their mother now. I will do my best to help you."

Emersyn gazed at Ignis and the man returned her gaze.

"I would even be your husband if you want to."

"... sorry, Ignis. My heart will never beat for anyone."

"Time will fix that."

"... I don't know. To be honest, my heart kept on forgetting that someone is loving me unconditionally, yet I am not returning it at all. I spent years with them, yet my heart couldn't feel anything. When they died, I didn't feel anything. After all, I couldn't do anything about it. Even if, as you said, I held great power, I couldn't do anything. I just have to protect anyone who I can protect. My life doesn't hold any meaning to me. Everything… feels so miniscule."

Ignis fidgeted.

Emersyn smiled.

"Don't worry. I am just saying what I want. Don't mind me. Anyway, I have to go through unknowns to find my memories and my identity. So, I don't know if I could take you all with me."

"You are worried, right? You… are just ignoring what you are feeling."

"Maybe," Emersyn smiled weakly then it disappeared.

"You became numb…."

Emersyn smiled again.

"Deep inside you, you are feeling it. Don't just ignore it."

"I'll try. After all, I am not a monster."

"Wait… you said you aren't human, but now, you said you aren't a monster?"

"It's a metaphor…."

"Both of them?"

"Both of them."

"What does it mean then?"

Emersyn chuckled then sat next to Ignis.