Ch.93Side Story – Prenatal Education is Busy

As time passed after Riano became pregnant, one by one, my wives happily confessed that their time of the month had stopped coming.

“H-hehe. Our baby is going to be the second one!”

After Riano, Lael was the next to become pregnant.

Ever since Riano got pregnant, Lael had been constantly demanding intimacy, saying how much she wanted a baby, and finally, she got her wish.

Of course, I was happy. I had created a child with the woman I loved.

The lively atmosphere in our home already felt joyful.

Then, not long after Lael became pregnant amid everyone’s blessings…

Surprisingly, Derin, who had started our relationship the latest, became pregnant.

“I’m so happy… So this is what it feels like… It’s amazing to think there’s a baby inside me…”

Like her, I was also happy. But at the same time, I was worried about her body.

Derin had a slender figure befitting a thief, and I was concerned whether her body might struggle during childbirth.

So from that day on, I started taking care of everything for Derin.

Fruits, herbs, fish, meat—I bought or gathered anything rumored to be good for pregnant women.

But surprisingly, Derin maintained her original appearance, and my other wives intervened…

“We’ll take care of everything, so just stay put!”

“I understand you want to help, but… you look like you’re going to die…”

“Will… will you take care of me like this when I get pregnant too…? I’m a little jealous…”

In the end, I had no choice but to entrust Derin to my wives and watch from the sidelines.

But what could I do? It’s only natural for a husband to worry about his wife and child.

As time passed, Derin started gaining a little weight. To be more precise, she became healthier.

I wondered if this was why my wives told me to just leave it to them and watch…

Next, Elin became pregnant.

“My child will be the youngest. I’m happy thinking about how much love they’ll receive growing up. But I don’t want them to become spoiled, so I’ll raise them strictly!”

With someone as sensible as Elin, she would surely make a good mother.

Still, I hoped Elin would take on the role of nurturing the child. I could be the one the child dislikes if necessary.

After Elin’s pregnancy, alcohol completely disappeared from our meals.

Moreover, my wives had morning sickness, so there were hardly any days when they could eat properly.

Whenever that happened, I would go out myself to get whatever they craved.

One day, Riano said she wanted strawberries that grow in the mountains…!

So I got them for her, and then…

“Mmm, that was good. There’s really no one like my husband!”

Riano put one in her mouth, chewed it, and then put down her fork.

Just one…? For a moment I felt disappointed, but when I thought about our baby in her belly having eaten one, my mind calmed down.

Next, Lael wanted mountain goat milk, Derin wanted steamed four-legged octopus from the sea, and Elin wanted honey mushrooms from near the valley.

Juggling my professor duties while taking care of my wives made me feel like even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.

I’d heard that husbands get busy when their wives are pregnant…

With four wives, I was four times as busy.

Of course, I was still happy.

I felt truly sorry that I couldn’t do anything when my wives’ bellies started growing and they complained of back or abdominal pain.

This much I could certainly do for them.

As time continued to pass…

It was when I thought Riano’s belly had grown quite large.

“J-just now, Karin kicked me…!”

“R-really?!”

By the way, Karin is the name Riano gave to our child. She said she chose it simply because it sounded pretty, without any special meaning…

Of course, I’m satisfied with it too. Karin—it’s easy to say and pretty.

Anyway, what’s important right now is that our Karin kicked.

When I carefully placed my hand on Riano’s belly, amazingly, Karin kicked right against my hand.

“See?! It’s real, right?!”

“Wow… that’s amazing…”

“Our baby must be really strong! The kick was so powerful!”

Seeing the excited mother made me smile involuntarily. This must be what happiness is.

That’s when it happened. Hearing the commotion, my other wives came rushing in from whatever they were doing.

“Riano, what’s going on?”

“Seeing you smile, I guess it’s nothing serious.”

“You scared me…”

As they sighed with relief, Riano excitedly told them:

“Everyone! Our baby kicked!”

“What? A kick…?!”

“Come to think of it, Riano was the first to get pregnant, right?”

“Let me feel it too.”

As the three of them placed their hands on Riano’s belly, Karin obliged by kicking against their hands.

The three jumped in surprise, their eyes widening.

“It’s true…!”

“That’s really amazing. You can even see the shape of the foot on the belly…”

“This child must be very healthy. I wonder if they’ll start walking as soon as they’re born.”

The three took turns commenting and then found comfortable places to sit. Then they all started chatting…

Despite all my studying about pregnancy and childbirth, it was difficult for me to understand everything they were talking about.

Especially the emotional aspects.

They said their moods suddenly changed from good to bad and back again…

Honestly, I don’t understand at all.

It would be easier for me to read ancient black magic texts in the Academy library.

As I was staring blankly out the window, someone poked my cheek from behind.

Wondering who it was, I turned my head to find Lael looking at me with her head tilted.

“What are you doing? The father of our children is just staring blankly out the window.”

“Huh? I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular. Just feeling good, that’s all.”

“Really…? I thought we might have made you feel left out by talking about things only we understand, but I guess not.”

Actually, you’re right… I did feel a bit lonely.

“Anyway, baby daddy, come here and do some prenatal education. Stroke our Roel and call her name. They say babies remember these things.”

Roel is the name Lael gave to our baby. She said she took one part each from Crow and Lael.

Anyway, it was my wife’s request, and if the baby would remember it, I should definitely do it.

I sat down next to Lael and gently stroked her slightly protruding belly.

“Roel, don’t give your mom too much trouble. Grow up happy and healthy, okay? Later when you’re born, give daddy a kiss too. I’ll work hard with your mom to give you siblings…”

“W-what are you saying! You can’t say things like that to the baby!”

Lael slapped my back as she said that.

But come on, the baby might want siblings too.

It already seems like there are two, but since they’ll be born in the same year, they’re practically the same age anyway.

Lael stroked her belly and said:

“Roel, you can forget what daddy said at the end. Just be born healthy. That’s all mommy wishes for.”

Lael’s warm, gentle voice made me feel at ease.

When did she change like this…?

It feels like just yesterday that I saw Lael’s immature side, but people really do change easily.

As I was thinking this, Derin tapped my shoulder from beside me.

“Crow, do prenatal education for me too. And give me a kiss…”

At her shy request, I moved over and gently kissed her.

With a soft smack, our lips parted. Derin stroked her belly first and said:

“Yuria, daddy’s here. Listen carefully and remember everything daddy says, okay?”

Yuria is the name Derin gave to our baby. I think she said it means to grow up beautiful and transparent.

I gently kissed Derin’s belly, which was slightly less protruding than Lael’s, and began the prenatal education.

“Yuria, you should listen to your mom more than your dad. And if you want anything to eat, just tell your mom anytime. Then daddy will bring it all for you. Just be healthy, happy, and loved, and be born safely.”

“Yuria, let’s go on trips with daddy later, okay? We’ll go swimming, hiking in the mountains, and sometimes even hunt monsters.”

“M-monsters…?”

It seems Derin plans to raise Yuria to be strong.

Well, that’s much better than being weak. Being able to protect oneself makes life easier in this world.

As I was thinking this, someone’s arms gently wrapped around my neck from behind. The fragrant woody scent told me it was Elin.

“Crow, do prenatal education for me too! And give me lots of kisses while you’re at it! A mother’s joy is the baby’s joy, right?”

“Sure, I understand.”

I sat Elin down in a suitable spot and sat next to her. Then I used my harem secret technique: the kiss barrage.

Smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch.

Lael burst out laughing and gently pushed me away.

“Hehe… my lips are ticklish, I can’t take anymore.”

I used the kiss barrage on her belly too, and then began the proper prenatal education.

Though her belly wasn’t as protruding as my other wives’, it was definitely bulging, showing that a child was growing inside.

“Ceres, are you growing well in there? You seem to want a lot of honey mushrooms lately. Your mom sings the honey mushroom song every day. But that’s fine. Honey mushrooms are nutritious. I’ll gather as many as you want. Just grow up happy and healthy. Daddy will handle all the difficult things.”

“Crow…”

Perhaps moved by my prenatal education, she opened her arms and embraced me.

To think I could be this happy even before the children are born…

I wonder if I might die from happiness when they’re finally born.