Chapter 55

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Chapter 55: Names Can Be Casual Anyway

Since they could speak, it would be convenient for communication to give them both names.

But naming…

This really makes me feel like an actual mother… Though they have been calling me ‘Mom’ several times already.

As for how it feels to be called Mom?

Hmm, weird. No matter how I think about it, it’s weird… Because I’m still underage! I’m still a child myself!

Though being called Mom is… kind of thrilling in a way… Hehe…

*Ahem*, back on topic.

How should I decide on names?

I’ve never named anyone before. Well, except for a dog once.

I had a puppy with yellowish fur and named it Yellow Fur.

Bad naming sense? Too casual? What does it matter! Names are just labels – what’s important is appearance! Wait, appearance isn’t important? Then what is?

Come to think of it, my own name was chosen casually too… So it’s fine if my daughters’ names are slightly casual as well~

That crybaby Iron Armored Ant should be called…

Little Cry? That doesn’t sound very nice, and it’s too casual.

Ah, let’s call her Little Tear.

That’s quite a nice name, and it’s easy to remember…

Well, it’s settled then.

Lin Yu glanced at Little Tear, who was still munching on her eggshell.

Then her gaze shifted to another one nearby.

"Mom?"

As if sensing Lin Yu’s gaze, she paused her eggshell consumption and turned her head.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing…"

Her perception is so sharp…

Under the ant’s unwavering gaze, Lin Yu instinctively averted her eyes.

Come to think of it, while other Iron Armored Ants have black eyes, hers are red like mine… Maybe I should name her…

Wait, perhaps she’s already named herself!

They can speak since birth, after all. Self-naming might be possible.

"By the way, I haven’t asked your name yet?"

"Hmm?"

The ant tilted her head sideways.

"Aren’t our names supposed to be given by Mom? Oh! Is Mom naming us now?"

She swallowed the shell fragments and scooted closer.

"Has Mom decided our names already? What’s my sister’s name?"

"Um… Little Tear…"

"Little Tear! Such a beautiful name! What about me, Mom? What’s my name?"

Wow… She looks so expectant…

I’m nervous. Will she like the name I chose?

"Your name… Red Pupil."

"Red Pupil… Red Pupil…"

Lin Yu watched the ant’s head droop slightly.

This reaction… Does she dislike it?

"How about it? If you don’t like-"

"I love it!"

The ant suddenly raised her head, crimson eyes sparkling brightly.

Seeming embarrassed by her own enthusiasm, she moderated her tone:

"I love this name. Any name from Mom is perfect."

"Good that you like it."

Is it my imagination? This feels like lovers’ talk…

"Mom? Could you say my name again?"

"Red Pupil?"

"Yes."

…

Having received her new name, Red Pupil returned to eating her eggshell with visible delight.

Beside her, Little Tear remained focused on devouring her own shell, nearly finished already, oblivious to the earlier exchange.

Lin Yu finally began examining the results of her five spawning sessions:

Among 410 eggs – 130 Weak Ant Eggs, 130 Worker Ant Eggs, and 100 Military Ant Eggs. Remarkably, nearly half of the Weak and Worker Ant Eggs were D Qualification, while over twenty Military Ant Eggs showed C Qualification.

The "Spawning" skill’s egg quality appeared to improve with tier advancement.

Among new ant species: 30 Acid Ants (all C Qualification), and 20 Iron Armored Ants (18 C Qualification plus Little Tear and Red Pupil at B and A Qualifications respectively).

Magic Value after overnight recovery: 34/117

Requiring 5 more points for next spawning – approximately ten more hours.

Finally, some proper rest… Her stomach deserved a vacation!

Lin Yu called upon twenty Military Ants. After leaving fifty Military Ants in the cave to look after the newborn ant larvae, she rode one of the Military Ants and headed outside under their guard.

"Mom! Mom!"

A voice suddenly came from behind.

She turned to look.

It was Little Tear.

"What’s wrong, Little Tear?"

"Little Tear?"

The child tilted her head, looking puzzled.

"Little Tear is the new name I gave you."

"Oops… seems I forgot to tell you."

"A new name from Mommy! Little Tear, Little Tear… sounds wonderful! Little Tear loves the name Mommy chose!"

She didn’t complain about my unilateral decision. Unlike Red Pupil, her speech lacked that mature tone—seemed easier to handle.

Well, liking your own name is what matters most!

Now then, why did you follow me?

"Why are you following me?"

"Little Tear wants to stay with Mommy! Is that okay?"

"Did you finish eating?"

"Finished!"

Hmm… I don’t really want company. Though she’s my daughter, I just wanted a walk. Being followed feels awkward.

This might sound harsh, but we’re not that close yet.

See? Your sister’s being sensible, eating properly.

"Eat some meat after finishing eggshells. Helps you grow faster."

"But… but Little Tear wants—"

Before she could finish, two Military Ants dragged her away.

After she disappeared, faint sniffles seemed to echo from afar—probably just my imagination?

Sorry, I’m still not used to such closeness. Surprised myself earlier by chatting so much with Red Pupil…

…

She rode a Military Ant out of the cave.

Outside, Military Ants were supervising female goblins constructing wooden fences.

The so-called fences were merely sticks once used as goblin weapons, planted around the clearing’s scattered huts to form a crude barrier.

Lin Yu planned to have Worker Ants gradually transport soil after fence completion, eventually building walls to contain the goblins.

Any goblin crossing the fence during construction would be deemed escaping.

Escapees spotted by patrolling ants would be executed immediately.

Additionally, ants would regularly inventory goblin numbers and cub counts. Any special cubs like Big Goblins found would be killed on sight.