Little Pink Starfish

“I will ask.”

‘The Star Hated by All’ spoke.

“Have you betrayed the Demon God?”

Hearing ‘The Star Hated by All’s question, Geahrzimen let out a cold smile.

“It would be disappointing if you put it that way. That being is like a mother to me. My mother told me this—do as you wish, anything you wish.”

“And is this what you wished for? Settling down in the human world, stuffing your bloated body into beds, and running a business?”

“That’s a harsh thing to say to a small business owner. Besides, today I’m your supervisor, remember? Could you move a little more efficiently?”

“Damn it… Why must this body…!”

Goooo—!!

“Why must this body be feeding nutrients to grass!”

Shouting, ‘The Star Hated by All’ pressed a hand against the courtyard of the guesthouse.

Magical power streamed from ‘The Star Hated by All’s hand into the grass covering the yard.

“Oh my!”

Geahrzimen gasped in admiration at the sight of the grass becoming vibrant in an instant.

“As expected from a former top-ranking angel, you’re even proficient in white magic. Have you considered working as a gardener?”

“Enough with the jokes. You should be grateful I haven’t cut your head off.”

“Don’t be like that. Do you know how hard it is to maintain lawns these days? There are just too many bugs…”

“Not my concern.”

‘The Star Hated by All’ withdrew their magic and straightened up, looking down at Geahrzimen, who was patting the grass.

“…You’ve been quite disgracefully played, you pitiful thing. I acknowledge your cunning.”

“You’re too kind, Your Majesty.”

Standing up, Geahrzimen faced ‘The Star Hated by All.’

“It was just luck. You happened to be fond of a human. A cute boy, if I might add?”

“Nothing more than a pawn with utility.”

“Oh my, so you’re the type to hug your chess pieces close and pet them?”

Geahrzimen knew.

Even if he had descended in a mere avatar, ‘The Star Hated by All’s power remained immense.

Not even a fully prepared Muddorok, Abrilah, and Geahrzimen combined could defeat the avatar of ‘The Star Hated by All.’

He had used hostages to overpower the reincarnations of the ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ and Abrilah, but ‘The Star Hated by All’ was not the type to be moved by the death of a few humans.

He would remain indifferent whether a few humans died or the human world became tainted by demonic energy.

It was all due to boredom.

“The King ensnared in a lethargy deeper than hell.”

That’s how the Demon God had described ‘The Star Hated by All.’

Because ‘The Star Hated by All’ was second only to ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ in knowledge about the world, he was inevitably consumed by endless boredom.

Life dies, life is born anew.

When the world is tainted, it recovers.

Such cycles only require time, but to ‘The Star Hated by All,’ time was meaningless.

Only infinite ennui remained.

‘The reason he didn’t kill me…’

It was because of Ryu Eunyul.

That human boy.

Geahrzimen was convinced of it.

“Would you like a drink?”

Geahrzimen jerked his chin toward the picnic table.

“I happen to have some fine liquor.”

“I won’t drink the filth of the human world.”

“You seem to be under a misconception. When the boss offers a drink, the employee has no choice but to accept. Shall I kill the hostages?”

“You… you wretched thing made of corpses…”

‘The Star Hated by All’ furrowed his brows.

Chuckling, Geahrzimen walked toward the guesthouse’s entrance.

He returned with a bottle of wine, an opener, and two glasses, setting them down on the picnic table.

“How curious.”

Pouring wine into ‘The Star Hated by All’s glass, Geahrzimen spoke.

“Your Majesty, I never dreamed you would descend to the human world. Much less that you would form a contract with a human…”

“Same goes for you.”

‘The Star Hated by All’ took a sip of wine.

“You are a walking hell. Your body, composed of the vile flesh and blood of demons… it’s a land made of hardened flesh and rivers of blood. If you so willed it, you could turn the human world into hell with ease.”

“Of course. Just as easily as you could kill me. I came to the human world thinking the same: that I would trample it underfoot and recreate it in hell’s image. But…”

Geahrzimen gazed around, clutching his wine glass.

“The human world is… a beautiful place.”

He looked up at the sky, pressed his feet against the ground.

He walked through forests, savored the air.

“My creator told me: ‘I made you because I wished it. So live as you wish.’”

Thus, he chose to live as he wished.

“Living in the human world… is that the answer you found?”

‘The Star Hated by All’ spoke calmly before swallowing his wine.

“The body the hunters harvested from you must’ve been fake.”

“Who knows? I severed most of my body except for my core consciousness, so in a way, that body could be considered more real than this one. Now, I’m no larger than a building.”

Geahrzimen laughed.

“So, Your Majesty, since I’ve been living quite virtuously until now, please allow me one question.”

“Ask.”

“I’m a mere walking corpse… a lowly being, unworthy even to harbor true malice compared to you. Yet, I ended up taking root in the human world. But you…”

“You want to ask why I stepped into the playground of the constellations?”

Geahrzimen nodded.

“To become the greatest idol.”

“Who would believe that? Maybe Muddorok would.”

“Hmm…”

‘The Star Hated by All’ crossed his arms.

Then he solemnly confessed.

“…To apologize to Papa.”

“Pfft!”

Geahrzimen clamped his mouth shut but couldn’t stop the laughter from leaking out.

“AHAHAHAHA!”

He burst into loud laughter.

“That, I can believe. After all, you were the biggest Papa’s boy in all of hell.”

Geahrzimen said, clutching his belly.

“…What do you mean, Papa’s boy? Do you want to die?”

“No.”

Geahrzimen’s laughter died down.

“You love ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ more than anyone… but also hate him more than anyone.”

Geahrzimen narrowed his eyes.

“Why is that, Your Majesty?”

He asked, genuinely yearning for an answer.

“Why do you wish to bow your head before ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’?”

“I see…”

I muttered as I stuffed the blankets into the washing machine.

“…Yes.”

Jeong Noeul answered, looking completely drained, like he hadn’t eaten in three days.

While handling the laundry Geahrzimen had given us, I listened as Jeong Noeul told me the truth about what had happened in Jeju Island.

‘The Star Hated by All’ had definitely said that the prince of another world, Abrilah, had died in Jeju.

However, he had also said that the way he defined death was different from the way I understood it.

“So this is what he meant…”

He could’ve just explained it all properly instead of asking me to trust him.

Well, not that I couldn’t understand why ‘The Star Hated by All’ judged that way.

It was a matter that needed to be seen with my own eyes to truly comprehend.

“Eunyul hyung… you contracted with the shaman—no, with Satan, didn’t you?”

Jeong Noeul asked cautiously.

“Well, yeah, sort of…”

I sighed.

I had really wanted to keep the existence of ‘The Star Hated by All’ hidden to the very end.

But now, unintentionally, I’d revealed everything to Jeong Noeul.

Especially the part about having formed a contract with something like Satan — I couldn’t blame him even if he was disgusted by me.

“That’s true, but…”

I opened my mouth, trying to find something, anything, to say.

“The shaman was a good person.”

Jeong Noeul said out of nowhere.

“He taught me how to use magic… and even helped me put wandering spirits to rest all night.”

What the— I thought they had just had a casual chat or something?

I tilted my head in surprise.

Then I glanced over at the ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612,’ who was crouched in a corner of the laundry room, sneaking nervous glances at me.

He must have been scared of how I would react.

…But honestly, so was I.

I hit the washing machine’s buttons a bit harder than necessary, venting my frustration.

Whirrr—!!

The washing machine began spinning with a lively sound.

It was hardly the right setting for a deep conversation.

Inside the giant drum, the blankets sloshed heavily.

Jeong Noeul hugged a laundry basket almost as big as his torso, looking at me with a tense expression.

“Hey, maybe you should put the basket down?”

“No way!”

“…Why not?”

“Because holding it calms me down…!”

“What, is it your body pillow now?”

I scratched my forehead.

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone about your identity. You know one of my big secrets now too, right? So you can be proud, it’s okay.”

“No, hyung…”

Jeong Noeul said, hugging the basket tightly and shaking his body back and forth.

“That’s not what I’m worried about…”

“Then what is it?”

The ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ said.

Ah, so that’s what it was.

But even that felt too simplified.

It wasn’t just fear of being hated.

It was fear of being hated, feared, loathed — it was a deeper fear than that.

“Abrilah was a bad guy.”

I said.

“A really, really bad guy. Saying he wanted to be born human? What a joke. He killed so many people, turned Jeju into a wasteland, and then what, he regrets it right before dying? Who’s gonna forgive that?”

“…You’re right.”

Jeong Noeul’s expression crumbled like a shoddily built building collapsing.

“But you’re not him. That’s all that matters, right? Why are you carrying the burden of your past life so heavily?”

He had exorcised all the wandering spirits of Jeju.

Because Jeong Noeul was born, Abrilah’s revival became impossible.

The ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ flew over, frowning at me.

“Wait…”

Jeong Noeul held back the ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ and looked at me.

“…Do you think I’m taking it too seriously?”

Jeong Noeul asked.

I nodded.

“Then is it okay for me to think more lightly about it? But… that’s not something I can just do.”

“I know.”

Of course it wasn’t that easy.

“Even if I tell you to think lightly of it, even if ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ himself came and told you not to take it so seriously, you still wouldn’t be able to, right? I get it.”

After speaking without hesitation, I simply looked at Jeong Noeul.

And smiled.

“That’s why I’ll think lightly of it for you.”

“Ah…”

Jeong Noeul looked like he was about to cry.

“…What if I end up turning bad like Abrilah?”

“Ha!”

What was this — ‘The Star Hated by All’ giggling at a canary?

“But even if that happens, it would be my fault.”

…Though, I knew it was a genuine fear for him.

I moved closer and grabbed both of Jeong Noeul’s arms that were holding the laundry basket.

Thud—

The basket fell to the ground.

Still holding onto Jeong Noeul’s arms, I leaned closer.

“Since I made a contract with ‘The Star Hated by All,’ I gained a certain power.”

Looking directly into Jeong Noeul’s eyes, I said:

“…I can see a person’s hidden side.”

“Their hidden side…?”

Jeong Noeul asked with a puzzled look.

I smiled at him.

“Yeah. The side even you yourself don’t know about.”

Then, silently, I muttered in my mind.

‘「Use Burning Devil’s Eye」.’

Fwoosh—

My vision was tinted red for a moment, and then I could see a world only demons would normally be able to perceive.

‘Ah… as expected.’

Abrilah was clinging to Jeong Noeul.

A figure that resembled Jeong Noeul, but wore an expression he would never make.

Jeong Noeul’s hidden side was still, after all, Abrilah.

“Good. I can see it.”

I said with a cocky grin.

If what I saw with the Burning Devil’s Eye was just Abrilah…

…Then it was better to see him with my human eyes.

‘「Jeong Noeul’s Status Window」.’

I muttered internally.

Ding!

[Jeong Noeul]

— Titles: ‘The Sinless One’, ‘New Prince of Another World’

— Constellation: ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’

— Constellation Rank: A

— Basic Abilities

Expression (When he dances while sad, tears fall instead of sweat): S+

Aura (Head shape perfectly suited for a crown): A

Creativity (Good at bad ideas, not so much good ones…): A−

Self-esteem (A sun hidden behind clouds): C

— Special Skills

[Let’s start the day by cleaning up volcanoes! LV.A]
[Cannot allow baobab trees to grow! LV.B]
[I’ll definitely return to my beautiful rose! LV.C]
[Knowledge of Another World LV.EX]

— Status Ailments

[Weakened Self-esteem LV.A]
[The Most Important Things Are Invisible LV.EX]

“What do you see, hyung…?”

Jeong Noeul asked cautiously.

“Well…”

I couldn’t just tell him I saw Abrilah.

After some thought, I glanced at his basic abilities — and spotted the one with the lowest rank.

That’s it.

I decided how I would answer.

“What I see is…”

I leaned in close and whispered into Jeong Noeul’s ear.

“…a very bright sun.”