The Love That Remains

A city of diamonds, gold, and everything that glitters. I blink my eyes several times. I am hypnotized by the view. I would have never expected something like this. The domain of Greed is a flourishing city.

I wonder if I am in the wrong place. Is this really hell?

"Wow!" fascinated, I sigh. I walk on a red carpet beneath me. Pillars of gold with large colorful stones are situated on both sides. At the end of the red carpet, I can see an enormous palace. This palace is also made of gold. Someone has an obsession with gold.

"Greed." Min Ho looks around dimly. "It's all about what we are greedy about. Money. Power. Attention or Precious objects. Everything is in the city. However, those who are charmed by these things can never be satisfied. The domain of Greed feeds on their greed and keep them here forever."

"I get it," I assure him. "I won't fall for this. Besides, I have never been greedy for money. I am only greedy for one thing in life. That's-"

"Your precious husband." Min Ho rolls his eyes at me. "Yeah. Yeah. You are only greedy for his love. You never know though. What if a version of him is here?"

I laugh out loud. "The lust demon tried it. There is only one Sung Jun. He is heavenly blessed. Nobody can copy him perfectly."

Min Ho gives me a shrug. "I wonder if someone so perfect like him really exists."

I pinch his cheek. "Who are you doubting? I will take you to him. You can see the perfection with your own eyes. "

"Noona, stop. It hurts." He cries out in pain. I now know why Sung Jun liked to pinch my cheeks.

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He stops protesting abruptly. "Noona, the demon lord is here."

"Welcome, Lady Jahr'golen." His voice is sickeningly sweet. I turn to Lord Greed. He is a big man with red hair. He is around seven feet tall with a huge belly. He is wearing a shimmering red cloak. From the head to the toe, he is strapped with shiny pieces of jewelry. He is even wearing earrings and a nose ring. Behind him, there are twin queues of bowing men in a similar fashion style.

You are not overdoing it, Man. You are not overdoing it at all.

"I have been waiting for you." When he walks, I see his flesh jiggle up and down. He adds, "Lady Jahr'golen."

Lady is okay, but who he is calling Jar?

"Are you mistaken?" I direct the dark energy. I realize that the dark energy is denser and purer here. I start absorbing it while I speak to him. I need my demon side to become a mid-tier demon. There is no harm in becoming stronger. "I am not Jar Golem."

"You are." He laughs loudly. "Your mother is the only daughter of Jar'golen's only living daughter. You are her only living daughter. You are the only living granddaughter of Jar'Golen. You are the great-granddaughter of Lord Wrath."

Ah! So, my maternal grandfather's name is demon Jar'Golen. I like how he is emphasizing 'Living'. I don't think that I want to know what happened to the other children and grandchildren of my grandfather.

"We received the news of your arrival from demoness Orana." He eyes me with a disturbing smile. "She met you in the mortal world. She came back and informed all the demon lords that you are coming here."

I wonder who this Orana is. I met only one demoness in my whole life. That oracle demon! I met her at Sung Jun's house. How did she know about me?

"Jar'Golen's only daughter is coming back. Lord Wrath couldn't wait to meet you." Lord Greed eyes me. "He would have met you in Limbo, but he wanted to see if you are capable of crossing the lower domains. Lord Wrath and I are best friends. I will take you to him from here."

"Oh!" If he wants to take me to the next domain without fighting, I won't refuse. I give Min Ho a wink. He gives me a nod.

"I can't wait to see my great grandfather." I give him my best fake smile. "Please take me there, Lord Greed."

***

Sung Jun stares hard at the checkered wall. Richard Johnson is staring hard at Sung Jun and wondering if this fellow has lost his mind. There are only two of them here, but he is talking to the wall and ignoring his questions.

"There should be a hidden door here." Sung Jun touches the wall and concentrates his energy. It disappears into the wall. Sung Jun can't feel anything. "How did she open it?"

He repeats her words in her mind. She has called someone's name. Min Ho?

In the Greed domain, Min Ho is watching Fang Aisa talking with Lord Greed's mind. Something is not right with this. This Lord Greed is hiding something. This demon lord knows that Min Ho can read minds. His mind has a shield that is blocking Min Ho from entering. The demon lord's smile is creepy.

He needs to penetrate that mind wall.

'Min Ho?'

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Min Ho looks behind. He is certain that someone spoke his name in their mind. It's not his brother's voice. Who is it? He has a deep frown on his face. That person is human. He tries to find the voice again. In the multiple dimensions twisted together, he finds Sung Jun in the waiting room.

Who is this man?

"Min Ho?" Fang Aisa pulls him to her side. "We need to go."

Min Ho loses his concentration and sees the open door to the wrath domain. He only sees a dull orange light. Lord Greed gestures them to go inside. Min Ho takes a deep breath and walks inside the wrath domain with Fang Aisa.

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