The meeting room was reserved only for archangels and above.

I sat in the long-vacant Celestial King’s seat, looking around at the archangels.

Saying I held no resentment would be a lie.

The angels who slandered me had been expelled, but the others had merely stood by.

They claimed my innocence only after it was too late.

However, revenge would change nothing.

In fact, it would likely bring more chaos.

Burying the past in the past seemed like the wisest approach.

It was time to let go of the resentment that had built up over the years.

"From this moment on, let us forget the past and start anew."

The archangels bowed their heads at my words.

As I pulled out the documents I had brought from the subspace into the meeting room, their faces paled.

"Now, let’s get down to business. Who is responsible for these documents?"

It wasn’t out of pettiness that I brought these papers along.

Absolutely not.

---

I took a look around the Celestial King’s office, which had been unoccupied for so long, and sighed.

Mountains of documents filled the massive office.

Even if I worked nonstop, the paperwork piled up faster than I could clear it.

There had to be a solution.

Then, I heard a knock at the door.

"Celestial King, you have a visitor."

"Let them in."

The door opened, and Yuna stepped in.

She greeted me cheerfully, her expression as bright as ever.

"Hello, Lucifer! Or should I be calling you Celestial King now?"

"You can call me whatever you like."

Over the years, I’d saved countless lives, received gratitude, and heard my share of resentment.

But this was the first time I’d ever been helped.

The only one who had ever been there for me through all these years.

Maybe that’s why I felt so fondly toward her.

I’d always looked at all living beings equally, but this was a first.

Seeing her eyes widen at the towering stacks of documents was endearing.

"Isn’t this workload a bit much?"

"I didn’t realize there’d be this much."

I vented about the workload not diminishing, despite employing other angels to handle it.

I couldn’t believe I was letting myself act like this.

Blushing slightly, she tilted her head and casually suggested,

"Why don’t you bring in more angels?"

The academy only produces a fixed number of graduates each year.

Then an idea popped into my head.

What if we hired visiting travelers from other realms?

If we offered fair wages, they’d surely accept.

We could open Heaven to travelers, employ them as apprentice angels, and have them assist…

The scenario began to take shape.

Details could be ironed out in a meeting.

"Yuna, you truly are a blessing!"

"W-wait! Celestial King!?"

I lifted Yuna high into the air, and her flustered face was adorable.

The playtime lasted until Archangel Michael entered, forcing me to put a stop to it.

Such a shame.

"I came to deliver my report."

The report was about the very problem I’d been concerned with earlier.

The work was accumulating faster than it could be processed.

When I explained the new plan I’d just conceived, Michael also lifted Yuna up!

"Michael!?"

"Heaven has received a blessing!"

"Before you turn me into a prized possession, please put me down!"

"Kyuu!"

It was one thing for Michael to be causing a ruckus in my office, but dragging Yuna into it?

As Celestial King, I couldn’t let this slide.

"What exactly do you think you’re doing?"

"My apologies, Celestial King!"

Michael put Yuna down and apologized, but it was too late.

The atmosphere grew tense, and Yuna seemed anxious, so I subtly hinted at a way to defuse the situation.

When I held out my arms, she hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching, and I lifted her again—almost getting bitten by a dragon in the process.

---

[New region Heaven is now open.]

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

[Complete the Heaven Quest to obtain the hidden class: Angel.]

Seeing the golden notification window, I couldn’t help but cheer.

At last, my chance had come.

When I first started playing *Arcana Online* and got the EX-grade Unique Trait, I thought my life was about to change.

[Unique Trait: Virtue Always Attracts Companions]
When you have virtue, you’ll never be alone. People will naturally gather around you because of your character.

If only I hadn’t chosen the thief class.

The only people I met were others in the same shady business—it was terrifying.

Most had scars on their faces and sinister grins...

Every quest involved thievery, so I had no one else around me.

But now, things were different.

Finally, a silver lining.

I followed the instructions on the community board to ascend to Heaven and become an angel.

I had to recite a prayer and shout my class name.

"Lord, please grant me the blessing to be a righteous thief… wait, do I even need permission for this?"

Suddenly, a staircase appeared before me.

The steps to Heaven.

Climbing up, I was greeted by a massive screen.

[Welcome to Heaven.]

As I took in the unfamiliar sight, an angel approached and spoke.

"Is this your first time visiting Heaven?"

"Y-yes!"

Offering to be my guide, the angel led me off somewhere.

As we talked, I mentioned my desire to become an angel, and their eyes sparkled as they grabbed my hand!?

With golden hair and gentle eyes, she smiled and said,

"Welcome! Let’s get your contract ready!"

"Wait, a contract!?"

Following the angel inside, she handed me a contract.

Anyone, she said, could start as an apprentice angel and rise to the rank of archangel.

I checked the contract, and the terms were no joke.

Even as an apprentice, the contract guaranteed a minimum salary of 3 million gold per month.

It even stated that with enough merit, one could earn over 10 million.

A blue notification window popped up, confirming it wasn’t a joke.

[A Hidden Class Quest has been generated.]

Accepting this quest will allow you to transfer to the hidden class, "Apprentice Angel."

Do you accept?
YES / NO

Though the word "apprentice" caught my attention, I signed the contract.

[Congratulations! You have been promoted to Apprentice Angel.]

With a blue notification window, a transformation occurred.

Two wings sprouted from my back, confirming that I had obtained the hidden class.

If this is what an apprentice angel receives, I can’t even imagine what awaits as an archangel.

Am I finally on my way to riches!?

As I daydreamed about my future, the angel gathered the documents, looked at me, and her gaze hardened.

"Now that you’re my junior, I can speak freely, right?"

"Uh, sure?"

She led me somewhere down a long corridor.

Entering a room, I was presented with four choices.

[Heaven]
[Demon Realm]
[Underworld]
[Middle Realm]

The angel told me to pick one.

Naturally, as an angel, I chose Heaven.

Her expression turned pitying.

"Well… good luck, then."

"L-let’s do our best."

She told me to wait, then left. Before long, I heard footsteps approaching.

With a loud crash, the door burst open, and two angels stormed in.

"A rookie! We’ve got a rookie!!"

"Let’s kidnap—oh wait, can’t call it kidnapping if it’s a rookie! Come on, let’s show you around!"

They grabbed me from both sides, guiding me through the facilities. Something felt off.

It felt like they were making sure I couldn’t escape.

They showed me various amenities, and they were impressive.

When we entered a pristine white room, a vast ocean view stretched out, complete with parasols and beach chairs, but not a soul in sight.

The next stop was a food court selling all sorts of delicious-looking dishes, but, again, no one was there.

"The facilities here are so nice and spacious, but there’s nobody around?"

"Well… it’s work hours…"

Her voice wavered, and she glanced at me nervously. What was up with that?

"Alright! Now, onto our battleground… uh, I mean, the office!"

After leading me down a long hallway, they opened a door to a corner office where angels were leisurely sipping tea.

Behind them, however, loomed mountains of paperwork.

Something wasn’t right.

I may be new, but as an employee, I could sense it.

The Heaven department was a ticking time bomb.

A nuclear-level one.

As my mind started to tell my body to escape, the door slammed shut.

"Welcome again, rookie. Let’s get to work, shall we?"

The endless workload.

I excused myself, claiming I needed some air, and bolted.

I hid in a nearby storage room, pondering my next move, when I heard footsteps approaching.

"Where could our little newbie be~?"

Hearing them getting closer, I held my breath and cowered in the corner, terrified. Then the door creaked open.

Relief washed over me.

"There you are~!"

"Aaaah!"