After that photo, Riser and Gabriel took a photo together before they said goodbye to everyone and continued their trip.
They spent many days together, and as expected, Gabriel started to feel a different feeling toward him as she stared at the photo that they had taken in the previous town.
The two of them stood side by side, closely. She showed a bright and gentle smile in the photo. Meanwhile, while he might not smile, his expression was relaxed when he was by her side. There was no doubt; no one would doubt that they were a pair of lovers when they saw this photo.
Yet Gabriel, who was clueless about love, was ignorant about this feeling, and she just felt that it was warm by his side.
It was her first time to feel this feeling.
Nevertheless, she could feel that even if she wished to be closer, he refrained from getting close to her, which made her curious about him, as many people wished to be as close as possible when they were near her presence.
It was also due to this he was different.
Yet, as they started this trip, Gabriel forgot about one thing.
When there was a beginning, there was an end.
When they reached Palermo and ate caponata as they watched the Tyrrhenian sea, Riser said, "It's time for me to go back."
Gabriel was stunned and almost dropped her food. "I..." She didn't know what to say at that moment as it was so natural to have him by her side, but then he told her that he was going to leave.
She should have expected this, yet she didn't expect that his existence would grow so significant within her heart. Yet it was also due to this that the thought of him leaving disappointed her so much.
Nevertheless, she asked, "...can you stay a little longer?"
"Do you want me to stay?" Riser asked, but at the same time, he felt this woman was too easy. Frankly, the time they spent together wasn't that long, and he had never touched her, except for licking her fingers that time. Oh, he also held her hand when something suddenly attracted her attention and caused her to move to a random destination.
Riser knew it was quite rude, but he felt like he was holding a big, obedient dog for some reason.
"Un." Gabriel nodded eagerly, thinking that he would stay for a little longer, but—
"Sorry, I can't." Riser apologized. "I have someone waiting for me."
"...then, can I follow you?" Gabriel suddenly said something outrageous.
"...you want to follow me?" Riser wondered whether his charm was so amazing that he could even seduce one of the four Seraphs.
"Can I?" Gabriel thought that it would be fun to follow him again.
"You can't." Riser shook his head.
"Why?" Gabriel was unable to accept his response.
"Because you are an angel." Riser looked at Gabriel with an obvious expression. "Do you think it is possible for an angel to go to the Underworld? Do you want to become a fallen angel?"
"..."
Gabriel wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Becoming a fallen angel, she?
That thought had never crossed her mind at all, as her purpose in life was to serve god, keep heaven, and also guide the humans who followed Christianity. Those were her beliefs, and probably, it wouldn't change even after the end of the world, but her meeting with him changed everything.
It was the first time in her life that she wished for something else.
She wished to be on his side.
Yet, when she was about to give him an answer, agreeing as she wished to be by his side, he stopped her, "Don't."
"Why?" She looked at him in doubt as she didn't realize she had raised her voice.
"I am not someone that is worthy for you to follow."
Frankly, Gabriel was beautiful, and there was no doubt he had her by his side, but then again, he could imagine that heaven would target him when he tainted her and made her fall, which was definitely something he wanted to avoid.
"Moreover, you do this due to the impulse. You are not calm, and I don't want you to regret this decision."
"I won't regret this! I want to follow you!"
Gabriel clearly showed that she had thought about this matter thoroughly. She was going to follow him, and that was what she was going to do. Moreover, she still wanted to learn the feeling that she had just learned.
The feeling made her heart warm and fluffy yet made her heartbeat, and it made her chest stuffy whenever they were together.
Nevertheless, right now, those feelings have disappeared, and what is left is anxiety, pain, and desperation.
Probably, it was better for her not to learn this feeling, especially when she learned this feeling with such a sinful, twisted man, yet everything was too late.
[Bring her with you and make her into a fallen angel.]
"....."
It had been a while since he saw the system, but then again, he had made his decision, and instead of a fallen angel, he wanted her to stay as an angel as he had never done it with an angel.
[That seems to be a good idea.]
"..." Riser.
"Gabriel..."
His voice was gentle and soothing yet carried a hint of helplessness as he gently caressed her hair. However, Gabriel couldn't look away as it might be the first time for him to show such an expression.
"I am sorry, but I really can't bring you with me.
"Moreover, I am married."
"Ma-Married?" Gabriel widened her eyes as she had never expected such an answer. "...you are lying, right?" She thought he was lying as he didn't want her to follow him.
"I am not." Riser was helpless. "Moreover, it isn't like we can't meet again, but depending on the result of the meeting, we might have a war or a peace. If it's a war, then I can't say much, but if we have peace, we might be able to meet again. By then, you should be able to calm yourselves down and not make such a hasty decision.
"Lastly, I am just a man that you met for a few days. Do you think it is worth it to throw away your everything for a good-for-nothing like me?"
"No, you are not good for nothing!"
She refuted him with tears.
"....."
Riser fell in silence and thought that this woman was too pure, but at the same time, he also had never lied or had any bad intentions toward her as he had just come to complete his goal.
"However, if you decide to become a fallen angel, then the result of the meeting of the three factions might end up in a war. Are you okay with that? Do you want to see many dead?"
"I..."
Gabriel's expression was full of pain.
Frankly, Riser had to say a woman was just irrational as he couldn't understand how they could throw everything for a feeling. Yet, it surprised him that there wasn't even a tinge of darkness on her wings.
Was her feeling so pure?
Riser felt guilty somehow, but it was impossible for him to bring Gabriel, and as he had said before, he wasn't someone worthy to follow, especially when he knew how twisted he was.
"Our meeting might be short, but I will treasure those memories. See you again."
Riser was no longer talking and walked away, ready to leave by teleportation.
Gabriel hurriedly tried to catch him, but her hand stopped, unable to move forward when she thought how many were going to die due to her selfish action, so she didn't stop him and just watched him with tears running down her cheeks as she clutched to their photo that they took during the sunset on the Tyrrhenian sea.
In the photo, their expression was so natural as they stood next to each other. It was as if they were fated together, yet in the end, they needed to part.
"......."
If they had to part, and for her to feel this painful feeling, it might probably be better if they didn't meet, but she knew if they didn't meet, she wouldn't learn this feeling, so she was glad to meet him.
However, at the same time, she was determined.
Gabriel knew that peace between the three factions was necessary so she could meet him again.
Nevertheless, like Gabriel, who had determined to make peace between the three factions, Riser was determined to gain his peace, and due to that, he was going to do something that was extremely evil.