第２０９掘：重なる (Part1)
**Dungeon 209: Overlapping**
**Overlapping**
**Side: Seraria**
I am currently lying in a private bed at the hospital in Weed.
It’s not that I’ve suffered any serious injury or anything of the sort.
You see, the child I’m carrying—Yuki’s child—was moving a bit too energetically, which made me feel just a tiny bit unwell.
What a rambunctious little one.
I suppose that’s only natural, given that they carry both my blood and Yuki’s.
But everyone around me panicked and rushed me to the hospital.
"Honestly, Milly, you’re overreacting. The baby just kicked a little, that’s all."
"And what else would you have me do, my lady?"
"But you contacted Yuki, didn't you? Right when the defensive battle is about to begin."
That’s right. After Milly brought me to the hospital, she contacted my husband, who is currently on the verge of battle to protect the city.
I don’t truly believe he would just abandon the front lines and come running back.
But if his focus is clouded by worry, it might lead to unnecessary damage to the city.
After all, my husband is incredibly kind; I can only imagine how he’d react if he heard I had collapsed.
"Don't worry, Chi-nee-sama. Yuki-san wouldn't do anything that reckless," Eris said.
"Indeed," added Deryu. "That Yuki wouldn't lose his head to the point of abandoning the city just to come to Seraria’s side."
Elju, who serves as the hospital director, is here, which is expected. But Deryu—and in fact, all the other pregnant members—have gathered at the hospital as well.
"Well, I suppose you’re right, Deryu, but why is everyone else here?" I asked, looking at the group.
"I am the other half of the hospital director," Rurua explained.
That makes sense. She is a user of Extra Heal and has studied Earth medicine, so having her here is reassuring. But she is in her final month of pregnancy, just like me.
"I’m just here to use this as a reference for when I give birth," Eris said.
"Same here," added Ratz.
Ah, well, it’s our first time, so it’s natural to be anxious. Even though I’ve received a "Safe Delivery" skill from that fake goddess and Lilishe-sama, I still feel uneasy.
"I am also with child, but I cannot simply leave the Master’s main wife, my lady, unattended," Kirue replied with her usual earnestness.
That’s a fine answer for a maid, but you’re also carrying Yuki’s child, so please, take it easy.
"So, Grandma, what’s the verdict?"
I turned to the woman who could only use minor healing spells but possessed the experience of a midwife and the strength of a veteran who had given birth three times herself.
"Like I told Milly-chan, it’ll be today or tomorrow. You’d best stay here and take it easy. Honestly, Seraria-chan, you are the Queen of Weed, after all. Usually, you wouldn't be in just a single room, you’d have something more..."
"It’s fine. It would be a waste of funds to build such a place just for this. This room is plenty. But, are you certain it will be today or tomorrow?"
"Aye. If my assessment is correct."
"If it’s your assessment, Grandma, I trust it. For the sake of the baby, I’ll refrain from my sword practice for the next two days."
*Sigh.* I feel so restless when I don't practice my swings.
"...Chi-nee-sama. Were you doing that in secret? I told you it wasn't good for the baby."
"I couldn't help it. It’s my daily routine; I can’t just stop so easily. It was only a little bit, so it’s fine."
"You never change, Seraria."
"I don't want to hear that from you, Deryu. You’ve been training Jessica, haven't you?"
"Th-that’s because I’ve been using a Doppelganger!"
Deryu turned her head away with a creaking sound. Standing there were Elju, Rurua, and Kirue, all wearing expressions of pure fury.
"What is the meaning of this, Deryu-san?"
"We told you so many times to consider the baby..."
"Yuki-sama, and by extension, your younger brother, will be saddened."
"I’m sorry!! Please, stop looking at me like that!!"
Deryu apologized desperately to the three of them. So, she really was training Jessica behind everyone’s back.
"Anyway, getting back on track, I don't think Yuki-san would lose his composure and let the city suffer damage."
"That’s true. Maybe he’ll just wipe out the enemy army in one go for your sake and come back, Seraria?"
"As Ratz says, Yuki is capable of that, but given our current policy, we can't afford to stand out, so he has to fight a standard defensive battle."
"I know that, but it wouldn't surprise me if he found some other way to deal with the enemy without anyone noticing."
"...That sounds terrifyingly plausible."
My husband is incredibly skilled at using his knowledge from Earth to fight.
Since I acquired the Japanese language skill, I’ve read famous tactical texts like Sun Tzu’s *The Art of War* and the *Six Secret Teachings*. Honestly, I can only describe his methods as absurd.
His way of thinking is completely different. Unlike this world, Earth has no magic; the accumulation of technology and the history of warfare in that harsh world is, much to my chagrin, far superior.
And my husband is an expert at using that knowledge to manipulate situations so that battles don't even have to happen. Like trapping an entire army in a pitfall.
"...A pitfall?"
Something caught my attention.
"Is something wrong, Seraria? Are you feeling ill?" Eris asked, peering at me with concern.
"No, I’m not ill. I was just worried about my husband."
"Wouldn't it be better to have Yuki-san come here?"
"Fufu, it’s alright. I’m not that lonely. Everyone is here with me."
We all smiled at each other.
Yes, if I were still in Roschur, I never would have seen a scene like this.
So many people gathered around Yuki, laughing together like this.
And all of them are his wives. Including me.
Still, the timing is a bit unfortunate.
Was it the Holy Kingdom of Enaria? I’ll have to thank them once I’ve recovered from the birth.
Honestly, I wanted my husband by my side when the child was born, but in this era of endless conflict, perhaps simply being able to prepare for a safe birth like this is a blessing in itself.
As we were chatting, I heard footsteps running down the hallway, and my hospital room door was flung open with great force.
"Seraria!! Are you alright!!"
My husband had burst into the room.
In a Doppelganger body... wearing a rare set of armor.
Oh my, he actually looks quite good in it.
"Wait, that’s not the point!! You, what about the battlefield!! Don't tell me you abandoned it..."
I thought Yuki had abandoned the city's defense for my sake, but then, the other members who had gone to the New Continent with Yuki also burst in, using Doppelganger bodies.
"Yuki-san, it’s bad to be seen in that armor!!"
"This is a hospital, please keep it down..."
"...Also, how did you get here faster than us, even though we traveled via rings?"