“Honestly, I thought we wouldn’t get any rest until sometime next year…”
Han Iro said while fiddling with a star-shaped ornament for the tree.
“…But here we are, resting on Christmas Eve. Did the Constellations help us out?”
Technically, they did. It was thanks to Mika cutting them some slack.
But I couldn’t tell Han Iro that. As far as he and Min Heejae knew, Mika was just a foreign executive manager-level road manager.
I sat on the wooden bench in the yard, watching Han Iro decorate the tree.
‘I didn’t think he’d actually try to make a real tree from scratch…’
But here he was, doing exactly that.
I never imagined I’d see a Christmas tree made from an actual live tree. Han Iro had set a ladder next to it and was now climbing up to hang the star ornament.
“This is madness…”
Jeong Noeul muttered beside me, wearing a complicated expression.
“If Iro-hyung hadn’t become a celebrity, I swear he’d be living as a nature hermit by now. Building huts in the mountains, surviving just fine.”
To him, life in the mountains probably wouldn’t even be survival—it’d just be playtime. Like a kid on their first trip to an amusement park.
“What’s Dojin-hyung doing?”
Noeul leaned back against the bench and looked toward Ma Dojin, who was standing nearby.
“Oh, um…”
Ma Dojin was staring intently at his phone display.
“…I’m going to be dressing up as Santa Claus tonight to deliver gifts, so I’m trying to figure out the best flight route.”
“Oh yeah, Star told me about that.”
Still leaning back, I chimed in.
“Is that part of your angel duties?”
“You could say that.”
Ma Dojin sighed softly.
“The Constellation advised me to find parallels between Constellations supporting their creations and humans exchanging gifts.”
…It’s a complicated matter, he murmured.
“So if that’s the case, then Santa Claus is real, huh?”
Noeul asked with wide eyes.
I guess you could say that. I gave a bitter smile as an old childhood memory surfaced. Back in sixth grade, my mom suddenly handed me a present on Christmas Eve and said:
“You know Santa isn’t real anymore, right?”
That was how I learned the truth.
“Do you ride a sleigh with Rudolph? Carry a big sack of gifts?”
Noeul continued grinning as he fired questions at Ma Dojin.
“No, I just fly with wings.”
Dojin seemed to be getting annoyed by Noeul and answered half-heartedly while continuing to stare at his phone.
“Hey! Everyone! Look over here!”
Suddenly, Han Iro shouted to us.
He pointed to the tree now covered in decorations and beamed with pride.
“Isn’t it awesome?”
It was pretty impressive. He had bought 30,000 won worth of decorations from the mart early this morning, and now they sparkled on the snow-covered tree.
“You saw that, right…?”
Noeul leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“That’s actual madness.”
“Yeah… I’ll admit it.”
I nodded.
“Eunyul, Noeul.”
Iro looked over at us, still grinning.
“You guys think I’m nuts, don’t you? It’s all over your faces.”
“I didn’t think you were crazy exactly.”
I gave a helpless smile.
“…Could you all keep it down a little?”
Just then, the veranda door opened, and Min Heejae appeared, looking like he had just woken up.
“Heejae-hyung, the tree’s finished!”
Iro shouted proudly toward Heejae like he was showing off a secret weapon.
“Nice…”
Heejae yawned as he replied.
“You look like you really want someone to say it’s nice, so I’ll say it’s nice, okay, everyone…?”
He added that and stretched.
It was 2 p.m.
Even Min Heejae, who had been following the schedule the most nonchalantly, seemed thoroughly exhausted.
“Looks like no one thinks it’s that impressive. I went through all that trouble decorating…”
Iro grumbled, lightly kicking the tree trunk.
I mean, we’re kind of past the age of getting excited over Christmas. The lingering fatigue snuffed out any remaining spark of holiday spirit.
But still, we couldn’t just sit around forever.
“What should we eat for dinner?”
I stood from the bench and asked.
“We are having a party, right?”
It was year-end, and once today passed, we wouldn’t get another break for a while. We had to force some cheer into the day.
“Barbecue.”
Noeul answered firmly.
“You know that grilling whole vegetables also counts as barbecue, right?”
Iro narrowed his eyes at Noeul.
“…Can I sleep just a little longer?”
Heejae still hadn’t fully escaped the grip of sleep.
“If Mr. Eunyul cooks it, anything is fine.”
Ma Dojin gave what might be the most difficult request of all.
Well, either way—it was fine.
“Then I guess it’s time to show off my skills again.”
I murmured with a grin.
<This is unexpected.>
‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ muttered while fidgeting with his necktie.
<You, of all beings, showing up on a sacred day like this.>
He had been finishing some extra paperwork in his office when ‘The Star Hated by All’ arrived with a cake in hand, wearing a faint smile.
<What’s so sacred about a day when brats get presents?>
The Star placed the cake box on the Archangel’s desk.
<I didn’t know what kind you’d like, so I got something I like.>
<I bet it’s disgustingly sweet.>
The Archangel grumbled while sweeping his hair back, muttering that a green tea cake would’ve been better.
<I doubt you came just to deliver cake…>
He furrowed his brow.
<What is it? I have to go with Mr. Dojin later to deliver presents. Make it quick.>
<Is it so suspicious that an older brother wants to check in on his little bro?>
The Star gave a sly smile and plopped down on the sofa.
<How tragic. I remember when you were newly created, marveling at the World Tree and falling off it trying to climb. Now you’re just an old stick-in-the-mud.>
<And look at you. You’ve blended into human society so well, you’re stuffing your face with every kind of junk food. It’s ridiculous. If the creations knew you were Satan, they’d laugh bitterly.>
‘Just looking at your face puts me in a bad mood,’ the Archangel muttered, scowling.
He reached into the inside pocket of his blazer.
<I’m going to the roof for a smoke.>
He stood with his cigarette pack and opened the office door.
<You coming?>
The Star shrugged and stood up.
As the two brothers walked through the YN Entertainment building, staff turned to stare at them—unaware that the ones drawing their eyes were inhuman beings. If they ever found out, they’d probably faint from shock.
Still, the brothers themselves found it equally surprising.
One had spent near-eternal time guarding the Celestial Realm.
The other, near-eternal time locked in Hell.
Now here they were, hiding their wings and walking side by side in the human world.
<Maybe cut down on smoking?>
Inside the empty elevator, the Star commented.
<I mean, you can’t die or anything, but secondhand smoke is technically a sin too, isn’t it?>
<…Don’t nag me.>
The Archangel scratched his neck.
<When I was in the Celestial Realm, I didn’t feel it. But here… stress is immediate. The human world is a mess of chaos and desire. Let your guard down, and you get swept away.>
<I know what you mean.>
The Star chuckled.
<Heaven and Hell both have one thing in common: they’re orderly, whether in good or evil. Our domains neither evolve nor decay. So, of course, the rise and fall of the human world feels strange.>
Ding—
The elevator arrived at the top floor.
The two made their way to the rooftop terrace. Being Christmas Eve, the building was quiet, with few employees remaining.
<So…>
Lighting a cigarette, the Archangel spoke.
<…What’s your business, original sinner?>
<I’ll cut to the chase.>
The Star pulled a lollipop from his coat pocket.
<Did you know that the Bearer of the Cursed Grail has reactivated?>
<Of course.>
The Archangel replied without hesitation.
<It’s my job to monitor the angels. We’re constantly watching demons who remain in the human world. At some point, that thing began operating to purify Earth’s contamination. Father instructed us to observe its behavior closely.>
<Then this will be quick.>
The Star leaned in.
<Brother, why don’t you question Papa’s judgment?>
<What do you mean?>
<Papa is just watching the demons on Earth. You don’t question why he’s doing that… do you?>
<Our Father’s will is absolute. He sees what we cannot. There’s no need to question it.>
<Whether Papa is omniscient or not doesn’t matter.>
The Star snapped.
<I’m talking about your values. If it were up to you, you’d find leaving the demons on Earth a long-term risk. You’re cautious. You’re a rigid stickler.>
<You’re right. I believe demons and creations should be separated at any cost—even if those demons seem to help Earth.>
<But you’re saying Papa’s judgment matters more than your own?>
<Of course. My purpose is to stand by The Savior Who Is One and All. That is the reason I exist.>
<I see… you’re not there yet.>
The Star murmured, staring off into the distance.
<You don’t even know how to doubt.>
The Archangel was silent for a moment as he watched his brother speak so dispassionately.
<…I do doubt.>
He finally whispered, almost like a child seeking comfort.
<I’ve held one doubt for a very long time.>
<…And what is it?>
The Star asked, almost mockingly.
<Brother.>
The Archangel looked at him and asked in a quiet voice:
<Back when you rebelled against Father… did you lose to me on purpose?>
And to that—
<…Ha.>
“The angels really are all fools.”
The Star let out a hollow laugh, seeing through the minds of these obedient, order-bound servants of the Creator.
Little Pink Starfish 
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