Chapter 61

A very long time ago, in the days when Lucifer was called one of the Five Great Archangels alongside Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel.

Lucifer had always wondered why only Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael were known as the “Three Great Archangels.”

Curiosity turned to dissatisfaction, which then grew into his fall from grace. But this is a story before that fall.

This is the tale of Lucifer’s time as an angel, when curiosity and dissatisfaction coexisted.

“Michael.”

“What troubles you, Lucifer?”

An angel with pure white wings approached Michael.

“I pride myself on knowing everything about the world…”

“…”

“But there are exactly two things I don’t know. Can you tell me them?”

“What do you wish to know?”

“The secrets of the world known only to you three great archangels: the Lord and Chaos.”

Sitting atop clouds soft as cotton, Lucifer and Michael watched the sunset fade.

The twilight reflecting upon the celestial realm bathed their faces in red.

“I’ve heard that you three great archangels have met the Lord.”

“The Lord…”

“But not me. That’s why I’ve always wondered—just who is the one who created me? Who do I serve? What does He look like? Why can’t I see Him if He’s out there?”

“Lucifer, you lack the necessary standing. Though you’re gifted, you’ll soon realize the truth. Wait for that day.”

“So in the end, you can’t tell me either, Michael? Like Gabriel and Raphael?”

“…I’ve already warned you once. When you’re ready, the Lord will come to you directly. Don’t let greed take root. Greed turns to desire, and desire becomes disrespect.”

Michael was firm. Lucifer frowned slightly.

He felt disrespected. Even though he knew Michael would never truly disrespect him—

“Fine, whatever. Then can you tell me about Chaos?”

“Chaos, huh.”

“Chaos. Translated literally, it means ‘chaos.’ There’s nothing written about it in the Celestial Library, where all the books in the world supposedly reside. Not even one book exists that studies Chaos. The only mention of Chaos is in Evans’ work, but that’s all there is.”

“Lucifer.”

“What.”

“Forget about Chaos. It’s futile.”

“…”

Snap.

Always the same answer.

And every time he heard that same answer—

Lucifer harbored anger deep within his heart.

Because he was arrogant.

Unlike others who genuinely respected and followed Michael,

he wondered why he couldn’t know the truth, why he couldn’t stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the three archangels, why he couldn’t stand beside the Lord at the peak of the celestial realm.

“Hmph, well done. You three keep your secrets to yourselves while angels who don’t know the so-called ‘truth’ are just left behind.”

It was a mutter filled with dissatisfaction.

Something easily overlooked, a small grumble.

But for an angel who must remain absolutely pure, it was a thought that should never have been uttered.

“…Lucifer, say that again.”

“What?”

“Repeat what you just said. I want to hear it again.”

“Hah! You think you’re so great, Michael! Including you, both Raphael and Gabriel—you’re all so great! Except me!”

“Lucifer.”

“What? This talk about the Five Great Archangels? Nonsense! What makes me or Uriel archangels if we don’t even grasp the so-called ‘truth’?”

“Lucifer.”

“Ah—I’d love to meet that magnificent and great Lord too. Why does this ‘truth’ feel so out of reach? Is it because I lack the proper standing? No one in this world is more beautiful than me, yet I lack the proper standing?”

“Lucifer!”

Suddenly, Michael raised his voice. Only then did Lucifer realize how reckless he’d been and closed his mouth.

“Lucifer.”

Calling out Lucifer’s name, Michael raised both hands. Grabbing Lucifer by the cheeks, Michael faced him directly.

Michael’s eyes were closed. Lucifer had never seen Michael open his eyes. Yet for some reason, Lucifer felt like Michael’s closed eyes saw through his appearance and into his very soul.

It was terrifying. It felt like all his flaws were being exposed. Yet he couldn’t move. Michael’s overwhelming ‘power’ pinned him down completely.

“You’ve harbored evil in your heart.”

Michael’s lips moved. The evening glow illuminated the right side of his face.

“I advise you to abandon it. If you cannot rid yourself of the darkness in your heart, Lucifer, you may lose your pure white wings.”

“…”

Their conversation ended there that day. Lucifer ignored Michael’s advice and eventually embraced his arrogance, losing his pristine white wings.

Now, as a demon, Lucifer has no nostalgia for his days as an angel.

Yet sometimes, he reflects.

If only he had listened to that advice back then…

What kind of life would he be living now?

Even now, it was the same.

Splutter… Clap…

“Ugh… ugh…”

Desperately crawling along the ground in a bid to survive, the angel gradually turned to ash under his gaze.

An angel who once stood on equal footing with him but chose a different path.

For a moment, the fallen angel wondered.

Had he become stagnant like festering pus, destined to burst miserably?

That’s when it happened.

Flap!

Nine massive pairs of wings filled the vast sky above the Demon Forest.

* * *

Clap… My body burns. I don’t know how much longer I can keep going, clawing at the ground like this.

Geehpyahya.

Geehpyahya.

Stop it.

I am Archangel Uriel, not your firewood.

Flames of righteousness, I am not sin.

I… am… not… sin… right?

Confusion in my mind, excruciating pain, choking fumes.

A vivid memory stands out amidst all this. Like a deathbed flashback, whether you’re an angel or human makes no difference.

Perhaps she…

My comrade, that great angel, foresaw this situation.

“Michael! What is the meaning of this!”

Bang!

Storming into the temple, I confront an angel with flowing golden hair catching the sunlight.

Archangel Michael.

One of the original angels, one of the Three Great Archangels.

Unlike me.

“Why have you reclaimed the power of千里眼 (clairvoyance) granted to me by the Lord!”

Bang! I slammed my palm on the desk Michael was working at. Despite the provocation, Michael didn’t flinch.

“That power doesn’t suit you, Uriel.”

“How dare you judge something given by the Lord!”

“It’s because you haven’t reached ‘the Truth,’ Uriel.”

While I was agitated, Michael remained calm and composed.

But not light-hearted. That’s what makes Michael frightening.

“Extermination isn’t inherently wrong, Uriel, but your frequency is excessive. Having the power of clairvoyance might be dangerous for you.”

Still, this was unacceptable.

“Why did you forget that I was the one who informed Gabriel about Lucifer’s presence on Earth in the past!”

“I remember, Uriel. And I’m grateful for it, worthy of praise even. But even so, clairvoyance doesn’t suit you now.”

“Then explain! What’s wrong with extermination and judgment? Isn’t eliminating evil always good?”

“-Why don’t you understand.”

Michael’s eyes remained closed. Though his golden irises lie beyond those lids, he has never opened his eyes. Smooth eyelids cover the space where his eyes should be.

“Judgment means mercy and compassion. Breaking the cycle of sin. Why don’t you understand.”

“The cycle of sin breaks when you kill!”

“No. When you kill an evildoer, their descendants will hate you. Most won’t be able to exact revenge on you, Uriel, but you’ll still bear millions of curses. That’s not judgment.”

“Then what do you expect me to do? Show mercy and compassion? Do you really think that will work on evildoers? Do you know who they are?”

“As I’ve said before, I’m not against extermination. Just reduce the frequency. When you feel it’s okay again, I’ll return your clairvoyance.”

Michael.

The greatest among archangels.

One of the Three Great Archangels alongside Raphael and Gabriel.

Someone who has grasped ‘the Truth’ that I could not.

Normally, someone I should obey.

“I can’t accept this, Michael!”

Back then, I was angry with Michael. Jealousy wasn’t absent either.

We’re both archangels, so why only you three…

“And if ‘the Truth’ is so great, why don’t you just tell me verbally!”

“Uriel, truth is something you must discover yourself. It can’t be taught. All I can advise is… to let go of your excessive zeal. That’s all.”

“Hah!”

“Understand, Uriel. You’re straying. A brief detour is fine, but if you go too far down the wrong path, it may lead to irreversible consequences.”

“If the Truth was so easy to grasp, I would have done it already!”

I know Michael doesn’t speak lightly.

She is the most noble among all angels, the Lord’s representative.

Wisdom incarnate, overseeing all creation. All three great archangels are like this.

-Except me.

Frustration welled up. My chest felt tight, and I wanted to vent my anger.

Angels aren’t perfect beings. They’re just a little smarter, live a little longer, and are a little stronger than humans.

Perfection refers only to the three great archangels and the Lord.

“Do you know why I closed my eyes and stopped seeing the light of the world?”

“…You never told me.”

“To avoid distinguishing between friend and foe. All beings are governed by emotions, making perfectly rational judgments nearly impossible unless you’re a machine. I’m no exception.

So I closed my eyes. To judge based solely on the situation without distinguishing between enemy and ally. To be equally harsh or lenient to all rather than harsh to enemies and lenient to allies.

That’s what a judge should be. Since you claim to be the Lord’s representative, I believe you should at least have this mindset.”

“…”

“I know it sounds like empty words to you. Nevertheless, you must keep this in mind.”

Michael never speaks falsely.

“Uriel, I could make you self-destruct with just a few words without using any powers. It’s not because I’m extraordinary, but because you’re straying.”

Knowing this, I should have heeded her warning.

“So far, you’ve been fine. Your targets were all beneath you. But don’t forget, there are supreme beings you don’t know about. The moment you meet one of them, and they casually whisper a few words to you, you’ll experience self-destruction.”

Of course, I didn’t.

“I hope you’ll soon discover ‘the Truth’ on your own, reflect on the past, and stand by my side, Uriel. You’re virtuous. Perhaps there are few as steadfastly virtuous as you in the celestial realm. However, you’re blinded by that virtue and fail to see around you. Take note of this. Bamboo is beautiful because it’s straight, but bamboo standing alone looks barren.”

I didn’t understand what Michael was saying and became even more fixated on extermination and judgment. The pressure to grasp the elusive Truth and the humiliation of being a secondary archangel instead of one of the three great archangels whipped me mercilessly.

As a result, it came to this.

Whoosh!

“Keeeaaaah!”

Long ago, my wings burned away in the flames. The white robes draped over my body have turned to black ash.

I’m an idiot.

An idiot who couldn’t see the sides.

An idiot who couldn’t see behind.

An idiot who could only look forward.

“Kee… ah… uuuh…”

Lord.

Holy, merciful, noble Lord.

Cruel Lord. Resentful Lord. Ruthless Lord.

Why do You send such trials my way?

How should I live now?

I have sinned.

I have sinned.

I have misunderstood and misinterpreted Your will, committing sacrilege.

However, it was never my intention to disrespect You. It’s merely due to my dullness.

Now, with my wings torn and powers gone,

What should I do?

Should I endure this punishment forever and vanish?

Is that truly Your will?

Flap!

At that moment, eighteen snow-white wings descended upon me.

In a daze, I looked up to see a face I believed I’d never see again.

“Mi… Mi… Michael…?”

“Uriel.”

Here comes the real deal.

Not one, but three of them.

“It’s not me! Michael, Raphael, Gabriel! I didn’t do this to Uriel! I’m innocent!”

The demon caught in the gaze of the three archangels frantically waves his hands.

Desperate. Not the proud arrogance of a demon of pride.

Lucifer knows.

These three are not ones he can triflingly deal with.

It’s ironic. Lucifer, who once disrespected the Lord these three serve, is groveling before their servants now.

Well, that’s pride for you. Thinking you can belittle what you shouldn’t. Demons aren’t demons for nothing. They’re ugly because they are.

“Look at that guy! It’s Chaos! That Chaos over there! The Chaos you’ve kept so secretively has done this to Uriel!”

My ancestor points at me. Honestly, my ancestor resembles me—how cunning to throw his descendant under the bus just to survive. Expected, but still.

“Uriel… What has happened to you…”

A boyish face, so gentle it could soothe even the hardest hearts, kneels before Uriel lying prostrate.

The Archangel Raphael, ‘healer of the sick traveler.’

“…I see. So it has come to this. How sorrowful. Uriel, you were once the most upright of angels…”

The gray-winged angel bitterly mutters beside Uriel. Known for announcing the Messiah’s birth to the Virgin Mary.

The Archangel Gabriel, ‘the strongest of all.’

“Lord, please grant Your mercy. No matter how many ages pass, we remain foolish. To embrace and forgive our mistakes warmly—that was Your teaching, was it not?”

The angel with gently closed eyes takes Uriel’s burning hand in both of hers, pressing it to her forehead before earnestly praying.

The Archangel Michael, ‘closest to the Lord.’

Any holy order follower witnessing this would foam at the mouth and die of holiness. Unfortunately, Beatrice, the sole holy nation believer here, is unconscious.

The flames consuming Uriel gradually subside as Raphael infuses divine power to heal the indelible wounds on Uriel’s body. His torn wings, however, cannot be restored.

“I know, Lucifer. I saw everything with my千里眼.”

Michael’s closed eyes turn toward me. Her flawless face gazes intently at me.

It’s slightly nerve-wracking. These three are fundamentally different from Uriel or Lucifer.

They, like me and the saintess, have realized the truth. My crude eloquence cannot break the lofty fortress they’ve built. Right now, there’s no way I can scratch them, even if I were resurrected a hundred times.

She’s been watching with her千里眼? I already knew that. In fact, I counted on it.

Uriel is an archangel. Both Uriel and Lucifer envied the three archangels, but these three don’t. Excluding the completely fallen Lucifer, perhaps no one loves Uriel as much as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael do.

To kill Uriel? Unthinkable. Unless you want to be ripped apart by angels.

That’s why I didn’t kill Uriel. I just bluffed a bit, knowing these three would arrive soon.

It’s also the reason I planted the seed of madness in Uriel. What was it called again? 心魔? 走火入魔? I can’t quite remember. The Eastern Demon King mentioned it in my past life, but memories of that time are hazy.

“Grrr… Woof woof! Woof woof woof!”

“What is it, Aru? Why are you barking?”

“Power, too much! Young demon, hide behind me! Woof woof!”

“What? Are you trying to protect me now? You were picking your ear back there when I was facing Uriel.”

“I trusted the young demon! Woof woof woof! But not them! No matter how amazing the young demon is, they’re too strong! Run! I’ll buy you time!”

Seriously? Are you trying to die for me now? Protecting me?

“Woof woof! Hurry! No time!”

Such a cute guy. Still, dogs are loyal to their masters. Or maybe this goes beyond loyalty, sacrificing his life? Anyway, it’s touching.

But now’s not the time for Aru to step in.

Crunch.

I press my palm onto Aru’s fluffy head and step forward. Aru growls in protest, but I have a plan.

With one hand, I tip my magician’s hat backward and bow to the angels, keeping my head high.

“Pleased to meet you, ladies and gentlemen! I am Oscar Lucifer, your youngest sibling and baby angel! How was the show, may I ask?”

The three angels look at me. They must find me strange and repulsive, having damaged their beloved Uriel so badly.

But because they love Uriel more than anything—

They have to follow my words.

“Looks like you didn’t enjoy the show, judging by your expressions… Can’t help it! Just like writers can’t please everyone, I can’t create performances that satisfy all angels! Still, even professionals need to clean up after their shows, right?”

“What is it you want to say, magician?”

Michael asks calmly but without warmth.

I grin.

“With his wings torn off, Uriel can’t return to heaven, unlike me who was summoned here. Coming here without permission from both heavenly and demonic realms, your stay in the demon world is limited, and most of your powers are restricted. Therefore, Uriel inevitably has to stay here alone—but wait, in this state, he’s weak enough to die naturally or be eaten by wandering beasts. Without a guardian, it’s the end for him, right?”

Actually, this isn’t the conclusion of today’s show.

It’s the highlight.

“I’ll give you four options! Lucifer, Lucifer’s descendant, the wolf girl raised by Lucifer’s descendant, and the holy knight following said descendant—who do you choose? Oh, if you kill me, the options of the holy knight and the wolf girl disappear, naturally!”

Today’s show is a balance game.

Go ahead and choose.

Great Angel Lords.

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