The pure white space, Heaven.
‘The Star Hated by All’ and ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ set foot there.
The guardian angels who had poured down into the human world through the gate of Heaven were nowhere to be seen. Heaven was a place that existed and did not exist at the same time. As the starting point of creation, beyond the realms of reality and fiction, it unfolded before the two constellations as an endless expanse of white.
‘…Truly an unpleasant place.’
Frowning, ‘The Star Hated by All’ thought.
It was like looking at a laboratory that had just been sterilized.
Meanwhile, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ cleared his throat.
<Constellation ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ requests an audience with ‘The Savior Who Is One and All.’>
Lifting his chin, he addressed ‘The Savior Who Is One and All.’
‘The Star Hated by All’ stood with arms crossed, looking down. In the middle of the blank space, between ‘The Star Hated by All’ and ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell,’ a small circular hole lay open.
This tiny hole was the gate of Heaven. The gate that had seemed so massive when viewed from the human world, blocking a corner of the sky, was nothing more than a peep hole peering down from Heaven.
‘Absurd.’
‘The Star Hated by All’ thought. What was happening in the human world right now was nothing more than a trivial matter from Heaven’s perspective. Just as natural disasters that sweep across entire continents appear insignificant, or even invisible, when viewed from space.
<My son Michael, I welcome your return.>
Meanwhile, ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ addressed ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.’
<Setting foot here means you intend to stop the descent of the guardian angels, does it not?>
‘The Star Hated by All’ knew this majestic voice was false. The true nature of ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ was that of a system which created this world. A system operates by presenting functions desired by its user through certain computational processes. Thus, the voice of ‘The Savior Who Is One and All,’ and furthermore, his image as the father of all creation, was merely a result shaped by the desires of his creations.
<That is correct, Father.>
To this fabricated being, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ answered politely.
<I believe the current process should be suspended.>
<Oh? On what grounds?>
<I believe the process of creation currently unfolding in the lower realm is flawed.>
‘What a polite way to answer.’
Thinking so, ‘The Star Hated by All’ dug at his ear.
<Creation is the realization of possibility.>
‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ proclaimed.
<Do you understand my meaning, Michael? Possibility takes the form of blank space. Blank space is a state without right or wrong. Only after something is written upon it can black and white be distinguished. Therefore, the creation of a new constellation is right. And also not right. Hence, discussing right and wrong is meaningless.>
However, he continued.
<My son, Star, you must also have something to say.>
‘The Star Hated by All’ laughed in disbelief. What a rotten system. Was he making him put on a show before his younger brother?
<Of course, Papa.>
With a bright smile, ‘The Star Hated by All’ spoke.
<We just don’t like this new constellation being born. Some nobody is making a mess trying to revive his dead friend, and we couldn’t just sit back and watch.>
<You couldn’t just watch…>
The voice of ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ contained a hint of amusement.
<Is that the thought of an angel who once sat beside me, or of a king of hell?>
<That doesn’t matter.>
‘The Star Hated by All’ declared.
<As an angel, I was unworthy and fell into hell. As a king of hell, I was right, so the demons revered me. But I no longer have any dignity as an angel, nor do I wish to remain a king of hell.>
So, what should I call it…
A smile spread across ‘The Star Hated by All’s’ lips.
<Let’s just say I don’t like it.>
‘The Star Hated by All’ had no desire to debate the world with ‘The Savior Who Is One and All.’ The birth of constellations, the logic of creation, the distinction of black and white—though they seemed grand, speaking of such before ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ amounted to trivial debate.
Thus, he thought it better to speak of the heart. After all, the one thing ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ lacked was a heart.
<Don’t you think so, Michael? You simply don’t like it either, don’t you? Our motivation isn’t so grand. We’re doing all this simply because we don’t like it.>
<…Hmph.>
‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ snorted.
<I’m not as thoughtless as you, brother.>
<Thought arises from the heart.>
<…You’re not wrong.>
‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ brushed back his hair.
And he thought deeply. Surely, ‘The Star Hated by All’ understood the essence of this world better than himself. After all, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ did not know the scenery of hell, nor the Demon God’s movements that ‘The Star Hated by All’ pursued. More importantly, he had begun to question all judgments of ‘The Savior Who Is One and All.’
‘My father…’
Is he truly worthy of being called father?
‘Can the creator of this world be equated to a created form?’
As he pondered, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ let out a snort.
‘Am I falling as well?’
Staring blankly upward, he thought.
‘No, this is not a fall.’
He believed his judgment was not wrong. If it was the constellations’ role to determine good and evil among humans, then it was ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’s’ role to judge good and evil among constellations. But then, who judges the black and white of ‘The Savior Who Is One and All,’ who exists beyond all good and evil of this world?
That, he thought, was the role of the heart.
<I also agree with ‘The Star Hated by All.’>
‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ spoke.
<…I do not like any of this.>
<I see.>
‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ answered readily.
<I am a being transcendent of all meaning in this world. Therefore, my two sons, your words are both meaningful and meaningless to me. I do not debate right and wrong. The role of pondering all that lies with you and all my children.>
<Enough talking. Just say you’ll stop sending guardian angels.>
Frowning, ‘The Star Hated by All’ grumbled.
‘A system sure talks a lot.’
He was sick of this ridiculous farce.
<Very well.>
As ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ finished speaking,
<Then, my two sons,>
Everything was wrapped in light.
<Let there be light.>
A flash of radiance.
Both ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ and ‘The Star Hated by All’ closed their eyes.
When they opened them again, they saw the sky of the human world.
An empty space far lower than where the two constellations had once stood.
<At least we succeeded in closing it.>
‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ muttered. The heavenly gate that had adorned a corner of the sky was completely gone.
<Obviously. It would be shameful if beings like us couldn’t close a gate like that.>
‘The Star Hated by All’ gazed at the guardian angels still floating, looking dazed. It wouldn’t take long to get rid of them all. So he turned his head to look down below.
<Now then…>
In his slanted eyes, the events that had unfolded so far were reflected.
Madojin was confronting the guardian angels. Thanks to the thorough training of ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell,’ he was holding out quite well.
<…Well, I did drill him that hard.>
Han Iro was moving together with ‘Love Born with Bubbles.’ The fact that ‘The Ever-Burning Mother’ was accompanying them was quite surprising.
<Aphrodite must have recruited her.>
Meanwhile, Jeong Noeul and Min Heejae were running to reach Ryu Eunyul.
<Good. We should head there too.>
‘The Star Hated by All’ located Ryu Eunyul’s position.
<…You’ve reached it well.>
A thin smile spread across ‘The Star Hated by All’s’ lips.
‘Here it is.’
I looked up.
‘Where Aiden is…’
On the surface, it was just a luxury officetel.
The spiral-shaped building glistened under the sunlight, while guardian angels floated around it, encircling the building. At a glance, it was obviously a stronghold.
The guardian angels did not move. They simply stood still, holding white spears. It was like watching knights guarding a fortress.
‘What a headache.’
I pressed my hand against my forehead. The upper floors of the building. A strange flow of magical power distorted the space. I had never felt such a force before. Not even when training with Jeong Noeul or glimpsing the power of Star. Feeling it with my body made my head spin. It was like shaking inside a car with one tire blown out.
“Let’s try it.”
Muttering, I extended my right arm toward the building’s entrance.
Supporting my right wrist with my left hand, I recalled everything I had learned.
‘First, feel the mana flowing inside my body…’
I closed my eyes and sensed inside my body.
I felt the mana circulating through me.
‘…Concentrate it into my right hand.’
The mana, spreading through my body like tree roots, gathered into one point.
‘And if I fire this…’
Kwaang—!
A roar rang out.
The transparent mana projectile shot forward.
“Cough, cough!”
Dust surged up, clouding my vision.
I pushed through it and looked ahead.
‘…I really feel like some kind of wizard now.’
Staring at the shattered entrance, I thought.
But now was not the time to marvel at this strange power.
“Let’s go.”
Muttering that, I stepped forward.
There was no time.
I had many things to settle.
Little Pink Starfish 
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