Chapter 17

"I have already completed my preparations!!"

Orubas said this, stretching his body.

I was about to summon Crossel in my room.

Well, it doesn't seem like Orubas will have much to do this time.

I can't imagine Crossel going berserk like when I summoned Aim.

Alright, I gathered my resolve and began the summoning spell.

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor and worship the Lord. Well, since I have been banished from Heaven, I don't feel like doing that..."

This time, the summoning started with a gloomy mood.

"Crossel, I have come to save you."

I declared this early on to show my determination.

"To save me... Are you going to guide me back to Heaven?"

"I'm sorry, but that's something I can't do."

"You're right... There's no way you could do that."

Crossel's face clearly showed disappointment.

However, I decided it was better to clearly state what I couldn't do.

"Crossel, would you mind telling me why you were banished from Heaven? Talking about it might make you feel better."

"An angel confessing sins to a human... Even if I confess to you, I don't think I'll receive the Lord's forgiveness. Well, okay."

Crossel began to speak in a rather indifferent manner.

"An angel's job is to guide and protect humans according to the Lord's will. However, sometimes the Lord gives humans trials. That was the case then. The Lord gave humans a trial in the form of a flood. Many people were supposed to die in that flood."

Listening to Crossel's story, I thought the Lord was cruel.

Was it really necessary for the Lord to give such trials?

"But, many of the people who were supposed to die in the flood were people I knew. So, I couldn't help but stop the flood, against the Lord's will, by consuming the water goddess who caused it."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

That was my immediate reaction after hearing the story.

If an angel's role is to protect humans, then what Crossel did was not wrong.

"No, an angel must always be the Lord's hands and feet. The moment I developed selfish feelings, I was no longer fit to be an angel."

Well, if an angel's role is to absolutely follow the Lord's will, then Crossel was indeed unfit to be an angel.

"So, that's why you were banished from Heaven?"

"Yes, that's right. Disobeying the Lord's will and killing the water goddess by consuming her are my sins."

"I see..."

I said this, but I didn't know how to speak to Crossel next.

I couldn't empathize with the feelings of an angel at all.

After hearing the story, I didn't think Crossel had done anything wrong.

But, saying that wouldn't help her.

"Hey, how do you see demons?"

So, I decided to explore Crossel's true feelings from a different angle.

"They are wicked and evil beings who try to deceive the Lord."

Crossel answered immediately.

Her words about demons were quite harsh.

But, Crossel is one of those demons too.

"I don't think so. Well, I haven't met many demons yet, but I understand. Demons are a collection of selfish, irrational, and emotional beings."

I borrowed some of Mr. Fullcas's words to make this claim.

"So, Crossel, who helped people out of self-interest, is quite demon-like."

"Ah, are you trying to hurt me?"

"No, I didn't mean to..."

I panicked.

Did I use the wrong words?

"Hey, Crossel, why don't we do something fun together?"

"Something fun...?"

"Right, now that you're free, you should do what makes you happy. It would be a waste otherwise."

"Free...?"

The current Crossel is freer than when she was an angel. Yet, it's a waste for her to just be depressed.

"Demons are a collection of people who enjoy freedom. Orubas is like that too."

"Yes, serving Master is the greatest joy for meuuuuu!!"

Yes, Orubas is a truly demon-like being, crying emotionally, praising me exaggeratedly, and hating the idea of leaving.

"So, let's enjoy ourselves, Crossel."

"But, I don't know how to enjoy myself."

"Right, is there anything you want to do, Crossel?"

"Something I want to do?"

She said this and looked at my face intently.

Then, what? Crossel's face turned red, and her eyes darted around.

Why?

"Maybe... I want to interact more with humans."

I see, Crossel said she stopped the flood to help humans.

So, she must have had an interest in humans from the beginning.

"Alright, let's start by getting along better."

I said this and extended my hand.

Crossel took my hand awkwardly, saying, "Y-Yes..."

"Alright, I know it's sudden, but I want you to teach me water magic."

"Okay, I understand."

Yeah, I want to learn water magic quickly.

My head has been full of that desire since just now.

◆

Crossel's Perspective

This is a story from long ago.

When Crossel was still an angel.

Back then, unlike now, angels were emotionless.

"Hey, angel, let's play together."

One day, a human boy called out to me like that.

At the time, I was in the outside world on the Lord's orders, doing what I was supposed to do.

"No, I have things to do, so I can't."

I remember responding coldly.

Yet, the boy kept inviting me to play every day, every time we met.

Eventually, I started talking to the boy, and before I knew it, I was playing with him.

Not just the boy, but I also started interacting with many people in the town.

As an angel, I was mechanical and lacked emotions.

But, after interacting with the boy and the townspeople, I began to feel something like emotions.

Then, one day.

The Lord decided to give the town's residents a trial in the form of a flood.

If I were still the same as before, I would have followed the order without a second thought.

But, that version of me no longer existed.

After that, as I've already told, I saved the people by consuming the water goddess.

And, I was banished from Heaven for disobeying orders.

As a demon, I spent a long time in the underworld, living a gloomy life.

Every day, I repented to the Lord and regretted my actions.

"Let's enjoy ourselves, Crossel."

But today, a boy said that to me.

Is it just my imagination, or does he remind me of the boy I met long ago?

Enjoying myself.

I had forgotten that feeling for a long time.

But, I remembered it. When I interacted with the boy and the townspeople, I was truly happy.

Maybe this person can make me happy again.

So, Crossel took Norman's hand.

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