Two hours after Sebas left, my worst fear became reality.
"Young master, the water broke!" Rita's shout echoed from Mylene's room.
"Understood!" I called back, keeping my voice as steady as possible despite the panic surging inside me.
I immediately issued orders. "Everyone, into position! Helpers, to the room. Men, bring the hot water and clean cloths to the door!"
I walked toward Mylene's room, trying to appear composed to avoid alarming anyone. But inside, my mind raced with dread.
When I entered the room, Mylene was drenched in sweat, clutching her belly. Her eyes locked onto me, filled with fear.
"Alexio, the baby!" she gasped, her voice trembling.
"Everything's fine! It's been three hours since Sebas left for the city. Doctor Katia will be here soon. You're not alone—we'll get through this!"
The helpers, dressed in white from head to toe, began setting up the equipment. Time was slipping through my fingers, and we needed to delay the birth as long as possible. But in this world, there are no medications to slow labor. My only option was to keep Mylene as calm as I could. I didn't know the risks of delaying the birth, but it was better than delivering a breech baby without a professional present.
During the past few weeks, I had spoken with Doctor Katia about the delivery procedure and what to watch for. But nothing could have prepared me for this. And there was one pressing problem I couldn't ignore—how much blood loss Mylene might suffer.
"Take deep breaths, Mother. In and out, slowly... Just focus on your breathing." I held Mylene's hands, speaking gently to her, though my heart pounded violently in my chest.
She whimpered, squeezing my hands tightly. "Alexio! I don't know if I can hold it any longer!"
The helpers gathered around me, their eyes filled with concern. Rita approached, her expression tense.
"Young master, we need to begin the procedure," one of the helpers whispered.
Damn it! Damn it, damn it! This rotten world! If only I had figured out the timing issue sooner! But there was no time to dwell on what-ifs. I needed to act.
I hurried over to a bucket of hot water, washing my hands as thoroughly as possible. Then I donned the same white garments as the others. From the outside, the sight of a nearly four-year-old child among a group of adults preparing for a birth might have looked comical. But there was nothing funny about this.
I turned to one of the helpers, my expression grim. "You said you've delivered a baby before?"
"Yes, young master. But the baby wasn't inverted."
"It's still the best we have. You'll lead the procedure. Give the commands, and everyone else will follow your lead."
The helper nodded, though her face betrayed her nerves.
"I'll focus entirely on healing magic to control the bleeding," I continued, hoping to inject some confidence into the group.
"Healing magic?" one of the helpers blurted, her surprise evident.
"Yes." I didn't have time for their shock. "Get ready—we're starting."
I positioned myself near the head of the bed, mentally preparing myself for what was about to happen. The helper began adjusting Mylene's clothes, getting her ready for delivery.
Mylene's trembling voice broke through the tension. "Alexio... the baby... It's only seven months old! What's going to happen?"
I reached for her hand again, squeezing it gently. "It's okay. We'll do everything we can to make sure she's fine. Premature births are more common than you think!"
That was, of course, a lie.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
After a few hours of the procedure, labor begins. We couldn't hold it for long. Mylene begins to scream in pain while I explain to the assistant in charge the instructions that Doctor Katia had given me. I think about relieving Mylene's pain, but that would be a mistake—she needs to be able to feel and push the baby. I need to focus only on possible bleeding.
"Young master!"
Then it happens. Rita screams my name, and when I look at Mylene's waist, a large amount of blood can be seen.
"There shouldn't be that much blood coming out!" the assistant says desperately.
It is probably a hemorrhage—this must be the cause of Mylene's death. I move closer to the area, place my hands on Mylene's skin, and pour all my concentration into my magic.
"Oh, the natural world, allow me to carry your essence and, if it is your will, pour it into one of your creations."
A green light begins to glow in the room, and the bleeding gradually decreases. I try to keep my focus entirely on the magic and avoid looking at the blood, but it's really difficult.
I've always been terrified of blood. It's probably from some trauma in my first life that I no longer remember. Back in the different orphanages I lived in, blood was a constant—whether it came from the abuse I endured or from what I witnessed happening to others. Blood was always there, and even now, it grips me with paralyzing fear.
My hands start to shake. My lips are dry and cracked. But I can't stop now.
I look at Mylene—the woman who gave me genuine affection for the first time in both of my lives. I can't let her die. I push all my focus and strength into the spell, trying to tune out everything else around me.
I have no idea if minutes or hours have passed. Around me, I hear voices overlapping in parallel conversations, but I don't have the time or energy to pay attention to them. I just keep pushing mana into my magic, as much as my body will allow.
From what little I can register, Doctor Katia has arrived. She's taken control of the situation and begun to carry out the procedure. Congratulations, Sebas—you made it in time.
Katia is probably talking to me, but I can't hear her clearly. My arms are covered in so much blood that it feels like my head might explode. The more blood I see, the more mana I use, pushing myself to the limit.
Absolute fear claws at me, tearing through my mind, asking the scariest questions I've ever faced.
How much blood can she lose?
Is it already too late?
Mylene has always been so fragile, and she's had anemia her whole life—won't this amount of blood be fatal?
I shove these terrifying thoughts to the back of my mind and throw everything I have into the spell.
Mylene's screams are the only thing tethering me to sanity. As long as she's screaming, I know she's still alive. My vision is already starting to blur, but I can't stop.
At some point, Katia stops talking to me and focuses entirely on the labor.
How long has it been? Hours? Why isn't the bleeding stopping?
Stop, damn it! Someone... do something, please! I can't lose her!
Amid all my despair and the chaos swirling in my mind, a sound cuts through it all. It pulls me out of my trance, sharp and clear.
The room falls completely silent. Even Mylene's screams have stopped.
Then—
A baby's cry echoes through the room.
That tiny, fragile wail shatters the suffocating stillness.
Bit by bit, my vision clears. My body is trembling, and my head spins from exhaustion, but I hold on, pulled back to reality by the sound.
Little by little, my vision returns, and the first thing I see is Mylene—pale, exhausted—hugging her newborn daughter. Clarisse had been born.
"See, Clarisse? He's your older brother! It's thanks to him that I was able to survive long enough to hold you in my arms," Mylene whispers, her voice weak, barely audible over the baby's relentless cries.
I can still feel the blood running down my hands. It's not over yet—she's still hanging on by a thread.
"She's beautiful, isn't she, Alexio?"
"Yes… she is."
"You'll take care of her, won't you?"
"Yes. I will."
"Excellent... I knew I could count on you. You'll be the best big brother there ever was."
Despite her calm words, I can see the truth—Mylene has lost too much blood. Even Katia can't find the source of the hemorrhage. It's only because of my magic that she survived long enough to hold her daughter. Without it, Clarisse would've been pulled from the body of her already-dead mother.
"I wonder... what kind of person she'll become? Maybe a politician? Or will she live an ordinary life? What kind of food do you think she'll like?"
"..."
"How will her first day at school be? What will her first word be? And how cute will she look in her little uniform?"
"..."
"Do you think she'll have friends?"
"If she inherits your personality, she'll definitely have a lot of them."
"That's wonderful..."
I failed, didn't I? Even with all my efforts, I couldn't do enough. I really am worthless—in this world and the last.
"Hmm?"
I pour every ounce of mana I have left into the spell. Just a little more. I just want to give her a little more time.
"Your older brother is doing everything he can to give me more time with you, Clarisse. Isn't he amazing?"
Everyone in the room falls silent, only the sound of Clarisse's crying fills the space.
"I'm so happy... even though my body couldn't carry you the full nine months, I still managed to bring you into this world healthy. Listen to how strong your cry is—such a wonderful sound."
Mylene's voice grows weaker and weaker, fading with every word. My own strength is slipping away too, but I can't stop. Katia keeps searching for ways to save her, but we all know it's too late.
"Alexio..."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for letting me be your mother."
What is she saying? It's me who should be thanking her. In these four short years, she gave me the only love I ever had. She loved a child that wasn't hers as if he was her own. She's incredible. It's not her—it's this world that's broken. Even after dying and being given another chance, I ended up in a place just as rotten.
"I'm sorry, Clarisse. I won't have any more time with you. But your brother will take care of you in my place."
This world is rotten... and in the end, so am I. All along, I fought to keep Mylene alive for myself—because I couldn't bear to lose her as a mother. How selfish can I be? I never once thought about the years Clarisse would lose without this amazing woman. Even with all the knowledge and memories of an adult, I prioritized my own need for love over hers.
What a disgusting, pitiful man I am. Just another byproduct of a broken childhood. And I was about to throw Clarisse into the same situation.
Hey... spirits, gods—whatever's out there. I don't care what you are. We pray to something when we cast spells, right? So you must exist. Are you really satisfied with how this story ends? Do you agree with the cruel whims of the game's creator? Is this what you wanted?
It's all a trade, isn't it? Mana for magic. Life for life.
So take everything from me. These four years were enough; Mylene already gave me more than I ever deserved. I'd trade every remaining second of my life if it means she can stay with her daughter.
"Alexio?"
The light from my spell flares, almost blinding everyone in the room. I feel everything slipping away—my strength, my life—but it's okay. As long as Mylene survives, it's okay. For the first time, my existence will have meant something.
"Survive, Mylene! Survive and spend the rest of your life with your daughter!"
I pour everything I have into the spell. Just a little longer—please! Just let me be enough, this one time.
Just as I'm about to lose consciousness, I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Alexio! That's enough!" Katia's voice is urgent, but I ignore it.
I can't stop. Not yet!
"Alexio."
"Hmm?"
I stop instantly—Mylene's hand is resting over mine. I look at her. She's still holding Clarisse in her other arm, smiling at me despite how pale she is. But there's warmth returning to her body, little by little.
"The bleeding... it's stopped," Katia says softly, still gripping my shoulder. Her words take a moment to register in my exhausted mind.
Stopped?
"It's okay, Alexio. You did it." Katia's voice is gentle. "You stopped the bleeding, and everything is under control now. Don't push yourself any further, or you'll lose your life."
I stare at Mylene, still hugging her daughter.
I did it... didn't I? For once, I was good enough.
The room fills with quiet sobs. Everyone is crying, hugging each other, overwhelmed by relief.
I look back at Mylene, who holds her daughter close, her face soft with gratitude.
I... I won. I beat this unfair, broken world. I gave her a happy ending—the only mother I ever had.
Oh? My face feels hot...
Why is everyone staring at me? Even Clarisse has stopped crying.
Oh... I'm crying, aren't I?
It seems there really is a first time for everything.
I let the tears flow freely. For the first time in both my lives, I cry my lungs out, overwhelmed by everything I had carried until this moment.