Kafka exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.
"Okay...fine. Even though I still don't understand how any of you can just accept this so easily, I'll take it. You've all apparently come to terms with me being a demigod, and Mom being, well...Mom."
Vanitas looked away quickly, pretending to adjust her hair, which only made Kafka raise an eyebrow, before looking at his family in confusion.
"But can someone now explain why you all suddenly have superpowers?" He gestured around helplessly. "Because I refuse to believe you were all hiding godly talents this entire time. Don't tell me you're secret demigods too, and your powers just conveniently awakened yesterday."
Camilla smirked, stepping forward with her arms folded. "Of course not, silly. We may look divine and have the appearances of angels..."
All the other Camillas flipped their hair in perfect synchronization.
"...but we're definitely not gods like you, Kafka."
Kafka's expression twisted. "Then how—"
"Because..." Bella, still floating a few feet above the ground, twirled happily as she interrupted. "Auntie Vanitas gave them to us!"
Kafka blinked, then slowly turned toward his mother. "...Mom?" He said in disbelief. "You did all of this? Why?"
Vanitas immediately froze, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her sleeve. She didn't answer and her eyes darted toward Seraphina, as if silently begging for help.
Seraphina sighed and stepped forward, clearly used to being the spokesperson for Vanitas.
"Yes, Lady Vanitas was the one who granted them those abilities." She said patiently. "And before you panic, Kafka, allow me to explain. Think of these powers as...tokens. Gifts."
"Gifts?" Kafka echoed warily.
Seraphina nodded.
"After I told everyone the truth about you, and about her, they listened to Lady Vanitas's side of the story too. She told them about your birth, about why she left you, and how she regretted it deeply. Naturally, everyone was angry at first. They couldn't believe she had abandoned you as a baby."
Kafka's lips tightened slightly, glancing at his mother, while Vanitas's hands clenched together, her expression pained.
"But..." Seraphina continued softly. "When she explained everything, the guilt, the sacrifices, how she had watched over you from afar all your life, they began to understand."
"They realized she wasn't proud of what she did, but that she had been punished by her own heart every day since...Eventually, they forgave her."
Kafka's eyes softened slightly. "They forgave her that easily...?"
"Of course we did." Camilla smiled warmly. "She's your mother, Kafka. And she looked so miserable when she told us everything that I couldn't stay mad...Honestly, I just wanted to hug her."
"Me too!" Bella nodded earnestly. "Auntie Vanitas looked like she was going to cry! I don't like seeing people cry!"
Nina crossed her arms, trying to look serious but failing. "Yeah, well...she messed up, but she's clearly trying to make up for it. I respect that."
"You...really mean that?" Vanitas's lips trembled as she murmured.
"Of course we do...You're family now."
Olivia said softly, smiling, before then adding in a shy manner,
"B-But even though I say that, I'm actually in the same boat as you since I just met everyone today."
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at this, even Seraphina letting her lips curl up and just like that, the warmth of their acceptance filled the air.
But Kafka, still dazed, rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's...touching, really. But it doesn't explain the wings, the armor, the Camillas, or the blooming jungle in the middle of my house."
Seraphina nodded, suppressing her smile.
"Yes, well. Lady Vanitas felt she might never truly be accepted by them. She feared that deep down, despite their words, they would still resent her. So...she decided to win their favor in her own way."
Kafka blinked. "...Win their favor?"
"Yes." Seraphina said, glancing at Vanitas, who was now blushing furiously. "She asked each of them one by one what their deepest desires were—the kind of wishes people only daydream about. And she vowed to grant them."
Kafka pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh no."
"Not dreams." Seraphina clarified. "But fantasies. Things they would never think possible. And, well...she made them possible."
She turned toward Olivia first.
"When she asked Olivia what she wished for, Olivia said she wanted to be able to manage the house and her shop more easily. So Lady Vanitas gave her the power to create perfect duplicates of herself. Thus..."
Kafka looked toward the crowd of smiling Camillas. "...the Camilla army."
"Efficient and gorgeous." One of them winked.
Kafka groaned, while Seraphina gestured toward Nina next.
"As for Nina, her wish was more straightforward. She always dreamed of being like the warriors she admired as a child, unstoppable heroines in shining armor...So Lady Vanitas gave her that armor and a sword capable of cutting through mountains."
"...And yes, before you ask, it actually can."
Kafka paled. "She's holding a mountain-slicing sword and you thought that was a good idea?!"
Nina laughed nervously. "I-I didn't know it was that strong! She said it looked cool, so I accepted it!"
Seraphina continued unfazed. "Bella wanted to fly freely, to see the world from the sky. So Lady Vanitas gave her those wings, modified to her liking, apparently."
Bella did a graceful twirl midair. "Aren't they pretty, Daddy?"
Kafka sighed. "...They're very pretty, yes."
"And Olivia..." Seraphina said, turning last to the gentle woman whose vines were still wrapped around Kafka's arms. "...wanted to create and nurture flowers from any place in the world. So Lady Vanitas granted her power over nature itself."
Olivia fiddled with her fingers shyly, smiling. "I always wished I could see flowers that only grew in faraway places...but now I can make them bloom myself. Isn't that wonderful, Kafi?"
"Yeah. It is, actually, Mom. Good for you." He softened a little.
Then his gaze hardened, turning toward his mother.
"So, basically, you bribed everyone."
Vanitas's eyes widened in panic.
"N-No! Kafka, that's not what I meant at all!"
He crossed his arms. "You handed out god-tier powers like candy to win them over. Like a ovelord trying to win over the peasants by giving them some scraps."
"N-No! That's not—!"
She looked utterly flustered, her words tripping over themselves, before finally saying,
"I just...I wanted them not to hate me! I wanted to make up for what I did! They're your family, my family now, and I thought if I could give them something they've always wanted, maybe they'd see that I care."
Her voice cracked near the end.
"I wasn't trying to buy their love...I just wanted to be worthy of it."
That one line was all it took.
Bella immediately puffed up her cheeks, her little wings flaring out as she pointed at Kafka.
"Daddy! Don't bully Auntie Vanitas!"
Camilla joined right in, hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"Yeah, Kafka! Sure, she made some mistakes, but seriously, you don't have to guilt-trip her like that."
Nina crossed her arms with a smirk, though her tone was protective.
"For once, I agree with Camila. She gave us all these cool things, didn't she? She's trying her best here. And just because she's totally obsessed with you doesn't mean you get to act like a jerk."
Even Olivia, sweet, quiet Olivia, spoke up, frowning.
"She's been so kind to all of us. You shouldn't raise your voice at her, Kafi."
Kafka froze. "Wait, what? I wasn't even—"
But it was too late. His entire household had turned into Vanitas's defense squad.
They even took it a step further as Bella fluttered down first, hugging Vanitas's arm protectively.
"She gave me wings, Daddy! Wings! You think a bad person does that?"
Camilla and her copies circled around, some hugging Vanitas's waist, others patting her shoulders reassuringly.
"Don't mind him, Vanitas." One clone said. "He's just grumpy because he fainted yesterday."
Nina gave Kafka a playful scowl.
"Yeah, stop picking on her. Don't think she has no one to help her out here."
Olivia hesitated for a moment before stepping forward too, gently taking Vanitas's other hand.
"We all make mistakes." She said softly. "But she's trying. And that's what matters, Kafi."
Seeing herself being surrounded, Vanitas blinked in shock and she couldn't help but ask,
"W-What are you all doing...?"
"We're protecting you, obviously." Camilla smiled warmly.
"You're one of us now!" Bella chimed, snuggling tighter.
"Yeah." Nina added, flashing a grin. "No one gets to pick on you but us."
For a goddess who had towered above creation—being defended by mortals was something she had never imagined.
For a long moment, she simply stared at them, frozen, and then a small, trembling smile found its way onto her lips.
"...Thank you." She whispered.
It wasn't just politeness. It was genuine gratitude.
She had feared rejection more than anything, that even if they accepted her words, they would still harbor bitterness inside.
But now, surrounded by warmth, laughter, and arms that held her not in worship but affection, she finally felt what it meant to be part of a family.
Kafka, however, stood there slack-jawed, utterly betrayed.
"Wait, wait a second! You guys literally met today! And you're already taking her side?!"
Olivia turned to him gently. "Kafka, you only met your mother yesterday."
"...That's different!" He protested.
"Is it?" Camilla teased, smiling like a cat that had stolen the cream.
Kafka's shoulders slumped in disbelief as even Olivia giggled quietly beside Vanitas. He then sighed deeply, muttering under his breath.
"Damn, I've been turned on against by my own family..."
But then his tone softened as he said,
"And for the record, I wasn't even mad, okay? I was just surprised. I honestly thought it would take some effort for you all to get along. I mean, my mom's the Goddess of Vanity, for heaven's sake, I figured her pride would get in the way of she making relationships with mortals who are basically ants in her life—"
But Vanitas quickly shook her head.
"No, not at all." She said softly before letting her arrogant side out saying, "If they were anyone else, perhaps I would never have bothered."
"...But these aren't just mortals, Kafka."
Her eyes grew tender as she looked at the group still clinging to her.
"They're your family. And because they're precious to you...they're precious to me too. If I want to be with you, then I must also love them. That's all there is to it."
Kafka blinked, taken aback by how sincere she sounded, and how fond her expression was. There wasn't a trace of arrogance or jealousy like he expected.
He smiled faintly. "Huh. I was expecting at least a bit of pride...guess I really got lucky."
The mood lightened and it only became better when Bella giggled and suddenly called out.
"Auntie Seraphina! You're the only one not here! Come join!"
Seraphina, who had been standing calmly off to the side, raised an eyebrow. "There's no need for me to join such...sentimental displays."
"Oh, come on!" Camilla said, grinning. "Don't be such a cold goddess!"
Before Seraphina could protest, two Camillas grabbed her arms while Nina pushed from behind, pulling her into the group. She stumbled forward right into the collective hug, surrounded by laughter and warmth.
"See?" Bella giggled. "Now it's a real family hug!"
Seraphina sighed, long and tired. "...You mortals have no concept of personal space."
But despite her words, she didn't pull away. She stayed, arms stiff at first, then gradually relaxing until she gave a quiet, resigned smile.
Kafka stood there watching them, his celestial, chaotic, loving family all tangled together, and couldn't help but smile.
For the first time since last night, the air felt light.
Despite everything, his impossible trial, his divine heritage, his mother's obsession, the baby he was supposed to birth, this moment of harmony made him feel...safe. Happy.
'Maybe.' He thought. 'I don't have to worry so much after all...Everything will be alright.'
But just as that comforting thought crossed his mind, something suddenly occurred to him.
He looked around the group, frowning.
"Wait a second...where's Mom?"
But even though he called out to one person—two people answered.
"I'm right here, Kafka." Vanitas blinked.
Olivia, startled, also raised her hand. "Me too."
Kafka's expression flattened.
"No, not you two. The other mom. The one who's always bubbly and cheerful. And a little too positive for her own good?"
Camilla's smile faltered a little, glancing toward the house. "...Oh. You mean that Mom."
Kafka's eyebrow twitched. "Yes. That Mom. Where is she?"
Camilla scratched her head awkwardly. "Well...funny story."
"Camilla..." Kafka said slowly. "Why do you look nervous?"
The Camilla clones all exchanged sheepish glances before one finally spoke, smiling nervously.
"Um...about Abi...she's kinda, uh...being devoured right now."
Kafka's blood ran cold.
"WHAT?! Devoured?! What the hell does that mean?!"