Salvation Through Delusion C76

Chapter 76

Of course I didn’t care. Efficiency is a core value of every Korean—period.

Being misunderstood as a pervert was annoying, sure, but finding the key took priority.

So I stepped out of the hut and asked Tyroc,

“Are we heading straight to Crystal Lake?”

His expression wasn’t clear in the darkness, but his disbelief was obvious.

“It takes over half a day to reach it.”

Half a day? That far? If we left now… damn. The sky was already dark; we’d only get an hour or two in.

“Hurry. Let’s go.”

I took the lead. Behind me, I heard him give a baffled little laugh.

“You actually have a method to find the key?”

“Of course.”

Simple: call out for the “key.”

Problem: it only reacts when touching my body.

After I explained, he immediately asked,

“What do you suspect is the key, then?”

“A lot of things. Twigs. Pebbles.”

A short silence.

Yeah, I knew. Thinking about it made me sigh too.

“If we find it in a year, we’ll be lucky.”

“No. We’ll find it within a week. Absolutely.”

Because someone has to enter the hunting competition.

Time was bleeding away every second.

“Alright, move. Chop-chop.”

Rattle. Clatter.

Every time the wheel bumped over something, the carriage shook like it wanted to fling us out.

Haas had already thrown up several times.

Two days now of forced marching.

We reached the Borhumi border instantly with the portal—but after that, no magic allowed.

Borhumi only permitted a single wagon.

A regular horse-drawn one. Primitive. Antediluvian. Torture on wheels.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Probably hit a rock. Haas screamed like dying livestock, then glanced nervously at the others.

Ennya hadn’t spoken once since departure, lips sealed tight.

Solongo didn’t even flinch at the shaking. Absolute composure.

“Miss Black Bear drives rather aggressively,” Haas finally groaned.

Solongo lazily lifted her gaze, slid open the window, and announced,

“You may go faster.”

Rumble—KADUDUDUDU!

The wagon now leapt like a rabid stallion.

Haas retched again, then pleaded,

“A—ah—c-can we slow down just a little?”

“Time is urgent.”

“W-we m-might still have time! If things were really dire, His Grace would have sent another signal—urgh!”

“Are you certain?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Speed up.”

“NONONO—I’m certain!! If His Grace needed us, he’d have contacted me again!”

Solongo paused, then shook her head.

“That only means it isn’t the worst-case scenario. We have no way of knowing what danger they face.”

She turned to the Black Bear woman again.

“Max speed.”

Haas wailed pitifully.

“That cursed nuisance Adeye Rue being near His Grace is danger enough!! Urgh!”

Communication with enemies is fine—unless that “enemy” just happens to understand you perfectly.

Same with Tyroc.

Not that I’d admit it, but… we weirdly worked well together.

‘Two routes. One over the mountain—fast but hard. One around—long but easy.’

‘Where’s the mountain?’

‘In front of us.’

‘That hill?’

…‘We’re climbing the mountain.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Two hours later we crossed the… hill. And night fell.

‘No fire.’

‘Why?’

‘You know why. If anyone sees us—’

‘Smart.’

‘Of course. I’m not stupid.’

…

‘You thought I was dumb, didn’t you?’

‘Your academy grades were rather famous.’

‘I d—died and—’

‘Right. Came back sharper.’

‘You understand well.’

‘Always.’

…

‘Though even after resurrection, there’s something you still can’t do.’

‘What?’

‘Kiss.’

‘Ha! I’m way better than you. You only know how to ram like a bull. Don’t lecture me.’

‘If I used technique, you’d melt.’

‘Ahahah—you wish. If I melted, your brain would short-circuit before mine. My charm would destroy you. I’d seduce—’

…

‘…I mean, hypothetically.’

‘I know.’

‘Then why do your eyes look—never mind.’

…

‘Sleep?’

‘…Fine.’

We dozed in the wild and at first light started again.

The sky brightened, but the dense forest stayed dark.

Good thing I had Mo—and a guide even better than Mo.

“Watch your left foot.”

Tyroc walked through the pitch-black woods like it was midday.

He had marched all day, stood guard all night, and nearly died in the Crimson Tides Forest days ago.

Where did this man get stamina?

Did he implant ten nano-robots? Secret cyborg? Betrayal arc incoming?

He sensed my stare instantly and turned.

“Tired?”

I looked up at the dawn sky like it was my idea.

“Nope. Hahh… perfectly fine.”

“…”

“No really. Hahh—fine.”

“…”

“I survived death. That’s why.”

“What?”

“You seemed to doubt my stamina. Didn’t you?”

He stopped and stared. Suspicious, always. Then turned away.

“With how many men you’ve supposedly exhausted, I doubt you’re weak.”

So Rue slept with like… a hundred men?

[Much more.]

…Thanks, Mo. Really.

“Yeah, sure. But now men give me hives, so I’ll use my leftover stamina to keep up.”

He halted.

“You were fine kissing me.”

Low blow. I ignored it.

“So, do you know where you’re going?”

“No.”

…Excuse me?

“It’s terribly hard to walk the path right in front of us.”

Sarcasm. He was annoyed again—but…

Wait.

Right in front of us?

I froze. He turned, saw my face, and sharpened like a drawn blade.

“What is it?”

“Don’t you see the fog?”

He looked around. Slow. Careful.

“No.”

What?

“There’s been fog for a while. And a faint smell. Decaying.”

Oops. Saying “corpse stink” was not reassuring.

Shing.

He unsheathed his sword. The air thickened with pressure.

“Are you alright?”

“What?”

“The smell.”

Ah. Was he asking if I was nauseous? How cute.

…Except I’d rather die than admit it.

“It’s fine. Why do you believe me? I don’t know why I can see fog either.”

He scanned the surroundings again.

“What else do you see?”

“The forest. But the trees look wrong. Dried up. Bare branches…”

Ah. Understanding struck.

“How do you see them?”

“Lush and green.”

No. This place was dying.

So why could only I see it?

“Is it the divine beast’s power…?”

“If it were, I’d sense it. It’s not. And it’s not an otherworldly entity.”

“Why mention otherworldly beings?”

“Only humans hide rot and corruption through illusion. Through magic.”

“That can’t be right. Rue— I only see supernatural beings. Not magic illusions.”

“Correct. That’s not your gift.”

He paused.

“What color are my eyes?”

“Black—oh.”

Right. He’d used magic to change his eye color. I couldn’t see through that.

So I didn’t see through all magic.

He murmured, low and certain,

“You see through black magic.”

“…Black magic?”

“That shield imprisoning the Borhumi divine beast—you never wondered why you could see it?”

Right. That shield.

I finally realized something was very, very wrong.