The news of Seraph’s pregnancy spread through the Missionary Castle in an instant.
Surprisingly, the clan members’ reactions were calm.
No, it would be more accurate to say they accepted it as something natural, even while offering congratulations.
And that made sense.
After all, just about every day, embarrassing sounds had been heard from the office, the rooftop, and other places—so it wasn’t unreasonable for them to respond with a knowing “of course.”
Of course, this was only among those who understood the situation.
In any case, the happiest person was undoubtedly Kim Suhyun.
An angel had succeeded in carrying a human child.
Though he had his doubts, no man would dislike the fact that his beloved wife was pregnant with his child.
So, for now, it was a matter to be set aside.
Thus, Seraph was able to be surrounded by everyone, free of worry, and receive their blessings for her pregnancy.
“Congratulations, Seraph. If anything’s difficult or troubling, don’t hesitate to speak up.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you so much.”
“That’s right. You helped us a lot when we were pregnant, so now it’s our turn.”
“Well then, I hope you won’t mind if I ask for help from time to time.”
Amid the lively exchange of congratulations and gratitude, a sudden voice rang out.
“Congratulations! Wow, seriously, my brother’s sperm is just that strong? Rules or no rules, it just breaks through everything!”
“Sis!”
Kim Hanbyul, who had been laughing, suddenly cut off the conversation.
What Seraph had said didn’t sound like a joke.
By biology and by law, it was impossible for an angel to conceive a human child.
If this was true, there was something suspicious about this pregnancy—but she thought it best not to make a fuss.
Besides, Seraph herself seemed genuinely happy, and she didn’t want to spoil the mood.
But it was already too late; several people nearby turned to look with puzzled expressions.
“Yoojung, what do you mean? What rules?”
Jung Hayun, who had been gently patting Seraph, asked, and Yoojung covered her mouth, clearly flustered.
Kim Hanbyul clenched her teeth.
If it was just a joke, she could have let it slide, but Yoojung’s obvious reaction only made things smell fishy.
Moreover, Jung Hayun was known for her meticulous and persistent nature.
“W-well…”
“Well?”
“Ah, come on, sis! Why so serious? It’s nothing.”
“Is it? Doesn’t seem like nothing to me.”
“It’s not!”
“It is!”
“Ugh…!”
“?”
Yoojung seemed at a loss for words.
After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly raised her right arm high into the air and shouted:
“If sperm is released, it will pierce the heavens! If the laws block it, it will break through even that! Because it impregnated an angel, it’s my brother’s victory!”
Jung Hayun’s face stiffened.
What nonsense was this?
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“What do you think my brother’s sperm is?”
“Yoojung~?”
“My brother is a god! Not human! So it’s divine sperm!”
“…Alright, alright, I get it. I won’t ask anymore, so please stop.”
“Hehehe.”
Jung Hayun, a person of sound mind, frowned at the awkward words.
Yoojung laughed softly, glanced around nervously, and quickly slipped away.
“That girl… she’s already a proper mother now…”
Jung Hayun clicked her tongue lightly and turned her attention back to Seraph.
Before long, the chatter resumed.
‘So that’s one way to let it slide.’
Kim Hanbyul, secretly impressed, was about to look away when—
“Hm?”
Her gaze suddenly paused on someone standing beside the pillar of light.
The girl in white priest robes was none other than AhnSol.
Moments later, as Kim Hanbyul’s eyes widened, AhnSol turned and fled without looking back.
Hanbyul hadn’t even had the chance to call out to her.
No, she didn’t even think to stop her.
The shadowed expression on AhnSol’s face was so painful, it looked as if tears would spill at any moment.
“What do you think, Hanbyul?”
“Y-yes?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Kim Hanbyul turned sharply.
Jung Hayun, who had been watching her quietly, smiled gently.
“We’re having a celebration party tonight. You’ll help, right?”
“Ah… yes. Of course.”
Kim Hanbyul nodded reluctantly, but her mind was entirely focused on the direction AhnSol had disappeared.
‘Come to think of it…’
Just like on Earth, since returning to the Whole Plain, she hadn’t been able to pay much attention to AhnSol, caught up as she was with pregnancy and childcare.
Compared to the days when they were actively exploring, they had clearly drifted apart.
But on the other hand, AhnSol herself had kept to herself quietly—perhaps too much so.
Thinking this, Kim Hanbyul felt a sudden unease deep in her chest.
The empty corridor was quiet and lonely.
Step by step, step by step…
The solitary footsteps echoed heavily down the vacant hallway.
Reluctantly dragging her feet as if being pulled against her will, AhnSol’s slow steps finally slackened as she reached her destination.
She stood there for a long moment, then quietly placed her hand on the doorknob.
Opening the door, she entered the room listlessly.
The sound of the door closing behind her was the only noise.
Tap, tap…
Tears she had been holding back spilled down as she walked back.
Drops fell from her bowed head, wetting the floor.
After standing still for a long time again, AhnSol suddenly collapsed onto the bed.
Lying face down, she turned her head and stared blankly at the wall.
“…”
Who could possibly understand what AhnSol was feeling right now?
Everyone in the Missionary Clan knew she had feelings for Kim Suhyun.
In fact, she was the first woman in this cycle to show interest in him.
But at some point, their relationship had become ambiguous.
Along with that, her position had shifted.
Of course, AhnSol’s sadness wasn’t simply because “Kim Suhyun didn’t notice her.”
It was more complicated than that.
“Ugh…”
She desperately tried to stifle her sobs and closed her eyes.
In her mind, she saw Seraph happily cradling her belly, surrounded by women congratulating her, each holding their own child.
That scene felt so distant to AhnSol.
Not long ago—just a year or two ago—they had been comrades, relying on each other’s backs as they moved forward.
She had thought they would always be together.
But that expectation was completely shattered.
The man she liked had become the husband of several women.
The sisters she was close to had become wives and mothers.
Just look at Kim Hanbyul and Yoojung.
They started together at the same rite of passage, but now they stood in completely different places.
“Ugh…”
Yes, one day she had come to realize that so much had changed.
And the only one standing still here was…
herself.
But that wasn’t the only thing driving AhnSol mad.
Kim Suhyun saw her only as a younger sister.
There was no reason or obligation to think otherwise.
The women felt the same.
There was no law forbidding them from being with the man they loved.
It was a natural truth, but precisely because it was so natural, there was nothing to say.
In other words, she wanted to blame someone, but there was no one to blame.
No, no, no, no.
There was nothing she could do.
Wandering here and there, it only led to self-loathing.
“…Hng!”
At that thought, AhnSol, who had been quietly crying, finally broke down, wailing loudly.
She could no longer bear the tidal wave of fear crashing over her.
“Waaah, waaah…!”
If even a little more time passed like this, she felt she would lose her place.
She felt as if she would return to the hellish days of being ignored and ostracized in the modern world…
As the sun set, casting deep shadows over the evening,
a grand banquet was held at the Missionary Castle in honor of Seraph.
“Why isn’t she coming out…?”
Anhyun, delighted by the endless stream of food and drink, suddenly realized AhnSol was nowhere to be seen.
She might be asleep or about to come, but as her older brother, he couldn’t just leave her be.
Since it wasn’t far, Anhyun headed straight to his sister’s quarters.
On the way, he spotted Jin Suhyun whistling and walking by, so he grabbed him and dragged him along.
Not because of any particular reason, but out of a petty desire to make him eat late since he was eating late.
Anyway, when Anhyun and Jin Suhyun arrived at AhnSol’s room, they were surprised to find an unexpected figure lingering in the hallway.
“Huh?”
“Ah.”
The other person seemed equally surprised.
The woman standing by the door was Kim Hanbyul.
She hadn’t expected Anhyun and Jin Suhyun to come together, judging by her slightly startled expression.
Anhyun spoke first.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just… you?”
Kim Hanbyul glanced around and skillfully changed the subject.
“I came to get my sister. She wasn’t at the dining hall. And I’m taking this guy along, too.”
“What? Taking him along? Weren’t you saying you needed him before?”
Jin Suhyun, hands behind his head, suddenly snapped.
Kim Hanbyul quietly nodded.
A brief, awkward silence followed.
“Uh… do you want to bring her out? Or should I?”
Anhyun spoke first again.
Unfortunately, it seemed like he was too distracted by the banquet to think about anything else.
Kim Hanbyul glanced back and forth between the door and Ahn Hyun, then hesitated and took a step back.
“No, let’s go in together. You go first, oppa.”
“Alright, then.”
Tilting his head in slight confusion, Ahn Hyun strode forward and knocked firmly on the door.
Then, without hesitation, he flung it open.
“Sola! Oppa’s coming in!”
But the next moment—
“Sol… So, Sola…?”
Before even taking a couple of steps inside, Ahn Hyun’s legs suddenly froze in place.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
The omnibus section focusing on An Sol begins here.
I’ll do my best to finish it as quickly as possible. (__)