What kind of nonsense is this?
Arabot was blocked by barriers, and the distance was vast. Even if Ikael had superhuman vision, the probability of her watching this place was zero.
Peope: "Don't be so disappointed. For angels, 'seeing' is different from how humans see. There are multiple perspectives of 'seeing,' and among them, 'gazing' is the ability to see what they wish to see. In short, angels can see anything they want."
It was hard to imagine.
According to Peope, if an angel wished to see something, they could simply see it.
Even the hundred-eyed monster from fairy tales didn't torment the prince with such absurd ability.
Peope: "It's true. When the barrier of Shamain broke, Ikael was the first to arrive because she was gazing at it. Well... she's still a fallen angel because of her pettiness."
Peope criticized Ikael without hesitation, as fallen angels of the 2nd Heaven were even lower than fairies of the 4th Heaven.
It was a glimpse of how far an angel could fall after committing a sin, even from the highest position in Heaven.
Shirone: "But if they can see whatever they want, doesn't that mean angels know everything in the world?"
Peope: "Not necessarily. Deciding what to see is difficult. Think about it. Even if you could gaze, could you comprehend the entire world?"
Shirone: "No. It would be hard."
Shirone recalled the time an angel had come to Noor's sanctuary.
Guardrak had said this: If an angel wished, they could find this place, but such a thing would never happen.
Peope: "No one checks their fingerprints every day."
Shirone: "Oh? You knew about that? Exactly. Anyway, if Ikael is gazing at this place, she might respond to my voice."
Canis was displeased. Magicians inherently disliked relying on probabilities, but this case was extreme.
Canis: "It's a slim chance. This place might not even be within her gaze. And even if she is gazing, what guarantee is there that she'll help us?"
Peope: "There's no guarantee. I'm here to offer even the faintest hope. Where we're going, Archangel Kariel awaits. Do you understand? You stand no chance against her."
Shirone faced reality. If an Archangel was holding his friends, he needed help from someone of equal standing to even have a chance of escape.
Shirone: "Alright. Let's try this method. I'll trust you."
Peope clicked her tongue, thinking how suspicious Noor's were. Still, she had seen some possibility in this plan.
While no angel checks their gaze every day, Ikael might be different. She was known for her benevolence and often watched over her people.
Peope: "Then I'll begin. Once the conversation starts, don't interfere. I don't want to disrespect the Archangel."
Peope closed her eyes and focused. Her plea spread out in concentric circles.
Shirone waited anxiously. But even after five minutes, there was no change in Peope.
Was it truly impossible?
The fear of losing hope of rescuing his friends was far greater than the disappointment of failure.
Just as despair was settling over the group, Peope's body trembled.
Soon, hot tears streamed down her closed eyes.
Peope: "Ah, Ikael."
Shirone turned to Peope so sharply it felt like his neck might break.
It was clear that the conversation with Ikael had begun. Shirone barely held back the urge to speak, remembering Peope's warning.
Peope and Ikael conversed for a long time. Peope nodded repeatedly and occasionally answered aloud.
Peope: "Yes, I understand."
Peope smiled, her eyes closed for a long time. Overcome with emotion, she suddenly opened her eyes and exclaimed.
Peope: "Did you hear? Did you hear? She responded to me! She responded!"
Shirone: "Of course we didn't hear. What did she say?"
Peope: "Ah, Ikael... she was gazing at me!"
Shirone couldn't bring himself to ask more as Peope looked up at the sky with tearful eyes. He let her bask in her emotions before finally speaking.
Shirone: "So, will she free my friends?"
Peope snapped out of her reverie. She had been so caught up in the fact that she had spoken to an Archangel that she had forgotten the most important part.
Peope's expression dimmed slightly.
Peope: "No. Ikael said she can't leave her room because of her sin."
Shirone: "What? So, it failed?"
Peope forced a bright smile.
Peope: "But she said she'll help us. We'll be able to enter Arabot. But there's one condition..."
Peope hesitated, glancing at Shirone and the others. Canis, reaching the limit of his patience, snapped.
Canis: "What is it? We don't have time, so spit it out."
Peope: "She wants to meet Shirone... alone. But who is Shirone?"
Canis and Rian turned to Shirone.
Peope still didn't know anyone's name. Knowing that names were crucial for lifespan manipulation, they had kept their names hidden.
When the two pointed at Shirone, Peope's eyes widened in surprise.
'So, his name is Shirone.'
Until just now, Shirone had been nothing more than a collection of countless concepts to Peope.
It was like an intangible fog, vague and abstract.
But now it was different.
Shirone.
The moment she recalled the three syllables, Shirone's actions, thoughts, and emotions integrated into her mind.
Canis: "She wants to meet Shirone alone? Is there a special reason?"
Peope: "I don't know. I wanted to ask, but it felt like she didn't want to reveal it."
Canis thought it was for the best. With time running short, it was more efficient to focus on individual tasks rather than moving as a group.
Canis: "Then Shirone will go meet Ikael. Without her help, escape is impossible anyway."
Shirone: "What about you guys?"
Canis: "We'll head to Zebul. It should be a free pass from the 7th to the 6th Heaven. We'll go to where Amy is first. If necessary, we can buy some time."
It was the best strategy given the current situation.
Once the agreement was made, Shirone turned to Peope. He wanted her to take him to Arabot.
But Peope didn't know how either.
Just as she was panicking and trying to think of an excuse, a bright light enveloped them.
Peope clasped her hands in awe.
Peope: "Ah... Ikael."
A massive light swallowed Shirone and the others.
Where the light had been sucked into a point, nothing remained.
The 7th Heaven, Arabot.
Shirone looked around with a trembling heart. He had arrived at the most sacred place in Heaven.
The spire's peak was hidden by clouds. Peope had said that Anke Ra resided at the very top.
Even her voice trembled as she explained.
Peope: "To think I'd come to the seat of God. This is the most glorious day of my life."
Canis: "Even though you've only lived for a year?"
Peope glared at Canis.
Peope: "Whether it's a year or a hundred, age doesn't matter. This isn't a place you can enter just by living long."
Canis: "But isn't it too quiet for such a place? If God lives here, shouldn't there be guards or something?"
Peope: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Canis: "I mean, if God lives here, why isn't anyone guarding the place?"
Peope suddenly stopped and stared at Canis with a blank expression, as if he had said something utterly nonsensical.
Peope: "Are you serious? Ra protects us. How could we possibly guard God?"
Shirone nodded belatedly.
Shirone: "Ah. I see."
Ra was not a king in the human sense.
If Ra were a cosmic absolute, the idea of someone guarding Him would diminish His divinity.
Upon arriving at the spire of Arabot, Shirone and the others prepared to part ways for their respective tasks.
Ikael wanted to meet Shirone alone. Since the Archangel's help was essential to rescuing Amy and the others, Rian and Canis didn't complain about the separation.
Peope, tasked with guiding Shirone to Ikael's chamber, shared the memories she had gained from Igris with Canis and Rian.
A rough map of Zebul was imprinted in their minds.
Peope: "The women are likely in the Great World Hall at the eastern end. That's where Archangel Kariel resides."
Canis traced Igris's memories to locate the Great World Hall. Even with teleportation, it was a long distance. But the real problem wasn't the distance.
Peope: "What you need to know is that the Great World Hall isn't accessible to just anyone. It's a place that governs the movements of the world, so it's surrounded by the highest level of security."
Canis: "Security? You mean there are obstacles?"
Peope: "It's beyond that. In short, the Great World Hall doesn't exist in Zebul."
Canis: "Stop being cryptic and explain it properly."
Peope: "Some technologies of the Mecha System can alter the information of a specific space. In other words, it's sent to another dimension. To enter the Great World Hall, you must first disable the Mecha System."
Canis: "How do we disable it?"
Peope: "If you look at the map of Zebul, there's a portal to Igris. It's the place that controls all information in Heaven. You can disable the Mecha System from there."
Canis: "Oh? Igris?"
It was the place he had heard about when making a contract with the Kergo chieftain. Kaduum had asked him to deliver his will to Igris, but he hadn't paid much attention at the time. Since he hadn't received anything, he felt no obligation to fulfill the contract.
Given the current situation, refusing their hospitality seemed like an excellent decision.
But Igris held a special meaning for Canis.
It was the reason he had abandoned Metagate to come to Heaven and the place where he believed Arcane had gained the knowledge to become a Grand Magician.
While analyzing his master's notes, Canis had focused on mythology.
If Heaven had influenced humanity since ancient times, its records would be embedded in myths rather than history.
While studying ancient texts, he realized that a certain place appeared consistently across different myths.
That place was the Igris place.
The Hall of Knowledge, where all the secrets of the world were recorded.
Canis: "I'll handle that. While Rian heads to the Great World Hall, I'll disable the Mecha System. It'll buy us some time."
It was less about stalling and more about diving into the lion's den.
But Rian thought that this was exactly the kind of thing he could do best.
Rian: "I agree. We'll head to Zebul now. Shirone, you must find a way no matter what."
Shirone: "Okay. You guys be careful too. I'll get there as fast as I can."
Without even a moment to watch his friends head toward Zebul, Shirone entered the tower.
The vast interior stretched out before him, devoid of even pillars. The floor was made of glass, and not a single speck of dust, let alone footprints, could be seen.
Peope, relying on the memories passed down by Igris, led Shirone to a corner of the tower.
Shirone: "Huh? Why is there nothing here?"
According to his memory, there should have been an elevator in this spot. But no matter where he looked, no such device was visible.
At that moment, light seeped through the cracks in the floor, and a blinding flash erupted, momentarily blinding him.
When Shirone's vision cleared, the scenery had changed.
He found himself in a place where corridors stretched out like the spine of a fish. Every ten meters, paths branched off to either side, and at the end of the corridor stood a golden iron door.
Peope turned to Shirone in front of the iron door.
Peope: "From here on, this is the domain of Ikael-nim. As promised, I cannot enter. Since angels can communicate with all beings, my presence won't be necessary. But just in case, I'll send you a map of Zebul."