Salvation Through Delusion C63

Chapter 63

I swallowed my fluster and gave a casual shrug.

“I just like watching.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can leave first. I have no interest in the hunting tournament.”

No, you have to attend.

“How could I leave without you? That wouldn’t be very loyal of me.”

“Since when has the Adeye family ever been loyal to the Koons?”

“Starting now.”

I shot back shamelessly, and he chuckled.

“You want to leave together?”

“For now, yes.”

I had to see him safely back home and healed before the tournament began. I crammed that conviction into my short reply, and Tyroc’s smile deepened.

“I’ll decide after hearing your answer.”

“…My answer to what?”

“Explain why Zab couldn’t hear me.”

I froze, glancing at him, then quickly checked our surroundings before replying.

“How would I know that?”

“You may not know the truth, but you’ve guessed the reason.”

“…”

“That’s why you weren’t surprised when Zab left without finding us.”

God, this man was too perceptive. I hated dealing with people like him.

“I was surprised. …I only figured it out afterward.”

“And?”

“…”

“Say it,” he pressed calmly. “After all, I’m your precious someone—the one who put my cock inside you and became connected to you.”

I nearly choked. My face twisted in horror, but he just looked at me blankly—no trace of his usual teasing grin.

I turned away, took a moment to think, then exhaled slowly.

“It’s a long explanation.”

“I’ve got time.”

When I still hesitated, his low, steady voice broke through the silence.

“Even if I learn your secret, I won’t use it against you.”

“I have no intention of being used, either.”

“Then what are you afraid of?”

The future changing, maybe.

The traitor hiding before I could find him.

That was what scared me—the real reason I couldn’t risk revealing too much.

He watched me for a long moment, then murmured,

“Worried I might fall for you?”

I gave him my best unimpressed glare.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

He smirked faintly, but it vanished as soon as I answered.

“That will never happen. And we both know it.”

“Never?”

“Yes.”

He smiled again—slowly this time, a quiet, knowing curve of his lips.

“Alright.”

I took that as agreement and hurried to add before he could twist my words,

“Anyway, no matter what happens, let’s agree to keep our relationship exactly as it is right now. This distance—unchanged.”

He didn’t reply, but I didn’t care; I was already looking ahead toward the darkened square.

He waited patiently while I sorted out my thoughts.

“When humans enter the Crimson Tide Forest, they need a key. But that key must come from a non-human being. Only those who hold such a key can move freely inside the forest without harm.”

I glanced sideways at him again. He leaned back against the wall, silent but attentive.

The next part was the most important.

“The key I used at the Ewik estate came from Lord Ewik’s contracted spirit.”

He didn’t move a muscle, but I could feel the air around him shift.

He understood instantly what I was admitting. His gaze sharpened, glinting like drawn steel.

I had just confessed that I could communicate with non-human entities.

“But as you know, the Ewik estate’s gate was destroyed. That means humans can’t use it anymore.”

“In the Crimson Tide Forest, you said you needed a key—and a door appeared,” he reminded me.

“Yes, and that’s the problem.”

Because I hadn’t had a key, yet the door opened anyway.

“So you’re saying,” Tyroc said slowly, “you’re in someone’s debt?”

“That’s… a good way to put it. I think I am.”

“Non-human beings only give keys or gifts when they choose to,” I explained. “I only received mine after helping one.”

“So this time, you owe a favor instead. You’ll have to repay the owner of this door.”

“Most likely.”

I nodded and finally revealed why I’d chosen to tell him.

“Actually, I think my creditor is standing right in front of me.”

The moment Zab failed to hear anything, something had appeared before me—a five-tailed blue serpent.

The search lasted until dawn, but there was still no sign of Rue or Tyroc among the ruins of the Ewik estate.

With a heavy heart, Solongo returned to the manor and reported to Doctor Kim, who had also stayed up all night.

Fortunately, the doctor’s condition had stabilized with a respirator, allowing her to respond, her voice faint but steady.

“That’s… at least some good news.”

“Yes, I think so too,” Solongo said. “Tyroc’s men are convinced he’s still alive.”

“There were no traces of escape when the estate collapsed?”

“None. But if it were Tyroc, he’d at least have tried to break through the debris. Yet there’s no sign of any such power being used.”

“Then it’s highly likely they were moved somewhere else.”

Solongo nodded grimly. Still, no one could guess where—or how—the two had vanished.

Dr. Kim tapped her finger on the desk, lost in thought.

“If Rue found the secret chamber and opened a gate to the non-human realm…”

“With his ability, it’s not impossible,” Solongo admitted. “But entering the non-human realm is far too dangerous. You remember—after he fell into the temple’s pool, he was unconscious for days. If he entered again…”

“Rue is alive.”

Dr. Kim cut him off firmly.

“Work under that assumption.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But we can’t let the one behind this go unpunished.”

“What about Borhumi?”

“Smile at him,” Dr. Kim said coldly.

She pulled several documents from a drawer, signed them, and handed them over.

“Keep smiling in public until we find Rue. Meanwhile, reclaim every coin we funneled into Borhumi under the false name.”

“But they’ll realize that money was ours.”

“If they don’t, then it’s no punishment at all.”

“…Understood.”

Solongo bowed deeply. But Kim’s next order made her freeze in place.

“Bring me the Black Bear.”

Solongo’s eyes widened.

“You know where she is?”

Without answering, Dr. Kim retrieved a small box from the desk and slid it forward.

“This will tell you. Give her one order: find Rue and protect him. If she refuses, tell her it’s time to repay her debt.”

When the creature had first appeared before me, I hadn’t realized it was non-human.

Unlike the usual translucent spirits, this one was solid, vividly real.

And small—barely the width of my thumb, no longer than half my forearm.

I hadn’t paid much attention at first, worried that Zab might hear me move.

Just a snake, I thought vaguely—until I noticed the color.

Such a bright, pure shade of blue.

Then it lifted its gaze, and our eyes met—deep, dark blue eyes that gleamed like the depths of an endless ocean.

Wait. Its face… wasn’t that of a snake.

It looked more like a lizard.

It reminded me of a pet lizard my friend used to own—one that was famous for resembling a dragon.

And indeed, this serpent’s face looked almost draconic.

Well, this was another world, after all. A dragon-like snake wasn’t the strangest thing to exist here.

Or so I thought—until I saw its tails.

Sssk—

As it flicked out its tongue, five slender tails unfurled behind it like ribbons of sapphire light.

“Where?” Tyroc’s voice broke my trance.

I blinked, turning toward the small dragon-serpent. Its deep azure eyes were fixed on me—cold, vast, and terrifyingly beautiful.

He couldn’t see it. Tyroc couldn’t see it.

That realization made my skin prickle.

Mo, I called silently. Why isn’t the filter working?

[The filter is active. However, it’s ineffective here.]

That made no sense. How could that be possible?

It was strange enough that the creature had a solid form.

The only other time I’d seen something like this was when that red-eyed, horned stag appeared—

The day I punished Montaine’s pervert with a little divine justice.

But that time, Mo had been in sleep mode. This situation was completely different.

“Rue.”

I flinched at the sound of my name.

Just that—nothing more—and yet my heart stuttered.

When I turned, Tyroc was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling in labored rhythm.

He looked terrible.

“Are you alright?” I asked quickly.