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Chapter 334: Chapter 330 ~ Faith

"That is why I need help. Your help, Yuuji-kun."

The words spoken by Heaven's leader—the strongest of the Seraphim—fell heavier than any blade or verdict Yuuji had expected.

A plea for help. Spoken plainly. Directly. Without pride to soften its weight.

For a moment, Yuuji simply stood there, breath caught between disbelief and concern.

He had anticipated that Michael might seek assistance. He wasn't naïve or dull. After seeing his display of divine power when he defeated Katarea, he had expected Michael to come to him. 

The Heavenly System left behind by the God of the Bible was deteriorating. He knew the Seraphs were stretched thin, their responsibilities vast. 

He knew Heaven, although no longer having enemies in the Underworld and Grigory, was still troubled by the aftermath of the long great war and the looming threat that had reared its ugly head during the tri-summit meeting. 

But this… This was far more direct, far more urgent, than anything he had imagined.

"...Michael-sama."

Yuuji's eyes softened, narrowing with quiet worry. 

"Is the situation truly so dire…?"

He meant the question honestly.

Because from the perspective of someone walking through the human world, life seemed utterly unchanged. The flow of daily existence continued unbroken.

People laughed.

People cried.

People worked, prayed, failed, and rose again.

Some prayed and found strength in effort.

Some succeeded through grit, focus, or chance.

Some failed and prayed harder, seeking comfort or hope.

Miracles still happened—not often, but just enough to inspire belief.

Misfortune still happened—not rarely, but not so severely that the world felt abandoned.

In Yuuji's eyes, it mirrored every world he had lived in or learned of. His own. Lelouch and C.C.'s world. Tatsuya and Erika's world. Even Satoru and Albedo's world.

Nothing about the human realm suggested divine machinery on the brink of collapse.

Even now, Heaven seemed orderly. Peaceful. Radiant.

So why…?

"Has the Heavenly System deteriorated so much… that you would seek aid from an outsider like me?"

Yuuji asked quietly.

Michael's lips pressed into a thin line—a smile, but one tinged with unmistakable sorrow.

A smile that spoke of burdens carried alone for far too long.

They continued walking down the endless white corridor, golden light filtering through the glass panes, casting shifting patterns on the marble floor like ripples of a dying star.

Finally, Michael exhaled.

"Yuuji-kun…" His voice trembled faintly—just enough for Yuuji to notice.

Yuuji stopped walking.

Michael stopped as well, a few steps ahead, turning back with a gentle but exhausted look in his emerald eyes.

"Externally, to the world of humans… Everything appears normal. That is by design. Even in His absence, Father's system continues handling the surface functions—prayers, minor miracles, blessings, protections. Enough to maintain hope. Enough to maintain faith."

His wings gave a faint, tired flutter of light.

"But beneath that surface? The core of the system is collapsing."

He raised a hand to his chest, fingers curling over his heart.

"The deeper functions—the ones only we Seraphim can see—are failing. Slowly, but undeniably."

A pause. His voice hardened.

"We patch what we can. Support the processes manually. But the burden increases each year. We are reaching our limit."

Yuuji listened in silence, expression grim.

"The creation systems. The ascension pathways. The miracle conduits. The judgment protocols." 

Michael listed each with the weariness of someone who had memorized every fracture.

"All of it… They're slowly breaking apart."

He lowered his hand.

"And if the system fails entirely… then Heaven will lose more than functionality. We may lose our very foundation—our stability, our essence, our role."

He closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"I love this place, Yuuji-kun. With everything I am. I would give my life without hesitation to protect it." His eyes opened, luminous yet pained. 

"But love alone does not repair a broken world. Nor does loyalty grant me the power I lack."

The Seraph unfolded his wings—not in majesty, but in vulnerability. A symbolic revelation of humility from one who rarely bowed.

"That is why I ask for your help. Not as Heaven's leader…"

He bowed his head slightly.

"But as Michael—one who loves this place and wishes to protect it despite knowing it to be impossible alone."

The weight of Heaven itself seemed to fill the silent hall.

And Yuuji finally understood. Michael wasn't simply desperate.

He was afraid.

Not for himself. But for his siblings.

For his people.

For the countless souls who had placed all their hope in Heaven.

And for the first time, Yuuji saw Michael not as a serene, perfect archangel…

but as a man carrying an impossible legacy.

"Michael-sama…"

Yuuji exhaled softly, then nodded.

"I understand. If there is anything I can help with, I would be happy to assist. However…"

His eyes sharpened slightly. 

"What exactly did you have in mind when you asked for my help?"

Michael's expression eased into a warm but weary smile. Without answering immediately, he began walking again. 

Yuuji followed, their footsteps echoing gently through the endless white corridor as they resumed walking side by side.

"Heaven's system—and Heaven itself—is sustained by faith," Michael began. His tone was calm, but beneath it lingered a deep ache. "The faith of humans and all beings who place their trust in my Father, in the angels, and in the promise of Heaven."

His eyes dimmed, sadness brushing across his features like a shadow.

"In recent centuries… that faith has diminished."

He didn't need to elaborate, yet he did so with gentle clarity.

"Humans have not abandoned belief entirely. But many now see Heaven and Father's miracles as allegory. Myth. Something distant, intangible, and irrelevant to their daily lives."

Michael's wings folded behind him with a soft rustle of light.

"As the world advances, as knowledge grows, as people gain greater understanding and control over their lives… fewer turn to us. Fewer depend on the unseen. Fewer pray with sincerity."

He sighed—quiet, but worlds heavy.

"With less faith, fewer prayers, and diminishing devotion… sustaining Heaven's system becomes more difficult with each passing century."

Yuuji absorbed his words in silence.

"Faith… huh."

It was a simple word, but one that had shaped entire eras.

In his world—and many others—true faith had become rare.

In eras long past, people saw miracles in every storm, every harvest, every spark of lightning. They lived in awe of the unknown, and belief came naturally.

But with understanding came independence.

With science came clarity.

With stability came self-sufficiency.

With peace came complacency.

People still held religions. Still carried virtues. But many followed them because it felt right—not because they truly believed.

A peaceful age gave much… but took faith in return.

Yuuji looked at Michael again. The sorrow in the archangel's smile was even more apparent now—gentle, but deeply wounded.

Then a thought surfaced within Yuuji's mind.

"To restore faith… There is a method. A time-tested one."

His brows lowered. His voice softened.

"And I'm sure you've considered it."

Michael immediately stilled. They both knew.

War. A great war.

The kind of catastrophic struggle that forced humanity to rely on miracles. The kind of fear that rekindled prayer. The kind of desperation that forged unshakable belief.

Wars in the past had indeed swelled Heaven with faith.

But—

"No."

Michael's rejection was immediate and final.

He halted mid-step, turning to Yuuji with fierce conviction blazing in his emerald eyes.

"I will not choose a path that demands the suffering of those we are meant to protect."

His wings flickered with a firm, almost defiant glow.

"To seek faith through bloodshed would be an affront to everything Heaven stands for."

His indignation wasn't anger—it was righteousness. Justice shaped from sorrow.

And in that moment, Yuuji smiled.

Michael… truly was worthy of leading Heaven.

"Very well," Yuuji said, raising his hands in a light, open gesture.

"Archangel Michael, I accept your request for aid. But becoming a symbol of divine miracles or holy intervention would only be a temporary solution. A bandage, not a cure."

Michael blinked, surprised.

"A temporary solution…? Yuuji-kun, do you propose something more permanent?"

Yuuji nodded.

"The system. I have a knack for restoring and optimizing complex systems. So—"

His golden pupils gleamed faintly.

"May I see it?"

Michael's eyes widened—hope, disbelief, and reverence flickering all at once.

This was the moment that would change the fate of Heaven.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

After an entire day spent exploring the wonders of Heaven, Aika, Erika, C.C., Albedo, and the rest of Yuuji's companions finally gathered at the edge of Zebel's plaza, preparing to return home.

Their faces still reflected everything they had experienced—Gabriel's endless affection, Uriel's stern curiosity, the gardens of Eden, the brilliance of the Sixth Heaven—yet duty eventually called them back.

Even though Gabriel had insisted, almost pleading with them to stay at least for the night, the group had no choice but to decline.

Albedo needed to return to Linked Horizons to oversee her responsibilities as Yuuji's representative.

Aika, Erika, and C.C. had promised to Rias, Akeno, and Koneko to hang out in their estate the next day.

While Tatsuya, Satoru, and Lelouch also had their own plans.

Just as they were preparing to depart, a gentle radiance descended over them—Michael had arrived, noticing that the group was about to leave.

After they explained their reasons, Michael simply nodded with understanding.

However, he raised his hand before they could open a portal.

"Then allow me to see you off," he said kindly. 

"But before that… I must inform you that Yuuji-kun will not be returning with you. He will remain here until tomorrow."

Aika blinked. Erika tilted her head. C.C. raised a brow.

Even Albedo paused.

"Eh? Why is that?" Aika asked, confusion coloring her voice.

Michael responded calmly, though his tone carried a weight that instantly caught Gabriel's and Uriel's attention.

"He is assisting me with Heaven's system. There are… matters that require immediate attention."

The reaction was instantaneous.

Gabriel gasped—her wings fluttering in shock.

"Ehhh?! Is that true, Brother?!"

Uriel stepped forward sharply.

"Brother… is he truly interfacing with Father's system?"

Michael nodded once, solemn and certain.

"Yes. He offered his help after I confided our situation to him. After careful consideration, I granted him permission."

Gabriel covered her lips with both hands, emerald eyes wide in disbelief.

Uriel's face shifted from shock… to awe.

Aika and the others exchanged glances—surprised for only a brief heartbeat.

Then Aika simply smiled, completely unbothered.

"Ahhh~ So that's all? I thought it was something serious."

She waved her hand lightly, her tone playful.

Michael blinked. 

"You… don't seem very surprised."

"Of course not." Aika tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

"If it were anyone else, we'd be shocked. But since it's darling… well~ he'll definitely be able to help you. So don't worry, okay?"

Michael froze. Gabriel froze. Uriel froze.

Even Irina and Xenovia—who were standing behind them—looked stunned.

Only Satoru smiled wryly softly, as though he had already predicted this reaction.

"Well then, we'll be heading out first~" Aika said cheerfully.

She gave Satoru a small nod, and he returned it with a flick of his wrist.

[Gate]

A swirling vortex of black void formed before them.

"Bye bye, Gabriel-chan~ Michael-sama~ Uriel-sama~ See you again soon~!" Aika waved brightly.

"U-Uhn! Bye bye…" Gabriel waved frantically, still hugging Alice's and Aria's absence in her arms.

One by one, everyone offered their farewells.

Erika bowed politely, C.C. waved lazily, Albedo curtsied with elegance.

Even Tatsuya, Lelouch, and Satoru gave respectful nods.

Xenovia was the last to step through—still dazed, still stunned by the revelation—before the portal closed with a soft hum.

Silence enveloped the plaza.

Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Irina all remained where they stood, still processing what they had just heard and witnessed.

The calm but deeply trusting way Yuuji's group accepted his involvement with God's system…

The casualness of it all…

Michael let out a thoughtful exhale and finally smiled.

"Well," he said softly, "seeing is believing. Shall we check on his progress?"

Gabriel and Uriel nodded immediately.

Michael then turned gently toward Irina.

"Apologies, Irina. But could you return to Earth and inform Dulio Gesualdo to begin preparations for the upcoming summit?"

Irina straightened up.

"Y-Yes! Of course, Michael-sama! I'll head out right away!"

"Thank you," he replied warmly. "Your help is appreciated."

Irina bowed once more before opening a glowing blue magic circle and disappearing through it.

With that, only the three seraphs remained—Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel.

Together, they turned toward the inner sanctum of Heaven.

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