第４９４堀：新しい生活の日々 (Part2)
If the castle of Haiden were reduced to rubble overnight and its high-ranking royals were strung up, neighboring nations would undoubtedly scramble to carve up Haiden’s territory. This would trigger a surge in refugees, and since Weed—the one who brought Haiden down—would be responsible for protecting them, we would end up in a shooting war not just with Haiden, but with all the surrounding countries as well.
I could potentially seek mediation from the Empire, but if I don't demonstrate Weed's true strength first, they’ll just look down on us. Besides, I have no desire to owe the Empire any favors. It’s not like my wives are the type to just string up the royals and walk away, either. Even if they’re blinded by rage right now, they’re kind-hearted women at their core; they wouldn't just abandon the aftermath.
If they lose their cool, snap, and wipe Haiden off the map, my future schedule will become a logistical nightmare. I seriously hope they don't do that. Even if I turned every citizen of Weed into a soldier and stationed them as an occupying force, the administration would never keep up. Unnecessary expansion of the front lines is nothing but a recipe for defeat. Haiden needs to be held accountable, but I can't afford for them to be erased. To ensure that, I need my wives to keep their heads on straight. Given what Catherine told me, expecting Haiden to show any consideration for us is a bit of a pipe ladder.
"...Damn it. The work just keeps piling up."
Why does the workload never decrease, even when I’m trying to think through future developments in the bath? With those thoughts swirling, I finished my bath and headed to the living room for dinner.
The residence in this dungeon was only ever intended as a temporary dwelling. It’s large for a single house, but it’s nothing compared to the inns back in Weed. It’s essentially a single-story mansion with a luxurious bath. It’s Japanese-style because that’s my personal preference, so don't ask. Because of that, as I mentioned, there’s only one bath, and we don't have enough individual rooms for everyone, so we’ve been sleeping in groups of three, laying out futons on the floor. It’s only natural, I suppose, when you cram over ten people into a space designed for a few.
"Oh, Toto-sama, Kaka-sama! Sakura, Shans, it’s Toto-sama and Kaka-sama!"
"Papa!"
"Mama!"
Sakura, still unsteady on her feet but running toward me with determination, was scooped up into my arms. Shans was claimed by Samantha, while the remaining child was being tugged between Cleena and Dressa.
"Dressa. You really should yield to me, the one who gave birth to her."
"If you’re the birth mother, shouldn't you show some magnanimity? Besides, you didn't give birth to her, did you?"
"I don't need to hear about birth or anything else from a little girl who can't even confess her feelings yet."
" "Ahhh!?" "
"Toto-sama... the Kaka-samas are at it again..."
She said this while being petted and fussed over by the two, but she didn't look annoyed; she just looked to me for help.
"Papa, Shute-onee is fighting over me again."
"I see. Well, that’s a bad example, so everyone should try to get along. Next up, it’s Samantha-mama’s turn to hold you."
"Okay! Mama!"
I handed Sakura over to Samantha and took Shans, who had been in her arms, instead.
"There you go, Sakura. I'm home. Were you a good girl?"
"Yeah, Sakura was a good girl!"
"Were you a good girl too, Shans?"
"Sakura-oneechan touched my ears a lot, it was fun!"
As you can tell from that, Shans’s rabbit ears have become a favorite toy—or rather, an object of affection—for the children, led by Sakura. Since there are no other beastman children around, I suppose the appeal of "fluffiness" is universal, even in this world. Shans has been enduring it, but lately, she’s accepted it as part of her daily routine. At first, there were plenty of times when the kids would squeeze or pull too hard, making Shans cry and forcing me to scold Sakura and the others, but they’ve learned to be gentle and get along now.
Regardless, the children seem to be spending their days energetically. I was worried that the sudden change in their living environment would cause stress for the pregnant members and the children, but it seems they’re doing just fine.
"What did you play today?"
"Um, with the stuffed animals..."
As I listened to their stories, the sliding door to the living room opened, and Milly and the others poked their heads in.
"Welcome back, Yuki-san. Everyone. Dinner is ready."
"I worked hard today too!"
"Today, Tori-aneesama worked hard on the fish."
"It’s frozen silver salmon, though."
Still, being able to eat fish in such an isolated place is a luxury. Come to think of it, they said Haiden faces a lake; I wonder how their fishing industry is doing? There are no monsters there, so are they managing it properly? I don't know much about fishing in the medieval European era. I’ll have to look into it later. For now, let’s take our seats...
"Let's eat."
" " "Let's eat." " "
Eat, sleep well, and build up the energy for tomorrow. The wives' frustrations continue to mount, and Haiden hangs by a thread. And as for Yuki, his work only continues to grow. Though, the lifestyle hasn't changed all that much—other than the shortage of rooms.