Chapter 368 – Field Day

*** Alzi, Second Body ***

I took Asarial's child with me. I know the distance I can go from my kids is generous enough that they can play around, but I don't want to risk it. As funny as it would be to just suddenly vanish into thin air when dealing with nobles, I probably shouldn't do that. They won't be happy about a baby being present during the meetings, but they'll learn to live with it. Of course, I'm seeing my kid today, so that hardly matters, but I should make sure I have a body waiting for Irlo and ready to play with her while my main body runs around.

I'm a bit early for Irlo, but the baby was awake and fresh air isn't hurting her. She's quite happy, nestled into me as we wait.

Soon enough, a carriage comes into view. In just a few minutes, it'll make it to the manor, but before it even stops, Irlo jumps out. Her two maids let her go, waiting for the carriage to stop to step out and slowly follow, trying to set an example for how to behave for the young Princess.

"Where is Daddy?" Irlo asks. "Who are you?"

"I'm Daddy," I say. "I got a Skill that made me a second body. This one doesn't have any of the Goddess's markings."

"Ooooh," Irlo says. She slowly circles me. "Could I get a second body?"

"I don't think it's likely, but you never know what the Goddesses will do."

"That would be fun! I could have the bodies go exploring on their own and see the world twice as fast!"

"This body can't go exploring," I say as Irlo's maids start to reach us. "This one is only able to be with my babies, like you."

"I'm not a baby!"

"Yes, you are. Hardly bigger than this one. So cute," I tease. Her maids let out little chuckles as Irlo stands on her tiptoes.

"I'm a powerful Champion!" Irlo says.

"You're my baby."

"Champion!" Irlo demands.

"My baby Champion," I say.

"Your Highness," the maid says. "Why don't you ask about the baby in Daddy's arms? She must be referring to the baby in her arms, and not the mighty Champion you are."

"Oooh," Irlo says. "Is she my sister?"

"Yes," I say. "You need to help protect the little ones, mighty Champion. Are you learning about mana and control in your lessons?"

"Yes! I'm doing my best to learn. As the big sister, I have to be ready to defend them all!"

"Good," I say. "I'm proud of all the work you're doing. How about we have a fun day as a reward? You have some new sisters besides the girl in my arms. Some are just a few days old, and we can play with your patron Goddess. You can show her that you're taking the responsibility she gave you seriously. She's growing up faster than my other kids, so she may even have some words for you. If you hear a second voice in your head, don't freak out. It is likely just Destruction talking to you. She hasn't said anything yet, but I'm sure she'll talk to you first with the connection you two have."

"Would Destruction have a mission for me?" Irlo asks. One of her maids picks her up and brings her closer so she can see her baby sister.

"She'd better not have a mission for you," I say. "Unless it is for you to be a kid for a while. You don't need to worry about any of that yet. Just enjoy life. Now, come on. We have a lot to do and only so much daylight to do it."

I was hoping to travel a bit, but Isda's kids are too young for us to go far. Even Fluvis's children are probably too young to really go anywhere right now. And in another month, I'll have a new batch of kids who are too young to travel that far. Instead, we decided to just go to the garden behind the manor. It will make it easier to give the babies their nap time, but it'll also make it more likely that others will join us.

I'll have to start creating groups that do things together so Irlo isn't chained here by her baby sisters. But one day of close-to-home fun is going to be fine. She has so many sisters to meet anyway.

The other issue with taking them far is just the number of people needed for it. My Shadow stayed behind with this body, and Shyla, Aurora, Lottie, and even Annoris are here. I even asked Asarial to come down and help. Normally, I only have her deal with our child, but I should open that up somewhat. She's a bit stupid when it comes to her asshole of a wife, but otherwise, she is extremely kind. And all the other maids we have are helping, too.

It really shows all the struggles I'm going to have with these kids. They take so much to raise. I'll have to learn their needs and limitations so that we have the resources to take care of all my kids. The dragons seem to have done the whole large batch thing in the past, so Zarzi's kids should be fine, but I have to be careful with the rest. Keeping them spread between the realms will help as well, but most of the women I love are part of this Queendom.

Today is for fun. Not worrying about the future. If Future wanted me to care about her, she should've been nicer to me.

The group has been taking batches of babies outside, where we have several tents set up to keep the sun off the little ones and to let us old women rest, too. They just have three sides shielded from the sun to let us all see in easily. My twelve kids with Fluvis are already out, being the oldest if you don't include Irlo. They're still a few months away from crawling, but that'll be soon, I hope. They stay awake a lot longer than the newborns. And their accidental mana usage is funny, until they make it look like you wet yourself when you're trying to change their diaper. Fluvis always manages to control the water they fling at her, but she doesn't take the shocks well.

"Let me down!" Irlo shouts, wiggling off to the side. The maid gives her a small kiss and reminds her to be careful with the kids, then sets her down. The girl runs off to play with her sisters, bouncing around each crib as they giggle at the ball of energy Irlo is.

I hope it's possible to wear her out.

Moving inside the tent, I find I'm right about people wandering in. Shimmer, Vanya, and Inanos are huddled in the corner. Elora is with my main body, already naked on a bed, waiting for me to need help getting more mana while Sarania handles the more public sex. Maybe I should get Elora used to that kind of display as well? Shimmer looks calm, just relaxing, while the other two are bouncing their legs and avoiding my eyes.

Shimmer is wearing a tight black string thing around her neck. Probably hoping that will do instead of wearing a collar, I guess. Not that I really want to have a collar and leash around my babies right now. I'll have to work that out with Azula.

I need to talk to them, don't I? Irlo is still running around her sisters, and more are coming out, so I can spare a few minutes on the pregnant women.

"Hello," I say.

"Hello, dear," Inanos says. "Could you use some help?"

What an annoying way to start this. "I suppose."

"We can focus on the babies," Vanya says. "We aren't exactly in shape enough to run around with Irlo. Helping the maids will be better for us."

You got two of them pregnant, Alzi. You aren't going to take their kids away from them, and you aren't going to let them take the kids from you. "Thank you," I say. "I am asking a lot of the maids today."

"Let us and the maids worry about making it run smoothly," Shimmer says. "We'll handle the boring stuff unless you absolutely have to be involved."

"Thank you," I say. We'll see how well they can handle that. But I'm not here to fret over pregnant women, so I hand the baby over to Shimmer and go look for Irlo, who ran off somewhere. Probably to the other tent, Isda's kids are coming out now, and I think they are part angel. Whatever that means. If Sex got her hands on them...

'What is Sarania's mother's name?' Don't judge me for not getting it from her! I was a bit confused during the meeting, and didn't think of it until now.

'Malralloz. Be careful with her. The Goddesses don't like her. I know you don't care about that, but try to limit your contact until after the war so the Goddesses don't start helping Nature and Justice to keep Malralloz from getting power.'

'I'll try.'

'Have fun with your little ones. I think I'm starting to get close to adding to the list of your kids.'

'Would you accept another?'

'Give this one a few days of rest. But yes.'

'We'll see. I do have a decree.'

'Yes, dear Mother wants us all to be pregnant. She's had a few Goddesses come to her for kids. You may find that you'll be getting more support from the Goddesses. Also, watch your kids for signs of being a Champion. Irlo won't be the only one you'll have.'

'I'll find them.'

If Sex is controlling my babies, I'll give Malralloz whatever she needs and wants to kill Sex. Anything. But they're just babies right now. So there's no need to worry, since Sex should die before she has a chance to do anything to them.

As for Champions, I may have a chance to find a good, cheap way to figure out which kids are Champions. Then I need to figure out how to make sure the Champions are found and kept safe, even if they are in a remote village. That part is going to be the real struggle.

So many things to do, but none of them involve playing with my kids!

I step inside the other tent, and Irlo is busy greeting her newest siblings. She's getting really good at her introduction speech. It does ramble a lot, bringing up her status as a Champion of a new Goddess at least four times. But her goal of protecting her little sisters is mentioned just as much, so they can forgive her for her moments of bragging.

I sneak up behind her while she's giving another speech and wrap her up in a hug. I pepper the back of her head with kisses while the baby laughs at us.

"Daddy! I need to look mighty!" Irlo says.

"You're just too cute," I say. "Your sisters love you. Look at how happy she is."

"But I can't be a protector like this!"

"You'll be the best sister possible. And you'll have to handle your Daddy showering you in love, because I'm not going to stop, even when you've got kids of your own."

"I'll show you!" Irlo says, trying to struggle out of my hug.

"You'll have to catch me first," I whisper. I let her go and start running out of the tent. Irlo is close behind me as I run through the yard.