The wedding reception, including the presentation of MARS, concluded without any issues.
It had stretched from lunch to dinner, but I don’t know what would have happened without MARS…
Given that most of the attendees were heads of state, it had a bit of an “international conference” feel in parts, but there were also guests invited from the general public.
These general guests, who had to return to work tomorrow, have all returned home, including their families.
I also saw off Baron Traihit, who is Rosemary’s younger brother, Duke Blitz, the older brother of Emperor Folias, and the Provincial Governors and Grand Masters, as they had work to attend to.
On the other hand, Duke Cecilia and Duke Turkis, who have largely delegated their real power to their successors, are staying on.
Moreover, now that the Grand Masters have left, the two of them seem to be planning to move into the Penthouse and enjoy Alka to their heart’s content.
Since they’ve helped me out, I don’t really mind them doing that.
“It’s finally over.”
“Yes. We’ve finally managed to finish it.”
After finishing dinner, we let out sighs of relief while soaking in the open-air bath in the main hall’s keep.
It’s been nearly a year since Prim and I got married on July 23rd of last year, leading up to the reception.
A month later, I married Mana, Meena, and Flam; in November, Rika; two months ago, Hilde; a month ago, Lydia and Ludia; and nine days ago, Mako. If all had gone according to plan, we would have finished by the end of the year, and the receptions for Hilde, Lydia, Ludia, and Mako would have been by now.
However, due to the subjugation of the Slume Lord, the war with Solemne, and the meddling from Retisencia, we were forced to cancel our plans repeatedly, which is why it took so long.
“I’m marrying Athena in two months, so we’ll have to have another reception.”
“That’s right. Although, this time we plan to hold it on Mount Wilness, and since we won’t be inviting that many people, it should be fine.”
In August, Athena will turn 85 years old, which is 17 in human years, making her eligible to marry me.
However, that will mean another reception.
At this reception, Athena was introduced as my wife, even though we aren’t married yet, because her birthday is approaching. It’s a relief that we don’t need to make it as grand as this one.
However, since Athena is the daughter of Noble Dragon Gaia, the reception is planned to be held at Mount Wilness, which is considered a sacred site for Dragonians.
“It would seem Iris should also have her reception then, but it seems her marriage to Emperor Folias will be a little further down the line.”
“Yeah.”
Iris is Athena’s twin sister, an Ice Light Dragonian.
Like Athena, she is planned to marry when she reaches marriageable age. However, the governance within Valentia is still not entirely stable.
While the nobles who view Dragonians as monsters have long since disappeared, there still seem to be nobles plotting ill intentions. Furthermore, a considerable number of former nobles have been punished and stripped of their titles upon joining the Federation Heavenly Empire.
Additionally, the Dragon Knight Order has been unified as the Dragoner’s Guild, but not all members have been able to register as Dragoners.
There are rumors that former nobles and former Dragon Knights are gathering and preparing to rebel.
Therefore, Emperor Folias and Iris’s marriage will likely take place after those matters have settled.
“A king’s marriage also has significant political implications.”
“It’s truly troublesome, isn’t it?”
Neige of the Vald Beast Duke agrees with Mana’s statement with a sigh.
Ideally, Neige should also be married, but if she were to marry me, I would have to go to Valt, and even before that, I have already been enfeoffed as the Heavenly Marquis of Amister and received the succession rights to the Celestial Emperor’s throne, so various problems accompany my marriage to Neige.
Furthermore, by custom, a wife can have a maximum of twelve spouses. Since I have already married nine and have three fiancées, I cannot marry her.
However, the fact that I cannot marry her is, in a way, convenient for Neige.
Before that, Neige, knowing the number of my wives and fiancées, has proposed becoming a single mother.
“Even if I can’t have children, Prim can. Besides, Prim seems capable of having children, so I’m quite relieved about it.”
“I really can’t bear that thought.”
Neige has no siblings, so Prim is currently the sole heir to the position of Vald Beast Duke.
Therefore, I have also told Neige about Gaia’s premonitions. Thanks to that, Neige seems to feel less pressure to have to bear a child.
Prim and Neige are cousins and have a sisterly relationship being of the same Foxy lineage. Moreover, since Prim is an Ancient Foxy, the possibility of her being assassinated is almost nil, which is a significant factor.
“The Heavenly Empire would not exactly welcome Prim becoming the Vald Beast Duke.”
“Of course, I understand that. However, the Vald Beast Duke family truly has no heir.”
“That’s right.”
Not only Neige, but Neige’s mother also has no siblings.
Technically, Apricot fits that description, but she lost her eligibility when she married Duke Ternal.
Originally, Prim would have too, but due to the succession issue of the Vald Beast Duke family and the intercession of former Beast King Gumnos, Emperor Reinhardt had no choice but to approve.
Still, if Prim were to ascend as the Vald Beast Duke, she and His Majesty the Torencia Phantom King would both be married to me, the Amister Heavenly Marquis. Furthermore, since Prim is my first wife, it would cause nothing but problems internationally and within the Heavenly Empire.
Therefore, it is essential for Neige to have children.
“For that to happen, Yamato has to work hard.”
“Indeed. Mana will be the first to bear a child, but from what I’ve heard from Gaia, there was no mention of anyone becoming a single mother. Therefore, it’s not impossible for Neige to be the first to give birth to Yamato’s child.”
That’s how it would be.
As Hilde says, the children Gaia spoke of were only for women who were married or engaged to me at that time.
Moreover, after officially becoming engaged to Mako, I asked again, but Gaia apparently doesn’t know that far ahead.
While it’s certain that Mana’s child will be the firstborn, it’s not impossible for others to be born after that.
But if we say that, then Marisa and Eos also have the potential.
“That’s something that will happen as it will, and since there are no signs of Mana being pregnant, it’s still something for the future.”
“Well, yes. But that’s that, and this is this, right, Yamato?”
As Rika says, if Mana gets pregnant, the situation could change drastically.
Therefore, by then, I want to build up my strength, but Prim cut me off clean with a single blow.
No, I understand what she means, because without her doing what she needs to do, there’s no pregnancy.
In fact, I’m trying my best almost every night.
Apricot, on the other hand, has decided she doesn’t intend to have any more children, so she is consistently using the contraceptive healing magic.
“Speaking of which, everyone has stopped using Contracepting.”
“Well, there’s no point in using it if I know that unless I get pregnant, nobody else will, is there?”
That’s very true.
It’s not that it puts a burden on the body, but it’s still magic, so it’s not exactly preferred.
“That’s something only Yamato can work hard on.”
“Right. Oh, and speaking of MARS, Yamato?”
“What about MARS?”
Suddenly, Ludia changed the subject, which was a relief to me.
Moreover, if it’s about MARS, I can’t afford to miss it.
“Yeah. As it is now, Aquatic species won’t work, but in a way, Aquatic species might be necessary.”
I understand what Ludia means.
If you set the magic stones of Aquatic species into MARS as it is now, it can only reproduce them in their land-based forms.
For monsters like Mosasaurus or Sahagin that can also function on land, it’s fine, but for many monsters like Merlin or Whale, which can only function in water, it’s useless to set their magic stones because it only creates an illusion of them washed ashore.
It would be fine if there was water, but since Aquatic species tend to be large, a considerable amount of space is needed for water.
So, I’m racking my brain about what to do.
“So, could we reproduce seas or ponds by skillfully using elemental magic?”
Reproduce seas or ponds?
Ah, I see!
“So, illusions can be created not only of monsters but also of the surrounding environment!”
“Exactly! Then, even with Aquatic species, we might be able to manage it!”
It’s like a lightbulb moment!
And if the surrounding environment can also be created as an illusion, then for combat training, we could set it up not only on plains but also in forests, snowy fields, or even on ships.
Of course, it’s just an atmosphere, so it will feel different from actual combat, but it will allow the hologram monsters to exert their abilities to the fullest in their environment.
In fact, in actual encounters, those are the situations that occur most often, so it feels like it’s better to experience even just the atmosphere if possible.
“I don’t know if it’s possible, but it’s worth a try.”
“Indeed. If possible, I’d like to be able to experience the environment as well.”
Mako and Flam seem enthusiastic, so we have to try it.
Of course, I can’t replicate being underwater, but if possible, I’d like to provide an experience of situations like being on a ship or in a snowy field.
This will require a significant upgrade, or rather, it would be faster to build it anew.
“In that case, won’t we be short on magic stones?”
“Ah, that might be true.”
Although Prim rained on my parade, it’s true that we might run short of magic stones.
Magic stones from M-rank monsters can be used, but since a lot of magic is applied, it’s desirable to use magic stones from A-rank monsters if possible.
However, I only have two A-rank monster magic stones left.
It looks like I’ll have to go to the Krater Labyrinth again soon.
“Going to the Krater Labyrinth is fine, but that means I’ll have to take a week off again!”
“If we put our full effort into it, we could reach the 10th floor in about three days, but that would require Eos to fly us. However, that floor has not only M-rank but even A-rank monsters, so wouldn’t that be too much of a burden?”
Besides the issue of time off, the number of days is also a bottleneck.
Furthermore, to reach it in the shortest time, Eos would have to fully transform into her dragon form and fly us.
Since Eos is the fastest among Dragonians, if we take the shortest route, we should reach the 10th floor in three days.
However, there will be A-rank monsters along the way, and most of them are Catastrophe Species. Some are also flying monsters, so even for Eos, it will be difficult to remain unscathed.
Additionally, there are Grand Silk Crawlers and Royal Crawlers along the way, and if we’re lucky, we might even hunt an Imperial Crawler.
They are materials that can withstand the magic of Ancient Class, and since I’m using them for underwear and casual wear, it’s a bit hard to just pass them by.
“We’ll manage that somehow. The construction of the school buildings and facilities has already begun in Memoria, and I hear that preparations for opening next year are progressing.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The main headquarters of the Scholar’s Guild is under construction on a Float, but by using temporary housing as temporary facilities, it will open by next month.”
The Grand Scholar’s Master is to be the current Grand Trader’s Master.
That’s precisely why the successor Grand Trader’s Master was also invited to the reception.
Well, I had almost no contact with him, so I only exchanged a brief greeting.
“Things are moving quickly, but that’s not a bad thing.”
“Rather, it would be difficult if we didn’t get things on track to some extent before opening.”
In that case, Rika won’t be able to move.
The logging of the cherry trees is about to finish, and I wanted her to come with me if possible.
But I can’t push her too hard, so I guess I’ll have to give up this time too.
