The temperature rose so suddenly that it truly felt like summer had arrived. It wasn’t oppressive, though; it was actually quite cool. Magic really was a blessing.
The simple cooler-style fans, which utilized the ice and wind magic items Lu created, were now in active use across every household in the Village of the Great Tree. The Mountain Elves had made significant progress with their refinements, resulting in a quiet, pleasant breeze that felt wonderful.
These units were installed in every room of the mansion, but the ones who seemed the most delighted were the older sister cats. They, along with the tiger Sougetsu, were constantly staking out the best spots right in front of the airflow.
I also heard that Giral and the Orthros, Ol, over at Guronde’s house were enjoying a fan as well. Apparently, the two of them—who usually bickered—were sitting side-by-side in perfect harmony in front of the device. That was good to hear, though I did make sure to send word warning them not to catch a cold by overexposing themselves to the draft. I’m sure they’ll be fine, though.
Right as summer truly began, Ramrias went into labor. Unlike Ann, this was Ramrias’s first child, and the delivery turned into a grueling twelve-hour ordeal. However, once the dust settled, both mother and child were perfectly healthy. It was a massive relief.
I was overjoyed, of course, but the ones who were even more relieved and happy were the beastkin girls. Ramrias had been looking after them ever since they first arrived at the village, after all. Gol, Sil, and Bron—the three currently living in the Royal Capital—even rushed back the moment they heard she had gone into labor.
Torain and Tiselle returned with them as well. Alfred and Urza didn’t come back this time; since they had made the trip for Sakura’s birth, I suppose they were taking turns. I understood the reasoning, but Zabuton and Hakuren looked quite dejected that Urza hadn’t made the trip.
The child Ramrias delivered was a girl. Ramrias named her Ramna, after a legendary female hero of the High Ogre race. When the High Ogre maids heard the name, they all wore incredibly complex expressions, a mixture of various conflicting emotions. I was curious to know what kind of exploits this hero had performed, but the name itself sounded quite nice to me.
Now, regarding her recovery—considering the fatigue from such a long labor, I forbade Ramrias from returning to work for the time being. Personally, I wanted her to rest for several months, but we eventually compromised on re-evaluating her status every ten days. This decision received the unanimous support of the High Ogre maids, the beastkin girls, and the three boys. Ramrias herself seemed rather disgruntled about not being allowed back on the job yet, though.
On the other hand, Ann—who had given birth to Sakura—had returned to her duties with absolute gusto. She was managing her work perfectly while still providing Sakura with all the care she needed. I really thought she could have taken a few months off... or even a year, for that matter.
I spent some time talking with Gol, Sil, and Bron. It had been a while since we last caught up. According to them, their respective married lives were going smoothly without any issues.
...Everything really is okay, right? Sil, are you doing alright? You haven't had some kind of magic or curse placed on you, have you? If you can't say it out loud, a letter is fine. You’re truly okay? Well, if you say so, then that’s fine. If anything ever happens, make sure to talk to Gol or Bron. And you two, make sure to look out for him.
Actually, I didn't even need to say that. They were close. Still, neighborly relations—I suppose they count as neighbors—are important. It’s good that they all get along. It went without saying, but I reminded them that they shouldn't hesitate to consult me if they ever ran into trouble.
Then, Gol gave me a formal report. "Enderi and Kirisana are pregnant."
Oh! That was wonderful news! I offered my heartfelt congratulations.
"Th-thank you very much. And so, um, well..." Gol trailed off.
"What is it? Is there something you need me to do? Or perhaps some supplies? I’ll prepare whatever you need."
"Well... we have to inform their elder sisters... but would it be alright if I asked you to do it, Village Head?"
The elder sisters of Enderi and Kirisana were working as Civil Official Girls here in the village. I didn't mind delivering the news, but I wondered why he couldn't tell them directly.
"My wives insisted that I should ask you to handle it..."
I wondered why. Perhaps it was a sensitive matter, with the younger sisters becoming pregnant before the elder ones. I didn't have siblings myself, but I could imagine the potential awkwardness. If it was just delivering a message, it was no trouble at all. I agreed to help.
"Thank you so much."
"Still, isn't it difficult with two wives pregnant at once?" I asked.
"My wives' families have sent over a large number of ladies-in-waiting and maids, so it hasn't been as hard as it could be."
I see. That was good, though I reminded him they could always come back here if necessary. They might be reluctant to move during pregnancy, but if not this village, Village Five was always an option. Gol promised to discuss it with his wives.
It was good news all around. I made a mental note to be careful not to ask Sil or Bron if their wives were pregnant yet. Those are private matters for a couple, and I didn't want to pry. There was no absolute requirement for them to have children, though I suppose they might face pressure from others. Since it wasn't my place to interfere, I steered the conversation toward a different topic.
I mentioned that the Royal Capital must be getting quite hot, and suggested they take a few fans back with them.
"Is that alright?" Gol asked.
"We’re planning to commercialize them soon, so I’d appreciate your feedback."
These simplified coolers had existed in the village for a long time, but we hadn't sold them to the outside world yet. We had prioritized outfitting every home in the main village first, followed by the subsidiary villages and the hot spring area. Now that they were installed in Yoko’s mansion and the village offices in Village Five, and we’d finished giving them to close associates like the Demon King and Michael-san, we were finally ready for an external launch.
However, the ice and wind magic items Lu provided were incredibly expensive, so the customer base would likely be limited. I didn't expect a high volume of sales, but I wanted to gather as much information as possible to ensure customer satisfaction. Gol promised to send his impressions.
After seeing the boys off on their return to the Royal Capital, I delivered the message to the elder sisters of Enderi and Kirisana.
...I quickly realized that a woman’s jealousy can be a terrifying thing. Or perhaps it was specifically an elder sister’s jealousy toward her younger sibling? Regardless, I could practically see the auras of demons—no, devils—manifesting behind them.
I tried to tell them that complaining to me wouldn't help. I also told them they shouldn't do anything that would stress the expectant mothers, like bombarding them with "pregnancy gifts." Those things should wait until after the babies were born. Unfortunately, they weren't listening to a word I said.
I sought help from Frau, who happened to be passing by.
"Oh, if they’re making a scene, they’re fine. If they were truly serious, they would be carrying out their plans in total silence."
That was a chilling thought.
"Besides, there’s an easy way to calm them down," Frau added.
"Really?"
"Yes. We just need those two to get pregnant as well. Seeing the babies of Ann-san and Ramrias-san has already made them quite... eager."
........................
I ran. I ran with everything I had, without once looking back. I displayed the greatest burst of speed I had ever possessed in my life.
After all, it was still midday. The sun was still high in the sky!
However, Frau and the other Civil Official Girls managed to cut off my escape route. The world truly is a fleeting, heartless place.
I was surrounded. I called for help.
Even more Civil Official Girls appeared.
Why?!