Rimuru's POV
Assessing the state of things that day was like trying to thread a bulldeer through a needle. Especially because emotional support was not Ciel's strong suit, even if she was great at getting material things and working with skills, destroying or recreating worlds, or making systems to make things easier.
With emotions, however, the best she could suggest was for me to attend to it.
That wasn't to fault her though, it was perhaps the only thing I was better at. I had to suppose that was for the best too, since I was the one usually front-facing.
Today I needed to deal with Benimaru and his wives, specifically helping them actually deal with their two new children, on top of keeping an eye on Aoki for the time being.
I was considering calling Kokobu early…
That was to come later though, for the time being we were finally able to enter the delivery room, and inside was a defensively standing Shuna, who was holding a bundle of red blankets that appeared to have been yanked from Momiji.
Only god could guess what had actually happened, unfortunately, I wasn't watching.
I looked over to Albis, expecting a second bundle, but didn't see one. On further inspection though, I spotted something else. Large, smooth, and off-white, with Albis curled snugly around it. It could be nothing else; it was an egg, one big enough to hold a toddler-sized human, if I were to take a guess.
Seeing my expression, my most senior general turned to me with a pale look. "I was surprised–"
"You really shouldn't have been surprised." I cut him off bluntly, not wanting him to make either Albis or Shuna angry in this situation. He could be a bit of an airhead sometimes.
Benimaru just scratched his hair awkwardly and put on a smile to hide his embarrassment. "I suppose not."
Aoki spoke out of turn for him, unfortunately. "That one is incomplete."
I could feel my cheeks flush red, so I immediately turned to Albis with an apologetic tone. "Your baby is– adorable."
"Thank you, Lord Rimuru," The woman smiled. I didn't think she held Aoki's bluntness against her, thankfully.
"Yours too, Momiji." I made sure to address the other mother in the room, "May I hold him?" The question was for both Momiji and Shuna, since Shuna was still holding the infant. Momiji looked and sounded exhausted, which was understandable.
Still, Momiji put on her best attempt at a prideful smile and I think I heard her whisper "Lord Rimuru chose to hold my baby first!" But decided to ignore that. I also ignored the stony glare from Albis that shot in Momiji's direction.
As I approached, it appeared I'd caught the infant's attention. With him rubbing his nose and 'looking' toward me. I suspected he was using Magic Sense, be it unintentionally.
He couldn't open his eyes yet, which was typical even of humans, but that would likely be different very soon if other monsters were any indication. Any weakness was a bit of a problem, so they tended to develop real fast.
How fast in their case though, I wasn't sure.
"It is staring… It's being rude."
"Not rude, just curious. He is a baby, Aoki, that's just how babies are… I think."
After that, Shuna handed over Benimaru and Momiji's son.
He got his mother's ears and his father's horns, although the latter are just tiny little black nubs on his forehead. His hair was whiteish at the roots before quickly changing to a more reddish color. More red and less white than Momiji's, but still a mix. He also had similar facial markings to Benimaru, just a little less pronounced.
A perfect combo of his parents, I thought.
"Why does it have such situational magic?"
"Aoki… Please just call him a he." I paused for a moment, considering how to explain the magic part. That much was true, with a mixture of holy and fire magic, it was quite situational, especially since it seemed like the child lacked many of the manipulation skills of his parents.
I got a good way to do it though. "He hasn't been named yet, so all he has are racial traits. Just like you before you were named. You can see Albis' egg is the same way." While that was true, the egg did have a significant amount more skills already.
Still nowhere near a named monster though. My subordinates did tend to benefit from my wide array of diverse skills after my naming, and of course, getting stronger also helped.
It just required a strong will and time to grow, otherwise monsters tended to have this kind of specialized small scope of magic.
I expected Momiji's child was suffering from it more due to being descended from angels, which all but lack a will entirely unless they are very high-ranked ones.
"I have to ask the important question here then…" I stared at the little one and just hoped I was wrong. "Do you actually have your home set up to care for them? I know you've known this was gonna happen for a long time, but it was still sudden."
The pale look on Benimaru's face was all I needed to know for certain that the answer was no, so I sighed and decided I would be calling Kokobu in early, however unfortunate that may be.
Meanwhile, Aoki was simply poking the infant in the face, before I handed him back off to his mother, seeing as she'd calmed down.
I made extra sure to, not hold, but at least touch the top of Albis' egg as well. Aoki did the same and then I told the other's I'd return after Aoki was attended to.
Aoki's POV
Mother showed me those new babies, as he called them. However one of them was more similar to the thing I'd been put into prior to my naming. I had to assume that meant it was more developed than the other one, which Mother compared to my slime form before my naming.
It meant the one in the 'egg' was ready to be named, while the other one was not. It had not been put in an egg yet, after all.
It was also very bad at magic, I could tell already. It only had one kind of elemental magic and another type of magic that I'd seen from Hinata. Both were still only average in their potency though.
I was sure even my Goblinkin could use more efficient magic.
She was sitting in front of me after Mother left me in my room. She was shaking as she was under the scrutiny of my Magic Sense. I was assessing what she'd be useful for. Right at the moment I was only certain I could use her to go to other parts of the city without Mother.
So that was my current aim. For that though, I wanted to try something first. I had noticed that the name of the Goblinkin was not actually that deeply ingrained in their soul, from our connection.
So… It made me wonder if I could add to it. "What is your name?"
Considering what I was thinking of doing, I had a feeling it would make Mother angry, but I wanted to do it regardless. Getting the information thus gave me a new feeling. One of being… Shaky? Not wanting something, but at the same time… Expecting it. I wanted to know. "My name is Kokobu, Your Majesty."
That I couldn't change since it was a name from Mother, and I would not change the name Mother had given the Goblin. Instead, I'd simply try to add more of my own influence. It would be my only way to get a subordinate with Mother so insistent on those babies being my 'friends.'
Still… I waited. Then waited longer. Simply watching the goblin in front of me.
She was moving more and more, unable to sit still for a reason I couldn't imagine. I hadn't done anything to Kokobu yet, so there was no reason she should be reacting at all.
"Are you unwell?" I'd heard Shuna use that word a handful of times, and it seemed correct for this situation. When someone does something unexplainably.
"No, I'm perfectly healthy, but… do you need something from me, Princess?"
"No."
She seemed to be waiting for more, but I didn't know why. I had answered her question perfectly.
Luckily, the short exchange had some value, it allowed me to release that feeling a small amount. "Can I call you by your name from now on?" I wasn't entirely sure how naming worked, but I did know it required some form of acceptance.
"Of course!" My goblinkin smiled at me.
"Then from now on, I'll call you Kokobu." I put my aura behind that, trying to force it on the goblin, but was at least somewhat careful to avoid breaking her.
The Goblinkin was near-immediately made unconscious and put in a worse condition.
Quickly I realized what was wrong, that I needed to manage it carefully, otherwise, the magicules would just kind of tear at the Goblin's spirit. So instead, I tried to spread them evenly and carefully bond them. Alongside making sure to strengthen our connection even more than Mother had already.
It seemed to turn out fine, but then the goblin tilted and fell to her side and onto the couch she was sitting on.
I wasn't expecting this.
Kokobu was still alive, I could easily tell, but she wasn't conscious at this point. What I did must have been too much for her to handle even though I was careful.
I can't let Mother know about this. He will stop holding me again.
I would just have to wait for Kokobu to wake up. I couldn't leave my room without her or it would make people suspicious. If one of Mother's spies heard about me going other places, he would find out what I did immediately.
I decided to use one of my newer possessions; a Rimuru-chair.
It is soft (not as much as Mother), and comfortable (also not as much as Mother), but it does its job well enough. I hopped over to it, landed, and wiggled into the center of it until I was satisfied.
Benimaru's POV
"Brother, are you going to actually speak to either of them? Or just sulk in the corner?" Sis sent the worst glare I'd seen in years my way.
"Are you both still doing okay?" I sheepishly spoke into the room, trying to direct it at my wives without being able to face either of them.
"Outside of being exhausted," Momiji quipped.
"Maybe a quick kiss would be nice." Albis smoothly answered.
"I want a kiss too!" Momiji huffed, "Also, you should hold our son. You've been standing there like you wanted to for a while now, so just do it!"
Starting with Albis, I gave both of them a quick, gentle kiss, and only after a moment's hesitation, I took my son into my arms.
He was so small and delicate, but I could sense strength in him. It made me excited to see the man he would eventually grow into.
"I remember when Shuna was this small…" I trailed off, speaking without considering her reaction.
Which was a smack on the top of my head with her folding fan.
"Brother! Don't embarrass me!"
"Father wouldn't even let me come near you… I guess I was too rambunctious to be near a newborn." I recounted softly, "I wanted to play with you if I remember correctly. Isn't that silly?"
"We are not talking about this right now, Brother," Shuna sternly insisted, although with her cheeks pinker than usual. I wasn't trying to embarrass her, I was simply reminiscing.
I refocused on my son in my arms. He had his mother's best features, in my opinion. I wondered how much his personality would be like hers, or mine. Either way, I would be proud.
It was a shame that my other child was not in a holdable state right now, I could tell that Albis didn't want them moved even a little. Maybe it is dangerous to move an egg after it is laid? I'd never thought my child would come out inside an egg, Albis had said that her sub-race of lycanthropes usually gives live births when interbreeding with other monsters.
{{Hey, Benimaru! Come here right away, I'm in front of your house!}}
I jolted upright and quickly handed my son back to Momiji.
"Is something the matter?" Shuna asked with great concern and a hint of alarm. Albis and Momiji looked just as worried as my sister.
"Lord Rimuru has contacted me about something urgent. I must leave now."
Lord Rimuru was normally only so quick to the point in emergencies.
So I took hold of the space I was in and connected it to the space in front of my house, I already knew the coordinates. I was in front of my lord in a moment. "What happened?"
"I dropped Aoki off with Kokobu, so let's get started!"
"What?... Nothing happened?"
"Uh… no?"
"Then why would you call upon me immediately?" I was at least mildly upset, but only because it meant I would need to awkwardly request to hold my son again.
"Calm down man, you're too tense. Gotta stay calm or you'll throw your back out. You're an old man now."
I felt tempted to retort but at the idea of calling Lord Rimuru an old man himself, there was a threatening presence in our soul corridor. "Neither of us can age any longer, Lord Rimuru."
"Oh? I thought you were about to say something really stupid." His eyes flashed a brighter gold for a moment.
"Me? No, I'd never."
"Uh-huh… well, no use dilly-dallying out here, we have work to do!" Lord Rimuru clapped his hands together and put on a smile.
I waited for a moment in the doorway as Lord Rimuru wandered through. Considering I'd seen Lady Velzard call him a baby so many times, I wondered why he allowed it. But then I remembered; this was Lady Velzard I was thinking about.
I quickly took my mind off of the topic of True Dragons, I'd heard they were creatures that could sense your ill thoughts toward them as a child. I was still worried that was true.
I wondered for a moment if not for our soul corridor, Lord Rimuru would have still seen those thoughts. After all, he could do anything he set his mind to. Although, I knew that prying into others' thoughts went directly against his morals.
"Have you three picked a room for the nursery already?"
I nodded. That much we had already planned out.
A room in the center of the house, equidistant from Momiji's and Albis' rooms. That was the best way to go about this to keep things smooth between the two. They get along most of the time, but minor arguments stemming from jealousy have happened more than a few times a day since I married them.
Luckily it seemed Lord Rimuru was willing to allow it, as originally he'd insisted on a room near the entrance so that it would be easier to see them when visiting.
"So, any furniture or toys you want me to set aside?"
"Maybe a plushie of your slime form? They do need a shrine for you, right?"
Lord Rimuru stared at me blankly for a moment, clearly unamused by my suggestion. "Let's leave the 'worship' for later, eh? They're just babies."
I couldn't help but snicker a little. "You sure? You've seemed to accept the worship a bit more in recent years." This was a subject I knew I could safely press.
"Because it's unavoidable. I've decided that trying to stop it completely is more trouble than it's worth." Lord Rimuru paused, "Plus, it seems to make people happy, having someone to look up to in that way. That's worth a bit of discomfort on my end."
It was amusing to hear him justify it when we were both aware the concept of gods was at least somewhat tenuous. He was a human at some point in the past after all. If that could become whatever he is now, I was sure anything could with enough luck.
I'd had a bit of a pet theory that perhaps it was Lady Chloe that had caused Lord Rimuru to become what he is though. The reason being her insistence that she'd gone through thousands of timelines where he died before even becoming a demon lord.
It was a bit blasphemous to those religious types though. Adalman had a long-winded argument with Lady Chloe about it, and that was what had given me the idea.
I didn't have anything else to do during those three days.
"Fine, fine. Justify it however you like, My Lord." I made sure to say it in a gratingly sweet way on purpose.
"Get back on topic, family man. Otherwise, you'll have nothing to show your wives when they get home, hm?"
"Family man… I kind of like that…" It was a nice sentiment to consider.
"Hey! You're not supposed to like–... ugh, whatever. We need to get to work."
"Agreed."
Although Albis probably wouldn't be home until her egg hatches, Momiji should be strong enough to come home tomorrow, from Shuna's estimation. We need to get the space ready for her return with our son pretty much immediately.
"I think it's best for us to set up two cribs, and a mattress on the floor should be fine since it won't be here long." I didn't want something temporary to be fancy, but Momiji needed a comfortable place to sleep, and I may decide to stay here with her until our son is healthy enough to be alone for any length of time.
I'd need to visit Albis every day as well. I would settle for nothing less.
"Say, Lord Rimuru… I would never normally ask this…"
"No, you won't be working for the next three months."
"Th-three months!? I was about to ask for my work to be lightened for a time, b-but–"
"It's called paternity leave, my man, and you're taking it whether you want to or not."
Damn… why did he have to learn that stare from Shuna…
I would need to find some form of mental resistance to ever avoid it. Unfortunately, only Shion was so thick-skulled. I doubted anyone could teach her anything easily.
"Very well, My Lord. However, I will do security during the unveiling. Anyone else would be inadequate."
"Fine, fine. You have to take two extra weeks off to make up for that though." He grinned, making me realize he'd already planned out that compromise.
The trickster.
"Do you really have materials that can resist the magic of the children? Or myself? I may struggle to completely restrain my aura in my sleep." I suspected I'd fall asleep in this room more than once.
"I'm sure I have something lying around in my space, lemme check." Lord Rimuru held out his hand, and from it emerged… Around a hundred cotton bushes, and a large heap of soil. "Sorry, I decided to do it myself. Stored some cotton plants in there… Or well. A whole plot of them."
"You stole a whole plantation?"
"Luminous didn't notice."
"Can you clean the dirt off the floor?"
"Yeah, I can. Gimme a sec." Lord Rimuru struggled for a moment, taking in all the dirt, and accidentally absorbing half of the cotton again too… Before spitting it back out of his hand. Really it was a very awkward display.
"Wives can be cruel…"
"What was that?"
"Nothin'."
Lord Rimuru dusted off his hands unnecessarily.
"So… How will we refine the cotton into… Beds?"
"And a few chairs and stuffed animals too."
"How is such a thing done?"
"I'll do it… Uh. Go sit in the corner, I guess."
"May I assist you, My Lord?" Soei appeared at Rimuru's feet with only his head being visible.
"Why…? Never mind. Sure Soei."
After that, the two of them used what appeared to be a thread skill to create various things from the cotton. It was actually somewhat interesting to see. Blankets, pillows, bedding… Lord Rimuru even used some form of gelatinous substance that resembled slimes to create a foam that appeared to hold its shape.
It was used as the upper layers of the beds.
It almost made the simple clothing of the factories elsewhere in the city seem childish, but it was just a reminder of Rimuru's philosophy of only doing something for those who can do it themselves.
"That should be good." Rimuru had finished by simply carving several chairs and the pieces for the cribs out of a tree that was apparently also in his space.
He managed to avoid bringing the soil with the tree, despite the roots coming out too.
"Hey, go get your wife. I am gonna guess Albis won't wanna come, but ask her anyway." But then Lord Rimuru stopped for a moment, "On second thought, let's go grab some food first."