"You fucking bastard!"

The hideous horns of a demon rose from her forehead. The gruff gift of gab and the rough intonation that changed in an instant.

"Is this Velica?"

The demon in charge of deformities. Just like her title suggested, even her demonic instincts had become deformed, and that led her, the Demon Lord, to accompany Stella.

When I had put Stella to sleep within me, Velica seemed to be in an unconscious state due to the flames of the Holy Grail, but it seemed like she was fine now.

"It looks like you are full of energy, huh?"

"Of course, I had a long rest after my death."

That was true. I shouldn’t delude myself.

Stella and Velica.

At the end of the day, they were already dead.

I had only lent them my body so they could rest peacefully within me, however, I still had to accept the fact that their lives had already ended.

"What were you thinking? Fighting against Magan? Ugh, you fucking moron."

"The timing was good."

"What's so good about it?"

"Do you have any information about Magan?"

Thinking about it, the one who knew had the most information about Magan was probably Velica, who was also a Demon Lord.

Putting my life on the line, I tried to end Magan once and for all while also getting rid of Lemegeton. However, according to my estimation,I didn’t think he was someone who would die that easily.

If that were the case, the other Demon Lords would have coveted Magan's position long ago.

Just when I thought I had found a fairly competent informant, barring her hideous teeth and horns, Velica began yelling.

"Hey, you mo— S-stop it. Velica, please stop it."

However, instead of a torrent of profanities, a calm voice resounded from her once more.

"Stella! Didn't you hear what he just said? He's planning to fight him again! Even after becoming disabled!"

"S-still! You cannot curse. The gods bestow their mercy upon the foolish, not punishment."

"...Those fucking gods of yours… I should kill them all one day."

Was this what it felt like to watch a one-man play? The two of them were having a conversation using Stella’s mouth, but because their manner of speaking and intonations were polar opposites, it wasn't difficult to understand.

"After all, it is not you who called this person here to say something to him, right?”

"But I still have to say something! Since you won't, I’ll do it myself. I know that you were looking forward to seeing him since it’s been a while but...!"

"Wow! Whoa! V-Velica!"

With her face flushed red, Stella immediately used both hands to cover her mouth. She subtly stole a glance at me, trying to check my reaction, but I pretended not to notice.

Stella's hand released the other as she shouted.

"I got a little excited..."

Thud.

She once again clamped her mouth tightly with both hands.

She seemed really angry as she exerted pressure on her forehead, and then, the horns that had been protruding from her forehead disappeared.

Stella, who had been staring at the ground with both hands pressed against her mouth for a while, glanced up briefly and blurted out an excuse.

"Velica uttered something strange just because she is a demon."

"I see."

"We absolutely do not share emotions or anything just because she is a part of me."

"I have never thought about you like that, not at all."

"Are you speaking the truth?"

"...Yeah."

Rather than that, a part of the conversation I had with Velica earlier was what bothered me.

"I heard that you called me here for a reason."

"Ah, that is right."

Stella slowly got herself together, turned her body around, and extended her hand forward as if to guide me.

Then, the scenery, which was like a blank canvas, began to change. The moon and stars rose, and an ordinary night sky with drifting clouds took its place.

We had become silhouettes floating in that sky.

_Thud. Thud. _

I tapped the ground with my toes. So, we didn’t really move to this place and it was just a concept like wallpaper?

It could also be seen as a type of optical illusion.

"It is fascinating, right? I was only able to master this trick after trying it several times."

Stella started walking slowly in the sky. I followed behind her.

"There is also a village over there."

"..."

There was indeed a view of a village spread out at the end of where Stella was pointing towards. Was there a festival going on?

Despite being quite late at night, it was pretty lively with bright lanterns illuminating the surroundings.

Of course, it was not a real village.

It was probably a figment of Stella's imagination.

However, the atmosphere was quite pleasing.

"Do you think the gods also watch us from a point of view like this?"

"Probably, yes."

A village that could be seen from above while high in the sky.

Certainly, on continents where the internet, airplanes, satellites, and other modern technologies had not yet been developed, it was not a sight that could be seen easily.

"Fufufu."

Stella seemed to find something amusing as she covered her smile with her hand.

It felt good to meet her again after a long time.

Even though the situation had disrupted her deep sleep, being able to talk to her again was enjoyable. However…

"Stella, I am sorry, but I do not have much time to waste here."

"..."

"There are people who are worried about what happened to me after I was defeated by Magan. And my condition is probably quite critical, right?"

"You have sustained a lot of damage."

"Yes, that is why I need to return immediately."

In response to my demand to get to the point, Stella scratched her cheek and sighed before replying.

"You do not need to worry about your body. Um, well, actually, I guess you are in such a hurry because you have a rough idea about the condition your body is in right now, right?”

"...Either dead or on the brink of death."

"Correct. Actually, even Magan assumed that you were already dead. That shows how badly you treated your body."

"Is that so?"

The information was really shocking, however, all I could do was give a nonchalant response.

Since I had witnessed the boundary between life and death, it wasn't as surprising as I thought it would be, and I always knew that I would arrive at such a situation someday.

"However, you do not have to worry because someone is protecting your body properly."

"Pro… tecting?"

"Yes, so there is no need to get too impatient. If I have to put it in words, you are 'not yet' dead, and even if you return now, you will just be repeating the same thing."

It was hard to grasp the meaning behind Stella's words. It felt like she was explaining the Gospel using its complex language.

However, Stella just smiled widely, as if my reaction was natural.

"There is no need for you to worry. You will definitely be able to return."

"..."

If Stella was saying so, there must be a reason behind it.

The reason why she was keeping me behind even though I could return.

Now, that was what I was curious about.

"Anyway, how long do you plan to keep on acting?"

"..."

"Look at yourself now."

I slowly lowered my head at her words. Instead of the noble coat usually worn by Deus, I was wearing a modern-style suit from my days as an office worker.

"Ah."

I hadn’t realized it at all.

Only now did I finally understand why Stella had been calling me “you” or “this person” instead of “Deus”.

"Fufu, so this is what you looked like?"

Before I knew it, I had become Kim Shinwoo.

"Even while I was sleeping inside you, I could still hear and see a lot. You know, it turns out that resting inside another person is not as comfortable as one might think.”

"Sorry."

Stella simply shook her head at my honest apology and laughed.

"No, on the contrary, I quite liked the fact that I could keep listening to your stories like lullabies."

"..."

Stella didn't stop there and continued with a question.

"So is that why? I have been following your actions closely. You have comforted the dead, guided your broken student back to the right path, and given value to the yokai created unfairly."

"..."

"And there was a time when you almost went astray, but still, you came back."

"..."

"And this time, you even managed to bring the Demon Lord of the Republic, who only sees humans as food, to the brink of death. Such deeds can only be called heroic."

Stella listed all the events I had gone through until now, not for the sake of praising me, because as she continued speaking, her expression gradually grew darker.

And then,

"Why?"

She asked me a question that felt like someone threw a large stone into a calm lake.

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you go to such lengths?"

Kim Shinwoo— Stella then added my name after that question, once again giving me a feeling that I was being reminded of the clear boundary between this continent and myself.

"I was actually curious."

Stella slowly bent down and sat down right where she was. It looked as if she was perched on the clouds in the night sky.

Her turquoise eyes moved across the distant horizon of the far-off sky and eventually landed on me.

"You have deluded yourself into thinking that you are doing this in order to survive, correct?"

"..."

"To put it bluntly, you wish to prevent the downfall of the continent just to survive. You have taken on too much responsibility."

The statement wasn’t incorrect, so I couldn't deny it.

"In fact, you, yourself, are not even overly concerned about your own death."

Each of her words pierced deep into me, yet Stella formed a gentle smile on her lips.

After a brief moment of silence, as if giving me time to organize my thoughts, Stella began to reminisce about the past by asking.

"Do you remember the time when we spoke at the convent?"

"....Yes, I remember."

"It is just like back then. I only want to listen."

Tap. Tap.

Tapping the seat next to her, Stella suggested that I sit as well.

As if I was entranced by something, I naturally sat down next to her.

"To provide comfort to souls, you have heard countless stories. But strangely, there is no one on this continent to listen to your story."

Without realizing it, the corners of my eyes began to waver. After meeting my gaze, Stella carefully wrapped her arms around my head.

"What is the real reason you volunteered to serve this world?"

"..."

Clearly, as I was a soul, I wouldn’t be able to feel anything.

Yet strangely, Stella's embrace felt comforting, and the warmth quickly spread within me.

"It is okay. Take your time and give me your answer. It does not matter if you wish to take a short break."

"Ah."

My body, tense from all her penetrating questions, gradually began to regain its stability.

"You have endured a lot, haven't you?"

As her warmth enveloped my entire being, and her whisper tickled my ear, I slowly closed my eyes.

“For the sake of you, who has comforted the continent…”

Let me be the one who comforts you.