The hallway was painted stark white, almost as if to emphasize its cleanliness.

The women seated on the chairs in the hallway sighed.

"...Can you please sit still?"

"..."

"He's not listening."

"All that pacing isn’t helping anyone."

It was distracting.

Everyone shook their heads at the sight of Siwoo.

Even though they knew he wouldn’t have the composure to listen to their words.

As expected, he ignored them and continued his restless pacing.

They understood why Siwoo was so anxious.

Even though they could tell him worrying was pointless due to his intuition, no one was that heartless.

Everyone knew why he was acting like this.

"Please, please, please..."

"Ha..."

Siwoo’s eyes were fixed on the white door, behind which Arte and the medical staff were.

He couldn’t see or hear anything inside.

They were maintaining security quite thoroughly.

"What’s this door made of? Why can’t we see anything? It’s so frustrating."

"They designed it this way so even supers can’t see through it."

"...Why?"

"To be considerate."

Considerate?

Seeing the confused looks on the younger ones, Hayeon gave a wry smile.

I’m getting old.

I didn’t expect to be explaining this to others.

Having become accustomed to being a teacher, Hayeon explained.

"What do you think about childbirth?"

"...What do you mean? It’s the process of giving birth to a child."

"Not the dictionary meaning, the feeling. What do you think of when you hear ‘childbirth’?"

Feelings, huh?

Laira answered nonchalantly.

"Maternal and paternal love? A father crying while holding his child."

"Right. That’s the general idea. ...But what if it’s not?"

"What?"

"Childbirth isn’t as beautiful as you might think."

Hayeon had learned this by chance.

Until she witnessed someone else giving birth, she had the same thoughts as these kids.

"A newborn is wrinkled. The process of giving birth can be shocking and nauseating to those with weak stomachs."

"...Really?"

"Yes. That’s why it’s considerate."

Seeing a baby covered in blood and other fluids is quite different from what’s shown in the media.

A newborn isn’t as cute as you might think.

New parents, having never experienced childbirth, can be quite shocked.

They might think the wrinkled, messy baby from their wife’s belly is ugly and feel an abrupt chill in their affection.

Witnessing the painful and raw process can leave some with emotional scars.

"On a joyous day, there’s no reason to let them have such a negative experience."

"Huh... that’s interesting..."

"Isn’t it?"

Hayeon watched a blonde girl who was eavesdropping.

It was fascinating.

That wrinkly bundle of flesh turned into such a beautiful young girl.

...Though her personality didn’t seem to have inherited her father’s gentleness.

"Is that why we can’t hear anything either?"

"That’s part of it."

Of course, she didn’t think Siwoo would be that shocked seeing his child.

She had heard he once consumed Arte’s heart. He wouldn’t be disgusted by this.

Still, there were hygiene issues, so he couldn’t go in.

"...Shouldn’t he be allowed in, though? He looks like he’s about to faint."

"..."

Where had his intuition gone?

Just as they feared he might actually pass out, the light above the door turned on and the delivery room door opened.

"Is Arte okay?! Is she alright?!"

"Calm down for a moment..."

"Is she okay?! Is there a problem..."

"Ugh... you’re so noisy..."

"Arte!"

...He rushed in quickly.

"Glad to see they’re close."

"Worried your students’ lives would get messed up?"

"Of course. What teacher wouldn’t worry when a student has a crisis?"

Claire, who had rushed over upon hearing about the birth, sighed deeply.

It must feel like a huge weight lifted.

"Isn’t it the same for you?"

"...Yes."

Hayeon didn’t argue with Claire.

She had started her teaching career out of revenge, but...

Seeing Siwoo and Arte smile so happily, and that child who looked just like her father thumping Siwoo’s back and yelling...

Being a teacher was more fulfilling than she had imagined.

She felt proud.

"She’s so beautiful... our baby..."

"...You think that’s beautiful? Seriously? Is your head okay?"

He’s completely smitten.

Although she hadn’t expected it, it seemed there was no need to worry about Siwoo being shocked.

He was staring at his crying daughter, repeatedly saying how beautiful she was.

"...Are you alright, Arte?"

"Oh, Professor. I’m fine. The one who had it worse was waiting outside."

Arte laughed, looking at her boyfriend who was entranced by their daughter.

"It hurt, but seeing Siwoo more nervous than me made it easier."

"...I see."

"He knows I’m okay, but he still worries so much."

...She was just as smitten.

Seeing her laugh and call him cute despite the exhaustion made Hayeon think that.

"Arte."

"Yes?"

"Have you thought about returning to the academy? With your abilities, you could easily advance. You could be with your boyfriend. I’ll handle the rumors."

Was she still hopeful?

Had she forgotten the major event of the pregnancy, or was she just ignoring it?

Claire started suggesting Arte re-enroll in the academy.

Arte’s abilities were too valuable to let go.

But Arte smiled and shook her head.

"Sorry, but that’s impossible."

"Why? Don’t worry about childcare. The academy has facilities for staff..."

Claire, shocked by the rejection, began to persuade her again.

She must have thought childcare was the issue.

But Arte shook her head again.

"I appreciate the offer, but it’s really impossible."

"Ha, fine. Pressing further would be wrong. ...But can you at least tell me why?"

"It’s nothing special."

Concerned for the baby’s safety.

Or maybe worried about infections.

Arte glanced lovingly at Siwoo, who was cautiously watching their baby.

"I don’t think this will be our only one."

"..."

"He loves this so much, I’m sure I’ll be pregnant again soon."

That made sense...!

Claire and Hayeon nodded in agreement.

It seemed highly likely.

Seeing how inseparable they were, it was hard to imagine them not having more children.

With the birth behind them, nothing would hold them back.

"So, Hayeon, I’ll be counting on you."

"..."

Was that an unofficial retirement announcement?

She was still nominally the leader of Arachne, but it seemed she wouldn’t be active anymore.

Feeling a bit melancholic, Hayeon nodded.

"So, what are your plans now?"

"My plans?"

"Even with pregnancy, you won’t spend all your time on childcare. Do you have any plans?"

"I don’t have long-term plans, but there’s something coming up soon."

"Really?"

"Yes. You have to come. And bring Dorothy, Claire, the frontliners, and all the classmates."

What was she planning with so many people?

She just said she would minimize her Arachne activities.

Surely, she wasn’t planning to kill them all.

As Hayeon pondered, Arte laughed and spoke brightly.

"We need to have a wedding!"

Oh.

Right, they hadn’t had a wedding yet.