Chapter 279 - Fallen Angel's Nightmare (1)

Chapter 279 - Fallen Angel's Nightmare (1)

"There hasn't been any news of Uriel's arrival, right?" Oh Kang-Woo asked while holding the communication crystal orb.

[Not yet, it seems,] Lilith's voice came out of the orb.

Kang-Woo nodded.

"When he arrives, he'll most likely appear in Africa."

Both Ludwig and Raphael had first appeared there.

He wasn't sure if they could open a gate anywhere they wanted, but the chance that the Gate would open in the same place was very high.

'Even if he doesn't end up there...'

If he wanted to figure out the truth about the call, he'd have to come to Raphael's fortress in Africa.

"Gather more forces and keep watch twenty-four seven. You can even use Guardians members. We have to find him as soon as he arrives."

[Understood.]

After saying that, Lilith cut the call.

Kang-Woo sighed and got up. He'd also sent Halcyon and Echidna to help Lilith, so the house was awkwardly silent.

Knock, knock.noVE.lb-1n

He heard a careful knock on the door. Since Halcyon and Echidna weren't home, there was only one person it could be.

"Come in."

"... Are you done with your call?"

Han Seol-Ah opened the door and carefully peeked in.

When Kang-Woo nodded, she walked over and sat on the bed.

"..."

There was an awkward silence.

Kang-Woo stared vacantly at Seol-Ah while sitting on a chair.

He had given her a general explanation of the situation after he had finished making the stage and was standing by at home. He had told her that the soul of Celestial Goddess Seraph was within her, that the angels were trying to use that to revive Seraph, and that her own soul may fall into a deep slumber like Kurosaki Yurie.

"... Kang-Woo."

"If you're gonna say what you said last time, don't even think about it."

When Seol-Ah had first heard the explanation, she had asked Kang-Woo to let her be sacrificed and revive Seraph, since that was the best way for Kang-Woo to live in peace.

"And besides, you're basing your decision on the wrong premise. If Seraph is revived, forget my peace, they'll try to kill me."

After all, he was the Demon of Prophecy. No, even if he could hide that he was the Demon of Prophecy, it would be of no use since he was still a demon. He needed to prevent the outcome of antagonizing a god—a god powerful enough to govern an entire world, at that.

'Of course...'

Reviving Seraph for the sake of the star known as Earth was the right choice. Her power would surely help protect Earth, but...

'Fuck that.'

There was no point if the god who would protect Earth took action to eliminate him.

'What's the point of a safe and peaceful world if I can't live in it?'

Kang-Woo had no intention of sacrificing himself for world peace. If he had ideals like that, he would've killed himself a very long time ago.

'After everything I went through to survive.'

He had to stop this world from ending, but sacrificing himself to achieve that was out of the question. The same went for if he was lucky enough to be acknowledged by Seraph; the happiness he would attain would be half-baked without Seol-Ah.

"Everything I've ever done has been for me to stay happy."

He had struggled through ten whole millennia just to be happy—all for a joyous, fun, and occasionally sad and depressing life that was, ultimately, full of laughs.

"If you die, I won't be happy."

"..."

Seol-Ah kept her mouth shut in a daze, and then she giggled.

"Okay. I won't ever say it again."

Seol-Ah nodded as if truly happy.

Kang-Woo finally felt relieved.

"Seraph, huh...? Oh, maybe that's why."

"Why what?"

"Back when... you were kidnapped. After we managed to get you back, I've been having these dreams."

"Dreams?"

"Yes. Dreams of... being enveloped in cozy light. And..." Seol-Ah groaned. "I'm not sure if I should be saying this, but after I started having those dreams, I started to feel as if you were younger than me. N-No, not younger, but... more like I want to look after you. I've only ever seen you as cool and amazing, but I've been seeing you as cute lately... "

"..."

"A-Anyway, I've been feeling this way."

Kang-Woo crossed his arms and nodded.

'That does seem like Seraph's influence.'

After she awakened Seraph's power, the power seemed to have also somewhat influenced her personality. According to Shalgiel, Seraph was the Goddess of Parental Love, so it was understandable why Seol-Ah had lately begun to see Kang-Woo as younger than her.

"Then how about I call you Seol-Ah noona from now on?"

"Gasp."

Seol-Ah's eyes widened, and she started to tremble.

"N-No!" She strongly refused. Blushing, she shouted, "I might die!"

"You have the incarnation of Gaia with you."

"Greetings, O Great Angel."

Gaia politely bowed her head.

Uriel asked while keeping his guard up, "Why are you all here?"

"Before that... who are you? I don't believe I have ever seen an angel like you among Lord Raphael's subordinates."

The sharp-looking man was also looking at Uriel warily.

Uriel groaned and opened his mouth.

"I'm Uriel."

"Ah...!"

The sharp-looking guy let out an exclamation and lowered his head.

"My apologies. I had known that you were an angel from your wings, but... I was a little cautious due to recent strange events."

"... Strange events?"

"We have not been able to contact Lord Raphael or Shalgiel. They had not even shown up to our usual meeting, so... we came here because we were worried."

"Oh."

Uriel's expression hardened. He understood why the Guardians members were roaming around the fortress and anxiously bit his lip.

"Since when has contact with them been cut off?"

"About five days ago."

"... Shit."

Uriel frowned.

The sharp-looking young man said in a worried tone, "Has something happened to Lord Raphael?"

"... No, nothing at all."

"Your expression says otherwise."

"I said it's nothing!" Uriel shouted in irritation, but he soon grabbed his forehead.

'If it's Guardians...'

Their strength had been detailed in Raphael's report. Most of them were only as strong as intermediate angels and below, but a few of them apparently surpassed upper angels.

From what he had heard, one of them had inherited the Holy Sword Ludwig and another was the apostle of Tirion, God of Heroes.

"Are the humans Oh Kang-Woo and Kim Si-Hun among you?"

"... I am Oh Kang-Woo."

"I am Kim Si-Hun."

"... I see." Uriel nodded.

The situation had changed. If they were stronger than an upper angel, it was a different story.

"Can you help me?"

Uriel had been in such a hurry that he hadn't been able to bring along his subordinates. He was in desperate need of these humans' help.

"Is it about Lord Raphael?"

"... Yeah."

"We planned to investigate regardless, so there is no problem at all," the human Oh Kang-Woo said in a calm voice.

And so, Uriel and Guardians began moving to the angel fortress in Africa.

"What in the..."

"I-Is this really the same fortress?"

The beautiful fortress that had exuded serene light was nowhere to be seen. Instead, dark energy enveloped it. The destroyed sections of the fortress and all the corpses scattered around made the atmosphere of the fortress even darker.

"Kang-Woo hyung-nim."

"... It seems something really did happen."

"Kang-Woo, this is..." Gaia slurred.

"Gaia, have you received any revelations from the gods?"

"No... Nothing."

Kang-Woo and the other Guardians members seemed shocked at the fortress's changed atmosphere.

Uriel bit his lip, his anxiety growing.

"Let's enter. Follow me."

Uriel took a step forward, and the fortress gates slowly opened.

Then...

Riiing.

[You have entered the SS+ rank dungeon 'Fallen Angel's Nightmare My King—]

"Kurgh!! Kuh... Gaaaaaahh!!!"

As the blue message window appeared, the human who revealed himself to be Oh Kang-Woo screamed in pain as his body bent like a bow. His eyes rolled back as if he were having a seizure.

"H-Hyung-nim!!"

Si-Hun quickly ran toward Kang-Woo.

Uriel also turned to look at the human who had suddenly collapsed on the ground and was having a seizure.

The blue message window in the air disappeared.