Meanwhile, back in the space where laughter continuously rang out as people discovered the perfection that was fruits dipped in honey and buttered toast drizzled with the golden liquid, one particularly curious blonde finally managed to ask a question.
This was after predictably stuffing his face with enough snacks to concern reasonable people.
"Brother," Ollie began while pointing at one of the virtual labels, crumbs still stubbornly clinging to his face, "this one says six months, nine months, and twelve months."
He squinted at the projection, his hair antenna moving left and right as if waiting patiently.
"Does this actually mean babies can eat these?" he asked. "I mean the apples in particular, since you already warned us about the honey."
"Huh?" Luca looked over. "Are you talking about the Apple Purée?"
"If that’s what it’s called, then yes!" the snacking mop replied immediately. "That, as well as the other versions, brother!"
"Well, according to the cookbook, yes." The budding entrepreneur thought for a moment. "Actually, the researchers of House Kyros said it could probably be introduced even earlier."
He figured it had something to do with how interstellar humans had evolved and adapted over time, not to mention how different the territories within the Empire were compared to Tesseris alone.
"But just to be safe, it’s still better to take precautions," Luca continued. "After all, wouldn’t it be better for babies to primarily drink milk or fortified formula like they’re supposed to?"
He said it casually.
Almost absentmindedly.
Like someone simply commenting on the weather.
But to the little chipmunk’s surprise, the surroundings suddenly quieted.
Luca blinked.
People had stopped eating.
Others had frozen halfway through reaching for more honey and even his good brother was staring—no, more like gaping.
And that was alarming.
Because his brother was currently sacrificing valuable chewing time.
And for the blonde, that may as well be classified as a medical emergency.
"What?" Luca asked in confusion and worry.
But no one answered immediately, because they, too, were caught off guard.
Instead, they all exchanged glances.
Then looked back at him.
Then exchanged glances again.
"Brother..." Ollie said extremely slowly.
Very carefully.
"Babies... drink... milk?"
Golden-eyed blinkers moved at that.
"Yes?"
The mop’s eyes, in turn, widened even further, and he nearly toppled off the bench as his head tipped backward as though the revelation had physically struck him.
"No, wait."
He pointed at his saintly brother like he’d just uncovered some ancient conspiracy.
"You’re saying babies actually drink? And they actually drink milk?"
"Yes...?" Luca answered, now thoroughly confused.
The already surprised ex-Tesserian looked around.
Why was everyone acting so strangely?
"Um... Brother, are you saying babies here don’t drink milk after they’re born?"
The concern in his voice was genuine.
Unfortunately, that explanation only seemed to make most of the people present look even more awkward.
Surprisingly, the only exceptions were Princess Kira and Ada, both of whom appeared equally baffled by the notion that babies wouldn’t drink anything after being born. Apparently, even now, that idea still sounded strange to them.
Then again, if everyone else knew that Orcish infants could already hold weapons just a few months after birth, they would likely be wearing the exact same expression.
Especially when human children like Princess Nina looked more like short Orcish infants than full-fledged children by comparison.
Oh well!
Meanwhile, it was fortunate that the Imperial Husband finally took pity on his confused little wife.
"Luca, by any chance, do you remember why humans started using pods to gestate babies in the first place?"
"Ah..." Luca paused to think. "Wasn’t it because babies that require spiritual energy would end up parasitizing from the mother since there isn’t enough in the environment?"



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