Salvation Through Delusion C19

Chapter 19

A tuft of floating curls hung in midair—so fluffy and round that I mistook it for a disembodied head. It didn’t help that it had two small things attached to the sides that looked suspiciously like ears. And those “ears” were flapping.

Wait… were those wings?!

At least it was cute enough that, even for someone like me who hates ghosts, it wasn’t too terrifying.

“What’s wrong?” I asked cautiously.

[Huuuman.]

The ball of fluff split right down the middle, revealing something like a mouth—a wide, gaping one that stretched across its entire “face.”

From within, viscous black fluid dripped like strands of tar.

I froze. With its mouth closed, it looked like the back of a Bichon’s head. With it open, it looked like something straight out of a horror film.

My tone instantly grew polite.

“Human, you said?”

Flap, flap. The thing beat its wings twice, sounding oddly pleased.

[Heeelp.]

Oh, for the love of—could it not open that mouth while talking? I missed Mo’s filter function more than ever. Forcing myself not to look directly at it, I focused on the words.

“Heeelp”… Was that supposed to be “help”?

“Wait—‘help’? You’re asking for help?”

Flap, flap! A clear sign of agreement. I sighed silently.

Something about this felt familiar. Like that time the flower fairy asked for help with her seed.

At least this one wasn’t overly chatty.

Whoosh!

“Ugh!”

A powerful gust slammed into me, shoving me against the wall. Apparently, it wasn’t the patient type—if I didn’t answer fast enough, it used force.

“All right, all right! Who needs help?”

Before I even finished speaking, the secret door burst open with a loud bang.

The fluffball darted through the air in quick, urgent motions, bobbing toward a particular direction.

“Okay, okay, lead the way. I’m coming.”

It guided me up to the third floor, stopping near one of the rooms.

And then—it refused to go any further.

Just like the fairy before, it must have sensed something stronger beyond that door. Two armed guards stood outside, proof enough that whoever was inside ranked high.

Whatever was going on in there, it didn’t look like an emergency. The guards weren’t moving. So I decided to sneak in and see for myself.

Pulling a handkerchief over half my face, I crept silently toward a nearby window.

If I wanted to get inside, I’d have to go through the next room and climb from there.

Luckily, a large tree grew close to the terrace, its branches stretching conveniently toward the balcony.

I hesitated for half a second. Then moved.

Climbing came naturally. But just as I set my foot on the final branch—

Crack.

“…!”

The branch snapped beneath one foot. I barely caught myself on the terrace railing.

“Whew…” I exhaled, steadying myself. That could’ve gone very wrong.

Still, that branch was gone. Getting out the same way would be tough now.

Hopefully, I wouldn’t need to make a quick escape. Maybe the fluffball had overreacted, and it was nothing.

Muttering under my breath, I peeked through the window—then frowned deeply.

What the hell.

Apparently, filth existed in every world. Because right there, I found a scene that screamed human trash.

A long-haired man was on top of another man with short brown hair on the bed.

The problem? The brown-haired man’s limbs hung limp.

He looked barely twenty, his face still youthful—and his eyes were open.

Open, but frozen, filled with fear.

He was conscious. He just couldn’t move.

Then our eyes met.

The silent scream in them was unmistakable.

Help me.

I didn’t hesitate even for a second. I threw open the terrace door and stormed inside.

The bastard on top had just taken out his disgusting junk, completely unaware of me. Perfect.

My gaze landed on the nearest object.

A candlestick.

That’d do.

I grabbed it and swung with everything I had, aiming for his skull.

This would be over fast—I’d knock him out, get the kid free, and be gone.

That was the plan.

I didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even defend.

But—

BOOM!

The sound of compressed air bursting rang out. I was thrown backward.

The bastard hadn’t been unguarded—he had some kind of magical defense.

A shimmering blue light flashed around him as my candlestick hit and bounced off harmlessly.

“Ugh!”

The rebound sent me sprawling across the floor.

At least I wasn’t the only one who looked ridiculous—he staggered too, falling to one knee.

The blue gem on his chest brooch shattered and scattered across the floor.

“Wha—who the hell are you?!”

The golden-haired pervert shouted, flipping his hair like some drama queen.

I ignored him, grabbing the candlestick again and charging.

“You don’t need to know, you sick bastard.”

Meanwhile—

There had definitely been a sound. A presence. Then nothing. It vanished before Duke Koon could pinpoint it.

He left his friend behind and strode down the corridor, his steps unhurried but heavy with tension.

A few guests leaving their secret meetings froze and bowed as he passed, but his eyes were fixed ahead.

The Duke raised his senses, honing his awareness to that of a Swordmaster, searching for what he’d missed.

The “rat” had definitely been human.

But the thing that erased its trace? Something else entirely.

A transcendent presence—like a spirit, or a fae. Maybe even… a remnant of a divine beast.

No, not divine. He’d have felt that.

This was weaker. Probably a spirit. But that, too, was strange.

Spirits always existed unseen, yes—but to sense one required a human intermediary.

Someone to bridge their world and his.

Which meant…

A spirit medium is here?

His gaze sharpened.

All the more reason to find this intruder.

If not the second floor, then—

“Your Grace.”

One of his aides approached, looking around curiously.

“Who are you looking for?”

Koon ignored him, walking forward. But then another thought struck.

“Where’s Brons?”

He meant the young lord he’d escorted tonight.

“I last saw him in the first-floor hall before I came up here.”

“Go check on him. Now. Montaine Bilge might be here.”

The aide froze, face tightening.

“Yes, at once—”

He didn’t finish.

Crash! Thud! Thud!

Glass shattered, followed by the sounds of a struggle echoing from above.

Both men looked up.

The third floor.

Bam! Bam!

“Lord Bilge!”

The guards outside the door shouted, pounding on it after hearing the chaos inside.

A metallic click followed—they were unlocking it.

The golden-haired bastard inside realized it and yelled, “Quick, come i—mff!”

Before he could finish, I lunged.

“You—urk!”

My candlestick swung again, missing his nose by a hair.

Damn it—Rue’s arms were shorter than I was used to. My distance sense was all off.

Embarrassing. But at least I’d confirmed something—the barrier was gone.

“This time, I’ll do it properly.”

I clenched my fist and drove it into his face.

“Gah!”

His head snapped ninety degrees to the side. I didn’t stop.

A second hit, a third—each blow sent him reeling, stumbling like a drunken reed.

He was tougher than he looked. Fine. I adjusted, aiming for his jaw this time.

Whoosh!

My punch sliced through the air—and connected.

Thwack!

His head jerked, but the angle was off. Another distance misread.

Tch. I really needed to get used to this body.

Grumbling inwardly, I grabbed him by the collar, pushed him down, and straddled him.

Let’s see how you like a broken jaw, you freak—

Then—

I froze.

Because something appeared behind him.

Not something. Someone.

A presence, materializing out of thin air.

Two glowing red eyes stared directly into mine.

And in that instant—

A shiver ran down my entire body.