Salvation Through Delusion C74

Chapter 74

To break Koon’s curse had always been Rick’s most fervent wish. Yet strangely, once again, the person before him reminded him of the countless followers who had tried to use him to get close to Tyroc. People desperately seeking a path to the Duke through Rick.

“…No. I heard Adeye Rue went missing, but it has nothing to do with His Grace. Why would the Duke involve himself in Adeye’s affairs?”

Rick smiled lightly, but his insides churned like a storm-tossed sea.

Fortunately, his “friend” only stared at him for a long moment before rising to leave. Only after accompanying him to the door did the smile fall from Rick’s face.

…Did I make a mistake? No, His Grace will be fine.

Rick trusted Tyroc’s ability and judgment more than anyone in the world. If danger arose, he would discard Adeye Rue without hesitation. Of course he would.

Something brushed my lips. I turned my head away instinctively, but that bothersome presence followed, persistent.

What now. Half-asleep annoyance stirred, but avoiding it felt more tiring than letting it be. My lips parted on their own, and something slipped inside.

A warm sweetness slid slowly into my mouth. It was so surprisingly sweet that it halted my drifting consciousness and made me swallow reflexively.

Gulp.

Once I tasted sweetness, I could no longer resist. Another thick, sweet drop entered my mouth and I swallowed willingly.

Sugar stirred awake my dulled senses. Mo spoke before my mind fully returned.

[Sugar intake via oral contact ongoing. However, this method is highly inefficient for calorie replenishment.]

…What?

Oral… contact?

Something was pressed against my mouth. A tongue, pushing honey into me, and— wait.

A switch flipped in my brain. My eyes flew open.

Black hair filled my vision, so close it brushed my cheek. Someone was kissing me. Someone was kissing me.

“Mm—!”

At my noise, the lips pulled away. Through that curtain of dark hair, black eyes stared down at me.

Even in my daze, I recognized him instantly.

Tyroc. You bastard. What are you doing to someone who’s asleep?!

“A-ah, the husband has awakened?”

I jerked toward the voice. Husband?

Then I saw the blacksmith and remembered. Right. We pretended to be married to leave Borhumi’s castle.

But why the hell would that justify a kiss?!

I shot upright, furious—only to hear praise.

“You have a wonderful spouse. He went and found honey for you.”

…Honey. So that sweetness was honey. Did not make me grateful. Especially not with Tyroc grinning like that.

“For a frail husband, this is nothing.”

Disgusting. Sure, I started this ridiculous fake-marriage act—but I wasn’t half as shameless as him.

I glared at him and took in our surroundings. A small wooden hut. Abandoned, decrepit, cobwebs clinging to beams.

“An old shelter,” he murmured.

I nodded, then looked at the blacksmith. She no longer seemed hostile, only eager to leave.

“Do you require anything else?”

Why was she acting like a servant? Tyroc answered before I could ask.

“No. Repeat the information you told me and consider the gold fully paid.”

Ah— the gold. I’d waved one around before collapsing. So what did she tell him while I was unconscious?

“Information…?”

I nearly used formal speech with Tyroc, then remembered our act and switched tone. He didn’t seem to care. Instead, he ordered:

“Tell my beloved husband everything you just told me.”

I whipped my head toward him. He was already smirking, anticipating it.

“If you stare at me so passionately, I might take it as desire.”

“You son of—!”

I swallowed the rest by force. My restraint only made his eyes shine with amusement.

“Son of… ah, is that how you wish to behave? Like a dog?”

Was he insane? I glanced at the blacksmith in panic—but she only nodded thoughtfully.

“Variety in energetic positions strengthens a couple’s bond.”

…Excuse me?

First the spirit, now random civilians—why is everyone in Tuvine rated 19+? This country should be renamed Two-Hell, not Tuvine.

And of course, Tuvine’s finest responded dryly:

“Extremely energetic.”

I snapped toward him again, ready to curse, when a large loaf of bread was pushed into my hands. My eyes widened. My stomach growled loudly.

Grrr—rgle.

Mortified, I cleared my throat and diverted attention.

“Ahem. So—what was the information?”

As I ate, I listened to the blacksmith recount the situation in Borhumi.

The land’s lord was officially Zab, but he spent most of his time in the imperial capital and cared little for the territory. He only visited occasionally through the portal. Actual control lay with Administrator Yan—who was vile.

“Water began to become contaminated. At first only a few villages, but this year the capital cannot use its water at all.”

“That serious? And the Duke hasn’t done anything?”

I regretted the question immediately. If Borhumi had handled things properly, people wouldn’t be smuggling water right now. The blacksmith’s silence confirmed it—but Tyroc spoke first.

“The Duke likely doesn’t even know.”

“No way…”

But the blacksmith’s expression proved it true.

“A dog would rule better than that man,” I muttered.

She flinched, but I pressed on.

“What about inside the castle?”

“All fresh water brought in from outside goes only to the main castle.”

Of course. An administrator who loved money…

“So Yan is selling water?”

She nodded. Classic villain behavior.

“And the Duke has no clue?”

“Why would he?” Tyroc answered lazily.

“He cares only about the imperial throne.”

Even so—how could he not notice the suffering of his own land?

“Yan forbids anyone to speak of the contamination. Those who do vanish.”

“Not prison?”

She shook her head.

“They are taken… most likely to Crystal Lake.”

Crystal Lake. She explained.

“A sacred lake that never dries, even during droughts. Borhumi nobles traditionally train there.”

Ah yes. I remembered Zab whining in the underground tomb about disliking training at that lake.

“Is the lake also polluted?”

“I hear it is not. But no one can confirm—no one is allowed near.”

“Why?”

“It is sacred. In the past, people were kept back only during training. But Zab… closed it off entirely. Soldiers guard it. Without permission, no one may approach.”

“He doesn’t even go there to train.”

Her face grew bitter. Indeed—he rarely even visited his own castle. Greedy parasite.

Yet his behavior revealed something important.

“A place precious but neglected…”

I murmured, looking at Tyroc.

The Borhumi divine beast had mentioned this clue regarding the key. Tyroc seemed to think the same—his lips curved.

“Want to see it?”

“I absolutely do.”