The Cradle in Hell

　On the terrace of the Pandemonium, Eminence Astaroth was gazing into the distance, as if he were thinking about something.

　He seemed to be thinking about something, but his eyes were glittering like the water surface of the river Stux, or perhaps the crystals of the ice prison Cocytos.

　He is resting on his throne, adorned with gold and silver treasures, and is in a daze, shaking the claws of a falcon.

　His skin reflects the setting sun, and his eyes glisten in gold.

　With a clank, the ring of horns inlaid in Ebony’s horn made a noise.

"Damiel, come here for a moment. I am bored, let me tell you a story."

　He said with a tilt of his head.

　He must be in a good mood right now because he has a very kind face.

"Yes, eminence."

　When I approached him, Eminence gently held out his hand and rubbed my head.

　He said, "Come, sit here."

　Eminence gently led me to a table cut out of a large tree that grew in Eden.

"Huh."

　When I sat down on the chair next to him, Eminence put his cheek on my crossed hands and smiled at me.

"Damiel, look at the sky over there. Do you see a lot of ashes and dusts falling in the sky over there?　What the hell do you think that was?"

"Will they be the ones who went to hell?

　When I replied, Eminence chuckled and returned the back of his hand.

"That’s right. The underworld is crowded. Since Hades’ judgement is so reckless, we can see meteors day and night, even though there is no such thing here to begin with. It’s really beautiful. It’s like we are at the center of the universe."

"What a lot of people get judged."

"Hmm. Humans are always doing things that are unworthy of their station, made of dirt. They prefer the golden calf to their own gods, after all. They are dumb enough not to know that they have blasphemed their own existence with their own hands."

"Why does man abandon his own existence with his own hands?"

"Hmm, that’s a good question, Damiel. Humans, you know, don’t see as well as they do the things that are close to them. You have a dim gaze. On the contrary, the farther they are from their own existence, the better they see. That is why they love us more than the Creator. That’s why we don’t go hungry."

"Humans are very forgetful creatures."

"Hmmm, yes. They are quick to forget. They forget that they are made, and in fact they try to make themselves. They forget that they are their own creations and would rather make them. They want to be gods, yes.

"As you said, it’s unworthy of you, it’s very wretched. Isn’t he even more sinful than we are?"

"You are right, Damiel. They are even more sinful than us, the ones the humans call the devil, they are the worst of the worst things the Highborn have ever created, man."

"Why don’t the Transcendentalists put humans back into the ground?"

"Because he don’t want to admit that he has made a mistake. He created a human being with the intention of making a masterpiece, and that’s why he allows those little bastards to exist. But that’s just not good enough for him, so he painfully created the concept of life span."

"Humans are funny, but it’s the tall ones who seem to be the real clown."

“Huh, hahaha!　Damiel, the best!　I’m never bored with you!　That’s right, that’s right!　He’s the comical clown!　It’s a poor clown, dancing all alone!　Haha, hee hee, oh, funny ..."

"I’m glad to hear that Eminence is feeling better.

"You don’t have to be humble, Damiel. You have a good sense of humility, Damiel. Indeed, you are better than most humans. They should learn a little from you."

"Such Eminence, it’s a big deal."

"Haha, no. You’re really a good kid, Damiel. Oh, after a lot of laughing, I’m hungry. You must be hungry too, right?　Let’s call Nislok and have him build something. Oh, and when I say make something, I don’t mean a human-like piece of shit, okay?"

"Eminence expresses a joke."

“That’s too much praise, Damiel. But I’m glad. This is Sargatanus. I’m sorry, but I’m going to need Nislok to prepare a meal."

　Thus, Eminence was in a good mood and began to take the rhythm with crossed legs.

　Thousands and thousands of meteors were falling from the distant sky.