Stripping Down Heaven!

The Demon Lord, an exile who secretly longed for recognition…

He framed this as a test of universality: “If even Heaven’s chosen people would find your Spa worth entering, then perhaps you are truly building something greater than a business.”

But beneath it, his personal wound was showing. He was cast out of Heaven, denied belonging. If even those who exiled him secretly desire what he desires: rest, comfort, healing, then perhaps his exile was unjust, or perhaps he can reclaim part of himself.

Heaven’s society was based on segregation for stability. Species, castes, and roles were kept separate. They saw intermingling as the cause of corruption and chaos.

Our Spa was, by its very nature, the opposite, a shared space where species of all kinds lower their guards, bathe in the same waters, and relax side by side.

The ideological conflict that Heaven and the Church posed was that segregation wasn’t inherently bad. It prevented chaos. They believed that within a single species, segregation by race or status often led to oppression, yes. But between vastly different beings, Sky-kin versus Demon-kin, Human versus Monster, segregation diminished arguments.

“What you call peace is only the mixing of oil and water. We choose order instead.” The Father Angel decreed.

“True peace isn’t about keeping people apart, it’s about giving them a chance to understand each other in a neutral, safe space.” I countered. “Relaxation, comfort, vulnerability… These can’t exist in segregation. They only exist when the barriers fall away! Even if oil and water don’t mix, when they both reflect the sky, they shine together!”

“I understand you seek a Unified Spa Day, where Demon-kin, Humans, Monsters, and Sky-kin must all be served in the same space without conflict. This in itself is impossible. Does your Spa satisfy Angelic beings who literally cannot share the same space as Demon-kin, because of divine wards and holy energy?”

“Of course it does! Sharlotte can be our case study to expose cracks in your ideology: Angels do want what Demon-kin and Humans want – rest, healing, joy.”

“Sharlotte gave up her Angelic position when she gave up her heavenly duties.”

“I stayed at Kazuki’s Sacred Spa because, for the first time, I wasn’t an Angel. I was me!”

“Shut up! Sharlotte is an Angel to me, to all our customers! Also, there’s no such thing as holy energy that prevents them from sharing the same space! We must invent a new system of relaxation that allows diversity without erasure, togetherness without chaos. Segregation in Heaven may work as a policy, but at the core of it, it’s a defense mechanism born from fear!”

“For the Demon Lord, this must be a bittersweet mission he commanded you three. He seeks proof that those who rejected him share the same desires he has, but also that Heaven is willing to admit it openly.” The Angel Father sympathized, despite not conceding.

“Now are you starting to understand why I decided to leave this place and head down to Earth?” Sharlotte gloomed at Rin and me. “Heaven’s segregation is peaceful, but sterile. Our Spa’s mingling is chaotic, but fertile with growth and happiness! The universality of desire: Food, comfort, love, relaxation… These are shared across all beings!”

“Precisely! Everyone wants something. Even Angels!”

Hearing my shout, the Angel Father answered serenely, halo blazing like a smug little sun. “Order is preferable to chaos.”

“Relaxation,” I shot back, “is only possible in chaos! Relaxation can only exist if you’ve ever known how it feels to be on guard. You need vulnerability, and vulnerability means breaking barriers!”

This was starting to become an argument of philosophy instead of selling a product. Heaven thought segregation was stability. Our Spa was proof that controlled chaos could build a community. It was time to show them the light. It was time that we went all out!

And if I had to strip Heaven’s pride bare to show them that? So be it.

“These matters you bring up…” Their priest folded his hands in prayer. “Gold, season passes, equity shares… such earthly notions. None of these sways us. Heaven is already perfect. Here, we live without want, without envy, without sin. We are vulnerable with each other, and we are pure, Dungeon Core. That is our strength.”

The other Angels nodded, their halos glowing a little brighter as if to underline his words.

“Don’t make me laugh! You can only say that because you surrounded and caged yourself with like-minded individuals. Purity isn’t strength, it’s stagnation! No temptation, no desire, no drama, no growth!” I jabbed a rocky finger toward them. “Not a single gacha game in history ever sold purity! They sold lust, greed, pride, envy! That’s what gets people paying! Tell me, Angels. Did you know… mortals bathe together in mixed baths, naked?!”

The nearest Angel gasped, cheeks flaring pink. “Together?! Naked?!”

“Yes,” I said smugly. “Completely unclothed. No olive leaves, no robes, just steam, towels, and skin.”

“Improper!” Another Angel sputtered. “Unholy! Who would do such a thing?!”

“Our clients do,” Rin muttered.

“All of us! All the time! But wait. There’s more. They don’t just bathe together. They drink juice. While bathing. Mixed with alcohol,” I whispered like a snake oil salesman. “Same as your beloved Church.”

Their halos dimmed collectively. One Angel fanned himself. Another tugged at her robe like the collar was choking her.

“The Anti-Angel!” The Angel Father still stood firm, renewing their light. “Your business promotes the opposite of our teachings! No wonder your trio was sent by the Demon Lord!”

Rin looked at me nervously. “Master… are you going to do the thing?”

“Yes.”

“No. Don’t you dare–”

“Yes.”

Before she could stop me, I shouted, “Rin, show them vulnerability! Strip away everything unnecessary!”

“WHAT?!” she shrieked.

Sharlotte gasped. “He doesn’t mean it literally–”

But Rin’s pride wouldn’t let her back down. She bit her lip, cheeks burning, and with a single flick of her tail, undid her outer robe.

The cloth fell. Light spilled out.

Not lewd light. Holy light.

You never fail to impress, Rin!

Holy light shone across her entire body. Each article of clothing that was lost, the greater Rin shone, gaining love from the Heavens. Even though she was born as a human, her light superseded that of the Seraphs!

The Angel Father was so stunned that he dropped his bible.

He was reminded of the long journey of the girl who would later be called the Silver Saint. She flew freely through the sky and brought about various miracles to the lands, quelling disasters, saving villages, and performing miracles known only to God. And whether her wish would be granted at the end of her journey was something that not even God knew.

But now, he knew. She… was right there in front of him!! Bathed in a holy light that was impossible to deny!

“She’s the prophesied Silver Saint!”

“No, she’s a Demon temptress!”

“No, she’s both!!”

“This light… it transcends doctrine… it’s… marketable.”

“Exactly! What you call segregation is stagnation! Our Spa’s Bunny shines brighter than all of Heaven’s Resort!! We offer what you cannot: chaos, comfort, and COUPONS!!”

“No way, he’s a prophet!” Shouted an Angel convert. A future customer!

“Now do you understand? You dream too little. Your old ways have been defiled, and everyone has been shown a brighter light. The path she follows. The path I make her follow!”

“Master! This is so embarrassing! Let me dress myself already!”

“Rainbow light… I can’t resist…!”

“My vows are crumbling!”

“Is this… temptation?!”

“Only our waters can wash away this sin for you!” Sharlotte followed up. “As a fellow Angel, I said so the first time I met Kazuki… that I wanted to wash away the nasty things of the world! Only at our Spa can you wash away these worries and experience something greater!”

“But she’s a Human…” The Father Angel perspired. “She’s closer to Angel-kin than Demon-kin and Monsters!”

“[Ability: Fast Run Bunny Ears]!”

Rabbit ears sprouted on a humiliated Rin.

“So, the Demon-kin would never have this shine, is what you’re saying? Have some shame! What you’ve been promoting isn’t segregation! It’s discrimination! Our Spa’s Lucky Bunny, our Sacred Spa, shines waaaaaaaaaay brighter than Heaven’s Resort!! Wishing and striving for something better... A world without interspecies discrimination can never be a sin!!!”

Every sinful perk of our resort has been introduced like a sales pitch, and the Angels were more and more curious while trying to keep their composure.

The Seraph feather had burnt to mere embers.

“Our time has run out!” Sharlotte alerted.

“But our Labor doesn’t end. Sharlotte, I need you to take it up from here. Heaven likely won’t want to ‘descend’ at first. It’s hard to change. Ideologies aren’t changed from one day to the next. But they’re already knocking on curiosity’s door. All we have to do is accidentally send them coupons for couples’ discounts, All-You-Can-Drink, and sauna with Demon-kin included!”

Some of the Angels fainted at the thought. Eventually, they, the Sky-kin would descend, claiming it was for research. And we would open them a Pandora’s Box that was simply wonderful.