Christmas passed in the blink of an eye.
I hadn’t expected much from the beginning. One day off wasn’t nearly enough to shake off the exhaustion.
We’d prepared an indulgent feast, but most of it was left uneaten. Maybe it was because we’d skipped too many meals lately—everyone’s appetite, including mine, had dwindled.
<But what’s that, creature?>
Star, rolling a lollipop in his mouth while sitting on the edge of the bed, gestured with his chin.
I followed the direction of his nod. A pile of wrapped presents lay there.
“…You could call them Christmas gifts.”
I walked over and replied.
We had exchanged gifts among the members to celebrate Christmas. I had given them gifts too—cheap ones, since the only rule we set was to keep the cost down.
I gave Madojin a sea monkey kit. He had a curious streak that clashed with his calm demeanor, so I figured he’d like it.
“Tiny things are… moving,”
Madojin had murmured with a dazed expression.
“Amazing… truly amazing.”
He reacted just like a kid raising sea monkeys for the first time.
For Jeong Noeul, I gave a hardcover edition of The Little Prince. It shocked me that he had made a contract with the protagonist of the story but hadn’t read the original.
“I get headaches when I read… not a fan,”
he grumbled.
“But this illustration… is kinda cute.”
He smiled as he ran his fingers over the cover art.
To Min Heejae, I gifted a subscription to a service that sends out original LP compilations. He liked retro aesthetics and owned a turntable—it seemed fitting.
“I was actually thinking of subscribing,”
Heejae said with a satisfied smile.
“Thanks, Eunyul. I’ll return the favor with better music.”
He sounded like he was giving an award speech.
For Han Iro, I picked out a hanging planter. Naturally, I went with something gardening-related, but I wanted something a bit unique.
“You want to grow plants, don’t you?”
Iro asked, hugging the planter.
“No, not at all…”
“No, Eunyul. You do want to grow plants. Hanging this in your room would be perfect.”
If anyone else had reacted that way, I would’ve taken it as a sign they didn’t like the gift. But Iro was genuinely trying to gaslight me into liking it.
<So in the end, you got all chummy and exchanged gifts with the other creatures, huh.>
Star muttered with a shrug.
<I’m curious what you received.>
With that, he began inspecting the gifts stacked at my bedside.
<Natural supplements… how trivial.>
That was Iro’s gift.
<A Christmas-themed mirror ball… childish.>
Madojin’s gift.
<Perfume? That one’s obvious.>
Min Heejae’s gift.
<Oh?>
Star raised his voice in surprise as he examined Jeong Noeul’s gift.
<So Abrilah’s reincarnation has gotten pretty good at using power, huh.>
Noeul had given me a curious red stone. He said it helped with fatigue and blood circulation if kept on the body.
<It’s Bloodstone from Hell.>
Star said flatly.
<He can use alchemy now. That’s impressive. It’ll definitely benefit your body. Bloodstone is made from life force, after all.>
“…That’s a seriously unpleasant ingredient.”
I muttered, unsettled.
<It’s not like it’s made by stealing other creatures’ life force,>
Star chuckled.
<If anything, it was probably forged from Papa’s life force. To design Hell’s chaotic environment, it had to be structured like a body.>
As he said this, Star approached me.
<So… where’s my gift?>
“Oh, come on. You were actually expecting something? The King of Hell celebrates Christmas now?”
I laughed dryly.
He hadn’t even shown up on Christmas Eve, and now he was suddenly demanding a gift. Ridiculous—but somehow, very him.
“Hold on.”
I rummaged through my desk drawer and pulled out a small bundle.
I handed it to him.
“Here. A Christmas gift.”
<As expected of my contractor. No way you’d abandon me just because you’ve got teammates now. We’ve been together since before your debut.>
Star opened the package with a pleased expression.
<…Earth?>
He narrowed his eyes and looked at the gift.
A pendant with an Earth-shaped charm.
That was what I had prepared.
<What is this? You want me to love Earth’s nature or something? Don’t make me laugh. Planets like this are a dime a dozen in the universe. Why should I treasure this rock? It’s laughable.>
Yet despite his words, he was already wearing the pendant I’d given him, still smirking.
“Would it kill you to just say thank you?”
I crossed my arms and asked.
<That would not do. Gratitude doesn’t suit the King of Hell.>
After saying that, he held out his hand to me.
<Then I shall give you a gift as well.>
Sssss—
A dark red light began to swirl in Star’s palm.
“…What now?”
I looked at his hand.
“…A ring?”
Just as it looked, he held a platinum-colored ring.
<Yes. You will certainly need this.>
I didn’t need to be told—it was clearly an artifact.
Ding—!
Its information appeared before me.
[Radiance Forever Lost]
—Relic-grade Artifact
Description:
“There is no curiosity in a devotee’s reverence. The pious do not question this world. Thus, all doubt arises from the world itself.”
The radiance discarded by the Original Sinner “Star Hated by All.”
He lost his angelic radiance because he questioned the world.
Some say the radiance wasn’t stolen, but abandoned by the Star himself. The archdemons of Hell mock him for this, calling it arrogance. Interestingly, this view is shared by Heaven’s archangels—a rare overlap.
Radiance Forever Lost embodies the memories of the Star Hated by All, who once guarded the world more faithfully than anyone.
Thus, it grants an absolute protective domain.
—Can only be used if “Star Hated by All” is within 5 km.
Durability: 666 uses
Duration: 1 hour
Cooldown: 24 hours
“What kind of durability is 666 uses? Are you kidding me?”
It reminded me of my ancestor, rumored to have had 666 wives. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
<The number is inherent to me. My authority resides in the ring. 666 and I are inseparable.>
Using 666 for demons is so out of style.
I wanted to say that, but instead, I studied the ring.
“So you’re saying I’ll need this… meaning I’m going to get hurt soon?”
I looked up at Star and asked.
<Who knows?>
He smiled faintly.
<No telling, really.>
Is that so?
Considering I nearly got crushed by Enoch just a few months ago…
I slipped the ring onto my left index finger.
<It’ll help you protect yourself for an hour.>
Star turned his back to me.
<During that time, no one—not even Papa—will be able to lay a finger on you. Use it well.>
I silently watched his retreating figure.
We hadn’t said it out loud, but ever since we found out the Demon God was in the human realm, both Star and I had been on edge.
I was scared the Demon God might open another Gate.
But what was Star afraid of?
The title of “Original Sinner” sounded ridiculous, yet the weight behind it was enormous. I couldn’t begin to guess what was on his mind.
“What kind of future are we heading into?”
I asked him directly.
<I don’t know what lies ahead for us.>
Star turned his head slightly.
<It’s easy to grasp the rise and fall of creatures. But ever since the constellations began sponsoring in earnest, even the end of this world has become hazy.>
“True enough…”
I nodded.
“A god not knowing his own future…”
It was, in some ways, perfectly natural.
Three days later.
<Your fan sign event has been scheduled.>
While we were resting together in the living room, Star made the announcement.
“Oh… oh… finally.”
Jeong Noeul looked at him with a face full of emotion.
“We’re really having a fan sign event?!”
<Yes. But please don’t bounce around with excitement, Noeul. You’re giving me a headache.>
Star narrowed his eyes.
“…Sorry.”
Noeul sat properly on the couch.
“When exactly is it?”
Madojin asked calmly.
<This Saturday. Practice your smiling until then. You don’t need to beam like Noeul. Just a soft smile will do.>
“…Understood.”
Madojin nodded deeply, as if assigned a critical mission.
“This’ll be fun.”
Han Iro leaned back on the couch with a relaxed smile.
“It’s always nice meeting fans.”
“That’s such a textbook answer.”
Min Heejae nudged Iro’s arm.
“I’m just getting my mindset in order. Helps avoid slip-ups.”
Iro chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
A fan sign, huh…
I crossed my arms, deep in thought.
The timing made sense. Even with our busy schedule, it couldn’t be postponed till next year.
I pulled out my phone to check the calendar. With the fan sign on Saturday, it was likely to be our last event of the year.
Meeting fans before officially becoming an adult.
Not a bad way to end my youth.
<In any case, you should all start some image training. Especially Noeul, Dojin, and Eunyul.>
Star’s gaze turned to me.
“…Me too?”
I pointed at myself in confusion.
It wasn’t that I looked down on Dojin or Noeul, but… wasn’t it weird to be lumped in with them?
<Of course. What are you talking about? You’re the worst, Eunyul.>
Star sounded appalled.
And I was just as stunned to be roasted like that.
<You’re always the one getting hurt or caught in unexpected situations.>
His voice echoed in my head.
<So be careful. Don’t go getting kidnapped or anything.>
‘Thanks for the concern, I guess…’
I scratched the back of my neck.
Hearing something like that from Satan himself…
…is honestly kinda terrifying.
Little Pink Starfish 
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