As far as I know, a confession is a religious ritual in which one confesses their sins to a priest and receives forgiveness.
Of course, just because you confess doesn't mean you're absolved of the punishment for your sin. It's simply an act of seeking self-comfort by revealing one's sins to someone.
"…I do have worries, but I haven't committed any sins."
"It's alright. Confession isn't just about revealing sins. Some people actually share their concerns during confession."
Although it felt a bit unsettling, my mind was filled with the thought that I just wanted someone, anyone, to listen to my story right now.
When I nodded, the priest led me to a small wooden booth located in a corner of the chapel. Opening the door, I was greeted by a narrow room that didn't even seem to have a single space.
I went inside and sat down, entrusting my body to the small chair.
The soundproofing was better than I expected. As soon as the door closed, I couldn't hear any outside noise.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
I heard the priest's voice from beyond a small hole connected to the other side. I cautiously glanced around and followed along.
"Amen."
For the record, I'm not religious.
"Please feel free to speak comfortably."
"…I had a relationship with a woman, and she became pregnant. The problem is, I didn't promise to marry her, nor are we even lovers. Even just looking at this much makes my head spin, but she wants to have the child and marry me."
I felt like a bigger piece of trash with every word I spoke, but the priest simply listened to my story without saying anything.
"Of course, it's not that I dislike her. However, I'm still young, so the sudden pregnancy and marriage are a burden in many ways. Besides, her family is so well-off that I can't help but feel relatively inferior."
Actually, when you look at it this way, I really don't have much going on.
Even if I call it a concern, others would say it's a fortunate worry.
"Brother, may I share my thoughts with you?"
"Yes? Oh, of course."
"It's only natural to have concerns and worries about an unintended pregnancy and marriage. Rather, taking more time to consider, worrying more, and clearly understanding your own emotions may be the path to a harmonious family."
The priest's words, delivered in a calm voice, were filled with clichés.
Don't fear marriage, the birth of new life is a blessing, there's no right answer in everything, and so on.
He quoted passages from the Bible, trying to comfort me in his own way, but it wasn't really helpful.
I was listening to the unhelpful talk and letting it go in one ear and out the other when I heard something shocking that snapped me to attention.
"And… this is just my speculation, so you can take it with a grain of salt. It's possible that the woman is mistaken about her pregnancy."
"…Excuse me?"
"You mentioned that the woman is from a wealthy family, right? Roughly how wealthy are we talking?"
"I don't know exactly… but they're probably on par with a major conglomerate."
Of course, what I said was limited to their wealth.
In fact, being one of the three great magic families meant that wealth was only a small part of their power. Considering the influence they wielded in the magic world, even high-ranking conglomerate owners wouldn't be able to hold their heads high in front of the Seongbuk Choi family.
"Ah."
The priest seemed to ponder for a moment after hearing my story, but soon opened his mouth again.
"The church has various blessing ceremonies. In particular, parents who don't want their newborn child to suffer from illness often donate to the church and receive blessings."
It was a story I'd heard before.
That wealthy people donate enormous sums to the church when their children are born, and receive various blessings in return.
"But what does that have to do with the pregnancy?"
"Well… there's a blessing that people from wealthy families are required to receive."
"Could it be…?"
I could only deduce one thing from the priest's somewhat hesitant reaction and the conversation he'd had with me so far.
"…There's a 'blessing of infertility.' Usually, such families are extremely wary of unwanted children being born due to their children's mistakes, so…"
The moment I heard the story, I couldn't help but slap my forehead.
'I suspected it, but there really is such a blessing?'
Although I was taken aback, I couldn't say I didn't understand. If the young master or princess of a wealthy family got involved with some strange characters and suddenly had a child, there would be no more troublesome problem than that.
In fact, the issue of nobles' illegitimate children was a common trope in novels, while in reality, such things were hard to find in Europe or America.
I'd never seriously considered the reason for this until now, but if there was such a thing as the 'blessing of infertility,' it would be strange if problems arose from illegitimate children.
"Of course, it's not a permanent blessing. It can be undone at any time by visiting the church with a spouse."
The priest's voice quickened, as if he were making excuses.
Was he worried that I'd think the church was materialistic?
'No need to worry, who in the world doesn't know that 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 had a near monopoly on them.
Anyway, I was shocked to hear about the 'blessing of infertility' for the first time, but when I thought about it, it wasn't that strange.
Hospitals also perform vasectomies and contraception procedures, so there's no reason why the church couldn't do the same. If you just pay the money, you can skip the bothersome surgery or procedures and have 100% safe sex.
As someone who was already worried about contraception, I even wanted to receive the blessing myself.
Iris was from a race that the World Tree guaranteed was difficult to get pregnant, so I was fine for the time being, but Cheon Yeohwa and Noel were not.
Of course, Noel was also a beastkin, so the chances of having a child between her and me, a human, were very slim, but the mere possibility was a problem.
"Brother? Are you alright?"
"…I'm fine. I was just thinking for a moment."
"Haha, I understand. Let's end the confession here for now. It would be good to clear your head for a while."
"Ah, just a moment!"
"Yes?"
"…Is it possible for me to receive a blessing as well?"
***
Ding-dong-
A familiar ringtone echoed through the messy laboratory.
"What is it?"
The face of the woman who answered the phone with a touchy voice soon blossomed into a smile.
[My Dear Son-in-Law♡]
Seeing the name on the phone screen, Choi Youngok, who was once known as the Pyromaniac Sorceress and the target of fear for many villains, cleared her throat and answered the call.
"My dear son-in-law!"
[…Hello.]
Although the information was restricted, so very few people knew about it, if the media found out about it even tomorrow, her son-in-law would be headlining the news for a while.
That's how extraordinary his talent was, not something that could be simply dismissed as outstanding.
He was truly a possessor of overwhelming and awe-inspiring talent.
He was even excelling as a wizard, and he had saved her granddaughter's life, so how could she not adore him?
"Is there something on your mind?"
[Actually… I wanted to ask about Hye-na.]
"Hmm? My granddaughter?"
Choi Youngok noticed that his voice on the other end of the line was slightly different from usual.
Of course, he always seemed to be wary of her, but this time it was different. Rather than being cautious, he seemed rather shy.
[…By any chance, did Hye-na also receive the 'blessing of infertility'?]
"Ah."
In an instant, a contented smile spread across Choi Youngok's face.
Only then could she understand why Kang Hyunwoo's voice was different from usual.
"Son-in-law?"
[Yes?]
"Don't bother buying condoms, it's a waste of money, understand?"
[…]
It wasn't a direct answer, but with just a bit of perception, there was no need to ask any further questions.
[Could you please keep what I asked you today a secret from Hye-na?]
"Of course, of course. Does this old woman seem that clueless?"
[…Thank you. I will visit the Magic Tower soon.]
"Hehe, very well. See you next time."
Just as the call was about to end, Choi Youngok remembered something she hadn't said.
"Oh, right."
[Yes?]
"This old woman would be happy with either a great-grandson or a great-granddaughter, so my only wish is that you let me name them."
[…I'll try.]
Choi Youngok smiled faintly and hung up the phone, hearing the bewildered voice on the other end of the line.
To think that her granddaughter, whom she cherished more than her own eyes, would have such a loving husband.
Was it alright for such a happy event to happen in her twilight years?
"…So."
Choi Youngok's voice, which had been smiling benevolently while staring at her phone for a while, suddenly turned cynical.
Her gaze towards the uninvited guest sitting on the sofa in a corner of the lab was filled with discomfort and annoyance.
"What business could the Tower Master possibly have with my son-in-law that she would come here in person?"
A woman with ashen hair draped below her shoulders, dark ashen eyes, and a tight black dress that exposed her fair thighs put down her teacup.
"The aroma of this black tea is quite nice."
One of the twelve great Magic Towers that support the world.
It was Hanlael, the youngest Tower Master of the Ashen Magic Tower and the youngest 7-circle mage.
"Please don't glare at me so menacingly. I get scared when the former Tower Master acts like that."
"Answer my question first."
"It's nothing Professor Choi needs to worry about, so you don't need to be concerned."
"Oh, so the old hag in the back shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the young'uns?"
A crimson glow appeared in Choi Youngok's eyes.
The waves of rough mana made Hanlael smile.
"Certainly not."
There was an absolute difference in rank between the two, as Choi Youngok was a 6-circle mage and Hanlael was a 7-circle mage, but Hanlael did not disregard Choi Youngok.
On the contrary, she would even say that Choi Youngok was the only mage within the Ashen Magic Tower who could stand against her.
She had dealt with countless villains since her youth and protected the people from the disaster of magical beasts, so she was undeniably one of the most outstanding combat mages in Korea.
Many people acknowledged her skills and respected her.
The title of Pyromaniac Sorceress was not in vain.
"Surely I wouldn't harm the future son-in-law of the Seongbuk Choi family, would I?"
"One can never know."
Hanlael picked up her teacup again, displaying a unique and unreadable expression in response to Choi Youngok's strangely hostile reaction.
"Oh, could it be… are you worried that I might seduce Hyunwoo?"
"…Crazy bitch."
"Hehe, don't worry. I'm not so desperate that I need to hit on a man who's already taken."
There weren't many people in Korea who could maintain such a bright smile in front of Choi Youngok, who was making it clear that she was displeased.
Another title used to refer to Choi Youngok in her youth.
Mad Fire Sorceress.
No one wanted to face a 6-circle mage who had lost their mind.
"Of course, it's another matter if Hyunwoo falls for me first, isn't it? He's incredibly talented, and his face isn't too bad either…"
However, that didn't apply to Hanlael.
Bang! A wave of crimson fire raged through the laboratory.