"I suppose it is better to ask now rather than later."

"Huh? Ask what?"

Elli suddenly had a serious expression on her face. The contrast from the previously loving granny look making me freeze.

"Since your babies are born now, I think there is someone that should be told."

"Umm, who?"

I mean, the announcement was obviously necessary. Or rather, word was probably already spreading if I considered everything. But Elli seemed to have someone specific in mind rather than a general announcement.

"Scarlet dear. We have been quite hesitant to ask, and if you want to keep it a secret, we will respect that."

"...Okay."

The seriousness of her words practically made me gulp.

"Would you mind telling us who the father is?"

"..."

Huh?

"Like I said, if it is difficult for you to answer, you need not to."

(Crap. I forgot to come up with an excuse!)

"Perhaps it is better if we never learn though. The image of our pure and gentle vampire may be forever preserved that way."

"W, what the hell is that?"

(Pure and gentle?! I mean, I guess I'm pretty kind, or rather a bit too much so. But pure?)

I gorged out quite often, and didn't really do anything to give off that pure feeling as far as I know.

"You do not know? Everyone looks up to you, as a figure of sacredness that brings warmth to all."

I stared at Elli slack jawed.

She herself had a smile which suggested she was amused by all of this, but there was no indication that she was lying about any of it either.

(Did people really look at me like that?)

"Since you never gave preferential favour to any man, a theory started that perhaps your babies did not have a father, that you are a pure virgin."

"I...I..."

I squirmed at the thought.

It was true. I was one. Even in my previous life, I never got rid of that damn title, and now, despite being a mother of two, I still was one.

"Wait. Are you really still a virgin?"

Elli leaned in to examine me, but the shame of it all made me turn away.

"A virgin birth. To think such a thing was possible."

Overwhelmed by it all, I crouched down and covered my face. I didn't want to hear any more. I just wanted to meld together with my shadow and disappear.

"Is that perhaps how things are for vampires?"

"This is the first time I've ever even heard of a vampire giving birth, Elder Elli."

"Scarlet dear?"

"I'd really hope it isn't. I don't want to go through all that again."

It was the truth. Those ten months of pregnancy was horrible, and the last day, that labour, the thought of going through any of that a second time made a chill run down my spine.

"Well, it's not like it'll happen again anyways."

"Why is that?"

"Umm...well...because I induced the pregnancy myself."

It was already too late. I had no choice but to admit at least that much.

"Induced? But without losing your virginity?"

"That's right. Technically speaking, you don't need to have sex to become pregnant."

"You mean by inserting a man's seed through other means?"

"Technically, that should work, but it's not the only way."

I went on to explain some cellular biology and how it connected to the reproductive system. But after a few minutes of that, it became clear that I lost both Ellie and the midwife.

"Umm...anyways, the key isn't a man's seed, but the egg of a woman. Of course, even that isn't really vital, as an artificial egg could be made from any cell of any person in theory, and thus a baby could be created from only a single person."

"So then your twins, they are made that way then?"

Elli's cheek was twitching. It looked like she was trying to grasp some sort of conclusion she could understand.

"No. They were made from my own egg combined with the genes of another."

"Then that other is the father then? Who is it we should be contacting?"

"...Nobody. She's already dead. Even before I became pregnant."

"The babies of a dead person?"

"Yea. Oh, I did get her permission though."

Ethics were different here than on Earth, but even then I couldn't help but need to mention that. I did properly get Alicia's permission to use her genes to create her new body. Fate was a happy bonus though.

"Your babies are the child of a dead person, and the other person was woman at that?"

"That's right. Someone who was really important to me."

It felt weird to describe Alicia as a dead person considering that she was lively squirming around in my arms. But that would further complicate matters, so I chose to keep quiet about the reincarnation bit.

Though maybe I've already said too much, considering that genetics most likely wasn't even a known thing at this point in this world.

Then again, I could just be wrong, and genetics didn't actually exist in this world. My skill simply covered up for that gap as it dealt with everything as raw data. Whether what I was using in that data was genetics, or something different which took the same role, I had no idea.

"Hmm...anyways, so in the end, it doesn't change that you have never been bedded Elder Scarlet?"

(Ugh. It all came back to that point?)

"...No. I haven't..."

Looking away, I admitted it while pressing my index fingers against each other.

If she was that insistent on pressing the issue, there wasn't much I could do to avoid confirming it.

"How incredible. We all knew you were special, but to think you were this special."

(Yes yes, I'm special. Thank you very much.)

I knew she wasn't saying that with any negative intent, or rather, it was in some weird attempt to raise me on some pedestal, but I couldn't help but take it the other way.

As I was brooding underneath, Alicia and Fate started to squirm again.

"Ah, are you hungry already?"

This movement, it was similar to what they were doing a little while ago. If it was for the same reason, then they must have gotten hungry again.

(Is this going to be normal from now on? How long will it be until their eating habits change to something more similar to my own?)

Dedicating time to feed my cute little babies wasn't a problem for me. But if I would have to feed them every few hours, that meant that it would be difficult for me to do anything which required a large amount of my time to dedicate continuously, like clearing floors of the dungeon.

"Here. If you pull this part like this..."

With Elli's guidance, she taught me how to adjust the support strap which held the baby sling underneath my robes. The sling along with my twins lowered until they got into position. Both Alicia and Fate quickly latched on and started their rhythmic sucking as they worked their tongues instinctively.

Once we were sure that my babies were comfortable, a quick flick of a latch and the sling was secured.

Along with that, all thoughts of trouble feeding was blown away as well.

(Who cares if they eat so often I can't go into the dungeon. The two of them are such angels, just watching them suckle is more than enough for me.)

I lightly brushed the thin strands of hair on each of their heads one at a time. Perhaps they were concentrating so much on feeding that they didn't even notice my hand, but it didn't matter. Their little scrunched up faces as they drank up my milk like it was some sort of great duty of theirs was so cute.

Before long, both Alicia and Fate let go of me and relaxed in their little harness. While it didn't quite appear in their expressions, they both did give off some sort of aura of contentment. If they really enjoyed their meal that much, it would make me happy.

Too bad they had no way to tell me that in words.

That said, while it was only slight, my boobs did feel noticeably lighter.

"Hey Elli."

"What is it dear?"

As my fellow elder helped me tighten the retaining strap to raise my twins up to a comfortable carrying position, I turned to ask her something that just came to mind.

"Do you think I'll have trouble feeding the two of them in the future?"

"..."

Elli looked down at the valley squished between me and my babies before looking me in the eye. There was a bit of hostility there as she looked at me with half closed eyes.

"I do not think that will ever be a problem for you."

"Umm...okay. Thanks."

A bit intimidated by her expression, I simply dropped the topic.

As the two of them grew up, they would be needing more and more milk. For a regular mother, she would only have to worry about a single baby, but I had two of them. But maybe it really won't be a problem. At the very worst, it would probably just mean that I would have to wean them off a bit sooner.

But maybe...just maybe...

(Having such big boobs might mean that I can produce more?)

If that was true, then it would make me pretty happy.

"Now then, shall we go?"

"Ah, just a sec."

"Is something the matter?"

"Ah, not quite. Just...I'm feeling a bit hungry again. For some reason, ever since these two were born, I've been feeling hungry more often."

Taking out a jar of blood like before, I withdrew a crimson orb and sucked on it, shrinking it into nothing.

This way of drinking blood was really starting to warm up on me. It was not only convenient, but quick and enjoyable. Too bad I couldn't do this directly from a body and had to drain it into a jar first.

"Oh, that is quite normal. The food you eat turns into the milk which your babies drink. It is only natural that you feel hungry after feeding them. And perhaps thirsty too?"

"Ah, well I guess that makes sense. Though hunger and thirst are the same for my kind."

"True. For a normal mother, they would feel thirsty more often than hungry, and simply eat mostly the same as they did before they gave birth."

That made sense to me. Milk was primarily made up of water. Something like 90% or the like, if I remember right. Unless if you were a seal, which made it like 5% water or something. But as a vampire, since not only did we live entirely off of a liquid diet, but it seemed to be converted into mana, and then that mana was again converted into sustenance in the form of milk for Alicia and Fate.

It made me wonder then, if my babies got more than the basic nutrition from my milk or not.

While I was pregnant with them, it was clear that they did receive some benefit beyond what they needed to grow from feti to fully matured infants. They had levels much higher than what Alicia had when I first met her, and quite a few skills which were all received from the monsters which I preyed on the most while I carried them in my belly.

So the question was, since they received the benefits of my own diet, even if at a reduced rate, while connected to my bloodstream through the placenta, would the additional separation of my breasts and milk cause them to lose those benefits, or maybe they would retain a certain amount of it?

It was certainly something interesting, and if it was possible for them to gain both levels and skills this way, it would certainly change how I ate myself.

([Scan]ning...)

A quick check didn't tell me anything good though.

There were no sudden changes to the two girls' stats. Though maybe they simply didn't eat enough to get anything that would show up. Any details like partially gained skills were buried and encoded as raw data, making figuring anything like that out was next to impossible. Maybe if I could figure out the way the data was encoded, I might figure it out. But that was far too much work for something which had such a fringe benefit.

"Alright. I'm ready."

Elli took my free hand as my other was occupied holding my babies in a hug, half in supporting their weight and half just because I was enjoying the feeling of their warmth against my skin.

The fellow elder guided me to the lobby where the apothecary and other midwives were at. They each gave me and my babies a one over before giving us warm smiles all around.

Elli brought be over to the front door before letting go of my hand to open it.

I squinted at the harsh light which invaded the more hospitable interior.

""Mmmm!""

Both Alicia and Fate squirmed around under my arm and pressed their faces into my chest.

It figured that something which was bright enough to make me squint was just too much for these two.

(That damnable sunlight.)

My hate towards that burning ball of hellfire was once again reignited.

(For my innocent babies to suffer because of you.)

I extended my aura into my shadow to shield Alicia and Fate when a sight caught the corner of my eyes.

"Claret? Can you shield us from the sun?"

"O, of course Master!"

What appeared to be a tinge of apprehension was immediately blown away to sparkling eyes as my ever favourite familiar stepped, or rather floated, up. With a confident wave of her arms, a shadowy orb surrounded me.

From a third party observer, the orb may have looked oppressively malevolent, to me it was anything but. The shadowy barrier felt warm and comforting to me. With the opaque top and protective sides, I could feel the compassion and devotion emanating off from it.

And apparently I wasn't the only one.

Both Alicia and Fate seemed to feel it, as after a few moments, they let their faces be exposed and looked around. Each of them raised and arm as if they were trying to grasp the shadow which was protecting them from that heinous sun's wrath.

The sight of my cute little twins as they tried so desperately to internalize all the unfamiliar chaos which continuously surrounded them was so adorable. The only annoying thing was that my cheeks rose up so high that it distorted my sight of them.

*Chu! Chu!*

I kissed the both of them on their foreheads as they continued to clumsily reach out. No matter how much I watched them, it was amazing how I couldn't get bored of their simple and awkward movements.

"Claret look! Look at how happy you're making Alicia and Fate!"

Turning around, I showed my familiar what I've been hogging to myself.

Claret blinked once, then twice as she leaned in closer. The twins waved their arms, almost as if they recognized that Claret was the one who was protecting them from the sun's unceasing assault though the open door.

The two weren't exactly smiling so they probably didn't actually understand that she was the one who was actually helping them, but I couldn't help but imagine.

"See? You're not just helping me, but you're helping them as well!"

"Y, yes, Master!"

It was a little surprising, but the glow from my ever faithful familiar's eyes somehow made my chest feel even warmer, beyond what I had thought was possible with how my precious babies were already making me feel.

(I'm not going to suddenly start melting down from this feeling, am I?)

I shook away that ludicrous thought, but at the same time, I wondered if there was a limit to how warm and fluffy I could feel. This wasn't the sort of thing I was particularly well experienced with in the first place.

Especially not in my first life.

(But, as long as my heart doesn't suddenly burst into flames or something because of this, I'll embrace it all the way through.)

Because once again I was able to affirm that this was the best day of my two lives.

It was a little scary that I couldn't even imagine a day better than this being possible, and that everything would end up being compared to the happiness I experienced this day. But rather than let that fear overtake me, I redirected my attention to embracing the warmth I was filled to the brim with.

Giving my little babies a kiss each again, this time Fate then Alicia to balance things out a bit, I turned back to Elli, only to see her affectionate smile as she warmly watched over us.

My cheeks grew a bit hot at the thought, but I followed her out of the healing house, finally to find comfort of my own room.

Thankfully Claret's shadowy barrier prevented me from having to bear the brunt of the midday sun as we stepped out.

On the other hand, I was frozen still by the sight of countless people surrounding the healing house. Even above, there were fairies and fluffballs covering what little of the sky I could see around Claret's shadow umbrella.

The very sight of this mass of people was surprising, though when I thought of it it wasn't very unexpected.

Everyone's response to my pregnancy had been quite positive and they looked forward to meeting my babies. Though it did make me wonder if I was the only one who didn't realize that I was carrying twins as not a single person brought the thought up.

Even still, the sheer number of people who came was a surprise. The circle of people thoroughly blocked off any avenue of movement, and I couldn't even start to guess how deep the crowd went. The sight of the dark elders prominent as they stood front and centre of the crowd. Both Frigg and Alvaldi stood amongst their subordinates and fellows with broad smiles plastered on their faces.

And even the fairies and fluffballs. They had to come from the fairy settlement, yet so many of them came and even waited without knowing how long it would take me to come out. Amongst them, I could see each of the fairy elders as well as they looked back at me.

To think that the fairies would wait for who knows how long, something which they hated more than most other things. I couldn't help but feel my heart soar to heights even further than I could imagine.

The fluffballs too. They didn't like crossing over the empty expanse between the two settlements too much, so seeing so many that they blotched out the sky, further reinforcing the fluttery feeling like I was soaring through the skies on the goodwill of everyone here.

And in between some of the gaps, I could see figures which I didn't recognize. Yet their aura seemed a little familiar. It was as if...

(Like they are similar to Claret.)

They shyly hid themselves behind the fluffballs, only to be pushed forward by them before they forced their way back behind a wall of more fluffballs before once again peeking out from between a gap of the little spirits. Despite their humanoid appearances, they carried the same aura as the fluffballs. The same sort as Claret, but of a differing element.

(Have they been hiding this entire time, or are they recent arrivals?)

It was something which I needed to ask the fairies, but this wasn't the time for that.

And despite their usual discord with the former two groups, the imps were occupying their own places in the sky as well, in peaceful concordance. Or at least as peaceful as they ever were when being forced into the same space as the fairies. A few of them glared at the fairies who glared back, but as their companions nudged them in the ribs, their attention turned to me as if they had forgotten about their long generational feud.

Notwithstanding, Geirskogul was there as well, his favourite halberd ever in his hands.

In between the sky-full of well-wishers and those who were ground-bound, were the dragonkin standing on the various roofs of the buildings surrounding us. Magni waved excitedly at me, almost making me let out an inopportune laugh.

Close by I even saw Harja as well. She had her head turned away and her arms crossed, but I could tell she was still looking my way out of the corner of her eyes. At my babies. And the corner of her lips rose up as her expression loosened ever so slightly.

The whole place was quiet as everyone's attention turned towards me and my babies.

For one reason or another, Alicia and Fate didn't seem to notice or perhaps care about all the people surrounding us. Once Claret was out of sight, they slowly settled back in place, only squirming here and there restlessly rather than sleep like normal babies would.

But of course it was because they weren't capable of such a thing, just like me.

My ears perked up a bit as the quiet gave way to whispering.

The people all around us gave us warm gazes as they smiled.

"'Grats!"

Alvaldi gave a thumbs up as he congratulated me in his usually coarse manner.

"Congratulations Elder Scarlet."

Nearby, Frigg gave her own celebratory words and she clapped her hands together in front of her.

"Congratulations! Your babies are so cute!"

Aurae cupped her hands in front of her mouth and yelled her warm, or rather hot, words before furiously waving her arm.

"C, congrats Elder Scarlet!"

As if trying to overtake the fairy elder's faster words with volume, Geirskogul waved both of his arms as he yelled his words.

Soon words of congratulations were quickly rapid fired as everyone else caught up with the elders and chieftains, their voices becoming a cacophony.

"Hmph! 'Grats..."

With a fist over her mouth, even Harja gave me words of good wishes loud enough for me to hear, despite looking like she didn't actually want me to hear them.

Elli turned towards me, letting go of my hand. With all the voices, I couldn't hear her words, but I clearly saw her mouth one: 'Congratulations.'

Tears dripped down my cheeks.

With everyone's feelings as one, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by its pressure.

(Is it alright for me to be this happy?)

The thought was stupid, but I couldn't stop a part of my mind from asking that out.

This day, for it to be such a good one, to be so much more than I could ever imagine. It wasn't like I was an unfortunate person or anything. But if anything, my life was a bit grey.

Looking back now, I could tell that I didn't know what it meant to be happy.

I struggled in the hopes of finding happiness, yet never attaining it.

Alicia had given me a taste of it, and ever since I've been chasing after it.

And now I knew what true happiness was, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

No, rather, maybe that was proof in itself that I really had reached the truth of happiness.

I had so much to thank Alicia for starting me on this path, and Fate for teaching me that any amount of happiness could be taken even further.

Squeezing my ever so precious babies in my arms, I leaned down to give them another kiss.

"Thank y..."

""Waaah!!!""

"Huh?!"

Simultaneously, both Alicia and Fate started to cry in my arms with the full force of a tidal wave.

"Stop! Stop! Everyone you're being too loud!"

Elli's figure as she ran towards the crowd faded from my mind as I panicked and tried to bounce my little twins.

"Sorry sorry. It's okay. It's nothing scary. Don't cry! Everything's fine!"

I tried my best to reassure Alicia and Fate, yet their cries didn't abate, drowning out everything around me.

The cries felt accusatory, like they implicating me for betraying their trust.

I knew that it was an unreasonable thought, but despite my reason, the thorn stuck in my heart as I continued to try reassuring my babies.