Salvation Through Delusion C113

Chapter 113

That evening, the moment the sun set, I left my room as if I’d been waiting for it.

I planned to go to his room first—before Koon Tyroc came looking for me.

Did he really think I’d just sit around obediently and wait?

With the mindset of heading into battle, I stepped into the corridor—only to come to an abrupt halt the instant I turned the corner.

Through the window, I could see people gathered in front of the mansion.

Though the sky had darkened, most of them were holding lanterns, making it easy to guess there were over thirty people gathered.

Who are they?

What struck me as strange was that all of them were prostrated on the ground, as if begging someone of high status. And they were doing it quietly. That must be why such a large crowd had gone unnoticed.

What were they begging for?

And who were they begging to?

“Rue-nim.”

Thankfully, someone appeared with an answer.

Despite calling out to me calmly, the butler approaching had a rather brisk pace.

“You had your meal served in your room—was there anything inconvenient?”

“No. I finished everything.”

Earlier, I’d absentmindedly agreed when they suggested I eat in my room, saying the Duke was briefly away. But now that I saw those people outside, I couldn’t help wondering if the suggestion had been because of them.

I gestured toward the window with my eyes.

“Who are they?”

The butler hesitated for a moment, then answered evenly.

“They are residents of Koon. They are waiting because they have a request for His Grace.”

“Is there trouble in the territory?”

“No.”

The butler shook his head firmly, then spoke with a hint of pride.

“Since His Grace became the head of the Koon family, this land has become a better place. Everyone respects and follows him.”

“Then why are they so desperate?”

I hadn’t expected a real answer. After all, even if I was the fiancée, I was still a stranger who had appeared out of nowhere.

Yet the butler hesitated, then answered honestly.

“They are the families of servants who once worked in the main castle. Those who stayed in Koon Castle in the past were unable to return home due to the curse. When they heard that a Savior had arrived, they gathered to beg for the curse on Koon Castle to be lifted.”

…Ah.

My mind snapped alert.

I had known from the moment I lied about being a Savior that I would bear responsibility for it—but I’d thought I only needed to deceive and deal with Tyroc alone.

How naïve that was.

“If you reveal yourself, it may lead to troublesome matters, so it would be better for you to return to your room.”

“What is the curse placed on Koon?”

“I have no knowledge of that matter, so I cannot say.”

So that was something I was meant to hear from Tyroc himself.

I nodded and turned away, but I couldn’t move when the butler continued.

“Those who went to investigate the curse never returned. Except for His Grace.”

The ones who went to investigate were probably people who rushed in to save family members who hadn’t come back.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how many had thrown themselves into that curse.

I looked outside again. Now that I paid closer attention, most of the silent, pleading figures were elderly people, women, and children.

“They are people who had already given up on everything. Upon hearing news of the Savior, they are clinging to their last hope. So even if it troubles you, I ask that you be understanding.”

“……”

There was little I could say. After a long moment, all I managed was a nod.

“Okay. I understand.”

Then I turned and walked in the opposite direction from my room.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk.”

I gave a light wave of my hand to signal that he shouldn’t follow.

“I’ll take the back stairs.”

He didn’t stop me, but a single guard followed behind. In his haste, however, the guard made one mistake.

He hadn’t brought a lantern.

Perhaps he had poor night vision, because he couldn’t keep up with me. Meanwhile, thanks to Mo, I could see perfectly well in the dark.

So I walked on without much thought—until I suddenly realized I was alone.

The reason I couldn’t go any farther was something even Mo couldn’t help with.

[The fog is too dense. Visibility is severely limited.]

At some point, I had stepped straight into the black magic fog.

“The Borhumi clan seems unable to let go of its greed. They’ve announced that if there’s even a possibility the divine beast might return, they cannot abandon their status as a divine-beast clan.”

Rick’s report was fast, but not urgent. This much had been expected.

The real problem lay with the other clans’ responses.

“Because of that, Montaine has completely withdrawn support for monster hunting. Sarne, as you know, never offered much support to begin with, so the impact there is minimal. But no matter how many Tuvine monster hunters rush in at the scent of money, it’s still not enough…”

Only a single day had passed since the White Branch Council, yet events that should have unfolded over months were sweeping through Tuvine all at once.

As a result, Rick had been buried in reports these past few days. The moment Tyroc returned to the mansion, Rick had no choice but to follow close behind.

Then he realized Tyroc wasn’t heading toward his usual destination—the study—and fell silent.

Where is he going?

Rick was puzzled, but Tyroc’s pace was too fast to allow questions.

He figured the answer would become clear soon enough.

At the end of this corridor was a room.

Adeye Rue’s room.

A large question mark floated in Rick’s mind.

Why? Why would he go there the moment he got back?

But Tyroc’s steps stopped short of the destination.

A butler rushed over with a report.

“Rue-nim went for a walk toward the back of the estate after dinner.”

Tyroc stopped dead.

He stood still, unmoving, for two or three seconds of silence.

Yet in that brief span, the air around them turned sharply cold.

Rick didn’t understand why he felt this way.

Then Tyroc slowly turned to face the butler.

“Why?”

Why? Anyone could go for a walk—why ask the reason?

As the butler hesitated, Tyroc spoke again, expressionless.

“Rue isn’t the kind of person who would move carelessly on the first day.”

Rick’s mouth fell open.

What do you mean, isn’t? Everyone knew Adeye Rue had wandered all over Tuvine in search of men.

Yet his lord was judging Rue as if he were a completely different person.

Why?

Because he was to become the Duke’s consort? Was he trying to rewrite Rue’s reputation?

At that moment, the butler answered.

“He saw those gathered outside the estate and asked about them, so I explained the reason.”

Tyroc’s cooled gaze fixed on the butler.

“Why?”

“Because I could not lie to the person who will become the Duchess, I told him the truth.”

“Why?”

At the third repetition, even the butler stiffened.

Tyroc, seeing his silence, asked more directly.

“By what authority did you decide whether to tell him or not?”

Only then did the butler realize Tyroc was truly angry and bowed his head.

Watching from the side, Rick grew even more confused.

He’s angry over that?

Just because Rue heard something uncomfortable on his first day?

“I’m sorry. I spoke without thinking carefully. I will ensure nothing like this happens again—”

“And?”

The butler immediately stopped making excuses.

From experience, he knew there was still something he hadn’t accounted for.

“Your Grace, if I have failed in any way, please tell me.”

“Why are they still there?”

Without Tyroc pointing, it was obvious he meant the people still gathered in front of the estate.

“We are persuading them, but they are not easily moved—”

“Did I ever give you the opportunity to make excuses?”

The butler fell silent, his face drained of color.

Only then did Tyroc turn his gaze out the window and issue his command.

“Seize the three oldest among them and throw them into the underground prison. Give them nothing for five days—not even a single sip of water.”

The butler collapsed to the floor in shock, pressing his forehead down.

“I’m sorry. This is my fault.”

“Yes,” Tyroc replied coldly. “It is your fault.”

The butler’s eyes froze in panic.

Having served Tyroc for a long time, he alone had learned to clearly recognize when his master was truly angry.

Because even when enraged, Tyroc usually smiled.

But now—when he wasn’t smiling at all—was far more dangerous.

Strip away just one layer of that radiant smile people praised, and only cold, unfiltered cruelty remained.

Realizing the severity of the situation, the butler squeezed his eyes shut.

This wouldn’t end with words alone.

“I will also enter the prison to atone for my crime.”

At least that was the correct answer.

Tyroc gave Rick a brief command.

“Lock him up.”

“But, Your Grace—ah, no.”

Rick followed behind Tyroc as he walked away quickly, glancing back at the butler who still hadn’t risen from the floor.

The shock must be immense.

Rick himself was shaken.

Honestly, it didn’t make sense. Rue had merely gone for a walk after feeling uncomfortable—what was so wrong with that?

Why treasure him as if even a speck of dust must not touch him?

No matter how much of a Savior he was, was this really necessary?

That doubt soon turned into certainty.

Before Tyroc even left the estate to search for Rue, the captain of the guard arrived in haste with a soldier in tow, having already received the news.