Did they hear my voice?

I felt as though my little companion looked at me with warm eyes.

They turned to look in the direction of Michael and Lucifer.

Blue particles began to gather around my companion’s mouth.

With dragons, there’s only one thing this could mean.

A breath attack.

"Wait, what? If they fire that, what about Michael?!"

My little buddy, looking ready to yell "strike first, win first," unleashed a massive breath attack at the ground. An explosion followed, and dark clouds rose in a mushroom shape.

The shockwave from the breath attack not only cleared the wraiths but even shook the fortress walls.

I squinted, trying to see through the chaos. Thankfully, both Michael and Lucifer were unharmed.

But something was off.

The space around them seemed distorted, and two new figures appeared, seemingly protecting Michael and Lucifer as they scowled in annoyance.

It was an elderly man in a black robe and a woman I recognized.

"The fortune-teller grandma!?"

Despite the distance, she noticed me and waved.

Beside her, the old man clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"Tsk! Young folks these days, acting all high and mighty even when elders are around!"

Was he talking to me?

How could I hear him so clearly from so far away!?

Then, suddenly—

A thunderous roar shook the heavens and earth.

[How dare you address my contractor with such impudence.]

I was taken aback by the solemn voice of my little companion.

Where did my cute little buddy go?

Blue particles began gathering again, and I cried out in a panic.

"No! Stop! Come back!"

At my words, the particles dispersed, and in a flash of light, my companion reverted to their original form.

They were nestled in my arms as if they’d been there the whole time, but their face was full of indignation.

"Kyuu!"

"There, there. Good job."

As they continued to puff up, looking ready to make everyone kneel before them, I soothed them and wondered how to get down from the fortress wall. Then a thought struck me.

Could my little companion do it?

"Could you get us down there?"

"Kyuu!"

Blue particles gathered around me, and in an instant, I was at the base of the wall.

So, my little buddy had this kind of power all along.

I felt a mix of awe and pride.

Is this how a parent feels?

"Kyuu!"

"Huh?! No, it’s nothing."

As sharp as ever, they asked if I was having strange thoughts. They really are something.

Have I been raising a little dragon here?

I approached the fortune-teller grandma and greeted her, saying it had been a while. She hugged me tightly.

The warmth reminded me of being held by my own family, and tears suddenly welled up in my eyes.

"Kyuu!?"

"I-I’m fine."

Hugging my little buddy, who looked ready to charge in if necessary, I met the fortune-teller grandma’s warm gaze.

"Grandma, who exactly are you?"

"What good would it do for you to know, child?"

The old man beside us burst out in frustration.

"I’ve been listening this whole time! Just tell her you’re the Samsin Halmeoni!"

"An old lady should know when to rest, you old coot."

"What was that?! We’re aging together; who do you think you’re talking to?!"

The elderly couple bickered back and forth.

As I stood there, not sure what to do, Michael approached.

"I greet Yeomra and Samsin."

"It’s been a while. How’s your sibling?"

"Still causing trouble, as always."

It seemed like everywhere Michael went, people asked about their sibling. How much trouble were they causing?

"The person on the right is the overseer of the Underworld, Lord Yeomra, and the one beside him is Lady Samsin."

Yeomra the Great King of Hell, known for supposedly deep-frying chicken in the fires of Hell!?

Or so I thought.

"Hello!"

"Ah, such politeness is nice to see."

"Listen to yourself. You sound ridiculous for your age."

As they bickered, another voice echoed.

"Why are you standing in my way!?"

Lucifer’s voice rang out, filled with sorrow and frustration.

She was demanding to know why lives were extinguished without reason, why it had to be this way.

But the looks directed at Lucifer were cold.

"Every child has a fate assigned to them."

"Destiny is something that cannot be defied."

At those words, Lucifer drew her pitch-black spear, looking ready to charge.

"This is not the time for conversation."

With those words, chains appeared in midair, binding Lucifer completely.

Countless chains wrapped around her, making any resistance impossible.

As she struggled, Yeomra and Samsin walked past her and approached me.

"We’ll leave the aftermath to our little one."

"Stop calling the grown child ‘little one!’ It’s creepy."

"My choice."

The old man looked at her in exasperation.

Turning back to me, his gaze changed.

Wait, are they expecting me to handle this situation!?

"Well, there’s a reason for calling you ‘little one.’ We’ll leave this to you."

With that, a portal opened, and the wraiths were sucked into it.

Some tried to escape, but it was useless.

"Sin no more. That is the only mercy I can offer."

"Tsk! Every life is precious. Why handle things so harshly?"

"Quit nagging me, old lady!"

Then, Lucifer’s anguished cry echoed.

The sorrow in her voice tugged at my heart.

This was an angel who had cared deeply for humanity, only to fall and become a demon.

A being who sacrificed herself solely for the sake of humanity, expecting no reward.

As I approached Lucifer, Michael blocked my way.

"It’s dangerous."

"It’s okay."

Lucifer was crying, her face full of sorrow. I got closer, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and she looked at me with wide, dazed eyes.

Without saying a word, she gazed at me in a trance.

"Thank you for saving so many lives. This time, I’ll be the one to save you, Lucifer."

I pulled out a unique-grade magic stone from my inventory, but my little buddy made a fuss, snatching one away, so I had to take out another to use.

The stone crumbled to dust and began to absorb into Lucifer. With a radiant light, the chains around her started to disappear, and her black wings turned pure white.

The transformation didn’t stop there—two new wings appeared.

For the first time in millennia, a being with twelve wings emerged.

A Celestial King was born.

Lucifer stared at me in disbelief, unaware of her own transformation.

At that moment, Gabriel appeared.

Following him, numerous angels approached, kneeling before Lucifer.

At the front of the line, the archangels knelt and proclaimed,

"Greetings to the Celestial King."

Hearing their voices, Lucifer spread her wings and took a step forward.

She had proclaimed her innocence, yet had been cast out.

The cold, intense look she directed at Gabriel hinted that things could turn violent, and I tensed.

"We’ll discuss this later."

Gabriel’s sharp tone made the angels tense up.

Well, just moments ago, she was their enemy, and now she was their superior. Anyone would be nervous.

Then Lucifer approached me and bowed her head!?

"I shall repay this kindness over the course of my life."

The other angels looked stunned, protesting that this was improper.

"Y-Your Majesty! This is a mere human! You mustn’t do this!"

Lucifer raised her head, and with a stern voice, she replied,

"Every life is noble and precious. If you speak like that again, I shall not forgive you."

All the angels lowered their heads, except for two.

From them, I heard muttering.

"Ah, the position changes people. Look at them, changing in an instant."

"Let it be. Even children have their moments. And old folks should age gracefully."

"What did you say, you old hag!?"

They looked ready to start a fight right then and there. Hopefully, they’d do it somewhere else.

---

Meanwhile, a golden notification window appeared to every player in *Arcana Online.*

[New Region, Heaven, is now open.]

[To celebrate the opening of a new region, there will be a 200% EXP event for the next 30 days.]

With the EXP boost and the golden announcement, countless players cheered.

[Through the Heaven Quest, players can now change to the hidden class: Angel.]