“I know you’re shocked.”

Rael spoke to Bastian, who was rubbing his face in disbelief. Even she found this situation absurd, and she could hardly imagine how bewildered he must be—a priest suddenly confronted by a friend claiming to be pregnant with a demon’s child.

“How on earth did you and the Demon King… No, how is this even…?”

“Apparently, different species can still conceive together.”

“That’s not the issue…”

“Actually, Rubellan and I had various entanglements back at the Academy. He’s always been somewhat friendly toward me. The Magic Tower chose well, looking at how things turned out.”

Having decided to seek Bastian’s help, Rael believed she shouldn’t keep secrets from him and candidly shared everything. After all, he was now the only person in the world she could trust.

“I need to hide from both demonic eyes and the Magic Tower’s pursuit. The temple seemed perfect for that. I also had faith you would help me. The fact that this place is in a rural area rather than a busy neighborhood is an added bonus.”

“Consorting with demons is considered a grave sin by the church.”

“Which is why you’ll keep my situation secret.”

Rael had absolute faith in Bastian. She believed that if he had to weigh his loyalty between God and herself, though God might win, it would be a close call.

Just as Bastian was family to Rael, she thought she must be family to him—or at least his weak spot. He had always looked after her like a younger sister.

“Once I have the baby, I’ll quietly leave. By then, everyone will have forgotten about me.”

“Forgotten about you?”

“The Magic Tower will assume I died at the hands of demons, and Rubellan…”

Rael’s words trailed off momentarily.

“For him, I was probably just a passing fancy. He’ll quickly forget about a human like me.”

That’s how it needed to be. It would be better if he thought she had been killed by Juletan’s monster, or if not, she hoped he would quickly forget the memory of being betrayed by a human.

In their long lives, interactions with humans were fleeting moments—she hoped it would pass without much significance.

“Just until I give birth. Just that long, let me impose on you.”

She was confident Bastian’s soft heart wouldn’t refuse. Though it felt cowardly, she needed to exploit his affection to find temporary stability. What to do after giving birth would have to be decided later, but putting out the immediate fire was the priority.

“The temple doesn’t turn away those in need, right?”

“That’s not the issue. Rael… are you really okay?”

“I have to be. No matter what, I must be okay.”

Both her body and mind had to endure.

“Can you… help me?”

At her voice tinged with faint anxiety, Bastian slowly brushed his hair back. The green eyes visible beneath his shining blonde hair still looked confused.

“Is it difficult?”

When Rael asked again, Bastian seemed surprised that he might have shown reluctance. After a brief moment of surprise, he answered with a faint smile.

“I would never turn you away.”

Hearing the answer she had hoped for, Rael exhaled in relief, and the sight pierced Bastian’s heart with pity.

His friend, who once seemed capable of living without rules, was now hiding and trembling for fear of being discovered. He couldn’t help but feel bitter about it.

“I was just taken aback. Not because of your past experiences, but because I wasn’t sure how to help you with your pregnancy… That’s all.”

He spoke warmly, trying to reassure Rael.

“I can take care of my body myself. Thank you. It must have been a difficult request…”

Rael deliberately drew a cold line. If her situation became known to the temple, depending on circumstances, he might have to remove his priest’s robes.

She had heard that while she was working at the Magic Tower, Bastian had worked hard to rise to a managerial position among the high priests, but she had no way of knowing how solid his standing was.

She thought Bastian shouldn’t provide too much help—he should only be known for showing kindness by taking in a pregnant woman with nowhere to go.

“Let’s get you some rest first. You don’t look well.”

Though he wanted to know more details, Bastian first wanted Rael to rest. He couldn’t keep her sitting any longer when she looked pale enough to collapse at any moment.

Taking Bastian’s outstretched hand, Rael stood up. The warmth of his hand seemed to spread all the way to her heart.

* * *

The temple had separate accommodations for people like Rael who sought refuge there due to unavoidable circumstances. It was a small building located near the priests’ quarters.

For the first time in a long while, Rael slept comfortably with her legs fully stretched out. Whether from exhaustion or a sense of security, she enjoyed uninterrupted sleep without waking once.

When she opened her eyes to natural sunlight, she had to pinch her cheek to make sure this was reality. Could it be a fantasy she had created? Would she wake from sleep to find a demon standing before her, laughing mockingly?

“…I’m really in bad shape.”

Rubbing her stinging cheek, Rael felt sorry for herself.

Lying there a moment longer, she heard the mingled voices of priests and children coming through the window. Outside her quarters, it seemed things had been bustling for quite some time.

“Temple folks sure are early risers.”

Rael slowly got up and moved to the window. Right in front of her quarters was the courtyard connected to the long corridor she had seen the night before. Her room was positioned across from the main building, with the courtyard in between.

In the garden, children were playing with priests. Watching them throw cloth pouches filled with rice grains while laughing brightly, she felt a lump in her throat.

“I really am among people again.”

The anxiety she had felt upon waking was beginning to fade.

Hearing someone at the door, Rael turned around. At this early hour, the only person who would visit her after she had secretly arrived last night would naturally be Bastian.

Instead of answering, Rael approached the door and turned the handle.

“You’re awake?”

It was indeed Bastian. His appearance made her feel even more peaceful.

“You look better than yesterday.”

“I had a good night’s sleep for once.”

When Rael answered with a gentle smile, Bastian felt uncomfortable at the thought that her life must have been so hard that she couldn’t even sleep properly.

“Would you like to eat first? Breakfast time has already passed, so you must be hungry.”

“Ah, I haven’t had much appetite lately, so I’m fine. What about you? Have you eaten?”

Bastian nodded at Rael’s question. In truth, Rael knew Bastian wasn’t the type to eat breakfast regularly. Usually, she was the one who made sure to eat, and since he knew this too, she felt both apologetic and grateful that he had come to check on her.

“Shall we take a light walk and look around the temple?”

“Yes, let’s do that. Come in and wait a moment.”

Thinking it would be better to at least wash her face before going out, Rael asked Bastian to wait while she quickly freshened up.

Bastian felt somewhat relieved that she now seemed more like the cheerful Rael he had always known.

Rael quickly finished her preparations and returned, and the two left the room.

“These two buildings are accommodations. That building next to them is the dining hall. Ah, that one over there is the main building you entered yesterday. Most of the prayer rooms and gathering spaces are there. My office too.”

They circled the garden, familiarizing themselves with the buildings. Being a modest temple, the structure wasn’t very complicated.

“High Priest!”

“It’s the High Priest!”

The chattering voices of children that had awakened Rael called out to Bastian. He waved with a gentle smile. Seeing how he interacted with the children, Rael thought that her friend had truly become a proper priest. Such a gentle smile he wore now.

“Look, a snail!”

“It rained a little at dawn, so the snails have come to visit.”

Rael, who had been too deep in sleep to notice the rain, only then realized that the garden soil was slightly softened.

Though it seemed to have been just a brief shower that left little more than dew, it had apparently brought welcome visitors for the children.

“There’s an earthworm too!”

“Eww! Gross! Don’t touch it!”

Rael couldn’t help but smile at the children’s giggles. Her expression probably resembled Bastian’s from earlier.

“Who’s the lady next to you?”

“Is she a new family member?”

Curious about Rael, the children tilted their heads from side to side, observing her.

“She’s a devotee who will be staying with us for a while. You can help her if she needs anything, right?”

“Of course! I know everything about the temple!”

“I know more than you do!”

Two children in particular bickered, but even that looked adorable to Rael.

“Yes. Thank you all. I’ll be in your care.”

When Rael responded with crinkled eyes, the children, seemingly embarrassed, whispered among themselves with flushed faces before giggling and running off into the distance.

“What makes everything so amusing to children?”

Rael, still smiling, watched as they ran away.

“That’s the age when even seeing worms in the soil brings joy.”

“We had those days too, didn’t we?”

“You sound like an old person reminiscing.”

Bastian teasingly chided Rael, who was laughing like an elderly woman saying, “Those were the good old days~”.

“Back then, both of us were so cute. Ah, are those children being cared for by the temple?”

“Yes. Most are orphans or children left at the temple due to unavoidable circumstances.”

“I see. But looking at their unclouded faces, the temple must be taking good care of them.”

“Of course.”

“Right. Of course. With you here.”

Her matter-of-fact attitude revealed the strong trust Rael had in Bastian.

“How is it? Will you be comfortable staying here?”

“It’s practically heaven.”

Though she wasn’t in a position to be picky, Rael honestly liked this temple. It was infused with warmth everywhere, much like Bastian’s personality.

“I think I’m getting hungry now. Shall we have an early lunch?”

“Sure.”

The hunger she felt after so long was welcome.