Chapter 760 - Chapter 4: The Dragonewt's Childbirth
The Priestess began treating the Orcs every night. Since the first time went so smoothly, Wilson-san, Germana, and the Priestess began acting as a trio. After all, they are people who basically don't need to sleep at night. There's no problem even if they go every night.
Thanks to that, they apparently reached an agreement with all the Orc groups in the southwestern region. Moreover, Germana apparently turned all the Ogres into hornless ones.
Thanks to that, I was able to sufficiently practice the sensation of simultaneous activation of [Light] and [Mold] with Wilson-san's cooperation.
During the day, we practiced magic under the guise of building the fortress, and at night, the three of them... while I rested comfortably... spent June improving the precision of [Mold], but a sudden contact came from Magdalena-sama, and we had to return home temporarily. The destination is the exchange point with the beastmen living in the forest of the Sertoria Royal Capital region. Since super-high speed was required, Eleanor-sama, Wilson-san, Germana, the Priestess, and I went directly.
When we arrived at the site, Magdalena-sama was waiting for us. Lich is also with her.
"I heard the Dragonewt Princess has reached her time for childbirth."
When Eleanor-sama asked, Magdalena-sama nodded. Apparently, the signs have appeared.
"This should be the Princess's first birth. Is there a midwife, as humans call them?"
"Yes. The Princess's mother, the one who is the current Chieftain's Wife, has brought two women with her. However, unfortunately, given the current situation where the number of Dragonewt births has significantly decreased, in terms of experience..."
They are a race that once chose to perish. Such a situation would occur.
"I understand. Jeanne, can you call Dune?"
"I think it'll be fine. This is a matter beyond inter-species conflict."
This is the reason I was called. If Dune is here, her physical condition will be perfectly managed. Since food and alcohol are sufficiently prepared, we were granted permission to visit the beastman village and rode in a medium-sized bowl with Magdalena-sama and Lich.
"Ah, Jeanne! You came! I just didn't know what to do..."
The Dryad of the Royal Capital region jumped at me. If the Dragonewt's fertility treatment is successful, the Dryad's Forest can continue to have powerful guardians who will not yield to either the Demon Lord or humans. Well, I think it would be fine even if it failed, but for her, who has a phobia of humans, the existence of the Dragonewts is a source of emotional support.
"It's okay. We're all going to work together to get through this. So it's okay. Don't worry. It'll be fine."
I hugged her, who was half-crying, to calm her down. She calmed down when I patted her head.
"How is she doing?"
When childbirth is near, labor pains start for humans.
"Well, the Princess's mother is here now."
"Yeah."
"And she says it might be tonight."
"Tonight?"
"That's right!"
"Then, good. We made it in time."
"T-That's right."
I immediately call Dune. While the Dryad watched in surprise, I explained this and that, and she laughed heartily.
"Won't it just happen naturally if you leave it alone?"
That might be true, but...
"Water Spirit-dono."
It was Lich.
"It's Dune."
She seems a bit displeased, perhaps because she was suddenly addressed.
"My apologies, Dune-dono."
"What is it?"
"This birth is not a normal one."
"What's different?"
"We are artificially controlling the mana the Dragonewt Princess is exposed to."
Lich explained again that the Princess is in the middle of an experiment. If it's going well, that's fine, but if not, it will have a bad effect on the fetus. And everyone is assuming the worst-case scenario. That's why, even though she is being treated as a criminal who hasn't atoned for her sins unless the fertility treatment is successfully completed, the mother herself, the Chieftain's Wife, came to examine her.
"Now that you mention it, you were doing something like that."
"Yes. If this succeeds, the future of the Dragonewts will be bright. Moreover, a strong bond between Dragonewts, beastmen, humans, and spirits will be formed. Truly, co-existence and co-prosperity. We want to welcome a safe birth by overcoming all difficulties."
Dune seemed convinced by Lich's earnest appeal and decided to cooperate.
"If a safe birth is welcomed, let's celebrate grandly with all the involved races. The Sertoria Royal Family will take responsibility and prepare a place."
Eleanor-sama's words also gave a push, and we immediately decided to go see her with Dune.
The Dragonewt couple's house was in a corner of the Dryad's Forest. Since I haven't visited their home since they moved in from the beastman village, it's my first time.
"J-Jeanne-dono. I'm glad you came."
He looked lost, wandering in front of the entrance. In an era where Dragonewt births themselves are rare, and other Dragonewts basically cannot enter the Dryad's Forest. The ones the Chieftain's Wife brought must be women. A man alone, he probably doesn't know what to do.
"Men are useless even if they're here. You're in the way, so stay quiet somewhere. If you go to the beastman village, Henry and the others are having a banquet, so go there. We'll contact you when it's born."
"But..."
"No buts. Go!"
Eleanor-sama is waving her hand as if shooing away a fly.
While he was still hesitating, Dune grabbed him by the collar with her right hand, lifted him up, and threw him with a thud into Wilson-san's bowl that we had arrived in.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
"Understood."
Just like that, it flew away.
Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama didn't even change their expressions. They must have intended to drive away the men from the start.
When Magdalena-sama knocked on the door, a young woman with yellowish-green wings came out. The Princess's mother must have brought her. This person is also pregnant. When Lich spoke to her, she greeted us with a smile.
"Since Magdalena-dono and Lich-dono are here, could you be from Sertoria?"
"Yes. We brought Dune... Undine, to examine the Princess."
"Undine? H-How grateful. Please wait a moment!"
She went inside in a hurry.
The Princess's mother responded and let us in. The Dragonewts who came to visit were the Princess's mother, a young pregnant woman with yellowish-green hair, and an elderly woman with purple hair. Since she has purple hair, she might be the wife of the Chieftain's younger brother.
Everyone introduces themselves. The elderly Dragonewt was indeed the wife of the Chieftain's younger brother.
On our side, there are spirits, humans, ghosts, and monsters. The three Dragonewts seemed a bit surprised. In particular, they looked curiously at Germana, who was introduced by Dune as being like a sister. On this side, the Priestess was looking around restlessly, but they'll just have to get used to it.
The Princess remembered us. Magdalena-sama seemed to have met her several times at the exchange base, but I haven't met her since then. Yet, she called my name, so when I went to her side and took her hand, she thanked me for coming.
Since we brought Dune, the Chieftain's Wife thanked us very politely. The Chieftain is more of a stubborn old man who doesn't say much, but the Chieftain's Wife is a calm and composed person. She speaks to us humans in a polite tone. She also thanked Lich politely for the fertility treatment. However, once the greetings were over, the male Lich was sent outside by Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama.
"So, this girl, right?"
Dune approaches the Princess lying in bed.
"I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Show me your belly."
"Yes."
Dune is patting the greatly swollen belly after she rolled up her clothes. Since there are only women, there's no need for reserve.
"How is it?"
The Princess asked, and the three Dragonewts held their breath.
"She's energetic. No problem."
A sigh of relief came from everyone watching.
"Is it true?"
"Yes, for the child in the belly. But you need a little mana."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Her complexion changed. From the experience of attending births so far, if the mother is weak, it will be a difficult birth.
"Should I use magic or something?"
I tried asking Dune. I can use darkness too. If the combined technique of [Light] and [Mold] can be used, it should be used. Since the Priestess is here, the combined technique is possible.
"Germana, it's your turn."
"Yes."
However, Dune nominated Germana.
"Then, please close your eyes."
"Y-Yes."
Germana places her hand on the Princess's forehead. She stayed like that without moving.
"Um, that is..."
"Be quiet."
"A-Ah, yes."
The Chieftain's Wife started to say something, but was stopped by Dune.
While watching, the Princess's cheeks gradually became flushed. No, maybe they were too white until now. I should say her color improved.
"Oh..."
The three Dragonewts raised their voices modestly. They must have realized she had become healthy. I could see the Chieftain's Wife softly wiping the corner of her eye with her fingertip. I could see her squeezing back the hand of her daughter she was holding.
After a while, Germana pulled back her hand and let out a deep sigh.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
When I took out a water bottle containing wine and handed it to her, she tilted the bottle and gulped it all down at once.
"Phew. Thank you."
She smiles. It's my first time seeing the young lady like this. Is she really okay?
"She's fine. She was just holding her breath and wanted to take a breather, right?"
"Yes."
When Dune said that, she returned the water bottle with a light laugh. It's empty.
A breather for one of the five great spirits is quite different from a human's.
"How is it?"
"We've managed for now, but mana adjustment will be necessary even after the birth."
Dune asked and Germana answered. Thinking about it, it must be a tremendous thing. The two elderly Dragonewts are moved to tears by just that.
"Then, shall we leave the postpartum recovery to Lich?"
"Lich?"
Come to think of it, Germana didn't know about the Dragonewt's fertility treatment.
What Germana did was apparently direct injection of mana. Since Dragonewts are monsters, they have a better affinity with the darkness system... I didn't know such a thing existed... so it was Germana's treatment, who contains darkness, rather than the completely neutral Dune. Of course, humans cannot do it. It's because their original mana capacity is too low. The amount handled by [Hand Over] is apparently negligible. It wouldn't be enough at all to supplement the physical strength lost in the big job of childbirth. Besides, [Hand Over] is holy magic, so even if the amount were sufficient, it would only end up hurting the body.
By the way, it seems Dwarves, who belong to the darkness system, can do the same thing. Of course, the amount Germana can handle would be overwhelmingly greater.
At any rate, preparations before birth are complete. Dune says that after this, it will be born even if left alone.
Lich was called, and it was decided to build a temporary mana supply facility at the Dragonewt's house. This time Germana is here. After consultation between Dune, Germana, and Lich, it was decided to set the mana concentration in the facility to the standard of four thousand years ago.
Lich drew the blueprints. It's basically the same as the fertility treatment facility built in the Silver Mine.
After confirming with the Dryad, a hut was built behind the Dragonewt's house, and it was decided to build it in the basement there.
It's a rush job. Alex was suddenly called, and then the Elf Prince was called, and finally even Gnome was called. Along with the Dragonewt husband and beastmen skilled in earth magic, the construction of the postpartum recovery room and the women attending the birth proceeded simultaneously.
The construction site is managed by Lich. He proceeded while consulting with Gnome, and Alex and the Elf Prince became the center of the field work. [Mute] was applied so the sound of the work wouldn't be heard, and stone materials were gathered. They are [Anti-Magic Stone]s, which were originally supposed to go to Medioland, but it's not such a large amount. We can deceive... I mean, adjust. After all, the future of the Dragonewts is at stake. Gnome said it would be born if left alone and found it troublesome, but we called Salamander to persuade him. By the time he finally agreed to cooperate, we also called Mel. Mel also said it would be born if left alone. Only Salamander accepted with a ready answer. It's true that fire is hot.
On the other hand, for the Princess, when Dragonewts, beastmen, and humans are combined, there are six people who have experience with childbirth themselves, and three people—Germana, the Priestess, and I—who have attended and helped due to our positions as clergy, so experienced people are gathered.
Moreover, Dune and Germana are here. Mel and Salamander are also here. Both the Priestess and I can chant [Mold]. Honestly, I don't want to think about it, but there are also three people who use [Undead].
"I'm sorry for the trouble."
"No matter what happens, we will definitely save the baby, so give birth with peace of mind."
"Is it true?"
"We have [Undead]. You might become a [Revenant], but we will definitely save the baby."
"I-I understand. When the time comes, I'll leave it to you."
The Priestess is saying something ominous, but it seems to have made the Princess more determined. She looked ready to give birth even if she died.
"Listen, Dune is here. There's no way you'll die from childbirth."
Mel whispers, but that Dune was smiling after hearing the Priestess's words. She's probably keeping quiet because it's better to challenge childbirth without fear.
"That's right. But she's determined now, so isn't that good?"
"Hmph. You guys are so troublesome."
We're weak. It can't be helped, right?
As the night deepened, it became a full-fledged labor. The Princess took on her original Dragonewt form. It's my first time seeing it, and it's powerful. It's the same as the [Amphiptere] I saw flying in the sky before. A snake with small wings. What's different from a snake is that the face is a dragon. It's covered in purple scales representing the Chieftain. Because of the labor pains, she exhales painfully with a 'fuu-fuu'. For some reason, her golden eyes are looking at me. Since there's no hand to hold, I held the base of her wings.
"This is where the real thing begins. Are you ready?"
"Yes. Mother."
It's strange that the voice remains the Princess's.
As dawn approached, it was born safely. When she strained hard, a slimy cocoon-like thing came out with a 'zuru'.
After taking a breath, the Princess began to tear the skin of the cocoon. This must be an instinct that no one taught her.
The others stepped back as instructed by the Chieftain's Wife and the sister-in-law. We were told not to look at the baby's face.
Germana, the Priestess, and I went behind the mother. Germana is placing her hand on the scale-covered back and injecting mana.
"Kyururururu!"
Suddenly, a cry like something between a bird and some animal echoes.
"It cried!"
The Chieftain's Wife and the others rush over. Is it okay to look now? When I move to the side and peek from diagonally behind, round pitch-black eyes are looking at the mother.
It looks like a completely miniature version of the mother. Neither horns nor wings have grown.
"It was born... My baby... It looked at me and cried... It looks so healthy..."
Hearing the tearful voice of the Princess who became a mother, I slumped on the spot out of relief.