Chapter 99
No way everyone gave birth in just a few days.
Not one of the mothers is missing, and all the babies seem healthy.
Thank goodness.
...There are a lot more of them now.
Core and Soa each had four babies.
Though Chai has been by Core's side the whole time.
Could this be an interspecies birth?
Well, there doesn't seem to be a problem, so I suppose it's fine.
There are four females in Chai's family.
Sau and Sasa each had five, Sami had four, and Kisa had three.
...They all have the same coloring and body shape.
I can't tell them apart.
There are three females in Ai's family.
It seems Ami, Ayu, and Mira each had five.
It's a relief that they're healthy, but they all look alike.
I see no sign that I'll ever be able to tell them apart.
That makes forty babies in all.
Huh?
Squirrels... Babies?
A small squirrel is clinging to the back of a large squirrel.
So the squirrels had babies, too.
They're incredibly cute.
The family grew all at once.
...We should expand the storage rooms.
I inspect the rock on the first basement floor, but it's already packed.
I can't do it.
The only other place is... the side opposite the silver ore on the second basement floor.
We've made rooms for processing ore and the like, but the rock continues alongside them.
I channel magic power through it to investigate, and... find a huge chunk of rock.
Come to think of it, when I first investigated this place, I stopped halfway because it was too huge.
It's big enough to make a third basement floor. I had no idea it was this huge. I'll do my best.
I did my best.
I build a new staircase down from the first basement floor and start creating the space from scratch.
All I have to do is cut the rock and throw it into my bag.
But there was a tremendous amount of it, so it took time, and repeating the same monotonous task was exhausting.
I spent about ten days creating the space, eventually building storage rooms on the second and third basement floors.
Every time I finished a room, the one-eyed ones happily built shelves.
Everything was complete a few hours after I finished the last room.
There are... quite a few storage rooms.
I expanded the wine cellar, too. I should make sure I don't increase my opportunities to drink.
It should be fine... probably.
...
The children are growing so fast... They're only about a month old.
They're playing tag in the plaza, casting magic as they chase each other.
Are they going to be okay?
Well, their mothers are watching them, so they must be fine.
They're cute, but... Is this play? Maybe they're practicing hunting?
I just hope they don't get hurt.
...
Déjà vu!
Six eggs lie in front of me.
And Boss-san and Shuri are here.
Um, I just need to channel magic power into them, right?
I'm met with expectant looks, so I do my best.
...There are more eggs than last time, though.
It's best not to think about it.
Déjà vu again!
The eggs crack, and small black spiders and ants emerge... I get the creeps.
I knew it would happen, but still.
So these are Boss-san and Shuri's grandchildren?
That's what you get from six eggs.
I can't count them all.
...What am I supposed to call them?
...
There are... tons of small spiders and ants around the agricultural team working in the fields.
The number is... countless.
With the fields expanded, they're powerful new companions.
I've changed the naming system so they're roughly divided by size.
If I add a new name every time one is born, I can only imagine the disastrous future ahead.
Some things are impossible no matter how hard I try.
I can't even tell the children we have now apart...
Anything smaller than my head is 'tiny.'
Anything about the size of one arm is 'child-sized.'
Anything about the size of both arms is 'parent-sized.'
So those working in the fields are tiny ants, child-sized ants, and tiny spiders.
The child-sized spiders are helping in the Fruit Forest.
There are no parent-sized spiders or ants.
Thinking about the future... couldn't they all just stay child-sized?
If everyone grows to parent size...