Chapter 60: Male School Heartthrob x Military Academy Student (21): "You Didn’t Bring Me When You Registered Your Marriage Last Time. Papa and Father Are Bad."

【Registering a Female Lord required greater solemnity, so Hill chose to do it in person.

The date was set for this weekend.

He still had classes tomorrow.

Iso wished he could have his Lord mark him tonight.

But Hill was particularly firm about this.

"No, we aren't married yet. If we do that, you'll go bankrupt!"

Hill blocked the Female Zerg outside the door.

That... really was a problem.

Iso suddenly felt poor.

He had earned quite a lot of star coins selling the weapons and equipment he made himself. By student standards, he wasn't poor.

But he still had a hatchling to raise.

Even without a hatchling, his savings weren't enough to sleep with a high-ranking Male Zerg Lord this week.

When it was just himself, he hadn't minded. Being in the room next to the hatchling had already made him feel happy.

Now that he and Lord Hill had confirmed their relationship, he missed his Lord terribly.

He wanted to go further.

To rub against each other, be used, be marked.

Hill saw the longing in the Female Zerg's eyes.

He... wanted it too.

He wanted to cuddle with Iso all night.

After struggling for a long while, he finally loosened up slightly.

Like a thief, he looked around to make sure no one was watching before pulling Iso inside.

Lowering his voice, he said:

"We'll do it secretly. If nobody finds out, I'll let you have one taste. You don't need to give me star coins."

Iso found the way Lord Hill looked around, radiant and lively, incredibly cute.

Even what he said was adorable.

It made Iso so emotional that he wanted to give everything he had to him.

So he firmly told his Lord:

"No. This is something that must be paid."

Star coins were a Female Zerg's feelings for a Male Zerg.

Just like how dates with a Male Zerg required gifts.

If he couldn't even do this, then he was too unqualified as a Female Zerg.

Hill couldn't do anything about him.

He'd already decided to do it secretly.

They had an engagement, yet it felt like an affair.

And even then, the Female Zerg wouldn't accept it.

Hill could only retreat another step.

"Then one star coin is enough."

That was too little.

Star coins represented a Female Zerg's feelings.

How could his feelings only be worth one star coin?

Iso wanted to say more, but Lord Hill had already pulled him to the bedside.

The Male Zerg sat down on the edge of the bed and lightly pressed his shoulder, making him kneel.

Very quickly, Iso became unable to speak.

...】

#IsoOneStarCoin#

[How could Iso bring himself to say that?! (angry)]

[He actually used one star coin to trick a high-ranking Male Zerg Lord's pheromones?! I refuse to associate with such a Female Zerg! Nail him to the pillar of shame!]

[Expel Iso from the Female Zerg registry!]

[Case solved. Iso is a Garuda.]

The Female Zergs were twisted with jealousy.

Of course they knew Lord Hill was thinking of Iso.

But that only made them more jealous.

Male Zerg concern was such a rare thing.

Yet Iso had everything.

This definitely wasn't Lord Hill's problem.

Therefore, it had to be Iso's.

From this day onward, the name "Iso" would forever be bound to "One Star Coin" and engraved upon the pillar of shame.

Whenever anyone mentioned "one star coin" in the future, all bugs would look upon it with contempt.

The more contempt they expressed outwardly, the more envy they hid inside.

[One star coin to let you taste a Male Zerg. Would you do it? Answer me!]

[You all know I normally wouldn't, but facing a Male Zerg Lord... it's hard to say no. (shy)]

[You're wavering already? How are you any different from Iso?]

[Very different. He actually got to eat. We don't even dare dream this big.]

[Please trust us, Male Zerg Lords. We would never do what Iso did! Our feelings and star coins are sincere!]

[Right! I unilaterally cut ties with Iso!]

The Male Zergs: "..."

[Actually... it's not that serious. When feelings run deep, who still cares about such things?]

A Male Zerg spoke up.

[Exactly. The important thing is the feelings themselves, not the amount of star coins. If it were my Female Lord, even if he only brought me a flower, I'd be willing.]

[That's right! Even a pudding, a cake, a red fruit pie, a milkshake, a piece of candy, a salad, a cup of juice... I'd be willing.]

[That's quite an appetite.]

Other Male Zergs disagreed.

[No. Real star coins are the most important thing. Female Zergs seek Male Zergs for pheromones and psychic soothing. If they want something, they must pay.]

[Exactly. It's just equivalent exchange. However many star coins worth of gifts, that's how much psychic soothing and pheromones they receive. Very reasonable.]

The two factions argued endlessly.

The only certainty was that Iso would be tied to "one star coin" for life.

No escape.

...

【Hill still received Iso's transfer.

Naturally, it wasn't only one star coin.

The Female Zerg had put together an auspicious amount.

This was probably the most beautiful number he could gather from his limited savings.

He wanted to express his feelings that way.

Rejecting it would be inappropriate.

Hill could only accept.

Immediately, he felt even sorrier for Iso.

Images of a starving Female Zerg unable to afford food appeared in his mind.

He desperately wanted to share all his assets with Iso, but that had to wait until after marriage registration, when Female Lord authority would allow him to do so.

Thinking for a moment, Hill transferred another auspicious amount back to Iso, then separately sent one extra star coin.

"This star coin is for you. You served very well last night. Keep up this standard from now on."

After sending the message, Hill suddenly realized how ambiguous it sounded and hurriedly added:

"I mean, keep up the one-star-coin standard. You only need to give me one star coin."

How could a Male Zerg give money to a Female Zerg?

Iso thought so.

Yet he still accepted that star coin and stored it separately in a brand-new account.

After all, it was a reward from Lord Hill for serving him well.

...】

[...]

[We underestimated Iso. He didn't just give one star coin. He actually squeezed one star coin back out of the Male Zerg Lord. (old starship bug staring at terminal)]

[Not just one star coin. Lord Hill transferred money twice. There was another auspicious amount.]

[Even the Garuda aren't as outrageous as Iso.]

[A Female Zerg actually living off a Male Zerg? Shameful!]

[Jokes aside, just how charming is Iso? A Male Zerg actually spends money on him?]

[Honestly, quite a lot. Known facts: Iso has S-rank potential and an extraordinary life.

He was abandoned while still an egg. A hatchling that had just hatched somehow survived in the Underground District, made a name for himself, got noticed by the principal of the Capital Star military academy, and was specially admitted. His abilities must be terrifying.

He talks casually about the Underground District mech arena, but those are life-and-death battles. Countless bugs die there every year. Yet Iso consistently earned points there. He treated it like an ordinary part-time job.]

[No one praising Iso's body? The very first time Lord Hill fell into it, he imagined feeding milk together with their hatchling. That's an incredible figure.]

[Exactly! During their first meeting, Iso deliberately wore tight training clothes to show off his body, then personally held and flew with the Male Zerg Lord.]

[The mech house deserves points too. There's no way that thing originally existed in the Underground District. Iso built it himself. Creating a heavy mech house with the limited resources there—his hands-on ability is unbelievable.]

[And during the first week, Iso actually left the hatchling alone in the Underground District while attending school. That's abnormal. Everyone knows how dangerous the Underground District is. Unless... that heavy mech house is an actual heavy mech that automatically detects danger and blows everything around it to pieces.]

[And although he's slow, his actions and love confessions are always perfect when it matters.

In the Underground District, afraid Lord Hill might feel uneasy, he simply took off his clothes and invited him to mark him.

In the art studio, after being awkward and rigid, he even deliberately posed to attract Lord Hill's attention. When Lord Hill told him not to stay far away, he directly stuck himself to him. Once he realized Lord Hill wasn't indifferent, he boldly kissed him!

Even during the confession, when Lord Hill thought the atmosphere was ruined, he forcefully dragged it back with one sentence—"I will love you"—and made Lord Hill kiss him.]

The Female Zergs criticized Iso the most.

Yet they were also the ones who saw his good points most clearly.

Even the Male Zergs were shocked by their analysis.

As for the mech house, Male Zergs only thought it looked cool and wanted their own Female Zergs to build one.

They never considered where such a thing came from.

The Female Zergs thought much further.

Including how Iso, as a father, dared leave the hatchling alone in the Underground District.

They considered all of it.

Envy was envy.

But admiration was genuine too.

If it were them, they couldn't accomplish any of it.

[Iso truly deserves to be the protagonist of a "science fiction novel."]

[I reluctantly agree with Lord Hill marrying you. Just remember to give birth to me next. (sending stars)]

[This timeline's Isidore hasn't even been born yet. Get in line. After Isi, it's my turn. (giggle)]

[Isi will become a special hatchling who gets to attend Papa and Father's marriage registration.]

...

【Weekend.

Iso had requested leave in advance.

This time the reason he wrote was "marriage registration."

Last time, when he'd written "date," the principal rejected it and ordered him back immediately.

This time, approval came instantly.

The other party even congratulated him and gifted him a space button full of mech materials, all things he urgently needed.

Iso was puzzled by the principal's sudden change in attitude.

Then he received another file.

Inside were detailed records of Lord Hill's eating habits and personal preferences.

Such information could only be compiled by someone who lived together for years.

Remembering that the principal was the Female Attendant of a large family, had introduced him as Lord Hill's guide candidate, had acted strangely about his dates, and had suddenly changed after Lord Hill went home...

What else was there to understand?

"Thank you."

Iso sent the message with heartfelt gratitude.

In the office, the principal clicked his tongue and replied.

"Enough with the nonsense. Take care of my Male Zerg. If he suffers any grievances, my hatchling-obsessed Female Lord will come after you, and I won't be able to save you."

"I'm still very grateful."

Remembering previous conversations, Iso asked:

"Did that Female Lord blame you because of this?"

The principal recalled the terror of being dominated by an S-rank, but still pretended to be calm.

"It's fine. We've been comrades for two hundred years. Sparring between comrades is common sense. That's how it's always been."

He just couldn't win anymore.

Not even with mechs.

Whenever he collapsed from exhaustion, the Female Lord would drag him out of his mech and throw him into a recovery pod.

Truthfully, he wasn't injured.

Those small wounds healed quickly.

His self-healing system had been damaged on the battlefield, so the Female Lord apparently thought he was some useless bug without healing abilities.

No matter what, he always stuffed him into recovery pods and wasted precious recovery fluid.

Their entire family was soft-hearted.

Male Lord, Female Lord, Male Zerg son.

None of them had ever truly been serious.

The principal sent another message.

"Lucky brat. Take good care of the Male Zerg. Otherwise, not only will the Female Lord beat you, I'll beat you too."

And after the beating, stuff him into a recovery pod.

Then the two of them would block the exit together.

...

Hill came out after changing clothes and saw Iso reading terminal messages.

He casually asked,

"What's wrong?"

"The principal sent me information about your preferences and told me to take care of you."

Hill leaned over and glanced at it.

He was surprised by how accurately the other party remembered his eating habits.

Was this basic training for Female Attendants in large Male Zerg families?

"If he sent it, keep it."

Then he added:

"But honestly, if you want to know anything, I suggest asking me directly."

"Then, my Lord..."

Iso sat on the sofa and looked up at the Male Zerg standing beside him.

"After marriage, may I call you Male Lord?"

"You may."

Hill nodded reservedly, though his smile betrayed him.

"Actually, you can start now."

"Male Lord?"

"Female Lord."

As they looked at one another, the atmosphere gradually became intimate.

Suddenly, Isidore ran down the stairs.

"I heard it! I heard everything! Papa and Father are together!"

Hill hurried over and caught the little beast-like hatchling jumping down the stairs.

Isidore happily buried himself in his arms.

"Papa, Papa, you won't leave us anymore, right?"

"Mm. We're family."

Hill smiled gently.

Iso lifted the hatchling out of the Male Zerg's embrace and sternly said:

"Isi, don't be naughty. You wrinkled your Papa's clothes."

"€€?"

Isidore blinked.

Papa looked especially beautiful today.

He was always beautiful, but today he was dressed exceptionally well.

Even Father had dressed formally.

They had obviously put effort into it.

"Are you going on a date? Bring me! I can be the... atmosphere team!"

Isidore raised his hand high and volunteered.

Hill exchanged glances with Iso.

His face grew slightly warm, but he still said:

"It's not a date. We're registering our marriage. But you can come."

"Waaah€€€€"

To a little hatchling, marriage registration was something completely new.

Then Isidore remembered something.

"You didn't bring me when you registered your marriage last time. Papa and Father are bad."

Hill and Iso: "..."

"Y-yes, Papa and Father were wrong."

Hill laughed helplessly.

"We apologize to little Isi. After registering, our whole family will go to the amusement park, play with Isi, and take photos together, okay?"

"Okay!"

Isi raised both hands enthusiastically.

"But this time I want two ice creams."

Hill immediately remembered the future photo where the hatchling had become a little kitten covered in ice cream.

He refused seriously.

"No. At most one."

"Whimper..."

"Whimpering won't help."

"Chirp€€€€"

"Acting cute won't help either."

Isidore decided to negotiate with Father instead.

If he could get Father's portion, then Father and Papa could share one ice cream together.

...】