Chapter 61
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Chapter 61: Can Laying Eggs Be Called Having Babies?
What’s the fuss about wanting to see Mom do that!
It’s just the belly getting bigger slowly; there’s really nothing worth watching!
But when requests come in that soft, sticky-sweet voice… impossible to refuse… how infuriating…
Ah, they’ve returned.
That was absurdly fast! Did they sprint back?
Just as Lin Yu was mentally grumbling, an enormous black ant materialized at the cave entrance.
"Has Mother begun?"
"Begun what?"
What are you planning…
The white ant maintained its expressionless facade – though truthfully, ants couldn’t form facial expressions anyway.
"The egg-laying process. Didn’t Mother confirm her Magic Value was sufficient?"
"It’s just…"
Lin Yu squirmed slightly before continuing.
"It’s merely… laying eggs. There was no need for you to rush back."
"But doesn’t childbirth equate to traversing the Ghost Gate for pregnant humans?"
Red Pupil seemed to freeze mid-sentence.
"Mother, what does ‘Ghost Gate’ mean?"
"The Ghost Gate refers to…"
Hey! I should be asking how you know that phrase! Come to think of it, she’s inquired about other unfamiliar terms before…
Besides, I’m not pregnant! This isn’t childbirth!
It’s…it’s oviposition! Can depositing eggs even be considered birthing babies?
"The Ghost Gate symbolizes mortal peril. But my circumstances are unique – there’s no danger."
"Understood. This daughter feels reassured now."
"Mhm."
Oh… So their hurried return stemmed from concern?
As Lin Yu unexpectedly felt tension leave her shoulders, warmth bloomed in her chest.
"Mommy! Mommy! I wanna watch Mommy lay eggs!"
Little Tear finally caught up, having trailed behind Red Pupil. Her opening words instantly reignited Lin Yu’s irritation.
Though endowed with an adorable voice, this runt remained an insufferable brat.
Just wait till I properly discipline…
Actually, Red Pupil? The disciplining duty falls to you.
Though unheard, Red Pupil responded to Lin Yu’s silent plea by rapping Little Tear’s head with a foreleg.
"Lower your volume."
"Ohkay…"
Little Tear rubbed her head with front limbs, voice tinged with grievance.
But…
Why quietness?
"Mother may commence."
So… you’re truly determined to observe?
There’s genuinely nothing remarkable to witness.
Moreover, performing this act under dual pairs of unblinking eyes feels… unnerving.
Alright… beginning now!
Skill activated: [Lay Eggs]
Her abdomen began swelling gradually.
Two giant ants stared with laser focus.
Lin Yu couldn’t decipher their thoughts.
Did this spectacle appear beautiful? Bizarre? Or… somehow alluring?
Ah, Red Pupil once complimented my appearance… Could this form actually be… No, this feels too peculiar…
Avoiding their gazes, Lin Yu concentrated fully on the egg-laying process.
Feeling the speed at which her abdomen was swelling…
The young woman couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
It seemed this would be another batch of ordinary eggs.
Perhaps through repeated experience, she’d developed the ability to roughly predict the qualifications of ant eggs about to be laid based on the swelling speed of her abdomen.
Approximately half an hour passed.
Red Pupil and Little Tear flanked Lin Yu, their unwavering gazes fixed on the white ant’s expanding abdomen throughout the entire process.
Other Iron Armored Ants and Acid Ants occasionally returned to the cave during this time, but Red Pupil promptly shooed them away.
The abdomen appeared to reach maximum distension.
Suddenly, a blue magic circle materialized beneath the swollen belly, depositing numerous ant eggs of varying sizes around them.
Though the quantity seemed slightly larger than previous batches, the egg types remained consistent.
"Mother, how do you feel?"
"A bit plea… *cough* A bit tired."
Ah! That was close – nearly said something embarrassing!
"Then please rest well. Where should we place these eggs…?"
"Placement?"
"Since Mother worked hard to lay them, a separate chamber would be safer."
Red Pupil extended a foreleg toward an Iron Armored Ant egg, then hesitated and withdrew it as if fearing damage.
"A separate chamber…"
This concept had never occurred to her before…
But considering future eggs might require longer incubation periods, creating dedicated spaces did seem prudent.
Thus, a new task was added to the Worker Ants’ duties.
The newly laid eggs totaled 100: 30 Weak Ants, 30 Worker Ants, 20 Military Ants, 10 Iron Armored Ants, and 10 Acid Ants.
While the numbers and ratios matched Lin Yu’s expectations, she was surprised to discover a Worker Ant egg with C Qualification among the usual non-qualified and D Qualification specimens.
…
Dusk gradually enveloped the forest as evening approached.
Hunting Military Ants began returning to the nest.
Their homecoming brought unexpected liveliness to Second Ant Nest, though the resident goblins cowered fearfully in their wooden shelters at the ant swarm’s activity.
The Military Ants’ prey contributions combined with Red Pupil team’s earlier haul formed multiple meat mountains within the nest.
While current provisions could sustain the colony temporarily, continued population growth inevitably meant future food shortages.
Even with sustained hunting and goblin breeding maintaining daily needs, this approach risked devastating the forest’s monster populations.
Long-term solutions remained elusive.
Finding edible plants became crucial.
Though immediate concerns were mitigated by unexplored forest areas, plant identification needed prioritization.
Perhaps foraging daughters could sample unknown flora during hunts?
But poisonous plants posed risks… Well, solutions could emerge later. Maybe.
"Mother, time to eat."
Red Pupil’s dulcet tones accompanied the wet thud of blue-furred meat hitting the ground.
"Fresh Blue Ape meat from today’s hunt."
"Well, actually…"
Edible plant research! Must! Start! Now!
No more raw meat… Ugh…
"Actually what?"
"You eat it. Leveling up reduces hunger needs."
"But skipping meals isn’t healthy."
Hey, who’s the mother here?
I said no means no!
"Fine… I’ll try a little despite not being hungry…"
Chew chew… *gag* – barely swallowed.
Must maintain maternal dignity – no vomiting in front of daughters!
The meal concluded with leftover Blue Ape meat remaining.
"Has Mother eaten enough?"
Red Pupil seemed to be watching her constantly. As soon as Lin Yu stopped eating, she approached.
"I’m full."
"What about the leftovers…"
She lowered her head, clamped the remaining Blue Ape meat between her jaws, tossed it into her mouth, chewed twice deliberately, and swallowed.
Ah… she ate it…
Is this an indirect kiss? Probably not… If so, I’ve shared food with other ants before.
Though most of it was stuff I spat out after failing to swallow…
Besides, Red Pupil definitely doesn’t understand the concept of indirect kisses… right?
The white ant stared blankly at Red Pupil, then hastily averted her gaze when the large black ant glanced back.
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Attached PY recommendation – seems like another weird book, possibly stranger than mine. Interested readers can check it out.
Title: *Flesh and Blood Are Not Such Feeble Things*
Synopsis:
In a world where humans average 1.2 meters tall and all are female, Lin keeps pushing forward as always.
Lin – Exploration Pioneer, Adult.
Height: 1.2m, Unmarried.
Daily routine: Explores the fog-shrouded world beyond the walls from predawn until 8 AM.
First act upon returning: Adopts deceased colleagues’ widows and daughters. After settling them, writes academic works:
*Weakness Lies Not in Flesh But Will!*
*On the Feasibility of Genetic Ascension*
*Self-Fertilization: Mankind’s Reproductive Future*
Then dons biomechanical armor to purge underground heretics! Proving loyalty!
Must slaughter for 8 hours daily – less causes physical discomfort.
Post-massacre: Practices 20 minutes of Cthulhu Xingyiquan to relax, climbs into pre-warmed cocoon bed.
Embraces companions on both sides, falls asleep instantly.
Gets full hour’s sleep before dawn – never carries fatigue into next day.
Everyone wonders when Lin will marry them.
But recent events disrupted her schedule:
"Have you heard? The Annual Intimacy Festival approaches!" ?!
