**Side: Mana**
We had defeated the Mega Quakes and Quake Kings at our planned campsite, but the earthquakes caused by the Mega Quake’s earth magic had ravaged the area, making it impossible to set up camp.
If only we could find a place to deploy the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, but I didn’t expect it to be that easy, which was causing me a headache.
“It’s getting late, and it’s hard to find a spot from the sky too.”
“Besides, if we fly through the sky, won’t we just provoke Hanuman?”
“That’s true…”
Faris and El were also pondering what to do. There were nocturnal monsters, and we couldn’t predict the movement of monsters in the Gagun Great Forest, so we needed to find a campsite quickly. But once the sun set, we wouldn’t be able to move.
Not only were there Mega Quakes and Quake Kings here, but the smell of Stella Garum blood, which had been wiped out by the Mega Quake’s earthquake, also permeated the area. The roots that had become the ground due to the earthquake were also in disarray, so camping here was out of the question.
“It can’t be helped. Shall we go to Alka tonight?”
“I’m concerned about the Gagun Great Forest, but that seems like the best option for now.”
“Alright. Sorry to trouble you, but could you handle it?”
Searching for a place to camp from the sky was an option, but flying carelessly in the Gagun Great Forest could provoke Hanuman, so we wanted to avoid it if possible.
That left us with no choice but to venture into the Gagun Great Forest at night at our own risk to search for a spot. However, there was no guarantee we’d find one, and everyone in the High Class was exhausted, so we wanted them to rest as soon as possible.
We could use Traveling to return to Mistol, but from Alka, we could easily return to this spot using the transfer stones held by Yamato and Mako, making restarts easy.
Besides, returning to Mistol haphazardly might only fuel anxiety, so whether it was the best option or not, spending the night in Alka was a necessary evil.
“Then tonight… *ugh*!”
The moment I was about to say we’d spend the night in Alka, I was suddenly struck by intense nausea and doubled over.
“Mana! Are you alright?!”
“I-I’m fine… thank you… *urp*!”
I didn’t want to worry Yamato, but I couldn’t help it.
Why was I suddenly feeling nauseous…?
“El, could this be…?”
“Probably. Mako, could you examine her?”
“Ah! Y-yes! Mana-sama, excuse me! *Examining*!”
Faris, El, and Mako seemed to have figured out the cause of my discomfort, but I wasn’t sure if that was a little reassuring…
“It is! Yamato-kun, quickly get the transfer stone!”
“Huh?”
“Hurry!”
“Y-yes, I understand!”
Abruptly approached by Mako’s formidable demeanor, Yamato used the transfer stone.
But if they figured out the cause, I wish they’d tell me quickly?
“It’s not safe here! And from now on, Mana-sama, you are forbidden from hunting!”
“W-why!? *Ugh*…”
Instead of telling me the cause, she forbade me from hunting. Why?!
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
“Indeed. Rather, it’s a natural measure.”
Faris and El’s words seemed to convince some people. But I couldn’t accept it, and Yamato looked quite flustered, as if he hadn’t heard the conversation.
“Either way, let’s go to Alka quickly. Mako, you can take care of things here. Leave it to us.”
“Please do!”
Following Mako, who was the first to pass through the transfer stone’s magic circle, we returned to Alka.
After confirming everyone had transferred to Alka, Yamato closed the magic circle, but he was worried about my poor health and carried me all the way to the Main Hall.
Upon arriving at the Main Hall, not only Mako, who had returned earlier, but also Lady Apricot were there, and I was quickly taken to my private room on the fourth floor.
We usually slept together in the master bedroom on the fourth floor of the Main Hall at night, but we all had private rooms, including Yamato, for days when we weren’t in the mood or felt unwell.
The open-air bath on the top floor could only be accessed from the master bedroom, so that was the only minor issue.
“There. Lady Apricot, what do you think?”
I was quickly changed and laid down in bed, but seeing an A-Rank Healer and an M-Rank Healer with their brows furrowed in deep thought made me very uneasy. Ancient Classes were not supposed to fall ill, so I couldn’t help but think it might be a very serious illness.
“My diagnosis is the same as Mako-san’s, and the examination confirms it. Congratulations, Mana-sama.”
“Eh?”
Lady Apricot suddenly congratulated me, and I let out a dumbfounded sound.
Also, I felt sick, so congratulations made no sense at all.
“Uh, Mana-sama, you’re pregnant. You’re already four months along.”
…Eh?
Pregnant… me?
If I’m not mistaken, that means it’s Yamato’s child, right?
And four months?
“The nausea is morning sickness, so it should subside soon. I didn’t notice it myself until Mako-san mentioned it, but everyone is different.”
Come to think of it, I recall Sister Elis often feeling unwell when she was pregnant with Rest. On the other hand, Sister Maruca, like me, didn’t feel any particular symptoms.
Ah, but Sister Maruca has also evolved into an Ancient Aldeley, so perhaps that’s why she didn’t notice until later?
“As expected, it’s highly likely since it’s your second child. I’ll report this to the Grand Healer’s Master later, but it’s not something that can be easily investigated, so I don’t know what will happen.”
Well, I am a Celestial, and Sister Maruca is the Empress. Furthermore, we are the only two Ancient Classes currently pregnant, so it must be difficult to investigate.
“I see… I was pregnant.”
“I apologize for not noticing sooner.”
Mako bowed her head, but I hadn’t noticed either, so it was impossible.
“Don’t worry about it. Still, I heard from Gaia-sama, and it’s true that I’m the first.”
According to the precognitive dream of the Holy Mother Dragon Gaia, I would be the first to bear Yamato’s child, followed by Rika. Whether it would be Prim or Flam after that was uncertain, but from what I heard, it was certain that the four of us, including myself, would bear children.
I thought it would be a little later, but now that I know I’m pregnant, I feel both happy and anxious.
“That’s how it is. I felt the same way when I was pregnant with Prim.”
It’s helpful to have someone with experience nearby to get advice from. So, Faris and El didn’t notice because they were both mothers.
“Well then, I’ll go explain to everyone.”
“Ah, wait. I’ll go with you.”
“No. Mana-sama, you should stay here and be looked after by Lady Apricot.”
I wanted to tell them myself, but Mako stopped me easily.
“Ideally, that would be best, and you should do so, but I heard you were having trouble walking. Also, considering the baby, you should prioritize resting your body.”
With Lady Apricot saying so, I had no choice but to comply. I’m truly disappointed that I couldn’t report to Yamato myself.
**Side: Prim**
“Mana is pregnant!?”
“Yes. I confirmed it with Lady Apricot as well, so there’s no mistake.”
Even though Mana was taken away as soon as we returned to Alka, Faris-san and El-san didn’t seem panicked, so I had a feeling it was something like this, but I was right. I knew Mana would be the first to get pregnant, but I wished I could have been the first to bear Yamato’s child.
“And she’s four months pregnant. Normally, people notice sooner.”
“That’s true. Given Maruca-sama’s situation, it’s probably harder for Ancient Classes to notice.”
Ancient Classes are said to be immune to all illnesses, so that might be the case.
“Th-then, what about Mana?”
“She’s resting in her room. Lady Apricot is with her, so please calm down a bit.”
Yamato is in a state of extreme panic, but there’s nothing to be done about this. However, there’s nothing Yamato can do. Oh, there’s one thing.
“Yamato-san, we need to inform His Majesty and my brothers too.”
“Eh? Ah, right!”
As Mina said, we need to inform Brother Rai and Rex-san, but Yamato is so flustered that he hasn’t even considered it. To calm him down, it might be better to send him. We also need to inform Yuri, Sister Hilde, and Rika-san, but they should be returning soon, so it can wait until then.
“That’s important too, but we need to decide what to do about investigating the Gagun Great Forest starting tomorrow?”
” ” “Ah…” ” ”
El-san reminded us. That’s right, we were investigating the Gagun Great Forest. But we had completely forgotten about that.
“It’s understandable given the situation with the co-wives’ pregnancy. Mana-sama’s withdrawal is natural, but what about you all?”
“What do you mean, ‘what about us’? We’re participating.”
Mana’s withdrawal is natural, but that’s no reason for us to withdraw as well.
“That may be so, but aren’t you going to report to Amagi Castle and Laofen tomorrow? Someone has to stay behind, don’t they?”
Cliff-san’s words made us look at each other. We hadn’t thought about that at all.
“If that’s the case, please leave it to us.”
As we were wondering what to do, Lumina stepped forward. Well, Amagi Castle should be fine, but Laofen Labyrinth is beyond our capabilities.
“As Prim-sama said, Laofen Labyrinth is beyond us, but the Associate Order’s Master has returned to Float, right?”
“I’m not sure. I think they might be in Ovest or Mistol.”
“What about Laofen, can’t we go now?”
Lumina seemed to be considering asking Miranda to deliver a message, but it was uncertain whether she had returned to Float. In that case, as Faris-san said, it seems fine to tell her directly now.
“That might be best. Yamato, do you want to go?”
“Yeah!”
“Wait!”
As soon as he said it, Yamato dashed off towards Laofen, but he was apprehended by Mako’s wind engraving magic.
“Honestly… Going is fine, but bring someone with you. And before that, why don’t you go see Mana-sama?”
“…Yes, I’m sorry.”
This is the first time I’ve seen Yamato this flustered. Even though I knew it was coming, failing to get pregnant with Yamato’s child first makes me a little jealous of Mana, but I still bless her from the bottom of my heart. Mana and I have been like sisters, and now we are co-wives married to the same man.
Yamato was led by Mako to Mana’s room as if being taken away. We also need to visit Mana later.
“We’d like to visit her too, but we also need to think about tomorrow.”
“Yes. It’s a blow that Mana-sama can’t move, but we can’t just stop our investigation.”
We had forgotten for a moment, but we were in the middle of investigating the Gagun Great Forest. Mana’s withdrawal due to pregnancy is natural, but there’s no reason for us to withdraw as well. So, we have no choice but to continue the investigation tomorrow. However, the problem isn’t us or Mana.
“What about Yamato?”
“I think Mana-sama will persuade him, but you can assume he’ll be useless. Cliff, you remember, don’t you?”
“Never mind me!”
Cliff-san and Faris-san are a couple. I heard they’ve been married for over 10 years. They have children, who are currently being looked after by Faris-san’s mother in Float. Apparently, when Faris-san got pregnant, Cliff-san was so ecstatic that he was completely out of it when hunting, and couldn’t hunt monsters properly. So, Faris-san is worried that Yamato will be the same.
“I can’t deny it. Especially since the baby Mana-sama is carrying will be Yamato-kun’s first child, he’ll be out of his mind no matter what he does, and his concentration will be poor.”
There’s a growing sentiment that not only Mana but also Yamato should withdraw. Considering Yamato’s behavior earlier, it does seem like it would be better to do so.
“Given the circumstances, it’s unavoidable, but Yamato-dono’s withdrawal is a significant loss.”
“He’s the record holder for the Helios Orb, and his achievements in defeating Demise Species are also significant.”
I also have achievements in defeating Demise Species, as does El-san, but in terms of level, Yamato’s withdrawal is a blow. After suppressing the Gagun Labyrinth flood the other day, Yamato’s level has reached 97, making him the Helios Orb’s strongest force in name and reality. He also delivered the final blow to all but the Orc Empress among the Demise Species, so I feel a little uneasy. However, with Mana’s situation, and the fact that he might only get injured if he’s out of his mind during the investigation, Yamato’s withdrawal is unavoidable. We’ll just have to make do tomorrow without Yamato and Mana.
