The Fallen Angel's New Post
The third epilogue.
The status window office was completely empty. In its center, a portal leading to the human realm had appeared—one that had never been there before.
Normally, creating a portal to the human realm without authorization was a grave offense punishable by immediate disposal. Anyone who saw it would have thought Sardiel had finally lost her mind. But the expression on Sardiel’s face as she stepped out of the portal was one of pure confidence and refreshment.
“Haaah! The human realm is the best! I only went for a quick visit and I’m still so pumped!”
“Lady Sardiel. You didn’t just go to play—you descended to deliver the Holy Sword to the Hero, right? Originally I was supposed to go alone…”
“Jetael, come on! If you keep being so uptight you’ll end up just like Archrael! Even angels need some flexibility!”
Bestowing the Holy Sword upon the Hero was an official duty, and the directive had come straight from the Goddess herself. That was why Jetael had been tense since early that morning.
A mere ninth-rank angel receiving a direct order from the Goddess? And having to handle the entire mission alone? For a rookie angel with zero experience, it had been an overwhelming series of burdens.
After Archrael’s demotion, no new staff had been assigned yet, leaving Jetael with no room to handle something of this scale. In her panic, she had made what might have been the worst possible choice.
‘Sigh… Was it really the right decision to contact Lady Sardiel back then?’
Upon receiving Jetael’s call, Sardiel—who had been bored to death—had arrived at the office instantly. Both hands were loaded with all sorts of extravagant outfits and cosmetics.
“My pretty girl! No, my little lucky charm! You’re just too adorable! Let’s get you ready to descend to the human realm right now!”
“Huh? What do you mean… prepare?”
Just to be clear, the pillar of light, the flowing heavenly garments, and the noble backlighting were not natural phenomena.
“You’re going to descend in a suit? Humans prefer their angels to look more classical! Add more sparkles and holy powder! Just floating down from the sky? That has zero impact!”
This was the result of Sardiel’s countless daydreams during her tedious status window shifts—imagining herself descending to the human realm dozens of times a day to become companions with Cayen and Artin.
Jetael had grown increasingly worried as the scale of the descent kept expanding, wondering if this was really okay… but in the end, Sardiel’s judgment had been correct.
“It’s strange. The Goddess’s miracles are already widespread across the world, yet just seeing one of her servants—an angel—makes them testify their faith and shed tears.”
“That’s the power of good staging! Jetael, you still don’t understand the human heart, do you?”
“…But Lady Sardiel, this was your first time seeing humans in person too, wasn’t it?”
The event had ended successfully. After handing over the Goddess’s Holy Sword and watching the humans gasp in awe as they made their exit, the two angels returned to the heavenly realm feeling quite satisfied.
‘Hehe, I made eye contact with Artin! And I even winked at him!’
Especially Sardiel—she still hadn’t come down from her excitement. The real Artin! And she had looked him right in the eyes from up close! It was the mark of a successful fangirl.
“It’s a shame though. If only I could have touched him or at least brushed his hand…!”
“…If you had done that, it wouldn’t have ended with just a written apology, Senior! Please calm down!”
“Oh come on, it was a joke. A joke. It’s all over now, so what’s the big deal?”
Jetael had scolded her, but she didn’t entirely dislike this kind of atmosphere. Ever since the Archrael incident, the relationship between Jetael and Sardiel had improved dramatically. What was once an uncomfortable superior who only caused trouble had become close enough that they now met after work and went to cafés together.
“Stop talking nonsense and get back to work already. Do you have any idea how hard it is doing the status window duties alone? Those exclamation points! I’m losing my mind trying to copy the way they stick one at the end of every sentence!”
“I told you before. A true status window should celebrate growth together, right? Try putting in the effort to genuinely like the person named Artin. It’ll get easier.”
“No, according to the manual, the way I do it is correct…?”
At that moment, someone violently kicked open the door of the warm office and burst inside.
“Hehehe… Just as I thought! Exactly as expected! There was no way a mere low-ranking angel could handle such an important task alone!”
“…A-Archrael? Why are you here…?”
Archrael’s sudden appearance was bewildering. Ever since Sardiel had forcibly demoted her, Archrael had not shown her face at the workplace even once.
‘Wasn’t she reassigned somewhere else?’
While Jetael was pondering that question, Sardiel looked at Archrael—who was laughing like she had lost her mind—and summoned her iron mace from thin air.
“This bastard still hasn’t come to her senses after the beating last time…? You dare show up here of all places…?”
“Hiiik! You violent angel! Are you planning to beat me again!?”
When Archrael stumbled backward at Sardiel’s words, the blue-haired angel flashed a bright, refreshingly cheerful smile that had never been seen on her before.
“──Yep! I’m gonna beat the absolute shit out of you! This time I’ll break all four of your limbs!”
“Hiiiiik…!”
Even Jetael made a disgusted face at that, but she had no intention of stopping her. With Sardiel’s return still fresh, the idea of Archrael coming back to work was something Jetael found extremely, extremely distasteful.
“D-do you think I came here without any plan today? You’re finished! Better start preparing to fall! You violent angel!”
“…Ha? Have you really gone insane? What kind of nonsense is—”
Sardiel, who had been debating whether to smash her skull open with the mace first, suddenly saw something appear behind Archrael. Her face began to turn deathly pale.
“Sardiel, you are still as reckless as ever. To think you would descend to the human realm using a portal personally created by the Goddess.”
A refined suit, six wings, a flaming sword, and deep eyes that looked as if they had been sculpted from marble. Jetael had no idea what was happening, but the moment she saw that face, she couldn’t help but gasp in shock.
“C-Cayen…?”
It was a face that didn’t just resemble Cayen—it was identical.
“N-no, that’s not Cayen. That angel is…!”
“It’s that woman! While I was under disciplinary action, that woman came here, ripped out my wings, used violence, and interfered with the mission given by the Goddess! Archangel Michael!!”
Seeing Sardiel’s panicked expression, Archrael pointed at her with a face full of ecstasy and looked toward the archangel she had brought.
The archangel’s face showed no emotion as he listened to the story.
“I see… So that’s what you claim. Would it be alright if I check the CCTV, Officer Jetael?”
Instead, he calmly asked for evidence to resolve the situation, turning his gaze toward Jetael.
‘I’m fucked…’
Seeing that, Sardiel realized deep in her heart that she was completely screwed and fell into despair.
Reviewing Heavenly Realm CCTV footage…
It didn’t take long.
The heavenly realm’s CCTV didn’t simply record the scene—it was a miraculous system capable of reconstructing the exact moment the incident occurred.
“Just as Archrael claimed, it appears you broke regulations by coming to the office, manifested six unauthorized wings, and committed violence. Is this correct, Sardiel?”
“…N-no, um… that bastard started it first, Michael oppa!”
“I am not your ‘oppa.’ As I have told you before, we are not siblings, Sardiel.”
“That… can’t be…”
Long ago, back when she still had six wings, Sardiel had always called Michael “oppa” and gotten away with all sorts of accidents and pranks. But the way he was drawing such a firm line now was a clear signal that he would not overlook this. Cold sweat ran down her back.
“Not only that, this woman secretly descended to the lower realm and pretended to be the Goddess’s representative! While under disciplinary punishment! Please restore my wings and pass judgment on this woman and her accomplice!”
Unlike Sardiel’s horrified expression, Archrael was reveling in the situation with a triumphant look.
‘As expected, rank is everything! I predicted something like this might happen, but I never thought it would work out this perfectly!’
Even the strict Archrael had known in advance that there would soon be an angel descent event. If a mere low-ranking angel like Jetael was left alone, she would obviously call that violent angel for help. But to think she would actually descend herself! This was undoubtedly one of the heaviest crimes possible!
“Hmm… Indeed, this matter cannot end with mere personal punishment.”
“Y-yes! As expected of the Archangel! I beg you for a fair and just judgment!”
“Yes, of course. Not only did you distort the Goddess’s will, but the one who committed such a great sin…”
─Schlick!
“…Eh?”
“Must be punished accordingly. Don’t you agree, Archrael?”
It happened in an instant. The flaming sword the archangel swung lightly severed Archrael’s remaining two wings and began burning away the last of her holy power.
“───Aaaaaaaaagh!! Kuaaaaaaaaagh!!!”
“To dare speak of being the Goddess’s representative while attempting to oppress Cayen Silversword and Artin Ludwig—this is a grave sin that even Lucifer, who committed the first fall, would admire.”
“What are you talking about!!! I-I was simply trying to achieve efficient salvation—!!!”
“The Goddess granted free will to her creations long ago. I do not understand how you can act so arrogantly without knowing what that means.”
For the first time in an extremely long while, Archangel Michael made an expression of open contempt as he looked at Archrael.
This being was arrogant, self-righteous, violent, and hypocritical. She had nearly destroyed the world itself. The punishment fitting for her was…
“…I see. From now on, you are no longer Archrael.”
“W-what… what are you sayingyyyy…!! Kuaaaagh!!!!!”
Michael pressed the tip of his sword against Archrael’s forehead as she gasped in agony and began branding her.
“You are now the fallen angel Borfel. It seems a devil suits you far better than an angel ever did.”
“────!!!!”
The moment the brand of Fall was fully engraved, the holy power vanished from Archrael’s body and was replaced by a very faint demonic energy.
A fallen angel normally possessed demonic power matching their former holy power, but because Michael had already burned it all away, only the kind of power a bottom-tier low-ranking devil might have remained.
“And as a special favor, I will send you straight to the hell that will adore you the most. I hope you live well there, Borfel.”
“What is this…!!! I… I was only following the Goddess’s words…!! Aaaaaagh!!!!”
Before Borfel could say anything more, Michael struck the floor. A hole opened beneath her feet—a bottomless pit leading directly to hell.
A devil who had lost all holy power had no strength to climb out. In the end, after meaningless struggling, she would fall into hell.
“…”
“…”
Sardiel, who had been watching the entire scene, was drenched in sweat. Even Jetael swallowed dryly. Neither of them had expected an on-the-spot fall to hell to be this serious.
“…Sardiel?”
“Yes! Michael oppa! I mean, Lord Michael!”
Seeing Sardiel display military discipline for the first time in ages, Michael gave a bitter internal smile and approached her.
“The sin of spreading the six wings the Goddess forbade. The sin of secretly descending to the lower realm through a portal the Goddess personally created. Well… I know you have committed countless other sins besides these.”
“L-Lord Michael…?”
“However, I was also able to see just how serious and passionate you were about this matter. No matter how much time passes, you remain the same. It is quite comforting to see.”
Sardiel, who had been trembling with tears in her eyes, looked at him in confusion.
“…Huh? Haven’t you always disliked me since long ago, Michael… sir…?”
“No. Both the Goddess and I have always liked you. Didn’t you make this boring heavenly realm much noisier?”
Michael recalled the past. In a heavenly realm filled only with model students, Sardiel had been like a mutant angel—cheerful, bright, full of pranks, and lacking in concentration. If she were human, she might have been called ADHD. Yet when she became serious, she was endlessly serious. The higher angels had both avoided her and secretly enjoyed her antics.
“Besides, I didn’t mind you calling me ‘oppa’ either, Sardiel.”
“M-Michael oppa…”
When Sardiel made an emotional face, Michael gently wiped the tears from her eyes and softly stroked her head. Watching the warm scene, Jetael unconsciously smiled like a proud mother and felt genuine happiness.
“However… I must still give you a punishment. You understand, don’t you, Sardiel?”
“Yes! Michael oppa! I’ll accept any punishment!”
“Good. I was worried you might resist falling, but seeing you so resolute is quite admirable.”
“Yes! No matter what it is… Wait, falling?”
Before Sardiel could properly process the situation, Michael struck the floor.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaah?!?”
“L-Lady Sardiel!!??”
Jetael urgently reached out toward her, but the hole closed in an instant.
“Hehe, the pranks Sardiel used to pull are actually quite entertaining.”
Michael was smiling with satisfaction at the fact that he had successfully pranked Sardiel for the first time since his creation.
“W-what is going on, Lord Michael?! S-Sardiel may have broken the manual every single time, but still—to make her fall and become a devil!”
“Hm? Fall and become a devil? What are you talking about, Jetael?”
“Y-you just sent Lady Sardiel to hell!”
Ah, so that’s how it looked.
Michael shook his head in satisfaction, pleased that his prank had worked on Jetael as well.
“No. The hole I opened just now does not lead to hell. I didn’t even brand her with the mark of a fallen angel.”
“Then… where did that hole lead…?”
In response to Jetael’s question, Michael pointed toward a certain spot in the office. When Jetael slowly turned her head to follow his finger, all that was there was the monitor displaying the human realm.
“I simply sent her to the place she loves most for a period of disciplinary confinement. Since it is exactly what she wanted most, wouldn’t you say it is the perfect punishment?”
“…The h-human realm? R-really? You’re joking again, right, Lord Michael?”
Jetael asked with a horrified expression, but Michael shook his head with a serious face.
“Until this round ends, Sardiel will remain in the human realm. I have placed various restrictions on her, so there should be no problems.”
“T-that can’t be…”
Jetael collapsed on the spot. Her superior, whom she had only just grown close to, was being sent to the human realm for disciplinary confinement?
“During that time, you will have to handle the status window duties alone, Jetael.”
And on top of that, learning that her workload would double, Jetael looked up at Michael with teary eyes.
“This is your punishment, so please endure and wait. Originally, taking Sardiel to the human realm should not have ended with something this light.”
“Yeees…”
That answer was filled with utter emptiness and despair.
Borfel has been cast into Hell.
“Kuaaaaaagh!?!?!”
──Boom!!
The moment the seemingly endless fall ended, Borfel was slammed into some corner of hell.
“That damn archangel bastard…! How dare he make an elite like me fall! Just you wait…!”
Fortunately, thanks to Michael’s merciful protection, Borfel had not died. She lifted her head and slowly looked around.
“…?”
“What are you doing?! How dare you infiltrate the palace of the Grand Duke!”
Only then did Borfel realize that high-ranking devils she hadn’t even dared make eye contact with during the Great War were surrounding her, axes raised and ready to strike.
“Hiiik!? I-I am the devil Borfel! I just fell and don’t know anything yet!”
“What? Fell? Borfel? You must be a spy sent by Asmodeus!”
“No! It’s not true! I’m an innocent fallen angel!”
Borfel knelt, crawled pathetically, clasped her hands together, and begged desperately.
She had to survive. Only then could she get revenge on that damn archangel…!!
“Stop. Something interesting has arrived.”
“G-Grand Duke! Everyone, stand down! It is the Grand Duke’s command!”
At the woman’s voice, the high-ranking devils trembled and retreated. Borfel cautiously raised her head toward the source of the sound.
“G-Grand Duke Mephistopheles…!?”
“Hoo, a pathetic thing lower than a low-ranking devil dares casually utter my name. Do you truly wish to die?”
Borfel, who had cried out in shock upon seeing the face of the Grand Duke she had only known from records, realized this was the real Mephisto and hurriedly lowered her head again.
“No! I am truly innocent! Archangel Michael sent me here…!”
“Hmm… Michael?”
Just as Mephisto made an intrigued expression, a letter suddenly appeared before her eyes.
With the endlessly fascinating developments continuing, Mephisto dropped her lazy expression, tore open the envelope, and found a detailed explanation of the situation handwritten by Michael himself.
“…I see. So you are Archrael?”
“Y-yes! I was originally an angel of the fifth rank! I will surely be useful!”
“Moreover, is it true that you not only tormented Artin but tried to control and kill him?”
“…Yes?”
The moment she felt power enter that previously lazy voice, Borfel felt her entire body freeze. Like a small herbivore frozen before a predator, unable to even twitch her head, she squeezed out what little demonic energy she had and slowly looked up at Mephisto.
“Indeed… Michael sent me a very interesting gift, didn’t he?”
Mephistopheles was smiling.
For the first time in a very long while, she wore a smile filled with genuine malice.