Little Pink Starfish

Two days before departing for Korea,

After Vanessa Bernstein, who had been chattering away late into the night, yawned and headed to bed, the Demon God sat alone in the living room, sipping coffee. Then he opened his laptop and clicked the mouse.

There was something he needed to check.

[<Important> CYB Operations Management Korea Branch]

The Demon God reread the subject line displayed on the screen.

“A concert abroad, huh…”

The email content was formal. Polite greetings appropriate for such a message were followed by words wishing Vanessa Bernstein well. The main point was brief: since the American branch of CYB had the largest scale and its winners had the most influence, they wanted to invite Vanessa Bernstein to hold a concert.

“A concert with Korea’s CYB winners…”

The Demon God tilted his head. The reason seemed plausible, but something about it felt off. Though he hadn’t lived long in the human world, he had studied CYB’s history thoroughly while working as Vanessa’s manager. Exchange events among national CYB winners prior to the world finals were common, but joint concerts were rare. After all, they were potential competitors.

“The world finals are starting next year…”

So why this invitation at this timing?

He scrolled the mouse wheel.

The participating artists’ profiles were listed. Solo winners, male and female; idol group winners, male and female.

“Laurea?”

His eyes stopped on one particular entry.

There was a detail that caught his attention.

“Their Constellation didn’t reveal its Holy Name?”

The Demon God was reading information on Ryu Eunyul. What stood out was that the Constellation supporting him hadn’t revealed its Holy Name. Vanessa Bernstein had given the same explanation when she entered CYB—that her Constellation simply didn’t disclose its Holy Name. That made the Demon God focus even more on Ryu Eunyul’s profile.

“As far as I know, the only ones who won CYB supported by such secretive Constellations are Vanessa…”

And this child.

The Demon God moved his mouse. He reviewed the profiles of all other national winners one by one. He confirmed it. Among all CYB winners worldwide, only Ryu Eunyul and Vanessa Bernstein had Constellations that refused to disclose their Holy Names.

“That’s only natural.”

Winning CYB with an undisclosed Constellation was extremely rare. Often such Constellations either had ulterior motives or signed contracts for reasons unrelated to victory. Like the Trickster God Loki…

“Suspicious.”

The Demon God rested his chin on his hand.

“Not to mention that Vanessa’s the only American CYB winner invited this time…”

There were plausible reasons, of course. Budget limitations. Vanessa Bernstein’s symbolic stature as the daughter of Matteo Bernstein far exceeded the value of the CYB title. It wasn’t just about inviting an American winner; this was an opportunity to interact with Matteo Bernstein’s daughter—a big political win.

“But…”

What if this is a setup?

A scheme to target Vanessa?

No—what if it’s a scheme to target me?

The fact that the Demon God was in the human world was controlled by the Savior Who Is One and All. It was unlikely that He would openly reveal this fact. The Savior operated like a system built on blind order—tearing at that order Himself would be self-contradictory.

“…Am I overthinking this?”

He ran a hand through his hair.

Then he rubbed the table. A crumpled cigarette pack fell into his palm. Rising from his seat, he headed out.

Scree—

The Demon God slid open the glass door and stepped out onto the balcony.

He toyed with his lighter while holding a cigarette in his mouth.

Darkness surrounded him. He liked that. The more humans gathered, the messier things became. Mornings should be bright; nights should be dark. But places thick with humans were blinding even at night with artificial light. The Demon God found such human desires vulgar.

“Why should such pathetic creatures be granted such a beautiful world?”

He sneered, igniting his cigarette.

Smoke curled in the air.

Beyond it, his eyes gleamed sharply.

“I cannot accept it.”

He could never accept it.

What truly separated humans from demons?

Did humans possess some intrinsic sliver of virtue that demons inherently lacked?

“No.”

The Demon God was certain. Demons could seize virtue too. That was the very first step of his rebellion. Demons could form communities, share camaraderie, and act with collective identity. In that way, they weren’t so different from humans. In fact, both species threatened others through their unity. So what made humans and demons truly different?

“I don’t understand.”

He still couldn’t grasp it.

“Why are some born to live in hell…”

While others are born to live in such a beautiful world?

A smile slowly spread across his face.

“I wonder.”

Raising his hand to the night sky, he whispered,

“Why are you here?”

As those words left his mouth—

Plop.

A drop landed in his palm.

Plop. Plop. Plop.

As the sounds of falling droplets echoed, the Demon God looked at his hand.

It wasn’t ordinary rain. It was red.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, crimson rain poured from the sky.

The Demon God rubbed the blood soaking into his palm. Through the faint glow of his burning cigarette tip, he saw blood pooling on the balcony floor, forming a spreading puddle.

It rippled as though breathing.

“Why am I here, you ask…?”

A hand shot up from the puddle, gripping the balcony floor.

“Because…”

A woman’s face emerged from the blood—

“…because I wanted to see you.”

It was none other than Geahrzimen.

The Demon God silently scanned her form up and down. The rain was her true body; the woman stepping from the blood was merely a projection adapted for the human world. This was easy to discern. As Geahrzimen brushed blood off her clothes, she looked fully adjusted to earthly life.

“It’s been a while, Mother.”

She stood gracefully and bowed.

“I never dreamed you were still alive on Earth. If I hadn’t learned it through the Bearer of the Cursed Grail, I would’ve believed you long dead.”

“Am I supposed to apologize?”

The Demon God’s lips curved gently. Unlike his tone when acting as Vanessa Bernstein’s manager, his voice now felt ethereal—no longer of this world.

“I didn’t want to show you myself like this. That’s all.”

“Oh, really?”

Geahrzimen tilted her head.

“I don’t see what’s changed though? What’s different from your days as a demon?”

“My wings are gone. My horns are gone. My tail’s gone too.”

“None of those were any use anyway. Your wings were too small to fly, your horns too blunt to pierce anything, and your tail was thin as thread.”

“Geahrzimen…”

The Demon God smiled.

“My child. You must’ve held a lot of resentment.”

“Of course!”

Her gaze sharpened.

“If you won CYB by contracting with Vanessa Bernstein, you’ve been in the human world for at least a year. Why didn’t you come see me? Why did none of the high-ranking demons except the Bearer of the Cursed Grail even know you were alive? Did you abandon us? Well, I don’t care. I betrayed you too. But you know what you said: ‘Live as you wish.’ So I simply obeyed that.”

Though I never told you to live however you pleased, he thought bitterly.

“I have one question.”

Geahrzimen reached out. Her hand brushed his neck. Her human-looking hand had turned into a sharp, blood-red demon’s claw.

“What is your goal, Mother?”

Why did you return to this world?

Why did the Savior Who Is One and All place you here?

She demanded.

“Well… I guess I somehow got the chance to destroy the human world again… The Savior Who Is One and All was willing… And I planned to use Matteo Bernstein’s daughter, who killed me…”

So I came to Earth, I suppose.

He mumbled, blank-faced.

“You’re lying.”

Geahrzimen withdrew her claw.

Drip. Drip—

The rain stopped. The blood pooled around her feet.

“If you truly meant that, I would’ve killed you.”

She tilted her head at him.

“I mean it.”

The Demon God flicked his ash.

“Don’t lie. I can easily tell your truths from your lies. Right now, you’ve abandoned all ambition…”

You’re just waiting for death, aren’t you?

“Honestly, I’m relieved.”

A smile spread on her lips.

“I like this world better than hell.”

“If you’re content here, I’m glad.”

The Demon God answered softly.

“But I don’t particularly like the human world. Hell was already ruined from the start, but the human world is decaying, and that disgusts me. If I still had power, maybe I would try another invasion. But I have nothing left.”

“Indeed.”

Your only power was your will.

And now, even that is gone.

At her words—

“Yes.”

The Demon God nodded.

“I have no will left.”

So I am nothing at all.

He whispered.