Ch.379[Epilogue] Raising a Child

The family has grown.

There was no financial burden, but childcare was the issue. I was always short on sleep, trying to work and take care of the children.

Still, I somehow make time to play with the kids. Isn’t early childhood attachment formation important? I didn’t want to be remembered as a bad father by my grown children later on.

Thanks to my high reputation, my work schedule was relatively flexible. At the very least, I could work from home on weekends.

This week was no exception, though I was a bit late.

“Daddy!”

As soon as I returned from work, the children came running.

Children so precious they wouldn’t hurt even if put in my eyes. Leading the pack was Anya. After landing in front of me with a triumphant “First!” Anya puffed her cheeks while looking at me.

“Why are you so late! You promised to come early and play with us today!”

“I’m sorry, Daddy was very busy.”

“Daddy is a liar!”

White hair and yellow eyes. She looked like Seti von Adelbein Rheinland, but her sharp personality was unmistakably Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein’s.

I hugged Anya and said:

“Daddy will buy you something delicious tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, pinky swear…”

“Write a contract.”

Look at this bold little one!

“Anya, where did you learn the word ‘contract’?”

“Auntie taught me.”

“…Why?”

“Auntie said to always write a contract when making promises. She said without one, there’s no way to prove what was promised, so it becomes extremely disadvantageous in civil court later.”

I was at a loss for words. Goodness, is this really language coming from a six-year-old’s mouth?

“Anya always says weird things.”

Lucia, who had followed behind, grumbled.

“Lucia is just too stupid to understand.”

“What? You’re done talking!”

“No, I’m not? I have more to say! Lucia is stupid. Dummy. Nyah!”

Lucia is the first daughter born between me and Rustila Kersil. Blonde hair and golden eyes. Even at her young age, she had golden-like looks. Her personality was exactly like Rustila’s, so she often bickered with Anya, who took after Zernya.

“Daddy, Mom bought pudding for you, but she ate it all saying you weren’t coming! She’s such a pig!”

Anya shook her head.

“Anya, Anya didn’t eat it.”

“Then who else ate it?”

“I’m sure Lucia ate it and is framing me. Daddy, this is slander. She’s defaming me!”

“Stop using words only you know! Don’t act so smart!”

“I’m not acting smart, I just am smart! Hmph!”

Is this the difficulty of parenting… right? Must be? Children this age in other families must grow up fighting like this too, right?

“Everyone, stop fighting…”

“That’s right. We shouldn’t fight. Fighting is bad.”

Lea and Trixie toddled out. Lea is the child between me and Ireh Hazlen, and Trixie is the princess born to Sonia.

Lea and Trixie looked almost identical. There were only subtle differences. Perhaps it’s because Ireh and Sonia have similar vibes.

However, the two children had opposite personalities. While Lea was timid, Trixie showed determination despite her young age.

“Sisters, Daddy doesn’t like it when you fight.”

“Yeah, big sisters, don’t fight.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The same-aged brothers nodded at Trixie’s mediation. Eddie and Azel. They were the second children of Rustila and Zernya respectively.

At least the younger ones were more mature. That gives me some breathing room.

“Honey, you’re home?”

After them, my wives who had been preparing food came out one after another. One, two, three, and with Ireh who entered together, four. One was missing.

“Where’s Cartesia?”

“She’s in the study with the kids. She said not to come in because she’s busy.”

I wondered what cute conspiracy they were plotting this time. I put Anya down and headed to the study.

From beyond the door, I could hear murmuring voices. Something about the tone felt unsettling, so I opened the door and went in.

“Can you recite from Article 1 to Article 30 properly?”

“It’s annoying to do it again, Mama.”

“You need to learn this properly to blend into human society. Remember. Having transcendent powers doesn’t mean you can run wild, or serious problems could arise. Okay?”

Cartesia turned her head. Our eyes met.

I asked:

“What are you doing?”

“I was teaching the children the federal constitution.”

“Why?”

“So they won’t be discovered when they go to school.”

I looked at the expressions of the half-human, half-god children listening to the lesson. They showed zero enthusiasm.

Understandable. Even I don’t memorize the constitution.

Evelyn had become an adult woman long ago, and the other children were growing day by day. Their flow of time differs from humans.

Their learning speed is also extraordinary. Especially Evelyn, who already possessed research abilities comparable to Cartesia’s. Though fundamentally free-spirited, she often helped with my work when bored.

For such children, is this really necessary?

“I don’t think they need to go to school.”

“What are you saying? Of course they do. For that, they first need to know this country’s laws well. So they won’t reveal their identity.”

I shook my head.

“Cartesia, sorry but they don’t teach the constitution in elementary school. No adult federal citizen memorizes it either. If by chance they do enroll, memorizing it would actually make them suspicious.”

“Elementary school?”

Cartesia tilted her head.

“What elementary school? You’re planning to send our children to such a flimsy educational institution?”

“Weren’t you thinking of sending the kids to elementary school?”

“Why would grown children go to elementary school?”

“…Then?”

“They should become professors. Learning these things beforehand will make it easier to forge identities, don’t you think?”

I held my forehead. This is maddening.

Cartesia continued:

“By the way, kid, didn’t you say you’re becoming the head of research for exploring another galaxy soon? Perfect timing. Take our children on a field trip while you’re at it.”

“Do you think developing another galaxy is like going for a stroll?”

“For us, it’s practically a picnic.”

“I’ll grow old and die before that happens.”

We both know. The lifespans of humans and transcendent beings are different. Someday, I and my other wives will have to leave Cartesia behind. The thought is somewhat bitter.

“That won’t be a problem.”

Cartesia, reading my thoughts, smiled slyly.

“Until this universe disappears, and even after the next universe arrives, you and I will continue to be together.”

***

Recently, Cartesia has embarked on new research. It’s about extending human life.

Not simply repairing damaged telomeres. It’s about elevating humans to beings equal to outer gods. Beyond various technological singularities, it was a movement to bring about transhumanism.

“It’s the Idea.”

Former Saint Julia said after hearing my story.

“Stern promised to gift us immortality. Though it’s all meaningless now.”

“You still believe?”

“No. What’s the point of clinging to it when the end has passed? I’ve lost my faith, and the world has changed.”

Julia sighed. She was recently released on parole. Since the Magnus Order hasn’t been completely eradicated yet, she was freed on the condition of being under protective observation.

She truly was free. Julia spread her hands and looked at them. Not prosthetics. They were her original hands, obtained through stem cell cultivation technology.

“Thank you so much, Professor.”

“Do you like them?”

“Yes. Very much.”

Julia joined the Order because of her birth environment. Misfortune breeds unrest. Whether physical disability or mental defect.

Some people endure it, but more collapse under the weight. We shouldn’t lecture them about mental strength.

Instead, by embracing them like this, we might prevent someone who could have avoided becoming a criminal from turning into a villain.

“At the very least, you’ll have to live in this planetary system until the Order disappears.”

“That’s fine. This planet is plenty big enough for me. I’ll find a decent man, have children, and live a cozy life.”

As she said this, Julia glanced at me.

“Go.”

“Are you releasing me into the wild?”

“I never caught you in the first place.”

“Tsk, what a waste. I could have clung to you and lived comfortably forever.”

“Go. I said it twice.”

“Wow, such a wall.”

Julia bowed politely.

“I’m joking. I’m an orphan, you know. I’m planning to open an orphanage with the settlement money you gave me.”

“Good, live honestly. And don’t waste the money on gambling or such.”

So Julia also went far away. She’s almost the only successful case among the Five Kings. It’s because she had a kind heart to begin with.

Afterward, I finished all my university work and returned home. Even though I came back in the early afternoon, I had no energy left.

“Ugh.”

I collapsed on the bed without even changing clothes. Shortly after, the door opened and small footsteps approached.

“Daddy, you’re home early?”

“If you came early, you have to play with us.”

“Mm-hmm.”

It was Lucia, Anya, and Lea.

I see. I need to watch the children today too. At this hour, Rustila and Zernya would be busy working.

But you know what?

Last night I was squeezed dry by my wives again.

Our relationship is so good that my life is a cycle of pregnancies and births. I feel less like a husband and more like a breeding stallion. Not that I’m complaining…

“Daddy, what game should we play?”

“Hmm.”

I’d like to rest a bit.

“How about we play the lying still game?”

“The lying still game?”

“Yes, we all lie down on the bed here. The first person to move loses. The person who stays completely still until the end wins. How about it?”

I saw this in a parenting video before. When you’re tired, you can play with them like this.

But.

“Daddy, what kind of trick is this?”

It didn’t work at all.

“Anya, where did you learn such a bad word…!”

“Auntie said so. She said when Daddy doesn’t want to play with us, he tries to do nothing and just lie still. She called this a ‘trick’!”

Ah, Seti. You’ve really done it now. Are you trying to take away even my small moment of rest?

“What game should we play?”

“How about playing hospital?”

“Hospital?”

“Wow, that sounds fun!”

Anya brought out a children’s doctor play set with a bright smile. Perhaps because her mother is a doctor, Anya was particularly interested in medicine.

“Can Daddy be the patient?”

“Okay. And Anya will be the doctor.”

“Then I’ll be the nurse.”

“Me, me too, I’ll be a nurse too!”

I seized the opportunity. I immediately lay down and closed my eyes. I prepared myself to take a nap with a peaceful mind.

“The patient needs to be sick. So first, let’s make Daddy a sick person.”

Huh?