Salvation Through Delusion C31

Chapter 31

 

I barely stopped myself from lunging forward and punching him.

 

“What are you even doing here when there aren’t any monsters around?”

 

As I said that, I pretended to glance around, quickly measuring possible escape routes. But when no reply came, I turned to look at him—only to meet that cold, cutting gaze.

 

“To see you.”

 

“What? Me? Why?”

 

“Why else? To repay a debt.”

 

As Tyroc spoke, he placed one hand casually on his thigh, his stance crooked, his fingers resting dangerously close to something they shouldn’t.

 

Anyone else watching might’ve thought he was trying to seduce me. Damn it.

 

Of course, I knew better. In my eyes, it was a silent warning—a threat that he’d carve a new wound into his own body just to get to me.

Unfortunately, that kind of warning didn’t work on me. My temper flared.

 

“If we’re talking debts, you owe me far mor—”

 

Shit. No. Stop. He’s humanity’s last hope. And you know he holds a massive grudge against the Adeye family.

 

If I charged him now, I’d end up as a human soccer ball again. Or worse, he might actually try to kill me this time.

 

So there was only one answer. I quickly pointed behind him.

 

“There.”

 

Tyroc’s brow arched. “What?” he said, glancing back.

 

That single second was all I needed. I bolted, yanking open the door I’d come through and diving inside.

 

“Ha.”

 

I heard a low, incredulous laugh behind me—but this time, I could ignore it.

 

Yeah, laugh all you want. I’m gone.

 

Running was the only logical choice. When I re-entered the room, the pervert I’d tied up earlier was still wriggling on the bed, eyes shining with excitement.

 

“Mmmffhh (My Queen has returneeed—)”

 

Not now, freak.

 

I ignored him, sprinted straight past, and vaulted over the terrace railing without hesitation. It was the second floor—high enough to break something if I landed wrong—but Mo had already given me a route.

 

[“Land on the first-floor roof, then slide down the right column. After that, cross the garden at your three o’clock to reach the main gate.”]

 

Thud!

 

The landing was loud—but I wasn’t the only one who made noise.

 

Before I could even move, another heavy bang struck the ground right in front of me. I froze, staring at the polished toe of a familiar boot.

 

Above me, his voice murmured with mild curiosity.

 

“How the hell do you move like a cat?”

 

He never finished the thought, because I was already running again.

 

[“Jump over the waist-high brush at four o’clock.”]

 

Following Mo’s quick directions, I darted toward the dense shrubs and leapt.

 

Crack!

 

A branch snapped against my arm, but I managed to roll and land smoothly. Instantly, I reached for the teleportation scroll inside my jacket.

 

If I ripped it fast enough, I could get out of here. Easy plan, guaranteed success.

 

Except, before I could even open it fully, something flashed past my face.

 

I only realized it was a blade when the torn scroll fluttered to the ground in two pieces.

 

“Ah, missed.”

 

His tone was flat, without a shred of disappointment.

 

Missed? If he hadn’t missed, I’d be sliced clean in half, you lunatic.

 

I bit back the curse, but I couldn’t stop glaring at him. His golden eyes gleamed brighter under my stare, a faint smile curving his lips. But the smile didn’t reach his voice.

 

“Bite me again?”

 

“When did I ever bite you? You’re imagining things.”

 

It was worth a try.

 

“Not with those eyes, you’re not.”

 

Damn it. I dropped my gaze, inching back a step. But he moved forward—fast. The sword in his hand glinted.

 

Who the hell brings a weapon to a social gathering like this?

 

For a brief moment, I resented Dr. Lantua. If she was going to mess with the Tyroc family, couldn’t she have done it anonymously? Thanks to her, I was about to die.

 

There had to be a way out—

 

“Duke Tyroc! Is that you, my lord?!”

 

Ah, bless whoever that was.

 

A voice called from somewhere nearby, and Tyroc’s eyes flicked toward it.

 

I didn’t waste that second.

 

Tap—

 

I spun and bolted again. But the main gate was out of the question, so I sprinted down the only open path—until Mo’s warning flashed.

 

[“Maze garden ahead.”]

 

Not now, Mo!

 

If I hesitated, he’d catch me and probably kick me across the courtyard like a ball. I wasn’t scared of the pain—I was scared I’d lose control and actually fight back.

 

You can’t exactly save the world after you’ve throttled its last hope.

 

So yeah, I’d take my chances with the maze. I dashed straight in.

 

There’s no way he’d follow me into a magically trapped labyrinth—

 

I risked a glance back.

 

And there he was. Golden eyes gleaming, lips curved in that calm, psychotic smile.

 

“Shit!”

 

He was chasing me down with the kind of deadly focus only a lunatic could manage. Suddenly, Rue’s fear of this man made perfect sense. Compared to him, even the super-pervert was cute.

 

I sprinted deeper into the maze, breath loud in my ears. Every turn twisted and shifted around me, the magic warping the paths.

 

Panting, I glanced behind me—but the corridor I’d come from had vanished.

 

What the—? The path’s changing?!

 

At least he couldn’t catch me now, I thought. But just in case, I kept running.

 

Then I turned another corner—and stumbled.

 

“Haa, haa—Harder! Do it harder!”

 

“Harder than this? You greedy little—ugh!”

 

Two people. Mid-act. In broad daylight. Like dogs in heat.

 

…What the actual hell?

 

I gawked, frozen in disbelief. The pair turned their heads toward me—but didn’t stop moving.

 

“Are you two insane?! What the hell are you doing on a public path like this?!”

 

I pointed dramatically toward the blazing sun above.

 

“And in broad daylight! On bare ground! For god’s sake—”

 

“Ahaha! Adeye Rue?”

 

…Shit.

 

“I didn’t see anything. Carry on.”

 

I spun around and ran again. If I couldn’t find the exit, I’d just find somewhere quiet to hide.

 

Dr. Lantua would send someone to look for me eventually. Even if it took days, I didn’t care. I’d hidden from worse before. At least here, I wouldn’t starve.

 

The problem was, quiet didn’t seem to exist here. Everywhere I went—more moaning.

 

“Mmm~ Yours is the best I’ve had today, honey!”

“Pant, pant—So I’m number one? Then who’s number two?”

“Mmph~ Your fingers!”

 

It was a goddamn festival of degeneracy.

And they all sounded the same—nasal, breathy, and unholy. If I had to hear it for another minute, my ears would rot into fertilizer.

 

Every single one of them deserved a one-way ticket to hell.

 

Shuddering each time I passed another scene of depravity, I finally found a silent corner and crouched, panting.

 

“Haah… goddamn… perverts… the whole place is crawling with them…”

 

“‘Goddamn’?”

 

I froze. Slowly, I lifted my head.

 

Those golden eyes stared down at me from above, cool and unamused.

 

Impossible.

 

I gawked at him, completely forgetting the whole “be respectful, he’s the savior of the world” thing.

 

How the hell did he find me?

 

My expression must’ve amused him, because a faint smile played across his lips. Oh, that smug face. Normally, I didn’t lose staring contests—but with him, it was infuriating.

 

He tilted his head slightly.

 

“You use strange words as curses.”

 

Because they are curses!

 

“It’s just… an expression.”

 

I muttered, glancing around. This place was a warped labyrinth of magic—how did he track me through it?

 

“You made enough noise everywhere you went.”

 

He read my mind again, apparently.

 

“Well, what else was I supposed to do? People are just—”

 

Seriously. Naked on the grass, at noon. Were they trying to catch parasites?

 

And it wasn’t just pairs. There were groups. Three, four people at once.

 

Where were the monsters when you actually needed them?

 

“They act without shame,” I muttered.

 

“You, of all people, shouldn’t be talking about shame.”

 

His tone was flat, but it cut deep.