Salvation Through Delusion C62

Chapter 62

“Salvation?”

Ah, the legendary being said to commune with the Divine Beasts and know the future. But that couldn’t possibly make one’s divine power stronger, could it?

As I frowned in confusion, Dorgo’s voice carried clearly across the chamber.

“There are many tales about the Savior. One says that they can summon the Divine Beast at will. Who knows, my lord—perhaps the Savior will grant you another Divine Beast entirely.”

Zab let out a hollow laugh, full of disbelief.

“Ha! The Savior? The one said to ride the clouds and cross the continent in an instant? And wasn’t there another legend about the Savior climbing atop a mountain’s shoulders to aid the Divine Houses?”

So the Savior was nothing more than an exaggerated hero myth in this world. No wonder Zab reacted with disgust the moment he heard the word.

“Don’t give me that fairytale nonsense,” Zab growled. “Tell me something real, something that actually works.”

“I only spoke of what might help you gain power immediately,” Dorgo replied evenly. “Train—or seek the Savior.”

Zab’s shoulders trembled with rage, but for once, he couldn’t find a retort.

“Easy for you to say,” he spat, “when you’re the one sitting back doing nothing.”

“Yes,” Dorgo said calmly. “I’ve done nothing—except imprison the Divine Beast on your behalf.”

Zab’s lips curled into a sneer.

“How modest of you. Oh, wait—no, that’s not true, is it? You did do something. You’re the one who cursed the Koon House, aren’t you?”

He said it like an afterthought, but the words hit me like a hammer.

The curse of the Koon House?

I froze, holding my breath, waiting for more.

“I only told you to deal with the Koons,” Zab continued. “But you went and did it that way. You locked their entire bloodline inside their own fortress. You deserve a medal for that.”

…What?!

Before I could even process what I’d heard, an odd, dragging sound echoed behind me.

Scrraaape.

I turned sharply—and froze.

Tyroc was dragging his massive sword along the floor, taking one slow, painful step at a time.

Sweat drenched his pale face, but his eyes burned with a fury so cold it chilled the air.

Ah.

He’d heard everything.

“Who’s there?!”

Zab’s sharp voice cut through the chamber.

If Tyroc went head-to-head with him in this state, he’d be dead before he could swing his sword.

I understood his rage, but this wasn’t the time.

I motioned frantically for him to stay quiet, but he didn’t even glance at me.

His eyes—dark, blazing, filled with silent wrath—were fixed solely on the figures below.

And then he moved again, sword scraping along the floor.

This was bad. Very, very bad.

“Lord Zab,” Dorgo said quickly, “I heard nothing. Perhaps it was your imagination.”

“Silence. I know I heard something.”

The sound of the blade scraping against stone was unmistakable to my ears.

Thunk.

Then came a dull noise—Tyroc had dropped to one knee.

He was using his sword as a support, his breathing ragged, his body trembling from exhaustion.

This was it. They’d hear him for sure.

But Zab’s next words startled me.

“How strange. I swear I heard something…”

What? He didn’t hear it?

I didn’t even dare swallow. Zab tilted his head, listening intently, but after a moment, he frowned in confusion. Dorgo stepped forward smoothly.

“This place cannot be entered by anyone outside the direct Borhumi line,” Dorgo said. “No one can enter or leave without the blood’s permission.”

“Well… yes, but…” Zab muttered, still uneasy, glancing around the chamber.

“This place always feels unsettling.”

“Because it houses the Divine Beast, my lord.”

Zab grimaced but didn’t respond. After a pause, he turned toward the door.

“This place gives me the creeps,” he muttered. “It’s like it’s hiding something from me.”

A moment later, the heavy door slammed shut behind them with a deep metallic clang.

They were gone.

I remained frozen for a few seconds, heart still racing, before rushing to Tyroc’s side.

I didn’t scold him for standing up. How could I?

He was drenched in cold sweat, teeth clenched—not from physical pain, but from fury so raw it was almost visible.

He’d just come face-to-face with the one who had cursed his family—and watched him walk away.

Words of comfort didn’t come easily.

Instead, I sat beside him in silence, staring out into the empty space they’d left behind.

After what felt like an eternity, Tyroc spoke first.

“You’re not going to ask?”

“Can I?”

“You can.”

“How’s your condition? Should I find a healer?”

He turned to me with an odd look. What? He said I could ask.

“You’re not curious about what Zab said?”

“It can wait. Your condition can’t. Are you sure you’re alright?”

He studied me for a moment, then finally muttered, “I’m fine.”

Fine, my ass. He was barely breathing.

And yet, even in this state, he started talking again—unprompted this time.

“The curse on the Koon fortress appeared after the disappearance of Koon’s Divine Beast. We suspected another Divine House, but there was no proof. There was… another suspect, though.”

“Who?”

“The former emperor.”

…Damn.

The former emperor—the last emperor of the Koon line. Tyroc’s own father.

I didn’t know what to say.

But Tyroc, calm now, went on as if the mention of his father didn’t faze him.

“So it was Borhumi’s doing all along. I never imagined that coward would dare attempt something like this. I should’ve known he had a schemer at his side.”

“That old man—Dorgo?”

“Yes.”

Who was he, really?

No, that didn’t matter right now.

“Dorgo’s done a lot for Zab,” I said quietly. “To even imprison Borhumi’s own Divine Beast—none of this makes sense.”

“I know,” Tyroc murmured. “It doesn’t make sense. Divine Beasts sometimes…”

He winced, stopping to catch his breath before continuing.

“They return to their homeland, or so I’ve heard.”

Homeland.

That word struck me. Even Diamond—the rock spirit—had longed desperately to return to its homeland.

“Is the Crimson Tide Forest their homeland?”

“Maybe.”

“But still… to imprison a Divine Beast?” I frowned. “Dorgo said they’d gain greater power after a few months. Do you think that’s related? Maybe the Divine Beast’s strength grows during hibernation?”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

He sounded genuinely baffled. His breathing grew heavy again before he added,

“I do know this much—non-human beings, Divine or otherwise, all need to return to their homeland from time to time.”

“Then Zab must know that too.”

“Of course he does.”

Tyroc’s eyes fluttered half-shut as he whispered one word through gritted teeth.

“Greed.”

Ah yes. The oldest, most universal reason for ruin.

Greed—the kind that clouds judgment and devours reason until it leaves nothing but obsession behind.

“Even a five-year-old would have more sense than Zab.”

Tyroc actually smiled at that—brightly, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

And for the first time, I understood why people fell for him so easily.

“Zab’s always been childish,” he said.

He made it sound like a joke, but I couldn’t laugh.

Not when I’d just watched him, moments ago, consumed by a rage so fierce he nearly threw his life away.

He was smiling now, but that calmness… it wasn’t peace. It was exhaustion.

It made something ache in me.

I quickly turned away.

What was I doing, feeling pity for him?

“Still,” I said briskly, “having a reckless enemy is good news. But we need to get out of here soon. According to Dorgo, no one can enter or leave this place unless they’re of Borhumi blood.”

At this rate, we might really die here.

As I muttered under my breath, Tyroc’s casual reply floated back.

“There’s no rush.”

“Yes, there is!”

He raised an eyebrow, silently asking why?

“The issue isn’t just escaping,” I blurted. “You’re still injured. Even if we somehow get out of here, this is Borhumi’s territory—we’ll have to move carefully to avoid detection. And without a mage capable of teleportation, it’ll take even longer! If we don’t make it to the Imperial Hunting Tournament in time—”

“Then we simply won’t attend.”

“No!”

I shouted before I could stop myself.

You have to attend! That’s where the betrayal happens—the event the traitor’s been waiting for! I need you there to find out who it is!

A thousand thoughts screamed inside me, but not one made it to my lips.

Especially not with Tyroc looking at me like that—serious, searching, as if he could see right through me.

“Is there some reason you have to be there?” he asked.

“…It’ll be fun,” I muttered weakly.

“You hate hunting.”

Oh, come on.

This guy and I… we really don’t sync at all.