[Adam's POV]
When I woke up, my head was spinning, and I immediately noticed something odd—a glowing blue screen hovering in front of my eyes with the word [loading...] flashing across it.
What the hell?
I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and waited for it to finish. Once it did, text began to scroll down the screen. My eyes widened in disbelief as I read it.
{[Name]: Valet Vent Angela's
[Titles]: The middle son of the Angel King, Lord of a Death Plane, Leader of the Bone Legion, The Protagonist's Father, The Disposable One, He Who Falls for Love
[Age]: 109
[Race]: Fallen Archangel of Death
[Affinity]: Death, Shadow, Demonic, Holy {Locked}, Divine {Locked}, Business, Guns
[Profession]: Lord of Death, Master of the Rifle
[Pictures]}
I stared at the screen, my heart pounding in my chest. Valet Vent Angela's? That name hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew exactly who this character was—he was one of my creations. Valet was a tragic figure in one of the earliest stories I'd ever written. One I had never finished. Worse, he was the character I had killed off before the first chapter had even started.
The middle son of the Angel King, betrayed by his own brother, murdered in cold blood. His son and daughter were sold off for a few pieces of silver by their uncle—his death had been the catalyst for the main character's journey. His story was a footnote in the protagonist's tragic backstory.
And now... I was him.
No, no, no... This couldn't be real. This had to be some kind of messed-up dream. I killed Valet off years ago without a second thought. He was disposable, meant to die to make the story more dramatic. And now I'm him?
I remembered his backstory all too well. Valet Vent Angela, the third son of the Angel King, was no ordinary angel. As an angel of death, he wielded powers over necromancy and shadows—abilities feared on the battlefield by enemies and allies alike. But Valet was more than just a warrior. From a young age, his skills on the battlefield had been legendary. His strength and command over death made him a contender to ascend the throne of the Angel King, or perhaps even become the next Death God.
He was born with something unique: his own plane—a personal world of death where he could command legions of lost souls and skeletons, a realm that only he controlled. It was a power few in the angelic hierarchy could even comprehend. Valet was supposed to be the future. He was destined for greatness.
But that all changed when he fell in love with a human woman.
I could still feel the dread that came with writing his fall. Valet's love for a mortal woman was his downfall. His father, the Angel King, was furious—a celestial being of death, brought low by his attachment to a mere human. Valet had defied his father's orders to sever ties with her. And for that, his father ripped six of his eight wings from his back and cast him out of Heaven, condemning him to live among mortals as a fallen angel. The image of those wings being torn, blood spilling like crimson rain, was etched in my mind. I had written it to be dramatic, cruel even.
Cast out, Valet lived in the mortal realm, broken yet trying to make the best of his life. He and his wife had twins—a son and a daughter. She died shortly after giving birth, leaving him devastated. That was the final blow to his spirit, a grief so deep it fractured him. He had been willing to give up his celestial power for love, and now she was gone.
Despite everything, he dedicated himself to raising his children. He gave them everything he had left—his strength, his time, his love. They were all that mattered to him now. He had lost his place in Heaven, but he had his family. And that should've been enough.
But his story didn't end there. His elder brother, who had always been jealous of Valet's power, had his own ambitions. The throne, Valet's plane, and the powers of death—all of it. His brother wanted to become a god but had failed in his attempts. So he set his sights on Valet's domain.
The betrayal was brutal. Valet's brother took his children hostage, forcing him to surrender his plane and his powers. Even then, Valet tried to save them. He gave up everything for their safety, but in the end, it didn't matter. His brother killed him anyway, leaving Valet's children to be sold into slavery for a few pieces of silver.
I had written that moment with such indifference. Valet was never supposed to be a significant part of the story. He was the catalyst for the protagonist's journey, a forgotten casualty in the larger conflict. His death was meant to push the main character forward, to show the cruelty of the world.
A sudden sound from the next room snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. I froze, my heart pounding.
[Alee]: Valet, have you finally gotten up? I was worried when the CEO told me you collapsed at work.
The voice was soft, concerned, and unmistakable. I turned my head toward the doorway, and there she was—Alee Resent, the woman I had written as Valet's wife and the mother of the protagonist.
She stood there, her soft, sweet smile directed at me, her presence warm and familiar. I was stunned. She was supposed to be dead—I had killed her off in the story after the birth of her children. Yet here she was, alive and standing before me.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I noticed something else—her swollen belly. She was pregnant.
Pregnant?
This wasn't right. In the story, she had already given birth to Valet's twins by the time she died. But now, here she was, still carrying their child. My mind reeled as I tried to make sense of the situation. Was this before the tragedy I had written? Had I somehow been thrown into an earlier point in Valet's life, a time when things hadn't yet fallen apart?
[Valet]: Alee?
I managed to croak out, my voice shaky and unsteady.
Her sweet smile didn't waver as she walked closer, gently placing a hand on her belly.
[Alee]: Yes, my love. You've been working too hard again. I've told you to take it easy, but you never listen, You need to rest for our sake... for the sake of our family.
Her touch was so real, so warm, and filled with love and tenderness. The kind of love Valet had sacrificed everything for.
I felt a lump form in my throat. This was the woman he had fallen for, the woman who had driven him to defy Heaven itself. The woman whose death had shattered him. But now she's alive. And she's pregnant...
It didn't make sense. This was a moment I had never written.
Was I being given a chance to rewrite his story? To change the fate I had so carelessly handed him, Then I will do it.
I needed to act fast. I wasn't about to wait around for my death to play out the way I'd written it. There had to be a way to shift the outcome, to secure some protection before Valet's treacherous brother struck.
Luckily, in this world—this modern fantasy setting I'd created—there was one powerful ally who might just save my skin: Valet's uncle, the Demon King, Adam van Solar. He was one of the most influential characters I had ever written. The opposite of the Angel King, Valet's father, Adam was the ruler of Hell and the lord of infernal powers. But despite his terrifying title, he was the only uncle who didn't despise Valet outright.
In fact, he kind of liked him.
The rest of the uncles—each ruling over their own domains—hated one another, locked in constant feuds. Except for Adam. He had always been... different. A pragmatist, but also somewhat protective of Valet. I had written him that way intentionally, but I never expected to need that connection to survive.
I reached for a sleek black phone on the bedside table—a device that looked suspiciously like an iPhone, blending modern technology with the magic of this world. My fingers moved quickly as I dialed the number I never thought I'd need to use. Valet's memories seemed to be guiding me, and soon I was listening to the ringtone.
After a few rings, the call was picked up.
[Adam]: Hello, you've reached the Demon Lord Adam van Solar, head of Inferno Co. How can I help you?
His voice was calm, and professional, with that touch of power beneath the surface. A voice that could command armies and kingdoms, yet he still ran his infernal empire like a corporation. Classic Adam.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This was a gamble, but I needed his help.
[Valet]: Hello, Uncle Adam.
There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a burst of laughter.
[Adam]: Nephew! You finally called! How are you? Is my grandnephew born yet? I want to see him!
His tone was light, playful even. He clearly wasn't expecting me to be in any kind of trouble.
I hesitated, glancing over at Alee, who was still sitting beside me, gently humming to herself.
[Valet]: Not yet, Uncle Adam. But... I need your help.
The laughter faded, replaced with a more serious tone.
[Adam]: What kind of help, Valet? You're not in trouble, are you?
I could hear the concern creeping into his voice. Valet's uncle might be the Demon King, but he had a soft spot for the family, especially his favorite nephew. It was time to use that to my advantage.
[Valet]: Yes, Uncle. It's... complicated,
I began, trying to find the right words.
[Valet]: My brother, he's plotting something. He wants my plane, my powers... He's going to kill me and take everything.
The line went silent for a moment, and then Adam's voice returned, sharp and focused.
[Adam]: Your brother? That fool... Always thought too highly of himself.
There was a low growl in his voice.
[Adam]: Don't worry, nephew. I'll handle this. Family matters are my specialty."
Relief flooded through me. Adam was my best shot at surviving this mess.
Thank you, Uncle. I knew I could count on you.
[Adam]: Of course, Valet. I'll send some of my people to... watch over things. In the meantime, keep your head down, and don't let anyone know we're talking. And don't worry, —you'll live to see that grandnephew of mine born. And when he is, you better introduce him to his cool demon uncle.
I couldn't help but smile despite the weight of the situation.
[Valet]: I will, Uncle Adam. I promise.
With that, the first call ended.
I dialed another number, hoping for a different kind of help. The phone rang, and then a smooth, professional voice answered.
[Luke Lune Lunar]: Hello, this is the Nature Lord Luke Lune Lunar, owner of Yggdrasil Co. Would you be interested in our private forests business? We also sell magic herbs and have druids available for kids' birthday parties.
I took a deep breath, grateful that so many of Valet's uncles were powerful CEOs. The situation was dire, and I needed all the help I could get.
[Valet]: Hello, Uncle Luke. This is Valet.
[Luke]: Valet! It's been a while. The last time I saw you was 60 years ago. Now, let's get down to business. What do you need?
[Valet]: I need some amber from the World Tree. In exchange, I can offer you some magic bone power. I know how much you need it for your druids, especially since they've been having problems with their roots.
[Luke]: Smart kid. Sometimes I wonder how that dumb brother of mine had the audacity to kick you out of Heaven for that one reason. In the end, he did worse than you when he killed our father.
Luke's voice carried a hint of bitterness as he spoke about their late father. It was a reminder of the complex web of relationships and conflicts within the family.
[Valet]: I appreciate your understanding, Uncle Luke. The amber is crucial for me right now. It's not just about the magic; it's about protecting what's left of my family.
[Luke]: I understand. I'll have the amber sent over immediately. And don't worry, Valet, I'll make sure it gets to you safely. I know what's at stake. Consider this my way of helping out a family member who's always been a bit too hard done by.
I felt a surge of gratitude.
[Valet]: Thank you, Uncle Luke. I promise I won't forget this.
[Luke]: Just make sure you take care of yourself. And don't let that fool of a brother get the best of you. He's always been more trouble than he's worth.
The call ended, and I sat back, feeling a bit more hopeful. With Adam and Luke both on my side, I had a fighting chance. But now, I needed to stay alert and prepare for whatever came next.
[Chapter end]