Salvation Through Delusion C35

Chapter 35

 

“The places where the divine beast’s energy is strongest are within the major noble houses.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

That meant nothing in Koon, where the divine beast had perished. But Rick’s disappointment came too soon. Tyroc added offhandedly, and Rick’s eyes widened.

 

“And the Central Temple.”

 

“The Central Temple… That’s great! That means we can start searching right away! It’s a huge place, yes, but at least that narrows the range. If only we had something like a compass to find the entrance…”

 

“They say there might be a sacred relic—one with strong divine power—that reacts to the entrance.”

 

Finding one would be difficult, given how rare such relics were, but at least it was better than having no method at all.

Encouraged, Rick brightened up, while Tyroc’s gaze wandered toward the window, as though he’d lost interest in the topic entirely—his expression distant, preoccupied.

 

“Something bothering you today, my lord?”

 

“No.”

 

Tyroc brushed back his still-damp hair with a sharp, irritated motion.

“Worried something happened at the Baron Gumber’s summer villa?”

 

“No, I meant at the monster hunt. What could possibly have bothered you at Baron Gumber’s villa?”

 

“…”

 

“Oh, right. Did you see Adeye Rue there today? How was he?”

 

Tyroc didn’t answer. He simply stared out the window, lips pressed tight.

Wasn’t he the one who wanted to confirm Rue had changed? Did he not get the chance to see him?

Rick tilted his head, then added what he’d heard.

 

“They say he’s changed since coming back from the dead—but still a hopeless man-chaser. At the summer villa, he was laughing and running around with some man before vanishing into the maze. Who knows how wildly he rolled around in there—”

 

“Rick.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Do you want to roll around with Adeye Rue?”

 

What the—?

“Of course not! Why would I?!”

 

“Then stop worrying about whether Adeye Rue’s kissing or getting his lips bitten.”

 

What? Wasn’t it Tyroc who ordered him to observe Rue and see if he’d changed?

Rick felt wronged, but his master didn’t so much as glance his way, keeping his gaze on the window—expressionless, his thoughts unreadable.

Then something odd occurred to Rick.

 

Wait—bitten lips?

 

“I’ll attend the Blessing of Verdure ceremony at the Central Temple. There’s supposed to be a charity auction there.”

 

Tyroc’s tone was clipped as he looked down at the letter in his hand.

Rick instantly recognized the reference; that must have been the very topic covered in the message from his friend.

 

“Yes, that’s the annual event, isn’t it? Is there a particular item you’re interested in?”

 

Tyroc didn’t respond. He lit the letter, let it burn to ash, then turned back to the window again. He probably didn’t realize it himself, but it was one of his habits—to constantly glance outside.

Though now, there was only darkness beyond the glass—the direction of Koon’s ancestral castle, their family seat.

No one could enter there anymore. It was cursed.

Only a few direct descendants remained within that enormous fortress. And Tyroc’s entire life had been devoted to breaking that curse.

 

To do that, he’d thrown himself into monster hunts that others avoided like plague, reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship itself.

Everyone else was too mesmerized by his brilliant smile to notice the darkness that lay beneath it.

 

But Rick knew.

Whenever Tyroc’s expression turned cold as he looked toward the cursed castle, Rick couldn’t help but wonder—would there ever truly be a day that curse was broken?

 

Then Tyroc spoke a name that made him stiffen.

 

“The Tear of the Demon King.”

 

“That’s… the gem the late Emperor owned…”

 

“Right. My father’s prized possession.”

 

At the mention of the dead Emperor, a crooked smile twisted Tyroc’s lips.

Rick, meanwhile, looked grim. Whatever memory Tyroc recalled, it clearly wasn’t a pleasant one.

 

“That gem is cursed, my lord. They say every owner meets with misfortune.”

 

“My father loved it all the more for that.”

 

“Truly bold of him.”

 

“No. It was arrogance. He rose to the throne in Koon’s name, but without the divine beast’s power, he feared being mocked. He kept the gem only to prove that he was untouched by curses—to show off.”

 

Rick cleared his throat and avoided comment, though he agreed silently.

The late Emperor hadn’t been chosen by the divine beast, yet through cunning and manipulation, he’d claimed the throne anyway—despite lacking the right.

He had always envied and distrusted his sister, who had been blessed by divine power, though she had no interest in politics or power at all.

His insecurity festered into bitterness, which eventually turned toward his own son.

 

Tyroc Koon—the one chosen by the divine beast.

The Emperor saw in his son a threat, a rival to his power, and drove him out of the capital.

Despite being the legitimate heir, Tyroc was forced to grow up in the Koon domain.

 

Maybe that was why Tyroc had never shown any interest in the throne. The only thing he ever cared about was the Koon family—the home that had accepted him when no one else had.

It was something sacred to him, worth protecting at any cost. Even if that meant one day taking the throne he so despised.

 

“But not long after my father obtained the gem, the divine beast vanished.”

 

Tyroc let out a cold, mirthless laugh.

With the divine power gone, the House of Koon lost its legitimacy—and the throne.

The Emperor had refused to yield and died an absurd death, clinging to pride to the very end.

 

“Looking at how he ended, maybe that curse was real after all.”

 

“Just superstition, my lord.”

 

Tyroc’s lips curved faintly.

“Even if it’s real, it doesn’t matter.”

 

“…”

 

“Prepare to attend the auction.”

 

“You mean to buy it?”

 

“That gem’s infamous for its curse, but people overlook something—it’s also an incredibly powerful relic of divine energy.”

 

“Ah, so it might serve as our compass to locate the entrance to the Forest of Red Tides. The gem’s price must be astronomical, though. I wonder who owns it now.”

 

“Someone obsessed with money.”

 

Rick’s eyes flicked down to the ashes of the burned letter.

So the sender even included information about the current owner. Their informant’s reach was truly impressive.

The charity auction was known for its secrecy; the donors’ names were never revealed, and black-market items often made their way in—one reason the event drew such intense attention every year.

 

“So who is it? This money-grubbing person?”

 

Tyroc’s smile deepened, as if saying, I gave you the hint. Can’t you figure it out?

Rick’s eyes widened in disbelief.

 

“Adeye Lantua?!”

 

“Attend the charity event.”

 

One morning, Dr. Kim gave the order.

I immediately frowned, unimpressed.

 

“I’ve already attended a social gathering. I showed my face there.”

 

“And then you locked yourself up in the mansion for ten days straight. What are you, a monk?”

 

I bristled a little at that. I had been doing something useful—training, studying this world, learning everything I could.

“It’s better to stay in and avoid the traitor’s eyes than parade around outside. By the way, have you heard anything about the Biwine Party—”

 

“Cough, cough!”

 

Ding ding ding ding!

 

Dr. Kim’s coughing fit was immediately followed by a bell ringing as the healers rushed in.

I sat obediently while Solongo shot me a scolding glare as though this were somehow my fault.

I didn’t even say anything that bad this time!

 

By the time Dr. Kim recovered, it was already mealtime.

I tried to resume the topic, but she beat me to it, getting straight to business.

 

“This charity event’s a donation auction at the Central Temple. I’ve contributed a very important jewel this time. You’re not sending a proxy—you’ll go personally. Take the jewel yourself and deliver it.”

 

I stopped mid-bite and studied her face. She looked perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened.

“What kind of jewel is so important?”

 

“It used to belong to the late Koon Emperor.”

 

I froze with my fork halfway to the pickled plum on my plate.

For some reason, Dr. Kim had turned her inability to make kimchi into a vendetta—so every meal was an endless parade of pickles.

 

“Don’t tell me you got it as payment for a debt—after haggling them down?”

 

Dr. Kim looked genuinely offended.

“I bought it under another name.”

 

“So you did haggle.”

 

“…At the time, I still thought Koon was our enemy.”

 

I heaped mashed potatoes onto my plate and asked seriously,

“Do you have a lot of things you’ve, uh, acquired like that?”

 

“Plenty.”

 

“Ah. Great.”

 

“This particular gem was one the Emperor cherished deeply. It basically became his symbol. Naturally, Tyroc—the Duke Koon—will be interested.”

 

I munched my pickle and gave her my best advice.

“If that bastard—uh, the Duke—likes it so much, just gift it to him. We need his favor anyway.”

 

“He doesn’t know I’m the owner.”

 

Ah.

 

“Besides, auction items remain secret until the day of the event. Tyroc won’t even know the gem is being sold. That makes this… an opportunity.”

 

An opportunity? I gave her a questioning look, and she laced her fingers together, her eyes gleaming.

 

“This gem showing up at auction will be huge news. And you know I’ve slipped articles mentioning my name into magical scrolls before. If I were the traitor, I’d definitely include this one.”

 

“You’re saying… this is an event the traitor already knows about?”