After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 209

Chapter 209: Still a Demon King Level?

Ayaka’s recovery from her quick and smooth delivery was astonishingly fast, thanks to my magic and her own physical resilience. By the very next day, she was already back at work as the acting head of her clan. Honestly, the strength of women in this world is both amazing and terrifying.

A week later, today was the day for the baptism ceremony of the third child born between me and Ayaka. However, the ceremony wouldn’t be held at the Supreme God Church in Stuttgart’s city center. Instead, it would take place at the worship hall of the Hinokagutsuchi Shrine, where Ayaka and I had exchanged our vows.

Why not the church? The reason is simple—if certain facts came to light, the consequences could be catastrophic.

So far, my children had inherited a magical rank one class above their mothers’—B-rank mothers gave birth to A-rank children, and A-rank mothers produced S-rank children. Moreover, the mothers themselves gained magical power during pregnancy, eventually matching their child’s class. That’s the so-called cheat effect I seem to possess.

Ayaka started as an A-rank dark magic user. Carrying our first daughter, Kaori, boosted her to S-rank, and her second pregnancy with Honoka pushed her to SS-rank. Now, after her third pregnancy, her magic power had grown even further, allowing her to wield the overwhelming ability known as “Intimidation,” a power often associated with Demon Lords. So far, I’m the only one who has been able to withstand Ayaka’s “Intimidation” without faltering.

If this third child was officially baptized, there was a real possibility they could be revealed as the legendary SSS-rank—something that hadn’t existed on this continent since the ancient days of heroes. If word got out, it could trigger dangerous reactions.

The priests of the church were loyal not to us, their local rulers, or even to the queen but to the Pope residing far to the east. Even if Cardinal Elise, my grandmother, tried to intervene, there was a high chance the information would reach the central church and eventually make its way to the nobility in Berzenbrück.

A child born with dark magic, which is highly effective for infiltration, theft, assassination, and support in combat, would be seen as either a priceless weapon by the ambitious or a dangerous threat to be eliminated in infancy by those fearing for their safety. To avoid attracting such individuals to the Dark Clan’s village, we had to hold the baptism away from the church.

Thus, a basin filled with sacred water was placed on the wooden floor of the shrine’s worship hall. A young woman dressed in priestly robes gently took the baby in her arms. Looking at the child with soft black hair and dark eyes—just like Ayaka—the female priest narrowed her eyes and gazed at the baby warmly.

“She doesn’t look like him, but… I can feel it. This child is definitely Lutz’s other half.”

On closer inspection, the priest’s loose robes bulged slightly around her belly. The woman, with her flowing strawberry-blonde hair and gray eyes, turned her gaze toward me.

“I don’t even need to use the sacred water. I can feel immense magical power already. Are you ready for this?”

“Of course. Having someone I care about deeply handle this important ceremony for my child makes me very happy.”

“I’m happy to hear that too!”

Beaming at my words was none other than my childhood friend.

Well, there were reasons for this arrangement. Ultimately, among the church members I could trust, there were only two—Grandmother Elise, the Cardinal, and Tseli. Calling Grandmother from the royal capital wasn’t an option, and Tseli, still a priestess, lacked the qualifications to perform baptisms.

Then, as I pondered the dilemma, Gretel had stood over me with a smug look on her face. Come to think of it, I’d completely forgotten that she had once bragged about obtaining her priestly qualifications before the age of ten as an S-rank light attribute magic user.

That’s how my childhood friend ended up snatching the role of baptizing my child. In high spirits, she recited the ceremonial words.

“O goddess who governs the eight attributes, reveal the power of this beautiful child and bless their future!”

Slowly, she submerged the baby into the sacred water, and a purple light began to radiate from the basin. The light grew brighter, until everyone in the worship hall, except me with my abnormal magic resistance, was blinded by its brilliance.

I stared at the purple glow, mesmerized. It wasn’t a sharp, piercing beam but a soft, rippling curtain of light, like an aurora. It was a sight that could captivate anyone for hours. But as Gretel lifted the baby from the sacred water, the light gradually faded.

“Lady Margrete, that light just now… it’s as expected, isn’t it?”

“Without a doubt. This is the SSS-rank, thought to be extinct since the ancient heroes. Which means, Ayaka, you yourself must now be an SSS-ranked dark user—a Demon Lord in all but name.”

“Yes, I am aware of the terrible power I now possess. But I will use this strength only for Lord Lutz and the royal family. And if their interests ever conflict, I will serve Lord Lutz without hesitation. Lady Margrete, as a Hero of Light, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed. I’m relieved I won’t have to fight Demon Lord Ayaka myself.”

Listening to the terrifying yet oddly smiling exchange between my second and third wives, I felt a cold sweat run down my back.