The meeting was currently on a break.
The Civil Official Girls were passing the time with a bit of idle gossip.
"If we had to decide who the Village's Four Heavenly Kings were, who do you think they would be?"
"Let's see. Lulushi-san and Tia-san are a given, right? As for the other two... maybe Hakuren-san and Rusty-san?"
"Wait, aren't Dragons an unfair advantage?"
"If you're going to say that, then Lulushi-san and Tia-san are unfair advantages too."
"Ah... true. But if we go by that logic, then the Vampires, the Angel Race, and the High Ogre Race are all disqualified."
"I think the Lizardmen and the Devil Race should be out, too."
"That leaves the Dwarves, the Beastman Race, the Minotaur Race, the Centaur Race, and us Civil Official Girls. We have to pick the Four Heavenly Kings from that group."
"You say Dwarves, but Donovan-san and his group are Elder Dwarves. They're a legendary race with the right of free passage in any country."
"They just look like a bunch of old men who love their booze, though."
"Ahaha. Careful what you say; some of them are women, you know."
"Whoops."
"Anyway, back to the topic... How about these four: Galf-san from the Beastman Race, Gordon-san from the Minotaur Race, Gluewald-san from the Centaur Race, and Frau-sama from the Civil Official Girls? Unfortunately, that puts the Dwarves in the 'unfair advantage' category."
"Is it all right to count Frau-sama as part of the Civil Official Girls?"
"She’s basically our representative, isn’t she? It’s fine."
"I guess so. Oh, wait. I heard that Galf-san is known as the 'War God' back in the Demon Kingdom."
"Now that you mention it, that’s true. I’ve heard that too."
"Then isn't he an unfair advantage?"
"Good point. Then let's swap Galf-san for... Gatto-san?"
"Why not just pick Sena-san?"
"Perfect. Then the Village's Four Heavenly Kings will be Sena-san of the Beastman Race, Gordon-san of the Minotaur Race, Gluewald-san of the Centaur Race, and Frau-sama."
"...They lack a bit of punch compared to the first lineup of Lulushi-san, Tia-san, Hakuren-san, and Rusty-san."
"Well, these Four Heavenly Kings are more focused on internal affairs."
"Didn't Sena-san defeat Gratz-sama a while back?"
"Don't worry about the details."
It seemed they had reached a verdict.
However, I had a few lingering questions. Setting aside the fact that they hadn't included Kuro's or Zabuton's groups, why didn't they choose anyone from the High Elves, the Lamia Race, or the Giant Race?
"Oh, we excluded everyone who lived in the Forest of Death from the very beginning."
Does that mean I'm disqualified too?
If I were the one deciding on the Four Heavenly Kings, it would be Kuro, Zabuton, Lu, and Tia. I'd simply go by the order they arrived in the village. After all, they’ve been working hard for this place the longest.
I’ve been here since the start too, but I obviously wouldn’t include myself. I had at least that much humility.
As I was pondering this, the Civil Official Girls' meeting seemed ready to resume. I moved to a different spot to stay out of their way.
The meeting was about this year's festival, so I could have participated, but I wasn't really in the mood. A few days after returning from Shashato City, I had received an emergency message: Sena was about to give birth.
It was originally scheduled for a bit later—around the time the festival ended—but it seemed the baby was coming early. I left everything to the Devil Race midwives and Holly, but six hours had already passed. They said it would still take some time.
...I couldn't stay still if I wasn't doing something.
So, I decided to make a toy for the kittens. A Cat Tower.
...The kittens didn't even give it a second glance. It was fine. I’d had a feeling that would happen.
Jewel, you don't have to force yourself to be nice. Yes, yes. Miel climbed onto my head, and the others huddled on my lap... though my lap was already occupied by Kuro.
After playing with Kuro and the kittens, I received the news while I was in the bath. Sena had safely delivered. It was a girl.
Sette, the daughter of Sena from the Beastman Race. Beastman children showed their racial traits from the moment they were born. I thought I understood that intellectually, but seeing it was different. Just like Sena, she was a dog-type beastman.
Both mother and child were healthy. For the record, Sena was the one who chose the name.
However—not that I’m complaining—maternal heritage seems incredibly strong. It was the same with Lu and Tia. It would probably be the same for Ria, Ann, Hakuren, and Frau as well. Was the mother's blood always dominant in this world? Or was my own blood just weak?
It didn't truly bother me, but I couldn't help but wonder. No, I should just be grateful the child was born healthy and would grow up well. God had cured me, but I had once died of a terminal illness. It might be for the best that they didn't inherit my blood too strongly. Even if it felt a little lonely.
Every year, the children of Zabuton who were about a year old would set out on their own journeys, but some always stayed behind. None of them left once they hit the two-year mark. Consequently, some of the ones who stayed had been here for as long as ten years. This meant there were a fair number of quite large individuals. Makura was the most prominent example.
Until now, perhaps out of modesty, the ones that grew large had stayed active in the trees or deep within the forest. Even when they showed themselves, it was usually as commanders for the guards of Village One, Village Two, or Village Three. They were reserved and didn't stand out much.
And yet, these massive individuals had suddenly started becoming very noticeable. The existence of the dungeon was likely the main reason. Individuals that had reached a certain size had entered the dungeon and adapted to it. Some were even starting to grow larger than Zabuton herself. Moreover, unlike the relatively flat Zabuton, they were built more vertically, making them feel even more gargantuan. They looked like walking boulders.
Of course, even at that size, they hadn't lost their charm; they still raised a single leg to greet me as usual. I wondered if they were a power-focused evolution. Oh, they had speed too? I see.
There were ten of them in total. They occasionally came out of the dungeon to stretch their legs and get a change of pace, which was why they were becoming so prominent.
And then, there was one who was even more unique.
"Chief."
A spider roughly two meters square appeared before me. But where the head should have been sat the upper body of a human woman. Was the race called an Arachne? She couldn't speak very well yet, but she was gradually getting better. At first, she could only make strange, high-pitched sounds.
She was also properly wearing clothes now. Having her topless was a bit... well, it wasn't great for the children's education, so I’d felt bad asking, but she’d complied.
"What is it?"
"Zabuton... sama... is..."
"Ah, you don't have to force yourself to speak. Use the usual gestures."
At my words, the Arachne nodded obediently and began moving her legs. It seemed Zabuton was calling for me.
"I understand. Is it Urza today? Or Gral?"
It looked like she had intercepted them just as they were trying to sneak into the forest. ...Both of them, then. Sorry for the trouble.
"There's no rush with the speaking. Just take it one word at a time."
"Yes... thank... you... very... much."
Waved off by the Arachne's mix of spider legs and human hands, I went to collect Urza and Gral.
...Arachne was just the name of the race. I really needed to think of a proper name for her. I’ll make a list and see which one she likes best.