Provocation

Lee Mina had to endure an unwanted week-long encampment.

It was a decision made by force, but Lee Mina had no other choice.

After all, that much time was needed to pinpoint the dimension Kang In-ho had crossed over to.

For the week that the Shadow diligently analyzed the traces Inho had left behind, she lived together with the Heavenly Demon in a small log cabin he had built.

“About a year,”

The Heavenly Demon replied, grimacing, when Mina asked how long he had been waiting for her here.

Somewhat absurdly, the reason he had attacked her out of the blue wasn’t because she was chasing after Inho, but because he was angry that she had made him live in this mountain for a year.

“So, there’s a world called a dimension, and there are countless dimensions in this universe…”

“And Inho crosses those dimensions when he dies? Changing his appearance?”

It took some time to explain to the Heavenly Demon, who knew nothing, about gods, dimensions, and possession.

She kept asking the same questions, and Mina patiently answered.

Of course, even if Mina got annoyed, nothing would change.

If anything, a fist would come flying her way.

Mina and the Heavenly Demon were killing time, staring blankly at the blazing campfire.

-Crackle, crackle

As Mina listened to the sound of the branches popping in the flames and thought about what to do next, the Heavenly Demon’s indifferent voice fell beside her.

“So, what is your relationship with Inho?”

It was a voice filled with subtle questions and suspicion.

“We were colleagues. I was his superior, though.”

“So, there wasn’t anything special between you. What was Inho like in your world?”

The Heavenly Demon asked, curious.

“He’s playful, and he says no to things he doesn’t like… but I think he’s the kind of person who doesn’t like big conflicts.”

Mina said, thinking about Inho for a moment.

“His character doesn’t change much, does it? Then what were the dimensions you found while coming here like? How did Inho die there?”

Was it because he had met someone to share stories about his disciple with? The Heavenly Demon kept asking questions without a break.

“Most of them were murdered… He was poisoned, or stabbed with a knife.”

As Mina finished speaking, the Heavenly Demon’s unrestrained Killing intent spread throughout the entire mountain.

Mina grimaced at the Killing intent that constricted her heart, and the Heavenly Demon quickly withdrew his energy.

“If most of them were, then there must have been a slightly different death as well.”

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“That’s right. In my world, it was an accident. He was riding a train… well, a carriage by the standards here, and there was an accident.”

Mina’s brow furrowed slightly, as if she didn’t want to remember.

“A dog’s death, then.”

The Heavenly Demon stated clearly.

“…I won’t deny it.”

“Again?”

“Death from old age. He was a nobleman, so a maid… a servant, took care of him until he died.”

“Old age? Hahahaha! So he became an old man when his appearance changed.”

The Heavenly Demon laughed loudly, imagining his disciple as an old man.

“By the way, I’d like to meet the servant who took care of Inho.”

“Why?”

“I was thinking of giving them a reward for taking good care of my disciple.”

Mina briefly recalled Emma, who had shown a weak smile.

And so, the two of them talked about Inho.

Sharing what Inho had done in their respective worlds, they began to slowly pull out the nail of loss that was deeply embedded in their hearts.

It seemed like they were about to pull out all the nails.

“But…”

The Heavenly Demon, who had been silent for a moment, slowly opened his mouth.

The trees swaying in the wind stopped making any noise, as if they had all frozen.

“If you exclude the promise with the Absolute Being, you have no reason to chase after Inho, do you?”

The Heavenly Demon, who had been talking about Inho with a gentle smile just a moment ago, was gone.

He had returned to the face of the tyrant who had slammed her to the ground and subdued her a week ago.

“Why?”

Mina tilted her head at the Heavenly Demon’s words.

“The one you initially gave your heart to wasn’t Inho, but the being before him, wasn’t it?”

-Thump

It felt like a large weight had dropped into her chest.

Mina felt nauseous.

“I formed a bond with the existence called ‘Kang In-ho’ from beginning to end.”

Despite Mina’s uncomfortable expression, the Heavenly Demon continued to speak.

The Heavenly Demon had a triumphant look on his face, as if he had gained the upper hand in a fight.

“But that’s not the case for you, is it? The being you initially opened your heart to was definitely not Inho. Isn’t that right?”

The Heavenly Demon taunted Mina with a sneering smile.

Mina flared up at the clearly mocking face.

“No! I love Inho.”

She had said similar words to the goddess Nibir before leaving on her dimension-traveling journey.

Before or after the change, Inho was Inho to her.

She still loved him.

That’s what she had said.

“You said it’s possession, where an existence is overwritten,”

However, as if shaking her heart, the Heavenly Demon continued to sneer.

“Then, haven’t you ever thought that maybe your feelings right now are fake?”

The Heavenly Demon, who had gotten close without her noticing, poked her chest with his finger.

It hurt.

Not her chest, but her heart.

“N-No, I love Inho… I love Inho.”

My heart hasn’t changed.

I don’t hate Inho.

I’m going to meet Inho, and I’m going to tell him I was wrong.

And I’m going to tell him that I love him, that I’ve always loved him.

“No, no, no… That’s not true, it’s not!!”

Mina’s pupils spun around.

“Hand it over. That ability.”

The Heavenly Demon whispered to Mina in a subtle voice.

“W-What did you say?”

“You seem to lack confidence in your own heart, to be swayed by just a few words.”

Tsk tsk, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.

“Can you chase after Inho with that kind of mental state? Soon, your heart will collapse.”

The Heavenly Demon spoke as if he had seen the future.

“So, hand it over. The ability to cross dimensions, that is.”

The Heavenly Demon’s finger pointed to her pitch-black shadow.

“……”

Lee Mina remained silent.

It was a refusal.

“Ha!”

The Heavenly Demon laughed, as if he was dumbfounded.

He grabbed Mina by the collar with his right hand.

“This is the last time I’m asking politely.”

The Heavenly Demon’s red eyes flashed.