Extravagant Love
Choi Siwoo calmly gazed at the woman. He was certain. The perfume Ohana often wore. The gift he'd given her, who had always been embarrassed by the smell of gun oil and gunpowder from handling firearms. The same bob cut. Similar shade of dye. The military uniform she wore, the belt packed with grenades at her waist. And the gun slung on her. From all that, he figured it was her.
No.
She was just someone dressed like Ohana. Imitating her to an uncanny degree, but a completely different person. And Choi Siwoo knew exactly who this woman was.
Ryu Chae-hwa.
Right before he'd been outed as a full-fledged member of the hero party—back when he was carrying out his duties as battalion commander. The one who'd assisted him right at his side, his subordinate.
As he stared her down, Ryu Chae-hwa's face flushed faintly.
"...Battalion Commander...?"
"..."
He silently averted his gaze. Besides her, two more men were eyeing him. A burly bear of a guy. A man of average build with snake-thin eyes. Both familiar faces.
Mun Him-chan, Ye Dong-tak.
His subordinates, just like her.
"Commander. What's with that face? You look half-asleep... Don't tell me you're still drowsy?"
Mun Him-chan let out a hearty laugh, then sidled up close, whispering with a sleazy grin.
"I get it—you're burning the midnight oil with the Saintess and all—but you gotta show up properly for meetings."
Ye Dong-tak, having overheard, jumped in.
"He's right, Hero. Even if it's all for that grand future cause, bragging too much just stirs up jealousy?"
"You two are way out of line! What the hell are you saying to the Battalion Commander...!"
"Hey, hey, Ryu Chae-hwa. Loosen up a bit... How else you gonna snag a shot? Gotta be a reason you chopped your hair into that bob~"
"Wh-what!"
The noisy banter dragged on. Amid the rowdy vibe, heedless of rank or station, he quietly rubbed his forehead.
Using their chatter as background radio noise, he sorted through his head.
Think... Why the hell am I here?
To take down the sixth of the Six Demon Reverse Heavens, the Empress of Illusory Dreams. That's why he'd entered the barrier. Undeniable fact. And the moment he stepped in, this scene. Just as Goddess Irelua had said, past events were playing out for him.
...Memories are getting hazy.
The power of the sixth Demon Reverse Heaven. At first, his purpose and memories stayed crystal clear. But time wore them down, blurring everything until reality and illusion merged. In the end, he'd become a denizen here, trapped in an eternal loop of dreams—a broken clock of a soul, haunted by fragmented recollections.
...Can't stay long.
He could already feel the memory erosion creeping in. Had to shatter this nightmare quick and snag the fragment.
"Ryu Chae-hwa."
At his call, she startled out of her yapping.
"Y-yes, Battalion Commander?"
"Song Junho."
"...Huh? Yes?"
"Where's Vice Battalion Commander Song Junho right now? If memory serves, he was dispatched to the Forest of Logs and should've been back by now."
"..."
"...?"
What the...? His question iced the room. All three exchanged baffled glances. Mun Him-chan scratched his jaw, opening his mouth cautiously.
"Commander, you must still be wiped out."
"...What?"
"Well..."
Mun Him-chan hemmed and hawed, eyes darting. Just as he was about to bark at him—
A third voice cut in from behind.
"He's dead."
Click-clack. Heel strikes echoed through the vast conference room. He turned to see a sleek beauty with long gray hair standing there. Cold impression at first glance, a nasty scar slashing her right eye.
"...Namgung Ryun?"
"Choi Siwoo Battalion Commander. Even if you're a frontline hero, the Reversing Hero who flipped a hopeless war—no matter your feats, I'm your superior by rank. Don't call me by name so casually."
Namgung Ryun plopped into the front-row seat, chill winds practically gusting off her. She sipped from her coffee can, shot him a glance, and pressed on.
"Memories all jumbled, huh? Choi Siwoo Battalion Commander."
"..."
"Can't have you dodging reality, so I'll repeat: Vice Battalion Commander Song Junho is dead."
"Ryun Headquarters Chief!"
"Ryu Chae-hwa. I know your loyalty runs deep. But I figured you for a woman who doesn't pull dumb stunts like butting in without reading the room."
"..."
Namgung Ryun waved her off and tossed three necklaces from her belt.
He caught them slowly.
Silver Souls.
Dog tag-like things. Each engraved with their original owner's name.
Ohana, Song Junho, Jeon Eunbyeol...
Bloodstained emblems. He clenched his fist till it hurt.
I see. So that's it. Eyes shut, head thrown back.
Memory erosion's worse than I thought.
To mix up the timeline like this. Right now was...
After the civilian rescue op... where I was the only survivor.
Now it clicked. The tale after those three precious ones left him. About a year later, by the timeline. This was when he'd brimmed with hatred and resentment for Erina and most of the rest.
......
Actually a relief. If it'd been the fully awakened Empress of Illusory Dreams, she'd have paraded Song Junho's demise, Jeon Eunbyeol's suicide blast, Ohana's cold corpse right in front of him, one by one.
"Choi Siwoo Battalion Commander."
"...Yeah?"
He turned at the voice. Meanwhile, the meeting had rolled on; the screen now mapped out routes for the new op.
Got too lost in thought?
But not even a minute had passed.
...Time flows different here too.
Proving it a flawed space through and through—even perceived time warped. The others didn't know, just watched him with concern.
"...Haa."
Namgung Ryun sighed heavy, slapping her papers on the table.
"Meeting's done for today. Can't go on with the key Battalion Commander zoning out. Waste of breath."
"...Sorry."
"Save the apologies. Next time, focus."
She tsked, sipped her coffee. Meeting over, Ryu Chae-hwa from the next seat hurried close. Worry plain on her face, hand on his shoulder.
"Battalion Commander... You look awful. Cancel today's plans—head to your room and rest."
Her eyes, artificially green like contacts, fixed on him. Dream or not, this was a realm built on laws he'd lived through.
So... no fakes here.
Meaning this feeling from her? Real as it gets.
He realized it fresh.
...I've been showered with way too much love I didn't deserve.
Ryu Chae-hwa's gaze brimmed with desperate emotion. Respect, gratitude, hope... pink-tinged affection.
And finally... despair.
Mun Him-chan and Ye Dong-tak's warm stares held that same despairing hue.
Got it.
They'd all sensed it instinctively by now. No matter their desperate fight, defeat against the 'Demon God' loomed. Humanity couldn't hold on.
"...Battalion Commander?"
"Sorry. Just had something on my mind."
He rose calmly. Plan: roam, figure how to end the nightmare.
Heading out—then a voice halted him.
"Hold up..."
Namgung Ryun, who'd sat quiet, called him back.
"Choi Siwoo Battalion Commander. You stay. Got urgent business left."
"...Ryun Headquarters Chief. He's not right now. Please, later—"
"—Ryu Chae-hwa."
She cut her off with an icy glare.
"Warned you once... Don't push it."
"..."
"I'm good. Take the rest and go."
"...Got it."
Ryu Chae-hwa turned, shot Namgung Ryun a glare, gave a curt bow. Watching her go, Namgung Ryun crushed her coffee can.
"...Cheeky bitch. Back in the day, she wouldn't dare meet my eyes..."
"Why the hate for Ryu Chae-hwa?"
"You really asking 'cause you don't know? For real?"
"..."
No answer—just scratched his nape, stepped up to her.
"So, what's this big item? Called me alone, so you found a demon nest or what?"
"......Nothing."
"...Huh?"
"Just an excuse. To get time with you..."
Choi Siwoo was floored, mouth opening for a retort. Then—
Whoosh—!
"...!"
Namgung Ryun surged up, crushing him in a fierce hug. Her womanly curves pressed through the uniform. Scorching heat hit him like a furnace. Thick perfume assaulted his nose, cloying. Yet booze and smokes lingered underneath.
"..."
He looked down coolly. Her face—worlds from seconds ago. Eyes glossy with tears. Saliva string at her lips. Pupils ablaze with love.
...And carnal lust overpowering it all. Aphrodisiac-level hunger; words failed him.
"...The fuck is this."
"Better now, right?"
"...What."
She lifted her gaze at his question.
"Ohana."
"..."
Silence stretched. Swallowing the rest, she nuzzled his chest.
"...Figured maybe now's my shot. That's why I asked."
He sighed, gently pried her arms down.
"Cut the bullshit. Horny for dick? Find some other guy."
Turned to leave. Couldn't. She clamped on again, fierce.
"...Hey."
"I know you fuck that witch—no, Yurika—plenty. But that's not love. Had to. Blackmailed. She needs you inside her to live. Right?"
"..."
"Won't beg you love only me. Not that shameless. Just... call it a fun one-off?"
Her pleading eyes choked him. Slip.Thud. Clothes hit the floor. Jacket shed, she stood in lingerie alone. Planned all along—mesh fabric showcased her alluring skin, filling the room.
"...Battalion Commander... no, Choi Siwoo... with me..."
Let's sleep together.