After
"Su-Hyeon…."
The cigarette he had discarded was still smoldering, gray smoke curling into the air. She stared blankly at the spot where he had stood, then let out a long sigh. Suddenly, a crushing loneliness swept over her body, making her shudder.
Rather than being unable to intervene… it's more like you just won't, isn't it, Seraph? Or should I say, you just don't want to?
And yet, for something that calls itself an angel, their actions are even more petty than those bastards… Tsk, tsk.
No matter which angel comes to assist me, I have no intention of getting along with them.
Every word he had spoken resurfaced in her mind, and each one became a sharp dagger piercing deep into Seraph's heart. Her head was in such turmoil that she still hadn't lowered the hand she had reached out, trying to stop him when he left the summoning chamber.
You said you had something to say… but it was nothing but pointless talk. Anyway, don't call me for something like this again.
"Just…."
There was no one in the summoning chamber. And yet, Seraph spoke.
Her gaze remained fixed on the spot where he had stood. She knew there was no one there, yet she couldn't stop herself—as if hoping he might still hear her.
"I just… wanted to see if you were doing well…."
Her trembling voice trailed off, and with a forlorn expression, she slowly withdrew her outstretched hand.
Even so, her eyes remained fixed on the portal he had just disappeared into, unable to look away.
*
During the first life, Seraph always maintained a calm and composed demeanor. Though there were rare moments when she faltered, they were so few and far between that they could be counted on one hand. Because of this, seeing her raise her voice or frown was an uncommon sight.
Before I knew it, Seraph had regained her usual composure. When she saw me turn away, she seemed slightly relieved and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Please give me a moment. I have something to say. It won't take long."
"...."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of desperation.
And the moment I looked at her face, a memory surfaced—our final farewell in the first life.
"Player Kim Su-Hyeon… Are you truly willing to endure those ten painful years again?"
"Please… be happy."
In a way, the reason I was able to rise so quickly in this second life was partly thanks to her. While it was true that I had spent my GP, without the special perks granted by an angel's favor, it would have been much harder to move so freely.
During my first life, my starting stats weren't particularly impressive—aside from resistance and agility. I had confidence in my abilities, of course, but without this newfound rapid growth or my unconventional choices (like accepting Vivienne as a companion), I wouldn't have progressed nearly as fast.
Various thoughts swirled in my mind. After some brief deliberation, I decided that hearing her out wouldn't be a bad idea. I disliked angels, but like it or not, for now, we were in a cooperative relationship. That alone was reason enough to at least listen to what she had to say.
With that thought settled, I sat down and finally spoke.
"…Alright. What is it you want to say? And who the hell is Sandalphon?"
Though my voice had softened just a little, I didn't bother easing the scowl on my face.
Even so, Seraph seemed relieved as she began to explain.
"I will tell you everything. Sandalphon is a helper assigned to another player. Ever since you graduated from the Player Academy, she has been persistently requesting that I transfer you to her jurisdiction."
Hmm. I fell into deep thought at her response. In other words, from the player's perspective, it meant requesting a change of their assigned angel. And certainly, it wasn't entirely unheard of. Rare, but not impossible. I had heard a few cases where a player's assigned angel had changed during my first life.
Once they entered Hall Plain, angels had to guide their players in a good… no, in the direction they wanted. The key point here was that it wasn't necessarily a beneficial or helpful direction, but one that they desired. That meant angels had their own agenda—something they wanted to achieve through their players.
Understanding the situation in an instant, I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle.
"…Ha. Really? Why did they ask for a replacement?"
"...."
Seraph didn't answer immediately. As I met her gaze with a knowing expression, she bit her lower lip slightly before finally parting her delicate lips to speak.
"Ever since you entered Hall Plain, Player Kim Su-Hyeon's progress has been astounding. In just over a month, you have explored two dungeons—and successfully cleared them both. In particular, as a Year 0th player, your defeat of the high-ranking demon Belphegor has been recognized as a remarkable achievement by all angels. However…"
Seraph hesitated to speak, which was unlike her. Her face also showed signs of deep contemplation. I didn't rush her and simply waited patiently for her to continue. Noticing my demeanor, she finally spoke in a careful tone.
"…Player Kim Su-Hyeon, I believe you need to improve your relationship with me."
"Hmm."
At her declaration, I let out a low hum. So that's what this was about. My guess had been correct.
Feeling slightly amused, I pulled out a cigarette from my inner pocket. Holding it lightly between my lips, I lit it up. Seraph's emerald eyes didn't waver in the slightest. In a way, smoking in front of an angel was a bit ironic, but she didn't stop me.
Well, even in my first life, I had smoked in front of her before. And back then, she hadn't said anything about it either.
As I took a deep drag, I felt a bit more at ease. Seraph, watching my actions with a calm expression, eventually spoke again.
"I won't repeat what you already know about the role of angels. However, there's something I'm curious about. Player Kim Su-Hyeon, why do you dislike me so much?"
"Hah. If you were in my shoes, would you like the person who dragged you into this Hall Plain?"
"…That is true. But I don't think that's the real reason."
"What?"
I glanced at Seraph, who had just denied my words. She was shaking her head from side to side. As I let out a dry chuckle and questioned her, she continued in a calm voice.
"I don't think that's the only reason Player Kim Su-Hyeon dislikes me. This may sound a bit strange, but that's how I feel. I'm certain there must be another reason…."
Hearing her words, I tapped my cigarette with one hand and drummed my fingers against my chin. This time, it was Seraph waiting for my response. After taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I scoffed at her.
"Is that really so important?"
"It is. Many angels are paying attention to your actions, and all of them view you positively. Since we cannot directly interfere in Hall Plain, it is crucial that we maintain a good relationship with the players we oversee. They are, in essence, our proxies. And right now, Sandalphon is raising concerns and requesting a player transfer precisely because of the poor relationship between you and me. If there's something about me that you dislike, please tell me. I will do my best to fix it."
"…Rather than saying you can't interfere, wouldn't it be more accurate to say you won't, Seraph? Or perhaps… you just don't want to?"
At my mocking remark, Seraph was at a loss for words. I watched her dazed expression and the way her gaze wavered, enjoying the moment before continuing in a slow, deliberate voice.
"Yeah… I hate you. No, not just you—I hate all angels. Everything stems from that simple fact. But when I really look at what you are on the inside, it's disgusting enough to make me want to vomit."
"Why… why…?"
"It's honestly laughable, the way you all act. What, did I start looking a little impressive because I played along with your game? But… are you scared now? Worried I might switch sides and join them instead?"
"Player Kim Su-Hyeon… I don't understand what you're saying…."
Seeing her visibly shaken and stammering, I snapped at her, my voice sharp.
"You don't know? You do know. You just pretend you don't. Stop it—it's disgusting. Why were we forcibly dragged into your filthy war? What were your real intentions in bringing humans from Earth here? What do you think will happen if the players find out the full truth, if they learn everything?"
"...!"
Seraph's face turned pale at my words, which had clearly crossed the line. I, too, felt that I might have gone a bit too far. However, I had my reasons for confidence. As long as I was still here and as long as I wasn't deliberately harming the angels, they couldn't lay a single finger on me either.
A brief silence followed. I took a deep drag from my nearly burnt-out cigarette before flicking it onto the ground. A thin wisp of smoke curled up from the discarded butt. Seizing the moment, I continued speaking.
"What's the point of having such a lofty dimensional rank if your actions are so pathetic? In some ways, those guys might actually be better. At least they had the guts to take on all the risks and step directly into the Hall Plain. But you so-called angels… your actions are even more disgraceful than theirs… Tsk, tsk."
"H-how do you…?"
Seraph's lips trembled violently. She stared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. It seemed she was in shock that I knew the secrets surrounding the angels, those guys, and the Hall Plain. Not that I had known from the beginning.
I had survived in the Hall Plain for ten years, researching and piecing things together. And by obtaining the Zero Code, I was finally able to grasp the full picture of what had really happened.
I had blurted out something a bit reckless in the heat of the moment, but I felt no regret. If anything, I actually felt a slight sense of relief, as if the frustration that had been boiling inside me had finally been let out, even just a little.
Watching Seraph open and close her mouth wordlessly, her face stiff with shock, I continued speaking in a gentler tone.
"Well… don't worry too much. Right now, I hate those guys way more than I hate you. So, for the time being, I'll play along with your little game. As long as you don't pull any stupid moves, nothing unexpected will happen."
"U-Player Kim Su-Hyeon…"
"And one more thing."
I deliberately paused, letting the tension hang in the air. Seraph swallowed nervously, her throat bobbing. For a brief moment, I found myself thinking how beautiful the curve of her neck was.
Then, in a calm and measured voice, I finished my sentence.
"Make sure you tell Sandalphon or whoever it is, loud and clear—I refuse to be reassigned. No matter which angel they try to send as my assistant, I have no intention of getting along with them."
"..."
"You said you had something important to tell me, but this was just a waste of time. Don't call me for something like this again."
Having said everything I needed to, I slowly got ready to leave.
I heard Seraph call out to me, her voice laced with urgency, and saw her reach out a hand. But I didn't hesitate. I turned away without a second thought.
Without looking back, I strode toward the portal ahead, my steps quick and unwavering.
*
As I stepped out of the portal, I spotted a priest still waiting in place. He was the same man I had spoken with earlier about my expedition report.
Wearing a gentle smile, the resident welcomed me warmly. I took a moment to compose myself before responding.
"You've returned quickly. How was your meeting with the one?"
I wanted to say, 'Yeah, right. What a load of crap.' But since he was someone who devoutly worshipped and followed the angels, there was no reason to provoke unnecessary conflict. Besides, I had no interest in taking out my frustrations on an innocent bystander.
So instead, I forced a small smile and nodded.
"Haha. It was a good conversation. Thank you for delivering the oracle."
"There's no need to thank me. It's simply my duty."
The priest looked at me with an expression of admiration, as if he truly envied my position.
That alone made me want to leave the temple as soon as possible.
And the best way to do that? Steering the conversation toward a topic that would make him uncomfortable enough to let me go.
"Yes… Ah, then I'll expect the expedition report to be processed as quickly as possible."
"Ah. Yes, yes. I'll organize an investigation team as soon as I can. However, it may take some time."
"Understood. But at the very least, I hope the investigation is completed and the certification issued by mid-next month."
"I'll do my best to make that happen."
"Good. I'll stop by the temple again next time. Now, if you'll excuse me."
At my persistent urging, the priest wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and cleared his throat awkwardly. As expected, this topic put him under pressure—his talk about angels had vanished entirely.
With that, our conversation came to a close. The priest bowed politely, and I returned a small nod in response before turning away.
I walked down the long, stretching corridor, each step taking me further from the temple.
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