Salvation Through Delusion C103

Chapter 103

“At least he doesn’t criticize your eating habits, does he?”

“He… well—ah. I’ve heard it once.”

Dr. Kim squeezed her eyes shut.

“Even a dog knows better than to bother someone while they’re eating.”

“That’s why you should discard the hypothesis that he likes me. He’s hated the Adeye family for years—suddenly liking me makes even less sense. Honestly, it’d be more believable if he chose me to get his hands on Adeye’s assets.”

I remembered something Solongo once told me. Everyone knew the Adeye family head was frail; when she died, everything would pass to Rue. Because of that, plenty of people tried to get close. To keep those parasites away, Dr. Kim had deliberately treated Rue like an abandoned relative.

“Tyroc isn’t the type to be swayed by money,” Dr. Kim said at once, then tilted her head.

“Well… he might have grown greedy after noticing that my attitude toward you changed, but that man’s stubbornness is legendary. He won’t change.”

“Yes. He flatly said he didn’t need a dowry.”

“Hmph. At least he has his pride.”

She scoffed, then suddenly asked as if something had occurred to her,

“If I die, should I just leave all my wealth to you?”

“No. It’s your money—do whatever you want with it. Donate it all if you like.”

“I won’t donate.”

She said it lightly and turned her gaze away.

“My world is already falling apart. Why should I care what happens to Tuvine after I die? Whoever takes my money, I don’t mind.”

Her eyes lost focus as she stared into empty space. I didn’t need to ask what she was thinking of. I sometimes made those solitary trips home too—ones that only left you lonelier afterward.

I waited in silence. A moment later, her voice pulled itself free of her thoughts.

“If it’s all going to be yours anyway, why do you refuse?”

“When my real family, friends, and comrades are all dead, what’s the point of living alone? Once my work is finished, I have no regrets.”

Her eyes sank heavily. I pretended not to notice and spoke in a businesslike tone.

“This isn’t the time to worry about the future. We still have a long road ahead for our objective. You heard about the traitor, didn’t you?”

As expected of someone who’d lived solely for our world for ten years—her gaze changed instantly.

“I did. Ma Hoiga—that bastard—betraying us and even masquerading as the Savior.”

“Exactly. Using nanorobots for that.”

“Right. You can’t even follow nanobot instructions without getting goosebumps—how vicious must he be?”

That wasn’t the point. I shook my head.

“What infuriates me is that he used nanorobots to decipher ancient manuscripts.”

“Deciphering manuscripts is something you can do without nanorobots.”

“What? Those are documents no one in Tuvine can read.”

“That’s because semiotics isn’t properly established here. Our world is different. People study semiotics as a hobby.”

Since when did semiotics rank alongside reading and exercise? The confidence was like a top student saying the exam was easy. I didn’t have the energy to argue and changed the subject.

“Anyway, do not meet Hoiga. Ever.”

I emphasized it again, just in case.

“Stay in bed, cancel all external schedules.”

“That’s the plan. You leave the Ma family to me and focus on that Koon bastard—cough.”

She looked pale, so I stood.

“Please rest. We’ll talk tomorrow morning.”

“Fine. We still have time to discuss things.”

“Ah… actually, we don’t.”

“What?”

“I have to move into the Koon estate tomorrow. Apparently, that’s their rule.”

“Insane! What kind of family—…ah. In Tuvine, it would exist. Damn it.”

So it really does. I muttered a curse myself.

Please don’t let there be thousands of rules.

“Hoiga, does it really have to be this way?”

Hoiga glanced back at his brother, who stood beside him dressed identically.

“Brother, I’m sorry.”

He lowered his voice.

“The soldiers surrounding our house under the pretense of protection are really here to monitor me. There are probably watchers inside as well.”

With a pitiful look, he pleaded,

“It’s the first day—they’ll be careless. Please, just lie in bed pretending to be me. I’ll take care of something and come back quickly.”

“Where are you going?”

Hoiga turned his gaze back to the window, then answered vaguely,

“There’s someone I need to meet. I need to hear the reason.”

Pulling his hood low, he slipped into the night and arrived—long after dark—at the Koon ducal residence.

But the person he sought wasn’t there.

Instead, Rick rushed out.

“Hoiga! What is this, showing up without notice at this hour?”

“Where is His Grace?”

“He left urgently on a monster hunt. He’s not in the estate.”

“Monsters? I heard he hasn’t fully recovered yet. How urgent could it be?”

Rick smiled awkwardly. Hoiga immediately understood.

“Borhumi’s Crystal Lake, then. Hah.”

He exhaled deeply. Unlike the Duke of Montaine, who only went for show, Tyroc ran toward monsters day or night, whether anyone watched or not—earning the slander that he did it for money.

But if it were truly for money, he would have stopped long ago.

“He feels responsible,” Rick murmured.

“Then come back later—”

“No. It has to be now.”

Rick took it seriously—he knew Hoiga’s foresight—but then froze when he saw his eyes.

Emotions churned violently inside them, like a storm-tossed boat at sea.

Ah. He wasn’t chosen.

Rick had seen many who adored Tyroc. Unreturned feelings often drove them to reckless visits, only to turn love into hatred.

Usually, it didn’t matter. None of them could harm Tyroc.

But Hoiga was different—proclaimed as another Savior, backed by Montaine.

“Hoiga.”

Rick called his name, holding back a sigh.

“You may be disappointed, but it’s done. It can’t be undone.”

“Why? He hasn’t married Adeye Rue yet.”

“He’s already called Rue his betrothed. You know this—once His Grace decides, he never reverses it.”

Hoiga’s eyes wavered, then burned.

“No. There’s still time. Until the bond oath is sworn, nothing is absolute. I’ll persuade him again.”

Rick finally sighed. The only cure was for hope itself to be severed by the person involved.

“His Grace has an important engagement tomorrow. He’ll return at dawn.”

“I’ll wait.”