It had been a few days since our combat class began.
We settled in a relatively safe cave, surrounded by faintly glowing moss and warm stones.
But tonight, I noticed something… weird.
My seven kids, after munching on F-rank monster crystals (which taste like salty gravel), began to prepare for bed.
But the way they slept…
> They curled up.
Just like me. Exactly like I did back when I first hatched as a rotten egg.
---
Oyen tucked himself under his not-yet-grown wings, forming a neat little ball.
Putih curled up in a cloud of cold mist, like wrapping himself in a chilly blanket.
Belang vanished among the rocks, but if you looked closely—he was curled too.
Abu? He bounced a few times, then slowly folded into a jelly-ball in the corner.
And so on.
---
I moved closer and observed each of them.
"Is this… because they've been around me too long?" I wondered.
"Are they… starting to inherit my rotten egg habits?"
The system didn't reply.
The internal AI just gave me a quiet notification:
> [Effect: "Stinky Scent Bond" active.]
> [Children are showing behaviors similar to the parent.]
> [Warning: Possible evolution into a new race – "Lesser Rotten Eggs."]
> "Whaaaaat?!"
I panicked.
Was this an evolution?
Or… a curse?
---
But as they peacefully slept, all my worries slowly faded.
They looked so calm—despite their ridiculous shapes.
And for the first time, I didn't feel like just a rotten egg.
I felt like...
**A Dad.**