The Archangel's Revelation
At first, I thought I wouldn't even notice what I was eating in front of the Team Leader, but honestly, every dish that came out was so delicious that I ended up focusing entirely on the meal. The satisfying dinner continued without any serious conversation until dessert and coffee were served. Only after the Team Leader took a sip of her coffee and spoke did I return to my original state of tension.
"Did you enjoy the meal?"
"Yes, it was truly delicious."
It was genuine, without a shred of falsehood. I even wanted to bring Nero along next time.
"You certainly ate well."
"..."
Was I really that obvious about how much I enjoyed it? Well, that was only proper etiquette toward someone who had prepared the meal.
"It's a bit awkward to bring this up right after such a pleasant meal, but first, I must apologize for what happened last time."
"..."
An apology from a beautiful woman was terrifying in its own way. I nearly waved my hand and said it was fine without thinking. The Team Leader bowed her head, letting her blue hair fall forward as she apologized, remaining like that for several seconds. Just as I began to wonder if I should tell her it was okay to raise her head, she finally lifted it.
Even while feeling burdened, the memory of her pointing a gun at Nero and nearly killing her made my heart churn with turmoil.
"However... the apology is only for proceeding without sufficient prior explanation. I still do not believe I was wrong."
"...?"
The light faded from her blue eyes, which had almost made me believe she was a good person. Her once-sharp gaze softened, eyelids half-lowering as those partially veiled eyes turned toward me with an eerie intensity. The atmosphere shifted with her eyes, and the gentle smile she had worn now looked like a cold sneer.
"..."
Even so, her beauty remained undiminished.
"I still believe Nero should not remain by your side, Woong. If possible, I would like to take her life myself."
"That's...!"
My fists clenched, but I held back from voicing what was in my heart. She had said she wanted to, not that she would. And the Team Leader I knew would have already acted if she truly intended to, ignoring even the President's warnings. The fact that she hadn't yet meant...
"...That's why you arranged this meeting, to explain your reasons to me."
I was certain, but the Team Leader shook her head, contrary to my expectations.
"No. It's not a particularly pleasant story, so I'd rather not tell it if possible."
Her gaze was so difficult to meet directly that I thought facing the Joker mask would have been easier. It made me feel that such an expression didn't suit her face.
"Before we begin... I suppose I should tell you about myself first."
"..."
So it had come to this. Removing the mask must have been for this reason.
"You've already heard about the Vatican and the Inquisition, I assume?"
The Vatican, and the Inquisition beneath it. They were the ones who had launched the recent surprise attack, which was also why the Founder was assigned as my escort.
"...The President gave me a rough explanation."
"Then this should be quick."
After taking another sip of coffee and setting the cup down, the Team Leader tapped the table with her fingers.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap... ...Tap.
She hesitated for a long while, drumming the table in silence, before finally stopping and parting her lips.
"The current leadership of the Vatican consists of angels."
"Angels...?"
Did she mean the typical angels with white wings and glowing rings above their heads?
"Not ordinary angels, but the Archangels who have received names. An ordinary level of power wouldn't suffice for them to descend into this world."
But why was this story suddenly becoming the Team Leader's own? As if telling me to wait a little longer for the answer to my question, she continued without pause.
"Among them, the one with the greatest power—the damn woman... no, the angel. Archangel Gabriel is the true leader guiding the Vatican."
Damn woman. I had heard the Team Leader call someone that before, and not just once or twice, but quite often.
"And I... am the Archangel Michael, the warrior who has followed her orders for nearly two thousand years."
"What?"
"Though that is all in the past now."
Her frosty blue eyes, already intimidating to meet, now stared at me with relentless intensity, and even the faint trace of a smile on her lips had vanished. The threatening aura was so strong that the option of running away crossed my mind, forcing me to stiffen my entire body with tension.
And then...
"I have been by her side longer than anyone else, so I know her better than anyone."
Thud!
"Her cruelty."
Thud...!
"...Her meticulousness,"
Thud...!
Clatter...!
"The twisted personality that justifies every cowardly and cunning act in the name of divinity and justice...!"
The Team Leader slammed the table hard enough to make the coffee cup on it shake violently as she poured out her words, but she regained her composure with remarkable speed and apologized to me.
"...I'm sorry. I got a little heated. There was a time when I purely respected her, but we parted ways due to a clear difference in our stances regarding beings who have transcended pure humanity."
Beings with intellect, reason, and emotions, just like us—non-human entities. Like Harpy or Rav. And if possessing abilities meant being in an impure state, then Yerin and I would be included as well.
"That difference in stance..."
"Gabriel defines any deviation from the original human form first created by the Mother as heresy and seeks to thoroughly exclude it, while I believe those naturally occurring beings are a blessing left by the Mother. That is where I stand in opposition to her cruelty."
"..."
"Most angels fear the potential threat posed by non-human beings and view abilities as chaos that disrupts peace, siding with Gabriel... So I became nothing more than a pathetic traitor in order to uphold my own will."
The Team Leader concluded her story with a dry laugh. Even when the President had spoken of opposing God, it had seemed like an overly long tale, but now an actual angel had appeared. Whether true or false, it was simply astonishing, and the instinctive impression I had felt upon first seeing her true face only strengthened my belief in her claim of being an angel.
"That means... you're ultimately on our side, Team Leader."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes."
Her reaction to my brief summary was somewhat lukewarm, but she spoke again with a noticeably more relaxed expression.
"Humans have built centuries of civilization, achieving countless developments and changes. The new possibilities they've created have sometimes led to ruin, but they've also brought salvation and happiness to many more people."
And the Team Leader's position was that the facility's containment subjects were merely another change brought about through proper processes.
"I do not believe these changes must necessarily be rejected as something profane. Rather, I think the role of angels is to do everything in their power to help these beings harmonize with this world."
But they had not done so. Was this the cause of the hatred toward her own kind that she had mentioned?
"...There are people everywhere who fear change."
"Fear, just as you said, Woong."
But... there was one thing. I knew this wasn't the right time to ask, but I couldn't help being curious. I felt that if I didn't ask now, there wouldn't be another opportunity.
"...Then, Mikail, I'll just keep calling you Team Leader."
"...?"
"You said you're an angel, so... do you have a ring or wings... or something like that?"
I simply wanted to confirm the evidence with my own eyes to further increase the credibility of her story. It was definitely not to satisfy any private desires.
...Truly.
"..."
I was about to apologize and retract my words immediately, but before I could, I heard the Team Leader's laughter.
"Pfft... Puhaha, is that really important right now?"
Fortunately, her reaction wasn't one of displeasure, though she did seem quite flustered.
"No... I'm sorry."
"It's fine, no need to apologize. I, too, have been considering the harmony between humans and angels at the final stage... and since you're the key, Woong, it wouldn't be a problem to show you my complete true form on this occasion."
"...!"
Key? Harmony between humans and angels...? But more than that...
This flow... could it be...
Tap.
In the quiet room, the sound of her fingers unfastening a button on her dress shirt could be heard. This was... unmistakably permission.
"Very well. I'll show you."