Gabriel (Christmas)/Story/Chapter 1

**Minhyeok:** Phew….
*Minhyeok's sigh formed something white and disappeared into the sky.
Although Minhyeok didn't know, there were many eyes watching him nearby.
So handsome, is he alone?
There's no way a handsome guy like that would be alone on Christmas.
A young woman's excited voice scattered throughout the cold, clear air.*
 **Minhyeok's Nephew:** Uncle Minhyeok!!
*Between voices of the woman tearing herself away from Minhyeok, a particularly loud and lovely voice reached him.
The owner of the voice energetically moved his voice to hang on to Minhyeok's feet.*
 **Minhyeok's Older Brother:** I made you wait.
 **Minhyeok:** It's alright.
*Soon, a man who looked like the child's father spoke to Minhyeok. Father and son also breathed out white breath as they stood naturally next to him.*
 **Minhyeok:** Brother! You're here! What about your wife?
 **Minhyeok's Older Brother:** Your sister-in-law is preparing Christmas presents at home. She told me to leave quickly because I get in her way.
*The man whom Minhyeok called 'brother' patted the head of the boy who was still hanging on to Minhyeok.
Minhyeok also had a married older brother who lived far away apart from his parents who lived overseas.
Minhyeok's brother was always concerned about leaving the university student Minhyeok at home alone, and brought his own family and Minhyeok to his wife's family this Christmas.
Minhyeok also knew that his brother was kind, and accepted it gratefully.
The three had come to a large, nearby park to see a 5-meter tree.
It was completely dark and the lights on the trees seemed to shine unusually brightly.*
 **Minhyeok's Older Brother:** Is MC alright?
*Said his brother, turning to look at Minhyeok without even looking at the tree.*
 **Minhyeok:** Yeah.
*Minhyeok answered shortly.*
 **Minhyeok's Older Brother:** I haven't seen them for a while now. Where did they go on day like this? That MC. Without saying anything to me.
*MC had also hung out with Minhyeok's brother like a childhood friend when they were young, so Minhyeok's brother also felt like MC was part of his family.*
 **Minhyeok:** They have a job to do. Still… They'll be sure to be back soon.
*For some reason, Minhyeok couldn't meet his brother's eyes and lowered his own, and took his 5-year-old nephew under his legs into his arms as if to hide it.
When his nephew's small palms hung around Minhyeok's neck, the child's characteristic warmth moved onto him.
Are they studying abroad or something…? His brother asked, which Minhyeok didn't answer but turn to look at the tree.*
 **Minhyeok's Nephew:** Uncle Minhyeok, what did you ask for from Santa??
*His nephew asked, staring at Minhyeok in his eyes while next to his cheek.
Minhyeok looked into the eyes of his adorable nephew, and stroked his flowing cheek with his index finger.*
 **Minhyeok:** Although I probably can't get anything from Santa now… If I can, I'd like to ask him for the peace of someone precious to me.
 **Minhyeok's Nephew:** Peace? What is peace? Does it mean you get stronger? How can you be at peace?
*The innocent eyes asked Minhyeok like a powerful wave.*
 **Minhyeok:** This is peace. Where no one around you becomes hurt or dies, where everyone understands each other, and people can do what they want.
*Minhyeok's eyes turned to the star at the top of the tree.
The stars at the top of the tree were shining under a separate set of lights from the tree itself.*
 **Minhyeok:** I want them to live like that where they are right now.
*Minhyeok's voice seemed wistful.
His brother stared wordlessly at him, but his nephew loosened his flowing cheeks into a huge smile.*
 **Minhyeok's Nephew:** Let's ask Santa! I hope your wish comes true!
*The innocent smile turned Minhyeok's eyes into a smile.*
 **Minhyeok:** Yeah. I hope it does.
*Said Minhyeok, patting his nephew on his head. The top of the tree in front of him shone brightly with shooting stars.*

*Hell was also greeting Christmas, and it was noisy everywhere.
Unlike other days, the streets were decorated, happy voices resounded, and the delicious smell of food wafted about.
But once looked at closely at the streets or tree decorations, they were not stars or other decorations used on Christmas on Earth
But bones that belonged to mysterious animals, fancy red underwear, bananas, empty liquor bottles…*
**MC:** ...Why are they decorating with things like these?
 **Sitri:** It's fine so long as the colors are fancy.
*Sitri replied with a smile to your honest question.
You were sightseeing Gehenna that was heightening into a Christmas atmosphere with Satan and Sitri.
It was your first Christmas in Hell. Although it was in the middle of a war with Heaven, your heart raced.
The devils in the streets laughed more than ever, and you could hear laughter from here and there.*
**MC:** You celebrate Christmas in Hell as well.
**MC:** I thought it wouldn't have anything to do with Hell since it's a holy day.
*You said, studying the interesting things that you wondered if you should call ornaments decorating the streets.*
 **Satan:** Hell has nothing to do with Christmas.
*Said Satan, staring only at your overjoyed self and not even glancing at the decorations.*
 **Satan:** We only need a reason to have fun. Devils like anything that is boisterous.
 **Satan:** Especially more at times like these.
*You strongly felt what situation Hell was currently in at Satan's words.
Even in that situation, the devils were endeavoring to find fun.*
 **Sitri:** Solomon, you can just have fun when you can.
*Just then, Sitri's hand passed on its warmth on your shoulder that were just about to slump.
You raised your eyes that could have fallen on your toes and turned to look at the interesting decorations on the streets.
Although the decorations that the devils must have endeavored to put up looked strange, they melted your heart.
Then, you realized that an 'important ornament' that always appeared on Christmas on Earth was simply not there.*
**MC:** Huh? Don't you have 'Santa' in Hell?
*Christmas meant Santa Clause on Earth.
The white-bearded grandfather who was always there as decoration with trees was non existent.*
 **Sitri:** Santa? Oh, I heard of it. It's something from Earth.
*Sitri furtively held your cold hand and warmed it.*
 **Sitri:** That grandfather who gives presents to children, right?
*Your hand stole the warmth from his hand and regained its original temperature.
While you spoke to Sitri, something suddenly touched the nape of your neck.
You touched it out of curiosity. It was somewhat hard and colder than your body temperature, and when you turned to look…*
**MC:** A snake?!!
*A snake was on your shoulders, and part of its body was touching your neck.*
 **Astaroth:** Are you talking about Santa from Earth?
*When you managed to calm your jumpy nerves from the snake and turned towards the voice, you saw Astaroth taking a snake out of his clothes.
His unified, black and white charm stood out amidst the streets that were colorful from the Christmas decorations.*
 **Sitri:** Ah, it was Astaroth's snake.
 **Sitri:** Astaroth. Even if that is a snake from Hell, it is cold today so you should keep it in your clothes as much as possible.
*Said Sitri, not even surprised at Astaroth's appearance and speaking out of concern for the cold-blooded snake that was weak against the cold.*
 **Astaroth:** Huhu. I approached because I could see MC, and it looks like the snake also wanted to be closer to you.
*He had barely finished speaking when Satan brushed away the snake on your shoulder.*
 **Astaroth:** So, since we're on the topic of Santa. It's me.
**MC:** What?!
*Your jaw dropped at the sudden confession.*
 **Astaroth:** I like talking to humans, and this happened when I went to Earth in the past.
 **Astaroth:** Then, I suddenly wanted to talk to human children. That's why I disguised myself as a kind old man that can talk easily to human children.
 **Astaroth:** But it was already late so I had no choice but to interfere with their dreams and talk.
 **Astaroth:** I like human children. They are true to their desires and they don't do what they don't want to do. They act fun even when I lie.
*Astaroth was holding back his laughter while he spoke as though he remembered those times.*
 **Astaroth:** In return for a good time, I left presents by their bedside.
 **Astaroth:** I did that here and there, and they began talking about Santa.
**MC:** (Huhh!? Santa is a devil…!?)
*Ever since Astaroth's appearance, you couldn't close your open mouth due to a succession of surprises, and your teeth were getting drier and drier.*
 **Satan:** Ah, that happened.
*Satan looked wistful for the past.*
 **Astaroth:** Huhuhu… Talking about this makes me want to talk to human children again.
 **Astaroth:** It would be nice to visit Earth for the first time in a while. Alright then, excuse me.
*Astaroth happily said goodbye lightly to you, then put his snake inside his clothes and left.*
**MC:** Santa was Astaroth…
*This shocking truth made you feel complicated.*
 **Satan:** What? MC, did you think a legendary being like Santa really existed?
 **Sitri:** Your Majesty, we like Solomon's purity.
**MC:** (You guys shouldn't talk…!)
*Swallowing the words 'what about you guys', you balled your hands into fists and stood your ground.*
**MC:** Do you think Ppyong is eating good things by now?
*Ppyong who always served you had returned to his hometown to attend the Red Lump family's Christmas party today.
The absence of that small being made the atmosphere different, and you felt rather lonely.*
**MC:** (I want to go to Ppyong's hometown one day.)
*You were about to ask Satan if he had ever been to the village where the Red Lump Family lived,
But Satan was staring up at the sky in doubt.
You wondered why Satan was acting like that and took a step closer to him.*
**MC:** What's wrong, Satan…
*Satan hid you inside his dashing embrace before you could finish.*
 **Satan:** Duck!!!
*At the same time, the sky flashed white instead of blue, and light poured through the clouds.
The clouds in the sky are hollowed out in the center to form a cavity, from which poured light so intense that it is impossible to see inside.
Boom!!!!
As soon as it happened, there was a loud crash and something fell to the ground where the ray of light touched it.
Nearby devils hid themselves at the loud sound, and Sitri stood with his back towards Satan as he embraced you.
The ground had to be caved in. In that place full of sandy dust, a shaky silhouette revealed itself.
The shock made the strange ornaments decorating the streets clang against each other.*
 **Sitri:** You're…!!
*The smoky sandy fog slowly cleared.*
 **Sitri:** …Seraph Gabriel!!!
*When Sitri shouted, the white and beautiful angel slowly revealed himself from the faint sandy dust.
He didn't have that stern look that always seemed to say that no one was better than he was, and his neat face was wrinkled at the corners from the impact of the fall.
Tension instantly flowed around them.
The overjoyed voices and laughter ringing from around them all died down as though you had teleported somewhere else.
Silence ensued. It was like they were waiting for someone to make a move.*
 **Gabriel:** What the… This is Hell!!
 **Sitri:** …?!
**MC:** (What's that!?)
*You begin to suspect Gabriel as he seemed unaware of why he had landed there.
Meanwhile, Satan opened his mouth.*
 **Satan:** What the. Are you alone today?
 **Satan:** Did you come Christmas shopping to Gehenna on purpose?
*Satan's jeering voice made Gabriel scowl even deeper and shake his fists.
Satan glared at Gabriel as he trembled with fury.
Your heart started pounding harder and you broke out in a cold sweat.*
 **Gabriel:** You worms… What have you done to me?!
*Gabriel looked around and screamed.
Satan approached Gabriel, his eyes burning with anger as though he was looking at an abomination, while Sitri did not take his eyes off Gabriel.*
 **Sitri:** We are not interested in doing anything to you.
*Sitri showed his distrust as he replied.
Gabriel gritted his teeth and drew out a large scythe.*
 **Satan:** You scum. What were you doing to drop from Heaven to Hell? Hehehe.
*Satan laughed pleasantly as Sitri offered him his arm.*
 **Sitri:** Go ahead, your Majesty. Use my blood.
*Satan replied that he would, then bit into his arm. Sitri took about three steps backward.
Soon, a large bazooka made of blood formed in Satan's arms.
Satan prepared it, and aimed it at Gabriel with a grin.*
 **Satan:** I have no idea why you're here, but I'll end you here and now.
*Gabriel scoffed at Satan's words and aimed his large scythe.*
 **Gabriel:** Did I say? That I will immediately exterminate any worms that hinder me…!
*Voom-!
Gabriel seemed to raise that traumatic scythe at you as well,
When he instantly closed the gap and struck down on Satan.
At the same time, Satan also fired his Bazooka at Gabriel.
Booooom-!!!
Banggg-!!!*
 **Sitri:** Your Majesty!!
**MC:** Satan!!
*There was another cloud of sandy dust.
When the dust cleared, you saw Gabriel driving his large scythe into the ground next to Satan,
And the bazooka Satan shot making a hole in the wall of the building next to Gabriel.*
 **Satan:** ….
**MC:** What happened…!?
*Although Gabriel glared resentfully at Satan with his scythe buried in the ground, Satan was only staring at the hole his bazooka made.*
 **Sitri:** His Majesty's attack missed… You're a lucky angel!!
*Sitri shouted, and threw three hidden daggers at Gabriel.
The blades were definitely aimed at Gabriel.
But they moved a few centimeters from in front of his eyes and flew into the ornaments decorating the building next to him.*
 **Sitri:** What's this…?!
**MC:** How?!
*It was like a gravitational pull, and you and Sitri were left with nervousness and question marks in your heads.*
 **Satan:** It's no use.
*Satan raised his hand and stopped Sitri and you.*
 **Satan:** I definitely aimed for Gabriel. At a distance that can never miss.
 **Satan:** But it missed. Both Sitri's attack and Gabriel's attack towards me.
 **Sitri:** …No way, could it be!
 **Gabriel:** Ugh!!!!
*Sitri seemed to have noticed something.
Gabriel glared, then his expression turned stormy enough to kill someone.
Then, he pulled his scythe out of the ground and drove it back into the ground again.*
**MC:** …What happened?
*While you alone couldn't accept what was happening, Sitri turned towards you.*
 **Sitri:** It's the Christmas Miracle.
**MC:** Christmas Miracle?
*When you asked back, Satan continued.*
 **Satan:** Since the past, mysterious things happen on Christmas.
 **Satan:** It must be related to why Gabriel suddenly dropped into Hell and why our attacks won't work.
 **Satan:** According to the rumors, it's a human's Christmas wish come true, or a shard of caprice that God simply left behind… But no one knows the truth.
*Although you found that hard to believe,
Gabriel's expression that made it look like he had something bitter in his mouth told you the truth.*
 **Sitri:** …Then what do we do with that Seraph?
*Sitri regained his cool and asked.*
 **Satan:** Right.
*Satan stroked his chin and contemplated. His eyes were still on Gabriel, and Satan looked like a child who had a new toy.*
 **Satan:** He may be able to return to Heaven once Christmas is over,
 **Satan:** But if he was dropped with purpose, he might never make it back until he finds out why.
 **Satan:** Don't worry. If you don't, we'll accept you in Gehenna.
*Satan spoke with a nasty smile on his face.
Crunch.
Satan had barely finished speaking when sounds of Gabriel grinding his teeth rang out.*

*After leaving Sitri to clear up the streets, the strange combination of human, devil king, and angel went to a pub in Gehenna.
You were tense because of a terrifying Seraph walking behind you, but you loosened up a little upon visiting a place you frequented.
Christmas was in the air even inside the pub. It was full of devils in pretty attire for date night, or devils who had come to hang out with friends.
Maybe because it was Christmas, but there was a standing table with a dancer dancing in the center.
Each time she took off one of her clothes, the surrounding devils cheered and nudged bills into the crevices of her barely worn pants.*
 **Clerk:** Your Majesty Satan, descendant of Solomon. Welcome… WHAT?!!
*Although the young clerk of the pub saw and greeted Satan and you who were half a step behind him,
He faltered when he saw Gabriel stepping inside after you.*
**Devil:** Wow!! An angel!!
**Devil:** That's… Gabriel?!!
*The happy pub suddenly fell into disarray. They had no choice but to panic.
Then, Satan approached the young clerk by the counter and spoke to him as though nothing had happened.*
 **Satan:** I sent a word to the manager. Tell him I'm here.
*When Satan rested one arm on the bar counter as he spoke, an astringent old gentlemanly devil came from inside without the young clerk screaming.*
 **Manager:** Your Majesty Satan, I was waiting for you. I have it ready.
*Then, the old gentlemanly devil handed him a bundle wrapped in pink cloth.*
 **Satan:** Good work.
*Satan took it without hesitation and handed it to you.*
**MC:** W-what's this?
 **Satan:** You'll find out what a devil is now.
*When Satan grinned and carefully opened the pink bundle he handed to you,
There was a devil's horns headband, devil's wings, devil's tail, leader with steel chains, a fork a devil might have,
And a sign with the words 'I'M DEVIL' to hang around one's neck.*
**MC:** (T-this is a cosplay…!)
*On the way here, Satan had been asking you questions.
Like 「What do you do when you meet someone you want to be close to?」.
Then, you thoughtlessly,*
**MC:** Hmm… I would copy their movements… Or adorn my appearance like them…
*Replied.
It looked like these items were here as a result.
Combined with their cheapness, the goods which were apparently for amusement, created a ridiculous atmosphere.
Satan handed the bundle of cosplay items to you.*
 **Satan:** Put them on.
**MC:** Eek. Me?!
 **Satan:** You.
*You felt taken aback, but furtively held on to the horn headband and looked back at Gabriel standing alone in the center of the pub.
Gabriel's eyes turned to the devil merchandise in your hands.*
 **Gabriel:** D-don't you dare…! Do you really think I would wear that filthy thing!
*The pub turned raucous again when Gabriel raised his large scythe and prepared to go on a rampage.
But when Satan made eye contact with the pub's manager, the elderly gentlemanly-looking devil, he snatched Gabriel's hands and tied them above his head with a speed that belied his age.
Gabriel's coat fell to the ground like a shell, and the red rope that bound him wrapped around his thin neck and ended at his wrists.*
**MC:** Amazing…! He's so quick…!
*When you marveled at his skills, the elderly gentlemanly devil touched his silver hair and smiled proudly.*
 **Manager:** Because once you manage this pub for centuries, you see various customers.
*You felt the secret of continuing to run a pub here in Gehenna, where there are many rowdy people.*
**MC:** (Anyway… It looked like you couldn't attack each other early on…)
**MC:** (Oh, right…! Since… Strictly speaking, this isn't an attack…! Because actions like these give 'pleasure' to devils in Hell…!)
 **Gabriel:** You piece of vermin… Do you really think you can be forgiven after doing this…!!
 **Gabriel:** Did I say? That after this day, I will make sure to whip you!
 **Satan:** Stay still, we'll teach you something fun.
*Satan, again not hiding his amused expression, placed his face just a few more inches from Gabriel's and placed a red cloth over his mouth to gag him.
And Gabriel couldn't finish his sentence.
Gabriel glared daggers at you as you equipped him with horns and wings.
As it was, a collar was placed around his neck and a sign that read \"I'M DEVIL\" was gently placed over it, a humiliation for an angel no doubt.
Gabriel looked at you murderously.
But the devils inside the pub cheered at him.*
**Guest Devil:** You look amazing! Angel!
**Guest Devil:** Show us your cute face some more!
*When the devils booed at him, Gabriel blushed and raised his eyebrows, and hopped around on his legs in fury.*
 **Satan:** Alright, it's ready.
*Before you knew it, Satan was sitting at the counter, his body turned toward you. He placed his elbows on the counter and crossed his legs to watch you.*
 **Satan:** I'll teach you what a devil likes most.
 **Satan:** MC, you know what it is, right? Knock yourself out.
**MC:** (What…!!)
*What devils liked the most.
You had a vague idea.
No matter how guilty you may feel, the act that made devils cry and rejoice if you begged them to do it.*
**MC:** (I can do that to Gabriel…?!)
*You turned to look at Satan in confusion, asking for his help, and caught his eyes.*
**MC:** Satan, do you mean it…?
*You were about to voice your concerns, when Satan spoke over them.*
 **Satan:** MC. This is my Christmas present.
 **Satan:** You should have fun too.
*When Satan spoke, the inverted crosses behind his eyes glittered and you had the illusion that it had swallowed you.*
**MC:** (Right, today is a special day called Christmas.)
**MC:** (With those horns, it seems like Gabriel really is a devil…!)
*When you reached that conclusion and stared at Gabriel, you met his eyes as he glared at you and shook with rage.*
 **Gabriel:** Oof! Ughh!
*Gagged, Gabriel was voicing his complaints.*
**MC:** Okey dokey, I'm sorry for making you wait.
**MC:** I'll teach you what devils like most.
*SLAP!
When you slapped Gabriel's cheek loudly, there was a moment of silence,
And the surrounding devils erupted with cheers again.*