The villagers of the Mist Village welcomed Duyen with a lavish feast, laid out with dishes from both sky and sea. Some of the creatures were unlike anything she had ever seen before—one looked like a kind of bird, another resembled an octopus. Every dish looked irresistibly tempting, fragrant enough to fill the room, their rich, glossy colors making Duyen's eyes light up almost instantly.
Haru sat gently beside her, scooping an enormous bowl of chestnut rice for Duyen—so full that it piled nearly ten centimeters high. It was clearly far more than a normal portion, but Duyen didn't manage to stop her in time. Strangely enough, instead of feeling overwhelmed, she suddenly felt excited, her stomach aching with hunger.
"Thank you so much, sis," Duyen said politely, bowing her head as she accepted the oversized bowl from Haru.
And as if possessed by some unseen force, she began eating eagerly, devouring the food as though she hadn't eaten in days.
This is really good! Duyen thought to herself, even though she couldn't quite describe the taste. She didn't even know what she was eating. The girls in the room watched her with amused giggles behind their fox masks, while Haru gazed at her with a tender, caring expression.
Haru gently brushed her fingers across Duyen's lips, making her freeze in embarrassment.
"There's a grain of rice…"
Duyen's face flushed red. She hurriedly lowered her head, flustered.
"I—I'm sorry!"
Haru only laughed softly. She looked slightly more mature than the other girls in the village, and the way she looked at Duyen was different—warmer, deeper. To Duyen's shock, Haru placed the grain of rice into her own mouth.
Her voice pulled Duyen back to reality.
"Seeing you eat so well puts my mind at ease," Haru said gently. "I was worried you might not be used to the food here."
Duyen quickly waved her hands.
"No, not at all! The food here is delicious—it really suits my taste!"
Haru covered her mouth as she chuckled at Duyen's somewhat naive response.
"Have you not been eating much lately?"
At those words, Duyen's chopsticks paused midair. She slowed her pace, and Haru noticed something change in her eyes—something subtle, yet unmistakable.
"Lady Shigonami mentioned it to me," Haru continued softly. "She said that before you came here, you went through something… unpleasant. When you arrived, I could sense a bit of hesitation in you."
Duyen shook her head with a faint smile.
"Everyone here has treated me very kindly. I truly didn't mean anything by it."
Haru smiled back just as gently.
"Anyone would feel awkward at first—especially a human. But you seem like someone who's been through a lot. It must have been… terrifying, wasn't it?"
Haru's words made Duyen fall silent, lost in thought. Images surfaced in her mind—those days when Mina had kidnapped her, the way Mina had treated her. If anyone knew the full truth, surely they wouldn't side with Mina at all… or perhaps they would pity Duyen.
Yet Duyen herself felt something far more complicated. She had been afraid. She had been traumatized by those days. And yet, she had also listened to Mina, learned fragments of her past—even if she never fully understood everything.
What was this feeling? Was it sympathy… for Mina?
Despite everything Mina had done—things that were undeniably unforgivable—Duyen couldn't shake the thought that Mina was, at her core, terribly lonely. Perhaps that was why Duyen had never been able to truly turn her back on her.
Haru watched her intently, as though sensing that Duyen had wandered deep into her thoughts.
Realizing she had been silent for too long, Duyen hurriedly apologized, then sighed.
"…If it can be called terrifying, then… I'm not really sure. I just saw many sides of my friend, learned why she became the way she is. And somehow, I feel like I share part of the blame. If only I had noticed sooner… I feel so foolish."
Haru raised an eyebrow slightly when she heard Duyen blame herself. This girl looked as though she had endured too many things at once—so many that her thoughts had become tangled.
"Even if I don't fully understand what happened," Haru said gently, "I don't think you should blame yourself for that girl's actions—no matter what her reasons were."
Duyen nodded softly.
"I understand."
Haru laughed lightly. "Do you really?" Then she shrugged.
"But what can I say? In this world, things like right and wrong aren't always so important. We make countless decisions for countless overlapping reasons—choices we may later regret. But once something has happened, it can't be undone."
She looked at Duyen with a calm, steady gaze.
"As for you… don't burden yourself with what you should do. Perhaps you should ask yourself what you truly want to do."
Duyen's eyes widened slightly at the sudden question. What did she truly want? Everything seemed laid out before her like a simple choice between A and B. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to answer so easily.
Haru seemed to understand. She calmly poured Duyen a cup of hot tea and set it beside her.
"Take your time. There's no need to rush," she said softly. "Time works a little differently here than it does outside—or rather, it doesn't matter much at all. Why not enjoy the village a little longer before answering that question?"
Something about Haru's words felt puzzling to Duyen. They were gentle, mature—comforting even—making Haru feel like a reliable older sister. Yet the idea that time didn't matter here only deepened Duyen's curiosity about the village.
Suddenly, Duyen realized she still knew almost nothing about Shana's past. Perhaps now was the moment to ask.
"Sis… Shana must have lived here with everyone a very long time ago, right?"
Haru blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly.
"'A very long time ago' is a difficult phrase to define for a place like this village. But I can tell you that long before I was even born, Lady Shigonami was already revered and worshipped here."
Duyen couldn't help but marvel. Everyone knew Shana's lifespan far exceeded human comprehension—but hearing it from Haru made that gap feel truly immense.
It was hard to describe what Duyen felt. Should she admire Shana… or revere her? At times, Shana was genuinely adorable—especially when she sulked. And at other times, she was strong, mature, someone who could protect Duyen without hesitation.
Her heart suddenly beat faster. Unconsciously, Duyen placed a hand over her chest.
Haru noticed. She seemed to sense something, and called her name softly.
"Duyen…"
Duyen looked up.
"I know many out there don't view Lady Shigonami kindly," Haru continued, "but please understand this—she is someone you can trust. She values her promises deeply, and more than anything else…"
Haru paused, then smiled.
"She truly loves you."
Duyen's heart began to race wildly. Emotions surged within her, overwhelming and unfamiliar.
"Shana… loves me?" she stammered.
Haru nodded with a tender smile.
"Yes. But I know your heart is in turmoil right now. You don't need to respond to her feelings just yet. Think about it carefully—about Lady Shigonami, and about the girl who's still troubling your thoughts."
With that, Haru gently rose to her feet. She bowed to Duyen, then stepped backward until she left the room, leaving Duyen alone with her overflowing emotions and restless thoughts.
Shana loves me…
Yes—only love could explain why Shana had risked everything, again and again, to save her.
And yet, one question still weighed heavily on Duyen's heart.
Was she truly worthy of such protection?
---
A short while later, on the balcony level of a nearby ancient house. Shana was clad in nothing but a single cloak. Beneath it, her bare, beautiful body was alluringly revealed in fleeting glimpses.
Her reddish-brown hair hung damp and loose, clinging to her pale skin from the lingering heat of the steam. The scent of aromatic wood drifted dreamily through the air, blending with the thick mist that surrounded them.
Sitting across from her was Haru. Yet the way Haru looked at Shana carried a trace of unease. Shana noticed it immediately and asked calmly,
"Has your mother passed away?"
The beautiful woman with the ponytail nodded gently.
"She passed quite a long time ago while waiting for you, my lady. She truly had no regrets left in this world. But when she was still alive, she always said that Lady Shigonami would return."
Shana drew on her pipe and exhaled a pale blue-white haze. Her voice grew slightly husky as she lazily tilted her head back.
"Perhaps I really am terrible… I left without saying a word."
Haru shook her head lightly. There was not a hint of blame in her expression.
"You gave us every blessing we could ever ask for. You gave us longevity and strength so that we could protect one another. We could never thank you enough—how could we ever resent you?"
She paused, then continued while gazing out over the balcony.
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death… Even though we have yet to reach true immortality, we already possess what outsiders desire the most."
At those words, Shana frowned slightly.
"When I left, did anyone dare approach this place?"
Haru's eyes hardened as she lowered her voice.
"…Of course. A few of them. They seemed to have wandered here by accident. But when they tried to force their way inside, they became trapped outside. In the end, they went mad and devoured one another."
As she spoke, Haru handed Shana a star-shaped insignia. Shana sat upright, took it from her, and examined it carefully. Yet she still didn't seem to recognize the symbol.
"…Sounds troublesome."
"Please don't worry. That happened over a hundred years ago."
Shana placed the badge down on the table, her voice growing quieter.
"This place may no longer be safe. Prepare yourselves."
Just that single sentence was enough to make Haru tense. She nodded firmly, her voice filled with renewed resolve.
"Yes, my lady."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"…And what about Duyen? Are you not going to tell her about the wedding?"
Shana looked startled. She hadn't expected Haru to ask that. In the end, she chose silence. Haru went on.
"I've been observing Duyen. I can tell that she's uncertain about something—despite the fact that her feelings for you are genuine."
Shana's heart skipped violently at the word uncertain, only to ease when she heard the rest. A fleeting look of pride and joy crossed her flawless face, and she couldn't hide her smile.
"That's exactly why I haven't told her yet."
But Haru cut her off, her tone edged with faint mockery.
"Perhaps there's another issue you should be more concerned about. Duyen still seems preoccupied with a girl named Mina. From what I can see… she still has feelings for her."
Shana's eyes widened. She shot Haru a dangerous, predatory glance. Yet Haru showed no fear.
"It seems you already know this. That's why you're hesitating. But whether Duyen still likes Mina or not doesn't really matter anymore. She's already engaged to a Nine-Tailed Fox."
Neither of them realized that Duyen was standing just outside, having overheard everything.
She didn't understand all the details—but she heard her name mentioned over and over again. That alone was enough to fill her with confusion and anxiety.
What are they talking about?
Haru continued,
"…There is a way to make her forget that girl completely. It's just a matter of whether you're willing to do it."
Shana glared at her.
"That's enough. You're talking too much."
Haru laughed.
"Didn't you say that the girl named Mina would definitely go looking for Duyen? If she really is as unstable as you believe, then you should move faster than she does. Once things are set in stone, we can take care of her for you—permanently."
But hearing those words didn't bring Shana any satisfaction. Her gaze darkened with sorrow as she imagined how Duyen would feel if she ever learned the truth.
Duyen was far too kind. Far too pure.
That was why Shana couldn't bring herself to kill Mina.
But letting Haru handle it instead… didn't sound like such a bad idea.
Suddenly, Shana raised a finger, signaling Haru to be silent.
Outside, Duyen abruptly stopped hearing their voices altogether.
Without warning, a hand grabbed her shoulder. She gasped and spun around in panic—nearly screaming—when another hand clamped over her mouth.
"Mm—!?"
"Shhh. Calm down… or they'll hear you."
The strange girl wearing a fox mask whispered.
Cold sweat drenched Duyen, but she quickly nodded. Only then did the masked girl pull her away.
"Follow me."
Duyen didn't understand why she obediently followed this mysterious woman. All she knew was that the two of them soon returned to the house on the hill overlooking the village.
As soon as Duyen stepped inside, the lanterns lit up automatically, their glow snapping on as if powered by electricity. The house was clearly empty—Shana was still speaking with Haru elsewhere. Duyen felt uneasy.
Why had this girl brought her here? The woman finally removed her mask and let out a sigh, fanning herself with her hand.
"Oh my god, this thing is suffocating. I seriously don't know how they wear it all day."
When she turned around, Duyen froze.
Standing before her was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman—almost unreal—with soft, pale purple hair and violet eyes that shimmered beneath the dim lantern light.
She smiled brightly, like a blooming Queen of the Night flower.
"Hello, Duyen. My name is Luna."
Still stunned by her beauty, Duyen stood there blankly.
"Nice to meet you, but…"
She looked around in confusion.
"Why did you bring me back here? And why did we have to leave so secretly?"
Luna laughed, planting her hands on her hips.
"Then why were you secretly listening to their conversation?"
Caught off guard, Duyen scratched her head awkwardly.
"I did hear them… but I didn't really understand much of what they were saying."
Without warning, Luna leaned in close—far too close. Duyen nearly screamed and stumbled backward. Luna only hummed in admiration.
"Your eyes are beautiful—bright amber. You're tall, yet your face is so small and cute. No wonder Shigonami Shana is completely enchanted by you."
"Huh?!"
Duyen blurted out, flustered and mortified. Being suddenly praised like that—especially by someone so stunning, with those vivid violet eyes—felt surreal. She could hardly accept the compliment.
It felt like déjà vu.
Luna grinned mischievously.
"You want to know what those two were talking about, don't you?"
She tilted her head playfully.
"Then let me explain everything for you… I'll tell you all of it."