Chapter 84: Confession
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Confession
As far as I knew, confession was a religious rite where one confesses their sins to a priest to be forgiven.
Of course, going to confession doesn't erase the punishment one might receive for those sins. It's merely an act of self-comfort, of unburdening oneself by telling someone your sins.
“...It's true that I have something on my mind, but I haven't committed any sins.”
“That's quite all right. Confession isn't only for admitting sins. In fact, many people use it as an opportunity to share their worries.”
It felt a bit strange, but right now, my mind was filled with the thought that I just wanted someone, anyone, to listen to me.
When I nodded, the priest led me to a small wooden booth in a corner of the chapel. I opened the door to find a cramped room, not even a full square meter, greeting me.
I went inside and sat down on a small chair.
The room was surprisingly soundproof; once the door was closed, I couldn't hear a single sound from outside.
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The priest's voice came from beyond a small opening connecting to the other side. I glanced around nervously before repeating his words.
“Amen.”
For the record, I'm irreligious.
“You can speak freely.”
“...I was with a woman, and she became pregnant. The problem is, we're not engaged, not even lovers. Just that is enough to make my head spin, but she wants to have the baby and marry me.”
The more I spoke, the more I felt like a piece of trash, but the priest simply listened in silence without saying a word.
“Of course, it's not that I dislike her. It's just that I'm still young, so a sudden pregnancy and marriage feel like a burden in many ways. Besides, her family is so well-off that I can't help but feel a little intimidated.”
Looking at it this way, it really wasn't much of a problem.
It was hardly a 'worry'; to others, it would probably sound like I was complaining about having too much good fortune.
“Brother, would it be all right if I shared my thoughts?”
“Huh? Oh, of course.”
“It's only natural to be filled with concern and anxiety over an unplanned pregnancy and marriage. In fact, worrying a little more, thinking it over, and coming to clearly understand your own feelings may be the very path to creating a harmonious family.”
The priest's calm voice was filled with platitudes.
Don't be afraid of marriage. The birth of a new life is a blessing. There are no right answers in this world. And so on.
He quoted passages from the Bible, clearly trying to comfort me in his own way, but it wasn't actually helpful.
As I was letting his less-than-insightful words go in one ear and out the other, I heard something so shocking it jolted me to my senses.
“And... this is truly just my speculation, so you can feel free to disregard it. It's possible the woman is mistaken about her pregnancy.”
“...What?”
“You said she is the child of a wealthy family, correct? How wealthy are we talking?”
“I don't know the exact details... but they're probably on the level of a major conglomerate.”
Of course, I was only referring to their financial power.
In truth, for one of the three great magic noble families, wealth was just a fraction of their total power. Considering their influence in the magical world, even high-ranking conglomerate heads wouldn't be able to hold their heads high before the Seongbuk Choi family.
“Ah.”
The priest seemed to ponder my words for a moment before speaking again.
“The church has various blessing ceremonies. It's especially common for parents who don't want their newborn child to suffer from illness to make a donation to the church and receive a blessing.”
I'd heard of that before.
The rich would make huge donations to the church when their children were born, receiving various blessings in return.
“But what does that have to do with the pregnancy?”
“Well... there is a blessing that those from wealthy families almost always receive.”
“Don't tell me...?”
From the priest's hesitant reaction and everything he had said so far, I could only deduce one thing.
“...There is something called the Blessing of Infertility. Families like that are usually extremely wary of unwanted children resulting from their own child's mistakes, so...”
The moment I heard that, I slapped my forehead without thinking.
No way. A blessing like that really exists?
It was startling, but when I thought about it, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible. If the son or daughter of a rich family got involved with some weirdo and accidentally had a kid, there would be no bigger headache.
The issue of illegitimate children among nobles was such a common cliché in novels, yet in the real world, you rarely heard about such things in Europe or America.
I'd never seriously considered the reason before, but if a 'Blessing of Infertility' truly existed, it would be stranger for problems with illegitimate children to arise.
“Of course, it's not a permanent blessing. It can be lifted anytime by visiting the church with a spouse.”
The priest's voice quickened, as if he were making an excuse.
Was he worried I'd think the church was materialistic?
What a needless worry. Who in the world doesn't know the church is materialistic?
The modern church was practically a religious corporation. From holy water to all sorts of blessings and purification rituals, the church held a near-monopoly.
In any case, while hearing about the 'Blessing of Infertility' for the first time was a shock, it wasn't that strange upon reflection.
Hospitals offered vasectomies and contraceptive procedures, so there was no reason the church couldn't. And if you could have 100% safe sex just by paying money, skipping the hassle of surgery or procedures...
As someone who was already worried about contraception, I was tempted to get the blessing myself.
Iris was a species the World Tree had guaranteed would have difficulty conceiving, so she was fine for now, but Cheon Yeo-hwa and Noel were a different story.
Of course, since Noel was a beast-kin, the chances of her having a child with me, a human, were extremely slim, but the mere possibility was a problem.
“Brother? Are you all right?”
“...I'm fine. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
“Haha, that's understandable. For now, we'll conclude the confession here. It would be good for you to cool your head for a bit.”
“Ah, wait a moment!”
“Yes?”
“...By any chance, could I receive that blessing too?”
*
Triring—
A familiar ringtone echoed through the messy laboratory.
“What is it?”
A woman with an irritable voice grabbed her phone, but a smile soon blossomed on her face.
[My Dearest Grandson-in-law♡]
Seeing the name on the screen, Choi Young-ok—once called the Elementalist of Crimson Flame and feared by countless villains—cleared her throat and answered the call.
“My dear grandson-in-law!”
[...Hello.]
Due to information control, very few people knew about him now, but if the media were to find out tomorrow, her grandson-in-law would be dominating the headlines for some time.
His talent was something that couldn't be dismissed as merely outstanding.
He was, in a word, an owner of overwhelming, wondrous talent.
Not only was he an excellent mage, but he had also saved her granddaughter's life. It was impossible not to adore him.
“Is something the matter?”
[Well... it's not a big deal, but I wanted to ask you something about Hyena.]
“Oh? My granddaughter?”
Choi Young-ok noticed that his voice on the other end of the line was slightly different from usual.
He always seemed a bit intimidated by her, but this was different. It felt less like he was wary of her and more like he was embarrassed.
[...By any chance, did Hyena also receive the 'Blessing of Infertility'?]
“Ah.”
A pleased smile spread across Choi Young-ok's face.
Now she understood why Kang Hyun-woo's voice had sounded different.
“Grandson-in-law?”
[Yes?]
“No need to waste money on condoms, dear.”
[...]
It wasn't a direct answer, but with a little sense, it was so close to the truth that there was no need to ask further.
[Could you please keep what I asked today a secret from Hyena?]
“Of course. Naturally. This old grandma isn't that clueless, you know.”
[...Thank you. I'll come visit the Magic Tower soon.]
“Hehe, alright. I'll see you then.”
Just as the call was about to end, Choi Young-ok remembered something she had forgotten to say.
“Oh, right.”
[Yes?]
“This old grandma would be happy with a great-grandson or a great-granddaughter. Just let me pick the baby's prenatal name, and I'll have no other wishes.”
[...I'll do my best.]
Hearing the flustered voice on the other end, Choi Young-ok smiled faintly and ended the call.
To think her granddaughter, the apple of her eye, had found such a loving husband.
Was it okay to be this happy in her later years?
“...So.”
Choi Young-ok, who had been staring at her phone with a kind smile, suddenly spoke in a cynical tone.
Her gaze, directed at the uninvited guest settled on a sofa in the corner of the lab, was filled with nothing but discomfort and irritation.
“What business could the Tower Lord possibly have with my grandson-in-law to come all this way in person?”
A woman with ashen hair cascading past her shoulders, dusky gray eyes, and a tight black dress that revealed her pale thighs, set down her teacup.
“The aroma of this black tea is wonderful.”
She was one of the pillars of the world, one of the great 12 Magic Towers.
She was Han Lael, the youngest Tower Lord of the Gray Magic Tower and the youngest 7th Circle Mage.
“Please don't glare so fiercely. When the former Tower Lord looks at me like that, even I get scared.”
“Answer my question first.”
“It's not something Professor Choi needs to concern herself with, so you don't have to worry too much.”
“Ah, so the old woman in the back should stay out of the young folks' business?”
Crimson flames flickered in Choi Young-ok's eyes.
A smile spread across Han Lael's lips in the face of the rough wave of magic power.
“Of course not.”
Although an absolute difference in rank existed between the two—a 6th Circle and a 7th Circle—Han Lael did not dismiss Choi Young-ok.
In fact, if asked to name a mage within the Gray Magic Tower who could stand against her, she would say it was Choi Young-ok and no one else.
Having dealt with countless villains since her youth and protected the nation from the disaster known as magical beasts, she was, by name and by right, one of the most outstanding battle mages in the Republic of Korea.
Countless people acknowledged her skill and respected her.
The Elementalist of Crimson Flame—that title was by no means an empty one.
“You don't think I'd actually harm the prospective son-in-law of the Seongbuk Choi family, do you?”
“One never knows.”
At Choi Young-ok's strangely hostile reaction, Han Lael picked up her teacup again, her expression becoming unreadable.
“Ah, could it be... you're worried I might try to seduce Hyun-woo?”
“...Crazy bitch.”
“Hehe, you don't have to worry. I'm not so desperate as to hit on a man who's already taken.”
There weren't many people in the Republic of Korea who could maintain such a bright smile in front of Choi Young-ok when she was so clearly displeased.
Another title used to refer to Choi Young-ok in her youth.
The Elementalist of Mad Fire.
No one wanted to face a 6th Circle mage who had lost her temper.
“Ah, but of course, if Hyun-woo were to fall for me first, that would be a different story. He's talented, and his face is handsome enough...”
But that didn't apply to Han Lael.
Boom! A wave of crimson flame swept through the laboratory.