Little Pink Starfish

Late at night.

As soon as I returned to the dorm, Star spoke out of the blue.

<You look good.>

“I look like death warmed over.”

I sighed. I took off my jacket and tossed it onto the bed, then dragged my weary body over to the chair and sat down. Star, who had been lying on the bed eating snacks, smiled as he sat up.

<You told him everything, didn’t you.>

Star had known I would meet Hamin, and from the way he looked at me with such ease, it was clear he also knew my expression would be completely wrecked.

I nodded—then stopped.

“…No.”

Scratching the back of my neck, I shook my head.

“I only told him the parts I could. Telling him more wouldn’t do any good. The rest… is something I have to shoulder myself. It’s not like he can do anything with that knowledge anyway.”

To begin with, I was just as powerless.

Caught between someone who had disappeared from everyone’s memory and another trying to bring him back, I was merely inserting myself in the weakest, most powerless way possible.

<You don’t need to think like that.>

Star stood from the bed and said.

<Of course, you’re just a regular human. Sure, you’ve gotten some fame as an idol, but you’re still just a puny creature.>

Which is why I’m curious, he whispered.

He came closer to me.

<So what do you plan to do?>

“Lend me your strength.”

I didn’t hesitate.

I’d always relied on Star’s power up to now, but this time, I needed his help more than ever. Maybe it was because of that desperation that, for the first time, I felt a twinge of resistance to asking for it.

In the first place, was this even an era that required the power of constellations?

That doubt crossed my mind.

Unlike when the Gates first opened, there were no longer any worldwide crises. These days, most problems were caused by human actions—completely different from monster invasions or natural disasters.

And yet, were constellations still justified in influencing the world?

I didn’t know much about Jeong Hangeol, but I couldn’t help wondering if his erasure had truly been something he wanted.

<Yes. You’re right.>

Star laughed as he said it.

<Constellations can never fully understand the position of their creations. They each may possess greatness in their own right, but assuming their decisions come solely from goodwill—that’s a whole different issue.>

“Constellations seem incredibly compassionate toward humanity… but sometimes, they’re also shockingly ruthless.”

That was the impression I got from everything I’d seen so far.

Me and the other members had gotten lucky with good partners. But not everyone had. Considering how The Savior Who Is One and All treated Aiden, and how no constellation objected when Jeong Hangeol was erased, it was hard not to see constellations as an entirely different species from humans.

<Different species can form bonds. But because they’re different, there’s always a limit to how well they can understand each other.>

I nodded.

<I’m the same. I can’t fully grasp your intentions either. Frankly, I think you should look out for yourself a little more. But you’ve already made up your mind on this…>

Star sighed.

<Tell me what kind of help you need.>

“First, I want to know exactly why Jeong Hangeol chose to disappear.”

That was the first piece of the puzzle.

It was likely driven by something deeply emotional, but I needed a clear understanding of it if I was going to get anywhere near Aiden’s motives.

Since The Savior Who Is One and All had permitted Aiden, it wasn’t something I could barge into lightly.

First, I needed to gather information.

<I can’t help you directly with that. I was banished from the realm of constellations. I can’t affect the processes of erasure or rebirth. Therefore…>

Star’s gaze shifted toward the window.

He shook his head with a look of exasperation, then opened the window and muttered.

<I know you’re listening. Come in already.>

As soon as he finished speaking, a butterfly fluttered into the room.

It wasn’t hard to guess who it was.

<You’ve gotten pretty sly, haven’t you? Eavesdropping on others’ conversations.>

Star said.

<I wasn’t eavesdropping.>

The butterfly quickly transformed into a full human figure, taking a seat in one corner of the room.

<There’s no way you didn’t notice I was here. I was just waiting for the right moment to step in.>

“That sounds like an excuse, Mika.”

I narrowed my eyes as I spoke.

<It’s not an excuse.>

Mika stood firm, arms crossed.

<You’ve really gone and gotten involved in this, huh.>

Her expression was as calm and composed as a middle manager. There wasn’t even a hint of fluster, only the look of someone analyzing the situation to figure out the best possible outcome.

<I couldn’t help it.>

Star shrugged with a grin.

<Smelled it from miles away without me even saying a word. This is all your fault. If Heaven had handled things properly, my contractor wouldn’t have had to get involved.>

<Are you mocking Father’s decision?>

<What if I am?>

<We can’t presume to understand His will. The Creator’s decisions are absolute. He’s always working toward a better world.>

<And?>

<Just stating a fact.>

Mika bit her lip and ran her fingers through her hair.

“…Honestly, you think it’s strange too, don’t you?”

I asked in a quiet voice.

“This whole thing—doesn’t it strike you as wrong? Is the birth of a new constellation really that important? Aiden is shattering the souls of others just to bring Jeong Hangeol back.”

<It’s not strange.>

Mika answered with a weary sigh.

<To create one great being, it’s natural for lesser ones to be sacrificed. This world has always operated on that principle.>

“Then this entire world is what’s strange.”

<You might see it that way. You and…>

Mika turned to look at Star.

<The Star Hated by All, the first and last to rebel against Father—you’d see it that way.>

<Of course I would.>

Star nodded.

<Just because He’s Father doesn’t mean He’s perfect. Isn’t that obvious? We were born with the right to protest when He makes the wrong call. If He’s the Father of All Things, then He should know how to take some criticism from His children.>

Mika clenched her fists and trembled as she stared at the smugly smiling Star.

<Star Hated by All, I won’t tolerate further blasphemy.>

<Tolerate it or don’t, I don’t care.>

Star dug a finger into his ear nonchalantly.

“Both of you, enough.”

A sibling quarrel at this stage?

Honestly, I was glad I was born an only child.

“There are people getting hurt because of Aiden.”

I looked directly at Mika.

“You say it’s natural for smaller beings to be sacrificed for the greater good… But even if that’s natural, that doesn’t make it right.”

<I’m aware of that.>

Mika sighed.

<I don’t think this is the right way either. When Heaven held a vote about Jeong Hangeol’s erasure, I voted against it.>

Apparently, Heaven had a voting system.

That revelation left me blinking in surprise.

According to Mika, Jeong Hangeol’s erasure had been a hot-button issue even in the celestial realm.

Because it was incredibly rare for someone to fully erase themselves using a constellation’s power.

At most, such acts were limited to martyrdom out of religious conviction or sacrifice for a noble cause.

But since the constellations began supporting the entertainment industry, they’d become more involved in everyday human affairs—even affecting highly personal decisions.

<Maybe that’s why Jeong Hangeol ended up contracting with Izanagi.>

Before contracting with him, Izanagi had never once acted with any interest in CYB.

A constellation mired in ennui.

That’s how Mika remembered him.

<He was the one who fled the Underworld after trying to resurrect his wife, the “Mother Who Burns Forever.” Since then, he’s been plagued with listlessness.>

Was it guilt?

Or had he despaired after seeing the woman he once loved twisted beyond recognition?

Neither option sat right with me. More importantly, Izanagi had used his power to allow his own contractor to be erased.

“A god dying alongside a creation like that…”

I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

It was only after that I realized how wrong it felt.

<In any case…>

Mika cleared her throat.

<Star Hated by All, you must’ve been asleep in Hell, so you probably don’t know what became of Izanagi and Jeong Hangeol.>

Star nodded.

<And also… your power alone won’t be enough to help Eunyul. That’s why you’re here to ask for my help.>

<I’m not asking. My creation is. I’ll never ask you for help until the end of the world.>

“…Quiet.”

I put a hand on Star’s shoulder.

<Tsk. Either way, Mikael. I need your help.>

To that, Mika smiled boyishly, then turned to me and asked,

<You said you want to know the exact reason for Jeong Hangeol’s erasure?>

I nodded.

<I also don’t think things should continue like this. Father’s decision is likely correct, but that’s probably because He even accounted for my doubts as part of the plan.>

So even this act of rebellion was part of The Savior Who Is One and All’s grand design…

Such devoted faith, I thought with a sigh.

<Then I will honor the request of the Star Hated by All.>

Mika extended a hand toward me.

<I’ll show you something special. Jeong Hangeol’s preserved memories, stored in Heaven.>

“Take my hand,” she whispered.

Are we time-traveling?

That thought crossed my mind—

And as I grasped Mika’s hand…

…I truly was transported into the past.