Salvation Through Delusion C89

Chapter 89

“I can get you into that gathering. But first, promise me one thing.”

“Tell me.”

“Even if you find the traitor, don’t try to kill them on the spot.”

Her voice was so grave that a small laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.

“In a crowded place? Of course I can’t kill anyone there. I’ll just wait until they’re alone and—”

“Do you have to kill them?”

My smile faded, and Dr. Kim watched the change with quiet curiosity.

“I knew it. My earlier guess was right. Saving our world isn’t your priority — revenge is. Isn’t that true?”

I should’ve lied. Should’ve said No.

But the words wouldn’t leave my throat. So I looked aside and picked a safer path.

“Saving Earth is obviously important.”

“But if you had to choose between revenge and saving it, you’d pick revenge. Why?”

For a moment, I hesitated. Should I just say it? It’s not even some grand, complicated reason.

But saying it out loud was harder than I thought.

She must’ve misread my silence, because Dr. Kim sighed and spoke softly.

“If you’re thinking, ‘Well, saving the world can be your job, Dr. Kim,’ don’t even dream of it. I can’t do it without my team.”

“That’s not what I— You’ve done more for Earth than anyone. If I just get rid of the traitor, then—”

“I can’t do it alone anymore.”

Her voice was still calm, even as mine wavered.

“The traitor is probably someone very high up. If you kill them, you won’t survive either. And I’d rather keep every ally alive than kill the traitor. Revenge can wait. My priority is saving people — including you.”

I couldn’t answer. My chest felt tight, full of heat and something I couldn’t name.

She waited. She looked like she’d wait for hours if she had to.

That was harder to handle than answering.

“…For now.”

I forced out the words and offered the compromise I knew she wanted.

“Tomorrow, I won’t act. I’ll only observe and identify who the traitor is.”

Dr. Kim didn’t look thrilled, but she nodded.

“Good. The traitor will definitely reveal themselves somehow — if they’re obsessed with Tyroc.”

His friend’s proposal honestly surprised him.

From everything Tyroc had deduced, this person had the temperament of someone who practiced patience — someone who waited for the perfect opening.

So why bring this up now?

Tyroc asked the simplest question.

“Why?”

His friend’s eyes trembled slightly, though his voice remained firm.

“Because then I can use my ability for your sake.”

“Your foresight?”

His friend hesitated, then shook his head.

“I do have foresight, but it’s not very useful. I only know the future for half a year ahead — and even that has changed drastically. …I didn’t expect the disaster to accelerate like this.”

He exhaled shakily, then continued.

“But the other ability is different. That one… I earned through effort, not luck. I can read and decode every ancient document I’ve ever seen — and I can remember all of it perfectly. That’s how I figured out why the rift appeared.”

“Because of the black mage.”

His friend shook his head.

“He only reopened a rift that had already been sealed once. I’ll explain the details at the White Branch Assembly tomorrow — so come. You will be there, right?”

Tyroc murmured, “And?”

His friend’s eyes brightened as if waiting for that question.

“A long time ago, the ancestors were terrified the black mages would learn anything about the divine beasts. So they encrypted everything — not one unified code, but dozens of shifting ciphers. Even descendants of the divine beast houses can’t read most of it.”

There was pride in his voice.

“But I can. And because of that, I found the record about the ancient curse — the one tormenting House Koon.”

He lowered his voice.

“This curse… it’s written entirely in the blood of black mages, isn’t it?”

Tyroc didn’t respond, but the cold flash in his golden eyes was answer enough.

“How do you break it?”

“I need to see it in person. And if my theory is right… you’ll only have one chance. If that attempt fails, the curse will bind you forever.”

Tyroc studied him as if measuring truth from lies, but his friend didn’t flinch.

Finally, Tyroc asked:

“What do you want in return?”

“Nothing.”

His friend smiled faintly.

“How could I ask you for payment?”

“But you just asked me to take you as a partner.”

“T—that was because…”

He bit his lip, then finally confessed.

“Because of Montaine. They’ve started to sense my abilities. They think I’m… a salvation of sorts. And if they secure that salvation, they think it will justify taking the throne. So they’re demanding…”

He inhaled sharply.

“They’re demanding a partner’s vow. They’ll announce it tomorrow. And Tyroc… I…”

“You’re a salvation?”

His friend looked at him, searching.

“If you want me to be, then yes. I’m salvation.”

For the first time, Tyroc let out a crooked smile. His friend tensed, unable to mirror the expression. But Tyroc leaned back and continued smiling.

“Tyroc…”

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re salvation or not. As long as you can break Koon’s curse.”

“I will. I’ll do it. Just… don’t let Montaine take me. If I become theirs, they’ll never let me free the Koon House.”

Tyroc’s gaze sharpened.

“You’re not a possession. You don’t get taken just because Montaine wants you.”

“But Montaine is the only divine beast house left. We can’t refuse them forever. And… my teacher supports them. For the sake of Tuvain’s safety, she wants us to side with the strongest house immediately.”

“Your teacher?”

“High Priestess Chegi. She’s the one who believed in me from the start. Disobeying her hurts… but Tyroc, I want you to be emperor. You’re the only one who can save Tuvain. And you do want the throne, don’t you?”

Tyroc didn’t answer. He turned toward the window instead.

“Tyroc.”

Even when called, he didn’t turn back — still lost in thought, still weighing everything.

His friend knew he was being impatient, but he couldn’t stop the desperation clawing up his throat.

“I found a record about this. Koon’s divine beast isn’t gone. It didn’t vanish. Tyroc, the divine beast can be summoned back. If we do that—”

“I don’t need a divine beast.”

The rejection was cold and immediate.

His friend froze.

“Without a divine beast’s power, you can’t be emperor. And Koon’s divine beast isn’t like Borhumi’s — it hasn’t vanished. It can be awakened if we just—”

“Borhumi’s divine beast vanished?”

Tyroc’s tone was icy. His friend, unaware of the implications, nodded.

“Yes. It really did vanish. That’s why the rift opened in Borhumi.”

“It’s certain?”

“Yes. But… I don’t understand why. It wasn’t supposed to disappear for another six months.”

“…I see.”

“If Koon’s divine beast had vanished too, there’d be a rift on Koon’s land as well.”

An astonishing claim — but Tyroc only stared at him quietly.

His friend tried calling his name again, but Tyroc spoke first, as if to himself.

“…If you’re salvation, then I can’t let Montaine have you.”

His friend inhaled sharply — but his relief didn’t last long.

“At the White Branch Assembly tomorrow, I’ll announce my decision.”

Tomorrow. Not now.

His heart dropped.

He wanted Tyroc to choose him now, wanted him to reach out and hold on.

But Tyroc simply gave him time — or distance.

His friend swallowed disappointment and nodded.

It’s fine. He could wait a little longer.

He lowered his head, steadying his trembling breath — and because of that, he didn’t notice the way Tyroc stared into the air, thinking of something far beyond this room.

His face was unreadable, but his golden eyes burned with fierce, brilliant light.