The Angel Who Quit Heaven
Arcana Resort's front yard.
A massive pillar of light descending from the sky vanished, leaving a dazzling figure standing in its place.
Six wings spread behind its back.
A golden halo floating above its head.
It was the highest-ranking angel from the heavenly realm, the Seraphim Zeruel.
His mere presence seemed to purify the murky air of the Abyss.
But his expression wasn't holy—it was irritable and sharp, like he was being chased by something.
"Welcome, Zeruel."
Jinhyeok bowed politely.
"Are you Kang Jinhyeok?"
Zeruel's voice was clear as rolling crystal beads, but ice-cold.
"That's me. What brings you all the way here..."
"To express my gratitude."
As Zeruel extended his hand, a holographic video appeared.
The footage showed the macho angel Piel flapping his muscular wings and strutting through the heavens.
"Piel was a headache for our Third Legion. A molting angel? A disgrace to the heavens. And you turned that guy into... something so robust. No, overly robust."
"Ah, no big deal. If the patient's happy, the doctor's happy."
Jinhyeok replied with a grin.
"Fine. I commend you on that. But..."
Zeruel's eyes changed in an instant.
Blue flames flickered in his pupils.
Eyes of God (A)
"Personal thanks end here. Now, for official business."
"Official... business?"
"Indeed."
Zeruel spread his six wings wide.
Immense holy power surged like a storm.
The hospital's barrier crackled and shook.
"By the name of the heavens, I declare! From this day, war on the Abyss begins!"
"...Pardon?"
Jinhyeok and the hunters doubted their ears. War, out of nowhere?
"Word is, the Abyss's four great demon kings got treated by you—no, modified—and weakened."
Zeruel smirked viciously.
"The Plague King caught OCD and lost his poison, the Gluttony King went on a diet and lost his strength, the Madness King turned into a flower-viewing idiot. Even the Illusion King just sleeps all day."
Spot-on intel. Though the interpretation was a bit off.
"Now's our chance! While the demon lords are off their game, we'll purge this filthy land! It's the will of the gods!"
A massive spear of light materialized in Zeruel's hand. Tension peaked. Ma Dongtak raised his shield, stepping forward.
But then—
"Who said we're off our game?"
Immense demonic power exploded from all around the hospital.
North, south, west, east.
The four great demon kings appeared simultaneously.
"Man, all this dust. Guest, mind your manners."
From the north, Plague King Nergal emerged, wiping his armor with wet wipes. It smelled of bleach, not poison.
"I was mid-deadlift. You're gonna cause muscle loss with all this noise?"
From the south, Gluttony King Beelzebub approached, shaking a protein shake. His body was chiseled muscle.
"Don't step on my flowerbed. Do, and you're dead."
From the west, Madness King Asura grinned menacingly, garden shears in hand.
"Yaaawn... Nap time..."
From the east, the Illusion King appeared yawning, sleep mask perched on his forehead.
Zeruel's face hardened. Bad intel.
Far from weakened, they were healthier, more vibrant than ever.
Not their old sickly aura, but the glow of peak condition from good food and sleep.
Patient: Seraphim Zeruel
Condition: Severe stress, burnout syndrome, nervous exhaustion.
Diagnosis: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and perfectionism.
"H-how...?"
Zeruel panicked.
"How? They're cured."
Jinhyeok stepped forward among the demon kings.
"As you see, they're all in top shape. War? Go ahead. But can you handle all four alone?"
The four demon kings unleashed killing intent in unison.
Zeruel broke into cold sweat.
Four foes stronger than their prime. No chance solo.
But Zeruel didn't back down.
Or rather, he couldn't.
He gnawed his nails, muttering.
"No... Must purify... Erase this filth... Balance is off... Order's disrupted..."
He looked less like a righteous judge and more like a patient obsessed, hunted by something.
Jinhyeok's eyes narrowed.
"Hey, angel dude."
Jinhyeok approached Zeruel.
"Stay back! Don't touch me with your filthy hands!"
Zeruel retreated.
"You're exhausted, right?"
"...What?"
"Managing heaven's gotta be tough. One crooked line, no sleep. Clouds not perfect? Remake 'em. Subordinates screw up? You get pissed."
Zeruel's pupils shook like an earthquake.
Dead on.
He was heaven's drill sergeant and administrator.
Perfectionist to his core, he'd worked millennia without a vacation.
"H-how do you..."
"Dark circles down to your jaw. Makeup hides it, but not from my eyes."
Jinhyeok brushed imaginary dust off Zeruel's shoulder.
Zeruel flinched in horror.
"War later. Rest first. Our resort specializes in healing."
"Don't make me laugh! Rest in a demon den? I only relax in perfect order!"
"That 'order' is eating you alive."
Jinhyeok said firmly.
"Just three days. Stay, and if you still want war, go for it. We need time to evac anyway."
Zeruel wavered.
Fight now? No win.
And... he was bone-tired.
Three days. Scout the enemy as cover—solid excuse.
"...Fine. But don't touch me. And my room dust-free."
"No worries. Cleaning? Nergal here's a pro."
Jinhyeok winked at Nergal, who flashed a thumbs-up with wet wipe in hand.
Thus, heaven's top brass checked into the demon resort.
[Day 1: The Art of Cleaning]
Zeruel's VIP suite was spotless.
He entered, gloved up, and swiped the windowsill.
Dust check. Habit.
"Hmph..."
White glove: pristine.
Perfection.
Cleaner than heaven's interiors.
"How is it? To your liking?"
Nergal asked from behind, toolkit in hand.
"You clean it?"
"Yup. Can't stand filth. Special disinfectant—7:3 bleach-alcohol ratio."
"7:3...?"
Zeruel's eyes lit up.
"The golden ratio. You know your stuff."
"Heh. Angle matters. Wipe at 45 degrees—no streaks."
"Exactly what I tell my idiots! They do 90 degrees—ruins it!"
Angel and demon.
Mortal foes united by hygiene.
They debated stain removal and sterilization aesthetics all night.
Zeruel beamed—finally, someone who got it.
[Day 2: The Joy of Eating]
"Meal time."
Luna wheeled in a cart: bacon boar steak and mandragora salad.
Zeruel frowned.
"I don't eat greasy. Just heaven's dew."
"That's why you're so on edge."
Beelzebub chimed in from the next table, chewing chicken breast.
"I used to think more food = better. Wrong. Balance carbs, protein, fats—the big three."
"Balance...?"
Zeruel was weak to "balance."
Perfectionist.
"Try it. Director Kang calculated calories perfectly."
Zeruel sliced a piece cautiously.
Juices burst on chew.
Earth seasonings met Abyss flavors—pure bliss.
"...!"
Zeruel's eyes widened.
Heaven's dew: pure, but bland.
This? Stimulating.
Blasphemous, but delicious.
"Tasty, right? Eat and lift—no fat. Wanna pump iron with me?"
Beelzebub flexed.
Zeruel devoured the plate, entranced.
Full belly = good mood.
Edgy nerves eased.
[Day 3: Peace in Disorder]
Final day.
Zeruel strolled Asura's backyard flower garden.
Asura's wild planting: no order.
Roses by sunflowers, vines crawling chaos.
Old Zeruel: "Pull these weeds!"
But today... it wasn't bad.
"Pretty, right?"
Asura approached with a watering can.
"No order. Total mess."
Zeruel grumbled.
"That's nature. Grows with wind, seeds. Force lines? Flowers wilt, viewer wilts."
Asura plucked a wildflower—crooked, but potent scent.
"Imperfect's fine. That's life."
Zeruel took it, staring blankly.
Imperfect's okay.
Millennia of obsession cracked.
He lay spread-eagle on grass.
Uniform dirtied? Whatever.
Red moon above, mad king humming beside.
Chaos.
But... peaceful.
"Haha... hahaha..."
Zeruel laughed madly.
"Musts" vanished; "wants" bloomed.
[Discharge Day: Shocking Announcement]
Three days up.
Hospital lobby: Jinhyeok, hunters, four kings.
Zeruel descended with bags.
Face transformed: rosy, relaxed.
"Good rest?"
"Thanks to you. Best vacation ever."
Zeruel admitted frankly.
"War now?"
Ma Dongtak gripped his weapon tensely.
Zeruel shook his head.
Then dropped a bomb.
"No. I'm not going back."
"Pardon?"
"Not going back... to heaven?"
"Right."
Zeruel tossed his tie.
"I'm resigning."
"...Whaaat?!"
Everyone gawked.
Seraphim quitting? God's proxy?
"Fed up. Aligning lines daily, inspections, yelling at subs—exhausting. Heaven's too rigid. Can't breathe."
Zeruel pointed at Jinhyeok.
"Director Kang. Hire me."
"Hire you?"
"Yeah. Found my calling. Team with Nergal, security chief—whatever. Wanna chill and eat with these guys."
Jinhyeok stared, stunned.
Heaven's top asset walked in.
A powerhouse ally.
"Salary? Quitting pension means big bucks."
Zeruel deadpanned.
Jinhyeok grinned. No-brainer.
"Room and board, Beelzebub gym pass, Asura garden walks. And honorary board seat."
"Deal."
Handshake. Heaven-demon merger. No—burnout workers' haven complete.
Then Zeruel added:
"Oh, my resignation'll stir heaven. Successor’s... picky."
"Who?"
"Michael. War hawk. Probably bring an army for me."
"..."
Faces soured.
Solve one, bigger comes.
But Jinhyeok smiled.
"Let him. War hawk? Wonder what his issue is."
Jinhyeok flung open the doors.
His hospital: no mere clinic.
Angels, demons, humans—universe's sole sanctuary.
"Ma Manager! Spare a room! Angel's staying!"
"Luna! New hire uniform! Wing holes!"
Arcana Resort's legend continues. Louder, grander.