Salvation Through Delusion C122

Chapter 122

Haas barely managed to suppress the urge to bolt and leave the rest to the monsters themselves. Everything felt like it was finally settling down—surely they’d be able to rest soon.

But monsters weren’t the only enemies here.

A knight approached and reported grimly,

“Your Grace. Borhumi Castle has closed its gates and is expelling outside forces.”

Those forces had come specifically to protect Borhumi City from the monsters. Naturally, Borhumi Castle was supposed to support them. Their lodgings were inside the city as well.

And yet they were being driven out?

Tyroc, still watching the monster rift, didn’t even turn his head as he asked,

“Why?”

“They claim some mercenaries caused trouble inside the city. However, they’re expelling only Kun’s troops while allowing the mercenaries to remain.”

At dawn, monster activity usually calmed down, but even as he listened to the report, Tyroc didn’t relax his vigilance.

This time, he didn’t ask why again. Even a child could guess the reason.

“Tch. Those damn Borhumi bastards,”

Enya spat nearby, openly venting her frustration.

“They begged us for help when things were desperate, and now that the monsters have quieted down a bit, they’re worried we’ll steal their city.”

Haas, slumped on the ground, nodded in agreement. They were busy fighting monsters to the brink of death, while Borhumi worried only about losing control of their castle. Even the reporting knight added angrily,

“They’re also expelling people from Sarne and Montaine, but those sides only sent a few observers.”

They were doing all the hard work, yet receiving this treatment. Everyone was furious—but no one suggested leaving.

No matter how unfair it felt, without them the monsters wouldn’t be contained. They were used to this kind of mistreatment after years of holding back monster tides.

Their lord had taken black magic stones, so outsiders mocked them as being money-obsessed. But if money were all that mattered, Tyroc would’ve gone only to places where monsters appeared in bulk, like other beast hunters.

Instead, Tyroc went anywhere help was requested, regardless of monster count. Everyone assumed he’d ignore Borhumi’s shameless behavior this time too.

Just as resignation settled in, Tyroc confirmed the rift had gone quiet and finally spoke.

“Haas. Open a portal.”

“Huh?! Are we going back to the estate?”

Haas jumped up, delighted.

Unlike him, the others stiffened. The monsters had calmed, so leaving wouldn’t be strange—but doing so now would look like they’d been chased off by Borhumi.

Before anyone could object—

“No. Borhumi Castle. Open a path to the underground catacombs.”

What? Why there?

Haas’s eyes widened, followed by everyone else finally catching on. Tyroc flicked his sword once, as if shaking monster blood off it, and issued his command casually.

“From this moment on, we occupy Borhumi Castle.”

With Tyroc gone for several days, I had nothing to do.

He’d emphasized household rules so strongly that I asked the butler whether there was anything I was required to do. The answer was always the same.

“Do as you wish.”

“Really? Anything I want?”

“Yes.”

“Can you put that in writing? With a signature at the bottom?”

For the first time, confusion crossed her usually robotic face. But given my contract-related trauma, I was deadly serious. Armed with a written “consent form” disguised as her opinion letter, I headed straight into the fog.

That’s right—the Acorn Forest.

My number one goal in Tuvine. No, my second goal.

For days, I pushed through the fog everyone feared as cursed black magic. In reality, aside from poor visibility, there was nothing special about it. You just couldn’t walk fast.

That wasn’t a problem for me. And I never got lost.

Because I had Mo.

Even without sight, Mo accurately tracked direction, building a functional mental map inside the fog. At the fog’s edge stood a long, tall wooden barricade—probably meant to block entry into the Inner Sanctum.

I had no intention of entering the Inner Sanctum. Who knew what curse lurked inside?

The problem was finding the path to the Acorn Forest.

I was certain there had to be a way around the Sanctum. Dr. Kim had casually told me to just pass through it, but there was no way I’d willingly walk into a curse.

With fog acting as a deterrent, the area near the Sanctum likely wasn’t well guarded.

After days of wandering the fog, turning back once it grew dark, I finally found it—a forest running alongside the long barricade.

“Huh?! Ac—”

[Highly likely to be the Acorn Forest.]

Mo stole my line completely.

Ah. Seriously.

I wanted to complain, but held back. Mo had worked hard building maps in the fog—and would continue doing so.

I’d reached the forest, but there was no path. Sediment from years of disuse had piled up to knee height.

So what? Paths can be made.

I was ready to crawl up even if a cliff blocked me—but Mo stopped me.

[If we turn back now, you can reach the estate before dinner.]

It was already that late?

Reluctantly, I turned around. The estate was far, and even if the sky was still bright, it would be dark by the time I arrived.

If I were alone, fine—but two escort soldiers were waiting at the fog boundary. Whether they were guards or babysitters, making them wait would be rude.

Even with Mo guiding me via precise arrows, the limited visibility meant it took over an hour just to exit the fog.

If only there were portals inside the fog. But with none of Kun’s people available internally, mobilizing mages wasn’t possible.

Still, wasn’t there some faster way?

Lost in thought, I reached the estate and froze halfway up the stairs. Through a first-floor window, I glimpsed people moving urgently behind the building.

It was already dark, but their movements were clearly rushed.

Curious, I approached and pushed open the large window frame.

Footsteps—many of them—became audible. Low murmurs too.

I couldn’t hear words, but instinctively, I knew.

Monster deployment?

Even in a completely different world, the atmosphere before a monster response was unmistakable. No matter how routine it became, the tension never disappeared.

What I heard outside felt exactly like that.

I instinctively turned toward the back door when the butler called out behind me.

“Lord Rue, where are you going?”

“Outside.”

“Were they being noisy? I’ll remind them to be quieter.”

I shook my head quickly. No, not that.

“It’s quiet enough. They’re heading out for monsters, right?”

The answer came from the back door as it opened.

“Yes.”

Rick stepped inside. He looked exhausted, his expression dark with seriousness.

Tyroc had said he’d return the next morning—but days had passed. I’d already been worried.

And there was only one place where things could be going badly.

“Is it really that bad at Borhumi’s Crystal Lake?”

Rick hesitated, then sighed.

“It’s nothing serious. You don’t need to worry.”

“There’s no such thing as ‘nothing serious’ when monsters are involved.”

I glanced back out the window. I couldn’t see clearly, but the scene painted itself in my mind.

Briefings while gearing up. Casual chatter that fades as reports worsen. Footsteps speeding up in unison.

Just like now—the sound of hurried boots echoing, then disappearing into the night.

“But this time, it’s not because of the mon— ahem. Still, it’s not something you need concern yourself with, Lord Rue.”

The response was deliberately professional. I turned to Rick expressionlessly.

“I’m not worried. I’m just curious how bad it really is.”

“Why do you assume it’s bad?”