Little Pink Starfish

‘They’ve arrived.’

I narrowed my eyes.

Tiny dots floated from afar and reached my side before I knew it.

<It seems we’re not late.>

Mika spoke as she set foot on top of the spire.

<No, you were truly sluggish.>

Star looked up at Mika with a displeased expression.

I scratched the back of my neck. I already knew that Mika, along with the members of Laurea, was coming to my side. Thanks to my heightened senses from Star’s power, I could sense their movements.

The members stood by my side, glaring at Aiden. Madojin with a blunt expression, Jeong Noeul biting back his anger with a flushed face, Min Heejae curiously looking around, and Han Iro, who for some reason looked physically out of it.

“…Are you okay?”

I lightly tapped Han Iro’s arm and asked.

“Ah, well….”

Han Iro smiled weakly.

“I’ve been through all sorts of things. Eunyul, don’t you want to know what it feels like to embrace fire?”

“No, I’ll pass.”

I chuckled and turned my head.

I could roughly guess what Han Iro had gone through to get here. After all, two unfamiliar women locked eyes with me.

One was ‘Love Born with Bubbles’. I remembered her. She was the Star who saved me when my life was in danger at the CYB final stage because of Enoch. I nodded slightly in greeting toward her. ‘Love Born with Bubbles’ smiled once, then pulled the hand of the other woman standing beside her.

<Now, it’s your turn.>

‘Love Born with Bubbles’ spoke.

<Since ancient times, it’s been the role of wise and beautiful women to quell the arrogance of stubborn men. So you… no, only you can resolve this situation.>

With a firm smile, ‘Love Born with Bubbles’ expressed her confidence. The woman, led forward by her hand, looked at me.

I knew who she was. ‘Ever-Burning Mother’, none other than Aiden’s Star.

<I have something I wish to ask you….>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ spoke to me.

“To me?”

<Yes.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ approached me. Her scorched eyes leaned toward me.

<Can we be saved?>

“Uh….”

I was momentarily speechless.

I was confused as to why this question was directed at me. After all, I was merely a creature who briefly borrowed the power of a Star. Beside me stood Satan, and above me was Michael. Shouldn’t such a question be directed at them? Moreover, ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ herself was clearly a god.

A god was asking me. Whether salvation was possible.

<You seem flustered.>

With a faint smile, ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ said.

<Some gods fall into the abyss….>

Her gaze shifted to Star.

<While some gods remain eternally radiant….>

Then she looked toward Mika.

<Who decided this? Was it ‘The Savior Who Is One and All’? I don’t think so. It is creatures who can punish gods, and creatures who can save gods as well. That’s why some gods are condemned as evil for thousands of years, while others are eternally loved.>

Because it is ultimately the believers who define gods.

Murmuring so, ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ looked at Aiden.

“Have you made up your mind?”

Aiden spoke in a calm voice.

“…To betray me.”

<Of course not.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ smiled.

<I have always been on your side, and I still am.>

She walked toward Aiden. I quietly watched her back. At that moment, Star placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered.

<Watch closely, creature.>

“…Watch what?”

<The moment a Star’s contract ends.>

“Ah….”

I realized ‘Ever-Burning Mother’s’ intent. She had come to this place to end her contract with Aiden. Aiden had not yet reached the realm of a Star; if she withdrew the power she had been infusing into him, his strength would diminish even further.

<I seem to have been mistaken.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ spoke to Aiden.

<My true name is Izanami…. The goddess who died by burning, creator deity of a certain island nation, and also a god of death. The creatures I created revere me as their mother, but also fear me as death.>

I lacked confidence, she said.

<I believed there was no god as horribly charred and broken as I. Once, I even declared that I would kill my creations. That’s why I thought…. As a god, I had no right to save anyone.>

If my creatures were to fall into the abyss, I would fall with them.

I had already crashed into the depths of the underworld before, so I was not afraid of it.

That was what ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ had been thinking.

<You already expected it too. You knew you would fall into the abyss, not ascend as a Star.>

“Of course, becoming a Star would have been enjoyable….”

Aiden smiled.

“But I never particularly wanted that. And more than anything….”

Aiden’s gaze shifted to me.

“No matter how careful and cautious you are, inevitably, you will come into conflict with someone.”

I silently met Aiden’s gaze.

“But…. I never imagined it would be you stopping me.”

<That is my affection.>

Upon hearing Aiden’s words, ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ declared.

<I was a goddess once abandoned by the one I loved. Therefore, I vowed never to love anyone again. As my contractor and devotee, you always looked up to me and believed in me.>

Thus, she would punish him by her own hand.

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ seemed to have resolved herself.

Standing beside Aiden was a goddess who had lost the confidence to claim any value as right, who lacked the self-esteem to punish anyone, and who had even lost the radiance she should possess as a god. She knew Aiden’s goal was wrong. That is precisely why she had vowed that if her contractor were ever to fall into the abyss, she would fall with him.

<But she realized something.>

With arms crossed, Star spoke.

<If she truly cherishes her creation, she must deliver punishment herself.>

I nodded. If any god could punish Aiden, it had to be one who cherished him. Only a god who cares for their devotee could declare severe punishment.

<I…. will punish you.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ declared.

Her charred body stood face to face with Aiden.

Aiden looked surprised for a moment, but soon smiled. There was not a trace of resentment in Aiden’s gaze. Rather, he seemed relieved.

“What kind of punishment do you intend to give me?”

At Aiden’s question,

<You will die.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ answered calmly.

<You have committed a grave sin by violating the boundary between the living world and the underworld, damaging souls.>

Then she pointed at Juna.

<If you don’t want that, you may destroy this child’s soul and complete the act of creation. But that will be impossible. I have no intention of lending you my power.>

It was impossible for Aiden to survive as a Star. ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ was declaring that. The difference between a mass murderer and a war hero isn’t large. The choices before Aiden were either to die as a sinner who disrupted the human world, or to live forever as a Star who completed creation….

“Then I’ll fall into hell?”

As Aiden said, if ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ did not lend him her power, he would simply be cast into hell as a sinner.

<I refuse.>

Suddenly, Star spoke.

<You seem to be mistaken, but hell is not a garbage dump. It is not a place that devours the souls of the trash that fall one after another from Heaven and the human world. There is a clear king, and there are standards. So as the King of Hell, I say this….>

I will not allow you to be thrown into hell.

Star muttered so.

<Go to the underworld. Just as your Star died giving birth to a child and fell to the underworld.>

<…How surprising.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ looked back at Star.

<You, ‘The Star Hated by All’, are the infamous King of Hell. Why show mercy to my contractor?>

<I am not showing mercy.>

Star replied flatly.

<Yes. My brother knows no mercy and is the worst scoundrel.>

Mika, who had landed beside Star, added.

<My brother…. Rather, he insists greater punishment is needed.>

<Indeed. Mikael is right.>

Star shrugged.

<Had I wished to show mercy, I would have thrown him into hell myself. For a sinner, being drowned in pain is the greatest salvation. Endless pain numbs emotions and eventually leaves no room to recognize one’s own sins. The greatest punishment for a sinner is making them recognize their own sins.>

I thought I understood what Star meant.

The wicked, whose reincarnation is forbidden, fall into hell and suffer until their souls are worn away and disappear. Endless pain ironically acts as anesthesia. The bodily suffering neutralizes the process of feeling guilt and continuously rationalizing it.

<…Therefore, go to the underworld.>

Star looked at ‘Ever-Burning Mother’.

<It must be a rather familiar place for you, Izanami.>

<Yes.>

‘Ever-Burning Mother’ nodded. Then she looked at Aiden.

<As your Star, I will now terminate our contract.>

With a smile, she spoke to Aiden.

<And I will take you to the underworld.>

Together. Holding hands.

<But this is not a fall.>

It is salvation, ‘Ever-Burning Mother’ said.

<This is the only salvation I can offer you.>