**Side: Edward**
The year is drawing to a close, with only a few hours left before we welcome the new one. It wasn’t as tumultuous as the previous year, but the Philia Continent still experienced significant upheaval. After all, every nation except Retisencia was unified, leading to the establishment of the Amister-Philias Federation Heavenly Empire. What’s more, it was achieved peacefully through negotiation, without the use of any military force.
Normally, such a unification wouldn’t be so straightforward. However, Solemnne had been provoking wars with other nations, causing extensive, irreparable damage to many bridge cities in Libertà and leaving Valentia in disarray due to civil war, which meant everyone was already preoccupied with reconstruction. This played a large role in the ease of unification.
Libertà and Valentia, in the end, were divided into several smaller nations, which then chose to join Amister’s sphere of influence, forming the Federation Heavenly Empire. Solemnne, as a defeated nation, had its territory jointly governed by Amister and Torencia. However, when Torencia enthusiastically expressed its desire to participate, negotiations had to extend to Alegria and Valentia as well. Alegria’s territory wasn’t particularly large, and Valentia’s domestic situation was unstable due to traitors aligned with Abaricia. Thus, both readily declared their intention to join the Federation Heavenly Empire, and the process moved forward smoothly, leading to its swift establishment.
As for the remaining Retisencia, they had been evolving their familiars and summoned beasts using the Demon Crystals developed by Abaricia. However, this transformation into demons came at the cost of losing all access to Innate Magic. Consequently, their familiar and summon contracts became void. The evolved abnormal and catastrophe species then ravaged their territory, leaving everything in ruins except for the imperial capital of Kobaldia. Cobaldia itself seems to be under frequent monster attacks, so Retisencia’s self-destruction is certain if left to its own devices. The possibility of monsters attacking Amister or the newly independent small nation of Vagenbach in the former Libertà region is also not low. The Order’s Guild and Soldier’s Guild are maintaining strict vigilance and gathering forces there.
“Looking at it this way, it really was Yamato’s arrival that became the catalyst for such major changes on the Philia Continent.”
“That’s right, isn’t it?”
“Wait, why do you say that?”
As I reminisce about the year’s events in the living room on the second floor of the Main Hall, the face of my close friend and guest, the Union Leader, keeps flashing in my mind. My wife Marina agrees, and everyone else nods in assent. However, Yamato himself wears a deeply displeased expression.
“Isn’t that the truth? Things really started to move after Yamato-san came to Feel.”
“Retisencia’s self-destruction definitely fits that description.”
“If you put it that way, Solemnne’s ruin can also be attributed in part to Yamato-san evolving many people into Ancient Class.”
“From what I’ve heard, the purge of the nobles in Valentia was also initiated by Yamato-san.”
Fina, Marina, Fiana, and Camellia, my wives and fiancée, are openly discussing Yamato’s actions without reservation. In fact, everything they say is true, and some of it is already common knowledge. While there may be some embellishments, from the perspective of someone who knows the facts, their expressions seem rather understated.
“No, that’s…”
“It’s the truth, so there’s no helping it.”
“You’re making it sound like it’s all my fault, but Prim did the same as me.”
“I was able to evolve thanks to Yamato too, and even strengthen my Wing Binding Magic! So, if you’re going to talk about a catalyst, it’s definitely Yamato.”
Indeed, I’ve heard that Yamato’s advice was instrumental in Prim’s evolution and the improvement of her Wing Binding Magic. There are rumors that Wing Binding Magic is spreading among the Winged Tribe as a Unique Magic. However, it’s also rumored that only Prim can master it.
“It’s not a bad thing, so if you keep being so humble, it might sound sarcastic.”
“I’ve been told that before, but I’m really not trying to be humble.”
“You’re just lazy bothersome, aren’t you?”
“Don’t expose me.”
As Mana and Ludia say, Yamato isn’t being humble about his accomplishments. He simply dislikes getting involved in troublesome affairs. Well, he’s already entangled, having been granted peerage and even the right of succession to the Heavenly Emperor. Surely, even the most foolish wouldn’t dare to meddle with a noble holding succession rights. Ah, that reminds me.
“Speaking of which, I went to Istrias with Lady Hilde before, and we met that idiotic son of his, didn’t we?”
“Ah. I genuinely thought he was an idiot, and I doubted he could be corrected even if the Heavenly Tree broke.”
“Indeed, that was a matter that preceded any correction.”
Why did Yamato and Lady Hilde’s expressions disappear? I recall hearing that the Count of Quervo, their father, turned pale when faced with their condescending attitude and remarks. Was that not all there was to it?
“Hilde and I properly identified ourselves afterward, but he still insulted us, calling us upstarts and country bumpkins chased by snow.”
“Oh, dear…”
“You wouldn’t have any grounds to complain if you were executed on the spot for that!”
Everyone was taken aback by this unprecedented behavior. To hurl such insults after realizing they were speaking to a Heavenly Noble with succession rights to the Heavenly Emperor and the Phantom King, one of the Three Kings, I agree with Raus; they wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on if they were executed then and there. In fact, the discussion of Count Enlo Istlias’s independence could have been completely nullified, and the Count of Istrias family could have faced execution for their involvement.
“That was one possibility, but the second son we met afterward, Agira Istrias, was an intelligent and courteous young boy.”
“He was only eight, so it was a bit clumsy, but he earnestly apologized for his elder brother’s impolite behavior, even offering his own life as collateral.”
To be capable of such a thing at the age of eight is truly remarkable. What’s more, offering his own life means offering himself as a sacrifice to have his brother forgiven. That’s certainly not the thought process of an eight-year-old.
“That’s amazing.”
“Yes. He offered his life to save his ignorant and foolish elder brother, but it’s hardly a fair exchange. In fact, there’s no need to compare them at all.”
“We thought the same. So, we’ve agreed to grant Count Enlo Istlias independence and make his younger brother, Agira, the next count.”
“Huh? Wasn’t the plan for the idiotic elder brother to be appointed heir if he successfully graduated from the academy?”
That’s what I heard, too. Like Sir Yuri says, I agree that comparing the wise younger brother and the foolish elder brother is presumptuous. However, as Camellia pointed out, the story of the idiotic elder brother being appointed heir upon successful graduation from the academy should have been officially decided by His Majesty Emperor Reinhardt.
“As I said, correcting him is impossible even if the Heavenly Tree were to break. He’s such an idiot that he’s bound to do something resulting in expulsion within days of entering, at best.”
The phrase “impossible even if the Heavenly Tree were to break” is a proverb from the Helios Orb. The Heavenly Tree is the pillar supporting the Helios Orb, and its breaking would mean the destruction of the Helios Orb. Therefore, it’s used to mean something absolutely impossible, and quite frequently.
“Indeed, hearing the story, he gives off the impression that he’d screw up immediately.”
“Rather, we’ve informed Count Quervo to that effect, hoping it would happen. Therefore, the Count is no longer undertaking his re-education.”
“Given such a blunder, even if a son is dear to him, the Federation Heavenly Empire would not approve his succession or forgive him. So, the Count has resigned himself to it.”
So, the plan is premised on the idiotic elder brother being disinherited. It feels like a foregone conclusion, but it’s also true that the idiotic elder brother is such incorrigible trash that if he were to somehow inherit the countship, it could negatively impact the Federation Heavenly Empire and, in the worst-case scenario, lead to its fragmentation. Count Quervo can’t help but understand this, and he’s resolved to punish his son, the mother who gave birth to him, and her lady-in-waiting. As a father and husband, he must feel conflicted, but since that mother and lady-in-waiting were originally sent to seize the Istrias Count’s earldom, perhaps he might even be pleased.
“Does that mean the idiotic son and his mother might die of illness soon?”
“What? Isn’t that a bit too convenient?”
Mana’s remark draws a question from Athena. The idiotic brother is to be disinherited and imprisoned for life, as are his birth mother and the mother who is also serving as his lady-in-waiting, after being divorced. But all three of them dying of illness simultaneously is not just convenient; it reeks of conspiracy.
“That’s just how it will be announced externally, but that’s precisely what will happen. There are only disadvantages to keeping them alive, and imprisoning them isn’t free either.”
“It’s cleaner that way. Of course, if that were false, it would be a problem, so perhaps other nations will cooperate behind the scenes.”
Mako and Yamato have said terrifying things, and the fact that Mana and Sir Yuri agree is even more frightening.
“Rarely, but haven’t you heard stories of the defeated party in a succession dispute suddenly dying of illness or an accident? In most cases, the victor was responsible for their assassination.”
Lady Apricot’s statement sent a chill down my spine. I have indeed heard such stories. The most recent was Prince Tyras of Valentia, but since that was confirmed to be a genuine accident, it’s still acceptable. Before that, there was the infamous story of the foolish Dragon King of Valentia, who plotted to subjugate the Dragonians. I believe his son, with the cooperation of dragon knights who had contracts with Dragonians, usurped the throne, and the foolish Dragon King was imprisoned until his death.
“But that king was announced as having died of illness, wasn’t he?”
“Meaning, it wasn’t really death by illness, but assassination?”
“Yes. If he were assassinated immediately after being captured, it would be suspected by the common folk. Since he was a truly foolish king, I don’t think it would have caused a major problem, but it might have given the prince who usurped the throne a negative impression. Therefore, he likely lived for a few years while imprisoned.”
So, the foolish Dragon King was killed the moment he was captured, but the fact was concealed for several years to prevent the new Dragon King from being tarnished? Or perhaps he was genuinely imprisoned for a few years before being assassinated, but either way, it’s far beyond the level of royal family secrets.
“If a foolish ruler ascends to the throne, the common folk suffer the most damage and inconvenience. Besides, such stories aren’t limited to royal families; they often happen among nobles as well.”
“Frankly, it’s an internal family dispute, and it sounds bad to say you killed someone immediately. Especially for kings and lords, whose reputation is paramount, so they will engage in that kind of information manipulation.”
I really didn’t want to hear that. Moreover, while it’s understandable that Mana, Sir Yuri, Prim, Rika, Carol, Seras, and Lady Apricot know these things because they are royalty or nobility, why do Yamato and Mako, who are guests but originally from the same commoner background as us, know such things?
“Well, it happened on Earth too, and there were countless stories and tales based on it.”
“Earth was even more malicious.”
That’s a terrifying thought in itself. The current story was bad enough, but the fact that your world was worse? What on earth is going on with you guys?
“It’s about truly ghastly matters, and hearing them only leads to discomfort.”
“…It’s definitely bad for Fina’s prenatal education, so let’s end this conversation here.”
It’s truly not just bad for prenatal education; I can’t help but feel that way from the bottom of my heart.
“Indeed. Unlike Mana, who is in her final trimester, I’ve only just entered the stable period, so I’d prefer to avoid such topics if possible.”
“It’s not like it’s good just because you’re in your final trimester… Ow!”
Mana suddenly clutched her stomach, crying out in pain. Isn’t this bad? Mana is indeed in her final trimester and scheduled to give birth in about a week, but this is earlier than expected.
“Ma-Mana! Are you okay!?”
“I-I’m fine… It seems this little one is just a bit too energetic… Oww…”
“Lady Apricot!”
“Yes. Mako-san, please take care of Mana-sama. I’ll go prepare some things just in case. Silly-san, Rella-san, Lumina-san. Could you help me?”
” ” “Understood.” ” ”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lady Apricot left the living room with the homunculi Silly and Rella, and the sub-chief butler Lumina. However, the rest of us were completely at a loss as to what to do. Yamato, her husband, was looking utterly flustered.
“That’s it! Sir Yuri, Carol! What about you two!?”
“There’s no mistake!”
“Let’s hurry and take her there!”
The Healers were also using their examining magic with a sense of urgency. No, it’s true; if they’re saying they need to hurry, is it really childbirth?
“Meena! Use Telekinetic Magic to take Mana-sama to her room!”
“Y-Yes, understood!”
“Th-Then I’ll…”
“You stay here and be quiet!”
“Y-Yes!”
Mako is truly terrifying… I don’t quite understand why she’s asking Meena to transport her instead of Yamato, but the current Yamato is dangerously agitated, and if he had taken her, he probably wouldn’t have left the room. So, perhaps the intention is to keep him pinned here. Birth is scheduled to take place in their private rooms, but it’s said that when a pregnant woman gives birth, she exerts immense strength, so we had prepared equipment for such an eventuality.
Sayuri-sama was from Earth and a doctor, so Helios Orb possesses fairly advanced facilities. However, only the Healer’s Guild, the royal family, and nobles typically have them readily available. Commoners, and even Alka, did not. Therefore, under Mako’s direction and Sayuri-sama’s supervision, we Crafters prioritized the task as Mana’s childbirth approached and completed a delivery bed that could be connected to a regular bed, as per the specifications. The women were very enthusiastic, as they might need to use it themselves someday. It’s a super-luxury item made with Lapis Lazuli, Royal Silk Cloth, and even Dragonian leather. However, Mana is Ancient Class, so inferior materials would quickly break down. Even for High Class or Ancient Class individuals, their strength and magic power are severely depleted immediately after childbirth, and the risk of contracting infections is not zero, so there was no compromise on materials. Metal components were somewhat questionable, but even Normal Class individuals grip with enough strength to crack bones, so there were still concerns. It’s said that Mako will reinforce the magic power during labor, so it should probably be fine.
In any case, there’s nothing more we Crafters can do. We can only leave it to the Healers now. Although I believe it will be fine, I’ve heard that first-time births can take many hours, and seeing Yamato pacing anxiously nearby makes me feel uneasy too. However, there’s nothing Yamato can do either, so even if he can’t remain completely calm, we should accept this much. I too will become a father in less than six months, so I can’t say I won’t end up like this.
