Cease the Suffering - Etrian Odyssey II (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 34

AN: Big thanks to Irish_Moon_Dreamer and SakuraiYoake for commenting! I really appreciate it! <3

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Chapter 34:

“He what?!” Macerio’s voice seemed to echo throughout the Inn. “You mean he actually, swear to god, help deliver a baby in the Labyrinth?!”

Lynus winced and tried to ensure that he didn’t draw any attention to himself as he silently made his way over to the reception counter, paying the rent for his and Axel’s room.

It was obvious who Macerio was talking about. After they had unexpectedly reunited in the Labyrinth, the two parties returned to the Inn and quickly gathered into the tearoom. They wished to discuss what they had encountered in the Labyrinth.

However, Macerio and the others were more interested in hearing the whole story behind the ‘delivering a baby’ line Axel said.

They probably weren’t expecting Lynus to have actually deliver a baby in a literally sense. It was definitely something that didn’t happen every day. And something that wouldn’t happen again, hopefully.

“It’s the truth!”

Lynus glanced over his shoulder to see Lirit with a broad grin on his lips as he continued to explain to the enthralled explorers looking at him in complete disbelief. “We heard this scream, so we followed. There was this other guild. Totally freaking out. And Lynus was like, whipping off his coat and stating that he’s going to deliver this baby. He was completely amazing!”

Lynus rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather embarrassed. He was silently glad, though, that they hadn’t noticed him yet, so he wasn’t the centre of attention. They were still talking about his so-called bravery at the hospital only a few days ago. He was sure that the gossipmongers around town were having a field day with this tale.

“What kind of idiot would go into the Labyrinth while pregnant?” Macerio asked as he sat back into his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “That would be the worst place to have a baby.”

“She said she didn’t know,” Lirit replied before shrugging. “Anyway, should make an interesting story to tell.”

“Wouldn’t have delivering a baby in the Labyrinth been potentially life-threatening?” Jhon was the one to ask. He wasn’t disputing Lirit’s tale, but he still looked rather incredulous.

“You’ve seen Lynus in full maternal mode, haven’t you?” Lirit said in a slightly humorous tone. “I doubt even the monsters would have messed with him.”

“Oh, I believe that!” Macerio said as he laughed rather loudly.

Lynus subconsciously pouted…What did he mean by that?

“I’m so glad I wasn’t there,” Macerio went on to comment. “Babies are just…eww and stuff.”

“You were a baby once,” Jhon pointed out.

And Tobyn snorted. “That does nothing to correct his statement.”

“Hey!”

Lynus hid a smile of his own at the friendly ribbing before hiding the coins for rent behind the counter with a note. He then silently darted upstairs, hoping that no one would see him as he slipped into his room. He breathed a small sigh of relief as the door closed behind him and he leaned against it.

Sitting in front of the table where his armour was laid out and in the process of being readjusted, Axel turned to look at Lynus, an eyebrow raised in a questioning manner. “What’s wrong?” he asked.