"W-what?!"
Did I just hear correctly?
"You heard me well. Release me from my confines. Once you do, we will both learn what we desire."
This Angel chick was crazy if she thought I would do as she said. in the first place, the cube she was trapped in was the only thing keeping her from absolutely blitzing me.
"Y-you... I can't do that..." I murmured, looking away from her stoic eyes.
The Angel's silvery white retinas seemed to follow me wherever I went, causing even more discomfort for me.
"Why not?"
'Is she crazy?'
"I can't trust you! You nearly killed me a while back, you know? And then those other Angels almost killed me a few seconds ago too. Do you really think I'd free you from your confines?!"
I hadn't exactly believed in the existence of God before the world went to shit. After all, despite all the sufferings I went through, not one answer of salvation came through.
But, when the Apocalypse was initiated, I was forced to accept his existence.
Accompanying the validity of a being called God were also Angels. However, unlike the kind and gentle souls I often heard about, these guys were ruthless.
Even behind her cool outlook, I knew Sariel—this Angel before me—was a cold-blooded killer who wouldn't hesitate to send me to the grave.
'I'm currently powerless... I can't do anything. If she gets free...'
I shuddered at the very thought.
"I understand your apprehension. But, you should trust my words. I, Archangel Sariel, never tell lies." The beautiful, white-winged Angel, softly said.
Her hand was placed on her chest, and her gaze was unwavering. It almost made me believe her.
But...
"I can't trust your words."
... Ultimately, my fear of death kept me from taking the offer.
"I see. That is regrettable."
Silence enveloped the room, and the both of us simply stared at each other for some time. I, for one, didn't know what more to say.
It was obvious that Sariel knew more than I did, so I wanted access to her information. Even if it was shameless of me to do so, especially after refusing her emancipation, I had to ask.
"Tell me everything you know. If you do, I'll consider releasing you from your confines."
"No."
Her reply was sharp and concise. I could tell from her gaze that she absolutely meant every word.
"Why won't you answer? You could regain your freedom, you know?"
Sariel stared blankly at me. For a moment, I thought she was confused by my choice of words.
"Freedom? Have I ever had such a thing? I do not desire it, so your offer is of no value."
I was beginning to twitch, but I calmly assessed the Angel's words.
According to her, she never had freedom and didn't even want it. If that was the case, why did she want me to release her?
"At least tell me something that'll cause me to trust you. Anything." I looked at her desperately
"You have already determined in your heart that you can't trust me. It doesn't matter what I say. You won't ever feel safe enough to fulfill your end of the bargain."
With that, Sariel fell silent again.
"Tch!"
She wasn't wrong.
Currently, not only was I stuck with someone who gave me an unforgettable experience of defeat, but I had no special abilities at my disposal.
"Then, never mind. I'll find the answers on my own!"
I left the presence of the Archangel, who didn't speak afterward, and began exploring the blank expanse on my own.
I searched for answers, but found nothing.
Everything was the same—a blank canvas.
It was almost as though I was walking in circles.
I nearly went mad because of the seemingly meaningless venture I was so desperately engaged in.
Whether or not it was good news, I had no idea, but Sariel—in her cube prison—always accompanied me.
Her box simply floated wherever I went, so I always had company—if I could call it that.
We would often venture everywhere in silence. She never spoke any word to me, and I grew tired of asking her for responses.
And so, an indefinite period elapsed.
Every man had a breaking point... mine finally approached.
"Arghhhh!!! I don't know anything anymore. What's going on?!" I screamed.
My voice was disturbingly loud, but only Sariel was present, so I didn't care.
As usual, her unfazed expression was locked on me.
"You really won't say anything, uh? We've been together for so long, yet you won't say anything?"
Here in this blank world—determined to be Subspace—I had no desire to eat, sleep, or drink. Exhaustion and sleep were also completely nonexistent.
In essence, I could keep up everything I was doing for an eternity.
'Even then... I feel like I'm slowly losing my sanity!'
My confusion slowly morphed into maddening curiosity... and then anger.
"Just open your mouth and say something! I can't keep doing this forever!" I growled at the Angel Lady.
She remained silent and looked at me with her apathetic eyes.
As usual, I was the first to look away.
"At least... just tell me where we are... I don't know anything..."
After Sariel stopped speaking, I had no one to talk to in this blank world. Even if she was annoying, having her by my side alone was enough to keep me going.
But... I currently yearned to speak to someone—anyone!
"You do not know where this place is?"
Finally, I heard her angelic voice ring in my ears. Sariel finally spoke!
My heart leaped with joy, and I grinned stupidly upon hearing her words. I didn't know I had grown so desperate to hear a voice other than mine.
"E-erm... we're in [Subspace], right?"
Sariel sighed and shrugged a bit.
"What do you know about [Subspace]?"
What the heck was she talking about? How was that important right now?
"It's my Gift... the last Gift," I murmured, remembering how a certain individual forced it on me and returned me to Earth against my will.
"Hmm... I see. So that's what 'He' told you. That's truly what you think."
The more Sariel spoke, the less sense she made.
"What are you talking about?"
"Look around you, Jeremy. Does this not bring back any memory?"
I did as Sariel said and took a good glance around me. There was nothing to see but an infinite white expanse.
An endless area where time and reality seemed meaningless... where had I seen that before?
"H-hold on! D-don't tell me!!!" My eyes bulged as I finally arrived at the realization.
Sweet fell from my face and I wondered why I never thought of it before.
"Have you finally realized it?"
With my widened eyes and quivering lips, I spoke.
"[Subspace]... is linked to the Sacred Hall...?"
This white expanse was exactly like what I experienced in that place.
The thought had crossed my mind before, but I didn't see any 'God' or 'Golden Screen', so I simply thought they were identical.
But, now...?
'If that's true, then...!'
"You're not entirely correct, but you're not wrong either," Sariel spoke, drawing her cube closer to me.
"W-what do you mean?"
I felt as though the truth was getting closer and closer by the minute.
"The Gift you call [Subspace] isn't just 'linked' to the Sacred Hall..."
I gulped and braced myself for impact.
"... It IS the Sacred Hall."
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