When Yggdrasil was led to the guardroom door by the dwarf guard named Tak, Tak raised his hand and knocked.

  "Vice-Captain, are you in?"

  A thick, deep response came from within: "Enter."

  The door swung open, and Tak signaled him to step inside before reporting to the dwarf within. "This one says it's his first time in Kagurem and he has no identification. I thought I’d bring him in for you to have a look."

  The owner of that voice sat behind a large desk. He was clad in heavy leather armor, with a black beard that reached down to his chest, meticulously braided without a single hair out of place. As he turned his head, his belly swayed with the movement—it was rounded and firm like a loaf of ripened bread, propped steadily beneath his armor as if it were the most stable thing in the guardroom.

  "Is this... your first time here?" His tone was neither rushed nor slow, carrying the characteristic steadiness of a dwarf infused with a touch of friendliness.

  Yggdrasil sat down and nodded. "Yes, it’s my first time in... Kagurem."

  The dwarf sitting opposite him was broader and sturdier than the other guards; his arms looked as though they were forged from tempered steel, and his chest was as thick as a city wall. His rounded belly, in his seated position, resembled half a small hill, rising and falling slightly. Yggdrasil found it impossible to look away. His heart began to race for no reason, and his throat felt dry—this physique was exactly the ideal he had seen in his dreams.

  "I am Balin, the Vice-Captain of the Guard here." The other man smiled, his voice as deep as subterranean lava whispering. "From your attire, you don't look local. Do you have an Adventurer ID card?"

  "Uh... no," Yggdrasil answered honestly. "I’ve just arrived. I haven't processed anything yet."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Balin nodded, appearing unsurprised. "Then we follow the procedure. I’ll register your basic information, and then you can head to the Guild to apply for an ID. Don’t worry, we aren't too harsh on newcomers here."

  As he spoke, he pulled a clipboard toward the edge of the desk and leaned in. As he bent forward to write, his bulging belly pressed—neatly and without hesitation—against Yggdrasil’s arm, bringing with it a surprising sense of warmth and weight.

  A jolt ran through Yggdrasil’s entire body; his heart leaped so violently he nearly forgot how to breathe.

  "Name, place of origin, age... and do you have any weapons or contraband on you?" Balin asked, writing as he spoke.

  "Uh... My name is Yggdrasil. I have no dangerous items... truly, none." He struggled to suppress the urge to stare at Balin’s belly or arms, but his eyes uncontrollably drifted that way several times.

  Balin glanced at him, seemingly seeing everything but choosing not to call it out, merely letting out a soft, amused huff of laughter.

  "Alright, registration is complete. Per the custom, that will be three silver coins for the entry tax."

  Yggdrasil hurriedly fumbled for the silver. His fingers accidentally brushed against Balin’s thick, broad palm. In that instant, he felt a numbing sensation as if he had been struck by lightning—the warmth and the calloused texture of that palm made him almost want to never let go.

  After collecting the silver, Balin looked up at him, his tone turning casual. "I assume you don’t know where the Guild is?"

  "To be honest... I really don't," Yggdrasil admitted with a sheepish laugh.

  "Then I’ll walk you there. My shift just ended anyway." As Balin stood up, he reached out and patted his own protruding belly. The belly swayed with the action, almost as if it were waving hello to Yggdrasil.

  "You’re willing...?" Yggdrasil asked instinctively, his voice hiding a sliver of surprise and irrepressible joy.

  "Hey, kid, you seem interesting. If I didn't take you for a stroll, I’d feel like I was doing this belly a disservice," Balin laughed, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness.

  They walked out of the guardroom together, one after the other. The sunlight was perfect, casting golden glints upon the stone-paved road. Balin’s stride was steady, his stout frame as solid as a mountain, with every step accompanied by a slight, rhythmic sway of his belly.

  Yggdrasil followed closely behind, his gaze fixed on that broad back and the sway of every step. His heart could barely keep pace with his feet.

  This... must be the arrangement of fate, he thought to himself, a smile unconsciously spreading across his lips.