Little Pink Starfish

Madojin narrowed his eyes.

‘The guardian angels…’

Had stopped attacking.

Placing a hand on his heaving chest, he looked around. The white guardian angels who had been swinging their spears just moments ago were now completely still. As if a switch somewhere in their bodies had been flipped off. Brushing back his sweat-drenched hair, Madojin looked up at the sky.

‘The gate is closing.’

The gate of Heaven that had been so vivid was growing fainter. The circular gate that looked like a gaping maw in the sky was now narrowing. The guardian angels floating around it were falling in clusters.

‘…Angels.’

There are several images that come to mind when one thinks of angels. First, white wings. Second, the glowing halo above their heads. But to Madojin, the most real association was falling.

Having wings meant one was always exposed to the risk of falling. Those who can fly can always fall from high places. This thought wasn’t born from Madojin’s own life experience, as he hadn’t lived long enough to call it a life.

It was probably due to the system of knowledge Enoch had instilled in him.

The kind of quiet, humanistic knowledge that served little use in life.

Art has always depicted angels as beings vulnerable to falling. The radiant and beautiful depictions belonged only in scripture.

‘So I am the same.’

Dusting himself off, Madojin thought.

Though his clothes were dirtied from rolling on the ground, his body was unscathed. He had been cut several times by the guardian angels’ spears, yet all his wounds had healed. He could no longer die. Even if everyone he saw now lived out their natural lives, Madojin would continue living beyond them.

It hadn’t been long since he first thought he wanted to live.

Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t even predict what he might become a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand years from now.

‘Would I wish to fall?’

The thought crossed his mind.

‘Like The Star Hated by All.’

<Mr. Dojin.>

Tap.

The sound of footsteps landing.

Madojin turned his head.

<You’ve held out well.>

“…Master.”

‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ landed beside Madojin with a faint smile. Grasping Madojin’s arm, he examined him. Madojin stiffened his arm.

<You can relax now. The fight with the guardian angels is over.>

“I know. But I don’t know how to relax.”

This was the first time he had faced something by his own will. For a mere apprentice angel to face Heaven’s underlings—it seemed ridiculous to Madojin. But such battles would surely come again. That certainty about the future was what kept his strength firm.

“Master, I….”

I do not understand why this world needs eternity.

Madojin said so.

“Perhaps ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ will reign over this world forever. You, Master, and The Star Hated by All will remain eternally in Heaven and Hell.”

Why must it be so?

At Madojin’s question, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ tilted his head.

<What exactly do you mean by that?>

“An omnipotent creator should be able to create another omnipotent being. If I were such a being, I would someday pass my place to another. The same goes for an archangel beside the creator. I think I would eventually leave to observe Hell. Even if I became the King of Hell, I….”

<You mean even if you became a fallen angel like The Star Hated by All, you would someday repent and relinquish your throne?>

“Yes. Because this world is structured so that everything moves.”

The wind carries seeds, and the rain pushes the stream. Even things that cannot move on their own are moved by someone. Just like others once moved him, who didn’t even know what a heart was. And yet, only good and evil seem not to cycle. That’s what Madojin thought.

<…I see.>

So that’s what troubles you.

‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ murmured.

<I too have been questioning much lately.>

“You as well, Master?”

<Yes. It’s been a long time since I’ve walked the human world. The last time I descended was probably a thousand years ago. Observing how much the human world has changed, I’ve developed many questions.>

Created beings truly are mysterious.

So thought ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.’ Their actions raise questions from every direction. Why do they wish to walk? Why can they not let go of hatred? Why do they shed tears over fleeting moments of joy?

Why, my brother, were you so curious about all this?

He believed these were questions one could only ponder outside Heaven.

<Mr. Dojin, one day you too will ascend to Heaven with me. When your time in Heaven surpasses your time in the human world, you may forget all the questions you have now. Memory is guaranteed through finite life. If life is infinite, memory becomes meaningless. You wouldn’t even know what to remember.>

It was because of that, he whispered, <That Enoch fell into anguish.>

He had once been human. A noble human. So noble that as a human, he reached the realm of archangels. But the near-eternal time in Heaven robbed him of his humanity. Staying too long, he forgot his parents, his wife, everything, and clung only to unchanging concepts of good and evil.

“I know. At least somewhat…”

Madojin still remembered the conviction that supported Enoch.

He had not hesitated. Not when resurrecting Madojin, not when rejecting The Star Hated by All. Enoch believed everything was good—therein lay his evil.

<You will not become like him, Mr. Dojin.>

‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ smiled.

“Why… are you so sure? Can you see beyond eternity, Master?”

<No. Even as a constellation with the authority of prophecy, I cannot see beyond eternity. I am simply certain. I made you an angel to correct Enoch’s mistake. Therefore, even if everyone else denies it, I must have faith in you.>

That is all.

Placing a hand on Madojin’s shoulder, he spoke.

“Dojin hyung!”

At that moment, from the rooftop,

Jeong Noeul’s voice rang out.

Madojin looked toward the voice. Jeong Noeul was gliding between buildings carrying Min Heejae on his back. Landing beside Madojin and ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell,’ Jeong Noeul glanced around with a mischievous grin.

“Looks like you fought pretty noisily?”

“I fought as quietly as possible. I didn’t want to damage the surroundings.”

Sure, sure.

Muttering so, Jeong Noeul let Min Heejae down.

“…Never thought I’d experience something like this.”

Adjusting his clothes, Min Heejae mumbled.

“By the way… ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.’ The sky seems a bit more peaceful. Did you close the gate?”

At Min Heejae’s question, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ nodded.

<The gate of Heaven is closed. The guardian angels have also stopped moving. ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ acknowledged both our righteousness and Aiden’s.>

“…What is that supposed to mean.”

Jeong Noeul frowned.

“I guess it means: the one who wins is right?”

Min Heejae shrugged.

<That’s correct. ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’ considered everyone’s will right and encouraged us to clash our beliefs.>

He had no complaints about that decision.

‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ thought that was precisely the way of ‘The Savior Who Is One and All.’ His only lingering question concerned the Demon God.

‘Why did He…’

Make that judgment? It was a question ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell,’ unfamiliar with questioning the Creator, could not bring himself to ask.

<‘The Star Hated by All’ has already joined Mr. Eunyul ahead. It is time for us to head there as well.>

Handling what lay before them was the priority.

As he was about to move forward thinking so—

“Master, please wait a moment.”

Madojin spoke.

<What is it?>

At his question, Madojin simply turned and shaded his eyes with his hand. Then he looked at a presence approaching from afar.

<I see.>

Noticing where Madojin was looking, ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ nodded.

‘Love Born with Bubbles’ was approaching, carrying Han Iro in her arms.

“Everyone, hello…?”

Han Iro spoke with a tired smile.

“I, Iro hyung…”

Jeong Noeul scratched his neck.

“You look like you fell into a pile of coal briquettes. And the one behind you is…”

<Hello, little one.>

‘Love Born with Bubbles’ smiled, then set Han Iro down. His clothes were singed in many places. Stepping onto the ground with effort, Han Iro took a deep breath.

“…Let’s go beat him.”

He murmured sharply, eyes narrowed.

<Long time no see, ‘Love Born with Bubbles.’>

<Oh my, still as beautiful as ever, Archangel. And still with that face that knows no love.>

<I do know love. I cherish all creations.>

<I’m sure you do.>

With a soft chuckle, ‘Love Born with Bubbles’ nodded.

<I have one question.>

‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell’ narrowed his gaze.

<That woman following behind you.>

The sound of scorching filled the air.

<…Is she our enemy?>

As the sound of flames scraping the ground echoed,

<Or our ally?>

Everyone’s gaze followed ‘The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.’

There stood ‘The Ever-Burning Mother.’