The Hero War.

A year ago, the Meikhael Empire fought a war against self-proclaimed heroes from another dimension.

It was a war of unprecedented scale in the empire’s history, a total war where all military forces were mobilized for the nation’s survival.

At that time, Count Tristan Ruelberta, who foresaw the war, headed to the ceiling of paradise. He wanted to break the boundary between the two worlds. He wanted to flip the scales that were leaning too heavily towards the other world.

Tristan wanted to save this world.

And so, he disappeared into the sky of paradise, leaving only a promise to return. Soon after, the boundary between the two worlds collapsed. The system was neutralized, and all the heroes surrendered.

Amidst the snowy scenery, they realized that Tristan had succeeded. He had saved this world.

But Tristan did not return. Instead, Michaela appeared before them.

– “He has something to say to you.”

The absolute god Michaela referred to someone with the honorific “He.” That person wanted to meet Bella, Helga, Blanshe, and Wendy.

There was no reason to refuse. And finally, they could meet.

– “Hello. It’s the first time meeting you all like this.”

A girl in a wheelchair greeted the four. She was so thin that it was pitiful. Her limbs were so emaciated that they resembled fragile trees that would sway in the wind.

But her eyes were full of life. They held an unyielding strength and tenacious vitality.

Above all, her obsidian-like eyes reminded them of someone.

– “I am Jeong So-ra.”

The girl said.

– “You’re looking for… my brother, aren’t you?”

Only then did they notice.

Behind the girl, on a makeshift bed, lay a man as if dreaming.

*

“Ah… really, this is how it is…?”

In the middle of a dense forest, Bella sighed.

Her destination was the sanctuary of the Izakhel Family House, paradise. But paradise had changed significantly.

After the Hero War, the magic in paradise had intensified. Before, one had to be careful not to be overwhelmed by the magic, but now, the over-magic symptoms were causing headaches.

To prevent the overflow of magic, the Izakhel Family House planted numerous magic trees.

The magic trees grew vigorously, absorbing the magic as nutrients. Too vigorously, in fact. The trees grew so densely that sunlight barely penetrated the forest.

“It’s changed too much…”

By now, the ecosystem of paradise was affected, with swamps forming throughout the forest. And Bella was standing in one such swamp.

Bella was wearing a blue dress that didn’t suit the environment at all. Trying to cross the swamp in such attire, her clothes were bound to get ruined.

“Ugh… I dressed up so nicely…”

She never imagined paradise would have changed like this. The Izakhel Family House had managed paradise, but only up to the edge of the forest.

Bella used magic to shake off the dirt from her dress. Even with magic, stains would likely remain. That fact made her gloomy.

But she couldn’t just lament.

Today was the long-awaited Day of Promise for Bella. She had dressed up so nicely for this day.

But there was one thing she had to do first.

“Somewhere around here…”

Bella wandered the forest relying on her memory. She was looking for someone’s residence.

Yes. She knew. Even she thought it was ridiculous.

Who in their right mind would live in such a forest? The magic was thick, the forest damp and moss-covered. It was hardly a suitable environment for living.

But about a year ago, a “fool” who declared she would protect her master’s sleeping body had set up residence here.

Bella stopped in front of a tree.

“I think I’ve found the right place.”

The wind stopped.

“How long are you going to hide there?”

Bella’s sharp senses detected the gaze watching her from the shadows.

“$#@&!”

“Huh?”

An incomprehensible language was heard. It was more like an animal’s language than a human’s. It resembled the growl of a wolf.

“My goodness…”

Bella was stunned when she saw the figure emerging from the shadows.

Grrr.

It was like someone raised by wolves since childhood. The figure, wearing a mask made of leaves and clay, threatened Bella, crawling on all fours like a beast.

It seemed to be telling her to get out of this area.

The figure looked ready to pounce at any moment. But Bella wasn’t afraid; she was just dumbfounded.

“Sigh… Hey… Even if you’ve become like this, you don’t recognize me?”

“%#! @&%!!”

“Really… Have you forgotten human language too?”

“$&#&@!!”

“You haven’t forgotten Tristan, have you?”

“?!”

At the mention of his name, the figure’s eyes wavered.

“That’s right. The name of the man you love so much. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“…Ah… ah…”

“Remember. Who you are. And who I am.”

The figure’s wariness had long disappeared. Reason returned to its eyes.

“…Ra? Bel…la?”

“Yes. Don’t you recognize me? It’s me.”

“Ah… Ah!”

The figure, crawling on all fours, suddenly stood up. It was the moment it switched to bipedal movement.

“Can you talk now?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve met a human I can communicate with.”

The figure, removing the mask made of leaves and clay, smiled brightly.

“I almost didn’t recognize you, Princess.”

“…Isn’t that my line? Even your mother or father wouldn’t recognize you, Helga.”

“Haha…”

Helga rubbed her nose. Except for her unruly hair and mud-covered skin, she looked the same as a year ago.

Surviving in the thick magic was undoubtedly due to the Wolfbert Family’s robust physique. But Bella thought it wasn’t just that.

The will and determination to protect the man she loved, rain or shine. That’s what kept Helga going alone for a year.

“But what are you doing here? You look a mess, Princess.”

“What, what did you say? Who’s looking at whose mess… Sigh… Talking to you is just tiring. Here, take this.”

“Huh?”

Helga caught the bundle Bella threw at her.

“What’s this?”

“Your clothes.”

“Clothes…?”

“Ah, really. There’s so much to do. I’m not your nanny, but if I have to wash you and cut your hair, we need to hurry.”

“Huh? What?”

“It’s a good thing I came early… Helga, you should be grateful to me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Helga… Do you know what day it is today?”

“Huh?”

Helga, with a blank expression, started counting on her fingers.

“Let’s see… one… two… three, four…”

“No. You’re not a three-year-old, why are you counting like that? Has your intelligence dropped from living in the forest too long?”

“Ah! You made me forget how far I counted!”

“…You forgot after four? Unbelievable…”

Bella shook her head in disbelief.

“Today is the Day of Promise.”

“Promise…?”

“Don’t you remember? Last year, when Michaela left us, she said to come meet Tristan together in a year.”

“…Ah?! Ahhh!”

Only then did Helga realize what day it was and hurriedly prepared.

*

“Umm…”

After reviewing all the documents, Assemblyman Jang took off his glasses.

“…So, what you’re saying is you want to revise the law?”

“Yes, Assemblyman.”

In front of him sat a short-haired woman politely. Park Se-hee, Deputy Director of the Otherworld Management Bureau. Despite her young age, she had earned a high position due to her competence and always did her best.

Especially Park Se-hee, who would meet with ministers and even members of the National Assembly if it helped the harmony between the two worlds. Even if they tried to avoid her with excuses, she persistently chased them down, making them reluctantly listen to her.

From their perspective, it was tiring. A young, passionate woman kept coming to preach. But many changed their minds after meeting her.

They were charmed by Park Se-hee’s straightforward and easygoing personality, as well as her striking beauty, unusual for a public official. Moreover, she didn’t force anything. Her arguments were logical and justified. And many of her proposals were worth considering.

Park Se-hee was an expert on the otherworld. She knew well the benefits of merging the two worlds. She was ahead of anyone in otherworld information.

Even after a year, many assembly members still didn’t understand the otherworld. But anyone with a bit of sense would know. Park Se-hee was not someone to avoid but to welcome.

Assemblyman Jang was also one of those who held a favorable attitude towards Park Se-hee.

“The laws of the two worlds are too different. The laws need to be revised as soon as possible so that people from both sides can interact more comfortably.”

“I understand. To acknowledge the differences between the two worlds and coexist, we need to change some laws. But let me ask you one thing…”

“Yes, please.”

“I know you’re very interested in this field. But among so many laws, why… the revision of the marriage law?”

Park Se-hee’s eyebrow twitched.

“Are you… trying to make our country a polygamous society?”

The otherworld is based on medieval fantasy. There are nobles, and they not only have spouses but also concubines.

The marriage law Park Se-hee was pushing for was to not only recognize the otherworld’s polygamy in Korea but to make it legal.

Thus, Assemblyman Jang couldn’t help but question.

“Think about what kind of country Korea is. If this law goes to the National Assembly, the backlash will be huge.”

“I know. But it’s a necessary law.”

“If this law passes, Korean men can take not only otherworld women but also Korean women as concubines…”

“That’s it! That’s exactly what I want!”

“Huh??”

“Ah…”

Realizing she had raised her voice in excitement, Park Se-hee awkwardly coughed.

“Ahem… Well, that way, I might have a chance too.”

“…A chance??”

Assemblyman Jang, unaware of Park Se-hee’s true feelings, could only tilt his head in confusion.