Salvation Through Delusion C135

Chapter 135

Thud.

A young man holding a sword threw an old man onto the ground like a sack of grain. He then addressed a dignified woman in her late fifties standing before him.

“Master.”

Sarne Baiyan, who had been gazing at the sky, shifted her eyes.

“This is the one who reportedly saw someone matching Black Bear’s description.”

The disciple finished his report and kicked the old man. Trembling violently, the old man forced out words.

“M-my wife was about to be attacked by wolves, and th-that person saved her. She swung a h-huge sword…”

“How big?” Baiyan asked.

The old man spread his arms in panic.

“Th-this big—ugh!”

“Answer properly.”

The disciple kicked him again. The old man squeezed his memory.

“It r-reached below the chest… She was standing with the sword planted on the ground — about that tall…”

“Which direction did she go?”

“N-north… and the only path there leads toward XXX—”

His words never finished.

Shing.

The blade left its sheath and severed his neck in a single stroke. His head rolled across the dirt before his body even fell.

Neither Baiyan nor her disciple spared the corpse a glance.

“XXX leads into Koon territory. Why would Black Bear go there?”

“What does the motive of soon-to-be rotten meat matter?”

Baiyan muttered flatly, then ordered:

“Gather the children. We’re entering Koon.”

—

The damn bear — no, Sarne’s divine beast — spread its arms wide and splayed its tiny legs. ㅈ. I already knew. Even the slow drop of its chin couldn’t irritate me right now. I was getting an answer I’d carefully chosen to ask.

“You’ve stayed beside Black Bear for years — why didn’t you give her your power?”

After a long wait, the beast plopped down, signaling it was done. Its slowness had one advantage: I had time to piece together the answer without Mo.

And Mo confirmed:

[“She dies.”]

There was no subject — but I turned my head anyway.

Black Bear was still kneeling in front of me, despite my protests. To make her stand, I had to give her hope.

“What did the divine beast say?”

“Please stand. I’ll answer then.”

Reluctantly, she bowed deeply and rose. Once our eyes were level, I said calmly:

“You die.”

Her eyes trembled — but she accepted it.

“I suspected as much when I felt the power earlier.”

“Still… the beast stayed by your side because you’re the best candidate. Even while Sarne desperately tried to reclaim it.”

My attempt at comfort reopened old wounds. She inhaled sharply, then spoke in her usual blunt tone.

“Divine beast power is too vast for humans. Even chosen ones must train for years. Accepting it recklessly could kill anyone.”

So that’s why Borhumi’s beast screamed about training…

I turned back.

“Can you teach her how to accept your power?”

Two motions.

“ㅇㄱ.”

[“Human.”]

Damn it.

I faced Black Bear.

“You have to learn from humans.”

“…Sarne.”

Probably the only place with that knowledge. Each divine beast’s power differed — Sarne must’ve developed its own methods.

But asking enemies for help wasn’t an option.

Her shoulders sagged.

“Let’s find another way. If you’re okay with it, I’ll ask my sister for help. Lantu’s good at digging up information.”

I expected hesitation.

Instead:

“Do as you wish, Savior. I’m fine.”

Stop calling me that…

If I could lift curses, Tyroc wouldn’t be heading to fight Sarne’s Swordmaster—

Wait.

I turned.

“You want revenge on Sarne, right? That includes the Swordmaster?”

“Sarne Baiyan is the one I must kill first.”

Ah.

“So you’d be upset if someone else killed her?”

“Of course! Baiyan dies by my hand— someone else?”

Her eyes blazed.

“Who’s that idiot?!”

There is one.

Duke Koon.

—

Through the communicator, I spoke rapidly to Dr. Kim. Time was limited. Her face cycled through disbelief, shock, and concern.

When I finished, she summarized:

“…Crazy.”

“Right? The situation is insane—”

“Black Bear knelt and called you Savior?”

“…Yeah?”

“The woman who wouldn’t bow after I saved her life is bowing to you?”

“That’s what you’re shocked about? She’s Sarne’s successor!”

“I suspected Sarne was hiding something… but you’re actually a savior?”

I sighed.

“No, I’m not—”

She looked away, thinking.

“Dr. Kim! Focus! Tyroc might die!”

“Him? Doubtful.”

“Sarne Baiyan’s a Swordmaster too!”

“Yes — skilled. But Tyroc’s aura is… special.”

Aura?

Mo explained:

[Swordmasters aren’t ranked formally, but aura manifestation is a common measure. Historically, all Swordmasters produced curved aura forms. Tyroc is the first recorded case of a linear manifestation.]

“…What.”

“Tyroc’s exceptional. I’ve always wondered how he’d fare against another Swordmaster. Baiyan’s an old fox — might be close.”

Dr. Kim’s academic curiosity lit up.

I shut it down.

“If Tyroc ends up bedridden for a year, Earth’s finished.”

“…Then we stop the fight.”

I nodded and gestured outside.

“Help Black Bear learn to use the divine beast’s power.”

“I’ll research — but don’t rely on it. Faster to bring Tyroc here.”

I nodded.

“I’ll find out where he is.”

“No. Call him home. Now.”

“…Me?”

She looked at me like I was dense.

“If the beast says learn from humans, Sarne isn’t the only option. Anyone who understands that power qualifies.”

“…But Tyroc’s Koon — how would he know Sarne’s— oh.”

Right.

Tyroc had once accepted Borhumi’s divine beast power.

And used it without issue.