'Ugh ... that's disgusting ...'
　You're not going to...

　I rub Tetra's back.

　I'm already in my twelfth week, so I think it's time for the morning sickness to go away...
　This guy has a tail.

　Incidentally, Yulia was keratinized from a rather early stage. I'm sure it's in his constitution.

　I've got some grapes, do you want some?　I hear you'd still be better off with something in your stomach.
　...fine. Can I have some ice...

　I'll call the servants and send them to the ice room to get some ice.
　There should still be some left over from the winter's collection.

　''........Why am I suffering so much while that purple woman is fine.......''
　Who's a Purple Woman?

　Julia came in, lifting her eyes. She has a stone plate in her hand.

　'Yulia, what is it?　It's,
　"A morning sickness remedy. It's in a book I bought from a Cilician merchant. I've already tried it myself.

　Then Julia shows me a stone plate.
　On top of the plate is a green sludgy object. This is definitely a bitter one.

　'It has to be sweet,'
　I was hoping you'd say that, and I got some sugar.

　Julia takes the white sugar from her pocket and dumps it into the green object.
　She uses a rubbing stick to mix it together. The sugar increases the slopiness of the mixture.

　'Yes, Arn.'
　....

　Tetra holds the spoon Julia offered her in her mouth. Her expression distorts.

　''Ooh ... bitter ...''
　Don't you know there's no such thing as a good pill to swallow?

　You put so much sugar in it and it's still bitter. What's the stuff........

　'I think the real good medicine is the sweetest, most effective medicine...'
　Okay. Three more bites. Good luck.

　Yulia nonchalantly carries the green sludge into Tetra's mouth. Tetra eats it with a painful look on her face.
　After finishing everything neatly, Tetra mutters.

　''Surprisingly ... it's subsided a bit.''
　There you go. I did it. You can thank me.
　But the bitter one was harder.
　You're not being honest.

　They laugh at each other.
　It really helps that you two are so close. I don't want to have to suffer like King Equus.

　For the time being, as long as Julia is here, I guess Tetra will be okay.
　It's better to have someone who understands the pain in real time than someone who is a man and is about to run out.

　Then I'll be back.
　Are you busy these days, Alms?
　Hmm?　Well. It's just that it's a bit of a hassle but oh, don't worry about it. It's not a big deal. Just think of the two of you, just think of the baby in your belly.

　I left the room.





　'Raimondo, have you heard back from your country?'
　"...and that King Equus will believe it for now. King Evil replied that he wanted to believe in your country. King Belvedil is silent. King Domorgal seems to be extraordinarily angry.
　 You're spreading a curse....

　I swore.
　This all started about two months ago. A curse had fallen on the harvested crops.

　The victims were King Belvedil's kingdom, King Evil's kingdom, King Domorgal's kingdom and the Equus tribe.

　Fortunately, each country seemed to have taken sufficient measures against the curse, and there was almost no damage.

　Each country started its own investigation and found that the scope of the curse was very extensive. And for some reason, they found that the curse hadn't fallen on King Rosais' country at all.
　Unfortunately, I couldn't identify the culprit...but King Rosais' country was suspicious.

　Thus, letters of complaint arrived from various countries.
　Letters from King Evil's country, King Belvedil's country and King Domorgal's country came at about the same time. Undoubtedly, these three countries showed up together.

　Since they came alone from the Equus tribe, I don't think they have exchanged information with the other countries.


　''King Equus isn't concerned about the curse this time at all. And originally, that country doesn't have much of a field itself. Our alliances and friendships are intact. He's even suggested that we should conduct a joint investigation together.
　'Well it helps that you seem to have full confidence in me. I can't get over King Equus.

　Well, as a matter of fact, I don't see any reason for our nation to be hostile to the Equus race.
　Common sense would suggest that this is a measure to divide the relationship between our country and the rest of the world.

　But that's only between countries that are on friendly terms with each other, like the Equus.

　'Evil, Belvedil and Domorgar. These three nations are completely suspicious of our country.
　It's no use. We don't get along with each other to begin with. Besides, they've been flying curses at each other regularly for a long time, haven't they?

　I have a criminal record.

　The lucky thing is that Yulia-sama is pregnant. If you really want to cast a curse, Julia-sama's help is a must. If you're pregnant, you can't participate in the curse. This stops suspicion from becoming doubt.
　Well, it doesn't change my suspicions.

　I'm considered by the rest of the world to be the new king eager to expand my territory. I've taken quite a bit of Domorgal's land.
　Saying I didn't do it would only make it even more suspicious. A deterioration of the relationship is inevitable.

　'Well, it's not that much to worry about. This degree of concern is something that has happened many times in the past. It's just like a territorial dispute. There is no way that the three countries will attack us in this way. It is the curse of retaliation that we should be aware of.
　Since Yulia is pregnant our country's ability to prevent spells has been greatly reduced. If we are attacked by three other countries at the same time with this, it won't be a joke.

　I put out the announcement of Julia's pregnancy too soon.
　Well, it's something I didn't know about, so there's no way around it.

　''But Yulia had been circling around with her anti-curse wards on a regular basis. It still remains strong. If you mobilize all the other spellcasters, they can somehow withstand it. ........Well, we need an anti-cursed ward construction system that is safe enough without Yuria.

　When you think about it, you can understand how important Yulia is to this country.
　With just one person, the protection against spells in peacetime is sufficient.

　''It seems that we need to build a god-based anti-curse system or something like that as soon as possible.
　It would make the sorcerer's job much easier... the question is, which god would you put in place?

　The 'myth' is an essential part of this system. That's natural. There's no point in praying to a god that doesn't exist.
　Myths exist in Adelunia, too.

　But it's not as highly systematized as Cilician mythology.
　There is no main god.

　And the belief in animistic spirits and fairies is still stronger than those gods.

　This makes the question of who should be worshipped and entrusted with the country.
　God A, God B, or maybe God C? All of us have to agree.

　We have already received a draft of the system from Julia. But even Julia couldn't seem to decide which god would be the main god.

　''Since we don't have a suitable god in our country I don't know what to do.......hey, why are you staring at my face?
　"No, it's darkest under the lampstand," as Clarice used to say. That's a good one to say...

　What, you're staring at me.
　Oh, you mean like I'm the son of a gryphon?　But Master Gryphon is more of an object of awe than an object of prayer, so it's different, isn't it?

　You're Master Gryphon's son-in-law, aren't you?　I've heard that your real father is Mares, the god of war and agriculture.
　Is that what's happening these days?
　'Yes. It's just that the rotational farming and the victory in the last battle have had an effect on them. There have been a lot of theories, but they all agree on Mares.

　I don't know who my father is but....
　All I know is that it's definitely not God.

　But still, my rumors seem to have calmed down.
　Though you seem to be flying through the air with your tail and dorsal fin, sprouting wings and running around the earth on your strong legs.
　'I'm glad to see you're well.

　'So the Lord God is going to be Mares?
　'Mareth doesn't have a lot of faithful people, does he? For me, the best candidates are 'He-no', Mares' mother, 'Zelpia', husband and sister of He-no, and 'Arne', who was born from the head of Zelpia. These three pillars are Mares' relatives, and their names are often mentioned in rituals, so they're probably well known. And Zelpia is the patron deity of the House of Rosais.

　Let me explain!

　Zelpia is a sky god, and is a major male god in Adelunia. By the way, she is also a goddess because she can change her s*x with a spirited mind.
　His wife and sister is Haino. She is the goddess of childbirth. Julia and Tetra pray to her every day.

　The one born from Zerpia's head is Arne. I don't know what you're talking about.
　As I recall, Zerpia said, "My head hurts," and Arne is the one whose subordinate god came out of his head with his head cracked open. I don't remember why he was in his head. Probably not a good reason, as far as I'm concerned.

　And my father (the setting), Mares, is a god that He-No bore alone.
　Common sense dictates that you need sperm and eggs to make a fertilized egg, but well, God doesn't need those things.
　　He can do anything he wants as long as he has energy.

　.........as I recall, my father (Mares in the setting of Mares) was born by Henno breathing in pollen, right?


　You mean on my birth certificate?　His father was Mares, and his grandmother was Haino. His grandfather and great-uncle and great-aunt is Zerpia. And my aunt will be Arne.

　...I don't want to be part of this strange family.

　Hey, I've never said I'm Mares' son or anything like that. When did it become official?
　'Well?　But this country has been suffering for a while from domestic and foreign worries. And the people have felt that atmosphere. I have high hopes for them.

　Is that...?

　'I mean, is it good?　Make me the official recognition of Mares' son. Rosythian style.
　'No problem. As you know, Zerpia's rape of a human's daughter resulted in the birth of the founder and first king of our House of Rosais.

　Oh, really?
　It's okay, right?　If you're okay with that.

　With this, the line of God's blood will be concentrated in the House of Rosyth more and more centralized.

　Raimondo says happily.
　'So that's what it means.

　''Zerpia is famous for being the patron deity of the Rosais family, but due to the nature of the sky god, it's not familiar to the common people. Hanoh is very popular among the common people, but there are not many warriors, especially men, who believe in him. Arne is a god of work and a god of witchcraft, so he's popular with craftsmen and sorcerers, but he's not familiar to the majority of the nation's peasants.
　And by using Mares, the god of agriculture and warfare, they will be able to coalesce around each other. Wouldn't you be more interested in the relatives of your own king's father?

　Well, it's not a bad idea. It's also a good idea to prepare three pillars instead of focusing on one main deity.
　Besides.....

　'Zerpia, Haino and Arne are the equivalent of the three pillars of Cilician mythology: the God of the Sky, the Queen of the Gods and the Goddess of Wisdom. We can refer to the Cilician way of worshiping them.
　That's what I mean.

　There is a considerable Cilician presence in the southern part of the Adelian peninsula. In our neighbor to the south, King Belvedil's country, one fifth of the people are Cilician or mixed race. And my tetras are of mixed blood, too.
　That's why the myths of the Cilician people and the indigenous myths of Adelunia are mixed together, and it's a wonder.

　How long will it take?
　Well such a large scale spell requires at least four months of preparation. Zelpia, Haino, and Arne are very popular in our country, so as for the temples, there are many places. Well, two years at the earliest, isn't it?
　'I see. Julia may not be allowed to participate, but she will have an opinion. He is the most reliable person in this area. But do not tell me the details of this mess.

　I don't want to put the two of you pregnant with extra heartache.
　I want you two to focus on the birth as much as possible. It's the least I can do.

　Now I just have to ask your father-in-law's permission to do the rest.

　In the Adelian peninsula, there is an idea of patriarchy.　
　In short, the father is the greatest of all.

　Politically, I'm better than your father-in-law, but culturally, he's better than me.
　So you need to stand up.






　Isn't that good?
　Your father-in-law said as he looked out at the garden (the drug field).
　'If you want to enjoy the view, you'd better go somewhere else.

　'I'm not going to interfere with your policies. It's a throne that's already been done.'
　Is that so?
　And I'm out of the palace.
　What?

　What are you talking about, man?

　''You don't want me to stay in this palace forever, do you?　There's a nice place with a nice view and a hot spring. I'm going to retreat there. In a week's time, I'll have a small, but nice little mansion finished.

　I would have built it if you had told me. A big house.

　It's none of your business. There is no need to spend a lot of money on a dying person. And I can't wait to see my grandchildren.
　We're almost there. Good luck. I'm sure Julia will give birth to a healthy baby.

　I don't want to rush it, though. It's a hassle if you're having a premature birth that says.

　I'm going to have to check on you periodically.
　Yeah, do that. I'll miss you too.

　Your father-in-law grins.
　He still has the same raccoon smile.

　'Once again, take care of your daughter and your country, will you?　Don't make me regret it.
　'I'll try to do a job that you'll be proud of in the afterlife,'