Unity of Mind and Body

After felling the dragon, I spotted Mayya and her group approaching from afar.

A hundred armed women—half with swords and spears, half hauling supply carts loaded with gear. A few were dragging the mobile neetka I’d built.

My subordinates, in a sense, my personal guard.

They stopped as a group when they got close enough, and only Mayya came forward to me.

“Akito.”

“Hey, long time no see.”

“You killed this… alone?”

Mayya asked, eyes on the dragon.

“Yeah. Needed its blood.”

The women behind her started squealing.

High-pitched voices—“Incredible,” “Of course he’s strong,” “So awesome…”—flickering through the air.

“How about you? How’s your condition?”

"Same here. Yeah, that monkey guy—saw him popping up all over the place, so I took care of him one by one."

"You mean Shreiviju. Right."

"Just like Akitto said—he’s back to human form. I told him the closest town to you, so he’s probably heading there."

"Is that so? Thanks."

I gave my thanks.

To grow the town, we need more people—always more.

One quick way is to kill the monster Shreiviju and turn him back into a human.

I’ve been getting a bit slow lately, so I’ve been having Mira and the others handle it.

Of course, I still take a swing at him if I see him.

"How many people are there in your town now?"

"Details are Yuria’s job, but… I’d guess around three thousand by now."

"Is that so."

Mira suddenly looked pleased.

"Something you’re happy about?"

"That’s right. You’re the one now ruling over three thousand people."

"Guess so."

"Which is why I’m happy."

Is that how it works?

"Yep. You into women?"

"Whoa, sudden."

"How about it?"

"Well… I’m a man, aren’t I?"

She looked at me, as if to say, *So what?*

"Cut to the chase. I want you to get us pregnant."

"Us…?"

I glanced at the women behind Mira.

"You and who else?"

"All of us, obviously."

"Obviously? That’s not exactly in my book of common sense."

I stared, trying to grasp what she meant.

"Right now, we’re turning towns back to how they were, turning apes back into humans, right?"

"Yeah."

"But humans? The most natural way to grow is by carrying and birthing children."

"True enough."

"So, get us pregnant."

"Whoa, jumping ahead."

I get turning people into humans by giving birth. But why me?

"All of us."

Maiya jerked her chin toward the women behind her.

All of them—looking right at me.

"See for yourself, all women. Some are still just girls, really."

"You too."

"Thanks. Anyway, that's what they're saying. If we're having kids, we want a strong, handsome, wonderful man—Akitto, of course."

Maiya said it. I looked at the women again.

Young girls, staring at me like I was some kind of idol.

"Exactly."

"I see."

"And hey."

"Yeah?"

"Everyone's grateful to you."

"Grateful?"

"Grateful. Surprised?"

"Well... I can guess why."

I’ve done a lot. Built what was needed. Supplied food, clothes, shelter—most of it.

They’d be right to thank me.

"So, you know..."

Maiya winked.

"Gratitude and admiration—everyone’s got both for you."

"Ah, I see."

"So, impregnate us, okay?"

"Have to be all of us, huh?"

"Yep."

Maiya nods. The women behind her all nod in solemn unison.

"Come on, we’ve been together through everything. Life, death, pregnancy—same for all of us."

Still a little hard to grasp, but the general idea clicks.

Not a bad feeling. Getting both gratitude and admiration from so many people at once? Doesn’t feel bad at all.

"I get it. But not now."

"Why not?"

"Can’t have you all suddenly stop moving around on me."

"Stop moving?"

"Right now, you’re basically my personal guard. Practically my bodyguard."

"...Yeah, I guess that’s true."

Maiya nods. The women behind her look disappointed, but shrug it off, resigned to the fact.

"Then will you do it for us someday?"

"Sure thing. I promise. Someday—"

"—impregnate all of us."

"Then I'll build a whole town for you."

The women erupted.

Half cheered, half wept.

I felt more like a celebrity than ever before.