The patient's room was usually dull and depressing.
Especially when one had to stay together under the name of "family," such feelings emerged even more easily.
That had been the case with his mother, who died when he was young, and with his father, who had passed away more recently.
"Does it hurt when you eat?"
"No, it's okay…"
But now, it didn't feel so bad.
In fact, he felt a little energized—just a little.
While the saintess had gone off to wash Potty's clothes, Hernán, now feeding her in her place, raised the spoon again.
Each time he brought food to her mouth, her rabbit ears twitched.
She didn't seem to notice, but it caught Hernán's attention.
"It's nice... because Hernán is feeding me."
Potty smiled faintly for a moment, then her expression stiffened.
"I'm sorry... for always... coming back to you like this, after the heat…"
Hernán shook his head.
Right after all, he had cooked the stew earned by sleeping with the saintess.
He had been sleeping with Marina for almost a week now.
Since the purpose was officially to make a baby, he had tried to have sex with her.
However, Marina had asked that they wait, saying there were specific days more suitable for conception.
As a medical expert, Hernán decided to respect her opinion.
Of course, the fact that she still feared intercourse was also part of why Hernán delayed it.
"Alright, let's have another bite."
Whatever the circumstances, the food was good for Potty's recovery.
Watching her chew, Hernán spoke again.
"I'm glad you're recovering quickly. Many people can't even breathe properly for days after a broken rib."
"It's thanks to the saintess…"
Potty swallowed her food and glanced up at Hernán.
"And… thanks to you too, Hernán."
She stiffened her long ears and quietly pulled the blanket up.
That reaction made Hernán feel confused again.
Had Potty originally harbored feelings for him?
Or was this just her timid nature?
It was strange to ask such questions after all that had already happened, but he couldn't help it.
The main reasons they had ended up coveting each other's bodies were Hernán's headaches and Potty's heat cycle.
"Hey, Potty."
She turned her ear toward him, focusing.
Hernán felt his throat tighten as he finally asked:
"When… is your next heat cycle?"
"T-That…"
Potty's long ears shot straight up and bumped the headboard.
Was she embarrassed?
She seemed utterly flustered, unable to meet his eyes.
Hernán felt embarrassed too.
"I mean, if it's going to happen again, shouldn't we… prepare for it?"
"I don't really know the exact timing…"
The more she spoke, the more awkward she became.
Especially when she added:
"Rabbits... have spontaneous estrus."
The air between them shifted strangely.
It wasn't the kind of awkwardness that came from pain in a hospital room, nor the shame between a man and woman caught cheating.
"And... rabbits can even get pregnant while already pregnant…"
Hernán swallowed hard.
"I… Hernán?"
Potty's hand reached out and touched his, the one holding the stew bowl.
Hernán wasn't sure if this timid rabbit was actually bold or simply naive.
She had apologized again and again when she was caught and punished, but now that she had permission from the hero, was she saying it was okay?
Or… had she always liked him?
Just then, the door opened.
"Ah!"
Startled, his hand slipped, spilling stew onto Potty's hand.
She flinched at the heat and yanked her hand back.
But she wasn't supposed to make sudden movements.
"Ugh…"
Potty groaned and clutched her ribs.
"Potty!"
The saintess, who had returned from doing laundry, ran over.
"Are you alright?"
"Aaah…"
Potty moaned, looking away from Hernán in embarrassment.
"I-I'll leave you two now."
Hernán respected her feelings and quickly left the room.
Honestly, it wasn't just for her sake. His own emotions had been getting increasingly erratic lately.
He sat alone at the dining table for a while, trying to calm down.
"I got the hero's permission, so why haven't you come to my room yet?"
The Demon King's complaining helped refocus his mind—diverting it from recent events.
"Isn't it my freedom to choose who I sleep with?"
"So what, Hernán, you mean you don't have even that much interest in me?"
Sharpie pouted and stuck her tail out.
Hernán did his best to avoid touching it.
"Isn't it because you're low on energy?"
"Huh? Uh… right!"
Yeah, that was probably it.
She was likely just bored. After all, there wasn't much to do in this place, and no one to talk to but Hernán.
Come to think of it, everyone was like that.
Food appeared automatically. Cleaning and laundry were minimal. There were no enemies. No duties. No diversions.
Even entertainment was scarce.
At best, conversation. Or…
"Sex! Let's have sex already!"
Yes, that too.
Though no one besides Sharpie would dare say it aloud—yet.
"Everyone's going crazy, thinking about it all the time. Look at the hero! Refuses to even masturbate, acting all pure and proud. Heoguheon…"
"Shafikara!"
Hernán snapped at the demon king for speaking so crudely about his lover.
Sharpie slumped down.
"Sorry…"
Fortunately, the hero hadn't heard.
Then again, maybe that wasn't fortunate.
It was almost dinner, but no one had shown up.
Everyone was hiding in their rooms.
Tired of this fragile, monotonous life.
Hernán couldn't blame them.
He let out a bitter laugh.
Only someone as carefree—or as caged—as Sharpie could still shout about sex in this place.
"Sharpie."
"What?"
"Are you sulking?"
"I'm the Demon King. How could I sulk?"
"Huh."
She stood up with a dramatic pout.
"Too bad!"
After a few more muttered complaints, she returned to her seat.
"When's the food coming? Meals are the only joy I have left…"
Hernán started to worry that even Sharpie, once so full of vitality, might be breaking down.
"I've been so tired lately… I want to eat, but if I keep this up, I'll turn into a pig."
"They say you don't gain weight if you eat happily."
"How can anyone enjoy the same stew for 21 meals straight?"
He sighed.
Maybe tonight he'd sleep in the hero's room. Or Sharpie's.
At least the menu would change.
It was ridiculous.
"The food is here!"
Sharpie's eyes sparkled as a panel in the wall opened.
Hernán walked over, expecting a stew pot.
"What? That's not food."
Instead, a thin sheet of paper came out.
On the front was a strange, ornate pattern.
"Not food?"
Sharpie leaned in, curious.
The center of the pattern featured a blank heart.
Curved red lines curled around it, glowing faintly.
"It looks like a demon's tattoo."
The demon king giggled, admiring the aesthetic.
Hernán frowned.
It was elegant, yet vulgar.
Did demons really wear such designs on their bodies?
"There's something on the back."
Before Sharpie could read it, Hernán flipped it over.
"How to use the pregnancy test glyph…?"
He blinked.
"If you place it on a woman's lower belly, the pattern will absorb into her skin. If she's pregnant, the heart fills in. If not, the heart breaks."
Sharpie read the instructions aloud.
"After confirming, wash the belly clean to erase the glyph before the next use."
She giggled, covering her mouth.
"I guess our love bore fruit."
"…Fuck."
He'd only slept with her once.
He never expected this.
He had always planned to save himself for his lover alone.
"Wait. Does this mean you might not be pregnant?"
"No way. I had a hunch—my period's late."
"Demons have periods?"
"Of course!"
She snatched the paper and slapped it against her bare stomach.
The glyph vanished in a burst of red light, embedding itself into her skin.
"Ooh, this is totally my style!"
She pointed proudly to the glowing pattern on her belly.
"Since it's over the womb, let's call it a womb tattoo. Better than 'pregnancy check glyph,' right?"
"It's not cheesy—it's vulgar."
Hernán stared at it, heart pounding.
"Are you waiting for food?"
The hero emerged.
He seemed surprised to see Hernán and the demon king together but said nothing.
"What are you two doing?"
"Ah, we'll head back to the room in a minute."
"Why?"
Another door opened.
"Ugh, I'm gonna lose it…"
The elf Silnia shuffled out, looking exhausted.
"What are you all standing there for?"
Saint Marina stepped into the hallway.
Beside her was Potty, walking carefully.
"S-Sorry I'm late…"
Hernán wondered if this was some trick by the demon god.
But maybe he was just nervous.
Everyone had suspected someone would get pregnant eventually.
It just happened to be the demon king first.
Still… It hadn't been confirmed yet.
Everyone crowded around to look at Sharpie's belly.
"What's this glyph? It's vulgar," muttered the hero.
"It's for pregnancy confirmation," Hernán explained. "It came out of the wall just before you all came out."
Karine's eyebrows twitched.
She stared at the glyph glowing pink.
"Magical reaction…" Potty whispered.
Then the glow faded.
Sharpie beamed.
The heart was now fully filled in.
"Success!"
She struck a silly pose, completely oblivious to the tension.
The hero clenched his fists.
Hernán struggled to keep his composure.
He had just become the father of the first human-demon hybrid in history.
His head throbbed faintly.
"Shouldn't I be congratulated?" Sharpie asked. "Or is human culture different?"
She giggled, her tail swaying.
Even she looked a little nervous.
Someone—maybe the hero—opened his mouth to speak.
But before he could say anything, another loud thud echoed.
A locked door at the end of the hallway had opened.
"The demon god really is quite thoughtful, huh?"
Everyone turned and headed toward the new room.
Drawn by curiosity, dread, or maybe—hope.