Chapter 41: Night Visitor
At this moment, Vigne was wearing an apron, her long hair tied up neatly behind her head. A confident smile curled on her lips, the kind that belonged to someone entirely in control of her domain. The faint scent of soap and fresh vegetables filled the air, and under the soft glow of the kitchen light, she looked almost radiant—an angelic figure preparing a feast with divine precision.
The preparations were completed quickly and smoothly.
Pots and pans were arranged with perfect order, every utensil gleaming. Oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were each set precisely where they belonged, as if she were commanding a small army. The ingredients had been carefully washed, drained, and categorized by color and texture. Then, with practiced grace, she lit the fire, the flame reflecting in her calm eyes, and poured the oil into the pan. The sound of sizzling oil echoed through the kitchen, the aroma of food slowly spreading outward. Every flick of her wrist, every stir of the spatula carried rhythm—fluid, natural, almost artistic.
Truly worthy of being a master chef whose cooking skills were maxed out in every possible sense.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Gabriel, three dishes and one soup were placed neatly on the table. Steam rose lazily from the plates, carrying a fragrance that could melt even the most disciplined resolve.
"It smells so good, I can't stand it anymore!" Gabriel inhaled deeply, her wings twitching with excitement.
You eat instant noodles every day—anything would smell divine to you now!
"It smells so good and looks amazing. If only you could cook for me every day..." Her tone was half-joking, half-serious, the sound of temptation clear.
Vigne chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It's nothing special. Practice makes perfect. It's already noon, so you must be starving, right? Go wash your hands and get ready to eat."
After a morning of effort, the moment of reward had finally arrived.
"I'm digging in!" Gabriel declared dramatically, grabbing her chopsticks. She scooped up a large bite of stir-fried pork and shoved it into her mouth, only to yelp when it burned her tongue. "Hot! Hot!"
"Slow down," Vigne said helplessly, hiding a smile. "No one's going to steal your food."
"It's fine... it's so good..." Gabriel mumbled through her stuffed cheeks, eyes sparkling as she chewed.
The rest of the meal passed peacefully, the sounds of chewing and satisfied sighs filling the room. The aroma of cooked rice, the clinking of bowls—it all felt homely and warm.
When the plates were empty, Gabriel slumped into the sofa, her hands rubbing her full belly. "I'm so full, I can't move."
"I told you not to eat that much," Vigne said lightly, crossing her arms.
"Hehehe... it was too delicious. I had to." Gabriel's laugh was slow and lazy, like a cat in the sun.
Vigne sighed again, stood up, and poured a cup of tea. The warm steam rose between them as she handed it over. "Here, drink this. And remember, you shouldn't sit down right after eating. It's bad for digestion. Move a little, take a walk."
"Eh, but I can't move," Gabriel groaned, slouching deeper into the sofa. Then her eyes suddenly brightened. "Oh right! I can play games! That'll help me move my fingers, which totally counts as exercise!"
"No way!" Vigne's tone sharpened instantly, her brows furrowing. "You've already played for hours today! Instead of gaming, how about cleaning your room for once—"
Before she could even finish, Gabriel melted back into the cushions. "Too full... can't move..."
"Get up and help me clean the room," Vigne ordered, her voice calm but her presence radiating authority. When she was serious, she turned into a holy demon—a mix of grace and terrifying determination. No one could resist that kind of pressure.
Gabriel whimpered, dragging her feet as she was pulled back toward her messy room. Kouya, watching this unfold, assumed they'd be gone for a while.
But to his surprise, they returned not long after.
"The floor's still wet from mopping, so we came to sit for a bit," Vigne explained with a calm smile, then added, "Also, Gabi-chan hasn't gone to class for several days. I figured I'd help her catch up on her homework."
Kouya, seated cross-legged on the floor with his game controller, muttered absently, "Do as you like."
But then he felt it—the sharp, focused gaze stabbing into his back.
He turned and saw Vigne's expression tighten. "You should listen too. You may not have skipped class like Gabi-chan, but you're always dozing off and daydreaming. You probably haven't learned much either. This is a great opportunity—I'll tutor both of you."
Shut up!
Weekends were sacred—meant for rest, for peace, for freedom from responsibility. How could she bring studying into this paradise?
Have some mercy!
Thankfully, Gabriel wasn't totally useless. Even after becoming a lazy, noodle-devouring gamer, she still retained her sharp mind. Being the top graduate of the Angel Academy had its perks.
Though she'd missed several days, she quickly grasped every concept Vigne explained. The two of them, one teaching and one learning, found their rhythm easily.
Sunlight streamed through the window, scattering gold across the floor. Dust motes floated lazily in the warm glow, drifting around the two figures by the table. Vigne's voice was calm and focused, Gabriel's occasional responses soft and obedient. It was a tranquil scene, peaceful and strangely heartwarming.
Kouya leaned back on the sofa, his gaze distant.
Heaven and Hell had truly changed. Demons now seemed gentle and honest, while angels drowned themselves in gaming addiction and laziness. Perhaps it really was the result of his long slumber.
He remembered the day he ascended to the final throne—the day he sealed himself away to sleep for ages. He had slept through the rise and fall of realms, until one day, a faint, sincere prayer from a boy named Kouya stirred him awake. Out of curiosity, he descended to this world.
Now he lived as that boy, his powers sealed, his divine will hidden. He didn't wish to conquer or destroy. For once, he simply wanted peace—to taste a human life that was quiet, mundane, and oddly satisfying.
"What are you staring at?" Vigne's voice broke his thoughts.
Kouya blinked. "You two."
Vigne froze, then turned red. "W-What are you saying!" She tried to compose herself, coughing lightly. "Did you even listen to what I just said? Exams are coming up. If you don't study, you'll fail!"
Time slipped by unnoticed. Before long, the golden afternoon faded into the cool blue of evening. The wind carried the soft scent of bamboo from the garden, the leaves rustling like whispers.
"Why don't you stay over?" Gabriel suddenly asked, her tone half-playful, half-sincere.
"Eh?"
"That way, someone can clean my house, wash my clothes, and cook for me..."
You're just looking for a maid!
"Gabi-chan, stop being ridiculous." Vigne sighed, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "You need to take care of your own life. Unless you want me to make you go to bed early, wake up early, go to class every day, and limit your gaming to two hours..."
"No, no, no!" Gabriel shook her head frantically. "Forget it! It's late—you should head home! Hahaha!"
Vigne sighed again, gentle as ever. "Remember to clean your room, don't toss your clothes everywhere, and stop eating instant noodles. Go to class properly, okay?"
"Mhm, mhm, I got it," Gabriel said, waving lazily, clearly not listening.
Vigne turned her gaze toward Kouya. Her voice softened. "You too, don't stay up too late playing games. Rest early."
That night, as the city lights flickered outside, Kouya's phone rang. The caller ID read: Shrine Maiden.
"Kou-kun, are you free tomorrow?" Her gentle voice flowed through the speaker, as elegant as moonlight. "There's a new request at the shrine... I could really use your help."
Kouya leaned back in his chair, glancing at the dimly lit room. "Let me spend what I have first before taking another job."
He didn't work purely for money. The thrill of occasional labor—the variety, the unpredictability—was what he enjoyed. To live like his cousin Kobayashi, exhausted day after day, sounded like torture.
"I see..." The shrine maiden fell silent for a moment, perhaps wanting to say more, but in the end she only whispered, "Then, Kou-kun, good night."
"Good night," he replied, hanging up calmly.
He played two more rounds of Overwatch with Gabriel before finally checking the time—it was already ten-thirty.
"What? You're sleeping this early? That's a waste of life!" Gabriel cried.
Kouya gave her a side-eye. "Some of us value sanity."
But Gabriel only grinned and declared dramatically: "A person's life should be lived like this—so when they look back, they won't regret feeding enemies in a thousand matches or feel shame for being useless! Only then can they say, 'I've devoted my entire life to the greatest cause—cultivation! Cultivation!'"
"Then I wish you ascension and eternal bliss," Kouya muttered dryly, turning off the monitor.
Sunday came and went without anything notable.
When night fell again, the quiet of the apartment returned.
Kouya was in the middle of dinner when a faint noise reached his ears. It came from the balcony—a soft thud, followed by the sound of movement.
He frowned, pushed his chair back, and approached the window. Drawing the curtain aside, he froze.
There, perched lightly on the railing, was a small, slender girl. The moonlight framed her silhouette, delicate yet steady. With one graceful motion, she flipped over the railing and landed silently on the balcony floor, her shadow merging with the night.