Salvation Through Delusion C42

Chapter 42

 

I glanced at his face, but we weren’t close enough for me to ask him anything outright. Still, his mention of a “domain” brought one place to mind—the Forest of Crimson Waves.

 

“I have no reason to ever enter a non-human’s domain.”

 

“You never know. You might get lured there by a voice.”

 

There was absolutely nothing tempting about that voice, thank you very much. I swallowed down the protest rising to my throat and changed the subject instead.

 

“So, is that why you took my side earlier? To see if I was already being lured?”

 

“I didn’t take your side. I just didn’t like that gem. What about you?”

 

“I don’t like it either.”

 

[Why?!!!!!!!!!!! Why don’t you like me?!!!!!!!!!!!]

 

Flinch. The sudden explosion of punctuation in front of my eyes made me jerk.

 

What the hell—why was it suddenly speaking up after staying quiet in my pocket all this time?

 

I darted a glance toward Tyroc. He was looking down at me, his golden eyes devoid of amusement. He didn’t say a word, but I found myself blurting out an excuse anyway.

 

“Sometimes I just… get headaches.”

 

[I like the Impotent Human, but the Impotent Human doesn’t like me?!!!!!!!!!!!]

 

“How often?”

 

“…Sorry, what?”

 

The flood of exclamation marks was so distracting that I missed his question. Then I quickly recovered.

 

“Uh, I mean—it happens pretty often.”

 

[Impossible!!!! There’s no one in the world who doesn’t love me!!!!!!!]

 

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I was actually starting to feel a real headache now.

 

“Alright, fine. I lied. I do like the gem. I like it very much.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I’m obsessed with diamonds.”

 

“I asked why it hurts.”

 

I blinked and looked up at him, unsure I’d heard correctly, then shrugged.

 

“People get sick sometimes.”

 

“I thought you’d blame me.”

 

Of course you’re partly to blame—a big part, actually.

 

But since I wasn’t really hurt right now, I could afford to be generous. Besides, the exclamation marks had finally disappeared from my vision.

 

Was this diamond suffering from a case of royal narcissism?

 

“Before, when I’d lost my memory, I didn’t know why Your Grace wanted to kill me, so I blamed you for it. But now, I understand.”

 

“You understand?”

 

“Yes. You still want to kill me, don’t you?”

 

He didn’t answer right away. When I looked up, I met his golden eyes. There was no hostility there—but no irritation or disdain either.

 

It was the same look he’d had when he’d unexpectedly taken my side. But… why?

 

That was what bothered me the most. I studied him cautiously until his quiet reply came.

 

“You’re right.”

 

“See? I knew it.”

 

Strangely, the admission made me feel calmer, and I nodded with satisfaction.

 

“I didn’t know you were so eager for me to die by your hand.”

 

“I’m neither eager nor interested, so stop flattering yourself.”

 

I cut him off before he could draw a blade just to prove a point—but his lips curved slightly.

 

Was he… teasing me?

 

I frowned without meaning to, which only made his smile deepen.

That mocking smile—ugh. What did people even find attractive about it?

 

Even now, the priests trailing behind us couldn’t stop sneaking glances at him, like they were starstruck fans spotting a celebrity.

 

Then I noticed another gaze—different from the rest. Those blue eyes.

 

Ariona. His look wasn’t casual curiosity; it was adoration.

The transparency of his stare almost made him look like a child—innocent and pure.

Not the kind of person who’d steal anything. Maybe the High Priest really had put him up to it.

 

“Your type?” Tyroc asked suddenly. “Why are you staring like that?”

 

I nearly jumped. “I wasn’t staring. And since when does looking at someone mean they’re my type? By that logic, I must be your type.”

 

“Do you want to be?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

The answer flew out of me so fast it surprised even me. I sounded like someone who’d been waiting his whole life for that question just to reject it immediately.

 

“I told you,” Tyroc said, “people who talk like that are always the ones trying hardest to get my attention.”

 

“If I ever start hovering around you, you can say that then. Until that day comes, stop talking.”

 

I couldn’t hold back my irritation.

When I risked a glance, he was—of course—smiling again. But not mockingly this time. He was genuinely amused.

 

Was this guy enjoying our bickering?

 

Honestly, the arrogant, loudmouthed diamond was a hundred times easier to deal with. I quickened my pace, trying to put distance between us—but he matched my steps effortlessly.

 

“Could you back off a little?”

 

“We’re here.”

 

Oh. Already?

 

Sure enough, the small pond was right before us. Several priests were already waiting there. They stepped aside to make way for me, though not all of them looked pleased.

 

The High Priest’s followers, of course.

Thankfully, the other priests—those unaware of the earlier commotion—greeted me politely, likely thanks to my generous donations.

 

“Here we are, the sacred pond,” one of them announced.

 

After all that trouble, finally standing before it made me tense up again.

 

What if the gem didn’t actually return home but just sank uselessly to the bottom?

 

The diamond’s silence didn’t help my nerves either. It hadn’t said a word since we got here, and I couldn’t exactly talk to it in front of everyone.

 

“Well? What are you waiting for? Drop it,” one of the priests sneered.

He was from the High Priest’s group, watching me sharply with his fellows, their eyes gleaming with suspicion.

 

Why were they so eager? It’s not like they were going to dive in after it once I dropped it.

 

…Wait. That’s exactly what they plan to do.

 

I swallowed a laugh. So, they wanted to fish it out later? Fine. I’d make sure they’d have to dive deep.

 

I stepped up to the pond, slipped off my shoes and socks, and rolled my trousers up to my knees.

There was a startled “Huh?” behind me, quickly followed by a louder “What—?!”

 

Splash.

 

Without hesitation, I waded straight in, water sloshing around my legs.

The stares burning into my back only spurred me forward.

In no time, the water was up to my knees.

 

The pond was murky, thick with leaves and algae, its depth impossible to gauge. Still, I pushed forward. It wasn’t that large; even at the center, it couldn’t be deeper than my thighs, right?

 

Then, from behind, I heard a faint sigh.

 

“…Ha…”

 

Probably from one of the High Priest’s attendants, realizing I was making it harder for them to find the gem later.

 

Oh, perfect. In that case, I’d make sure it sank as deep as possible.

 

But first, I needed confirmation from the diamond. I lifted my hand to my chest, the gem clasped tightly in my palm.

 

“This is your home, right?”

 

Silence.

I frowned and checked with Mo.

 

‘Mo, the gem’s not saying anything?’

 

[No response detected.]

 

Troubling. Turning back now would mean humiliation—especially with the High Priest’s people watching.

 

So I went farther in. The water rose halfway up my thighs. Then I lowered my hand into the pond.

 

“Please… tell me this is your home.”

 

I whispered earnestly and opened my palm. I felt the gem slip from my fingers—but still, there was no sound, no reaction.

 

Had someone swapped it without me noticing? The thought barely crossed my mind before the ground beneath my feet gave way.

 

“Ah—!”

 

Before I could even scream, the world turned upside down.

I plunged straight down into the water—deep, impossibly deep, like falling into the sea itself.

 

Water closed around me, swallowing all sound.

But worse, an unseen force gripped me, dragging me even farther down.

 

Panic hit instantly. I kicked and thrashed, struggling to surface.

It had been a shallow pond—so what the hell was happening?!

 

Then I froze.

 

Wait… I could breathe.

 

Despite being underwater, my lungs didn’t burn. I inhaled freely, the water cool and weightless in my chest.

 

And below me, light flickered.

At first, a faint shimmer—then a dazzling radiance that blinded me.

 

[It opened!!!! Finally, the gate meant for me has opened!!!! I can go home!!! Impotent Human, you did it!!!]

 

It was the diamond’s voice—loud, ecstatic, and filled with joy.

So this was the right place. Guess it was worth getting my shoes wet after all.

 

But… where exactly was I? Why was there a massive space beneath the pond? And that light—

 

If I kept descending, I’d reach it soon. No—something deep inside me whispered that I had to reach it.

 

Without thinking, I angled my body downward.

 

Drawn as if by instinct, I swam toward the light, hand outstretched.

The instant my fingertips brushed the glow, the diamond’s frantic cry echoed in my head.

 

[No!!! Don’t go in without me!!! I’ve already entered and can’t come back out!! Impotent Human, go back!!!]