Alaya, Katsura Hinagiku, Fujibayashi Kyō, Altria, and Tachibana Kanade talked in the room for three hours, while Lin Luo waited outside for the same duration. He had no idea why Alaya had shown up at this particular time; logically, she shouldn't have the leisure for such matters. Nor did he know what Alaya might say. If she started spouting nonsense, should he consider saving a file?

Unfortunately, the Book of Contracts had everything except a save system.

Crack!

The sound of a door opening announced the exit of the four girls—Altria and the others. Seeing their grim expressions, as if they were one moment away from turning dark and grabbing hatchets, Lin Luo felt a pang of unease. He tentatively asked, "Um... where is Alaya?"

"She left." The other three remained silent. Only Tachibana Kanade seemed to be in a relatively better mood, stating it plainly.

"Oh." Lin Luo replied. Though reluctant to speak, it was ultimately his business, and delaying it was pointless, so he braced himself and asked, "How did it go?"

"Don't worry, I won't get rid of this child," Altria said, her tone losing its former death-wish quality, replaced instead by a subtle, feminine gentleness. With that, she turned and walked back into the room.

Lin Luo sensed she wasn't just placating him and finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was just odd; her stance moments ago had been so resolute. He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly did Alaya say to you all?"

"You don't need to know!" Fujibayashi Kyō stated coldly, also turning to leave.

I might not need to know, but I desperately want to know, Lin Luo grumbled inwardly.

Although the Dictionary Emperor’s tone was harsh, there were no signs of her turning dark; she seemed to have accepted the reality. This both reassured Lin Luo and surprised him further, causing him to look towards the person beside him. "Hinagiku..."

"Just continue living your life of romantic pleasure by yourself." As soon as Lin Luo uttered her name, Katsura Hinagiku cut him off, her voice neutral. She then walked into the room as well.

"..." Lin Luo was momentarily speechless. How could he possibly enjoy romantic pleasure all by himself? Masturbation?

"Little Kanade, what exactly happened just now?" Finding the other three routes blocked, Lin Luo turned his offensive toward Tachibana Kanade. The Angel was always docile and obedient; she would surely tell him.

"Light fiddling is entertainment; heavy fiddling harms the body; intense fiddling leads to ashes," Tachibana Kanade stated calmly, before slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Lin Luo stood stunned outside for a long time, receiving no further response.

Alaya was clearly a good person, a Guanyin Bodhisattva saving those in misery. She must have used some method to resolve this huge crisis for Lin Luo. As the abortion controversy faded, life gradually settled into calm. Of course, only the atmosphere between the men and women settled; the fierce battle against the Abyss Demons raged on hotly.

Several months later, under Lin Luo and his companions' relentless assault, the numbers of the Abyss Demons had visibly dwindled. Although the previously neutral Hikaisha had joined the fray, the strongest among them were only at the level of LV3 demons. Given Lin Luo's current strength, the four of them together could still dispatch an LV6 Abyss Demon relatively easily.

Especially after these months of fighting, Lin Luo had almost completely mastered his Shingan (Mind's Eye), and he had grasped the power of the Mind's Eye to a great extent. With just a little more time, the experience bar for his Shingan might finally be filled.

Fujibayashi Kyō and Katsura Hinagiku had also made significant breakthroughs. After reaching the Intermediate Spirit Rank, they immediately pushed towards the Advanced Spirit Rank. Although they hadn't quite broken through, they had touched upon the threshold of the rules; advancing their cultivation realm was only a matter of time.

Moreover, during this period, Tachibana Kanade’s restraint seal had loosened to the first layer, truly unlocking her potential. Her strength was no less than Fujibayashi Kyō's or Katsura Hinagiku's, and with her unique life cycle system, her stamina far surpassed that of the others.

What was particularly noteworthy was Altria. Ever since she stopped contemplating the abortion, her inherent feminine nature had emerged. She put down her armor, laid aside her longsword, and shed the mantle of kingship, instead cherishing the unborn child simply as a future mother.

She even stopped eating without restraint, choosing foods beneficial to the infant.

This meticulous care made it hard to believe that just months ago, she had been desperately trying to terminate the pregnancy.

Recalling the events back then, Lin Luo suddenly realized that the entire affair held many inconsistencies... If Altria had been truly determined to abort the child, why would she mention it in front of him? She knew he would stop her; wouldn't conducting it secretly have been better?

Or perhaps she never intended to abort the child at all, but was torn between her role as King and her identity as a woman, leaving her unable to choose. After all, she was King Arthur, and that responsibility was inescapable. She couldn't bring herself to bear the child based solely on her own desire, and even if she managed to carry it to term, she likely wouldn't feel happiness.

Thus, the only thing she could do was let someone else stop the King in her. As long as someone intervened, she could completely relinquish the King’s duty and embrace the unborn child as a woman and a mother.

This was her internal struggle, the battle between Altria and King Arthur.

Alaya's appearance was the turning point. Although Lin Luo didn't know what she said, it was because of her that Altria could defeat King Arthur and thus set aside royal responsibility.

Perhaps what Alaya said was simple. Lin Luo already had a vague idea; after all, few things could make Altria let go of her obsession while simultaneously appeasing Fujibayashi Kyō and Katsura Hinagiku.

However, although Fujibayashi Kyō and Katsura Hinagiku stopped dwelling on that matter with Lin Luo, they were still somewhat displeased. As a result, their interactions recently had been less affectionate, with fewer instances of jealousy erupting.

Since entering the ninth month of pregnancy, Altria rarely got out of bed, spending at least twenty hours a day lying down, either sleeping or reading books on prenatal education. Watching her, Lin Luo couldn't help but think of Reimu. Was Reimu like this before giving birth?

Given Reimu's lazy nature, pregnancy might actually be a good thing for her; she would have ample reason to stop working, needing only to idly sip tea and daydream every day. But expecting her to rest properly for the baby's sake would likely be a pipe dream... They say there are no ugly lazy women, only lazy women, yet Reimu, lazy to the point of almost molding, remained stunningly beautiful. He wondered if she would become even more enchanting as a young matron?

Lost in thought, Lin Luo began to stray, yearning for his distant "wife" and child.

Those needing rest continued to rest; those conflicted continued to struggle. Time trickled by in this state, gradually approaching the day of Altria's delivery.

"It seems I'm the one who has to handle this, sigh!" Fujibayashi Kyō sighed as she began making preparations. Among those present, no one had experience with childbirth. If anyone was most suited for delivery, it was her, the one capable of acting as a kindergarten teacher. Furthermore, she possessed a dictionary of knowledge, so she could surely find instructions on how to deliver. In fact, she had even been the one giving verbal instructions on prenatal care recently.

However, her feelings were profoundly complicated. After all, the patient she was attending was the child of the man she loved and another woman. How could she, a vibrant, blooming young girl...

This was ridiculous!

But despite her internal conflict, she would perform this duty diligently. It was a life, after all... Even if the father had done wrong, she couldn't take her anger out on the child.

"Kyō, I'm relying on you." Lin Luo felt a degree of awkwardness when he said this.

"Even if you didn't ask, I would do my best. But don't think I'll let you off easily. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation later, I swear I will pull off your third leg and stuff it up your backside!" Fujibayashi Kyō fiercely declared with commanding authority before turning and entering the "delivery room."

Fujibayashi Kyō's verbal abuse was as fierce as ever. Lin Luo still had his third leg, which caused an involuntary twinge of discomfort.

He had originally intended to help Altria deliver alongside Fujibayashi Kyō. His control over energy flow via the Mind's Eye could certainly provide some assistance, and he cared little for notions of propriety—it wasn't as if he hadn't seen such things before.

However, alongside the delivery, there was an even more critical matter at hand.

"The Abyss Demons have begun assaulting the barrier, and the Hikaisha too," a figure suddenly appeared beside Lin Luo and stated gravely. It was Shiina.

"It's true. The final battle is starting," Shiina reported the serious news. Lin Luo was not surprised. He had sensed the barrier thinning not long ago, with energy beginning to flow between the sides. It was inevitable that the Abyss Demons would charge through; he just hadn't expected the timing to be so coincidental.

Altria was incapable of fighting, and Fujibayashi Kyō couldn't leave as she was attending the birth. Their combat strength had been severely reduced. Fortunately, he had the foresight to summon the Heroic Spirits in advance; otherwise, they would truly suffer a major loss.

"No matter what, they absolutely cannot break through!" As he spoke, Lin Luo was already striding forward.

At the barrier's edge, Katsura Hinagiku stood holding her sword, her right hand resting on the hilt. Ivasawa Mami stood a hundred meters to her right, plucking the strings of her instrument. Above them, Nakumura Yuri stood proudly, surrounded by countless firearms and cannons. On the opposite side, Tachibana Kanade spread her wings, hundreds of arrows gleaming menacingly.

As Lin Luo and Shiina approached, the countless enemies opposite them began striking the barrier violently, their impact shaking the heavens.

"The barrier must not be breached! Active offense!"

With Lin Luo's command, he shot forward like lightning, entering the enemy ranks before anyone else, allowing the Mist-Rain Sword to unleash its true power!