[The Constellation, ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612,’ solemnly warns you.]
[They will become your enemies.]
‘…What on earth are those?’
Narrowing his eyes, Jeong Noeul thought.
A massive Gate was open in the air. From it poured out white dots. Upon closer inspection, they were unmistakably angels. However, their appearance was somewhat different from the angels Jeong Noeul knew. The forms of The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell or Enoch had been meticulously crafted.
‘But those look like mass-produced goods…’
In contrast, the angels descending from the sky looked like identical plaster statues. Eyes, nose, mouth, even their hair and skin seemed coated in white plaster.
[The Constellation, ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612,’ delivers a message.]
[They are beings who have come to welcome the birth of a new Constellation. In other words, guardian angels assigned to the new Constellation. The purpose of guardian angels, as the name suggests, is to protect the new Constellation.]
Jeong Noeul adjusted Abrilah’s crown.
He thought he understood. In short, these guardian angels falling like snowflakes from the sky were on Aiden’s side. Thinking that, Jeong Noeul rubbed his eyes. Narrowing his gaze, he examined the flow of magic within the guardian angels.
‘Weak.’
They were absurdly weak. Roughly estimating, they had about the power of Enoch’s big toe. Only slightly stronger than evil spirits.
‘If they’re that weak, I can deal with them easily, but…’
The problem was the numbers. Even now, the sheer number of guardian angels descending from the sky was overwhelming. Imagining how many might appear brought an ominous feeling.
[The Constellation, ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612,’ gives instructions.]
[No need to imagine. They’re infinite. They’ll keep manifesting until the Gate closes.]
But it’s okay,
A voice sounded in Jeong Noeul’s mind.
Right then.
Pababat―!
From both extremes of the sky, sharp trails shot forth.
One white. One black.
The beams drew clean arcs toward the Gate. The guardian angels caught in the currents flailed like feathers in a gust, tumbling down.
‘Well then…’
I really don’t have to worry, huh.
Shading his eyes as he looked up, Jeong Noeul thought.
The white trajectory was The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell. The black was The Star Hated by All. Just their presence sweeping through the sky scattered hundreds of guardian angels.
Meanwhile.
<You who oppose the will of Heaven.>
A guardian angel appeared at the edge of Jeong Noeul’s vision.
<Are you truly our enemy?>
Guardian angels hovered around him.
“Wow, they look even creepier up close…”
Smiling awkwardly, Jeong Noeul examined their faces. This must be what they call the uncanny valley. Thinking that, he armed both hands with crimson-black magic.
<I ask again. Are you…>
“Well, honestly, I don’t really want to fight.”
With a cheerful tone, Jeong Noeul spoke.
“Isn’t there a peaceful way to resolve this?”
<Are you offering surrender?>
“No. That’s not it. What I mean is… I don’t really want to argue right or wrong. But doesn’t it seem odd to destroy countless souls just to save one person? I hear you consider this part of the process of creation, but… I find it hard to agree.”
<Why?>
Why? Why? Why?
The guardian angels’ voices filled Jeong Noeul’s ears.
<Recreating existence through the hands of a creation is a grand feat. Heaven calls it a miracle.> <A miracle does not mean creating something from nothing. It means achieving through the sacrifice of many existing things.>
<The ‘Savior Who Is One and All’ wounded Himself to create. He sacrificed His own perfection to fill this world with existence.>
<Thus, sacrifice is natural to creation. You must understand this.>
“What are you even talking about…?”
Jeong Noeul tilted his head.
[The Constellation, ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612,’ bursts into laughter.]
“Why are you laughing?!”
Jeong Noeul shouted toward the invisible Traveler from Asteroid B-612.
It was too profound a topic for him. The Savior Who Is One and All wounded Himself? Did something happen? Thinking that, Jeong Noeul shrugged his shoulders.
<You are Abrilah’s reincarnation.>
Meanwhile, the guardian angels pointed white lances at him.
<Thus, you cannot comprehend our words.>
“That’s not really why I can’t understand…”
Muttering with an awkward face, Jeong Noeul steadied his stance.
“So basically, you want to fight?”
At the same time, he asked in his head.
‘What’s our objective?’
It was a question directed at Traveler from Asteroid B-612.
‘Aiden’s Constellation will be handled by Iro and his Constellation. The Gate will be closed by the Star and The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell. Yunyul is probably chasing Aiden. Then I…’
[The Constellation, ‘Traveler from Asteroid B-612,’ recommends you search for the ‘Ten Kings of the Underworld.’]
[Too many guardian angels have manifested already. Fighting them one by one is a waste of time. It would be quicker to send them all to the Underworld.]
‘I see.’
Jeong Noeul nodded.
‘Hijae… I hope he’s safe.’
He could faintly sense Min Hijae’s soul from afar.
Jeong Noeul shook his hands. Magic surged from within him. His vision expanded, and his mind sharpened.
“Shall we begin?”
To Jeong Noeul’s question—
<…We understand.>
The guardian angels simultaneously charged toward him.
Ahead, a lance beheaded a guardian angel.
With a sound like crushed stone, the angel’s body disintegrated into dust.
“There are a lot of them.”
Adjusting his posture, Madojin spoke.
“There really are…”
Beside him, I was enveloped in borrowed magic from the Star.
Guardian angels spread their wings in all directions. We seemed like isolated islands floating on a white sea.
<Why do you oppose us, apprentice angel?>
Suddenly, the lead guardian angel spoke.
<Are you not one who should serve Heaven?>
“My master also opposes you, as far as I know.”
In a calm tone, Madojin answered.
“Of course, I am not fighting you simply on my master’s orders.”
<We act by the command of the ‘Savior Who Is One and All.’ The Creator of this world awaits the birth of a new Constellation.>
That’s not it.
I recalled the Savior Who Is One and All I saw in Heaven, borrowing my form. He was less a being who gave orders, and more one who observed out of curiosity. Likely, The Savior Who Is One and All transcended right and wrong entirely. He was the only omnipotent being outside the laws constituting this world.
Since He divided good and evil, He must stand beyond both.
The Savior Who Is One and All is neither good nor evil.
Thus, He observes this world with a researcher’s gaze.
“I oppose you by my own will.”
Looking up at the guardian angels, Madojin declared.
“Surely this world was created by the will of The Savior Who Is One and All. But if He created creatures merely to obey His orders, then His creation has failed.”
<You blaspheme divinity.>
“If He had not made blasphemy possible, there would be no blasphemy. The Savior Who Is One and All created far too many reasons to oppose His divinity. I am simply enjoying that.”
Madojin was right.
As if He desired it.
As if He hoped for something interesting to happen, The Savior Who Is One and All had created countless circumstances that demanded rebellion against His will.
Even now, it was the same.
Sending guardian angels to protect Aiden was His will. Yet permitting our opposition was also ultimately His will.
<…There is no need to hear more.>
As the guardian angel judged so—
“Step back, Yunyul.”
Madojin whispered.
Pop!
From the upper left and lower right, the guardian angels’ lances attacked Madojin. To my eyes, they seemed aimed at his limbs in an instant.
Madojin flapped his wings and leapt. Brushing aside the lances with his left arm, he swept his spear with his right. The off-balanced angels staggered, retreating under the assault.
‘Was he always this good at fighting?’
I thought blankly. Or perhaps Mika had secretly trained him at night. That seemed more likely.
Pop!
With a burst of still air, the flying angels crashed to the ground. They had charged without a single shout, and fell without a single scream. A brief lull followed.
“Yunyul.”
Madojin turned to me.
“…There’s too many, isn’t there?”
Sensing it, I asked.
“Yes.”
He nodded, then smiled faintly.
“We are not far from Aiden’s location. I will handle things here.”
“Understood.”
“Can you manage on your own?”
“I’m not sure, but…”
We didn’t even know what was happening at Aiden’s location. Though I had practiced every night, my power was still weak. But now was not the time for hesitation.
“…I’ll have to.”
“Yes. You won’t know until you try.”
“What about you?”
Will you be safe? I asked.
“I don’t know. There are so many after all.”
Speaking flatly,
“But it’s fine. I stand here by my own will.”
Madojin whispered softly.
“…Understood.”
I turned my back to Madojin.
His words, my own will, were special. For someone like him, who had been born by another’s will and lived a brief life by others’ will, discovering his own self must be profoundly meaningful.
Running hard, I looked up at the sky.
The Star carved black trails across the heavens.
‘I must handle this alone.’
It wasn’t frightening.
This too was my will.
Little Pink Starfish 
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