CHAPTER 531: PREGNANT LADY AND MISSIONS

Shock, confusion, and guilt— these are the only emotions that Coco could feel at the moment.

Coco closed her eyes tight as she made her way through the entrance of the guild, a grimace gracing her face.

The atmosphere in the guild was a familiar one, filled with the sounds of chatter, the clinking of weapons, banter and the occasional shout, but today she felt a pang of unease, what happened with Quizen still fresh in her mind.

Coco let out a sigh, pushing aside her lingering unease as she made her way over to the mission board.

She needed to focus on her work and not dwell on what happened earlier, but still, as her eyes scanned the assortment of missions listed on the board, her mind was already mulling over the options, she still couldn’t stop thinking about Quizen.

She needed something that would keep her occupied and her mind off the recent events. Quick.

Unfortunately, her mind loves to think about the mediators, no matter what, which caused her guilt to resurface when she recalled Quizen’s confession again.

It wasn’t that his words had made her uncomfortable or had unsettled her, but rather, she felt bad for not realizing his feelings sooner.

She had been so caught up in her own emotions and experiences that she had overlooked the signs, assuming that Quizen just viewed her only as a friend.

She remembered crying over him when she received a notification that she had finished his quest when she had done nothing to do it— she was even thinking of enduring the punishments of their quests because over time, she has grown to love them.

Now, realizing her blindness, she felt a twinge of remorse for not acknowledging his feelings earlier.

She ran out of the house as fast as she could, not bothering to acknowledge the way she limped and ignoring everyone calling for her name.

God.. I’m such an asshole. Coco thought and couldn’t find it in herself to focus on the missions listed on the board so instead, she grabbed a handful.

It was a coping mechanism she had developed over the years— throwing herself into her duties so completely that she didn’t have time to dwell on the things that troubled her.

It was a way of avoiding her feelings, a method of numbing the emotions that sometimes threatened to overwhelm her.

However, Coco knew deep down that it wasn’t the healthiest way to deal with her issues, but time and time again, she found comfort in throwing herself into her work.

For her, immersing herself in tasks provided a reliable means of escaping from her thoughts, no matter how pressing or troubling her problems may be— especially if the trouble is related to her emotions.

In a way.. This is how I punish myself as well. Coco thought, making her way to the front desk.

She was aware that burying herself in work was a form of self-destruction and yet, the thought of losing herself in her duties instead of breaking down on certain problems seems better in her opinion.

It was an addiction that she couldn’t shake.

Coco let out a heavy sigh, burying her face in the missions she clutched tightly, her steps weary as she strode towards the guild’s reception.

The moment Coco approached the desk, she was greeted by the sight of a familiar old woman with a small bump in her stomach noticeable beneath her robes.

The old woman looked up as Coco approached, her eyes softening. "Ah, Coco. What could be the missions you chose this time?"

Instead of answering, a frown made its way in Coco’s face.

"Hello, ma’am.." She began, her voice tinged with worry. "Isn’t it dangerous for you to be working in your condition? Shouldn’t you be taking it easy?"

The old woman merely chuckled softly at Coco’s concern. "Oh, my dear. I truly appreciate your concern, but I’m perfectly capable of handling my duties so don’t worry too much."

Coco’s gaze lingered on the old woman’s belly, her concern deepening.

Female mediators face a lot more difficulties during pregnancy from what she could remember so isn’t it dangerous for her to be working?

"I’ve heard that it’s harder for female mediators." Coco said, her voice dripping with worry. "If anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to call on me. I’ll be there in a flash to help."

The old woman couldn’t help, but burst into a hearty laughter, her eyes glistening with tears. "Ah, my dear, you’re too sweet."

"No, I’m not, ma’am." Coco immediately denied, shaking her head.

"You are, and truly, I’m perfectly fine." She reassured Coco, her voice filled with warmth. "But you know you’re making me want to hug you right now. You’re too kind and caring."

Coco’s frown deepened when she noticed the tears streaming down the old woman’s face, despite the bright smile on her face.

"Uhm.. Are you alright?" She asked, her voice brimming with reluctance. "Should I fetch you something? Do you want something to eat, ma’am? Or drink, maybe?"

"Just let me take care of that for you, dear." The old woman said, wiping her tears away. "You’ve got enough to worry about."

"No, I can do it—" Coco tried to insist further, but the old woman gently reached for the missions held tightly in Coco’s hand. "Okay, okay.. Please take it easy."

Coco reluctantly parted with the missions, her grip on them slowly loosening as she entrusted the tasks to the old woman’s care.

The woman looked up after a moment as she scanned the missions onto the magical device that Coco forgot the name of, her smile still warm while she spoke once more. "I’ll let Neo know to come see you once he clocks in."

"Thank you." Coco replied, the corner of her lips curling up slightly as she accepted the missions. "Have a good day, ma’am."

"You, too, child." The old woman hummed out with a smile. "Don’t tire yourself out too much."