ZERO: Before the Beginning

The space split open.

The acidic fog parted, revealing hidden runes beneath.

Not the surface of the tongue—

But deeper.

The emotional core at the root.

> [Sourness Trial – Entry to Deep Inner Layer Confirmed]

[Warning: Purification Level Below 50% – Emotional Instability Detected]

[Second Gatekeeper Detected – Class: Tongue Wraith]

I advanced slowly.

The walls grew moist.

The inner membrane of the tongue deepened in crimson.

There—

Stood a creature with a mouth.

But it didn't speak.

Instead, it echoed with voices of others.

> "She died because of you."

"You ran away, didn't you?"

"Selective justice—disgusting."

"You couldn't even believe in yourself. And you think you can save anyone?"

The voices weren't unfamiliar.

They were things I'd heard—

And worse, things I'd said to myself.

That mouth had no singular form.

Tongues, soft palates, uvulas layered upon layers—

All spewing shards of my own guilt.

> "Stop it…"

I whispered.

But the mouths kept shouting.

> "You refused the transfusion."

"That's why she died."

"You think she didn't resent you?"

"What you remember… it's just a fantasy you created."

I drew my weapon.

Shard of Pyroblossom.

The spinning flame split the dark—

But this time, it wouldn't burn.

> [Weapon Inactive – Emotional Alignment Failed]

[Current Emotional Class: Acidic / No Synch]

[Resolution Methods: Emotional Absorption or Tongue Binding]

> 'Emotional absorption…?'

The mouths didn't stop.

Thousands of them chanted guilt.

Guilt that was mine—

And also the shackle that held me in this world.

I stepped forward.

Onto the burning tongue.

Between countless mouths.

Toward the one at the center.

It didn't speak.

It only waited—open, silent.

And inside it—

Juhui's voice.

> "Taemin… what meaning does it have now?"

I didn't answer.

Instead, I reached out.

Toward the mouth.

It swallowed me whole.

Not a metaphor—

It absorbed me.

Into the inner membrane.

Into the acid of memory.

It was a quiet sea.

The sourness rolled like waves,

And above them floated her final image.

My hand hesitating before the transfusion kit.

Her head turning away.

And those final words—

> "It's too late…"

I dove into the memory.

I didn't flee.

I didn't turn away.

I threw myself in.

The acid melted me.

Emotion deconstructed me.

But within it,

Another me was born.

> [Purification Rate Reached: 91%]

[Weapon Transformation: Shard of Pyroblossom → Flame of Silence]

[Fast Purification Mode Activated]

I opened my eyes.

My body had changed.

The flame was no longer red.

It now burned pale blue-white at my tail.

> "Now I hear you—

the real you."

Juhui said nothing.

Her shape only smiled—

And faded.

All mouths closed.

> [Gatekeeper – Tongue Wraith Disintegrated]

[Sourness Trial Cleared]

[Emotions Gained: Shame, Restoration, Self-Acceptance]

[Passage Unlocked: Path of Sweetness]

I turned slowly.

My flame whispered from behind.

Now—

The trial of temptation begins.

A sweet aroma tingled at my senses.

As the acid dispersed,

The world turned pink.

Like a land sprinkled with candy,

A soft mist spread like a bridal veil.

And at the center—

A single bed.

Lying on it—

Was Juhui.

Eyes closed—

But unmistakably her.

Long, tidy hair.

Light spilling between her fingers.

A chest gently rising and falling.

> "...Juhui?"

My feet moved on their own.

Even if this was a trial,

She looked too real.

She was alive.

Breathing.

Smiling.

> "It's okay now…"

She whispered.

Calling my name—

In that voice I could never forget.

> [Caution – Emotional Sync Detected]

[Sensed Emotions: Relief, Hope, Healing]

[Warning – Illusion Zone Active]

I knelt beside her.

Her hand clasped mine.

Warm.

Too warm.

Too perfect.

> "You've been through so much.

It's over now.

You don't have to fight anymore."

Those words shook me.

Yes… why was I still fighting?

If she was here—

If I could hold her again—

Why not give it all up?

> [Emotion Weapon Deactivated]

[Identity Instability Detected – Alert]

[Purifier Zero's Emotional Status: Stable → At Risk]

'…No. This is a trial.'

It was too sweet.

Too flawless.

So it had to be fake.

> "Juhui… is that really you?"

I gripped her hand tighter.

But she didn't answer.

Only smiled.

Eyes closed.

And whispered—

> "Stay like this.

Stay here with me…"

Goosebumps raced down my spine.

That voice—

Wasn't hers.

It mimicked her tone.

But the emotion behind it—

Was unfamiliar.

Obsession.

I let go.

Her expression shattered.

> "Why… why are you leaving me again?"

> "If it were really you, I'd never let go.

But you're—

Not her."

She slowly lifted her head.

Black spots spread in her eyes.

No light.

No love.

Only an instinct to trap me here.

> "An illusion…"

I drew the Shard.

The flame flared softly.

The fake tilted its head.

> "I copied her voice…

Because you kept clinging to her memory.

How long will you keep holding on?"

I didn't answer.

I threw the blade.

FWOOSH!!!

Flames consumed the bed.

The figure on it screamed—

Twisted—

Melted.

Gone.

> [Sweetness Trial – Temptation Zone Purified]

[Emotions Gained – Discernment, Awareness, Acceptance of Parting]

[Unstable Emotions Cleared]

The lingering flame—

Flickered like her final smile.

I closed my lips.

Faced the next door.

The Trial of the Tongue—

Wasn't over yet.

As sweetness faded,

The world cooled rapidly.

Colors dulled.

The air stung like bitter medicine.

The illusion had vanished.

And now—

At the very back of the tongue,

Where words are born,

And raw emotions are buried—

The next trial awaited.