# Knock. Knock. Knock.

The quiet knocking sound broke the silence in the room.

The person who knocked was an unfamiliar figure.

Dressed in moderately luxurious attire, his eyes were tilted upward, following profit. He was too free to be a servant, yet lacked the integrity to be a nobleman.

The place the man had secretly visited was Irefi’s office. When he faced the elegant and beautiful woman, the corners of his eyes curved lecherously.

“The item?”

Irefi asked gracefully. The man carefully placed down a meticulously packaged box.

“Would there be any doubt?”

“Good work. I’ll have the payment sent through the merchant guild.”

“Hehe. Thank you for using our Continental Trade Guild. We’ll maintain absolute secrecy, so please… use it well!”

“I must use it well. I hope I can. You may leave now.”

At Irefi’s quick dismissal, the man bowed without showing any displeasure. In truth, given the nature of the item, he fully understood her irritable attitude. She wouldn’t want to see someone who shared her secret any longer.

As the man left the mansion, he muttered to himself.

“Hmm. I wonder who earned such enmity… that they requested an item forbidden even on the other continent. And sacrificing such an astronomical sum…”

That wasn’t all.

When information circulates that ‘that item’ is available on the black market of the other continent, the underworld mobilizes all its personnel.

Just on simple intelligence, mysterious wealthy individuals and powerful figures pay attention to the developments. Moreover, a parade of all kinds of powerful individuals unfolds to provide strict security.

“With a payment this large, I could establish one or two independent guilds. My only regret is not knowing what the item will be used for!”

The man disappeared leisurely, savoring the sweet taste of a life-changing opportunity.

But even Irefi would have to postpone answering his question.

Because she had become entangled in fate’s prank, far beyond her intentions.

The purpose of the suspicious item would have to be revealed later.

◇

The incident began with a morning scene no different from usual. I stretched and got up from my soft bedding.

“Good morning, Irefi.”

The morning sunlight passing through the transparent window reflected off Irefi’s snow-white hair, sparkling like a blessing.

When I greet her in the morning, Irefi smiles brightly. Then she whispers to me the language of love that she didn’t fully express the night before…

She should have whispered…

“Huh? Who are you?”

“…Hmmm?”

What did I just hear? Haha, is it because it’s morning? My ears must be playing tricks on me. It feels like Irefi just pushed some very vulgar language at me. That can’t be right…

“Good morning, Ire…”

“Good morning my foot.”

“Irefi…?”

“Who are you? Ugh! My head hurts, damn it.”

“This… what is…?!”

What a world-flipping outrageous situation! From words that make me doubt my ears to an attitude as if she’s forgotten me completely.

I desperately hoped it was a dream. At least, until Irefi’s next statement.

“Where am I and why is there some inadequate man next to me? Urgh.”

“Irefi, you…! No, wait.”

I immediately traced back the past in response to the inexplicable phenomenon of Irefi’s corruption. Somewhere in the past, there must be a clue that encompasses the current situation.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed in my mind. I recalled a conversation that could explain the reason for the current situation.

It was sometime after the engagement ceremony. It was an ordinary night when Irefi and I were having a sincere conversation in the bedroom. She broke through the cold silence that had fallen and brought up a difficult topic.

[Nepy. I have something to tell you.]

[What’s so serious?]

[It’s about the last conversation I had with Netionpis.]

[With the old man?]

It was quite an unexpected topic. Irefi having a personal conversation with the old man. Considering their relationship where they wanted to point swords at each other, it was a groundbreaking move.

[Yes. I had something I wanted to ask. About the condition of my body.]

[About Malice?]

[You got it right away. My Malice is strangely different from yours.]

[That’s true.]

The Malice I possess is merely drawing and using what is subordinate to Netionpis’s soul. Therefore, the old man bears all the penalties of Malice. The curse of immortality was an example.

But Irefi is different. She is not a possessed person. It means she differs from cases with shared souls.

Yet, if Irefi controls her Malice well, she receives no penalties. As if there is a soul that bears the penalties in her place…

[Netionpis speculated that it might be related to the past Chainlich Phenomenon.]

[The Chainlich again…]

[Beyond the torn space, the laws of time do not apply. The dimensional gate is a chaotic passage where timelines connecting past and future converge into a single point… he said some difficult-to-understand things.]

[To summarize, time is twisted beyond the dimensional gate.]

Having lived as Netionpis for a long time, I’ve grasped his way of thinking quite well. I can understand the general theory.

Irefi’s look of surprise was truly embarrassing.

[Ahem! Anyway, he said it’s hard to ignore the possibility that my future soul, which lost its place for some reason, might have attached itself to my present body.]

[What?! ‘That’ future you?]

[Ugh… yes, that’s right.]

In other words, this is what it means.

The source of Malice that Irefi now possesses is the awakened energy of future Irefi.

It belongs to a future soul attached to modern Irefi’s body.

[It’s a completely different form from you, so it’s not an independent soul… but essentially, I also have two souls.]

[It’s not funny, but it’s very convincing.]

[Of course, since it’s like a residue, it would have a weak sense of self… but I might experience some pain someday.]

[What kind of pain?]

[My personality might change for a certain period…]

[Oh, a future version of Irefi. That sounds interesting.]

[She might try to kill you right away?]

[Ugh! I, I see. That’s a big problem…]

Thinking about it, it’s no ordinary matter. If the real Destroyer Irefi arrives in the modern era, wouldn’t she unleash Splitting Heaven and Earth on the system?

We must prevent her from becoming a living disaster.

Irefi, as if she had easily read my thoughts, eased my worries.

[Don’t worry too much. It will probably focus on changes in personality or habits rather than memories. As Netionpis said, it’s just a fragment of a soul like residue.]

[Phew. That’s somewhat reassuring.]

I gather fragments of clues from past conversations. It seems the future Irefi had anticipated has arrived.

‘Let’s see… how should I handle this?’

Future Irefi is more prickly than I imagined. Even a thorny sea urchin would look cute wearing a hat…

Well, if a gentle personality emerged from a life that walked the path of blood, that would be horror in its own way.

Above all, Irefi had predicted that only her personality, behavior, and habits would change. However, the woman before me seems to indicate that even her memories have flown away.

‘I have a feeling that something troublesome is about to happen…’

I decide to start by explaining everything step by step.

“So… Ms. Irefi? Would you like to have a conversation first?”

“If you’re trying to deceive me, I won’t let you off easily.”

“Of course not… I mean, of course!”

God, please return our kind Irefi. Even if it means a life exposed to domestic violence, I love her.

While offering such a damn prayer, I went through the ordeal of explaining everything from the beginning.

◇

“To summarize, you’re saying I have amnesia?”

“Yes.”

She points her finger and adds.

“And you are my lover?”

“That’s right.”

“It seems I disregarded external aspects before losing my memory. To be engaged to someone with such cunning eyes…”

‘That’s not my fault, future Irefi.’

There’s no way I could have the freedom to customize the body I inherited from Netionpis.

Explaining possession and such would take well over half a day, so I decided to leave it at that.

“If this is a lie, I’ll slaughter you on a knight’s honor.”

“Wow, it’s been a while since I received that threat. I used to hear it all the time. Nostalgic…”

“What did you say?”

Of course, her tone was a bit more polite back then.

From the memory of when the Emperor first ordered us to live together, savage images of her surged up.

“It’s hard to fully accept, but out of respect for my pre-memory loss self, I won’t make hasty judgments.”

“Hmm. I see. But what?”

“I’ll maintain daily life to avoid trouble. However, if I feel any discomfort in the daily life you lead, I’ll immediately consider it a lie.”

“Ah, that’s the rule. As expected of Irefi. Your kindness remains in strange places.”

“What…!”

Irefi blushing honestly at the compliment is cute. Is this the future Irefi with less hostility?

The point was that she would accommodate daily life for my sake as the person involved. Additionally, it was an expression of her intention to minimize the damage caused by her memory loss.

Of course, with the premise that she would kill me immediately if daily life proved to be a lie.

“Tsk, refrain from unnecessary talk. What are you doing? Guide me quickly.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“Isn’t it time for breakfast? We should move to the dining room.”

“Ah, right. You would have forgotten this too. The usual Irefi used to cook breakfast herself.”

And she would make me taste everything first, subjecting me to all kinds of food torture. It was truly a series of miserable mornings.

I wonder if I should have told her. Still, it’s better than having my upper body neatly separated for lying.

While I was trying to rationalize this to myself.

A clear woman’s shout pierced my ears.

“What? What nonsense is that! That I, a noble and knight, would enter the kitchen myself?! Unacceptable! Really… did I have any common sense before losing my memory?”

“Indeed, I agree!!! Irefi!!!”

I instinctively tried to hug Irefi tightly but stopped just in time. Tears welled up as she made the most admirable statement in the world.

‘Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if her original personality returned a little later. Right, Irefi?’

I wonder how Irefi wearing Irefi’s mask would see me. At least, I’ve developed an enormous liking for her.

“That’s obvious. But somehow I feel bad. That reaction.”

“No way. How fortunate is it not to see that terrible sight?”

“Terrible sight… you…!”

I calmly offer excuses to the irritated Irefi.

“Of course it is. How painful it was to see the noble knight Irefi entering the kitchen. Oh my~ How terrible, how terrible!”

“I, I see. That must be it. I don’t know what I was doing before losing my memory… But why do I feel so bad?”

“Who knows…?”

I might get my upper and lower body cut off for contempt if I don’t joke around appropriately. For the sake of peace, I should stop here to maintain current happiness.

Since Irefi stopped cooking herself, I called a servant after a long time. Shortly after ringing the long bell, a familiar woman opened the door and entered.

“Ah, yes! Welcome, Emma.”

“Yes, Marquess. Do you have something you need?”

“I was hoping you could prepare breakfast for Irefi.”

“What, Marquess Justitia isn’t making it herself?”

“Thankfully!”

“Wow, that’s great, Marquess! Right away! I’ll prepare it promptly!”

Patter patter patter!

The servant Emma ran out expressing joy as if she had received a bonus. Sharing her feelings deeply, I couldn’t blame Emma’s behavior.

In a space filled with joy, only Irefi looked down with a sunken gaze of doubt.

“Ugh, this is really strange. Why do I feel so bad?”

“It’s just your mood. Just your mood.”

Has there been a more auspicious day since our engagement ceremony than this morning? I hesitate to answer confidently.

Right now, even the prickly, confused Irefi looks lovely.

‘Maybe the dark version of Irefi isn’t so bad?’

I’m excited about what kind of daily life will unfold for a while.

At first, it was a bit bewildering, but it’s fun and refreshing to witness a different side of Irefi.

Our long day had just crossed the starting line.