The Regressor and the Blind Saint-Chapter 266: After Story: A New Family (5)

The atmosphere in Elia was tense.

It was solely due to Renee’s imminent childbirth.

With the due date fast approaching, priests bustled in and out of the Grand Temple’s chapel almost every day. The Paladins maintained strict vigilance, prepared for any eventuality.

As for the Apostles?

They canceled all of their external dispatch itineraries and gathered together.

“Is this really necessary...?”

Renee smiled awkwardly while scratching her cheek.

They were in the Grand Temple’s garden, a gentle breeze blowing through.

“I don’t believe that even this would be enough. They are our children, after all.”

Vera’s hand overlapped with Renee’s, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

However, he still couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling that had been bothering him.

“...These children will be born as divine beings. We must keep in mind that there may be those who target them.”

“Will there be anyone bold enough to target this place...?”

“It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

That was the reason Vera was being so fussy.

Elia was now beginning to intervene in continental affairs.

Of course, they weren’t actively engaging in politics, but they were gradually opening their doors to mediate conflicts between nations.

Because of that, rumors about Renee’s childbirth had spread far and wide, and the continent’s attention became focused on them.

“...If there are truly those after us.”

Vera’s expression turned vicious.

Renee laughed at his sudden ferocious look and replied.

“Wow. I don’t know who they are, but they’re really pitiful.”

She moved her hand towards Vera’s head and patted him as if praising a child, making him frown in embarrassment.

“Please stop teasing me.”

“Oh my, I suppose I have to. It’s an order from the King of the Slums, after all.”

The way she shrugged her shoulders was somehow so infuriating.

Vera sulkily glared at her.

Unaffected, Renee simply continued stroking her heavily pregnant belly.

“My body feels so heavy with two babies inside. They must be healthy since they’re kicking so much.”

Despite her complaints, her face was full of smiles.

Vera chuckled as Renee caressed her belly with a face filled with love.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“Of becoming a mother?”

“...Yes.”

Renee took a glance at him.

After observing Vera for a while as if trying to see through something, she responded.

“I am scared.”

It was an affirmative answer.

“I do wonder if I can do well since I’m still receiving help from others. I have thoughts like that. I’m also not sure if a fool like me who can’t even take care of herself properly can raise children well...”

She trailed off, swallowing her words.

Renee went silent for a moment, then spoke again with a smile.

“But, you know...”

Renee interlaced their fingers and continued warmly.

“I’m not alone, am I? I have Vera, and the other Apostles, priests, and paladins. There are people in the nearby villages who always support us. I’m sure it’ll be alright because they’re all here.”

Not being alone.

Renee knew how fulfilling that was.

She understood the beauty of helping each other, sharing joys and sorrows, and forming a community.

“It’s the same for Vera, right?”

Vera’s eyes widened slightly.

Then, they curved into a gentle arc.

“Yes...”

Suddenly, Vera realized that everything was different from his past life.

He was no longer someone who reigned alone, but someone who protected the boundaries from the most honorable position.

“...I’m sure we can do it.”

He muttered the words as if reassuring himself, then embraced Renee, who then spoke.

“Ah, they kicked again. I think they sensed their father.”

“I’m just happy they like even a father like me.”

“There you go, saying strange things again.”

Laughter filled the garden.

Renee closed her eyes gently and felt four heartbeats.

Her own and Vera’s, and those of the twins in her womb.

The strange resonance of the four family members’ heartbeats intertwining made her heart flutter.

“Vera.”

“Yes?”

“Have you thought about names for the children?”

Vera flinched.

It was for no other reason.

He felt ashamed that he still hadn’t come up with an answer despite being urged about this for three months.

“Really... What are you going to do if you haven’t thought about it yet?”

“No matter how much I think about it, you should...”

“I don’t want that. I want names that Vera chooses.”

His discomfort deepened at her stubbornness.

Names...

Naming the children felt like too heavy of a burden.

Why wouldn’t it?

Their name was their identity that they would carry throughout their life and a companion that would accompany them all the time.

Thinking that such a name couldn’t be decided carelessly, Vera had written and erased hundreds of names.

He let out a long sigh and once again postponed his answer.

“Please give me a little more time.”

His response was characteristically serious of him, so Renee couldn’t help but laugh again.

*Exactly ten days later, the labor pains began.

“Nnnngh-!”

Renee’s suppressed groans echoed throughout the cabin.

Theresa and Marie, who had arrived as midwives, wore tense expressions.

“Boy! Have you made the preparations?”

The words were directed at Vera.

Nodding his head, Vera immediately shot his divinity into the sky.

It was a signal flare to announce that things had begun.

Oooong-!

The Holy Sword cried out.

At the same time, divinity burst forth from all over Elia.

“Rohan.”

Rohan, who had been on standby near the cabin for days, nodded tensely.

“I’ll open it then.”

With that, he rolled up his sleeves and unleashed his power.

This was the act of opening the Heavenly Realm.

Everything had been leading up to this moment.

To reiterate, the children to be born were divine beings. Thus, human birth could introduce unpredictable variables.

Because of that, they needed to create an environment where the children, nourished by divinity from the Heavenly Realm in Renee’s womb, could safely enter the world.

Meanwhile, Vera’s expression was chaotic, and his movements were uncharacteristically clumsy.

The impending birth had shattered his usual composure.

As Rohan was about to leave the cabin, Vera spoke up.

“I will also assist...”

“Where do you think you’re going? You need to stay right by the Saint’s side!”

Theresa scolded him, and Vera flinched at her words.

He finally realized his mistake.

Frowning at his own foolishness at such a crucial moment, Vera approached Renee’s side.

Renee looked at Vera, her brow deeply furrowed.

She reached out and grasped him tightly.

“It’s, oka-!”

Her words were cut off as her teeth clenched mid-sentence.

Yet even then, a smile played on her lips.

Vera’s eyes widened.

Grip-!

Their clasped hands filled with strength.

I need to pull myself together...!

He gritted his teeth, realizing that his flustered appearance might worry Renee.

Pressing his forehead against her hand, he spoke.

“It’ll be alright. All the preparations are perfect and the children are healthy. Nothing will absolutely go wrong.”

He continued muttering, unsure whether he was trying to reassure her or himself.

Vera’s breathing grew ragged.

Observing him, Renee forced a smile and asked.

“Vera...”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“Have you thought of their names?”

Vera’s fingertips trembled.

His gaze was fixed on her silver eyes, which shone brightly even at this moment.

His lips quivered before he answered in a voice thick with emotion.

“...Yes.”

Renee’s smile brightened.

“Will you tell me?”

He rested his forehead on her shoulder as she lay down.

And he whispered carefully.

“The boy’s name is Lennon. The girl’s name is Leni. In the language of the Age of Gods, they mean star and sea.”

These names, chosen after long deliberation, carried Vera’s wishes.

To become children who shined like the stars in the sky and as vast and gentle as the seas, and to guide lost travelers wherever they may be.

Finally voicing the names, Vera managed a smile.

Renee’s face also showed satisfaction.

Despite her pain and the cold sweat soaking her body, she smiled beautifully.

“Those are such wonderful names.”

Suddenly, Renee’s body jerked.

She let out a scream.

“Kyaaaaaah-!”

“It’s starting!”

Theresa’s shout made Vera’s heart sink.

What do I do?

As his mind went blank, Renee gave him something to focus on.

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Thud-!

Her hand grabbed a fistful of Vera’s hair.

Vera went blank.

No way.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, what he had imagined became reality.

“Kyaaaaaah-!”

Rip-!

A chunk of Vera’s hair was torn out.

*A night of madness, screams, and pain passed.

The northern forest of the Grand Temple echoed with screams all night, while divinity from the opened Heavenly Gates bathed everything in pure white.

Though it had ended, the priests continued their prayers in the Grand Temple.

Paladins guarded the walls, oblivious to the night’s passage.

Amidst this, silence finally descended upon the cabin in the northern forest.

“It’s done. Well done! You were amazing!”

Theresa praised Renee in a tearful voice.

She handed the cleaned babies to Renee.

“Look, can you see? They’re such beautiful children. They will surely grow up to be good-looking and beautiful, just like the Saint.”

Renee turned her head.

Her voice was hoarse from screaming all night, and her body was completely limp from using up all her energy.

However, even in this state, Renee reached out her hands.

Undeniable maternal love shone in her eyes.

“Babies...”

My babies.

My and Vera’s babies.

Repeating this, she opened her arms as Theresa placed the babies in her embrace.

Renee gazed at them with half-closed eyes.

And then, she burst into tears.

“Vera...”

“Yes...”

Vera was also tear-streaked.

Embracing Renee and the babies as if shielding them, he spoke.

“They’re our children.”

“Lennon and Leni.”

“Leni was born first. She’s the older sister.”

Renee laughed while crying.

The newborn babies were wrinkled.

Their eyes were tightly closed, and their bodies were curled up.

By conventional beauty standards, newborns could be considered quite ugly. Nevertheless, the two thought that their children looked more beautiful than anything else in the world.

Unable to contain the overwhelming emotion, Renee finally burst into tears.

With a reddened face and a completely hoarse voice, she said:

“Their hair... It’s black and white...”

She murmured about the babies’ appearance.

The daughter, Leni, had black hair, while the son, Lennon, had white hair.

Anyone would recognize them as their children.

Their skin was still red, but it would soon turn white.

As the children grew, they would undoubtedly become stunningly handsome and beautiful.

Being their children, she was certain.

Vera couldn’t say anything and just embraced his family.

The emotion he was feeling now was unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life, so he didn’t know how to react.

His heart pounded, and his stomach churned.

His head felt hot, but his eyes felt even hotter, as if they might burn up.

But despite all this, he could only smile.

Vera forgot everything else and smiled.

His past anxiety, future worries, and even the bald patch where his hair had been pulled out.

In this moment, an overwhelming happiness eclipsed all of those. The joy he felt was so great that only laughter came out.