Chapter 164: The Story

'Rose.'

… The heck?

'It's me, Milel.'

Oh. Thank goodness, I thought I was delusional for a second.

'Of course not, idiot. I have an idea on how I can get out of here.'

How?

'Warp to Hell, open the gate, and I'll be able to leave, all you need to do then is give me a body.'

… Genius.

"Rose?"

"Yes, Jalad?"

"Why are you daydreaming?! We just learn that Michael has declared war while Luma was asleep, so she wouldn't announce it, so why are you sleeping?"

"Gotta go to Hell real quick."

Then as I began to warp, I heard Gabriel sigh.

"How is she already acting like one?"

Then I appeared in Hell and skipped to Milel, who was at a tea shop.

"I would not expect a tea shop in Hell."

"Oh, it's mostly dirt, but since we lack all senses, except the pain you showed me, it's nice to pretend."

"I see. Well, do you think it would actually work?"

"I don't see why not?"

"By the way, would I have to make bodies for the rest of your faction?"

"No, they are all alive. Hiding among various factions, but I've been listening through your mind. If Michael is declaring war on you, then you need an angelic army of your own."

"Good idea. But there is one thing we would need to do."

"What?"

"I would need to… you know… so the Ruler doesn't pick favorites…"

"What is it?"

"I would need to replace your grace with one modified to be based in my own power."

Milel looked at me, blinked, and then raised a brow.

"We are speaking seriously here, this isn't the time for jokes."

"It wasn't a joke. I've already tested it on Asmodeus and Hades, and it worked fine there, and they are now stronger than they were when they were originally angels, so I thought…"

Milel began to grimace.

"Why should I give up the grace that my love lovingly gifted me? Because you're scared, he'll cheat?!"

I felt like running like the other souls, but I looked at her in defiance.

{No, because I will eventually go up against him, you know that too, and if you want any hope of standing any chance against even the likes of Lucifer, then that grace that is made to restrict you to how blessed you are, needs to be removed.}

My voice overwhelmed hers, and she understood it as something that she cannot resist, then she shivered.

"It's been so long since I felt that~ Okay, I'll go along with it."

That was sudden, do any of you know what happened?

"Oh, I see you've learnt of our friends behind the screen, as the Ruler lovingly called them."

"You know them?"

"Not personally, but the Ruler once told me that the Author has the ability to broadcast to other planes of reality. In the form of text or even video. For those unaware of the Author, they, upon discovering them, would likely assume themselves mere characters."

"Wow. Is their world peaceful?"

"Quite, I'd imagine, given their love of ours."

"How many are there?"

"Who knows? Countless realities receive this story. There could be hundreds, or even millions. Some realities may even just ignore its existence."

"So, what happens if I kill the Author."

"Then one of two things happens. Either the story ends."

Then she smiled and looked somewhere that I am 100% sure you are looking from.

"Or someone else takes up his mantle."

"Wow, so it's quite costly to kill him."

"Especially considering how old he is. He and the Ruler have battled for a long time before the Ruler crafted this reality. The Author has made many stories before."

"What happened to them?"

"Who knows, maybe they just became more worlds that read his stories, maybe they were destroyed. As no being is capable of passing through reality except the one truly described as God, I suppose we'd have to ask the Author directly, but it's quite unlikely he'd give a straight answer."

I blinked. She just revealed something important.

"Wait, did you meet God?!"

"Once… a long time ago."

"What was He like?"

"Love… that's all I can describe Him as."

"Wow."

So, God does exist, that's good to have confirmed. And, if I could get in contact with Him, He could help us.

"Well, let's get you out of Hell, Milel."

"Wonderful idea."

_

As we started walking to the gate, I heard a voice.

"Hello child."

"Quarinara."

"Indeed… thank you."

"For what?"

"Saving my daughter and her friend… Then you went an extra mile and gave them grace, I am permanently in your debt."

"Don't worry about it."

"No, that won't do. I shall grant you a spell to summon me to your world, but it will only work once then I will die, so please only use it when either you or my daughter's life is in danger."

"I can't use it though."

She smiled.

"Then I would be happy to know you were never in enough danger. The spell is 'Quarinara Zolathis.'"

"… Thank you."

She smiled.

"Now continue with your saving Milel, I'm eager for the day that you use the spell, not too eager of course, but it will be fun to move again."

Milel smiled at her.

"For a demon, she is one of the nicest people here."

"She truly regrets what she had done."

"Indeed, but now, let's not wait any longer, Michael certainly won't."