The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

Meanwhile, back in the space where laughter continuously rang out as people discovered the perfection that was fruits dipped in honey and buttered toast drizzled with the golden liquid, one particularly curious blonde finally managed to ask a question.

This was after predictably stuffing his face with enough snacks to concern reasonable people.

”Brother,” Ollie began while pointing at one of the virtual labels, crumbs still stubbornly clinging to his face, ”this one says six months, nine months, and twelve months.”

He squinted at the projection, his hair antenna moving left and right as if waiting patiently.

”Does this actually mean babies can eat these?” he asked. ”I mean the apples in particular, since you already warned us about the honey.”

”Huh?” Luca looked over. ”Are you talking about the Apple Purée?”

”If that’s what it’s called, then yes!” the snacking mop replied immediately. ”That, as well as the other versions, brother!”

”Well, according to the cookbook, yes.” The budding entrepreneur thought for a moment. ”Actually, the researchers of House Kyros said it could probably be introduced even earlier.”

He figured it had something to do with how interstellar humans had evolved and adapted over time, not to mention how different the territories within the Empire were compared to Tesseris alone.

”But just to be safe, it’s still better to take precautions,” Luca continued. ”After all, wouldn’t it be better for babies to primarily drink milk or fortified formula like they’re supposed to?”

He said it casually.

Almost absentmindedly.

Like someone simply commenting on the weather.

But to the little chipmunk’s surprise, the surroundings suddenly quieted.

Luca blinked.

People had stopped eating.

Others had frozen halfway through reaching for more honey and even his good brother was staring—no, more like gaping.

And that was alarming.

Because his brother was currently sacrificing valuable chewing time.

And for the blonde, that may as well be classified as a medical emergency.

”What?” Luca asked in confusion and worry.

But no one answered immediately, because they, too, were caught off guard.

Instead, they all exchanged glances.

Then looked back at him.

Then exchanged glances again.

”Brother...” Ollie said extremely slowly.

Very carefully.

”Babies... drink... milk?”

Golden-eyed blinkers moved at that.

”Yes?”

The mop’s eyes, in turn, widened even further, and he nearly toppled off the bench as his head tipped backward as though the revelation had physically struck him.

”No, wait.”

He pointed at his saintly brother like he’d just uncovered some ancient conspiracy.

”You’re saying babies actually drink? And they actually drink milk?”

”Yes...?” Luca answered, now thoroughly confused.

The already surprised ex-Tesserian looked around.

Why was everyone acting so strangely?

”Um... Brother, are you saying babies here don’t drink milk after they’re born?”

The concern in his voice was genuine.

Unfortunately, that explanation only seemed to make most of the people present look even more awkward.

Surprisingly, the only exceptions were Princess Kira and Ada, both of whom appeared equally baffled by the notion that babies wouldn’t drink anything after being born. Apparently, even now, that idea still sounded strange to them.

Then again, if everyone else knew that Orcish infants could already hold weapons just a few months after birth, they would likely be wearing the exact same expression.

Especially when human children like Princess Nina looked more like short Orcish infants than full-fledged children by comparison.

Oh well!

Meanwhile, it was fortunate that the Imperial Husband finally took pity on his confused little wife.

”Luca, by any chance, do you remember why humans started using pods to gestate babies in the first place?”

”Ah...” Luca paused to think. ”Wasn’t it because babies that require spiritual energy would end up parasitizing from the mother since there isn’t enough in the environment?”

”That’s part of it,” Xavier acknowledged. ”But the main reason was to prevent corruption from affecting the child’s development, even in cases where the parents were only mildly contaminated.”

The Prince stopped there, seemingly confident his wife would be able to infer from that.

And sure enough, Luca stared blankly for a moment before suddenly jolting upright as he put two and two together.

”Wait!” His eyes widened. ”So there’s no breastfeeding because of corruption too?!”

”...Generally speaking, yes.”

Xavier nodded.

”Babies appear to be extremely susceptible to contamination. Diseases stopped being a major concern once medicine advanced enough, but corruption and the sudden dwindling of spiritual energy were different matters entirely...”

”For a very long time, there simply wasn’t a solution, so human reproduction had to adapt.”

Luca looked increasingly horrified.

”Then what do babies normally live on?”

”Well...” Xavier rubbed the back of his neck. ”While they’re still inside the pods, they receive specialized nutrient solutions. Then after they’re developed enough and ready to come out, some noble families would try to supplement their diets with blended or crushed spiritual fruits to give them a bit of a head start.”

”But mostly, just like everyone else, it’s just nutrient solutions in different forms with the occasional delicacies popular on Star Net. ”

”!!!”

Luca heard all of that and almost felt faint. It was only now that he realized he totally forgot about that entire sector of people!

The babies!

And the parents too!

And if any of them were to have their own children, would they have to stay longer inside the pods because there was nothing to eat?!

Then what about skinship! Wasn’t that important for bonding?!

The frozen chipmunk, who seemed only a few revelations away from cracking entirely, instinctively decided that this was probably not a good thing.

As such, it was promptly added to the steadily growing list of things he actually needed to do.

__

But unbeknownst to all of them, the one honestly experiencing the most unusual—but perhaps the closest thing to the ancient forms of gestation they had been discussing—wasn’t even human.

Born from the blood and spiritual energy of her parents, a little queen destined for greatness fed from both her ”mother” and her ”father” in ways no ordinary honeybee ever could.

Spiritual energy flowed into her continuously, nourishing the tiny spiritual core forming within her much like how children once grew while nurtured by their parents.

It was a delicate process.

And, in its own way, rather comforting.

After all, there was something special about being doted on by parents instead of attendants and servants.

Sure, the experience involved an alarming number of vibrations and the occasional jolt that made her wonder whether the world was about to end.

But despite that, it was obvious that her parents were doing their best.

Spiritual energy continued to flow.

Consciousness continued to grow.

Clearly, she had chosen correctly.

If only her parents could remain together a little longer so she could finally hatch beneath their care.

Unfortunately, that was a rather dangerous wish.

Because as things currently stood, her parents occupied what could only be described as highly contentious positions.

”Is that more comfortable?”

”...Yeah...”

”Oh good. Then can you tilt your head back a little? Don’t worry, I’ll support it.”

”This little—”

”Mmnf!”

He—someone who never imagined being in such a position—had most definitely been about to complain about honorifics, the grinning, and the increasingly preposterous things he had been hearing.

Unfortunately, with that unnecessarily buff dingbat’s lips locked with his...

And his own traitorous tongue apparently siding with the other camp, exactly how convincing was he supposed to sound?

Dammit.

At this rate, he was going to be late by at least an hour.

But if he even hoped to look believably apologetic for it, then at the very least, his own hands should really look into finding a different resting place.

Because really... This position isn’t helping him look like he’d rather be working.

Tsk.