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The Sixth Heaven and the current core of Heaven—Zebel.
Here, there was nothing but an endless stretch of calm, azure sea, without a single ripple in sight. At the very center stood an island lush with fruit trees and dense vegetation.
At the heart of the island rose a towering mountain, and within it, a magnificent palace carved entirely from pristine white stone.
At this moment, before the palace gates—
Four angels, each with six pairs of pure white wings, stood in silence, their expressions varied as they looked down the steps.
Standing below them was Azazel.
Black-and-gold hair, a slightly roguish air, dressed in a white suit with a red tie, and behind him spread twelve fallen wings. The former Governor-General of the Fallen Angels.
The moment Azazel saw the four Angels, his gaze didn't go to Michael first.
Instead, it drifted past him—to Gabriel, the archangel hailed as the most beautiful in Heaven.
Azazel couldn't help but whistle.
"Well, well. Long time no see, Gabriel-chan~"
Gabriel, upon hearing the greeting, looked at him with a trace of pity and spoke gently. "Azazel… if something feels wrong with your head, maybe you should go talk to Shemhazai and the others."
At least she was polite enough not to outright ask if he'd lost his mind.
After all, he had just swaggered through Heaven's Gate, walked straight past a legion of guarding angels, and relied on his familiarity with Heaven to pass through all layers—arriving here, at the Zebel, the current core of Heaven where the Angel's power was amplified to its peak.
What kind of mindset was that?
Heroic? Admirable?
No. This was pure, suicidal stupidity.
"What are you talking about? I feel perfectly fine." Azazel spread his arms, spun around, even took a few steps in place. "See? I can still walk."
At that moment, the long-silent Michael let out a quiet sigh. "You should leave."
"For old times' sake, I'll pretend I didn't see you today."
In the end, Michael chose not to stop him.
It wasn't just out of past camaraderie. It was because God had always tacitly permitted Azazel and the others to fall.
So unless it came down to life and death, Michael had no intention of attacking him.
After years of managing the system in God's stead, Michael had come to understand something clearly.
Fallen angels and devils had to exist.
Angels and devils represented the black and white defined by God, while the gray in between—that was the place of the fallen.
That balance was what allowed the world to move forward.
So when faced with Azazel's reckless intrusion, Michael chose to let it pass, maintaining that balance.
As long as the man wasn't actively trying to get himself killed.
"Hah! You're actually letting me go?" Azazel's playful expression faded slightly as he looked at Michael in surprise, then said meaningfully, "Looks like managing things in God's place has really changed you."
"If this were the past, you'd already be charging at me with your sword, wouldn't you?"
"..."
"I'm not in the mood for reminiscing."
Michael shot him a glance and turned away.
"Leave. Heaven does not welcome the fallen. Especially not one who fell because of lust."
Seeing that Michael was actually walking away, Azazel's expression stiffened. He quickly shouted. "Wait, I stepped down as Governor-General of the Fallen Angels!"
Michael walked even faster, dragging Gabriel along.
Meanwhile, the other two Angels, Raphael and Uriel, stepped forward with darkened expressions, blocking Azazel's path.
"What, don't tell me you're trying to come back and be an Angel again?" Raphael said coldly.
Gabriel, being pulled along, looked completely bewildered. "Eh? What's going on? Why are you dragging me away? If Azazel wants to return to the Lord's grace, isn't that a good thing?"
She was utterly confused by their reactions, her thoughts a mess.
Hearing that, Michael rolled his eyes. "If that trash comes back, what do you think he'll do? Obviously he'll just try to mess with you again."
Azazel's face darkened instantly. "The hell are you saying? Don't go spouting nonsense!"
"Azazel, leave," Uriel said with a sneer, his green hair swaying slightly. "Don't think we don't know what you're after. Trying to whisk away the most beautiful flower in Heaven? Keep dreaming."
Azazel's mouth twitched.
Seriously?
He glanced at Michael, who was already almost out of sight, then finally couldn't hold it in anymore and shouted. "I'm here on behalf of the Fallen Angels and the Devils—to negotiate!"
Uriel and Raphael's expressions changed immediately.
Michael, who had nearly broken into a run, stopped in his tracks. His grip on Gabriel loosened abruptly, causing her to stumble with a small yelp before he turned back, staring at Azazel with uncertainty.
"Negotiate? A peace talk?"
"Oh, now you're not leaving anymore?" Azazel pulled out a cigarette and lighter from his suit, lit it, and spoke with a helpless look.
Putting everything else aside—
Smoking in the Zebel, the so-called purest place, felt amazing.
The sensation was almost like a full-body massage. Completely refreshing.
Uriel frowned and extended his hand, "No smoking here."
"Oh." Azazel casually pressed the lit cigarette against Uriel's hand, extinguishing it, then put on an exaggeratedly surprised face. "Oops. Habit. Forgot that was your hand. My bad."
Uriel's eyelid twitched.
In the next instant—
Smack.
A crisp slap landed across Azazel's face, leaving a clear handprint behind.
Uriel withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Sorry. My hand slipped."
"..." Azazel covered his cheek, looking at him resentfully. That was a slip? His teeth were about to fall out.
"Let's talk business."
Michael had already returned, bringing along Gabriel, who was discreetly rubbing her sore backside, tears still lingering at the corners of her eyes.
"Azazel. You've joined forces with the devils?" There was a sharp edge of accusation in his voice.
"Not exactly." Azazel slipped back into his usual carefree grin.
"The one cooperating with the devils isn't me. It's the new Governor-General on our side."
He paused, then added. "Not Shemhazai. Someone… much stronger."
"Who?" Michael raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. If it wasn't Shemhazai taking over, then something was off.
What could possibly make the fallen angels hand over the position of Governor-General? That alone was enough to concern him.
"A man named Ryo Yagami."
Azazel couldn't hide a hint of pride as he said it.
"A powerhouse who probably wouldn't lose even against that old man."
At those words, all four Angels' pupils shrank, shock flashing across their faces.
Someone on par with the Creator God…
Michael's expression turned complicated, "I see… then I suppose congratulations are in order."
He let out a soft sigh and turned toward the palace. "Let's continue this inside."
"Sounds good."
Azazel nodded and followed after him.
.
.
.