The next day arrived. I had intended to hold a family meeting, but a night of sleep had restored my composure.
First, about that family meeting.
The topic I wanted to address was the children's future career paths. Considering the weight of their futures, it would have been appropriate for everyone to attend, even those who hadn't given birth yet, but...
I didn't want to demand obedience through an exercise of absolute power. I wanted us to exchange opinions and reach a mutual understanding. Was that too much to ask?
However, if too many people debated at once, things would likely spiral out of control. So, I decided to scale it down to a meeting of representatives.
That meant the participants would be Lu, Tia, Ria, Ann, Hakuren, Rusty, Frau, and Sena.
I would have liked Granmaria, Kudel, and Corone to join as well, but the three of them would probably decline because Tia was already attending. It wasn't just a matter of following her; they wanted to avoid a situation where the Angel Race held a majority of the seats at the table.
I imagined the meeting proceeding with that lineup.
For the sake of clarity, I labeled my stance the "Freedom Faction" and the belief in inherited roles as the "Succession Faction."
Based on the catalyst for this meeting, Lu and Tia were firmly in the Succession Faction. Ria and Ann were as well.
I had hoped Hakuren and Rusty might support me, but... I recalled Dos mentioning something about the duties and roles of Dragons. There was likely a racial expectation for role succession among them too. No, there almost certainly was. Even if they agreed with me to be supportive, they were effectively part of the Succession Faction.
Frau wasn't actively trying to force a career on Fracia. However, Beezel and the caretaker, Holly, surely had expectations. Frau was Beezel’s only daughter, after all. Once Fracia grew a bit older, the topic of inheriting Beezel's territory was bound to come up. Was there even another relative to pass it to?
It was entirely possible that Fracia would grow up, leave the village, and marry. She would likely live with Beezel and study the logistics of managing his lands. If Beezel approached Frau with that plan, would she actually oppose it? That put Frau in the Succession Faction too.
What about Sena?
Sena was Gatto's younger sister and the daughter of the Howlin Village Head. However, she was prepared to live and die in the Village of the Great Tree. That wasn't just my own assumption; she had told me so directly. There was no doubt about it. Consequently, I didn't need to worry about the succession of Howlin Village.
Yet, when I looked at Sena’s parenting... she was teaching Sette to help with her administrative work alongside her regular studies. Did that make her a member of the Succession Faction as well?
I looked at the hypothetical roster for the meeting.
Yeah. I could see it clearly. I would be the one being lectured and swept along by their reasoning.
Well, I had been a bit heated the day before, but if I viewed the "Succession of Duty" as the "Succession of Technique," then having a child help with a parent's work wasn't inherently bad. Techniques were an asset—a form of wealth. What was wrong with trying to pass that wealth on to one's child? Was it wrong to want a child to inherit a craft you had perfected? Of course not.
It only became a problem if the child lacked the talent for the craft, or if they had no desire to pursue it. Was that what I wanted to prevent? If so, when should talent be judged? And even then, should their personal motivation be ignored? Should someone be forbidden from a role just because they lacked innate talent? Not necessarily, but depending on the profession, it could make the individual and everyone around them miserable.
I hit the reset button on my thoughts and tried to summarize my position. What exactly was I uncomfortable with, and what did I want to achieve?
For me... I just wanted the children to have the freedom to choose their own path once they reached an age where they could make their own decisions. A child shouldn't be forced to be a knight just because their parent was one. They should follow their own heart.
But looking at it from the perspective of an employer, "desire" alone wasn't enough. They needed the physical ability and knowledge required for the job. And more importantly, could they survive on that career choice? Back in my previous world, I heard countless stories of people striving to be idols or actors, only to struggle for years. Being able to actually earn a living was often a matter of pure luck, and most people eventually gave up in despair.
As a parent, I would want to support them, but I also didn't want them to suffer through a life of hardship. It was a difficult balance. A child needed their independence, but was some parental guidance unavoidable?
I couldn't reach a conclusion right away. This was a question that shouldn't be answered in haste.
"Um, Village Head. It is nearly time for the meeting."
One of the High Ogre Maids spoke up. I thanked her.
Right. For now, I'll consult my wives. I'll explain my thoughts and ask for their input. Hopefully, we can find the right answer for each child, one by one.
The next day, I spoke with Galf’s wife.
"Galf was the greatest warrior in Howlin Village," she said. "In this village, he is content with a lower standing, but I couldn't bear the thought of the techniques he mastered in Howlin Village being lost. That is why I consulted Lu-sama."
"I see." I had already received similar advice from Lu, so I could accept that perspective. "However, if that’s the case, shouldn't you place those expectations on your own children? I feel it's a mistake to demand that of Pirika."
"My son has dedicated himself to stonemasonry," she explained.
"True."
"And my daughter is working directly under you, Village Head."
"She is. She's a hard worker."
"I share your sentiment that Galf’s techniques should be passed to our children, but..." She trailed off, hesitant.
I wondered what was wrong. Was it something regarding her age? I had heard she was still capable of having children.
"Even though my daughter is happy and healthy in this village now, I still carry the guilt of having sent her away in the past."
"..."
"I was lucky enough to reunite with her here, but under normal circumstances, I never would have seen her again. For someone like me to ask for another child... I feel a certain resistance."
I understood her feelings. No, saying I understood would be arrogant. Even if the circumstances were dire, she had sent her young child away from home. I could likely never truly grasp the depths of a mother's heart in that moment.
"For my sake, please try to let go of that guilt," I said. "If you can't forget it, then push that burden onto me. I am the reason you were separated, after all."
"Village Head..."
"And please, cherish Galf’s feelings. He truly has eyes for no one but you."