Yujin and Shia were in a small circular plaza that resembled a soccer field.
Countless doors and windows surrounded them, but no matter which door they opened, they would end up back in this plaza.
All of these characteristics and the arrangement of the space were exactly like the [Gongheo Gungjeon] that Shia knew.
If there was any other distinguishing feature, it was that the whole area was filled with a subtle, savory smell, as if they had entered a dining hall or a bakery.
In Shia’s previous world, there existed a place called [Gongheo Gungjeon].
The Gongheo Gungjeon was created by Teresa Kaitlyn, who was called the greatest Black Witch in the previous world. Essentially, it was an alien space that greatly transcended the limitations of time and space and could be used for various military, strategic, and other political or commercial purposes.
Since it wasn’t restricted by time and space, it could serve as a shortcut to cover long distances quickly and act as a gateway connecting countries. It was also used for the transportation or storage of large supplies.
However, just before the final battle, the Demon King ambushed Teresa from behind and seized control of the Gongheo Gungjeon, imprisoning Shia and the knights there, leading to a tragic incident. Still, if it wasn’t used for malicious purposes, the [Gongheo Gungjeon] could be utilized in various ways.
To sum it up, the space where Shia and Yujin were trapped resembled the Gongheo Gungjeon that Shia was familiar with.
[Miracle – Destruction of the Sacred Body]
Boom!!!
‘Hmm… I expected it, but there’s really just a slight crack.’
Shia had tried using a miracle of wide-scale destruction, but as she anticipated, the Gongheo Gungjeon reverted to its original state before the shattered pieces hit the ground.
If they opened all those countless doors one by one, they might get lucky and find an exit, but the Gongheo Gungjeon was fundamentally a massive space that could be transformed at the whim of the caster.
In simpler terms, Shia and Yujin were trapped in an inventory with an exit they couldn’t see, and they didn’t even know who the owner was.
“So what’s the escape method?”
“Uh, um………”
“If you don’t know, just say you don’t know.”
“Okay!”
“……..Sigh.”
Yujin let out a deep sigh and banged his head against one wall.
She usually wore the guise of a man, but whether she was tired or just wasn’t in the mood, she had her flowing black hair out.
Yeah, what was I expecting from anyone…
Of course, Shia and Yujin didn’t have the best relationship, but it was hard to imagine they would get into this situation together, which could definitely be a huge help.
“Sigh, thinking about it, I’m not in a position to criticize you either. I also fell into this place due to a moment of carelessness.”
“…Huh, okay?”
Wait, that’s not right…
The truth was, Shia hadn’t even seen a glimpse of the Demon King before getting caught in this trap. It was as if she couldn’t resist the delicious smell emanating from a silver platter and just had to open it.
Naturally, the moment she opened the platter, the trap linked to the space activated, and she fell into a realm that reminded her of the Gongheo Gungjeon before facing the Demon King’s castle’s master.
Though she would call it a clear trap that she was “being foolish” about, her confidence in her own strength and resilience brought about this disaster.
“You must have been surprised too. You’d be face-to-face with a Demon King that looks just like you; it’s like how Lirisia in Daesanrim met her parallel self. I was surprised too, but the shock for you must have been much greater.”
“………”
Fortunately, Yujin seemed to be misunderstanding the situation, making it better that Shia kept her mouth shut.
The irony was that Yujin thought Shia seemed to be suffering mentally due to her silence.
“………..”
“I understand. If I heard about a parallel universe where I became the Demon King and invaded Earth, I’d be shocked and maybe even have suicidal thoughts.”
“Ugh, okay…”
“In fact, I’m not even sure if that was the Demon King I encountered or the master of this Demon King’s Castle. If I had known this would happen, I probably should have just brought the elite forces to Olgania. Phew… I guess I am getting old. It’s all my fault. I didn’t think about the shock you’d experience…”
“………………”
Ugh, yeah… For you, it seems I fell into this space not because of some simple food trap, but because I was shocked by facing the Demon King.
Yeah, so much for that…
“Ah, no. Let’s save the apologies for later… First, let’s think of a way out of here.”
“Right, that’s the right approach. Thanks, Isia.”
No, you’re the one I should be thanking, Yujin…
Thanks to your misunderstanding, I’m not merely a fool caught in a food trap, but a devastated Seongnyeo traumatized by seeing my parallel self turn into a Demon King.
Let’s instead treat the latter as the accepted truth.
“Ahem! Anyway, Yujin, we have to escape. If this is indeed the Gongheo Gungjeon I know, then there’s really no way to escape by force.”
“Gongheo Gungjeon… Is it a type of space?”
“It’s an abnormally large pocket dimension created using a magic formula at a world-class level by my witch in the previous world. I don’t really remember the detailed theories since I can’t follow them, but just think of it as a space where one can freely adjust the internal space, including time.”
“So, does that mean there’s no exit?”
“There is, but… among those countless windows and doors, one of them must lead to it.”
Both Yujin and Shia had attempted to break through this pocket dimension several times by now.
But despite their extraordinary destructive power, the Gongheo Gungjeon returned to its original state again.
This meant that just simple “destruction” wasn’t enough to escape this space.
“At least it’s a relief that the owner of this space doesn’t seem to have any malice or intention to kill us.”
At those words, Yujin fell deep into thought.
Shia had likely been flung here by the Demon King, but no malice or hostility?
“What do you mean, Isia?”
“The Gongheo Gungjeon can change or modify its internal space at its owner’s discretion. If their goal was to kill us, they would have changed the area to a lava pit or icy terrain, or turned it into a land filled with spikes and thorns, trying to kill us.”
“Is that so…”
“I honestly don’t feel much malice either. If the intention was to kill humans, they wouldn’t need to set any traps; they could simply fill this space with malicious entities, and humans would kill themselves.”
As Shia pointed out, if the owner of the Gongheo Gungjeon had a clear goal of executing intruders, they would have filled this pocket dimension with monsters or hazardous traps, yet the space where Yujin and Shia were trapped remained very simple and serene.
There were even delicious smells wafting from somewhere, and even if the actual food was invisible, a warm, cozy sensation filled the Gongheo Gungjeon.
The purpose of the Gongheo Gungjeon didn’t seem to be about killing someone, but rather, simply isolation and confinement.
“Then it means we should check all confirmed doors.”
“That seems likely?”
○○○○
After a little while…
“Ugh, I’m so pissed off….”
“Quit whining and just open a door, Isia.”
“Waaahhh….”
After being trapped in this pocket dimension for two hours, Shia was quickly feeling a serious case of boredom.
Not feeling lonely because she wasn’t alone was nice.
If she were alone, she probably would have forcibly summoned Menelapie with the miracle of [Hero Summoning].
But that didn’t mean being with Yujin felt good either.
Shia and Yujin’s relationship was closer to that of rivals rather than close friends or comrades.
Yujin had Olga, and Shia had Menelapie, so naturally, their affection and intimacy toward each other could only be minimal. Shia often derided Yujin by calling him a Fake Hero.
When considering their relationship, it was only natural for the Seongnyeo who succeeded in saving the world to feel discomfort or disgust toward the Fake Hero who failed to save it.
Of course, neither truly hated each other, but they both shared an equal desire to escape this pocket dimension as soon as possible.
“Aaaahhh……”
After repeatedly opening and closing hundreds of doors, Shia sprawled out on the ground. Meanwhile, Yujin was still checking exits by opening various windows and doors.
Of course, no significant discoveries were made.
The aroma of cookies and meat continued to fill the space, and perhaps due to the smell, Shia found it increasingly hard to stop salivating.
It was already time for dinner, and Shia had entered the Demon King’s castle trying to help Yujin…
‘Maybe I should eat something if Yujin can…’
Shia’s eyes briefly glanced at Yujin.
Of course, she didn’t mean she’d eat Yujin’s flesh or bones.
But according to Olgania, Yujin tasted like orange.
A little bit of bodily fluid might quell her hunger, right…?
“No! What am I even thinking…!”
“What? What kind of thought did you just have?”
“Nothing! Just get lost, Fake Hero!”
“……….”
Normally, Yujin would have shot back with “Shut up, Isia,” but due to the situation, and considering that Shia getting trapped here was Yujin’s fault, she kept her mouth shut.
“When will I have to do this…?”
“Until we can escape.”
“Uggh, I hate this… I’m bored. I’m lonely. I’m annoyed. I’m exhausted. I’m hungry. I want to see Menelapie…. Olga promised me elf meat for dinner…”
As she whimpered these words, Shia rolled around on the ground like a frustrated child.
But of course, nothing changed because of her actions.
While Shia was rolling and whining on the floor, Yujin continued to pass through the space filled with a warm bread-like aroma, peeking through doors and windows.
“Gyaaaah! I’m so pissed! I want to get out! Ugh! Aaaah!!”
‘That crazy girl is losing it again…’
Of course, there was a limit to how much Yujin could endure, and he finally let out a sigh, cursing Shia in his mind.
No matter how much he felt responsible for trapping her here, how could a Seongnyeo be so reckless and immature…?
It seemed he had reached his breaking point, as Shia bit down on the floor with all her strength.
“Uhhh……………???”
At that moment, Shia’s face went blank.
Yujin, who had checked other doors and returned to Shia, could not hide his shock at her suddenly unusual reaction.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“….This is….”
“This is….?”
Then, looking back at Yujin…
“This is…”
“This is?”
“……”
Chew chew…
She was munching on a big, yellow brick.
“What? You’re eating a brick?!”
Are you freaking Hansel and Gretel?!
Is this girl actually insane?!
“Oh my head…”
Yujin was the Fake Hero, but sometimes he just wished the scene unfolding in front of him would please be a lie.
Watching the Seongnyeo munch on a yellow brick like it was a snack honestly made him feel like his ability to assess the situation was plummeting in real time.
