第１２０８堀：仕事ばかりだと疲れます (Part2)
After all, one wrong step and, quite literally, your head could go flying.
If you were to receive a letter from such powerful figures asking to meet you, it would be no wonder if you found yourself trembling in your boots.
Though, I suppose I can understand the desire to see me.
Regardless, I need to gauge whether they can truly act as intermediaries for me.
If things go poorly, there’s a risk that requests might stall at Orelia’s end or be conveyed in some distorted fashion.
"For now, I think I’ll leave the 'ramen' matter that Blade of Roday is pushing to Orelia and the others."
"That sounds best. Or, actually, why not just leave the ramen business to Kiyu?"
"Kiyu is treated as my younger brother and subordinate. If I were to establish a new department for that..."
"That would require preparation for a new organization, wouldn't it? Perhaps it’s better to just dispatch him as part of a request?"
"That’s the current plan. But ramen has spread beyond Weed; there are shops popping up across the Rogari and If continents. There’s talk that we shouldn't just set up something on our own, but rather establish it within an existing organization."
"What do you mean?"
"Ratz says there’s talk of establishing it as a division under the Commercial Guild’s restaurant sector."
"Ah, so since it’s a business, they want to handle it there. Would that mean less of a burden for us?"
"To an extent. Still, I’m the one who started the ramen trend. I suppose there will still be things like dispatching Kiyu. I’m thinking of leaving the coordination of that to Orelia and the others."
"I see. It’s not the kind of issue that requires you to stick your neck out, but leaving it entirely alone would be problematic, wouldn't it?"
If I left it alone, Blade would try to aggressively force ramen culture onto the entire world.
I’ve even received bizarre reports that he’s apprenticed himself to Kiyu to undergo training.
I want to ask him, "What about your duties as a king?" but this is the same man who had a prior record of working a part-time job repairing his own castle walls.
Incidentally, I haven't told Samantha a word of that.
It’s obvious that such news would be bad for the health of both mother and child.
"Oh, that reminds me, speaking of Roday—Samantha and the others are getting close, aren't they?"
"Hm? Yes, that’s right. The due date is coming up soon. Come to think of it, things have been quite hectic. I thought it was still further off."
"Me too. If anything, I feel terrible that I can't be by their side."
I truly mean that.
Leaving my pregnant wives behind to focus solely on work.
And on top of that, I just brought Fiora back with me. Am I really the worst?
"What are you saying? You come home properly every day to check on Samantha and the others. No one is feeling lonely."
"Are you sure?"
"I am. You’re hopeless when it comes to that, aren't you? Honestly, I think your overprotectiveness is a bit much. I was only doing some 'light exercise,' after all."
"Seraria, what you call 'light exercise' isn't light at all."
After all, she ended up sparring with Deryu by the end of it.
Honestly, why can’t this queen just sit still?
"By the way, have the names for Samantha’s children been decided?"
"No, it’s difficult for me to decide that on my own. Well, if I pushed for it, it would probably pass, but..."
"Ah, the politics of each nation, right? If you decide on your own, it certainly leaves a bad impression."
"That was the case with Sakura and Sumire, too. In that regard, Ratz, Eris, Milly, Riel, Tori, and Kaya were easier to deal with."
"That group doesn't have powerful figures looming behind them, after all. Well, it’s just a matter of putting forward some name suggestions and seeing which one is chosen."
As if they had heard us talking, a call came through.
Seraria received one at the same time.
I wondered what was happening, and then came the message from Rurua, who works at the hospital...
『Samantha, Cleena, Ria, and Jessica have all gone into labor at the same time. We are currently attending to them at the hospital. Those who can spare the time, please come by.』
I jumped to my feet in a panic upon receiving such vital news, but Seraria immediately pushed me back down into my chair.
"Hey!?"
"If you go, you’ll just be pacing back and forth in a panic and getting in the way. Stay here and do your work properly."
"Ngh..."
It was a sound argument; I had no rebuttal.
"Kagura and the others, come with me. You need to properly study what childbirth entails. Kirue, I’m sending Tori and the others over here, so please guard your husband until then."
"Understood."
"And make sure he doesn't come over there, no matter what. Keep a close watch to ensure he does his work."
"Yes."
And so, unable to leave this spot as usual, I sat there—having completely forgotten my exhaustion—fidgeting and monitoring the screens...
"Master. Please, calm down."
"Yuki-san. Let’s try to be a little more composed."
"Checking the clock every twenty seconds isn't going to change anything."
"...Every single time, that kind of thing is no good. It’s annoying."
"I’m sorry."
Well then, something troublesome in a completely different sense has begun.
Will they all give birth safely?