Little Pink Starfish

‘What is this…’

What an unbelievable sight.

That’s what I thought.

I had simply stepped inside the building, yet what unfolded before my eyes was filled with things that could not be described as reality.

Amidst the rainforest stretching along the horizon, a spire shone. A massive structure shaped like a staircase, piercing toward the thick black clouds. A building within a building. And there were no traces of any inner walls.

The surface of the spire was purely white.

‘Like a white desert island.’

I couldn’t help but think so.

‘But really, what is all this?’

I nudged a beast’s skull lying at my feet. Bones were scattered everywhere. Some seemed to belong to humans as well. The remains were completely decomposed, leaving not even a bit of flesh. Even when I focused with magic, I couldn’t detect a single trace of a soul.

Because of that, I covered my mouth with my palm.

For some reason, nausea started to rise up my throat. There wasn’t even a foul smell, yet just looking at the scattered remains made my insides churn.

<Can you hear my voice?>

Suddenly, Star’s voice resounded in my head.

<What you’re seeing is not part of the human world.>

‘I’d have to be insane not to know that.’

<Then let me explain simply. Where you’ve stepped into is…>

It’s the entrance to the Underworld.

Star said so.

‘The entrance to the Underworld?’

<Yes. It seems ‘The Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld’ have already made their move.>

I had heard about their intention from Min Heejae. ‘The Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld’ wanted to summon Aiden directly into the Underworld for judgment, believing they couldn’t handle it properly in the human world.

<But as I said, this is merely the entrance to the Underworld. The authority of ‘The Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld’ would only allow them to summon the outskirts of the Underworld. To summon its inner realm, they would need their contractor. After all, a constellation’s contractor serves as a terminal through which the constellation can influence this world.>

‘Honestly, I don’t really get what you’re saying right now.’

<It doesn’t matter. I understand it. Just keep in mind this much: you are not standing in the human world. And that the plan of the one who wished to become a new constellation has encountered complications.>

I nodded.

It was enough for me to know that Aiden’s plan had been hindered.

As I thought so and tried to step forward,

‘By the way… where are you right now?’

Only then did I grow curious and ask Star.

<Here.>

As soon as Star said that—

Kuwang—!

The sky split open.

There was no better way to describe it.

The mass of black clouds that filled the entrance to the Underworld parted in a circular shape. As fragments of space scattered, the sky of the human world revealed itself beyond. It felt like the ceiling of a film set was being torn apart.

Star descended toward me, flapping his ash-gray wings. Seeing the guardian angels’ heads gripped in his hands, it seemed he had just dealt with the forces surrounding the building.

Thud—

The crushed guardian angels fell beside me.

<We’re not far from our destination.>

At the same time, Star landed before my eyes.

<Let’s go.>

A hand extended toward me.

“…You want to fly there?”

<Don’t tell me you’re afraid of soaring high at this point? Absurd.>

“It’s not that. What do you take me for?”

I grabbed Star’s hand. Of course, having received his power, I could probably survive even if I fell from high up. I’d be able to casually brush the dust off my clothes and keep walking.

And yet, a bit of fear still stirred within me, probably because some humanity remained in me.

When people say “human,” beautiful emotions come to mind, but at the same time, the negative elements included in that word make one tilt their head.

Humans are creatures who fear. But also creatures who overcome fear.

There is no light without darkness. Just as heaven and hell are complementary.

<Perhaps one who transcends all of that is called a god.>

Gliding while holding onto me, Star said.

“…Yeah, probably.”

I dangled like a worm caught in a bird’s beak while holding Star’s hand. Unable to look down, I looked up instead. Star’s face was stiff and tense.

“What happened?”

I asked.

“You seem like you’ve been through something.”

<I briefly met Papa to close the gate of Heaven.>

Star spoke in a flat tone.

“That must’ve been nice?”

When I asked, Star twisted his lips for a moment.

<…I don’t know.>

He answered in a small voice.

<I love ‘The Savior Who Is One and All.’ He is my creator. And all that I cherish was created by his hand. My brother, Adam and Eve, and if I may be so bold, you as well….>

But he does not know love, he muttered.

<It’s impossible to love one who knows no love. Emotions are resolved through mutual understanding. The only emotion ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ possesses…>

No.

What’s the point of saying this to you?

Star whispered with a faint smile.

“…Fear, right?”

I asked.

At the same time, Star’s gaze trembled.

<Why do you think that?>

“I just suddenly thought of it.”

I fear looking down from high places.

The chill in the air, the dots scattered like specks when I look down, as if I might fall with just one more step… And then curiosity stirs. What would I experience if I did fall? My feet start itching, and I become unable to resist.

If I fall once, I can’t undo it. That thought makes me turn my gaze away. Fear is formed through many layers of context. If emotions are resolved through connection, as Star said, then perhaps I’ve always failed to connect with the world I see when I look down from high places.

Thus, fear is born.

I thought maybe ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ understands that better than anyone.

“Because he’s watching from the highest place.”

Watching everything.

Wouldn’t there be times he wants to tumble down as well?

But because he cannot, fear arises.

<How interesting.>

Star replied calmly.

<But my Papa… ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ is not such a being.>

“Then what kind of being is he?”

<Let’s see… If I had to say, I would consider him a mechanical being.>

“A mechanical being?”

I had thought the same before.

When I saw ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ in my form.

But in that sense, all creations were merely mechanical. Humans operate by mechanisms that allow life to continue. That may be called belief, but in the end, it’s nothing more than living according to personal calculations shaped by one’s values.

Even now, I won’t die even if I fall, yet I still can’t look down.

<…I see.>

Star snorted.

<Humans are trivial beings who try to extract meaning from trivial things. I can’t understand such humans. Therefore, I do not agree with your thoughts, nor will I ever.>

“Well, that’s understandable. I get it.”

I replied readily.

At this point, I felt I could understand Star’s position somewhat.

Because I had received his power.

Normal humans discern death through corpses, but I now discern death through souls. That contrast alone made the difference clear.

<I do find your triviality somewhat beautiful.>

Because I can’t understand it.

I simply find it beautiful.

Like when I watched Adam and Eve standing before the Tree of Knowledge.

Star whispered.

“I can understand that too.”

The fallen angel who drew his sword out of curiosity toward the world.

Perhaps that, too, was born of curiosity toward falling.

When I hesitate to fall from heights, Star chose to fall without hesitation.

Even if you fall from the highest place and survive without concern—

What, then, do you fear?

<A foolish question.>

Star answered calmly.

<I fear the lives of all those who may fall and die.>

The view from the highest place and the view from the lowest are different.

Star said so.

<Those who fall turn their backs to the sky. They bow their heads, stare at the spot they will land, tightly shut their eyes, and jump. No one falls while looking at the sky. Therefore, the one who meets their gaze as they fall is not ‘The Savior Who Is One and All,’ but me.>

‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ does not know the faces of those who fall.

The one who knows their faces is Star, who sustains himself through them.

<I am the one who receives the fear in their eyes. Thus, the fear of those who are about to die becomes my fear.>

Your fear is the same.

Star said.

“…You were worried about me.”

About me. Since CYB.

<Let’s just say that.>

Star chuckled.

<The one we’re about to face isn’t one who falls. One who wishes to reach the authority of a constellation will not fall, but ascend beyond this world.>

“But…”

The result is ruin all the same.

When I whispered that, Star laughed.

<You’re right. He will surely be ruined. Whether he dives below this world or soars to its peak, in the end, it brings ruin to humanity.>

We’re almost there.

As Star said that,

I saw the peak of the spire through the wind.

Aiden was there.

Thinking so, I took a deep breath.

It was time to bring this to an end.

Aiden will not reach beyond the sky.

If allowed, I hoped that would be a kind of salvation.