#994 Maternity Rhapsody 3: The Female Prime Minister’s Troubles

Zoth Syra, the Witch of the Abyss, is here!!!

Hyah-hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Dun cha cha, dun cha cha, dun cha cha chara holla, hey!!!

Bam bam bam! Gya-bam!

You’re wondering why I’m in such high spirits, aren’t you?

I’ve got a bun in the oven!!!

It’s real news!

After our beautiful wedding, we finally have some joyous news to share!

Who knew life could be this wonderful!!!

Of course, the baby is between me and my hubby Orkubo!

Who was it that said, “There’s no way humans and monsters can have kids together!”

Those doubters can eat their words! Hohohohohoho!

What’s common sense and theory compared to true love?

All those doubts crumble before our bond!

With the connection between me and Orkubo, nothing is impossible!

The future is bright and shiny! Hohohohohoho!!!

“Stop that ridiculous laughing. It’s echoing for miles.”

Who’s raining on my parade now?

Ah, if it isn’t Carp, my eyesore for all eternity!

Just seeing your face brings down my mood.

“I could say the same. I’d prefer not to have your low IQ in my sight, but unfortunately, noise can be heard even with ears plugged. I came here to voice my complaint.”

Excuse me?!

I’m just expressing the joy of life with all my being!

Every living creature has the right to be happy, don’t they?

Do you have the right to ruin that joy, huh???

“Fools always go on about their rights. Do you really think you can handle motherhood with such a reckless attitude?”

“What was that?”

What’s with the nitpicking right off the bat?

I’ve always promised myself I’d take up any fight you start.

“Hah, that’s typical of a natural-born delinquent...”

“Weren’t you a delinquent under Sis Mahi, too?”

“Looking back does no good. The right thing is to move forward.”

Oh, dodging with some fancy words now.

What are you even trying to say?

“You’re just giddy about being pregnant, but is that all? Haven’t you forgotten your current position?”

“Urk-?”

“Right, Mermaid Prime Minister?”

Oh, right.

Somehow, I ended up being the Mermaid Kingdom’s Prime Minister.

Being a Prime Minister means leading the government, assisting the ruler closely, and sometimes even taking over their duties.

Why am I in such a serious job? I still wonder about that.

But there’s no answer.

“Your pregnancy is a big deal for the country. Do you understand that?”

“I don’t care. My life, my choices.”

“Stop being so irresponsible...”

Could I quit being Prime Minister now that I’m having a baby?

I couldn’t retire when I got married, so maybe there’s hope now.

...Wait, why couldn’t I retire when I got married? My memory’s fuzzy.

“That kind of selfishness won’t fly. Despite my reservations, your performance as Prime Minister has been highly praised. They say the Mermaid Kingdom can’t function without Prime Minister Zoth Syra.”

And that’s how it is?

Shouldn’t the indispensable one be the king?

“Now they say, ‘As Lucife Focale exists on land, Zoth Syra reigns in the sea.’ You’re one of the two great Prime Ministers, alongside the famous one from the Demon Kingdom. I can’t believe someone like you is so highly praised; the world must be going mad.”

Hmm, Lucife Focale’s got his share of struggles, too.

I should send him a gift to show some appreciation.

“So, what I’m saying is, it’s fine to be happy about your pregnancy, but you need to handle your duties as Prime Minister. Do you get that?”

Ha, I don’t get it.

More accurately, I don’t want to get it.

I just want to spend my life with Orkubo in our bliss!

Why do I have to serve society as a public servant?!

Not a single second of my life should be wasted on others!

“You never change, do you?”

Huh? What’s going on here?

Is the ever-serious Carp exasperated by my reckless behavior again?

Totally fine by me. Go ahead, get mad, scold me, deny me!

None of that will even put a scratch on me!

I was born a rogue.

Logic and common sense can’t shake me one bit!

“Your idea... is fantastic!!!”

“What?”

Completely thrown off by her unexpected reaction, I almost fell flat on my face!

Not good. I need to be careful these days. I can’t afford to fall when there’s a little one in my belly.

“Hey, Carp... could you maybe not surprise me like that? I’m in a delicate state here.”

“What are you talking about? I’m in the same boat, you know.”

Oh, I almost forgot.

She’s expecting, too.

We got married around the same time, so it makes sense.

Back then, I used to grumble about our weirdly intertwined fates, getting hitched on the same day. But now, with both of us expecting at the same time, it’s almost refreshing.

“Yes, I’m carrying the love child of my dear Gobukichi! With my wisdom and his brilliance, our baby is bound to be a prodigy! This child will undoubtedly propel the world ten steps forward!!!”

“You’re way too proud already!”

Seriously, she’s putting so much pressure on a kid who hasn’t even been born yet.

Given Carp teaches at the prestigious Mermaid Witch Academia, her expectations are probably way higher than most parents.

She’s a classic overbearing mom.

I wonder if that’s okay.

Will the kid rebel from too much pressure?

Even though it’s none of my business, I can’t help but worry.

“That’s why I want to focus on my unborn child now! I can’t be bothered with other people’s kids!”

“That’s not something a teacher should say.”

“If I could, I’d resign from Mermaid Witch Academia right now and leave this responsibility behind. And you’re the perfect person to help me!”

“Perfect person?!”

What is she thinking?!

“Well, you must want to quit since you’re pregnant too, right, Prime Minister? It’s the perfect chance for someone as carefree as you to resign!”

“That’s beyond rude!!!”

She’s not wrong, though!

But being called out on it still stings!!!

“A Prime Minister’s resignation is big news. It would cause quite a stir!”

“Really now?”

But I’m not the kind of woman to be swayed by such fuss.

I’m an outlaw, after all!

“If I resign at the same time as you, you’ll divert all the attention! I’m one of the top teachers at Mermaid Witch Academia, you know! If I quit, they’d likely beg me to stay!”

What?!

So she’s planning to use me to quit her job smoothly?!

How sneaky!

Is that something a role model for children should do?!

“My family comes first! Now that I’m blessed with a child, I want to focus all my exceptional teaching skills on them! Everything I’ve learned as a teacher was for this moment, to raise my child to be the best!”

Yikes. She’s gone off the deep end.

Her obsessive love for her unborn child is blinding her to everything else.

Her husband and child are in for a rough ride, aren’t they?

Worrying is natural.

But this is also my chance!!!

I, too, want to quit being the Prime Minister to focus on childbirth and raising my kid!

Still, it’s not easy to just walk away from such a demanding job.

I need all the help I can get to make my escape!

Even if it’s from this crazy woman, any help is godsend!

“For the sake of a wonderful parenting life!”

“To raise the world’s greatest genius!”

Thus, I joined forces with my old nemesis Carp.