"Didn’t expect the landlord to come out like this."
Yu-hyun narrowed his eyes, closely observing Satan's actions. He had thought of meeting him eventually, but not as abruptly as this.
The wounds from the penalty imposed by the system were still not fully healed, he’d heard.
"What brings you all the way here?"
"Quite a remarkable land, isn’t it?"
Instead of answering Yu-hyun’s question, Satan spoke in vague terms.
Yu-hyun raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was going on about.
"This land was once a pure, white domain where clear spiritual energy flowed. It was cleaner than anything else and inspired reverence just by looking at it. Everywhere you went, it was bathed in white light, making it one of the most renowned places in Eden."
Satan continued speaking, as if he wouldn't have another opportunity to say these things.
"Although now, it’s turned into this."
"This place...."
Yu-hyun looked beyond the boundary, toward the land shrouded in deep darkness.
"So this was the land you ruled before you fell, wasn’t it, Satan?"
"‘Fallen,’ huh. From your perspective, it would appear that way. Originally, this land of pure white was now said to be tainted. You all call it ‘fallen.’"
Satan sharply declared that he didn’t see it that way.
"Undoubtedly, this land, once brilliant and shining, was beautiful. But I actually find its current state far more appealing. The harmony of black and white, the balance without extreme leanings—wouldn't you say that’s the ideal form?"
"So, what exactly is the reason for telling me all this? It’s not like you’re trying to impress a guest by bragging about your front yard."
"Interesting metaphor. It all boils down to this: eternal light or eternal darkness are both not beautiful. Where there is light, there must be darkness, and where there is darkness, light must also exist."
Satan's gaze shifted beyond the boundary, toward the white land.
"But those people don’t understand that."
Yu-hyun sensed it too—the growing number of eyes watching from a distance.
For the first time, Satan, who had been keeping silent deep within his domain, had ventured out to the boundary area of this outpost, which bordered Eden.
From the perspective of those unaware that Satan had come to meet Yu-hyun, his sudden movement must have raised alarms.
"It’s quite noisy, isn’t it? That’s why I quit that side."
"...Now that I think about it, Satan, you were once an angel."
"An angel, huh...."
Did he find the term unpleasant?
Satan crossed his arms, flicking his finger as if to show his displeasure.
"Not a fan of the past, are you?"
"That’s not it. To be precise... um... Kang Yu-hyun, Teller. Or, no, now you’re no longer a Teller, just a human. Human Kang Yu-hyun, may I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Do you know the name I was called during my time as an angel, back when I was known as Satan, or Lucifer?"
"Pardon? That would be...."
Yu-hyun hesitated to answer.
Normally, when people ask the angelic name of Satan, who was once Lucifer, the Morning Star, most call him "Lucifel."
It’s the suffix “-el,” often added to angel names, appended to Lucifer’s name.
However, Lucifer’s angelic name doesn’t appear in the Bible.
Some speculate that Satan's angelic name was Satanel, but this too is mentioned only in later Gnostic texts, not in the original Bible.
"You don’t know, do you?"
"...You were just called the Morning Star, weren’t you?"
The name Lucifer bore as an angel is never mentioned anywhere.
Looking back, it was strange. He was once the brightest being, yet was his name erased because he rebelled against God?
Satan, however, shrugged it off as if it was only natural, letting out a faint laugh.
"You met with Praytion, didn’t you?"
"...You knew about that."
"Who do you think gave him a place to hide and remain?"
"...."
Why was he revealing all this now?
"So, your initial approach to me was intentional all along."
"Acting surprised now, are we?"
"I won’t deny it."
The fact was that he had received a lot of help from Satan up to this point. Satan had never openly disclosed his motives, and Yu-hyun had knowingly allowed their cooperation, despite being aware.
Their relationship was one of mutual, silent use. That was the dynamic between Yu-hyun and Satan.
Bringing it up now would be pointless.
"Now that you’ve spoken with Praytion, you must have realized the truth of this world and of us."
"You mean the usurpers. Does that include you, Satan?"
"It’s not entirely wrong, but I am not a usurper."
"What does that mean?"
"I came to explain that to you. Specifically, over there."
Satan lifted a finger, pointing toward the library before Yu-hyun.
"I intend to use that library."
‘Still, to think he could connect to the network so easily just by receiving the library’s authority.’
Had he done this before?
As a first-generation Divine Spirit who’d lived a long life, he could indeed be knowledgeable in such areas. But being Satan, it seemed as though there were hidden truths.
‘The wind....’
A strong gust of wind swept through, rustling his hair.
Yu-hyun narrowed his eyes as he spotted the Divine Spirits of Eden, who had approached them.
"Satan! After being quiet all this time, what’s your intent for coming here now?"
At the forefront was a radiant, golden-haired angel, Michael.
She glared at Satan with a look of enmity, then widened her eyes upon spotting Yu-hyun beside him.
"Kang Yu-hyun, Teller?"
No. He was no longer a Teller. The aura around him suggested he was human.
How was this possible? She’d heard he’d disappeared five years ago. So he was alive? And why was he with Satan...?
Her fiery gaze turned toward Satan, intense as a blade forged in burning heat.
"I will hold you accountable for this."
Satan ignored Michael’s arrival, remaining focused on his task.
Whether it was due to her pride being hurt from being disregarded by Satan, Michael unleashed her aura.
The surrounding area heated up with a fierce intensity akin to a blazing sun in the sky.
By then, even Satan couldn’t ignore her.
"Your fierce nature hasn’t changed one bit, has it? Isn’t it time for us to let go?"
"What do you...."
"It’s been a long and bitter relationship. No, it was never meant to be a conflict, but we ended up divided by my choice. I regret that—both then and now. Always."
His tone held a lamenting half-regret.
Michael’s face reflected shock, bewildered by Satan’s uncharacteristic response. Was the Satan she knew really expressing regret?
"You, what...."
"Let’s put an end to this."
"What?"
"This tiresome role-play—let’s end it now."
Michael’s accompanying angels murmured at the word "role."
"Quiet!" At her harsh command, Michael silenced her subordinates and raised a glowing spear, aiming it at Satan.
"If you’re here to sway my army with your impure tongue, stop right now."
"Did it sound like that?"
"Then what other intent could there be?"
"Is that so."
Satan chuckled, shaking his head.
"In the end, you forgot everything."
"What?"
"You’ve forgotten it all, and now you really believe the name Michael is your true self."
"What are you...."
"Even after hearing this, you don’t remember?"
Michael’s lips trembled.
Her quivering eyes revealed just how much she was shaken.
Seeing her reaction, unlike her usual iron-willed demeanor against demons, Satan gazed at her with sympathy instead of derision.
"Never mind. Soon enough, you’ll understand."
Numerous system windows floated around Satan.
In the Genesis Network of the hybrid realm, which had been quiet until now, a single poetry revelation emerged.
As the library suddenly opened, a vast number of Divine Spirits flooded in.
With every Teller agency closed, the lone open library garnered great interest.
[What’s going on? What’s happening all of a sudden?]
[A library? Who’s attempting a poetry revelation at a time like this?]
[Isn’t this Kang Yu-hyun Teller’s library? I had it bookmarked.]
[Whoa. Wait. It’s Satan?]
The spectators seemed puzzled, seeing Satan rather than Yu-hyun.
As their numbers surpassed twenty thousand and neared thirty thousand, Satan seized the moment to speak.
"Greetings to all. As you all know, I am Satan, he who laughs in the darkest places."
Now or never.
He finally began something he had longed for.
"Amidst the recent uproar caused by Camelot’s disappearance, today I bring an important truth to share with you all."
The one who reacted most strongly to his words was Michael.
Seeing her start to tremble, Satan smiled at her knowingly, as if to say, "Now you remember."
Amid the darkness enveloping his face, his smile shone purely, without pretense or mockery.
"I will reveal to everyone the truth of this fabricated, false world."