Wrong Sentiments
I returned to the Moon Capital from the emergency call at the Nemophila Kingdom.
Whoosh!
“Uwaaーh!”
“Onii-sama!”
“Onii-samaa! What is that blood!”
“What happened!”
“Aah, I just, oversaw a childbirth. Both the mother and the child were almost about to lose their lives”
“Then, was that pregnant woman saved?”
“Eeh, an energetic boy was born safe and sound”
“What kind of sickness was it?”
“Otou-sama, it was not a sickness. A foetus is constantly moving around inside the belly. I suppose the child this time around ended up spinning in the same direction; it was a situation where the umbilical cord ended up wrapping around its neck, and it could not come out”
“How did you save it from that?”
“Eeh, I pushed the foetus back once, turned it in the opposite direction, and pulled it out after undoing the tangled umbilical cord. It would not have made it in time if I was a little bit later”
“Does that mean, you moved it with your powers while looking at the child inside the belly with see-through vision?”
“Eeh, that is right”
“A chief priest wouldn’t be able to do that huh”
“Is there a chance my child will end up like that as well?”
“Lucia-kaa-sama. I am screening you once every two weeks so that it does not end up like that. If it ends up like that, I will fix it before you give birth, so it will be fine”
“Really! Thank you”
“Deliveries have the possibility of unforeseen things happening like this. But a chief priest’s powers would not be able to save them in a situation like this”
“Was Tsukikage alright?”
“Yes. She was quite shaken. But I calmed her down and sent her back for the final after-care”
“Tsukuyomi-sama. Thank you, for supporting Tsukikage”
“It is a given since she is my Onee-sama”
“Tsukuyomi. You are probably exhausted. Let’s go into the bath and get changed”
“Okaa-sama. Yeah. Thank you”
I returned to the room with Okaa-sama, removed the blood-stained clothes, and entered the bath. Okaa-sama was sticking with me the whole time.
“Tsukuyomi. From here on out, when the same thing happens somewhere in the world, will you teleport over and save the person no matter where you are?”
“Okaa-sama. I am contemplating as well. It is something that only I can do in this world. A doctor is a living creature that cannot leave a person who is suffering before their eyes be if they saw them, you know”
I might be making a horrible face while I’m saying that.
“But, if this ends up increasing……”
“Yes. I think I will eventually no longer be able to save all of them”
What’s for certain is that even I myself no longer know what I should do. But with what happened today, I understood one thing, and it’s that even without performing a caesarean section, I can save them with my abilities.
Anaesthesia is required for caesarean section. I don’t specialise in spinal anaesthesia after all, and it’s accompanied by a risk, so it’s better if we can go without it. That’s why it’s a good thing that I can rescue them with my abilities. It’s just that, even if we can save them with abilities, I’m the only one who can do it in the end.
I went into bed with Okaa-san. Okaa-san hugs me tightly.
“Okaa-sama. What should I do……”
“Tsukuyomi. How about this. The period from after you turn 5 years old and go to the Nemophila Kingdom until you come of age, you will temporarily stop with the doctor’s activities”
“Eh? Stop them?”
“Why did Gyougetsu-sama, tell Tsukuyomi-sama to go to Nemophila Kingdom from 5 years old onwards? That is probably because he is worried about your heart. And yet, if you cannot even rest because of the doctor’s work and can no longer save all of them in due time, what will end up happening to your heart?”
“That is……”
“You always try to guess what is in my heart and help me. I am really happy about that. Will you let me help you as well?”
“Okaa-sama”
I ended up getting thrown into confusion and couldn’t think about anything anymore. I buried my face in Okaa-san’s breasts and ended up falling asleep as is.
A few days later, Ojii-sama showed up at the palace.
“Tsukuyomi. Do you have a moment?”
“Yes. Ojii-sama”
Prompted by Ojii-san, I teleported to Ojii-san’s mansion once with the two of us.
“We’re gonna teleport to the summit of that mountain. You can do it since it’s visible, right?”
“Yes”
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The summit of the mountain looks like it’s surrounded by trees when you look at it from the foot, but when you’re actually here, there’s nothing around the summit. It just came off as such from below because there are trees right in front of you.
And then the view from the summit was magnificent. You can overlook all the lands floating in these skies. Furthermore, the sea in its vicinity and Campanula Kingdom’s land also extend far and wide.
And then you can see 2 moons if you look up in the sky. Perhaps it’s because there are no obstructions, it comes off so big that it feels like your hands can reach them. Although it’s a bit cold, it’s a very comfortable place.
“How is it, it’s a place that feels good, right?”
“Yes. It is a really beautiful view huh”
“You’re able to forget all the troubles of this bitter world when you come here, you know”
“Tsukuyomi. I discussed it with Gento as well, and I informed every country and every shrine. That for the 10 years period from when Tsukuyomi turns 5 until you come of age, I’ll not let you go to any country”
“Eh? Why is that? There are lives that cannot be rescued if I do not go”
“Tsukuyomi. Armeria was crying, you know. That Tsukuyomi will end up breaking at this rate”
“Eh! Tha-, that is……”
“I would like to think that I understand Tsukuyomi’s sentiments as a doctor plenty. And then I am grateful for your achievement thus far from the bottom of my heart. Me as well, Gento as well, and then, of course, Armeria as well”
“Tsukuyomi’s sentiments of sympathising with and wanting to save the humans around the world are noble, and your actions will probably revered by the people as a God and a Saviour. But, you know, Tsukuyomi, before a God, you’re a human. There’s a limit in any and everything”
“There had been plenty of lives that couldn’t be rescued thus far. It seems that the other day, Tsukuyomi responded to Tsukikage’s request at Nemophila and saved a pregnant woman and her child huh. But if Tsukuyomi wasn’t around, those lives would be lives that couldn’t be saved originally. It’s true that Tsukuyomi is here now. However. Can Tsukuyomi live forever?”
“No, you cannot fight against your longevity”
“I thought so. After Tsukuyomi dies, not a single one of those who befell the same predicament as that pregnant woman can be rescued anymore. At that time, your family and your son will end up suffering beratement from the people as fellow Gods, you know”
“Like, ‘Tsukuyomi-sama rescued us. But why, will you not rescue us?’. Are you fine with that?”
“It is exactly as you said. I think I was wrong”
“Un, by no means were you wrong either though. I, too, was the talk of the town because my powers were strong when I was young. I thought, ‘those with the power should just do it’, and utilised my powers. Before I knew it, I might’ve gone, ‘who’s going to do it if I don’t'”
“Subsequently, the long-awaited successor, Gento, was born, but he didn’t possess powers like mine. When the people knew that, they suddenly lost all their interest. It worked out because I was still influential when he married his wives, but it seemed he had bad rumours about him until Tsukuyomi was born”
“Then, what should I do from here on out……”
“We already had Tsukuyomi do plenty of things for the sake of this world’s future. Things that are very huge and important. This world’s population is undoubtedly going to increase from here on out. The male and female ratio should gradually get closer as well. For now, isn’t this more than enough?”
“There are 10 more years until Tsukuyomi comes of age. You can just leave it to the humans and watch without interfering, how this world will change in these 10 years”
“Only watch, is it?”
“That’s right. Merely watch. Whether the humans of this world will make mistakes again. Whether they can walk the right path by themselves. And then Tsukuyomi can go out to the world after coming of age, and personally, have a look at it with your own eyes”
“Ojii-sama. I have a feeling that I slightly got it”
“Umu. I’m glad to hear that. Could you not make Armeria cry any more? You know, for Armeria, I pushed King Nemophila and had her marry over. I feel that I did something regretful even now. But, it’s also a fact, that Tsukuyomi was born thanks to that”
“Does Ojii-sama, find that it is fine even if Okaa-sama doesn’t return to this Moon Capital?”
“Umu. I’ve let my own wives choose a second life as well. The lives of us who are called Gods are slightly unique after all. I do think that being continuously caged up in this cramped land is something unbearable”
“Do we who are called Gods have to continuously reside in this Moon Capital?”
“As long as we are needed as Gods. But not even I know whether it’s necessary to continue our lives here, for all of eternity. I guess maybe, in due time, Tsukuyomi can think about and change it”
“I got it. Thank you”
“Un. Well then, you can go back to where Armeria is. Let Armeria pamper you until you come of age, and I want you to protect her, will you”
“Yes. I promise”
“Umu. I’m counting on you”
“Yes!”
I moved to Okaa-sama’s room from the mountaintop.
Whoosh!
“Tsukuyomi. You are back huh”
“Okaa-sama. I had a conversation with Ojii-sama. I think I was wrong. My apologies for worrying Okaa-sama”
“No. I am sorry for being a mother who cannot be of any help”
“No way. Okaa-sama is of help to me plenty”
I hugged Okaa-san, clinging to her tightly.
“Really?”
“Eeh, really. Okaa-sama. I love you from the bottom of my heart”
“Me too. I love you from the bottom of my heart”
Okaa-san went on her knees on the spot and hugged me tightly.
I swore in my heart that I’ll never make Okaa-san cry anymore.
Autumn arrived in the Moon Capital.
Lucia-kaa-sama’s delivery is near. Since the dates the 7 Okaa-samas, who got pregnant through my family planning, got pregnant is pretty much known, we just have to add 40 weeks from there.
It’s just that, since it’s the third delivery for all of them, it’s also largely possible that it’ll be slightly earlier. Because of that, I perform examinations weekly and not bi-weekly from the 34th week onwards.
Although I say ‘examination’, it’s not like I can measure the foetus’ size like I can with an ultrasound. I’m just confirming whether there’s any problem with its appearance.
As of now, Lucia-kaa-sama entered her 39th week. There’s no problem with the placenta and the umbilical cord, and the foetus has also grown plenty. I convey to the family that it won’t be strange for it to be born at any moment, and I ask the shrine maidens to prepare so that she can deliver at any time.
They’ve performed deliveries in this shrine numerous times, so I intend to just leave it to the shrine maiden midwife-in-charge and oversee it just in case.
It came right after entering April. Lucia-kaa-sama’s labour pain started in the morning. The midwife shrine maidens were gathered, and Lucia-kaa-sama moved to the room used as a medical office.
Because it’ll serve as reference in the future, the 3 Nee-samas over 12 years old, Hazuki, Shizuki, and Fuugetsu, were called. Satsuki-nee-sama is still 10 years old, but since she’s Lucia-kaa-sama’s daughter, she was specially allowed to oversee.
Lucia-kaa-sama’s labour pain was gradually getting stronger. Satsuki-nee-sama was speaking to Lucia-kaa-sama and delicately encouraging her. It was very heartwarming. The other 3 Onee-samas were watching over her with serious looks.
As I thought, since it was her third delivery, it was born smoothly and easily without taking that much time. It was an energetic boy. Everybody who was there made relieved expressions. And then all of them celebrated together.
Merina-kaa-sama’s labour pain started a week after that. The midwives and observers are basically the same as the time with Lucia-kaa-sama, but instead of Satsuki-nee-sama, Merina-kaa-sama’s daughter, Gekka-nee-sama, is inside.
And then, the delivery had no problem, and a boy was born safe and sound.
2 boys were born in the palace, and the 12 Onee-samas were engrossed in caring for them every day. As I thought, ‘boys’ seem to be a special existence for women.
Nevertheless, when I was born, the Onee-samas didn’t care for me, and they didn’t even meet me. I wonder what’s this difference. But, thanks to that, all the eyes of the women in this palace that were directed at me up until now, they’ve moved to the two of them now, so it became really relaxing for me.
And then, Lucia-kaa-sama’s son was named Shunou1, and Merina-kaa-sama’s son was named Kisshun.
Around the end of April, I went to the garden with Okaa-sama and fed the animals. But not even one of the Onee-samas comes out anymore. I suppose they’re still engrossed with the two little ones.
“Okaa-sama. Come to think of it, the Onee-samas are caring for the newly-born Shunou and Kisshun huh. I believe they did not even come to meet me back during my time though; why is that so?”
“It seems a boy was treated as special up until Tsukuyomi’s time, and they decided not to let them meet their brother right away. But Gyougetsu-sama, said it would probably change from here on out, and it ended up like this”
“Aah. That is what it was huh. This palace will change from here on out as well huh”
“Eeh, there will be 8 boys after all. The successor’s matter might change as well huh”
“Successor, is it……”
“Is Tsukuyomi unwilling to be made the successor?”
“No, I do not feel any particular desire to be nor any unwillingness. If there is a person more suitable than me, that person can be it. Is what I think”
“Is that so”
Successor huh……I can’t even think about marriage; how can I even think about something that far.
