A hot summer had arrived. The scorching sun was blazing down relentlessly, casting a blinding light. In the midst of it all, I received word of an unexpected visitor to my office in the heart of Agarta, the capital city. Since I recognized the person, I instructed them to be allowed inside despite the unannounced visit. After a while, the individual arrived.
“Hey, sorry to barge in! Sorry about that!”
“What is it? You’re babbling outside my room. Come in.”
As I spoke while seated, the door was forcefully opened, revealing a short but heavily sunburned craftsman-like man.
“Hey there, Boss! Sorry about that!”
“Oh, Gen-san. You seem energetic. What brings you here in broad daylight?”
Entering the room was Gen-san, the master carpenter. He had relocated to Agarta a few months ago with his apprentices, aiming to establish himself and take advantage of the construction boom happening in Agarta, which rivaled the capital city.
“Boss, I heard something interesting. You’re getting married again, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
I responded with an indescribable expression on my face.
“It’s double joy with your wife’s pregnancy. So, the carpenters got together and decided to celebrate and give you a gift.”
Gen-san proudly spoke, leaning closer to me.
“It’s not necessary. Gen-san, you’re busy too, so don’t push yourself.”
“No, no, it’s a big deal! Boss, do you already have a place for the new wife to stay?”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t help but glare at the empty air.
“At the moment, with the two wives, two daughters, and Gon-brother, everything is sufficient. But if you’re welcoming a new wife, the current situation won’t work, right? So, there’s a suggestion to build a residence for you, Boss.”
Gen-san’s eyes sparkled. Currently, the people of the city were unaware of my teleportation barrier. Therefore, they believed that our family resided in this former headquarters of the kingdom’s army.
“And here’s the thing, Boss. This city doesn’t have a place fit for a king to reside. So, how about we, with our skills, build a palace for the king? We can’t create something as extravagant as during the Juka Kingdom, but I’m confident we can deliver something decent.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you’re busy too, Gen-san.”
“No, no, it’s the Tomb Master from the capital!… Don’t know?… Well, that Tomb Master is coming to Agarta. So, I’m thinking of entrusting our work to the Tomb Master. I’ve discussed it with other master craftsmen, and we all share the desire to create something massive. Boss, let us build a castle as a celebration gift!”
It was a grateful yet somewhat burdensome proposal, but I couldn’t help but feel that Gen-san had a point. I decided to consider the offer and give my response at a later date.
“I’ll give you an answer soon.”
With a grin, showing his white teeth, Gen-san left the room.
That night, upon returning to the mansion in the capital city, I immediately shared Gen-san’s proposal with everyone.
“Hmm, I do have an attachment to this mansion…”
Those words came from Peyris. It was understandable. The kitchen of this mansion was filled with appliances and tableware carefully selected by Peyris. Her attachment to this residence was stronger than anyone else’s.
“Peyris-chan has her university as well, so going to Agarta…”
Expressing concern for Peyris was Mei. Peyris was also worried, but this mansion housed a large collection of tools and materials for Mei’s research. It would require considerable effort to move them.
I also asked Gon, Ferris, Luala, and Fairy, but they seemed indifferent either way.
“Gen-san’s words do make sense.”
It was Rico who spoke with determination.
“Indeed, a castle is necessary. It serves as a place to protect the king and his family, and it symbolizes the power of the nation. Agarta is a newly founded country. By building a grand castle, it will exert pressure on neighboring countries.”
Everyone fell silent, contemplating Rico’s words. Indeed, there was some truth to what Rico said. I crossed my arms and pondered.
“…Do we really need a castle?”
“Linos, what are you saying? It is necessary!”
“Rico’s point also holds merit, I think. But I wonder if a castle truly serves a purpose. After all, the Juka Kingdom had a large, impenetrable fortress, yet the royal family Perished during the rebellion led by Karugi. No matter how impressive a castle is, it’s meaningless if no one defends it, don’t you think?”
“With Linos’s barrier, it can be adequately protected.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But what if I die? The barrier won’t work anymore. If a rebellion were to happen within the castle at that time, everything would be over, right?”
“The residents of Agarta would never…”
“Rico, we can’t say for certain. Even though we’re fine, what about our children and grandchildren? Moreover, building a large-scale castle now would require mobilizing a significant workforce. Wouldn’t that burden the people living in Agarta? I don’t think there’s a need to force ourselves to build a castle at the moment.”
“Linos…”
“However, we must prepare rooms for Princess Considy and Soleil. That is certain.”
“Oh? And what about Matokal…?”
“Yeah, I’m thinking of having a proper conversation with Matokal. If what I decide doesn’t align with her wishes, then I’ll consider other options.”
Rico lowered her gaze and bowed her head.
“No, Rico doesn’t need to feel responsible. It’s ultimately my issue.”
“I’ve said something unnecessary…”
“Rico, it’s okay. However, if we build a castle, we’ll have to consider having court ladies and soldiers, right? I want to keep it as simple as possible. Ideally, I would prefer if Considy and Soleil came with just themselves.”
“Indeed, that might be…”
“But of course…”
“Princess Considy and Lady Soleil are noble individuals. One is a princess of a nation, and the other is the chief’s daughter. If we don’t receive them appropriately, it would be disrespectful.”
“However, it’s better if not many people know about your skills, sir.”
“Gon’s point is valid. Understood. I’ll think it over.”
I postponed the decision and proceeded to take a bath and go to sleep.
Today, Rico, Mei, and I bathed together. Since Rico’s pregnancy was confirmed, we made it a point to bathe together whenever possible. Rico’s belly wasn’t visibly swollen yet, but we had mixed feelings of anxiety and excitement about how it would change in the future.
The three of us soaked in the tub, washing away our fatigue. It was a blissful moment.
“Baths feel so good, don’t they?”
Mei unintentionally let out a remark.
“Yeah, they’re heavenly.”
I replied in a relaxed tone.
“Even if we move to a castle, I want to continue bathing like this.”
“That’s true.”
As we engaged in such conversation, Rico approached me. I hugged her from behind and gently stroked her belly with both hands.
“It would be nice if we could bathe together with our child once they’re born.”
Rico had a delighted expression on her face.
And then, Rico and I got into bed. Lately, I’ve been sleeping with my hand on Rico’s belly, and today, I tried to do the same. However, Rico gently brushed away my hand and buried her face into my chest.
“…What do you want, Linos?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about the castle.”
“I… I think I prefer our current lifestyle. I probably wouldn’t fit into some noble-like life all of a sudden. I also don’t think we need a grand castle. If the people of Agarta turn their backs on me, no matter how magnificent a castle we build, it would all be in vain. Instead, I want to create a relationship where I protect the people of Agarta, and they protect me. I think that’s better than building a castle. It might be a naive and unreasonable idea, but that’s my true sentiment.”
Rico tightly grabbed my chest, and I gently embraced her back.
Then, the next morning, while we were having breakfast together, Rico spoke up.
“Regarding the castle discussion from yesterday…”
“What’s the matter, Rico?”
“After thinking about it on my own, I still believe that we should build a castle.”
I nodded slowly.
“However, I don’t think we need a large castle. Like Linos said, the most important thing is gaining the trust of the people of Agarta. But… a building with dignity and prestige… yes, a place to receive feudal lords and envoys from various nations and entertain them. I think that should be built. It would be sufficient.”
“Rico… where will we live then?”
“We can continue living in this mansion as it is. When work is done, we can return to this mansion. That should be fine. As for where Princess Considy and Lady Soleil will live, we can build new rooms on the available land. We can discuss it with them and if they don’t want to live in this mansion, we can make rooms within the new building. That way, even if we have attendants and court ladies, we can accommodate them sufficiently.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Rico-sama, as expected, you’re amazing! I agree too!”
Everyone seemed to support Rico’s idea. Rico stared at me intently.
“Linos, what do you think?”
“I also agree with that proposal.”
“Thank you, Linos. Now that I think about it, I love this mansion the most. And I want to raise our child together with everyone in this mansion.”
“I understand. Then, instead of a castle, we’ll build a mansion in Agarta.”
“A mansion?”
“A building used for balls and receptions at the Imperial Palace.”
“Oh, you mean a guesthouse?”
“Yes. Since it’s a good idea, I’m sure a high-quality mansion will be created.”
Saying that, I headed to Agarta to talk with Gen-san.
A hot summer had arrived. The scorching sun was blazing down relentlessly, casting a blinding light. In the midst of it all, I received word of an unexpected visitor to my office in the heart of Agarta, the capital city. Since I recognized the person, I instructed them to be allowed inside despite the unannounced visit. After a while, the individual arrived.
“Hey, sorry to barge in! Sorry about that!”
“What is it? You’re babbling outside my room. Come in.”
As I spoke while seated, the door was forcefully opened, revealing a short but heavily sunburned craftsman-like man.
“Hey there, Boss! Sorry about that!”
“Oh, Gen-san. You seem energetic. What brings you here in broad daylight?”
Entering the room was Gen-san, the master carpenter. He had relocated to Agarta a few months ago with his apprentices, aiming to establish himself and take advantage of the construction boom happening in Agarta, which rivaled the capital city.
“Boss, I heard something interesting. You’re getting married again, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
I responded with an indescribable expression on my face.
“It’s double joy with your wife’s pregnancy. So, the carpenters got together and decided to celebrate and give you a gift.”
Gen-san proudly spoke, leaning closer to me.
“It’s not necessary. Gen-san, you’re busy too, so don’t push yourself.”
“No, no, it’s a big deal! Boss, do you already have a place for the new wife to stay?”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t help but glare at the empty air.
“At the moment, with the two wives, two daughters, and Gon-brother, everything is sufficient. But if you’re welcoming a new wife, the current situation won’t work, right? So, there’s a suggestion to build a residence for you, Boss.”
Gen-san’s eyes sparkled. Currently, the people of the city were unaware of my teleportation barrier. Therefore, they believed that our family resided in this former headquarters of the kingdom’s army.
“And here’s the thing, Boss. This city doesn’t have a place fit for a king to reside. So, how about we, with our skills, build a palace for the king? We can’t create something as extravagant as during the Juka Kingdom, but I’m confident we can deliver something decent.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you’re busy too, Gen-san.”
“No, no, it’s the Tomb Master from the capital!… Don’t know?… Well, that Tomb Master is coming to Agarta. So, I’m thinking of entrusting our work to the Tomb Master. I’ve discussed it with other master craftsmen, and we all share the desire to create something massive. Boss, let us build a castle as a celebration gift!”
It was a grateful yet somewhat burdensome proposal, but I couldn’t help but feel that Gen-san had a point. I decided to consider the offer and give my response at a later date.
“I’ll give you an answer soon.”
With a grin, showing his white teeth, Gen-san left the room.
That night, upon returning to the mansion in the capital city, I immediately shared Gen-san’s proposal with everyone.
“Hmm, I do have an attachment to this mansion…”
Those words came from Peyris. It was understandable. The kitchen of this mansion was filled with appliances and tableware carefully selected by Peyris. Her attachment to this residence was stronger than anyone else’s.
“Peyris-chan has her university as well, so going to Agarta…”
Expressing concern for Peyris was Mei. Peyris was also worried, but this mansion housed a large collection of tools and materials for Mei’s research. It would require considerable effort to move them.
I also asked Gon, Ferris, Luala, and Fairy, but they seemed indifferent either way.
“Gen-san’s words do make sense.”
It was Rico who spoke with determination.
“Indeed, a castle is necessary. It serves as a place to protect the king and his family, and it symbolizes the power of the nation. Agarta is a newly founded country. By building a grand castle, it will exert pressure on neighboring countries.”
Everyone fell silent, contemplating Rico’s words. Indeed, there was some truth to what Rico said. I crossed my arms and pondered.
“…Do we really need a castle?”
“Linos, what are you saying? It is necessary!”
“Rico’s point also holds merit, I think. But I wonder if a castle truly serves a purpose. After all, the Juka Kingdom had a large, impenetrable fortress, yet the royal family Perished during the rebellion led by Karugi. No matter how impressive a castle is, it’s meaningless if no one defends it, don’t you think?”
“With Linos’s barrier, it can be adequately protected.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But what if I die? The barrier won’t work anymore. If a rebellion were to happen within the castle at that time, everything would be over, right?”
“The residents of Agarta would never…”
“Rico, we can’t say for certain. Even though we’re fine, what about our children and grandchildren? Moreover, building a large-scale castle now would require mobilizing a significant workforce. Wouldn’t that burden the people living in Agarta? I don’t think there’s a need to force ourselves to build a castle at the moment.”
“Linos…”
“However, we must prepare rooms for Princess Considy and Soleil. That is certain.”
“Oh? And what about Matokal…?”
“Yeah, I’m thinking of having a proper conversation with Matokal. If what I decide doesn’t align with her wishes, then I’ll consider other options.”
Rico lowered her gaze and bowed her head.
“No, Rico doesn’t need to feel responsible. It’s ultimately my issue.”
“I’ve said something unnecessary…”
“Rico, it’s okay. However, if we build a castle, we’ll have to consider having court ladies and soldiers, right? I want to keep it as simple as possible. Ideally, I would prefer if Considy and Soleil came with just themselves.”
“Indeed, that might be…”
“But of course…”
“Princess Considy and Lady Soleil are noble individuals. One is a princess of a nation, and the other is the chief’s daughter. If we don’t receive them appropriately, it would be disrespectful.”
“However, it’s better if not many people know about your skills, sir.”
“Gon’s point is valid. Understood. I’ll think it over.”
I postponed the decision and proceeded to take a bath and go to sleep.
Today, Rico, Mei, and I bathed together. Since Rico’s pregnancy was confirmed, we made it a point to bathe together whenever possible. Rico’s belly wasn’t visibly swollen yet, but we had mixed feelings of anxiety and excitement about how it would change in the future.
The three of us soaked in the tub, washing away our fatigue. It was a blissful moment.
“Baths feel so good, don’t they?”
Mei unintentionally let out a remark.
“Yeah, they’re heavenly.”
I replied in a relaxed tone.
“Even if we move to a castle, I want to continue bathing like this.”
“That’s true.”
As we engaged in such conversation, Rico approached me. I hugged her from behind and gently stroked her belly with both hands.
“It would be nice if we could bathe together with our child once they’re born.”
Rico had a delighted expression on her face.
And then, Rico and I got into bed. Lately, I’ve been sleeping with my hand on Rico’s belly, and today, I tried to do the same. However, Rico gently brushed away my hand and buried her face into my chest.
“…What do you want, Linos?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about the castle.”
“I… I think I prefer our current lifestyle. I probably wouldn’t fit into some noble-like life all of a sudden. I also don’t think we need a grand castle. If the people of Agarta turn their backs on me, no matter how magnificent a castle we build, it would all be in vain. Instead, I want to create a relationship where I protect the people of Agarta, and they protect me. I think that’s better than building a castle. It might be a naive and unreasonable idea, but that’s my true sentiment.”
Rico tightly grabbed my chest, and I gently embraced her back.
Then, the next morning, while we were having breakfast together, Rico spoke up.
“Regarding the castle discussion from yesterday…”
“What’s the matter, Rico?”
“After thinking about it on my own, I still believe that we should build a castle.”
I nodded slowly.
“However, I don’t think we need a large castle. Like Linos said, the most important thing is gaining the trust of the people of Agarta. But… a building with dignity and prestige… yes, a place to receive feudal lords and envoys from various nations and entertain them. I think that should be built. It would be sufficient.”
“Rico… where will we live then?”
“We can continue living in this mansion as it is. When work is done, we can return to this mansion. That should be fine. As for where Princess Considy and Lady Soleil will live, we can build new rooms on the available land. We can discuss it with them and if they don’t want to live in this mansion, we can make rooms within the new building. That way, even if we have attendants and court ladies, we can accommodate them sufficiently.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Rico-sama, as expected, you’re amazing! I agree too!”
Everyone seemed to support Rico’s idea. Rico stared at me intently.
“Linos, what do you think?”
“I also agree with that proposal.”
“Thank you, Linos. Now that I think about it, I love this mansion the most. And I want to raise our child together with everyone in this mansion.”
“I understand. Then, instead of a castle, we’ll build a mansion in Agarta.”
“A mansion?”
“A building used for balls and receptions at the Imperial Palace.”
“Oh, you mean a guesthouse?”
“Yes. Since it’s a good idea, I’m sure a high-quality mansion will be created.”
Saying that, I headed to Agarta to talk with Gen-san.
