第４８０堀：新しい始まり (Part1)
Chapter 480: A New Beginning
Side: Milly
*Tick, tock…*
The sound echoed through the room.
It was a sound I wouldn’t normally pay any mind to, but right now, the ticking of the clock felt loud and grating to my ears.
“...Yuki-san. I wonder if he’s alright...”
I muttered the words for the umpteenth time today.
Today, Yuki-san left us—the pregnant members—along with the bare minimum of staff at home, to handle the unofficial visit in Betan.
This visit to Betan was that important for the future of the world. It was a crucial first step.
Even though carrying Yuki-san’s child was something I had wished for, I honestly felt frustrated being left behind to watch the house at a time like this.
Why did the timing have to be so bad?
...Could some major problem be happening?
If I were there, wouldn’t I have been able to be of some help?
Thoughts like that kept swirling around in my head.
“...*Sniff*. Ugh, why am I crying?”
I’m in a safe house, yet I’m crying out of loneliness—that’s ridiculous.
I’m no better than a child.
But the tears wouldn’t stop; they spilled from my eyes, trailing down my cheeks.
“Milly! Let’s eat bananas!! They’re delicious, you know—wait!? Milly!?”
“Riel, you’re the only one who thinks bananas are delicious. I’m not a fan of—wait, Milly!?”
“Then Tori should eat some fried tofu—wait, Milly, what’s wrong? You’re crying.”
Just then, Riel and the others, who were also pregnant and waiting at home, entered the room. Seeing me in tears, they rushed over in a panic.
“Are you okay!? Is the baby coming!?”
“Riel, put the banana down for a second. It’s dangerous.”
“Wait, I’ll contact Rurua right away...”
Ah, they must have mistaken my crying for labor. I have to stop them before they make a fuss.
“I’m fine. It’s just... I suddenly felt like crying. The baby isn’t coming yet.”
“Really? Are you really okay?”
Riel set the banana on the table and peered at me, checking my condition.
“But Milly, what happened to make you cry?”
“Did you drop your fried tofu?”
“Only Kaya would cry over that.”
Yeah.
The lively conversation between the three of them helped me calm down.
“I’m fine. I’m really okay. I just got a bit anxious and the tears came out. Ah, come to think of it, Seraria and Rurua said that pregnancy makes you emotionally unstable. Is this what they meant?”
“Maybe so. I don’t know yet, though.”
“Phew. I’m glad it wasn’t anything serious.”
“Still, shouldn’t you have Rurua or Lilishe check on you just in case?”
Kaya suggested I get checked out, just to be safe.
True, could the stress of crying cause the birth to happen early?
“You’re right. I’ll have Rurua check me when she gets back.”
“That’s for the best.”
“Wait, isn’t that what we always do?”
“I guess so.”
“““Ahahaha...”””
As we laughed together, the sadness drifted away.
I suppose I really was just emotionally unstable.
Feeling that it would be bad to be left alone, I had the three of them stay in my room so we could keep talking.
“By the way, did you hear? The first day in Betan ended safely.”
“I heard. I’m glad there weren’t any problems.”
“It’s thanks to us training them so strictly.”
“Yeah. I’m so relieved—I was worried that something terrible might have happened to Yuki-san.”
Hearing Riel’s news, I let out a sigh of relief.
“But still, it’s going to be tough from here on out, isn’t it?”
“That’s true. The real work starts now.”
“I’m sure all sorts of problems will arise.”
“That’s only natural.”
Even Weed was in a mess due to interference from other countries until recently, and since this involves exchanges between entire continents, I’m sure there will be unforeseen troubles.
But we have to overcome them.
Only by moving forward can we find a foothold to solve the magic depletion.
“Well, we have to stay quiet until we give birth to our babies, though.”
“Riel, you need to be a bit more careful; it’s not good for the baby.”
“Even if you need moderate exercise, you don’t need the same kind of training Seraria does.”
“Riel, were you actually doing that?”
“Eh? Seraria was doing it, so why not? I want to move around too!”
It seems it’s my duty to keep Riel quiet for the sake of Yuki-san’s peace of mind.
Yuki-san is so kind to us; if he heard Riel was doing things like that, he’d definitely worry.
“Even Seraria took it easy when she reached her final month. Honestly, Riel, you’re almost there too, so stop it. Otherwise, I’ll tell Yuki-san to take away your fish dishes, okay?”
“Wha—!? Don’t do that!”
“Riel eats too much fish anyway, maybe it’s better if she doesn’t have any?”
“...That’s a good idea. Riel has been throwing up a lot lately, and I think overeating is part of the cause.”
“Ehh!?”
That’s true.
Now that I think about it, Riel has been eating and then throwing up quite a bit lately.
Did she say it was because of overeating due to pregnancy?
Since she forces herself to eat, reducing the amount is the logical solution.
She’d definitely eat more if it were her favorite food, too.
The idea of cutting out fish dishes might actually be a viable strategy.
As I was thinking about that, the door to the room suddenly swung open...
“Did something happen!?”
“Are you alright!! Milly-onesama!!”
“Milly-onee! Is the baby coming!?”
Dressa, Vilia, and Hiiro were looking at us with panicked expressions.
Ah, they must have heard us making a racket and got worried.
Dressa and the others are living under the same roof now, helping us pregnant women and assisting with chores.
Of course, they haven’t neglected their schoolwork or their duties at the guild, which involve both cleaning and gathering information.
So, it seems they had just finished their work and returned.
“I’m fine. We were just having a lively conversation.”
“Oh, that’s good...”
“We thought something had happened.”
“It’s a little disappointing the baby isn’t coming yet.”
The three of them were relieved to confirm there was no emergency, but I had something to say as well.
“And, Dressa.”
“What?”
“For starters, could you let go of Akiten?”
“Ah.”
That’s right.
Dressa was clutching Akiten in her arms.
Quite tightly, too.
“*Guh*!? Dressa-kaka-sama. It hurts~”
“O-oh, I’m sorry!? Are you okay!? Are you hurt anywhere!?”
“Yeah. Akiten is fine. I’m a strong girl. But I was surprised when I got home and was suddenly hugged and brought to Milly-kaka-sama’s room.”
Ah, that’s Dressa’s habit.
Dressa dotes on Akiten, responding to the trust Akiten places in her as a mother figure.
Of course, we all dote on her too, but the top spots are definitely Cleena and Dressa.
Yes, it’s reached the level where keeping her close or hugging her has become an unconscious reflex.
She probably secured Akiten the moment she got home and then flew over here when she heard our voices.
“Anyway, Kaka-samas. Akiten is going to go take care of my little sisters now, see you later~”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yeah. Take care.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Make sure to tell Kirue if there are any problems.”
“It’s okay. Akiten is a good girl.”
Seeing her off, Akiten returned to her sisters.
Just like that, Akiten is a wonderful big sister—she’s the daughter we’re all proud of.
“Dressa. I know Akiten is cute, but I don’t think it’s good to inconvenience her.”
“Ugh, it can’t be helped. Before I knew it, Akiten was in my arms...”
She really was doing it on an unconscious level.
Well, Dressa is well-liked by the children, and there aren’t any real problems—other than the fact that she spoils them too much...
As I was thinking that, other visitors arrived.
“Ah, so everyone was in a place like this.”
“Just as Kirue said.”
“What’s the matter? Did something happen?”
“We were worried because when we got back, everyone was gone.”