In a Different World with a Smartphone

When Yae and Hildegard’s pregnancies were discovered, the entire castle was thrown into a frenzy. Cheers and words of celebration were heard one after another, and the maids were eager to procure everything the babies would need immediately.

Kousaka-san was on the verge of tears, saying, “Now the royal family has an heir,” but excuse me, both babies are confirmed to be girls.

In countries where there is no male heir, girls can sometimes inherit peerages or thrones. Our Duchy is one such place. That is, only if there is no male heir.

Normally, anticipating the lack of a boy, they would provisionally designate the eldest daughter as the successor and teach her the necessary statesmanship. The fact that I hadn’t done that was probably because I knew Kuon would be born later. Well, with nine wives, I also assumed that at least one boy would definitely be born.

Not only inside the castle, but the rumor had already spread in the castle town, creating a celebratory mood. In this world with a low birth rate, it is often not publicly announced until the child is safely born, but in their case, they will definitely be born safely, so it’s fine. We are grateful for the celebration.

I got permission from the World God, so I called Mom to tell her, and she yelled, “You did it!” My eardrums…!

However, I won’t be able to let my parents meet the children here for eleven or twelve years. Well, my future self will introduce the children in the future, so that’s fine, but I feel guilty that they can’t see the babies grow up from birth.

Mom said to film lots of videos starting now, which was my intention from the start.

…Wait? My future self must have those growth videos, right?

Could it be that Mom and Dad will get to see Yakumo and the others’ growth videos before me? Isn’t that cheating?!

Holding a vague sense of irritation, I read an e-book on maternity. Even though a safe birth is guaranteed, that doesn’t mean we should cut corners. We determine the future ourselves. Therefore, we must prepare thoroughly.

Hmm, be careful of colds and infections. Watch out for folic acid deficiency? What foods contain folic acid…? Broccoli?

“You’ll get tired if you put that much effort into it right now,” Leen said with exasperation. “I-is that so…?”

I was told off by Leen. Besides, if we’re going by order, you’re next. I wonder if Leen, who is smaller than Yae and Hildegard, will be alright with childbirth. Well, since Quun exists, she must have been fine…

The birth rate among commoners in this world is low, but among nobles and wealthy merchants, it’s actually not that low. That’s because of the cheat skill, Recovery Magic. Even if a C-section is performed, the wound can be healed immediately without leaving a scar. Although lost blood and stamina can’t be healed, the difference between having the magic and not having it is immense.

With the addition of Earth‘s knowledge, medicine in this world will progress even further. I bought various medical books from Earth for that very reason, but I didn’t expect to need them this soon…

“I feel strange somehow. I’m here, yet I’m also said to be inside my mother’s belly…”

“I know. It’s a weird feeling.”

Yakumo and Frei smiled wryly while looking at their mothers’ not-yet-large bellies. In time-travel movies, there’s often a development where meeting your past self changes the past, causing your present self to disappear, but I wonder if we are safe in this case.

In children’s comics, there are sometimes stories where the future self is brought over to help with present homework.

Well, if my future self came here and casually talked about the future—”This is what’s going to happen next, and this and that will turn out like this, so you should do this”—the joy of looking forward might disappear. We already know far too much as it is.

“How are you two feeling?”

“I feel fine now. But at that time, the smell of rice and curry was unbearable…” Yae replied.

“Me too. Also, smells like perfume and coffee feel intense right now…” Hildegard added.

That must be morning sickness. Let’s see… Morning sickness often starts around the fifth week, typically peaks around the eighth to tenth week, and usually settles down during the first trimester, between the twelfth and fourteenth weeks. So, seven to nine more weeks… it will last for about two months.

Now that I think about it, Yae often seemed excessively sleepy recently; that might have been a symptom of pregnancy too… I feel pathetic for not noticing such things.

As I read the maternity book, I thought about how powerless men are at times like this. Oh? Cooling rice once reduces its smell and makes it easier to eat, huh? The book also lists what not to eat and what to eat during pregnancy. I should tell Lucia about this.

It must be tough having to take in nutrition for the baby inside the belly, too… I must study hard and do my best together with them. I’m going to be a father for real. Although I do feel quite a bit of pressure from that.

Do I lack confidence that I can be a good father? …What is a “good father”?

I think my father was rather laissez-faire. Most of my childhood memories are with my grandpa. Dad was busy with work back then. However, we weren’t on bad terms or anything, and I don’t think I had a rebellious phase. …Probably. I did have a rough period in middle school, but it was mostly outside, and I made sure not to trouble my family.

Perhaps that was because even with little interaction, I felt that Dad was genuinely paying attention to me. He was laissez-faire, but he would properly scold when needed and praise when needed.

…It feels like I only truly understood the value of a parent now that I know I’m becoming one.

Well, looking at these children, I don’t think they’ve been improperly educated, but I don’t feel like I was the one who did the educating…

“Well, anyway, I’ll rely on Flora for health management, so you two take care. Oh, and no mock battles for a while, okay?”

“Eh!? We can’t!?” Yae exclaimed.

“T-that’s harsh!” Hildegard protested.

“What if you accidentally fall or get hit in the stomach…?”

Vigorous exercise is a no-no during pregnancy… The book also said that exercises involving jumping, prolonged exercise, or anything that compresses the abdomen are forbidden. I want them to limit themselves to walks at most. It might be harsh for the two who love moving their bodies.

…It’s a bit late to think about it, but our Knights are mostly female. We need a childcare leave system so they can take time off without hesitation when they get married and have children. Also, a nursery inside the castle. So they can see their children during lunch breaks even while working. Yes, I’ll talk to Kousaka-san about this opportunity and have her look into it.

Finally, despite the joyous event of Yae and Hildegard’s pregnancies, the farewell with the children is approaching. The children will be returning to the future the day after tomorrow.

I wish we could do something memorable at the end… Ah.

“Let’s take pictures.”

“Huh?”

My wives gave me a look that said, “What are you talking about now?” Oops, I didn’t say enough.

“Let’s take a commemorative photo of everyone. A family group photo.”

“Ah, I see. That might be a good idea!” Yumina clapped her hands, understanding.

“Hehehe. I was prepared for something like this! It’s time for the digital SLR camera I bought on Earth!” Quun raised a black, bulky camera with a triumphant look. Did we buy that…? We bought so many things, I can’t keep track…

“The photo location should be in front of the flowerbed in the courtyard. We’ll set up a tripod too…”

“Wait, wait! If we’re taking a proper photo, I want to change clothes!” Elze stopped the excited Quun. It’s true that for a proper photo, maybe we should change clothes? When people take family photos at a photo studio, everyone dresses up. Something like that?

“If we are wearing dresses, indoors might be better.” Linze suggested. “Wouldn’t it be better to take it twice? Casual clothes outside and formal wear inside.” Yumina added.

Linze and Yumina joined in, each suggesting ideas they came up with. This is becoming a big deal… I only intended it to be a simple commemorative photo… Well, maybe my wives also wanted a proper photo with the children.

We gathered everyone in the entrance hall to take a test shot. We took a shot on the stairs, with me in the center and the wives standing behind their respective children, but somehow, it felt wrong. It wasn’t “wrong,” but it looked like a commemorative photo taken at the inauguration of a cabinet. The birth of the Children Ministers, huh? The stairs and the red carpet were a bad idea…

We went out to the courtyard, set up some chairs, and took a photo with everyone gathered closely, and it turned out to be a good commemorative picture. Encouraged, we also took photos in trios: me, one of my wives, and the child between us. Well, they look more like photos with younger siblings than children.

Someone must have contacted them because Ende and his family suddenly appeared, and we ended up taking photos with Alice too. A family photo of Alice’s family, and a group photo centered on Kuon and Alice with our respective families. These turned out to be quite good photos too. As long as Ende wasn’t glaring at Kuon with such intense eyes. He should at least try to pretend a little.

We transferred the photos to everyone’s smartphones and asked Doc Babylon to print them out. I’ll put them in a photo frame and display them on my office desk later. With this, I can work harder even when the job is tough.

After eating the dinner Lucia and Arcia prepared, which was gentle on the two pregnant women, everyone went to the bath.

I went out onto the balcony alone and drank a cold juice at the table, enjoying the pleasant night breeze. It would be a bit more dignified if I were drinking alcohol here. I just can’t become a dashing gentleman. I still adhere to the rule I set for myself before turning twenty and haven’t consumed alcohol. Well, I have broken it a few times, though.

About how many people (who should naturally be sober) have never drunk alcohol even once before turning twenty? My interest piqued, I looked it up and found that 70% of minors have consumed alcohol before the legal age. Seriously…? I feel incredibly pathetic for keeping to the rule… Well, I have drunk it before, so I’m one of the 70%…

Conversely, it seems abstinence from alcohol is advancing among young people. Only about 8% of people in their twenties and 17% in their thirties have drinking habits, huh? I remember my grandpa’s generation drank like fishes. People in this world also drink a lot…

“Hmm?”

I sensed a presence behind me and turned around to find Kuon standing there.

“Oh, didn’t you go to the bath with everyone?”

“No, I thought I’d bathe with Father.”

Ah… Kuon is six years old, and he’s quite mature for his age. Even though they are his mother and sisters, he might be at that age where he’s embarrassed to bathe with them anymore.

I understand that feeling. I think I stopped bathing with my mom around that age too. Mixed bathing is prohibited for children over seven years old even in public bathhouses.

“Would you like a drink too, Kuon?”

“Yes, please.”

I took out a glass of grape juice from [Storage] and placed it in front of Kuon, who sat down in the chair opposite me. What is it, being alone with my son, I don’t know what to talk about…

“What is my future self like?”

“What do you mean by ‘what’?”

I asked Kuon what I had been thinking about during the day, but he tilted his head, seemingly not understanding the meaning.

“Well, as a father, I mean…”

“Let’s see… I respect you not only as the King who resolves disputes between nations and launches new ventures but also as a father. You let us do what we want, you listen carefully to what we have to say, and you watch over us warmly. If there is something you don’t know, you think about it together with us, and above all, you cherish Mother and the mothers. I also hope to be a father like that someday…”

“Wait, wait, stop! That’s embarrassing!”

Who is that?! I can’t imagine that at all! Eh, did I fall into some fountain and get swapped with the “Handsome Touya-kun”?

The me Kuon knows is me in ten-plus years, so I’m sure I’ve accumulated various experiences, but to be thought of that way by my son… It’s a strange feeling, like I’m happy but also empty, as if someone else is being praised.

“Well, well, so I’m doing my best both as a father and as a King, is that right…?”

“Doing your best… Yes, I think you are doing your best. I also think you might be trying too hard. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never be able to catch up to your amazing achievements, Father. I worry whether I can inherit your position and lead this country rightly…”

Kuon murmured that in a slightly downcast tone. That’s surprising. Even he has such worries. He looks mature, but he’s still a child, so it’s natural to have anxiety about the future. Or maybe he feels anxious about the future because he is mature.

I feel like I didn’t have such worries at all when I was Kuon’s age…

…Was I too carefree…? No, isn’t that normal for a child that age? No? Linne and Steph don’t seem to think about it much.

“I don’t think you need to worry that much. You just have to do what you can do, Kuon. Together with everyone around you. If you cherish others and work hard and earnestly, the people around you will help you. If you make a mistake, they’ll warn you. You don’t have to struggle alone. If you can rely on them, you can rely on your parents and even the gods. If that solves the problem, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

I’ve done the same. After all, there’s a limit to what one person can do. We’ve been able to overcome any difficulty so far because everyone was there. I hope Kuon can make many companions too.

…Though it would be problematic if he ended up with many wives like me…

Allis seems okay with concubines as long as she is the Queen Consort, but she has a lot of dependence on Kuon, like a yandere… That must be Ende’s blood, definitely… Well, I also feel like Kuon would smoothly mediate between his wives.

“Do you have any friends other than Allis in the future?”

“Friends? Yes, I have friends named Lotus and Milan.”

Oh, so he does have friends. Lotus and Milan?

“Lotus is the second son of Logan-san, the Chief of the Patrol Knights, and Milan is the eldest son of Mika-san, the owner of ‘Silver Moon,’ and Lantz-san, the Patrol Knight.”

Huh… The son of Logan-san and the son of Mika-san and Lantz-san, huh?

So Mika-san and Lantz-san did get married after all. According to Kuon, both of them are eager to join the Knights. Are they candidates for Kuon’s close aides?

“I have a few good friends in other countries too, including my cousins, Beatrice and Juurota.”

Hmm? Beatrice is probably Beatrice… Hildegard’s brother, Reinhardt’s daughter, right? And Juurota might be…

“He is the son of Uncle Juutarou.”

“I knew it.”

The son of Juutarou, my brother-in-law. That makes him my nephew. Although Kuon isn’t related by blood, he is indeed his cousin. Prince Yamato of the Kingdom of Belfast is also his uncle, and the Crown Prince of the Regulus Empire is also his cousin. One way or another, Kuon has many blood ties. Well, that’s my fault, though.

When you think about it, political marriages are important for a country… Wait a minute, other countries do what they want, but our daughters aren’t going anywhere!

Just as representatives of each country discuss things at the World Conference Summit, the royal children also seem to have some interaction through weddings and events in their respective countries. If they know each other from childhood, it’s easier to get along. They might fight and become estranged, but then other countries will step in to mediate.

Listening to the children talk makes me feel that the future is bright…

Come to think of it, Kuon mentioned I launched new ventures earlier. Did I start something new?

“Ah, the telecommunications business. You made it possible for world-wide communication using smartphones, centered in Babylon. I think most nobles had them in my time. You were apparently trying to release an inexpensive smartphone for commoners next…”

What?! Are smartphones that widespread in the future?! Even now, I’ve only given them to the top leaders, their aides, and ministers…

Well, they are convenient, but… Is it really okay to spread magical tools made by another country throughout your own? Don’t they consider eavesdropping? Even in Japan, there were suspicious apps developed in other countries.

When I voiced my doubts, Kuon gave a subtle, cynical smile.

“As Father intended, convenient tools that people have become accustomed to cannot be easily discarded…”

“Hey, I didn’t distribute them with that kind of hidden motive!”

I just thought it would be convenient if the Kings could talk to each other immediately! It sounds like I was scheming something sinister over a long period!

“You also developed a TV broadcasting system using brilliant crystal panels… you called it Ether-Vision, and were trying to spread it.”

“Is he trying to become the King of Media…?”

TV, huh… Well, it’s a kind of king of information and entertainment, so it would definitely be a huge hit… If smartphones come first and TV comes later, people won’t be able to spread sloppy rumors so easily, so there might be a certain degree of trust… I need to make sure that we don’t end up with biased reporting that is only convenient for ourselves, like Earth‘s TV stations. That sounds tough…

But if TV becomes possible, it could be used for various things. Maybe we’ll even have a singing contest at the end of the year?

It’s a pleasant surprise that smartphones are so widespread in the future. People connect with all kinds of others, and eventually, that wave can become large enough to move the world. Well, too much dependence is a problem, though. Information is just information, and I want people to use their own heads to think.

From now on, the royalty and nobility might not be able to neglect their citizens. Their misdeeds would quickly spread. In that sense, maybe it would have been better if smartphones hadn’t spread.

“Well, here’s a toast to a future with smartphones, I guess.”

I tilted my glass, contemplating the future Kuon described.