Late at night.
After the encounter with the Star Hated by All, the Demon God returned to the room where he was staying with Vanessa Bernstein. Just as he was trying to step quietly so as not to wake Vanessa Bernstein, who was lying in bed,
“Did you really think I’d be asleep?”
The sound of rustling blankets was followed by Vanessa Bernstein’s whisper.
“Not exactly…”
The Demon God replied with a wry smile.
“…I just hoped you’d be sleeping.”
Because he had shown an embarrassing side of himself.
Surrounded by the Star Hated by All and the Archangel Who Cast Down the King of Hell, it was the first time he had spoken not as a mere human but from his position as a Demon God.
That was natural. At the time of his contract with Vanessa Bernstein, made through the Savior Who Is One and All, the Demon God had already fallen into a human body. At her side, he never radiated hatred toward humanity, nor did he wallow in self-pity over his failed invasion, nor did he long for or regret his days with the demons.
“That’s good, though.”
Vanessa Bernstein’s voice reached his back as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“You can go back to hell now. The being you called ‘father’ is Satan, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“The religious folks would be shocked. Sure, there’s a rumor that Satan is incredibly beautiful, but usually he’s depicted as hideous, isn’t he? I’m a little jealous that you have such a beautiful father.”
She muttered, as if comparing it to her own father, who was a piece of trash.
“Mateo Bernstein…”
The Demon God let out a sigh.
“He was a noble man. The reason he did such vile things to you must’ve been because of me.”
“That doesn’t absolve him.”
Vanessa Bernstein firmly cut him off. Hugging the blanket, she continued.
“But if people learned the truth, they’d likely forgive him. But I won’t. If you argue like that, wasn’t your invasion of the human world also because the Savior Who Is One and All made the world wrong? Judging my father’s guilt is up to me. Forgiving or hating him—those are mine to decide.”
A hero of humanity? What a joke.
Vanessa Bernstein’s whisper tickled the Demon God’s ear.
A moment of silence.
“Are you going back to hell?”
When Vanessa asked, the Demon God nodded.
“…I will.”
“Then why come back here? You could’ve just fallen into hell right away.”
“Hell is for after you die.”
The Demon God chuckled.
“The wicked go to hell after death, and the righteous go to heaven. Isn’t that your doctrine? I haven’t died yet… only when I die will I fall into hell, as promised.”
“You know,” Vanessa started.
“I wanted to know what my father had done to be called the savior of humanity. That’s why I asked the Savior Who Is One and All to contract with you. If heaven is watching all this, they must be terribly ashamed. Their only daughter made a contract with the Demon God. It’s so ridiculous it’s funny.”
It was all for blasphemy.
The daughter of Mateo Bernstein made a contract with the Demon God.
The more she thought about it, the more she laughed. Her feelings toward Mateo Bernstein were close to the pure hatred allowed to a child.
“I was even a little hopeful,” Vanessa murmured softly.
“If you had started to move again to conquer the human world, I wouldn’t have hesitated to join your plans. Even if the Savior Who Is One and All tried to stop us.”
“If I had started moving like that, the Savior Who Is One and All would’ve punished us…”
Yes, if that happened, you would’ve stood by me.
The Demon God murmured.
“If I had tried to reactivate the cores of the high-ranking demons scattered around the world, you would’ve found those grotesque cores fascinating rather than terrifying. You might’ve even found them lovely. Though I’m not sure how the demons would’ve treated you.”
Anyway, I didn’t do that.
And I won’t in the future.
The Demon God whispered as he looked back at Vanessa Bernstein.
“I’ll go to hell… after I’ve grown old as a human.”
Until then, our contract remains valid.
Hearing his whisper, Vanessa, who had been hugging the blanket and turning her back to him, widened her eyes.
“You’ll still be my manager?”
“Well… if you need one.”
“And a friend? Will you be my friend?”
“Were we friends?”
“We were friends.”
“I see.”
The Demon God blushed and scratched his neck.
“If that’s what you want, I will.”
With a bitter smile, the Demon God muttered.
“So let’s sing.”
Because what we need now is a song.
The Demon God firmly believed that. Setting aside salvation and hatred, they would simply sing.
That was all he could think to do at that moment.
We returned to the lodging in a car driven by Star. Throughout the ride, Star remained silent, gripping the steering wheel. While the other members were noisy with excitement over the long-awaited performance, I gazed at Star’s face through the car window.
He was smiling.
Not his usual mischievous grin. It was a soft smile—so much so that it was almost sickening.
After we arrived at the lodging.
“Do you feel a bit relieved now?”
Late at night, while changing clothes, I asked Star.
<What do you mean?>
“You finally met the daughter you longed for.”
<Ah, yes…>
Star loosened his tie with a wry smile.
<When you called our relationship father and daughter, I felt a little breathless. It was similar to when I was stabbed by Michael’s spear. I thought I’d never experience such a shock again…>
“That’s enough flattery.”
I shrugged and sat in a chair, staring at Star without a word.
“You know… I trust you.”
<That feeling probably isn’t mutual. Is that okay?>
“I don’t mind. I supported your plan to save the Demon God simply because I trust you. If you judged it was the right thing, then it probably was. That’s why I stayed quiet. I still haven’t forgiven the Demon God.”<I know.>
Star smiled at me.
<So I’m grateful.>
As Star tugged on the end of his tie, a faint light began to emit from his body. With a rustle, his coat fell to the ground, and his body shrank into the form of a child. Waddling with the oversized clothes, Star approached me.
<We’ve only been together for a very short time.>
With a childish voice, Star said.
<To you, it may have been a long time. But for me, it felt very short. I’ve lived since the moment this world was created, so by human standards, the time I spent with you was but a fleeting moment.>
“That’s true.”
I agreed readily.
My lifespan is finite. In contrast, Star would likely continue to exist until this entire world vanished. To Star, all the aspects of life I experienced might feel like nothing more than a breath exhaled in sleep. All the days we spent together were probably just a momentary sigh in a long slumber—no more, no less.
<To be honest…>
Star smiled mischievously.<I may forget you someday.>
“Well, I never expected you to remember me forever.”
I smiled.
“I might forget you too once I get old. Maybe I’ll get dementia or something.”
<Do you remember why I rebelled against the Savior Who Is One and All?>
“Of course.”
Because I was curious why they turned their backs on paradise.
Why Adam and Eve—the first man and woman of this world—and the progenitors of all races left paradise.
<Yes.>
Star nodded.
<I’ve witnessed countless universes being created and watched them perish. I’ve seen your planet prosper. On that small patch of land, countless civilizations arose like clockwork, and I’ve watched countless times as those rules were broken. It was like…>
He murmured.<Like one single life.>
For one life to exist, a world must exist.
It was a simple contrast. A world is necessary for a life to unfold. Thus, life reflects the state of the world.
<I didn’t notice when you were born, but I will likely witness your death. And I’ll slowly reflect on that memory, then someday forget it. I can’t remember it forever—it’s impossible.>
Sometimes I might suddenly recall it. Sometimes I might never recall it again. That’s our relationship.
Star whispered.
<Even so, you… trusted my decision, even though as a human you couldn’t possibly understand it, even though you might resent me, you watched and accepted it.>
That’s something a god cannot do.
Only a mortal can.
Because beings like me do not possess faith.<It was because you had faith that you watched over me.>
“…Yes, I believe in you.”
I wove the complicated thoughts in my head into a thread of trust. That was my conclusion.
<Thank you, human.>
Star smiled radiantly.
<Your ancestors believed in me and sacrificed countless lives. Though I never asked for that. There were many like them, and I never once considered them my followers. Because the desperate plea that robs others of life isn’t born of faith. If anything, it’s closer to distrust in me.>
That’s why I can say this.
<I, the Star Hated by All, as the king of hell, never received anyone’s faith.>
But now.
<Now, for the first time, I have a follower.>
You are my follower, he said.
Star—the Star Hated by All—whispered to me.<So keep singing for me.>
Because what we need now is a song.
That, it seems, is what Star believes. Setting aside salvation and hatred, they simply sing.
Because that’s the only faith we can hold right now.
Little Pink Starfish 
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