Just as I was starting to breathe easy after Ren’s successful delivery, it was Wifey’s turn.
This one went exactly according to schedule.
It was over in much less time than Ren’s, too. Obstetric medicine for Normal Species humans is incredibly advanced. Ren’s babies were tiny lives weighing a mere 100 grams each, and sextuplets at that—besides, the Beast Race rarely gives birth in hospitals. Compared to that, it was only natural that a Normal Species birth with plenty of clinical precedents would proceed smoothly.
Outside, the festival atmosphere continued day after day.
It wasn't just in Chronos, either. Throughout the Galactic Empire, the Kamishiro Group and the various Trading Companies were holding festivals in every corner of the realm. The economic impact was already showing up in the statistics; the graphs were spiking in this sector alone.
The national treasury was being thrown around so much that the Civil Servants in charge of tax affairs prepared themselves for a nightmare of overtime, lamenting that "the beginning of hell" had arrived. Sorry about that.
Cars and houses were selling like hotcakes, and even used properties on local planets became the subject of bidding wars. I have to be careful not to do something stupid like razing fields just to build high-rise apartments. Well, I'll make an exception for cases where large care facilities are needed due to the aging population, but I'm talking about avoiding mindless development.
In the first place, a vast number of planets were turned into scorched earth during the Zork War. Even on the Imperial Capital Planet, only the area surrounding the Imperial Capital has been restored to its former state. It was urban collapse on a planetary scale. In the provinces, they haven't even finished clearing the rubble yet. By my calculations, there will be enough work to keep people busy for several hundred years. Well, according to the calculations, anyway.
The planets around the Imperial Capital have been divided into Agricultural Planets and Industrial Planets, which are being developed by the Duke House Mistral and the Grand Ducal House Kamishiro. The Grand Ducal House Kamishiro includes the family homes of my wives...
To put it simply, we've excluded the Duke Association and its remnants, who used to develop things chaotically and however they pleased. We developed the land rationally and according to a plan. The economic growth rate is likely to hit a terrifying figure.
The same applies to Chronos and Parcion. Lepsitolians are clever, so there’s no problem leaving them to their own devices. I just need to strictly crack down on economic crimes.
"Your Majesty, you may see her now."
With that, my wandering thoughts came to an end.
Wifey was wearing an oxygen mask. Naturally, the baby was larger than Ren’s kittens, and they told me it was fine to see him. Hmm, the mystery of life.
When I stepped inside, Wifey looked sleepy.
"Wifey... are you okay?"
"Umu... Sleepy..."
"Don't push yourself."
"My child...?"
"The Prince is right here."
The nurse brought the baby over.
He was adorable. Ren’s Kittens are precious, but this normal baby is something special too.
Wifey gathered him into her arms. Thanks to military nanomachines, she was able to hold her child immediately even after a Caesarean Section.
"...The Prince. A boy, I see. I am thy mother."
Wifey was still a bit dazed. I hurried to support her as the nurse took the child back. I laid Wifey down, and she was already breathing rhythmically in her sleep.
I left the child in the nurse's care and stepped out. Even here, a father's visiting time is short. How tragic...
Outside, I found Suematsu-san cleaning up after the ritual.
"Your Majesty. Congratulations."
"Thanks, thanks."
As I spoke, a Lady-in-waiting stepped forward. "Please, accept this," she said, handing me a congratulatory envelope.
My goodness, it was so thick it looked like it could stand up on its own! Inside were likely gift certificates exchangeable for electronic currency—the kind of thing used only for occasions like this. They are intentionally designed to look bulky.
I handed a similar gift to the Priest of the Chronos Religion. This one was a congratulatory envelope styled according to the rituals of the Chronos Religion. I have my reservations about the custom... but this is very important money. Basically, it’s funds for the staff to split for a celebration party and as a bonus.
Knowing Suematsu-san, he’ll handle the distribution well. The Chronos Religion has gradually come to understand my way of doing things, so no problems should arise. I distributed funds when Ren gave birth, and I plan to do the same for Claire.
Of course, a High Priest has to distribute shares to his own subordinates. Since Suematsu-san is also a High Priest of the shrine, he’ll pass it along to the staff... It’s a mystery how it stops being a bribe the moment it's distributed properly. It only becomes a problem when someone pointlessly hoards it without using it. Thus, money makes the world go 'round.
Since Wifey was sleeping, I requested that they keep the volume down during the festival. In response, the police and Amada Security guided the crowds away. They moved everyone to a second venue.
They already had a second venue set up...? The food trucks were moving en masse too. The Chronos lot... they’re getting more and more clever by the day...
At that moment, Intuition-chan whispered that it would be bad if I didn't show my face. Telling myself it would only be a quick greeting, I was ushered onto the stage.
"To all the citizens of the Kingdom of Chronos and the Galactic Empire, thanks to you all, I have safely become a father! Thank you!"
A greeting only needs to be a single sentence. Nobody's really listening anyway. I waved and made my exit.
The escort knights bought some food for me. While I was at it, I decided to order some yakitori from Ha-san's shop. I contacted her with the intention of making a reservation, saying it was fine if the order was ready after Claire's delivery.
Wait, what? You’ve already prepared it? Apparently, the first batch was already on its way to the Palace.
My behavior patterns are being read like a book...
And so, we held an unveiling party for the discharged Ren and the Kittens, combined with a celebration for Wifey.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
A chorus of chaotic screams rose from the women. It was the fluffy Kittens.
"So cuuuuuuuuuuute!"
Apparently, one is a boy and the rest are all girls. Their eyes aren't open yet, but their vocal cords seem to have formed, as they were letting out tiny, high-pitched chirps. They were nestled in a stroller lined with towels provided by the Lady-in-waiting.
"Are they hungry?" one of the women asked, and Ren smiled.
"I just fed them."
"Are they all breastfed?"
"With six of them, we have to take turns. Commercial formula has evolved quite a bit as well."
"What are their names?"
Ah, the dreaded question had arrived.
"I wanted to name them after the Oso... brothers, but I was met with fierce opposition, and we haven't decided on anything yet!"
The women all looked away at once. The Idiot Boys looked at me.
Rest assured. I will definitely stop her. It would just be too pitiful. I don't want to give girls names intended for guys.
But I didn't think the resulting fallout would develop into a battle without honor or humanity between the shrines, the temples, and the Chronos Religion. It is a massive, tangled mess!
On top of that, representatives from the Imperial House joined the fray, and it turned into a grand struggle involving the names of Wifey’s and Claire's children as well. I don't even know what's going on anymore! Can there really be this much of a fuss over a single name?!
Since it looks like people might actually die, I'll have them solve it through negotiation. If it gets too heated, I plan to leave it to the Auntie Squad from the Inner Palace.
At the time, caught up in the festival atmosphere, I failed to notice something.
I didn't notice that the Childcare Team for the next Emperor was heading this way.
And that Mom was among them!
Don't come here, you old hag!