Tokyo Hospital.
In the hospital corridor, Hana Tsuruyama greeted them with a smile, "Long time no see, you two." Renz and Erina Nakiri stopped in their tracks. They didn't recognize her in the hospital, yet she seemed very familiar with them.
"Are you here for your third child this time?" Hana asked cheerfully. "In an era of declining birth rates, couples like you are rare."
Both Renz and Erina felt like spitting blood internally. They were being teased about something they had absolutely no experience with.
Perhaps she was their attending physician when they had their children before? Erina's peripheral vision caught sight of Hana's ID badge hanging from her chest. Maintaining her usual elegance, she said, "Dr. Tsuruyama, I'm here for a routine health check-up."
"Oh, oh, oh, so it's not a third child already, but preparing for one?" Hana's expression changed as she suddenly understood. Preparing for a third child would indeed require a pre-examination. After all, the mother's health directly impacted the child.
Erina's composure began to waver. What's wrong with doctors these days? Are they all okay? Why are their minds filled with such strange thoughts?
"Dr. Tsuruyama, we're very careful with our birth control. A third child is out of the question. Raising two children already puts us under quite a lot of pressure. This check-up is for a health certificate qualification," Renz calmly stepped forward to diffuse the awkwardness. Some things were just too embarrassing for Erina to say, so he took the burden.
"Ah, is that so?" Hana nodded. "My apologies, I thought you were preparing for a third child. Well, I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
Erina and Renz both sighed internally with relief. They had dodged another bullet.
---
The two proceeded with blood tests, completing all the required indicators for the health certificate. The timing for results varied depending on the specific test. Some results came out immediately, while others took days. For example:
Blood sugar results could be immediate.
Complete blood count and blood gas analysis took about ten minutes.
Cardiac enzyme results required about half an hour.
Blood cultures typically needed three to five days.
Since Erina had a comprehensive check-up, her results would be ready the next day.
---
"Are we going home now?" Renz stretched, feeling tired after a full day. He was seriously exhausted—first accompanying Erina to an event, then to the hospital.
"There's nothing else, so we should be going home," Erina nodded.
"By the way, which light novels have you been reading? I think there's a big problem," Renz brought up the previous topic. "Don't take light novels too seriously."
"Didn't you recommend those light novels to me?" Erina frowned. Renz had suggested she read light novels, then turned around and told her not to take them seriously.
"The lovey-dovey parts in light novels can be useful, but don't imitate the characters' personalities," Renz said with a slight headache.
"Why?" Erina asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Light novel romance stories are written to cater to otaku. Understand what 'catering to otaku' means?" Renz emphasized his words. "Do you know who writes most light novels? Male authors."
"And novels written by male authors are often designed to meet otaku market demands. Are the light novels you're reading full of heroines who are exceptionally good to the male lead?"
"I admit I envy the male leads in light novels—how they can act aloof yet still be pursued by countless girls. But affection should be mutual. If you're good to me, I definitely have to be good to you, too."
"Learning the behavior of light novel heroines is actually a disadvantage for you," Renz said bluntly. He really didn't need to say these things, but he did anyway. "We generally call this behavior—of inexplicably having good feelings and then willingly offering oneself—'giving oneself away for free.'"
"Don't learn from the women in these light novels," Renz warned.
Erina felt he was implying something. Soon, a sharp "#" shaped anger mark appeared by her head.
"Are you saying I'm 'giving myself away for free'?" Erina understood immediately.
"Otherwise, why would you be so good to me for no reason? It must be from reading too many light novels. This afternoon, I was quite flattered," Renz said, puzzled. Today, Erina was treating him too well. The real Erina should be scolding him when nothing's wrong, and punching him when there is.
"I'm good to you just to maintain the facade of a loving couple!" Erina pulled out her classic excuse. "Besides, you just said if I'm good to you, you have to be good to me."
"So, where's your performance then?" Erina found a loophole in Renz's words and pointed it out directly. "You haven't proven that point yet."
"Our superficial marital relationship—I'm the one who's constantly putting in effort and maintaining it," Erina said, her bright eyes locked on Renz's with a challenging tone.
"That… mainly because if I said it, you'd laugh," Renz admitted. He hadn't been idle these past few days. Since learning about the God's Tongue curse, he'd been secretly watching cooking shows every night and researching cooking techniques. The problem was, his wife was at the pinnacle of the culinary industry. If she found out he was learning to cook, he'd definitely be ridiculed and laughed at. It was better to reveal it only once he had a bit of skill.
"Tch, you probably haven't done anything and are just making excuses," Erina said, shrugging.
"Why do you always have to argue with me?" Renz rubbed his forehead. "Fine, I'm not afraid of you laughing. These past few days, I've been learning how to cook. But starting is incredibly difficult. I just can't understand how those renowned chefs make dishes both beautiful and delicious."
Learning to cook? Erina suddenly froze.
"Aren't you a professional gamer? Why are you suddenly learning to cook?" she asked curiously.
"Why so many questions? Aren't you annoying?" Renz rolled his eyes. "Just assume I'm foolishly dreaming, and I have a desire to satisfy the God's Tongue."
"Go ahead and laugh."
"Anyway, it's not like I haven't been laughed at before."
The curse of the God's Tongue was truly worrying. Aside from Erina, his own children also faced potential risks. Although it was a bit late to start learning now, he couldn't just do nothing.
"Hey, for a mere commoner to want to satisfy my God's Tongue, your actions are truly overestimating yourself," Erina teased.
But then she turned and saw Renz's unwavering expression. This guy… he was serious.
"My first year as a pro gamer, I told my teammates I wanted to win the world championship. They laughed at me then too. They even thought I couldn't secure a starting position. But in the end, I proved my worth," Renz said calmly. "Life is a test made up of countless challenges."
"In doing anything, confidence is the most important thing."
"Challenging the God's Tongue is difficult, but we can't just surrender upon meeting it, can we?"
"And you're my future wife. At least give me some encouragement, would it kill you?"
Renz's words hung in the air for a moment. Erina paused, seemingly lost in thought. Rarely did she smile, but now she did.
"Then I'll look forward to your cooking. I didn't expect you, of all people, to actually move me a little."
"Well, Renz, good luck!"
Satisfying the God's Tongue as a dream? Erina had never heard of such a thing in the culinary world, and she wasn't sure how to evaluate it. Despite that, she didn't have much faith in Renz's endeavor. A good chef was honed from childhood. Knife skills and meticulous execution were accumulated through experience. There were many areas where she couldn't help him—but giving some encouragement was certainly not out of the question.
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter