The preparations for Hilde’s abdication and Princess Brynhild’s enthronement were complete, and only a banquet remained. However, upon receiving an urgent message from Meena, I, Hilde, and Lydia rushed back to Alka.
Lords from Torencia were to attend the banquet. If there was any danger to Prim or the child, the choice of priority was obvious.
Since it was before Hilde’s abdication, the Gate Stone was still installed at the White Demon Castle, so it was a relief to be able to return to Alka so quickly.
However, by the time I arrived, Prim’s delivery was already over. Fortunately, both mother and child were out of danger, which was a great relief.
Prim lost consciousness during childbirth, and it seems she was also severely exhausted. I fully agreed with the healer’s suggestion to let her sleep until morning.
The child born was also a yellow-haired descendant, like Lady Apricot. I was surprised because I never imagined they would be of the Winged Tribe.
But that’s precisely why I believe there’s only one name suitable for this child.
I’ll tell them the name once Prim wakes up.
“Flam’s delivery is still going to take a while, so you should return to the White Demon Castle for now.”
“Huh? No, but Prim is…”
“Meena just used Refreshing on her, but based on her condition, she won’t wake up until morning. There’s nothing for you, Yamato, to do here. So go back now and properly attend to your duties.”
Mako said those words to me, who had intended to stay by Prim’s side.
Indeed, there was nothing I could do, and my work was important, but going back to the White Demon Castle right now… it felt rather harsh, you know?
Besides, Flam is also going to give birth soon, right?
“Flam’s delivery will likely be tomorrow, based on this. But either way, you won’t be able to attend, so you need to focus on your work, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Also, Prim didn’t ask for you, did she? That means Prim trusts you. What will you do if you betray that trust?”
She hit a sore spot.
Prim’s child was breech, making it a difficult delivery.
Although born in less than three hours, it was only possible thanks to Mako’s skillful use of Telekinetic Magic and Engraving Magic. Otherwise, a worst-case scenario involving either Prim, the child, or both could have occurred.
Prim seemed to have prepared for the worst-case scenario, yet she never once asked for me to be called.
That’s why Mako, understanding Prim’s feelings, is telling me to get back to work.
“Ugh… Alright. I’ll return to the White Demon Castle for now. Despite the difficult labor, Prim and the child are safe.”
“Do that. Flam, is that alright with you too?”
“Yes. I’ve calmed down, and even if I go into labor, it will be tomorrow or later. Therefore, Yamato, please concentrate on your work.”
Flam too?
In Japan, husbands sometimes attend the delivery room, but in Helios Orb, men are forbidden from entering the delivery room for any reason. The husband’s presence is not only useless but a hindrance.
Therefore, it’s common for husbands to be at work during childbirth, and this rule applies even to the Celestial Emperor.
One reason for this is consideration for those who may become single mothers. Another is that men cannot understand the pain of childbirth and only become flustered and get in the way, sometimes leading to fatal mistakes by midwives or obstetricians who give unnecessary instructions.
In fact, Prim told me that if I had been there when Mako was working alone, I would have been nothing but a hindrance, and it would have led to a truly terrible situation.
“Then I shall return as well.”
“I apologize, Lady Hilde, for making you accompany Yamato.”
“It cannot be helped. Besides, I understand Prim’s feelings, and I must also report to Hilde and the others.”
“In that case, should I accompany you?”
“Lydia came as one of Yamato’s wives, so that would be best.”
Lydia is accompanying me this time as one of my wives.
As my first wife, Prim, is pregnant, Meena was introduced as a substitute wife. However, Meena also has her own work, and it’s impossible for her to be present at all times.
Moreover, a substitute wife is a proxy for the first wife, so there’s no rule against bringing other wives.
“Understood. Then Mako, I’m sorry, but please watch over Prim and Flam.”
“I understand. Yuri and the others are here, so leave it to me.”
“Thank you. Hilde, Lydia.”
“Yes. We shall depart then.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
With that, I, accompanied by Hilde and Lydia, headed for the White Demon Castle.
Side: Mako
“Alright, that’s better. Flam, you can stop now, can’t you?”
After confirming that Yamato and the others had left the room, I spoke to Flam.
“Hahaha… Mako, you saw through me… didn’t you!?”
“I’m using Examining, so of course I can see that much. How about you, Ayla?”
Although she tried to endure the pain, Flam’s labor is actually in its final stages.
Her water hasn’t broken yet, but the intervals between pains are getting shorter, so it’s only a matter of time.
According to the Sonar Wave, Flam’s child is developing normally, so it shouldn’t be a difficult birth.
“My assessment is the same as yours. That magic is convenient, isn’t it? Engraving Magic, was it?”
“Yes. I’ll try to see if I can make it chantable when I have some free time.”
“Please do. If we can detect breech births in advance, birth rates will surely increase.”
I understand that too.
That’s why I absolutely must try to make a chantable magic that combines the effects of Sonar Wave and Dolphin Eye.
Whether it can be chanted is uncertain, but if it succeeds, birth rates will increase as Ayla said, and accidents will be reduced.
But before that, Flam’s delivery.
It’s a toss-up whether it will happen before or after midnight, but there’s no telling.
This is Flam’s first childbirth, so it could take as long as Prim’s, or even longer.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and Aria appeared.
“Excuse me. Everyone, I’ve brought meals.”
Now that I think about it, they went into labor right before we were about to eat dinner.
Just thinking about it made me hungry.
“Thank you, Aria.”
“You’re a lifesaver.”
What Aria brought were easy-to-eat sandwiches.
It’s an emergency, but if I’m hungry, I might make a wrong judgment, and it helps with energy recovery, so I’m truly grateful.
Mmm, delicious.
“Prim… she shows no signs of waking up yet.”
“She must be exhausted after expending so much energy, even Prim can’t help it.”
“That’s right. I didn’t know because my elder sister and sister-in-law Maruca had very easy deliveries, but the childbirth of an Ancient Class was tremendous.”
“It was my first time too. After all, the delivery table ended up like this.”
One reason is that Flam is still fine, but there’s no point in staying tense.
Perhaps because of that, the conversation naturally turned to Prim’s childbirth.
Indeed, it was incredibly difficult and I thought it was out of the ordinary.
“Even after replacing it once, the bars were crushed. While it’s true I didn’t have the leeway to strengthen my magic power, it was honestly hard to believe that even with my Telekinetic Magic added to Ludia and Carol’s efforts, it was barely enough.”
“More than that, if you hadn’t been there, Mako, it would have turned into a worst-case scenario in a different sense.”
“Yeah. Or rather, the question is, who’s going to hold you down when Mako gives birth?”
As Carol and Ludia pointed out, it might be the case.
Currently, only I and Yamato have evolved into Element Class.
Prim, who has successfully given birth, will also go hunting after her postpartum period, so she will probably evolve soon, but that still makes three.
While I don’t have Prim’s physical strength, I can rival or even surpass her with my magic power enhancement.
However, I don’t know if I can suppress my magic power during childbirth, unlike usual.
That would mean only Prim could hold me down, and in the worst case, there might be no one.
Yes, I realize that’s problematic.
Furthermore, I heard from Meena that Rosemary and Saya are also pregnant, so we need to prepare for that, and it should be reported to the Healer’s Guild.
Once things settle down, I’ll have to go to Float, not just Feel.
“Thank you for the meal. Prim’s baby… is sleeping. I thought about giving her some milk, but it seems she’ll be fine for a while like this.”
“That’s right. Oh, Aria, how are my elder sister and Rica and Fiana doing?”
“They are in the living room now, waiting for the report.”
Mana and the others are in the living room.
Ideally, Prim should be breastfeeding, but she’s exhausted from childbirth and sleeping, so it’s impossible.
So, we have no choice but to rely on Mana, Rica, and Fiana, who have already given birth.
The baby is sleeping, but we don’t know when she’ll wake up, and colostrum is essential for boosting immunity.
Therefore, Prim needs to be able to breastfeed, but we can’t force her right now. Colostrum is produced for about five days after childbirth, so our priority is to satisfy the baby’s hunger.
“Then Aria, can you call Mana here?”
“Understood.”
Looking at tomorrow’s schedule, Rica has duties at Memoria, and Fiana has a project for Airship construction, but Mana has no particular plans.
Also, Prim is Mana’s close friend and like a sister, so it’s only right to ask Mana to be the first to breastfeed this child.
“How is Prim looking…?”
“She’s fine, she’s resting. To think that this child would be so exhausted. Childbirth is truly hard, isn’t it?”
Looking at Prim’s condition, Lady Apricot rested her hand on her head, a gentle smile on her face.
Indeed, it was the first time I had seen such a weak Prim, and the first time I had witnessed such a difficult birth.
While I didn’t have the leeway to use healing magic, it’s also true that Prim’s survival was possible precisely because she was an Ancient Foxy.
I also panicked because of the breech presentation and couldn’t take proper action, but if the expectant mother had been a Normal Class or High Class, I don’t know what would have happened…
It was a terrifying experience for me as well, so I must take this as a lesson and be more cautious. I need to apologize to Prim and explain everything once she wakes up.
“Ah!”
“Hmm, it seems it’s almost time.”
But before that, Flam’s childbirth.
I’ll leave Prim’s child to Lady Apricot while I, Yuri, and Carol take our positions according to Ayla’s instructions.
Since Flam is also an Ancient Undine, there’s a possibility that the delivery table’s bars will be broken.
So, I’ll have Carol reinforce the delivery table with magic power and prepare to use Telekinetic Magic at any moment, while also getting ready to replace the bars.
Flam is Carol’s sister-in-law, so Carol is also very motivated. Yuri intends to focus on support, so we are fully prepared.
Now, I’ll make sure to deliver Flam’s child safely!
