521 – Sogaju – 1

After the anti-war war ended, the academy was surprisingly calm.

It is truly a strange thing. I can still clearly see the students exchanging cheers, nerves, and bench clearing, but they are laughing and talking as if nothing had happened.

‘I guess it was just because I was bored.’

At this point, I have reasonable doubt. In fact, I don’t care about the country’s pride, but maybe I lost my mind because I had a chance to legally express my madness and stress?

When I think about it that way, it’s really confusing. Because they turned the war against the people into a war against the nation, didn’t I end up acting like a mercenary and a clown that wasn’t even there? Even if Ainter, who had been fooled by Erich’s whispers, stood in front of the students, if the students had shown even a little restraint, the entire academy would not have been consumed by madness.

However, those who raised the plate are now living a peaceful daily life.

‘Damn b*stards.’

They enjoyed it enough, so it’s okay.

‘Still, it’s a shame it ended safely.’

I calmed my stomach by sipping coffee with ice. The process was so fucking ugly and dynamic, but luckily the results were good.

First of all, major figures from other countries such as Lyutis, Laterer, and Tanian were clean and without any scratches. Considering that even the regular students participated in the game with great enthusiasm, there were no major injuries, so the biggest injury was Erich, who was suppressed by me by force.

Crucially, the empire won the battle for national pride. Thanks to this, even the high-ranking person who was interested in the anti-army war agreed with satisfaction.

– The victory was not entirely achieved by the students, but the minister did not break the rules and participate. His Majesty was also delighted with the empire’s just victory.

“I am so happy that I can bring joy to His Majesty the Emperor.”

The process was a little strange, but victory is victory. As the emperor said, I didn’t set rules and precedents that didn’t exist. I had already legally participated in a four-person match the year before last.

‘Why do you have that kind of experience?’

I feel like crying. A guy with no academy experience participated in the four-person competition twice? Even the most passionate students would not be able to set such a record.

‘This should receive an honorary diploma.’

Or an honorary teacher certificate.

It doesn’t matter anything, please give me something. If I graduate empty-handed, I might go crazy.

Perhaps it was a reward for being hit hard by falling leaves in my later years, but the remaining second semester schedule went by without any fuss.

Honestly, wouldn’t it be a curse from God if another incident occurred even after the chaos that occurred during the anti-Semitism war? I’m just glad that this year I’m receiving a lot of blessings rather than curses from God.

‘…I received a blessing and something like this happened?’

Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine. I ended up in this situation even after receiving the blessing, but what would have happened if there had been no blessing? Did the royal family have their limbs cut off beyond the point of vomiting blood? Or an unconscious serious injury?

While imagining a future that should not exist, I took an emergency sugar supplement with cookies. If I peek into a future that isn’t right anymore, I’m sure my mentality will break down. I can’t collapse like this when I have so many family members to take responsibility for.

‘Now let’s hold on just a little longer.’

So, I tried to turn my thoughts to the good side. The class competition, which can be said to be the only event of the second semester, is over, so it will be soon until the graduation ceremony. If you hold on just a little longer, you can completely escape the pain.

‘Huh?’

Just as I was trying to possess the sergeant in his final years counting the days of his discharge, the communication port in my arms began to glow.

I instinctively furrowed my eyebrows, wondering if this was a minister again. After hearing the news that I participated in the Four-Person Battle and swung a sword at kids, the Minister contacted me almost every day and was busy making fun of me.

Damn old man. If he were in my position, he would have kicked the kids.

– Master!

“Deacon?”

And as soon as I confirmed that the person I was contacting was a deacon and not a minister, my brows furrowed in a different way than before.

Unstable. The fact that the butler contacted me first and the fact that he spoke urgently before I even opened my mouth was an unusual sign—

– Ma, ma’am, the first ma’am is complaining of labor pains!

“Huh?”

It was something more unusual than I imagined, so my head turned white.

***

Although it was my first pregnancy, I wasn’t emotionally anxious.

Whenever I wanted something to eat, Carl would always get it for me, and my sisters and brothers, who might have been jealous of me having a child first, took care of me and my first child like it was their own. The residents of the mansion were happy that their little master was going to be born, and their days were so peaceful that it was inconceivable that it was her first pregnancy.

“Madam, is there anything uncomfortable?”

“Yes, nothing at all. Thank you.”

Even in the Empress’s palace, when Her Majesty was holding Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, she sent several maids to faithfully assist her. Since there were talented people next to us whose abilities, status, and character were thoroughly guaranteed, even if a problem were to arise, it could not have occurred.

Even now, they are giving massages to my arms and legs for my swollen stomach. In fact, after my first baby grew up, it wasn’t easy to move and my whole body felt stiff, but I noticed it right away, probably because I already had experience helping pregnant women.

It was just the right intensity so that my eyes slowly closed. Should I take a nap like this until Carl gets home from work?

“Ugh—!”

“Ma’am!?”

“Madam!”

And my drowsy body and mind were awakened by the sudden pain.

I couldn’t really remember what happened after that. The maids who were barely able to get me up as I let out a scream-like moan, the servants who were busy moving in all directions, and the butler who was hastily pulling out a communication device. I could only see vague actions and appearances, and I couldn’t even hear the words spoken to me properly.

But I could hear just one thing, just one thing.

“The Lord of Soga will be born! Doctors, priests, wizards—call everyone you can!”

It’s my first time seeing that my child is more impatient than I thought.

‘The first snow has not yet arrived.’

You will be our first sight.

Even in pain, thinking about that made me smile.

***

I urgently called the family wizard in the County of Tylglehen. Because Trixie was in class, a family wizard was needed to teleport.

“I’m out of my mind, so you can tell these two people.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. It will definitely happen, so don’t worry.”

I quickly opened my mouth to the wizard who had dropped me in front of the mansion, and the wizard also nodded with a determined look.

The fact that First Snow is trying to escape from Mar’s arms is valuable information that must be shared with her parents. However, in my current state of mind, I don’t think I can talk to them normally. My hands are still shaking, what can I do?

Therefore, the transmission of information was left to the wizard. When the wizard returns to the family, she will report it to her mother, who will inform her father her, and who will relay it to her father-in-law her.

“Master!”

Anyway, when I left the wizard behind and entered the mansion, the butler hurriedly came running to me.

“Two, where is your second wife?”

“I was in class, so I came first. I left a message on the communication line, so I’ll come right after it’s over.”

When I comforted the shoulder of the butler who was embarrassed to see him return alone, the butler nodded repeatedly.

This is the first time I have seen the butler this excited since Trixie’s pregnancy was confirmed. I am just thankful that they always get excited about things related to my child as if it were their own. Where can you find such loyal employees?

However, despite the touching appearance of the butler, the tension did not subside.

‘It’s still mid-November.’

He rolled her head, tracing her dry lips with his tongue. Apparently, Mar was diagnosed as 4 weeks pregnant right before the first semester started, so roughly the end of November is Mar’s due date.

However, unless the human body is a machine, a baby will not be born at exactly 10 months. There is no problem with the first baby being born at the end of October, let alone the end of November. I had forgotten that obvious fact for a while because of the anti-war war.

…No, it’s an excuse. Does it make sense for a husband and father-to-be to forget about childbirth? I was just caught off guard by the fact that it was the end of November.

“Is Mara okay?”

“As soon as labor began, we called in the best personnel. We were able to prepare smoothly because there were maids from the empress’ palace.”

I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard that at least the environment was the best. When someone from the empress’s palace first came, I thought it was too much consideration, but the consideration turned out to be a godsend.

‘Thank you, Her Majesty.’

As expected, he is a person with a great personality, unlike the old people who live elsewhere.

“Then right now—”

“You must not go in.”

I fell silent at the butler’s firm declaration.

“If the owner enters the room, it can put a mental burden and strain on the medical staff. Moreover, since he just came from the academy, there are cleanliness issues.”

“I’m dirty…?”

“You may be cleaner than me, but the position of a pregnant woman is different from that of the general public.”

She nodded her head with a saddened feeling because it was true to every detail. To put it bluntly, even if I were next to Mar, it would not be of any help and would most likely only be a hindrance.

“It will end safely, right?”

Still, being convinced and worrying are two different things. When he opened his mouth again with a trembling voice, the butler nodded confidently.

“There will definitely be Enen’s blessings. Aren’t they none other than the children of the two blessed sons?”

I felt a little relieved by those words.

It doesn’t let go at all.

“───! ───!!”

“──!”

I only chewed my lips as I heard a faint sound beyond the door.

Unstable. Is this really okay? Is it going well?

‘It’ll be okay.’

I tried to shake off my anxiety. Didn’t the 2nd manager and the emperor see their children safely? I would do the same. The first snow will be born safely into this world.

As the deacon said, he is a child born to a blessed woman. There is no way Enen would ignore a child like that.

‘Please.’

If Mardo and First Snow are healthy, I will build a church the size of a cathedral in Wiridia, so please.

“Knife.”

“…Trixie.”

I slowly raised my head as a hand stroked my hand.

“Don’t worry. There’s no problem.”

I felt like crying at Trixie’s declaration of her, which she had been silently watching the visit from earlier

Trixie is a being that can feel mana. If Trixie can confirm this, it means that they are both healthy.

At least until now.

“And I don’t know who the doctors and priests are, but I know the wizard. When it comes to childbirth, no one is better than that child.”

She quietly nodded in response to the successful consolations.

Before we knew it, it was night.

Even Rize and Rin, who should be at the academy, and Eri and Fine, who are slaves to the administration, gathered at the mansion.

“Your Excellency the Count!”

Just before reason was completely consumed by anxiety, the tightly closed door opened.

The maid who opened the door opened her mouth, but she couldn’t hear me. She didn’t need to hear it.

“Ehhhhh!”

The sound of crying coming from the room explained everything.