The rooftop of a high-rise building.
The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell was looking down below.
Everything had stopped, but time itself had not been frozen.
The watch strapped to his wrist was ticking away relentlessly. It was not time that had stopped but existence itself. Humans and even insects were frozen in place. Strictly speaking, their functioning had been halted by an external force.
<…Archangel.>
Suddenly turning around, he saw a guardian angel bowing before The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.<The Savior Who Is One and All has commanded us to assist in the birth of the new constellation.>
The guardian angel’s voice had no inflection. After all, guardian angels were not beings created to judge right from wrong. They were made to carry out procedures deemed righteous. In other words, guardian angels were less like members of the Celestial Realm and more like its terminals, tools.
<Father would already know my thoughts.>
With a sigh, The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell spoke.
<I judged that the process of this constellation’s birth is not righteous. Thus, I intended to object. But for such a sudden turn of events to occur…>
Was The Savior Who Is One and All rejecting even the slightest objection?
<The Savior Who Is One and All has carefully considered your opinion.>
The guardian angel spoke with an expressionless face.
<He said: all is righteous.>
<…I see.>
The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell smiled faintly.
The Savior Who Is One and All was the god of law, the one who determines all righteousness in this world. He accepted both his own judgment and the birth of the constellation as righteous. In the end, it merely meant that whichever side wins is righteous. The procedure for the constellation’s birth proceeded as planned, but it didn’t mean his opinion was being dismissed entirely.
<Very well, then.>
As The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell spoke—
Swish―!
Wings spread from his back.
<You may proceed according to procedure.>
The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell approached the guardian angel.
<However, I will continue to judge that this process is wrong.>
His hand extended toward the guardian angel.
In the grasp of The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell was a blue sphere.
<Therefore, it seems we will oppose each other for a while.>
<…Understood.>
The guardian angel rose.
At the same time, in a flash of light, a silver spear appeared in the guardian angel’s hand.
The guardian angel could never subdue The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell. Even if countless guardian angels attacked, they could not stop him. This calculation processed in the guardian angel’s mind was nothing more than a computational result. More important was to follow procedure.
<From this moment forward, I will regard you as an obstacle to the birth of the constellation.>
As soon as the words ended, the guardian angel’s eyes turned red.
The number of guardian angels descending from the Gate in the sky was easily in the hundreds. Dealing with them would not be difficult—but the issue was time.
A single guardian angel possessed power equivalent to that of a lower-ranking constellation. Most lower-ranking constellations were once human, reaching their rank through heroic feats during their lives. In other words, he would be fighting selfless mythical heroes.
Regardless, it would be tedious work, and before that, Aiden’s process of creation had to be stopped.
‘It’s going to get busy.’
The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell sighed.
Then he murmured.
<…Come.>
Tadak!
The guardian angel charged toward The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell, spear poised.
At the same time—
Boom!
<What’s taking you so long?>
The foot of The Star Hated by All slammed into the guardian angel’s head.
<There’s no time to pose, Mikael.>
With a frown, The Star Hated by All spoke.
Beneath him, the shattered head of the guardian angel rolled at his feet. Blue blood oozed from the crushed head. Brushing it off, The Star Hated by All approached The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.
<Time is urgent. Your disciple and my contractor have gone to stop Aiden. I happened to need someone to fill my absence, so thank you. That apprentice angel will do his utmost to protect my contractor.>
<The two of them alone won’t be enough.>
Turning his back and looking into the distance, The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell murmured.
<The Ever-Burning Mother is a high-tier constellation. She is by no means someone we can be assured about.> <I know.>
With a bitter smile, The Star Hated by All stood beside The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.
<What’s the situation in the Celestial Realm?>
<Father judged that our decision was righteous. At the same time, he also judged that the process of the new constellation’s birth is righteous.>
<Indeed, a perfectly righteous judgment.>
So the one who wins takes everything.
That had always been the principle sustaining this world. From small arguments to wars that engulfed the world, the victor seizes righteousness. Knowing that The Savior Who Is One and All was more like a system than a being, The Star Hated by All saw it as a highly academic approach.
<First, we must close that Gate.>
Raising his head, The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell spoke.
The guardian angels were still descending like feathers from the sky.
<What will you do? Will you go stop The Ever-Burning Mother?>
<No.>
In response to The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’s question, The Star Hated by All answered.
<You really are dense, brother.>
The Star Hated by All shrugged.
<Someone else is meant to face her. Look further ahead.>
<…What?>
The moment he asked, The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell sensed it.
<So that’s how it is…>
Has Love Born with Bubbles descended?
Realizing this, a smile crept onto The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’s lips.
Then he murmured.
<…That’s quite troublesome.>
‘What is happening?’
Han Iro squeezed his confused mind.
Right now, behind him stood a goddess.
Love Born with Bubbles. His very own constellation. Scattering iridescent bubbles glittering in the sunlight, the goddess floated behind Han Iro. When he cautiously turned his head, she was simply gazing forward with a relaxed smile.
<Don’t turn around. Now is not the time.>
A gentle voice echoed in his head. It was the voice of Love Born with Bubbles.
<You didn’t expect to meet like this, did you? Neither did I. If everything had gone peacefully, we would never have faced each other. So this, too, is something joyful.>
Love Born with Bubbles was the goddess of love, Aphrodite. In mythology, Aphrodite symbolized beauty and was known for supreme beauty, but her behavior was often deemed frivolous. If Zeus was called the most promiscuous among male gods, Aphrodite was often said to be so among goddesses.
However, Han Iro knew. Love Born with Bubbles was not such a goddess. Myths were stories recreated through human desires, and thus, were bound to contain countless errors. The Love Born with Bubbles he knew was never self-centered. She was a goddess who did everything for her beloved ones.
<Oh my, that’s not quite right.>
Finding Han Iro’s thoughts amusing, Love Born with Bubbles whispered.
<I am the goddess of love. Love is a dual emotion. Sublime and pitiful, sweet yet fickle, selfish, and bitter.>
Look, she said.
Love Born with Bubbles pointed straight ahead.
There stood another goddess.
The Ever-Burning Mother. Aiden’s constellation. Amidst the air tinged with ash-gray, The Ever-Burning Mother stood.<It was love that ruined that child.>
Love Born with Bubbles said in a calm tone.
Izanami, alongside Izanagi, contributed to the process of creation. She birthed countless gods. Therefore, Izanami was clearly a goddess of earth and creation.
<At the same time, The Ever-Burning Mother is called the goddess of death.>
It felt paradoxical. A goddess who created this world was also a god of the realm beyond. A goddess who birthed humans, who also kills them.
<The goddess who savored both the sweetness and bitterness of love ended up turning against all she once ruled. Such is love. Love can create existence but also destroy it.>
<That’s enough.>
With a calm tone, The Ever-Burning Mother spoke.
<I will not tolerate any more mockery.>
<Oh my, you thought I was mocking you?>
Love Born with Bubbles raised her voice.
<I didn’t mean it that way. Your beauty shines so vividly to my eyes. Beauty isn’t something completed through adornment. Even if your whole body burns, true beauty never disappears.>
Isn’t that right, my beloved child.
Love Born with Bubbles whispered into Han Iro’s ear.
“Um…”
Hesitating, Han Iro opened his mouth.
“Um… Ever-Burning Mother.”
Though she exuded killing intent, Han Iro spoke respectfully as he asked The Ever-Burning Mother.
“…We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
The Ever-Burning Mother’s lips quivered faintly.
“I remember. You came to the fan signing. Though you looked very different then, I somehow felt it was the same person. The one with the burns… who got my autograph.”
<You have sharp eyes.>
The Ever-Burning Mother smiled.
<I was curious.>
“…You were curious?”
At Han Iro’s question, The Ever-Burning Mother nodded.
<I wondered what kind of person would reveal themselves before everyone while bearing burn scars. All creatures are ashamed of their wounds. Emotional wounds can be hidden, but physical wounds can only be covered at best. Yet you cast off that cover yourself.>
Revealing her honest thoughts in a calm tone, The Ever-Burning Mother’s words made Han Iro realize instinctively.
This goddess is not evil.
‘…That’s why.’
She must be stopped.
Little Pink Starfish 
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