[Shall we talk, Noeul?]
[The Constellation ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ expresses curiosity.]
[Why did ‘The Star Hated by All’ share the information that the Demon God is alive with me?]
“Hmm….”
Jeong Noeul scratched the back of her neck.
After an endlessly packed schedule finally settled down, some breathing room came just in time for Christmas Eve.
Waking up late, Jeong Noeul found the Traveler requesting a conversation.
She peeked through the curtain and saw Han Iro watering the garden in the yard, then sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Maybe… the Star just trusts you.”
That was all she could say for now. She didn’t know enough to offer more than that.
What happened in Jeju Island had shaken Noeul as well. Even for a generation born after the Gates were closed, the name of the Demon God still carried immense infamy. The fact that such a being existed on Earth couldn’t be taken lightly.
More than anything, the knowledge that all this was orchestrated by The Savior Who Is One and All weighed heavily on her mind.
‘Yun Yul-hyung must be…’
Just as confused as she was.
“Hey… what kind of being was the Demon God?”
[The Constellation ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ shares information regarding the Demon God.]
[The Demon God—she is the unparalleled god of hell.]
[Hell: a land where beings devour each other. Where sinners wail endlessly amidst constant civil strife among demons.]
[She was the one who unified that hell into one.]
[By declaring conquest over the human world as a shared goal.]
[If Earth had truly fallen under the Demon God’s control, she likely would’ve expanded into space next.]
“She’s… way weaker than the Star, though, right?”
That was what Noeul thought. After all, the Star had defeated Enoch without a scratch. Even Constellations who served directly under The Savior Who Is One and All were nothing in front of him.
[The Constellation ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ replies that strength is relative.]
[It declares that ‘The Star Hated by All’ is on a level where only someone like ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ could compare.]
[However, even that Star, that Archangel, and even ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ would likely fail to unite the forces of hell.]
[So… yes, the Demon God was strong.]
[Not in terms of sheer power—but in a very different domain.]
Noeul nodded.
The Demon God’s strength wasn’t just brute force. It lay in her ability to unite the fractured hellscape by presenting Earth as a common goal. But what was more unsettling was that this unity wasn’t based purely on targeting a shared enemy like humanity.
“The Demon God…”
Noeul murmured.
“…must have really cherished the demons.”
Otherwise, it made no sense.
Even Geahrzimen, who hadn’t joined the invasion, had spoken of the Demon God with reverence—calling her Mother.
But Noeul couldn’t quite grasp it. Even as Abrilah’s reincarnation, even with her access to the world’s hidden truths, she had still grown up as a human. She had human parents. She lived among humans. So the concept of a god of hell who loved hell—was hard to accept.
The very notion of love didn’t seem to belong in a place like hell. Hell was taught to be devoid of such ideas. And yet, maybe that’s exactly why the Demon God was considered so formidable.
At the same time—
“I think I get it.”
Noeul said.
“Why the Star told you about the Demon God.”
She thought perhaps it had something to do with her as well.
Abrilah should never have been reincarnated. Not like this. A soul that once led hell’s armies, inserted into a single human being without even being fragmented—such a thing had never happened.
And it was Traveler from Asteroid B-612 who had dared to make it happen.
Maybe that was…
A salvation for Abrilah.
It had made her life difficult, certainly. But if it meant she got to meet the Traveler—then perhaps it was worth it.
The Demon God was undoubtedly a sinner. Regardless of any context or justification, the fact remained that she had stolen countless human lives. Humanity could never forgive her. If she appeared now, Noeul—as a human—would undoubtedly rage against her.
But what about Constellations?
What about gods…?
What is the appropriate response to a sinner who cannot be forgiven?
Abrilah too, had committed terrible sins.
If it became known to the public that Jeong Noeul was her reincarnation, it would surely cause an uproar.
“I’ve been wondering.”
Noeul said.
“In human society, most criminals come from tragic backgrounds. Not all, of course—but a lot of serial killers were abused as children.”
Isn’t hell just the same?
She murmured.
“Hell’s supposed to be a barren wasteland. There must be spirits in agony there, far worse off than the wraiths I see. The demons probably fight every single day.”
[The Constellation ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612’ affirms.]
[Hell was created to contain all such malice.]
“It might be a leap, but say we place a serial killer and a heinous demon on the same line. People wouldn’t forgive the killer. Even with a tragic past, it’s not a get-out-of-jail-free card. But if it’s something like petty theft, there’s room for sympathy. In other words, humanity has lines that must not be crossed.”
What about gods?
Noeul asked.
“How do Constellations judge?”
They are saviors—and punishers.
So who do they save, and who do they punish?
Was Abrilah worthy of salvation?
Then was the Demon God someone fated only for punishment?
These were not questions humans were meant to answer.
Humans should simply hate the Demon God, as was natural.
Only beings beyond hate had the right to ponder such things.
“That’s probably why…”
Noeul shrugged.
“…the Star told you about the Demon God.”
<It’s nice to finally get a break.>
“Yeah… I guess so.”
I yawned as I brushed the Star’s hair.
In honor of Christmas Eve, we finally got a proper rest day. In the end, Mica had kept his word. One more day of that intense pace and I probably would’ve collapsed.
Ever since our return from Jeju Island, my head had been a mess. Now that I knew the Demon God was on Earth, I couldn’t just pretend none of it mattered.
<How about something a little wild today? A more primal style.>
“Or how about you learn how to do your own hair.”
‘A primal style’—what even was that supposed to mean?
The Star was still going about his road manager duties like nothing had happened, which somehow made him all the more irritating.
Sure, he was probably deep in thought whenever I was asleep or not looking. I didn’t doubt that. But the fact that he refused to tell me exactly what he was planning? That annoyed the hell out of me.
“All right, done.”
I gave his hair a little pat.
<Thank you.>
He smiled faintly and rose from the chair.
<I’ll be away for the rest of the day. You go enjoy some Christmas party or something.>
“Where are you going?”
<I’m meeting Micael. He’s got to dress up as Santa and deliver presents tonight, so this is the only time.>
“As your manager, or as your estranged Constellation brother?”
<The latter.>
Thought so.
“You’re going to talk about the Demon God, aren’t you?”
At my question, the Star paused for a moment.
<It’s not time yet.>
Then shook his head.
“Not time?”
<He’s not ready. Unlike that Constellation obsessed with drawing sheep, Micael won’t be able to accept it. He’ll probably break if he learns the Demon God is here—and that Papa’s the one who allowed it.>
I thought I understood what he meant.
Unlike the Star, Micael had always been by The Savior Who Is One and All’s side since the beginning of creation. For him, accepting the fact that the Savior had allowed the Demon God to remain on Earth would be unfathomable.
<He’s got enough on his plate already.>
The Star sighed.
<He’s like middle management for the human world. To you, he probably just looks like a crazy scheduler who piles on impossible work—but honestly, that’s not far off.>
I couldn’t imagine what a Constellation’s workload looked like.
They were beings beyond humanity. I couldn’t begin to understand how they thought or functioned.
‘All I’ve figured out…’
Was just how inhuman they really are.
On the surface, they seem to empathize. To help. But the more you get to know them, the clearer it becomes that their nature is fundamentally different.
“You know… you kind of care about your brother.”
I said flatly.
<Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll kill you.>
The Star, visibly flustered, tried to deny it.
<Don’t tell me you thought we were going to throw a warm and fuzzy Christmas party together.>
“I didn’t think that far.”
<Good. If you had, I’d have scrambled your brain.>
His overreaction made him seem oddly cute.
<Then I’ll be off.>
As he pulled on a wool coat, I called out to him.
“You remember what I said before, right?”
I smiled.
“Don’t betray my trust.”
<Of course.>
He scoffed.
<Don’t doubt me.>
It’s not doubt.
No matter what decision he makes—I just hoped it’d be something I could accept.
As he walked toward the door, the Star turned back.
<Merry Christmas, Creation.>
“Pfft…!”
I burst out laughing.
To think I’d ever hear that from him.
“You too… Merry Christmas.”
Little Pink Starfish 
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