Chapter 0
A surreal palace built atop the clouds. A man clad in luxurious golden armor—impractical for any real use—gazed down upon the world.
"It's finally stabilized."
He had grown by defeating countless powerful foes, and at last, he toppled even the black curtain manipulating the world from the shadows. Of course, hardships and trials had come relentlessly in between: the death of a friend, betrayal by a lover, the king's scrutiny, assassins from the darkness... But he overcame it all and ascended to the peak.
And now?
"Ho ho!"
"Hee hee hee!"
Beautiful women gazed at him with eyes full of adoration. On each of their backs sprouted three pairs of pristine white wings symbolizing the Angels.
Angels. They appeared as fragile women in form and demeanor, yet each possessed power rivaling a great nation.
Who should it be today... uhuhu! The man leered with lewd fantasies as he scanned the angels one by one, their provocative outfits flaunting their figures to the fullest. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this matchless world revolved around him. Tomorrow, and the day after... it would all be filled with dreams and hope.
Boom!
"What...?"
A thunderous explosion shook the palace so violently that the man wore a puzzled expression.
Are there still enemies left?
Poof! Summoning a weapon from thin air, his face showed no tension or worry—only delight! With no hostile forces, not even rivals, he'd grown bored of this idle life.
"I hope they're a worthy opponent."
He'd craved strength, but once he'd grown strong, the lack of equals made everything dull.
Rumble... rumble...
An earthquake so fierce it would topple ordinary folk collapsed part of the palace—his home, befitting the supreme being.
"Darling!"
"Master!"
"Your Majesty!"
Each angel called him by a different title, their bonds and stories unique. Yet their voices and gazes brimmed with infinite trust.
"Don't worry."
Gripping a weapon for the first time in ages, the man smiled reassuringly as he surveyed the scene.
Boom!Thud!
The palace guards rushed in droves to defend, but instead of subduing the intruder, the chaos and damage only snowballed.
Impressive.
The man was purely admiring. These weren't some ragtag bunch guarding this place. Magic, weapons, armor, skills... all handpicked and trained under his personal oversight. Until now, they'd always handled threats on their own.
"Kyaa~?!"
"Argh~?!"
"Gah~?!"
Yet that defensive line crumbled absurdly fast—pathetically so.
Finally, boom! A pebble hurled by the intruder flew like a cannonball, demolishing the terrace.
"Interesting."
Flap! Embraced by the beautiful winged angels, the man slowly descended to the ground.
"Hello there."
Surrounded by guards, the intruder brushed dirt from his clothes and greeted them lightly.
But the master of the house wasn't in the mood to return pleasantries. Because he was an obvious enemy? No.
"A suit...?"
It was a black suit—something that shouldn't exist in this world!
Noticing the host's gaze fixate on his attire, the intruder replied in a refreshingly straightforward tone.
"I'm on the job, so I can't dress casually."
"On the job? Someone hired you to assassinate me?"
"No."
"Everyone denies it at first. Can't reveal the client so easily. But answer this: where'd you get that suit?"
"It's mine. Didn't buy it with money, though."
"...You from Earth too?"
"With all due respect, your question's premise is off. We're still on Earth."
"Earth...?"
"Yes."
"......"
The man couldn't comprehend the intruder's words. This world of magic and monsters couldn't be Earth. But dismissing it as nonsense? The intruder's confidence was too unwavering.
"Darling."
"Yeah?"
"This isn't the time for chit-chat. He's an intruder—a clear enemy."
"...Right."
He should be furious, of course. But the thrill of a new powerhouse outweighed it. Life had been so boring in this peace.
Even so, "Intruder. If not assassination, why come here?"
He sided with his angry wives for now.
"To meet you, obviously."
"So you trashed my house?"
"Not trashing. Your mother hired me."
"Lies! My mother died giving birth to me!"
"I mean the real mother who gave birth to you."
"I said she died giving birth to me—"
"Kim Young-hee."
"H-How do you know that name...?!"
"That's the name of the client who hired me and sent me here. She's desperately waiting for her son."
"...Lies."
"Truth."
"Lies! All lies! No way! My name is Kaiser! The man chosen by God...!"
"Kang Cheol-su."
"No! Kang Cheol-su is dead...!"
"You've been lying unconscious in a hospital bed for six years."
"Nonsense! I was reborn in this world...!"
Whoosh! The excited man leaped fiercely to silence the intruder.
"Good grief..."
Sighing as if he'd expected this, the young man drew a green bronze sword from inside his black suit—thick-bladed, more ceremonial than lethal.
Shing! Gripping the flawed weapon, the youth met the absolute ruler's ferocious assault head-on without dodging.
Clang!
"Kang Cheol-su."
"Shut up!"
The instant their swords clashed, the cloud-top palace shattered.
And the people there? The lives?
"Kang Cheol-su."
"I'm Kaiser!"
"A name you gave yourself? Kaiser is a title from the German emperors, derived from Roman general Caesar—"
"Shut up~!"
Boom! Bang!
Despite power enough to conquer the world alone, why! He couldn't silence this 'impurity' that shouldn't exist.
"Kang Cheol-su."
"Shut up!"
"...One last thing."
"Don't!"
"There's a proverb: when whales fight, the shrimp's back gets cracked. The women cheering you on are about to get caught in the crossfire and die—"
"Gasp!"
Swallowing hard, the man retreated and looked around.
"Ahh..."
"Ugh..."
The angels lay battered, unable even to spread their wings.
"......"
"......"
And some would never spread theirs again.
"N-No way... this can't be..."
Thud.
Realizing his carelessness had hurt or killed his wives, the man collapsed in despair.
"Kang Cheol-su. Don't be sad."
"It's your fault for saying weird shit...!"
"Ezekiel 1:5 from the Old Testament: 'Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.'"
"What?"
The Bible, suddenly? Praying for his dead wives? But listening closely, no.
"And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like the feet of a calf, and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass."
"What nonsense is this...?"
"Cherub."
"Cherub?"
"Cherubim are heavenly beings crafted by God, far superior to angels."
"So what?"
"Calm down and listen. It'll comfort you."
"......"
"All angels described in the Bible are wingless pretty boys. Wings, females, baby angels? Artists' imaginary inventions. Including the women who supported you."
"Wha..."
"Winged beings aren't angels—they're cherubim. God's perfect creations. With animal heads, not even human—"
"Shut up!"
Clutching his ears, the man screamed in terror.
"Kang Cheol—"
"Shut up! Please...!"
His tone now closer to pleading than rage. But the youth was merciless.
"Female angels' existence. Clear proof this world is fiction."
"No!"
"Admit it."
"No way! The Bible's wrong! Female angels exist!"
"Your mother, Kim Young-hee, is waiting desperately."
"N-No... that's not..."
The man's denials grew fainter.
"Kang Cheol-su."
"Tell me it's not... please..."
"Sorry."
"Sob..."
Kang Cheol-su began bawling like a tantruming child.
"Truth is truth. Want to die of malnutrition? You're skin and bones already."
"......"
"You were a 15-year-old minor when the car accident hospitalized you. Now you're a full adult. Face reality like one."
"...Yes."
The man meekly bowed his head and obeyed.
However, "You still won't accept it. Let me say it again: winged female angels don't exist."
"Cherubim—"
"They have beast heads. Not beautiful women, not even human. Give up."
"Who the hell are you...?"
"Oops! Forgot. I'm Kang Moon-soo. This is my line of work."
"This?"
"Playing the bad adult."
"What does that...?"
"Details later."
The youth stretched grandly amid the crumbling world.
* * *
"Cheol-su! Do you recognize me?"
"M-Mom..."
"Yes, it's Mom! Ahh! God! Thank you! Teacher, thank you! Honey! Get to the hospital quick! Your son Cheol-su's awake!"
"It was all a dream..."
"Son?! Why are you crying?! Hurt somewhere?! Nightmare?!"
"N-No. Sob sob!"
I yanked out the IV from my wrist, changed from the patient gown into my black suit, and slipped quietly out of the tear-soaked room.
Then I immediately checked the date and time on my smartphone.
"...Not bad."
If I hadn't studied theology on the side, it would've taken much longer. Still, I couldn't call it quick myself.
53 missed calls! Amid real estate and insurance spam, the same number repeated endlessly.
"Hmm..."
Not saved in my phone, but I called without hesitation.
Ring~♪
One second? The melody barely started before it connected.
"Kang Moon-soo speaking. How may I—"
"Help! My daughter's been unconscious for ten days!"
"I see. Your daughter's age?"
"18."
"Saw the subway ad? Or referral? Referrals get 20% off."
"The hospital director..."
"Ah! Which hospital is she at? Book now, and I'll shatter love, friendship, dreams, and hope for a very reasonable price."
My job is being a bad adult.