Chapter 14 (End)
- Reira ☾⋆⁺₊✧ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
- Dec 3, 2025
- 10 min read
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
・・・・・
Isabel first learned about Heaven and Hell during Bible study at the cathedral as a child. The booklet, created to educate children, contained few words and many illustrations, each intuitively depicting good and evil.
Ugly devils with horns and tails. Smiling angels in white robes with white wings. A terrifying Hell where sulphurous flames raged, and people were tortured. A beautiful Heaven where everyone lived under God’s care, sharing love and happiness.
Those images remained vivid in young Isabel’s mind. The doctrines she learned as an adult were no different: sulphurous flames, pain, torture, and unending despair.
But having come here herself, Isabel realised that the Underworld was very different from what she had learned before.
Though it was true that it wasn’t particularly beautiful. Day after day, it was just the same red sky, dim streets, red bricks, and pillars of fire.
When she asked why the people here lived surrounded by red, Lucifer replied that it was simply the colour they preferred, just as humans found green soothing to the eyes. It wasn’t a very relatable analogy, but she let it pass.
As soon as Isabel arrived, she was taken to a palace at the very heart of the Underworld. She was led through a hall of gleaming black marble and into a chamber draped in red carpet and velvet. There, she entered a bathroom and bathed in water the colour of fresh blood. Afterwards, she was dressed in a black robe.
Her body was still human, so she couldn’t do anything on her own. She had to do everything with the help of demons, who were half-human and half-monster, yet exceedingly kind.
Lucifer often came to check on her condition. It seemed he wanted to see whether her mind was stabilising. He must have thought that no one, especially a woman of only twenty-two, could remain sane after going through such cruel ordeals.
But she was quite sane. Through everything she had endured since childhood, she had nerves tougher than steel chains. Torture, public condemnation, threats of death — none of them could deal her a decisive blow.
She was simply puzzled. What was Archangel Michael’s intention? He must have foreseen all of this. Then there must be some meaning in this situation. What could it mean?
What could be the hidden meaning behind the fact that Isabel, a creature for whom he went so far as to appear in her dreams to reveal the future, ended up being cared for in the palace of Lucifer, the king of the Underworld, the very antithesis of the Heavenly Realm?
Isabel thought this as she looked out the window at the view. She didn’t have much to do. If she could use her body, she might have wandered around the palace, looked around, struck down demons, or tried to escape, but unfortunately, she was in no condition to move her limbs.
"Aren’t you tired of staring at it all the time?"
Lucifer’s voice came from behind.
"That colour must be quite straining on human eyes."
“The more I look at it, the more familiar it becomes.”
Isabel said indifferently.
He came up beside Isabel and placed a quick kiss on the top of her head.
“How do you feel?”
“Just the same.”
“Not so great?”
“Yeah.”
Lucifer chuckled.
"Will it be like that the whole time we're here?"
Isabel didn’t answer.
“Still, I’m glad you’ve adapted. I was worried you might die from the shock. Humans really do die too easily.”
"Even if I die, since I've come here, I'll continue to belong to this world, so wouldn't you be fine with that?"
“It’s not fine.”
He sat down beside Isabel.
"I want you to belong here of your own will. You shouldn’t feel like a prisoner or a captive."
Isabel stayed silent, but that was exactly how she felt at this very moment. For someone who couldn’t use her limbs, any place was a prison.
He took Isabel’s hand. And he gently caressed the skin, reddened and blistered from the burns.
“I told you once, didn’t I? To come down here and become my lover.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m asking you again now. Will you be my lover?”
Isabel said nothing.
“Do I sound like I’m asking as a jailer again?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“Then how about this. Whatever your answer, it’s fine. If you want to go to the Heavenly Realm, I’ll let you go.”
Isabel looked at him. His expression was serious.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then, of course, my answer is—”
“Ah, wait.”
He stood up from his seat.
“There are people you need to meet first.”
“People? Who?”
He left the room just like that. Isabel watched his retreating figure, puzzled.
Soon, the door opened, and two people entered the room.
The moment she saw them, Isabel couldn’t say a single word. It seemed they were the same. They just stared blankly at one another. Isabel looked at them again and again.
Was this real? A dream?
No, this was reality. Since she couldn’t get up right now and run to them, it had to be real.
Only then was Isabel able to call out to them.
“Mother! Father!”
When Isabel called to them, the two of them rushed toward her as if released from a spell.
“Isabel!”
The two embraced their daughter. Isabel sobbed as she was held by them. If she could use her arms, she would have hugged them with all her strength.
But her heart was already hugging them fiercely. It was what she had longed for ever since she was twelve and had parted from them. Physical barriers meant nothing.
They looked at each other, crying and wailing. Isabel realised that they were exactly the same as when they had parted for the last time. It was truly astonishing.
When Isabel asked why, they told her that in the Underworld, their bodies did not age. They had remained exactly as they were when they were brought here.
Those brought down from the surface were nominally captives, but they lived much as they had above. If an entire family was brought down, they could live together; if an entire village was taken, they could form a small village and live there with their neighbours. Individuals could choose their own dwellings, live alone, or find a companion to live with.
Most of their time was spent in military training. Isabel worried it might be exhausting, but they said it was fine. Upon coming here, they received new bodies identical to the ones they had on the surface, but these bodies were not only specialised for living in this place, but they were also much stronger and healthier, so no matter how much they moved, they also did not get tired or sick.
They were deeply saddened when they saw Isabel. The life she had spent as an orphan, left alone on the surface. The hardships she had endured living as an exorcist clergy. They had long been familiar with the rumours about Isabel.
The more Isabel made a name for herself as an exorcist, the prouder yet more heartbroken they felt. They suspected that her relentless dedication to her work was driven by the pain of losing them and being left alone.
They thought that if it weren’t for that, their kind and gentle daughter Isabel would never have chosen such a harsh path on her own. After all, they were Isabel’s parents. They knew her heart better than anyone.
“Could it be that I became too famous, and that’s why the demons here treated you badly? Because your child caused them trouble…”
“No, Isabel. Not at all.”
Isabel’s father quickly spoke.
"We are of the same kind as them. By changing our bodies, we become fully part of this place. You are our child, but since you are of a different kind, they do not regard you as connected to us."
Her mother, beside him, added.
“The idea is that only by doing so can one clearly separate their life on the surface from their life here. They say we must fully adapt to this life, because only then will we fight for them.”
Isabel nodded. Knowing that her parents were doing better than she had expected and that they hadn’t suffered because of her filled her heart with great happiness.
They sat together all day, talking. There were so many things they had never been able to say until now. They wept as they looked at Isabel’s broken body, feeling the pain she had endured as if it were their own.
While trying to comfort them, Isabel ended up crying as well, and the three of them embraced each other, weeping together once more.
Their time together was limited to just a few hours. Isabel’s body was still human, and the aftereffects of torture often left her in a fragile state. Though it pained them, Isabel’s parents had no choice but to leave her behind. They believed it was better to be apart for a few hours than to see their daughter suffer.
Her mother gently stroked her daughter’s hand.
“I hope your body becomes whole again, my dear.”
"I wish for that too. That way, we could talk for longer. I’d also like to visit the house where Mother and Father live."
Isabel’s mother hesitated while looking at her, then spoke.
“Do you, by any chance, intend to receive a new body and live here?”
Isabel said nothing. It was a question she could not answer easily.
"Yes, I know you’ve been fighting on the side of the Heavenly Realm. That’s why I’ve been careful about what I say. But this place isn’t that bad, Isabel. And above all, Dad and I don’t want to live apart from you anymore."
Her father, who was beside her, spoke up.
“That’s right. Most of the tears we shed after coming here were because we lost you. The process of coming here was horrific, but all the villagers managed to live together without losing a single family member. Only we lost a child, our one and only child, and ended up living in emptiness. On top of that, knowing how strong your faith is, we had to give up the thought of ever seeing you again. Your absence was the only thing that kept us from becoming accustomed to this place.”
Isabel looked at them with sorrowful eyes. Tears continued flowing from the corners of their eyes, never drying. Seeing their tears, Isabel realised anew that the Underworld contained love and that there were tears to be shed for one another. This place was more human than she had imagined.
Isabel said she would think about it. They kissed her on the cheek and, promising to return the next day, reluctantly shifted their feet and went back home.
That night, Isabel didn’t go to bed and instead stayed up late, staring out the window. She was utterly confused.
To live in this place...
Until recently, it had been something she couldn’t even have imagined, but now it felt like such a good option. Her meeting with her mother and father had pushed her in that direction. The encounter with her parents had such a profound effect on her that it could even change her religious beliefs.
In fact, meeting her mother and father had been the one pure wish she had in her life. And now, the chance to live with them forever had come. It would have been strange not to be moved.
Knock, knock.
A knock was heard. When Isabel answered, the door opened, and Lucifer entered.
The moment he saw Isabel’s face, he furrowed his brow.
“Your eyes are swollen.”
Isabel turned her head. He approached Isabel and touched the area around her eyes.
"That must hurt."
Isabel shook her head. But Lucifer kept staring at her bloodshot eyes and bruised eye area with concern. Having never experienced a human body, he tended to overreact to what was happening to hers. To Isabel, who had been tortured almost to death and left crippled, he just seemed overly fussy.
"I’ll get you some ice."
"Is there ice here?"
“It’s actually easier to get than on the surface. I should tell them to bring it immediately…”
“Lucifer.”
As he turned to summon a servant, he looked back at Isabel.
“Were you trying to hold on to my heart by using my family?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“It’s a devilishly wicked trick.”
“Right. That’s just like you.”
Isabel agreed without hesitation. Lucifer laughed loudly at her response.
She wondered why he found her blunt reactions so amusing. Ever since she arrived, he had been like this. Everything she said seemed to amuse him, and even when she was at her most prickly, his eyes were always filled with happiness.
“Even so, whatever the intention…”
After seeing her parents off, Isabel spoke the words she had resolved to say when she met him again.
“Thank you.”
He stopped laughing. And he looked at Isabel with an expression of disbelief.
“You’re thanking me?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Isabel’s face reddened slightly, and she turned her head away.
“Why do you keep asking? You already understand.”
Lucifer stared fixedly at Isabel. Then he walked toward her, knelt in front of her, and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
“Wh-why are you doing this?”
Flustered, Isabel blinked her eyes.
"Marry me, Isabel."
“...”
“Live here with me forever.”
Isabel didn’t know what to say. But he didn’t give her time to answer. He hugged her waist even tighter and quickly spoke, as if not wanting to give her the chance to refuse.
“I’ll do anything for you. No — whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do. Live here. Take on a body in this place, and spend eternity with me. I’ll make you happy. I will definitely make you happy."
As Isabel listened to the words pouring out frantically, a thought suddenly flashed across her mind.
Only then did she understand the words Archangel Michael had spoken: that she had a special destiny, a mission entrusted to her for the Heavenly Realm.
"Lucifer."
He lifted his head and looked at Isabel.
“Do you want to live with me forever?”
"Yes."
“Then stop the war with the Heavenly Realm.”
Isabel spoke firmly.
“Don’t kidnap humans anymore. Don’t go against the Heavenly Realm. If you do that… I will live with you. Forever.”
He quietly gazed into Isabel’s eyes — those serious green eyes; the kind one could lose oneself in. The colour of a dense forest.
When he first saw those eyes, he had a premonition. That everything about him was going to change.
A smile spread across his lips. He gently caressed Isabel’s cheek.
“That’s only natural, Isabel. Those who fall in love never wish for the world to end.”
‘Those who fall in love do not wish for the world to end.’
That was it. The mission bestowed upon her by the Heavenly Realm — it was love. To make him fall in love, and in doing so, prevent the end of the world.
He kissed Isabel just like that. Isabel closed her eyes and, following him, softly pressed her lips to his.
Thus, Isabel fulfilled her mission for the Heavenly Realm.
The End
And
They Lived Happily Ever After
Translator's Corner:
Hi everyone! Hope you enjoyed this short story~ There are no side stories for this novel, so this is the end! Don't forget to leave a review on NovelUpdates to voice your thoughts or to comment below~ https://www.novelupdates.com/series/isabel/
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