Emily's belly was already big, and the time had come when Kana, the midwife who was older than the village chief Barlux, said, "It's not strange that she could go into labor at any moment." Ralph wrote a letter to the head of the kingdom's knights, saying, "I'm about to give birth, so I'd like you to send an additional patrolman."

Three days later, Belhard, who used to be a gatekeeper, knocked on the door of the house.

"Ralph-san, I heard that you're about to give birth."

"Hello, Belhard has come. I've decided to accompany my wife for a while. I'm sorry, but would you mind if I had you guard the village for a while? You can stay and eat at my house. We've hardly seen any monsters so far, but I'd like you to be on the lookout just in case. Thank you."

"Of course."

Ralph invited Belhard into the house. Emily came out from the back and smiled when she saw him.

"Well, you're the person who came from the royal capital for our wedding. I remember you. Thank you for taking the time to come."

She bowed, careful not to put too much strain on her stomach.

"My name's Belhard. I look forward to working with you for a while."

He returned the bow, scratching the back of his head.

Ralph immediately called Belhard over to the table and spread out a map of Suwari Village.

"This is the route I usually patrol."

Ralph drew lines with his quill on his precious homemade map.

"You won't get lost because you'll follow my footsteps. Besides, most villagers don't go out at night, so it's okay if you come back home when it's getting dark. There's a bar in this village, so if you get bored at night, you can go there."

"I understand. I wanted to try patrolling the village once, because the royal capital is boring. Let's start the patrol now."

Belhard left his luggage, which was full of daily necessities, at the entrance and went out with only his spear and a map in one hand.

While Ralph was taking Belhard's luggage to a spare room on the second floor, Emily was making tea.

"Emily, I'll do it, so it's okay. Just sit back and relax."

Ralph hurriedly approached Emily, who was in the kitchen.

"This much is fine. Besides, it tastes better if I make it."

Ralph couldn't argue with her words, so he sat in a chair and sipped the freshly brewed tea in silence.

For a while, Ralph kept an eye on Emily. He took the initiative in doing housework and laundry that required strength, and little by little he improved at it. After making sure that Emily was stable, he went to the church many times to pray to the statue of the goddess.

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One morning, after praying at the church, he bought some fruit at the village greengrocer and returned home.

"Emily, you back? Emily?"

He went deeper into the house, thinking that she had gone shopping, and found Emily emerging from the kitchen and collapsed in the hallway.

"Emily!!"

Ralph hurriedly put the fruit down and went to Emily.

"Emily, are you okay?"

Ralph placed his hand on Emily's forehead. She didn't have a fever and was conscious.

"Ralph..."

Emily squeezed out a voice, closing her eyes tightly. "It looks like she's starting to go into labor."

"That's right! I'll be right back at Kana's."

Ralph picked up Emily, who had a look of anguish on her face, and laid her on the bed. He then immediately ran out of the house and ran to Kana's house, which was less than three minutes away.

The door to the one-story house where she lived alone was open. Ralph knocked hard on the door three times and called out.

"Kana, who had been drinking tea in the back room, slowly stood up and appeared, taking out some sheets from the back of the room.

"You're finally here. I'm tired of waiting. Can you bring that big basin over there?"

She pointed to a shelf in the living room with the sheet in one hand.

It was a metal basin about the width of an outstretched hand, and Ralph picked it up, which was quite heavy.

"Also, when we get home, prepare as much hot water as possible."

"Okay."

Carrying a large basin, Ralph left the house before Kana.

Ralph returned home carrying the basin, took it to the bedroom and called out to Emily.

"Are you OK, Emily?"

"Yeah, it seems to have subsided for now."

Emily lifted her head slightly and had sweat on her forehead. Ralph wiped it with his hand.

"Don't worry, Kana will be here soon. I'll call Elga and Allie too."

Just as Ralph was lighting the kettle and putting a bottle of water in the large pot, there was a knock on the door.

"It's open."

There was Kana in the open doorway, and behind her stood a woman of a certain age with long black hair tied up. She was wearing a white nurse's uniform. Ralph thought she was probably Kana's assistant.

As soon as she entered, Kana asked, "Where's your wife?" "She's lying down in the bedroom now. I'm carrying the tub there too."

"Where's the bedroom?"

"Ah, it's this way."

Ralph hurriedly showed Kana and the others there.

Ralph seemed calm, but he was half-upset. At times like these, men are weak.

As they headed for the bedroom, Kana warned Ralph, "From now on, no men are allowed in, so don't go in."

"I understand, I'll go and call Emily's... Emily's parents. Please take good care of her."

After checking the heat of the pottery, Ralph ran to Emily's parents' house.

I hope both mother and child are healthy and safe...

Praying like that in his heart, he ran through the village.