Chapter 555: Canned Food(1)
Chapter 555: Canned Food(1)
Following Marie’s "dark history" moment and her declaration as the primary wife, a very profound discussion ensued.
If contraceptive pills couldn't stop it, what method should they use for birth control? It might sound absurd, but it was a serious conversation.
If a situation like Marie’s happened again, it would be troublesome for everyone. At least Marie had been announced as his fiancée; the others had not.
Of course, the press had been dropping hints, so the public was already speculating with a "Could it be?" But an official announcement and mere speculation were two entirely different things.
Thus, the conclusion reached after much deliberation was: only do it on safe days. If they absolutely had to, they would use condoms instead of pills.
"Can't you just ask Lord Luminous or Lady Mora? That would solve everything."
At this point, Leona offered a conclusion that was as simple and clear as one would expect from a beastkin. I couldn't believe how absurd it sounded when I first heard it.
However, since there was no method more certain than that, I couldn't simply dismiss it as nonsense.
Leona and Adelia, in particular, were humans with short cycles, so they couldn't help but react sensitively.
"Then I just have to be careful during my 'evil cycle,' right? Oh, how wonderful."
"The same applies to me."
Cecile and Arwen were the exact opposite. Their cycles were incredibly long, so they only had to be careful during those rare times.
Part of me wanted to shout, 'I don't care about cycles! Let's breed!' and treat them all equally... but I stopped myself, fearing I’d turn from a scoundrel into actual nuclear waste.
As Leona said, asking the gods was the best way. While they couldn't see my future, they could see the futures of others.
They hadn't been able to tell me this time because even I was completely unaware, but if I checked meticulously from now on, it would be fine.
"So, Marie is first. Who’s second? I don't really care what rank I am."
"..."
"..."
Every now and then, Leona would drop bombs like this without a second thought. She was probably just genuinely curious in her own way.
But the impact was on par with a nuclear weapon, making my heart skip a beat.
With Marie confirmed as the first, one might wonder if the ranking even mattered.
It mattered. Regardless of my opinion, it was clearly very important to them.
"I will step back. Being by Isaac's side is enough for me," Adelia said, quickly bowing out. She had no greed for such things from the start and was satisfied just protecting me.
Leona had also mentioned beforehand that, based on beastkin culture, she didn't have any strong feelings about it.
In other words, the ones remaining were Cecile and Arwen—the Succubus and the Elf, both famous long-lived species.
Just as a subtle tension began to settle over the room, Cecile was the first to speak.
"Queen Arwen?"
"Do you have something to say?"
"I'm sorry, but I absolutely cannot yield the second spot. You understand, right?"
Cecile was smiling, but the atmosphere was anything but pleasant. Her determination to defend that position at all costs was palpable.
Arwen seemed surprised by her spirit, her eyes widening briefly before her expression shifted to one of slight amusement.
"Ha. I didn't have much thought on the matter originally... but since it is you, and not someone else, saying such things, I find myself feeling competitive. I gladly accept your challenge."
"Shouldn't the 'challenge' be coming from your side, Queen?"
"Now that I think about it, I believe the film to be released at this Xenon Festival received quite a bit of help from Albenheim... did it not?"
"Ho... hoho. We were the ones who recruited the actors."
A grand battle was unfolding in real-time. They had already formed a rivalry, and it seemed this incident would only intensify it.
The key point was that Arwen truly hadn't been interested at first. It seemed Cecile’s provocation had ignited a competitive streak that wouldn't allow her to lose.
Still, much like the case with Marie and Cecile, Arwen likely suspected deep down that Cecile would be second.
She was simply poking back because the other side had poked her first.
‘Should I be happy about this, or the opposite?’
After the grand confrontation ended, we disbanded. Before leaving, everyone gave Marie a gift.
Regardless of the circumstances, Marie was an expectant mother who needed protection. So, I asked Adelia to guard Marie instead of me.
Until she reached a stable period, she had to be careful even of falling leaves. Adelia nodded in agreement and accepted the task.
Now, all that remained was to reveal the truth to the others—namely, the in-laws and my own family. Of course, I needed to inform my close acquaintances first.
"So, why did you call for me?"
First up was Lina, the Imperial Princess of the Minerva Empire. She had readily answered my summons.
Every time I saw her, I thought about how Lina naturally exuded an elegant aura. It wasn't a grace manufactured by education.
I sipped my tea and confessed the truth to her as she watched me with a questioning look.
"Marie is pregnant."
"Pfft! Cough! Cough!"
The moment I dropped the bomb, Lina spat out the tea she was drinking. She seemed to have choked on it from the sheer shock.
"Pre-pregnant? Suddenly? Weren't you using contraception?"
Lina asked urgently, wiping the tea from her face with a handkerchief. Her voice was thick with a whirlwind of emotions.
At that, I began to explain everything from start to finish. She knew I had been ill for a fortnight, but she didn't know I had attained divinity.
She showed shock at the explanation of attaining divinity, admiration at the explanation of the proposal to Marie, and sheer absurdity at the explanation that divinity had bypassed the medicine.
"...There truly is no one who lives a life as eventful as yours. Still, I suppose it's better than coming from another world. This is the kind of accident that could happen to anyone."
Lina now showed an attitude of just accepting things as they were. As she said, this was a plausible accident.
Compared to things like coming from another world or remembering a past life, this must have felt quite ordinary to her.
"That's true. So, about that..."
"You're asking what I'm going to do, right?"
As expected of Lina. She accurately understood her position without me having to explain it separately.
When I nodded, Lina rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought. Since this was something completely unplanned, it must have been complicated for her.
Eventually, after finishing her thoughts to some extent, she locked eyes with Marie, who was sitting beside me.
"First of all, congratulations. You kept singing about it, and you finally made it happen."
"I didn't expect it to happen like this either."
"I'm sure. For now, the Imperial Family will help however we can. We can even control the press if you wish."
"And what about you?"
Marie’s question was loaded with meaning. It surely included the political marriage arranged between Lina and me.
Lina looked at me after hearing the question and shrugged. Her reaction suggested she didn't mind at all.
"It doesn't matter, does it? If anything, the timeline has been moved up, so it's fine for both me and the Empire."
"No. No. That's not it."
"Then what?"
At the puzzled question, Marie grinned. It was a mischievous, quite wicked expression.
Just as Lina began to look uncomfortable at that expression, Marie chuckled and spoke.
"As you heard earlier, contraceptive pills won't work anymore. Using other methods might not be as good as before, so we're going to have to sync our cycles from now on."
"...And?"
"Cecile is fine, but for you and me to sync our cycles..."
"Hey!!!"
Lina's face turned beet red as she shouted.
It was a pattern that should have gotten old by now, but her reactions were so satisfying that Marie couldn't stop.
"Is teasing me fun? Huh? Is it fun?! You're really taking advantage of the moment to tease me!"
"It is fun, though. Besides, who told you to peep? You should have just boldly said, 'Let's do it once!'"
"You little...! How many times do I have to tell you I wasn't watching before you understand?!"
"Isn't it about time you became bold?"
"Aaaagh!"
It was hard to believe their relationship had been like walking on thin ice two years ago. Now, they could be called frenemies.
Of course, Marie was the one teasing Lina, and Lina was always the one suffering. Since Lina was quite vulnerable in this area, it couldn't be helped.
"Whew... anyway, I understand. However, for the time being, I have to focus on the proposal for additional factory construction, so it's best if you all coordinate among yourselves. Same for the wedding. Have you looked into a venue?"
"Not specifically, but we'll probably have it in our territory."
"Hmm. That would be best. Demon worshippers won't be able to stage a terror attack there, and the manpower from each nation will protect it desperately. As for the wedding dress... no. That's not something to discuss with me, but among yourselves."
The conversation with Lina ended there. However, that was only 'our' story; she spoke with Marie separately afterward.
It was likely about the "night work." They might have spoken jokingly just now, but since they had to sync cycles, coordination was essential.
—Is... is it that much?
—Yeah. Surely you're not just going to watch then too, right?
—N-no! I'm just a little scared...
I could hear everything. Whether they were doing it on purpose or my hearing had just become that sharp, their conversation reached my ears.
When they finished talking and came out of the room, I could also catch Lina, her face flushed, stealing glances at my lower half.
I only kept quiet to save her from dying of embarrassment. I was a little curious to see what kind of reaction she would show when the time actually came.
"T-then, make sure to get plenty of rest. Contact me if anything happens."
"Okay."
"Bye. Make sure to keep my words in mind."
"I-I'll keep them in mind."
Lina kept glancing at that certain area even as she left. She really looked like a pervert doing that.
Anyway, after the conversation with Lina ended, I delivered the news to Kate and Cherry respectively.
Kate was surprised at first but gave us her blessing, and Cherry’s eyes went wide with amazement.
Normal reactions, if one could call them that. However, they were merely acquaintances; the in-laws and my own family remained.
Since the Rekilis town mansion was in the capital, I was able to deliver the news in person.
"Hahahaha. Son-in-law."
"Yes, Father-in-law."
"Do you know the feeling of wanting to say something but having no words?"
"..."
I think I knew the feeling. He had only one daughter, and the guy who snatched her away was a scoundrel.
And a scoundrel who lacked nothing. Even looking at it one by one, the conditions of this damn scoundrel were too perfect.
His only flaw was the many women around him. But since Marie was now set as the primary wife, even that was resolved.
"What do you plan to do about the Academy? According to the regulations, if a student has a child, they have no choice but to withdraw."
"I have something in mind for that."
"What is it?"
"I can just serve as a professor."
This was something the Academy had already proposed. They had asked me to serve as a professor if I had the time.
At the time, I refused because Elena was there, but now I was in a bit of a bind, and Marie’s pregnancy had been added to the mix.
If asked if I had to stay at the Academy, the answer was yes. Cecile was one thing, but I had to wait until Cherry graduated.
For the sake of my one and only business partner, Cherry, it was much better to become a professor. In exchange, I would become incredibly busy.
"A professor... that's a good method. Since the dormitory will remain the same, there shouldn't be any problems. But it will be hard work; are you alright with that?"
"It's the kind of hardship that suits a man who caused such an 'accident.'"
"Hahaha! That's an entertaining answer. Fine. Do as you wish. I'd like to send you on a honeymoon, but it's a shame that the circumstances make it difficult."
Dmitri looked genuinely regretful. Because of the demon worshippers, we couldn't go outside.
I felt similarly, so I could only give a bitter smile. The conversation with the in-laws ended there.
What remained was my family home—our mansion. Before returning home, I asked Marie a question.
While I was talking with Dmitri, Marie had been talking with her mother, Sarah.
"What did your mother say?"
"She told me which foods I shouldn't eat. There were more than I thought."
"Really?"
"And she told us not to do 'it' until I reach the stable period... but wouldn't it be okay for us? Because of the divinity?"
"...Let's think about that later."
Right now, my family home was more important. The Duke of Rekilis might have taken it coolly, but things could be different at my house.
"What?! Is that true?!"
"Yes..."
"Oh my, oh my! What should we do! When did you find out?"
"That... on the day it happened. Ariel told us."
"What a surprise! What a surprise! The news that your older brother and sister couldn't bring, the third child brought instead!"
There was no such drama.
My mother was genuinely happy and cheered. My father was flustered, but like my father-in-law, he just laughed it off.
Grandfather Clark also seemed pleased, though he didn't show it openly. Of course, the fact that he was a skeleton and lacked facial expressions played a part.
"Oobooboo."
Lily, who was held tightly in my mother's arms, was busy babbling. Come to think of it, Lily had really grown a lot.
"Is this hereditary? We also had Dave before we got married, didn't we?"
Mother asked Father with a face full of happiness. Come to think of it, I knew that my father and mother had also had a shotgun wedding.
Before Father left for a campaign, something they did out of anxiety led to my brother's birth.
It wasn't a very rare occurrence, so they got married immediately after he returned from the campaign.
"It's not so much hereditary as it is Isaac being unusual. It's not like I have divinity."
[I was the same, for what it's worth.]
"W-what?"
At Grandfather Clark's casual remark, Father looked at him with a genuinely shocked expression. It was the first time I had seen Father make such a face.
Three generations of shotgun weddings. In many ways, it was certainly an extraordinary family.
"Have you thought of a name yet?"
"No. I'm going to take my time thinking of a name."
"What about the Academy?"
"The Academy is..."
Just as I had told my in-laws, I slowly explained my future plans to my parents.
Honestly, the only thing that would change was serving as a professor. Writing would remain the same.
"Instead, I plan to rush the serialization of Blood and Iron."
"When do you plan to finish it?"
"I have to do it before the wedding."
"It usually takes four months for the belly to start showing... will you be able to do it?"
At Mother's question, I replied with a bitter smile.
"I have to, even if it's impossible. It's what I brought upon myself."
There wasn't much time left until I became "canned."
*
It was around the time Isaac and Marie were talking at the Maishal estate.
The illustrator for Blood and Iron, Carls Zvasa, was still hard at work drawing.
To keep up with the insane serialization speed of one volume every three days, he was grinding his body and soul.
As time passed, his mind and body became exhausted, but since his purse was getting fat, he had no choice but to keep his hands moving while weeping.
Part of him wanted to quit. But the client was Isaac—the most famous novelist in the world.
He couldn't turn down a task that Isaac had personally asked if he could do.
And so, time passed until today. Carls received a letter delivered from Isaac.
The impression that resembled Mario had vanished without a trace, and only a man with a shaggy beard and a soul soaked in fatigue remained.
[Greetings, Mr. Carls. This is Isaac. Today... (omitted) ...and so, I intend to wrap up Blood and Iron as much as possible from now on. I expect the conclusion to be around Volume 40.]
The interpretation was as follows:
[Sketches will be arriving soon.]
You're dead now.
[I would like you to finish them as quickly as possible, but...]
If you don't finish them on time, you're dead.
[...you don't have to overdo it.]
Grind your body to dust to finish the illustrations.
[If it's difficult, please give my name at the Temple. I will speak to them specifically for you, Mr. Carls.]
Don't even think about using health as an excuse. You are now a slave who cannot escape.
[A massive amount of gold bars will also arrive along with the sketches.]
Surely you're not thinking of running away after taking the money?
[I am truly sorry for asking for such difficult work every time. Still, there is no one but you, Mr. Carls.]
If you run away, I will hunt you down until the day you die and make you do nothing but draw.
[Thank you.]
Die!
Carls stared at Isaac's letter, which was no different from a death sentence, for a long time.
"...Heh."
At first, he laughed hollowly.
"Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe."
Soon, a void-like laughter erupted.
"...Fuck."
It wasn't just one person who was being "canned."