Little Pink Starfish

3 a.m.

Having finished his duties for the day, The Star Hated by All confirmed that Ryu Eunyul had fallen asleep before heading to the YN Entertainment headquarters.

A plastic bag filled with canned drinks and snacks sat in the passenger seat as he drove smoothly through the streets of Seoul.

He had grown rather accustomed to mimicking human life.

At first, he had often lost his temper over the concept of “reading the room.” Unlike Constellations, humans constantly overthought each other while simultaneously trying to ignore one another. The Star Hated by All couldn’t understand it at all.

<We are stars. We travel the cosmos. But creatures live bound to their stars. Naturally, they fight over territory.>

That’s how The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell had put it.

“Bound to their stars…”

At the wheel, The Star Hated by All mulled over his younger brother’s words.

“True enough.”

As he stared out at the endlessly stretching roads, he thought:

To live bound to a star meant to revere the sky and hold the earth dear.

They had too many things to look up to, too many things to care for—and so they squabbled over the smallest things.

The Star Hated by All didn’t dislike that about humans.

Petty, miserable, full of sorrow…

But for that very reason, humans had many things they simply couldn’t yield.

“…I might even envy them a little.”

Constellations had nothing more to revere. Blind faith belonged to creatures. Likewise, they had little left to cherish. No matter how precious something was to them, it would turn to dust while the Constellation still lived on.

The Star Hated by All smiled faintly.

“Coming to the human world was the right choice after all.”

As he entered the parking lot of YN Entertainment’s main building, that’s what he thought.

Thud, thud.

He knocked on the door of the YN Entertainment CEO’s office, walking through the dim hallway.<The door is open.> 

The businesslike voice of The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.

The Star Hated by All stepped inside.

<You’re rather late, original sinner.>
<We left from the same place, yet you shamelessly flew over here.>
<I have wings, so I use them. Simple logic. Well, your ash-colored wings are too shameful to show, I suppose.>
<Feh. No one wants plain white wings anymore, anyway.>

Smirking, The Star Hated by All looked ahead.

Standing before the full-length window, wings fully spread—was The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.

The strongest angel who had hunted down the rebel against The Savior Who Is One and All.

Aside from the length of their hair, he was the spitting image of his younger brother.

“Papa was quite the pragmatist.”

The Star Hated by All thought so.

To crush the rebellion, The Savior Who Is One and All had used the simplest method—he’d pitted the rebel’s younger brother against him.

He knew the Archangel, despite his disappointment and yearning for salvation, would bring down his full wrath.

And—

“…Papa must’ve known I wouldn’t be able to fight at full strength either.”

Sentiment between them was irrelevant.

The Savior Who Is One and All chose the most efficient, least wasteful method to quell the rebellion.

“How nostalgic.”

The Star Hated by All gave a wistful smile.

“Ah… since you’re both here now…”

A small voice—Jung Moonsik of YN Entertainment spoke up hesitantly.

He looked between the two Constellations, clearly intimidated.

“…Shall we begin the discussion?”<Very well. And eat this.> 

The Star Hated by All placed the convenience store bag on the desk.

<Gummies? If you were a young creature, your teeth would’ve rotted out by now.>

The Archangel spoke with a sigh, then looked at Jung Moonsik.

<CEO Jung, the Constellations maintain trust with you in honor of your achievements as a Hunter.>

“I… Yes, I understand.”

<Of course, not only you. We stay in touch with other distinguished former Hunters as well. But within Korea, you remain the most influential liaison.>

With a warm smile, the Archangel placed a hand on Jung Moonsik’s shoulder.<We have two requests.> 

“O-okay, what are they?”

<Don’t worry. They’re within CYB regulations.>

<First.>

With arms crossed, The Star Hated by All spoke.

<I’m sure that white-winged fellow already told you. The current male idol division’s team has a non-human member.>

“Ah, yes… You mean Madojin?”

<Correct.>

The Archangel smiled.

<A creature under my renewed contract. Though not officially disclosed—recontracting during CYB is unprecedented, after all.>

So, he whispered:

<This creature has no agency. If YN Entertainment would take him in, I’d be truly grateful. Wouldn’t that be beneficial to you as well, CEO Jung?>

“Of course…”

Jung answered with an awkward expression.

“If that’s your wish, I can arrange it. It’s common for unaffiliated contestants to sign with agencies upon debut. How about we bring him in tomorrow and draw up the contract?”

<Excellent. You’re going to heaven.>

“Th-thank you…”

<Don’t look so relieved, boy.>

The Star Hated by All said bluntly.

<I still remember that stupid pitch you made during the meeting. It’s a miracle you’ve survived this long. Don’t even dream of doing another ‘hunter-themed idol’ concept.>

“U-understood.”

Jung winced.

<And improve the road manager’s working conditions. I may not need rest, and my stamina is limitless, but how can normal creatures survive that schedule? I’m surprised no one’s dropped dead. Pay them better, at least.>

“…Yes, of course!”

<Although…>

The Star Hated by All smiled.

<That’s not a request. It’s an order. The actual request is something else.>

He walked closer to Jung Moonsik, eyes scanning the office decor.

For the head of Korea’s biggest agency, the office was rather humble.

In fact, it was kind of endearing.

Photos with YN artists were framed on the wall, as well as pictures from his Hunter days.

Trophies, plaques, certificates—neatly arranged.

Even exercise equipment was tucked into a corner, evidence of his effort to stay fit despite his age.

Looks like a retired athlete’s home gym.

That was the impression The Star Hated by All got as he stepped beside Jung.

Despite his legendary career as a Hunter, even Jung shrank a little in the presence of beings who once stood at the Creator’s side.

<Now, the second request.>

The Star Hated by All leaned down.

“W-what is it?”

<…Codess.>

The Star whispered.

<I know there was once a group by that name. My creature was quite fond of them. There was a member from Codess under YN, correct? We’d like to know more about them.>

“Ah… Codess, yes.”

<A group active some time ago. As you know, Constellations can’t remember everything creatures do. A human life is trivial to us.>

<That’s why we’re asking you. They won CYB Korea, didn’t they? And they did fairly well globally, too. Yet they disbanded.>

<They failed—but the reason for it is unclear.>

<Officially, it’s listed as creative differences… members pursuing individual paths… that sort of thing.>

<…But that’s rarely the real reason.>

<You know something, don’t you?>
<If you tell us, you’ll go to heaven.>

On both sides of Jung Moonsik, the two Constellations smiled down at him.

“W-well… It may sound suspicious, but Codess really did disband that way. Rowen, who’s still with our agency, said the same thing.”

<Hmm…>

The Archangel stroked his chin and looked toward The Star Hated by All.

<Swear it is the absolute truth, without a single lie.>

Said The Star Hated by All.

“I-It is! I swear!”

Jung Moonsik exclaimed, looking desperate.

I see…

The Star Hated by All nodded.

Indeed, the balding creature before him, on the verge of tears, wasn’t lying.

He didn’t even need a vow to tell—he’d only asked for one to read Jung’s reaction.<Very well. Go home.> 

“Thank you―!”

As Jung frantically packed up, the two Constellations watched in silence.

“You two aren’t leaving?”

At his question—

<We’ll chat a bit here and then return.>

The Archangel gave a gentle smile.

<Don’t worry. Your tacky trophies will remain untouched.>

The Star Hated by All waved, grinning.

After Jung had left—

The two Constellations stood in silence, gazing out the window.

<You realize, don’t you?>

The Archangel spoke first.<We must not interfere too hastily in this matter.> <Of course.> 

The Star Hated by All shrugged.

<It involves the birth of a new Constellation… If we intervene, Papa will be displeased.>

Though that being likely possessed no emotion like “anger”…

Even so, The Star Hated by All didn’t say it aloud.<It is intriguing.> 

Gazing out at the vast cityscape, he spoke.

<It’s been ages since a human appeared who might ascend to Constellation status.>

Even if—

<…that human is a demon god who resents humanity.>