Side: An Ordinary Male Weed Resident,
Assistant Manager of Super Ratz Branch No. 2
Today was another ordinary day at work.
It was almost closing time.
"Looks like we're about to close for the day. Everyone, keep it up."
"""Yes!"""
I call out to the staff in the store.
Looking around the store, I checked for any products running low and wrote them down in my notebook. After closing, I'd deliver the list to the Super Ratz office so they could restock tomorrow.
It's been about a year since Weed was established, so I wonder if there's going to be another ruckus like the one at the end of last year?
Back then, Representative Ratz declared it a festival and a chance to make money, so every branch held a 10% off sale. It was incredibly busy.
Even after the discounts, though, the stores still made a huge profit. Well, it was incredibly busy for us working there, but we got bonuses, so I suppose it's fine.
Just as another normal day was about to end, a customer rushed inside.
This kind of thing happens often—people who rush in at the last minute and refused to leave after closing. It was extremely troublesome, so Representative Ratz had personally instructed us to escort them out.
Rules must be followed, and customers are no exception. Business isn't just about prioritizing customers blindly.
"As long as they leave within business hours, then there's no problem."
Thinking that, I looked toward the entrance to see who had come in.
"Excuse me, but please bring me something Seraria likes!! It's urgent!! I have the money!!"
"...Huh? U-Um... may I ask who you are?"
There's an elderly nobleman confronting a staff member... wait, isn't that the King of Roshure!?
I had seen the King of Roshure from a distance a few months ago during the Demon King Subjugation send-off ceremony. The staff member being pressured probably didn't know him, since that staff member had been working with military supply distribution that day.
What on earth happened?
Anyway, this was too heavy a customer for that staff member. I should take over.
"You, go restock the shelves. I'll take care of this customer."
"Ah, Assistant Manager. Thank you."
After switching places with the employee, I stood before King Roshure.
...Wait, did I act too hastily?
As expected, I have no experience speaking with someone of such high status... well, I have spoken with Seraria-sama, but he's a king from another country...
"Pardon me. I was flustered. I am Roshure VI. I heard today that my daughter Seraria has gone into labor. I rushed here without bringing anything to visit her. Could you recommend something suitable?"
"Seraria-sama is giving birth!?"
"Hm? You didn't know? They mentioned making a radio broadcast from the government office, though?"
As I stood there in shock, a radio broadcast echoed throughout all of Weed.
"Oh? Is it starting now?"
The king said that, and the customers and staff inside the store all went quiet.
『Good evening. This is Weed Public Broadcasting. We apologize for the late hour. This is an emergency broadcast.』
Hearing the words 'emergency broadcast', both the customers and employees who didn't know what was happening tensed up.
Weed's radio broadcasts aired every day, delivering information about Weed and neighboring countries. They also reminded everyone daily that emergency broadcasts would only be used in urgent situations.
This was the first time it had ever happened, so tension was inevitable.
So, hearing "emergency broadcast" naturally makes one nervous.
After all, this is the first time it's happened.
『This is an emergency broadcast. Please remain calm. Earlier today, Seraria-sama was rushed to the hospital.』
A murmur spread through the store.
It felt as though all of Weed had shaken.
『Please remain calm. According to our information, Seraria-sama has gone into labor. This emergency broadcast is being made in advance to prevent unrelated people from crowding the hospital.』
"I see. So that's how they're using it."
The king nodded in admiration.
『The hospital is currently operating normally as usual. Therefore, while we understand your worry and concern for Seraria-sama, it will get in the way of other sick people and the hospital staff, so please do not gather at the hospital unless you have business there. We will provide progress reports over the radio, so we kindly ask for your cooperation not to cause trouble for Seraria-sama and the hospital staff.』
So that's the reason.
The people listening to the broadcast nodded in understanding.
"So then, do you have anything suitable as a get-well gift? I've heard my daughter often visits this place."
"I understand. Please give me a moment."
Just as the King said, since this Branch No. 2 is the closest to the military facilities, so military personnel often come to buy boxed lunches and snacks for lunch.
Of course, Seraria-sama does too. She hasn't visited as often lately due to her pregnancy, but she still occasionally stops by to buy ingredients for sweets.
If I recall correctly, she mentioned something about making cookies...
In that case, wouldn't she be pleased if he brought a variety of cookies? It might also be nice to include some tea to match. Originally, Seraria-sama would brew it herself, but that would probably be impossible at the hospital.
Thinking about such things, I took out several cookie and tea sets wrapped in gift wrapping paper from the supermarket.
Weed was now connected by Gates to more than ten countries, attracting countless tourists. Because of that, Super Ratts stocked a wide variety of gift items like these.
"Sorry to keep you wai... ting?"
I picked out various things and even brought an celebratory gift from Super Ratz's to give to the King, but...
"Otou-sama! What do you think you're doing, coming all the way here without any guards!?"
"A-Aria, calm down. This is my son-in-law's dungeon. Besides, when I heard Seraria was giving birth..."
"I know that already! That's why I told you we'd prepare properly before leaving! I went to fetch you from your room, and you'd already disappeared!"
...Even I could tell that was bad.
However, I can also understand the King's feelings.
While I don't have grandchildren myself, I am married, and when my wife was giving birth, I practically flew out of my workplace.
"U-Um, excuse me, I have your gifts prepared..."
"Ara? How rude of me. Thank you very much. Please pay for the items."
She said that while grabbing the king by the scruff of the neck.
I feel like his eyes are already rolling back into his head from being grabbed like that, but the King will probably be fine.
After receiving payment, I escorted them to the entrance.
"I apologize for my father's rudeness today."
"No. I think he is a very wonderful King. I think it's fantastic that he can become like that for the sake of his family..."
"Is that so? Thank you."
Aria-sama smiled warmly before leaving.
Still dragging the king by one arm.
"...In a sense, there's no mistake that she is Seraria-sama's elder sister."
As I turned back toward the store to resume work—
The automatic doors opened again.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
A flood of people rushed inside.
"W-What the!?"
"Assistant Manager! After that announcement, the residents of Weed are all coming to buy things to celebrate!"
"So that's what's happening!? But we're about to close. We need to contact headquarters—"
"Assistant Manager! Representative Ratz just sent word! He said, 'Since it's bound to become a huge celebration and people will need the stores, I'm sorry, but all branches will stay open three extra hours tonight.'"
"Alright!! If approval came from the top, I don't mind!! Everyone, do your best with the overtime!! And once our work is done, we'll hold a celebration for Seraria-sama's childbirth too!!"
"""OOOOOOHHHH!!"""
Weed is probably going to stay up making a racket until morning today, just like the end of the year...
Thinking about that, I hurriedly went back to restocking the shelves.
* * *
Side: Ratz
"Phew, good work, Eris."
"Good work to you too. I managed to stop people from crowding the hospital with the broadcast, but outside it's already become one huge festival."
"Well, the ruler of this territory—our queen—is giving birth. If we'd closed the stores on time today, there probably would've been a riot."
Despite both of us being heavily pregnant ourselves, we dealt with things so that no problems would occur in Weed, and then returned to the hospital once more.
"I wonder if Rurua has already given birth?"
"I wonder."
When we arrive at the waiting room where everyone is gathered, we find Onii-san lying on a sofa.
"Onii-san? What's wrong? ...Wait, is he sleeping?"
I leaned over to look at his face.
He was breathing peacefully.
"Can I pounce on him?"
"No. I finally got him to sleep."
"Did you do it, Labyris?"
"That's right. Yuki kept asking every 30 seconds if the baby had come yet. He was getting so noisy that I finally put him to sleep with magic."
"Ah... I see. So Onii-san really does have a weakness."
Looking at him again, I saw Ria and Jessica placing a pillow beneath his head and covering him with a towel.
"He was adorable. Yuki-san was just panicking so much."
"He was so noisy that we had to put him to sleep, but leaving him like this would've given him a cold."
Looks like we'll have to stay awake in Onii-san's place.
Not that I was sleepy at all.
"We brought snacks!!"
"Let's all eat!!"
Saying that, Filia and Aslin entered the waiting room, having apparently prepared various things.
Yep, with this much, it should be more than enough to spend the night.
There was nothing we could do but pray.
Seraria... Rurua... do your best.
