Chapter 264: Towards a New Era
While Sarah-chan and her group were working on constructing the massive magic cannon, the Continental Cannon, meetings to secure cooperation from various nations were being held daily in the royal capital of Silesie.
Even with the looming threat of the Great Demon God, many people were skeptical of our warnings. So, we decided to organize a grand tour for the key figures of each country, using teleportation magic to bring them to witness the terror firsthand.
The mere sight of that colossal tentacled creature slowly moving across the sea was enough to convey the gravity of the situation. However, what truly convinced them was the wave of grotesque beasts swarming out from the giant tentacles, along with the dragons guarding us coming under attack.
With such a dangerous entity approaching the Eura Continent, threatening to destroy even the Goddess of Creation Asama and the world itself, rumors of the Great Demon God’s imminent arrival were beginning to spread across the entire continent.
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After days of ongoing meetings at the Continental Alliance, we finally reached a tentative agreement with the nations to deploy both mages and troops. Although the real work had just begun, today’s meeting had concluded as the sun began to set.
Feeling a bit fatigued, I took a moment to rest in the inner palace, when Eleonora, now visibly pregnant, approached me.
「You seem tired.」
「Oh, Eleonora. I didn’t realize you were still in Silesie.」
「Ara, is it a problem if I stay?」 Well, that wasn’t quite what I meant.
Eleonora was well into her pregnancy, now in her final month.
The once fiery princess knight was now carrying her large belly in a maternity dress, looking every bit the part of a mother. Ever since her belly had grown, she had finally started to settle down.
Honestly, it’s a relief that she’s calmed down a bit. She’ll be giving birth soon, after all.
「I thought you were planning to give birth back home?」
「That was the plan, but at home, everyone’s fussing over me all the time, and it’s more exhausting than helpful.」
Even so, with her belly this large, it might be best for her to head back soon.
「Aren’t you worried Duke Emehart might be concerned?」
Eleonora’s father doted on his only daughter, so I imagined he’d be anxious if she wasn’t at home.
「It’s fine, it’s fine… But, how about I give you a shoulder massage instead?」
「Huh? Shouldn’t that be the other way around?」
If a heavily pregnant woman is worried about me, I must be doing something wrong. But still, it feels pretty nice…
Negotiating and dealing with politics can be exhausting. Eleonora has a strong grip, so her massages feel great.
「Hehe, you look like you’re enjoying it. Don’t worry, I may be in my last trimester, but I’m in the stable phase. Once the baby’s born, I won’t have time to do this, so how about one more?」
「Do what exactly… Just take it easy, okay?」
「Everyone keeps saying that. Rest, rest, but I’m perfectly fine—ah!」
「What’s wrong?」
Alarmed, I leapt from my seat and rushed over as Eleonora clutched her stomach, crouching down in pain.
「I don’t know… My stomach suddenly started aching…」
「Wait, can labor pains start so suddenly?」
「I’ve been feeling some discomfort for a while now, but I guess it wasn’t just my imagination.」
If you’d been in pain, you should have said something sooner! But this being her first pregnancy, it couldn’t be helped. I quickly called for Oracle to assess the situation.
「It’s labor.」
「But Eleonora was supposed to give birth at her family’s estate…」
Oracle rubbed Eleonora’s swollen belly and made her diagnosis.
「It’s too late. The waters will break soon. We need to prepare for delivery. Quickly, heat some water!」
Eleonora, now groaning in pain, was rushed into the delivery room. The palace women, including Sharon, moved to assist Oracle as the midwife, while I, like any man in this situation, found myself helpless, reduced to standing outside, sanitizing my hands as if it were all I could do.
「Ah, That’s Right—Kaara!」
「Yes, Nation’s Father?」
True to form, Kaara emerged from the shadows instantly. Her speed is a blessing at times like this.
「You’ve established a teleportation magic circle in the Lanct Duchy, haven’t you? Go there immediately and inform Duke Emehart about Eleonora’s labor. I know teleportation magic consumes all your mana in one use, so you’ll only be able to bring him here tomorrow, but at least he should be notified as soon as possible.」
「Understood!」
With that, Kaara dashed off to deliver the message to the duchy.
Good. Once Kaara regains her magic, Duke Emehart can come tomorrow. If Eleonora’s labor drags on, he might even make it in time for the birth.
Now that the commotion in the delivery room seems to have settled down, I should check on Eleonora.
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「How are you holding up, Eleonora?」
「Almost there. You seem unusually calm, Takeru.」
「Well, this isn’t my first time attending a birth… let’s see… one, two, three… eighth time, I think.」
I counted on my fingers, and Eleonora burst into laughter.
「That’s reassuring.」
「Is it hurting much?」
Even though Eleonora’s the type to laugh in a situation like this, beads of sweat were forming on her forehead. I know she’s tough, but that doesn’t mean the pain is any less.
I wiped the sweat from her brow.
「The contractions are coming in waves, but I can handle it… It’s not so bad.」
「Don’t overdo it.」
Contractions come in intervals, so even if they subside for a moment, they’ll return soon enough. And just as I thought, Eleonora grimaced in pain again.
「Ah, it’s starting again! Oh no, it’s really coming this time!」
「Hey, it doesn’t happen that quickly…」
From here, it’s going to be a long battle.
I took Eleonora’s hand to support her, and she squeezed back with incredible strength as she bore down through the contraction.
「It’s here.」
Oracle, the midwife, said so.
Wait, really? Already?
「…It’s really here!」
I peeked between Eleonora’s legs, and sure enough, a small, blonde-haired head was already emerging.
The newborn let out a loud cry.
Eleonora, looking triumphant, said,
「Takeru… See? I told you it was coming.」
「Uh… yeah, well, great job!」
I should commend her for delivering the baby safely, but honestly, the speed of it all left me at a loss for words.
「It came out with a pop. Quite anticlimactic. For a human’s first birth, this speed is quite rare.」
Oracle remarked as she cut the baby’s umbilical cord, looking equally astonished.
It seems even in childbirth, Eleonora’s impatience shows.
「Well, at least it went smoothly.」
「Indeed. Look, a healthy baby boy.」
Looking at the newborn, I felt a wave of peace wash over me. Relieved, I stepped out of the delivery room, only to be shocked once more.
「Huff… huff… did I make it in time?」
「What? The birth just finished, but how did you get here so quickly?」
Standing there, panting heavily, was Duke Emehart, his usually regal attire in tatters, and his majestic beard and hair completely disheveled.
「I had hoped to be by my daughter’s side during the birth, but if you were with her, then I suppose all is well.」
It wasn’t that Duke Emehart was late—it was that Eleonora’s labor had been so fast. When I asked how he had managed to arrive in under half a day, he explained that he had ridden in a dragon knight’s basket.
Apparently, they flew at top speed, which is far beyond even the fastest horses.
「How did you come here on such an uncomfortable ride?」
It was already past midnight. The high-speed flight in an unstable basket must’ve been terrifying, enough to make even the toughest knights scream in terror.
Flying at full speed at night was pure madness. No wonder Duke Emehart looked pale; it wasn’t just from concern for his daughter.
「Compared to the pain a woman endures during childbirth, that’s nothing.」
「Well, you’re not wrong there. I should have sent Eleonora back home sooner. I apologize for keeping her here.」
「No need to apologize! With you here, my daughter could give birth in peace. If both mother and child are healthy, I couldn’t ask for more. Thank you.」
「No, thank you.」
After Eleonora, Duke Emehart also gripped my hand tightly. I learned that Eleonora’s mother had been a frail woman, and her health deteriorated after childbirth, ultimately leading to her passing.
It was hard to imagine, given how strong and boisterous Eleonora was as a knight, but it made sense why Duke Emehart had been so worried.
「Look, here’s the child Eleonora gave birth to.」
When I handed the newborn to him, Duke Emehart closed his eyes tightly, tears silently streaming down his face.
「I truly never thought I’d live to see the day I could hold my grandchild.」
Eleonora, you’ve really put your father through the wringer. But despite his exhaustion, the duke’s rugged handsomeness made even his tears a striking sight.
As Duke Emehart cradled Eleonora’s baby like a priceless treasure, I remembered the portrait that hung in a place of honor in the Lanct Duchy’s manor. It was a painting of a young Eleonora, her golden hair and blue eyes bright as she played, with her father watching her tenderly.
Back when I first saw that painting, I never would have guessed that I’d end up marrying Eleonora and having a child with her.
Time passes, and now that little girl has become a mother, while Duke Emehart, though still striking, is starting to show streaks of white in his golden hair. Seeing him holding his grandchild, I realized it was a scene worthy of a painting too.
What kind of person will this child grow up to be?
「This child will inherit the Lanct Duchy.」
「Isn’t it a little early to be thinking that far ahead?」
「No, whether a boy or girl, I had already decided. I’ve even chosen a name. May I?」
「What name have you chosen?」
「Tycoon. I took inspiration from your name, but it also has meaning. It’s an old word that means ‘great ruler,’ and it’s the name of one of the founding ancestors of the Am-main family.」
「That’s a wonderful name. Let’s go with that.」
At that moment, another voice joined ours. ‘I’m fine with that, too.’
To my surprise, Eleonora had walked out on her own right after giving birth.
Her resilience knew no bounds. Now that she’d safely given birth, I had to admit that the rigorous training Duke Emehart had put her through as a knight hadn’t been wrong after all.
「Yes, this child shall be the rightful heir to the Am-main family, Tycoon Lanct Am-main!」
Duke Emehart proudly proclaimed, almost as if announcing it to the world, speaking the words as if to the newborn in his arms.
Everyone smiled wryly at the sight. The doting father had now evolved into a doting grandfather.
He was moving far too fast, but the resemblance between father and daughter, especially in their impatience, was striking.
The one most overjoyed by the birth of Eleonora’s child was, without a doubt, Duke Emehart.
It was heartwarming to see.
But for the sake of these children being born into a new era, we must stop the approaching threat of the Great Demon God.