Little Pink Starfish

Fathers are strange beings.

For instance, the Savior Who Is One and All called himself the father of Starlight and Mika. It wasn’t only them. In the days when his existence wasn’t yet proven—when only religion flourished without confirmation of the Constellations—he was orally passed down as Almighty Father, or Father of All Creation.

Ironically, after it was proven that the Savior Who Is One and All truly existed—in other words, in my era—he became distant from the title of “Father of All.” It was only natural. A being who could erase the entire universe with a mere flick of his finger as a father? That belonged in the realm of fictional mythology.

To be honest, I always thought that old humanity, who worshiped the Savior Who Is One and All as their father, was a bit foolish.

Worshiping gods makes sense. That’s a habit deeply engraved in human history. You could even call it instinctive—a tendency to revere transcendent beings. Proof of humanity’s long-standing cunning nature.

‘But calling him Father seems like a stretch.’

No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like too much.

And yet…

“Oh my, it seems Kkomul is sad that Father is leaving.”

Geahrzimen spoke with a sly smile. Kkomul had his face buried into Geahrzimen’s body.

‘Please stop doing that with my face…’

I couldn’t help but think that, though a bitter smile crept onto my lips.

We were fully prepared to leave the guesthouse. It was time to return to our restored residence and prepare to receive Vanessa Bernstein and the Demon God.

“So this is…”

Han Iro spoke in disbelief.

“…the same species as the Abyssal Sea King Muddorok who appeared in Incheon. That bizarre creature Starlight created.”

<I’ll admit it was bizarre. But it looked far more demonic and impressive than this little thing.>

“You actually thought it looked impressive? The photo of Muddorok in the textbooks just looked like a giant fish to me.”

<Well, in Hell, it was considered quite an attractive appearance. Hence the title Abyssal Sea King.>

“Ah, I see… Anyway, Eunyul created something quite amazing while participating in CYB.”

“It really is amazing.”

Jeong Noeul chimed in quietly.

“Even though it looks like that, Kkomul is incredibly strong. If it weren’t for Kkomul, I would have died to Enoch.”

“I’m sorry for putting you in danger…”

Madojin bowed his head toward Jeong Noeul.

“It’s not something you need to apologize for, Dojin-hyung. It was Enoch’s fault.”

“But still, I am his descendant…”

“Seems like you’ve gotten quite used to human society. You even understand concepts like inherited guilt.”

<Let’s leave it at that, everyone.>

Mika’s voice interrupted.<We need to depart. We must arrive before evening.>

Mika opened the driver’s seat of the van.

<Things will get busy from now on. Starting next week, we’ll return to our normal schedules. The Constellations, including myself, have worked hard to repair the world after the incidents surrounding Aiden. The distortions have mostly been fixed. You can all resume your activities as if nothing happened.>

“How about you go say goodbye?”

Min Heejae nudged my arm.

“We probably won’t see them again for a while.”

“…I know.”

I shrugged and approached Kkomul.

Just last night we’d talked amicably, and in many ways, Kkomul had acted far more mature than I had. Seeing him like this now felt strangely awkward.

But thinking about it, Kkomul hadn’t even existed for a full year yet. If I compared him to someone similar, Madojin came to mind… Considering the unknown purity that Madojin carried, I could understand Kkomul acting like this.

“Kkomul.”

As I spoke, I wondered if I should’ve given him a better name.

“Can you come here for a moment?”

Kkomul looked at me while clinging to Geahrzimen’s hem. His eyes were red and swollen, as if he’d cried quite a bit.

‘I see.’

That must be what I look like when I cry too… I thought, forcing a silly smile as I placed my hand on Kkomul’s shoulder.

“Is it because you don’t want me to leave?”

<That’s not it.>

Kkomul replied in a tiny voice.

“Then why did you cry?”<There are a few reasons.>

Kkomul leaned close and whispered in my ear.

<First, Master, you’ll soon meet the Demon God. I think you’ll grow sad as you learn more about the depths of this world.>

I wasn’t sure about sadness, but I was certainly prepared for confusion. After all, this world was filled with transcendental beings to the point that humanity itself felt scarce. I seemed to know these things a bit more than most, and soon I would face the weak Demon God—a public enemy among transcendents. I was simply following Starlight’s goal as his friend. I couldn’t claim to be mentally prepared. It was all beyond my understanding.

<Second, as you know, Geahrzimen and I are also heading to meet the Demon God. You and the Star Hated by All share the same goal, but ours is slightly different. We plan to move faster. So I think…>

Kkomul hesitated for a moment.<This may be our final meeting.>

He casually announced our farewell.

“Wasn’t that supposed to be a secret?”

Geahrzimen asked Kkomul.

<But with Master…>

“You felt you had to tell him? I do support your cute pseudo-parental bond, but telling him changes nothing.”

With a sigh, Geahrzimen narrowed her eyes and stared at me.

“Why do you look at me like that? I plan to meet the Demon God, hear her true intentions, and return to Hell. Kkomul will accompany me. Do you have any questions?”

“…Why is it suddenly turning out this way?”

You liked Earth’s scenery, didn’t you?

…or so I was about to say.

“Of course, I do love Earth’s scenery.”

Geahrzimen smiled faintly.

“But, Mr. Eunyul, word travels fast in this world. Now that the Demon God’s whereabouts are known to me and to the King of Hell, it won’t take long for the other Constellations or demons to catch on. From your perspective, it might feel like a long time. Maybe ten years? Within ten years, her location will likely be exposed, and another era of turmoil might arise.”<I will prevent that.>

Starlight, who had quietly approached, spoke.<The Gates shall not open again. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that.>

“Oh my, really? Then will you return to the throne for the sake of Hell’s people?”

<That…>

Starlight glanced at me. After all, we were still bound by contract. A Constellation’s contract continues until either the Constellation severs it, or the human dies. For Starlight to return to Hell would mean ending our contract.

“Please stay in the human world, King of Hell.”

<Yes, the Star Hated by All belongs here.>

Geahrzimen and Kkomul smiled.

“I intend to return to Hell to establish a force that can replace your absence. If the demons learn the Demon God is alive, they may try to reopen the Gates and invade Earth.”

I nodded.

It’s common for nations to romanticize their past wars even centuries later. Even knowing their ancestors committed atrocities, they still feel inexplicable nostalgia for an era they never lived through.

It would be the same for the demons. To them, the Demon God represents the first unification of their race, and their largest invasion of Earth. They would naturally feel longing for that.

“Rest assured. We plan to stop that.”

Geahrzimen told Starlight.

<You…>

Starlight’s eyes narrowed.

<You plan to bring not only yourselves but all the scattered demons back to Hell, don’t you?>

“Probably.”

Geahrzimen shrugged.

“Many of them have grown quite attached to life on Earth. Ironically, that’s made them more hesitant to invade. Who can blame them? This planet is so beautiful.”

<…So you’ll gather them all and form an anti-invasion faction in Hell.>

“Exactly. Though before that, I’ll confirm with my mother.”

Whether she still intends to reinvade Earth.

Geahrzimen murmured.<That child has likely given up.>

“I think so too. But you never know. If she hasn’t, I’ll kill her myself. Will you permit that?”

<…I permit it.>

“Good.”

With a small chuckle, Geahrzimen held Kkomul out toward me.

“I told you before: leaving without a proper goodbye is the best way to promise a reunion.”

<But I didn’t want to lie to Master.>

Kkomul frowned slightly at Geahrzimen, then turned to me.

<So that’s how it is, Master.>

“…Ah, I see.”

It was all so sudden, I didn’t know what to say. This little being who looked like me would soon return to Hell and become the new Abyssal Sea King? No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t feel real.

“I don’t know what to say.”

I spoke honestly to Kkomul.

“Is there anything you want me to say? Anything at all. Because whatever I say, it’ll be sincere.”

<I don’t really have anything I want you to say.>

Kkomul smiled.

<But I hope you’ll remember our conversation last night.>

You’ve grown up well…

And so have I.

Kkomul whispered with a smile.

<Right?>

“Of course.”

You’re my creation, after all…

I thought as I placed my hand on Kkomul’s head.

“Thank you for growing up so well.”<Thank you for growing up so well.>

Mimicking my words,

with my face, with my voice,

Kkomul added a tiny word at the end.

<…Father.>

Our Father, who art in heaven.