82: Sacrificing for Science, Primal Instincts

"This is a common method for extending lifespan. Martial artists can achieve this through training, lowering their breathing rate and heart rate, putting their bodies into a dormant state."

"Once awakened from dormancy, the body can explosively unleash twice the usual strength in a short period."

"That's why Ryouko usually seems non-threatening, but the moment she enters battle mode, she becomes a completely different person."

"Laura's situation is that her cells divide at a much faster rate than normal and seem to have no limit. However, the price is that she requires a vast amount of energy to sustain it."

"As for Leonora, the size and weight of her body's cells far exceed normal human limits."

"It's as if they've been magnified."

"Larger and denser cells allow for a significantly prolonged lifespan."

"Her cells deteriorate and die at a much slower rate than normal."

"This is the true reason why Leonora's body weight is unusual and why she ages so slowly."

"The three cases above all result from genetic mutations."

"And all of them, to some extent, extend biological lifespan."

"Now tell me—what exactly happened to you? This situation can't possibly occur naturally."

"Just like Laura was exposed to an unknown energy radiation."

"The enlargement of your cells must also have been caused by some external force."

Sayaka grasped Leonora's hand tightly, her eyes brimming with curiosity.

"I… I don't know!"

"No matter how much you push me, I can't remember things from my childhood!"

Leonora, now completely traumatized by this mad scientist of a doctor, turned and clung to Akira in fear.

"You empty-headed idiot. This kind of anomaly isn't something trivial—I'm not asking you to recall your childhood meals."

"Sayaka-nee, you're asking the wrong way."

"You should ask like this—"

"Leonora-nee, did you eat anything unusual as a child?"

"Or did you visit any places that left a deep impression on you?"

"Or experience any life-threatening incidents?"

Akira rephrased the question.

"Let me think…"

Leonora counted her fingers as she ran a process of elimination.

"First, we can rule out life-threatening incidents. I've always been perfectly healthy."

"I rarely even got sick, let alone faced any danger."

"Hehe! My parents used to say I was a Valkyrie protected by Odin."

Alice couldn't help rolling her eyes. To her, this mother of hers, who had never been able to fight, calling herself a Valkyrie was just laughable.

"Mom, if you're a Valkyrie, then I must be a goddess."

"You don't even dare to kill a fish. I've never once seen you prepare fish for a meal."

"Alice, do you think your mom is an airhead and easy to bully?"

Suddenly, Leonora stood up aggressively and approached Alice.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"I need to prove myself."

Before Alice could react, she found herself flung into the air by her lunatic mother.

"Believe me now?"

"I can toss you with just one hand!"

Leonora stood with her hands on her hips, looking immensely proud of herself.

Everyone watching froze.

Why were there so many crazy people around them?!

"Akira, help! I'm going to fall!"

Alice screamed and flailed wildly in midair.

With a light push off his right foot, Akira leaped up, catching Alice effortlessly before she hit the ground.

"Leonora-nee, you really didn't need to prove yourself."

"Alice is practically scared out of her mind."

"I'm not scared out of my mind!"

This annoying childhood friend—couldn't he at least leave her a little dignity?

"Who told Alice not to believe me?"

"Mom!"

Alice's crimson eyes burned with fury. This unreliable, shameless mother of hers was too much.

Clearly, this was revenge for letting Garuda tie her up earlier.

"Even without Akira, I still would've caught you, Alice."

"You have to trust your mom!"

Leonora batted her eyes playfully.

"Mom, you big liar. You're crazy strong, yet you've always pretended to be weak."

"You always made me cook for you since I was little."

"That's because your grandparents taught me to be a proper lady—never to reveal my monstrous strength."

"If you're upset, go blame them."

Leonora stuck out her tongue as she explained.

"Really?"

"I swear, why would I lie about that?"

"Leonora, no wonder you could spend three whole nights in bed with Akira."

"In terms of physical attributes, you're definitely the strongest among us."

Sayaka gave Leonora a thumbs up. This kind of talent was truly incredible. She wanted it too!

"Pfft!"

The once-proud Leonora instantly covered her face, turning bright red in embarrassment.

"Even Laura and Ryouko can't compare to you."

"By the way, did you two use protection?"

"Of course not! I really don't like having a barrier between us."

"Can you two shut up already?"

"Can we please get back to the topic at hand?"

"Ladies, can we stop throwing away our dignity?"

Akira was at a loss for words at Sayaka and Leonora's shameless conversation.

"Leonora-nee, try to recall if you've ever been to any place that left a strong impression on you."

"Places that left an impression? Oh, there are plenty!"

"I've been to the Arctic several times. Greenland, Iceland, and other similar places."

"I go to the Arctic at least once every year."

"Mom, what were you doing in the Arctic?"

"Hunting! Mostly whaling."

"It's a Viking tradition."

"My parents said we inherited the bloodline of Viking heroes."

"This white hair and crimson eyes are proof of that."

Leonora proudly ran her fingers through her white hair.

"They also said we're distant relatives of the Danish royal family."

"I feel like Grandpa and Grandma were just making stuff up."

"And why didn't you ever take me hunting?"

"You're not a Viking. Why would I take you?"

"Mom, I'm seriously doubting whether I'm even your biological daughter."

"Viking identity is more about cultural traditions."

"You were raised in Japan, influenced by Japanese culture. So you're not a Viking."

"Besides, bringing you to the Arctic would just turn you into an ice cube."

Leonora explained seriously.

Alice was speechless.

Because it was true. Her Japanese was far better than her Danish.

"I remember now! I once found a blood-red whale pearl inside a whale."

"My elders said it was a divine blessing from Odin and told me to keep it with me."

"Later, I accidentally swallowed it."

"Wait, do whales even produce pearls?"

"Idiot, of course not."

"Whales don't have any organs capable of producing pearls."

"So the mystery is solved."

"That pearl might have been a foreign object the whale swallowed or some kind of mutation."

"It's similar to what happened with Ryouko's grandfather. You can't use it as a universal case."

"Finding another creature like it would be nearly impossible."

Sayaka sighed in disappointment.

"Sayaka-nee, do you think I inherited my mom's abilities?"

Alice tugged at Sayaka's sleeve, eyes filled with hope.

She really wanted to inherit her mother's gift of eternal youth!

"Do you even need to ask? It's obvious that you didn't."

"Your physique and strength are completely normal."

"Actually, you're below average."

"You only inherited her appearance, not her abilities."

"Ryouko was just lucky."

Alice's face fell, her crimson eyes dimming in disappointment.

"But I can't say for sure how fast you'll age. You're still young, after all."

Sayaka's words rekindled Alice's hope.

There was still a chance!

"No need to rush. If Leonora gets pregnant, we might be able to unlock the secrets of her genetics."

"Sayaka-nee, are you serious?!"

Alice clutched her head, looking completely overwhelmed.

"Of course, I'm serious."

"Without concrete data, even a genius like me can't solve unsolved mysteries out of thin air."

"If Akira and Leonora's child inherits her abilities, we might be able to decode the secret."

"Alice, doesn't that make you feel better?"

"Not at all!"

"Sayaka-nee, I'm even more frustrated now!"

"From a higher perspective, they're making sacrifices for science."

"Alice, as both Leonora's daughter and Akira's childhood friend, you should support them."

Everyone: "..."

What kind of twisted reasoning was that?!

Even a saint wouldn't be able to accept this logic!

Sayaka's mind was terrifying.

"This means humanity has taken another step toward extending biological lifespan."

"Ryouko, you should hurry up too!"

"Once you and Akira have a child, I'll have even more data to work with."

Ryouko twitched slightly. She had absolutely no intention of having a child for that reason.

"And Chisato, your genes are top-tier too. You can't waste them. Got it?"

Pinned by Sayaka, Chisato could only nod rapidly, completely intimidated.

She was utterly terrified of this version of Sayaka.

"This version of Sayaka-nee is terrifying."

"But the most important factor here is Leonora. You carry the greatest responsibility."

"Your body represents the most superior genetic mutation for lifespan extension we've ever seen."

"Laura and Ryouko are different. Laura leans toward rapid recovery, and Ryouko toward combat potential."

"Both can extend lifespan, but neither is as optimal as yours."

"Oh! I see. I'll work extra hard!"

Under Sayaka's overwhelming presence, Leonora hurriedly raised her hand in agreement.

"It's not just you who needs to work hard. It's Akira who has to step up."

"Sayaka-nee, where is your dignity?!"

"I'm asking you to have children with women, not to give birth yourself."

"If you can't even do that, are you really a man?"

Sayaka scoffed, taunting him mercilessly.

"Pfft!"

"If one child isn't enough, just have several."

"Eventually, we'll find one who inherits your combined superior genes."

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Now everyone completely understood why Sayaka was called a mad scientist.

She was truly terrifying.

"I am not a breeding machine!"

Leonora was completely dumbfounded. Having multiple children? How was she supposed to do that?

Spending all day in bed would be boring as hell!

"Someone who spent three whole days and nights in bed with Akira doesn't really have the right to say that, do they?"

"Akira, do you really think your instant attraction to Leonora was just because of her looks fitting your preferences?"

"Alice and Leonora look nearly identical. Why don't you feel the same way about Alice?"

"To me, Leonora-nee and Alice are very different, okay?"

"I think the only similarities they have are their hair and eye color. Everything else is totally different."

"See? That's the key point."

"Your eyes can deceive you. What you see isn't always the truth."

"Look at Garuda's case—her species has evolved over the past 1,300 years to have an innate ability to identify powerful mates."

"Just like in nature, where animals all seem the same to us, but the leader of the pack always chooses the strongest and healthiest mate."

"It's a primal instinct buried deep in the genes—a natural selection for ensuring survival."

"Humans have long lost this ability through evolution."

"Personal preferences change over time, but physical instincts don't."

"Leonora's body is the prime mother figure. Your instincts crave her—to merge with her."

"Otherwise, a normal person wouldn't last three whole days and nights. Hell, most can't even go three hours without being exhausted."

"We had breaks in between!"

Leonora immediately protested. She didn't want to be painted as some kind of insatiable freak!

"Did you ever leave the bed except for meals?"

"I bet you just ordered takeout, didn't you?"

Leonora: ...…

Ugh! So annoying! She was caught red-handed again.

"Leonora, are you trying to kill my son?"

"Yumei, but it just felt so good!"

"I've never experienced this kind of pleasure before."

"Just once, and I guarantee you'll be addicted."

"If you don't believe me, you should try it yourself sometime."

Leonora made this statement with absolute confidence.

Suou Yumei: ...…

How was she supposed to "try it herself"?!

"Akira, are you some kind of reincarnated incubus?"

Seeing Leonora's dazed, love-drunk expression, the childhood friends couldn't help but tease him.

"Or is your natural talent not just being a playboy but having a special charm that works only on women?"

"Like those blond guys in Eri's sketchbooks who magically turn all girls into desperate fangirls."

"Can you guys stop with the wild theories?"

Akira sighed, but deep down, he started feeling a little nervous.

Because… he had wished for certain things as a kid.

Like being able to grow stronger through training, reinforcing his stamina, and—uh—having an enhanced charm effect on women.

Had the "world" actually granted all those wishes?

Gulp.

"Mom, you just swallowed."

"You totally just swallowed your saliva, didn't you?"

Alice's ears twitched as she suddenly grabbed her mother's shoulders, shaking her violently.

"You're a disgrace of a mother!"

"I didn't! Alice, you're hearing things!"

Kyujou Asuka instantly denied it.

"No way! I definitely heard it."

"Alice, let your mom go."

"I have a better idea."

Martha smiled sweetly as she made a suggestion.

"Why don't we just ask Sayaka-nee for some medicine to suppress desire?"

"I'm sure making something like that would be a piece of cake for her."

"Of course! That's nothing for a genius like me."