Little Pink Starfish

The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell was, alongside the Star Hated by All, one of the oldest Stars.

Thus, there was little shapeless knowledge unknown to him. If anything remained unknown, it would be why he and the Star Hated by All were created in the first place. Where did the Savior Who Is One and All, who created them, come from? How did He come into being?

When the Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell first opened his eyes, he was gazing at the Star Hated by All.

Looking at the Star Hated by All, with his abundant golden hair and transparent blue eyes, the Archangel first recognized his own sense of self. Just like a human seeing their reflection in a stream for the first time.

It must have been the same for the Star Hated by All. His brother likely formed his sense of self by seeing him. The Creator, the Savior Who Is One and All, explained this entire process.

[Thus, you have become brothers who are one and two.]

Those were the first words he heard from his Father.

<…Brothers?>

It was the Star Hated by All who asked the next question. And thus, he became the older brother of the Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell. Had he spoken first, perhaps the roles would have been reversed.

‘That’s a bit unfortunate.’

The Archangel smiled bitterly.

[Indeed, brothers.]

The Savior Who Is One and All answered.

[You are similar yet ultimately dissimilar; your bond will create many results but will bear no life; each of you will believe yourselves superior to the other, but in truth, neither will surpass the other.]

<That is… brotherhood.>

Hearing His words, the Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell nodded.

If the Star Hated by All questioned the Creator’s design, he himself accepted the Creator’s reasoning. He realized it had always been that way.

Their Father was the Savior Who Is One and All. They were brothers who were one and two.

The Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell and the Star Hated by All stood beside the Creator as His first and second creations, witnessing the birth of the world.

‘I saw the light sparkle.’

The Archangel reminisced.

What had been a mere point of light burst outward in all directions, and the circular expanse it reached became the universe. The Savior Who Is One and All called this the world.

<…What is the world?>

Looking down at the nascent universe, the Star Hated by All asked.

[The world is the realm where our powers will be realized.]

<And what is our power?>

The Star Hated by All frowned. Seeing his brother’s expression, the Archangel understood: the Star Hated by All was displeased with this world. If he tried, he too could glare at the Creator with such a scowl.

But he did not wish to wear that expression.

<The world… is the place we are to govern. And our power is the strength given to us to rule this world.>

Thus, the Archangel whispered to the Star Hated by All.

<Look. Soon, beings like us will arise on that small star. But they will be far more incompetent than we are. For we cannot govern creations superior to ourselves.>

[That is correct. Nothing in this universe will surpass you, or even Me.]

Hearing this, the Archangel smiled.

Merely receiving his Father’s agreement brought him indescribable joy.<How dull.>

The Star Hated by All smirked.

Then he addressed the Savior Who Is One and All.

<You claim to be omnipotent as our Father?>

[Indeed.]

<But doesn’t omnipotence require creating something greater than yourself? Father, you cannot be omnipotent until you create something superior to you. In fact, omnipotence is an illusion. If you create something greater than yourself, that being will in turn create one greater still. Thus, true omnipotence can never exist.>

The Star Hated by All was speaking of possibility.

Now, the Archangel could understand.

‘My brother judged that the very existence of an omnipotent being stagnates the world.’

Perhaps the Star Hated by All didn’t fully realize it himself, but he seemed created to question the Savior Who Is One and All.

He himself was the one who affirmed the Creator—a role of acceptance.

The Star Hated by All was the one who questioned Him—a role of denial.

He always accepted the Savior’s judgment; his brother always questioned it. This distinction defined the positions of himself and the Star Hated by All.

<…Therefore.>

Precisely because of this.

<I will ask you, my omnipotent Father.>

In Heaven’s white expanse, as he watched Jeong Hangyeol’s soul disperse into light, the Archangel turned.

<…Are you satisfied with this world?>

Jeong Hangyeol could not answer. It was not due to his inherent incompetence as a creature who chose death, but rather, the Archangel thought, a privilege. Creatures were free from the responsibility of judging the world. But Stars—and above all, the Savior Who Is One and All—could not be free of such questions.

[An interesting question, my son.]

The Savior Who Is One and All appeared, taking the form of the Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell.

The only difference was that He took on the Archangel’s appearance from when he had first been created.

In other words, He now faced him in his childlike form, calling him son.

Facing his Father in this childlike version of himself, the Archangel felt an odd pressure.

[Of course, I…]

In a voice so young it sounded innocent, the Savior spoke.

[Am never satisfied with this world.]

<Then let me ask again, Father.>

The Archangel stepped closer to Him.

He knelt, bringing himself eye-level with the Savior.

<If You are not satisfied, does this world have any reason to exist?>

Why would a Creator maintain a world He found unsatisfactory? The Archangel spoke his question. The Savior Who Is One and All could erase all of creation in an instant. Neither himself, who led the angels, nor the Star Hated by All, who reigned among the demons, were exceptions.

<Why, after proclaiming his fall, do You let the Star Hated by All live?>

[You are curious why I continue to witness this world’s flaws.]

<Yes, Father. You could turn this world into paradise at any moment. Or destroy every creature. To You, salvation or destruction would be but trivial processes. So I wonder—why do You not count every creature? Why do You not hate every creature?>

Or—why do You not return them all to nothingness?

The Archangel asked.

[My son.]

After a brief silence, the Savior spoke.

Still using the childlike voice of the young Archangel, He smiled brightly.

[That question… your brother asked long ago.]

<…The Star Hated by All asked the same question?>

[Yes. And I answered like this.]

The Savior inhaled, then gave an astonishingly simple answer.

[Because I am afraid.]

The Archangel doubted his ears. The omnipotent Creator spoke of fear. There was no being who could threaten the Savior Who Is One and All. Yet He said He was afraid.

<…Afraid of what?>

[I am afraid of you.]

Smiling softly, the Savior said.

[You, who have always unconditionally agreed with Me, terrify Me. Though I gave you free will, you have always accepted every opinion I have presented since the world’s creation. It is unsettling.]

And likewise, He feared the Star Hated by All.

[He has always questioned Me. Eventually, he even sought to rebel against Me. Of course, I implanted that doubt in him—but even that unsettles Me.]

Then the Savior slowly listed His fears.

Some lives are so transparent they are frightening. Some live only for themselves—frighteningly so. Some are disfigured—so hideous they are frightening, or so beautiful they are frightening.

The Savior feared everything He had created.

[Through all of you, I realize My own flaws. And thus, I feel that I am alive.]

The omnipotent being created this world to recognize His imperfections.

Thus, the world’s flaws held value for the Savior.

For flaws were transparent desires, proof that He was alive.

[That is why I have kept it alive.]

Smiling gently, the Savior whispered.

[…The Demon God.]