ETERNAL INSECT SYSTEM

004 - THE FOSTER PARENTS

The woman with striking looks and long blonde hair nodded as her husband explained.

Her bright blue eyes seemed to understand that something was amiss from her husband's story about the little baby in the basket.

"Now I see. So, I want to ask one thing! Have you rescued someone else?" With a proportional body and elegant posture, she sought more clarity from her husband.

However, her inquiry halted when she noticed something alarming. "Why is this basket stained with so much blood? Have the royal forces attacked you, my Husband?" Hilda asked, a hint of panic evident in her voice.

"Calm down, let's go inside first. I'll explain everything to you. But it has nothing to do with the Kingdom," Gunnar responded, removing his shoes as he entered the house.

He placed the baby basket on the dining room table. Meanwhile, Hilda quickly shut the door and took a seat not far from the table. She intently observed the little baby, who seemed so melancholic.

"I found this baby descending from the sky in this condition," Gunnar resumed his tale. "And I'm certain this baby isn't related to me in any way."

"Do you always put yourself in danger? You're just too kind. Our peace is always disrupted by the good deeds you undertake–" Hilda's words were abruptly cut off.

"No, it's more than just helping a mere human!" Gunnar asserted firmly.

"I'll fetch some magic books from the back to check the symbols on the baby. Don't touch the baby before I return! Remember, don't do anything!"

After saying this, Gunnar left for his collection of magic books, intending to discern the signs the baby might carry.

He pondered why such an infant could possess such immense power shrouding it, especially given the magical protection evident earlier.

Meanwhile, the baby suddenly cried out loudly, making Hilda slightly panic. However, recalling Gunnar's prior warning, she hesitated, but the baby's cries persisted.

Hilda's maternal instincts surged upon seeing the tiny, distressed baby. Without thinking, she attempted to lift the baby gently.

"Stop! Don't touch the baby, my wife! A strong barrier will strike you!" Gunnar shouted hurriedly after retrieving his ancient magic books from the back cabinet.

"Why can't I touch him?" Hilda inquired curiously.

"The baby is shielded by an incredibly potent mystical force. Your hands will get hurt if you try! If you don't believe me, use your special magical sight," Gunnar explained, placing his books on the table.

Hilda activated the magic ring in her special eyes, ensuring Gunnar's claims were valid, for her maternal instincts were hard to suppress when she gazed at the little baby.

After further inspection, Hilda conceded. "You're right, my Husband. Even my magical vision can't penetrate this strong barrier," she stated.

"This isn't an ordinary baby. Whoever placed this high-level protection must be extremely powerful," she added, experiencing the rebound of her power when she tried peering deep into the basket.

"That's why I told you not to touch him!" Gunnar said softly, flipping through the pages of the magic books he brought.

He began narrating how he found the baby, detailing every aspect without withholding any information, especially considering Hilda's jealous and meticulous nature.

If it wasn't about the kingdom or aiding someone, Hilda might have assumed the baby belonged to another woman who had been with Gunnar or was perhaps his wife, now absent.

Therefore, Gunnar needed to provide a comprehensive explanation without any deceit. After all, Hilda could detect any falsehood through her magical eyes.

"So that's how it is? You didn’t rescue anyone else and it’s not about the Kingdom. The baby just descended from the sky? This is very odd!" Hilda remarked, pausing to piece the story together.

Both tried to theorize the baby's origins and true identity. None could conclude until Hilda remembered something.

"I might be wrong, but I'm suddenly reminded of a legend passed down in my family!" Hilda recollected.

"What does your family's legend say?" Gunnar asked with intrigue, focusing his attention on Hilda.

"Oh, never mind, I might be overthinking," Hilda responded, unwilling to dwell on her spontaneous thought.

She wasn’t entirely mistaken, as the baby's signs matched the legend. However, she deflected the topic due to her lingering doubts. "Have you discovered anything about this protection? The poor baby inside looks so hungry."

Gunnar sensed Hilda’s odd behavior. Yet, he recognized her unique abilities, unparalleled by anyone else.

If she wished to speak, she would have. If not, he knew he shouldn't pry, given her noble lineage.

"I haven't found anything. We need to figure out another way to feed this little one. I can't bear seeing him starve like this," a resigned Gunnar spoke, as he couldn’t find a way to break the basket's protection.

The baby's cries grew louder, and Hilda couldn't stand it any longer. She decided to touch the baby directly.

"What are you trying to do, my wife?" Gunnar asked, slightly panicked. "Even though you're a Valkyrie and a potent sorceress, you can't force yourself to touch him, you'll–"

Gunnar halted mid-sentence upon seeing Hilda successfully cradling the baby.

"H–how did you do that?" Gunnar murmured, lost for words.

Silently, Hilda fed the baby with milk from her bosom. Being a Valkyrie and a sorceress, she had the capability to materialize the unusual, including breast milk.

Typically, only postpartum women could produce milk up to a certain time. But this didn't apply to the extraordinary Hilda.

"You just got burnt from the protective backlash earlier. Now, you're easily holding the baby," Gunnar expressed, baffled.

"It seems the baby knows who has pure intentions. The protection weakens for those truly wishing to aid him," Hilda explained as she continued nursing.

"It's not that simple, my wife!" Gunnar approached, inspecting the baby up close. He noticed an unusual Mana Magic surrounding the baby, sensing something off, as it wasn’t Mana of a typical human but of a deity.

"C–could he possibly be from…"