Salvation Through Delusion C132

Chapter 132

“Have you arrived, Savior?”

At Hoiga’s appearance, Killu greeted him with a smile. Solongo immediately rose from her seat and bowed deeply. It was impeccable etiquette, yet Hoiga’s gaze upon her was cold.

“Duke, it’s embarrassing when you call me that in front of Solongo. Adeye has a savior too, after all. Isn’t that right, Solongo?”

With her eyes lowered, Solongo answered calmly.

“How could someone as insignificant as I possibly judge the truth of a savior’s existence?”

“They say Rue communicates with divine beasts.”

“I have not confirmed that myself, so I cannot judge that either.”

“Then tell me what you have confirmed.”

At Hoiga’s icy tone, Solongo stiffened for a moment. He twisted his lips at her reaction.

“You seem flustered. Because he’s different from the one you knew?”

“No.”

“No—you should be flustered. I have much I want to hear from you.”

She remained motionless, tension frozen in her posture. When Hoiga moved to press her further, Killu intervened.

“Solongo handles mostly trading affairs, so her contact with Adeye Rue is limited. Still, I understand why you’re curious, Savior. I’ve yet to witness Rue’s abilities myself, and I’m quite intrigued. Yet somehow I never manage to meet him…”

“No. You’ll see him soon. Duke Koon will attend the hunting tournament, and naturally Rue, as his partner, will come as well.”

“Ah, the hunting tournament.”

Killu exaggerated his reaction and turned back to Solongo with a smile.

“Then we’ll see Adeye Rue that day. It’ll be full of men Rue enjoys, won’t it? Solongo, I’m truly looking forward to seeing him.”

“…I cannot confirm Rue’s schedule.”

“Ah, we never finished discussing that gift. On second thought, it would be best if you took today’s gift back with you.”

Solongo’s lips tightened with discomfort, and Killu smiled in satisfaction.

“Savior, didn’t the Ma Trading Company want exclusive rights to supply Southern textile fabrics to Sarne? I can mediate.”

“If the deal succeeds, Ma Trading will devote itself fully to House Montaine.”

“Haha—such talk of devotion between family. Still, reassuring words. They say merchants can’t be trusted, but Ma Trading inspires confidence.”

“Yes, you can trust Ma Trading, if nothing else.”

The two men mocked her openly while Solongo stood before them. Her lowered gaze hid her expression, but Killu could guess her thoughts.

Losing exclusivity over the fashionable violet fabric would be a serious blow. His smile sharpened.

“Solongo, you’re still here? I’ve already said what I needed.”

Despite the blatant dismissal, she bowed politely until the end. Hoiga, however, eyed her submissiveness with suspicion.

“Solongo. Don’t forget—Rue must arrive on the first day of the tournament.”

“…The first day?”

“Yes.” Hoiga nodded, a strange smile forming. He repeated the date deliberately.

“Whatever else happens, that date must be kept. Understood?”

—

Black Bear had truly fainted. I’d assumed someone capable of holding off monsters at Crystal Lake would be formidable, but she turned out surprisingly fragile.

After laying her inside the cabin, I stepped back out. The three-headed-proportion bear sat like a doll, then rolled its eyes to look at me again.

With so much white showing, the gaze felt unhinged—like a manic killer bear.

I shuddered and stood before it. Divine beast, probably. I’d know soon enough.

“Hello.”

No response. If not for its eyes, I’d swear it was just a giant plush toy.

I was thinking its limbs were oddly short when it suddenly stood.

I flinched, but its movement was so slow I calmed quickly. Everything it did was slow.

After an eternity standing, it slowly raised its arms, pressing them beside its head. Then it froze.

For thirty seconds.

Clearly it meant something. Was it waiting for me to figure it out?

I opened my mouth to speak when it moved again—one arm stretching sideways. Another long pause.

Finally, it lowered both arms and sat, doll-like.

“…What?”

I blinked.

“Are you trying to convey something to me?”

Whoosh—

A breeze passed. The bear stood again with a groan-like motion.

Painfully slow.

Why even stand?

Suppressing my irritation, I observed carefully. Based on experience, inhuman beings always had hidden meanings.

It repeated the arm-to-head motion, lowered them agonizingly slowly, then did it again—twice this time—before sitting.

Still no clue.

Five minutes into this silent exchange, I found myself missing the chatterbox venom snake. Even Borhumi’s divine beast, flashy tail-tapping consonants and all, would be easier…

Wait.

Something clicked.

I stared at its black eyes. No way. That couldn’t be it.

“Mo, what shape did that look like?”

[Data insufficient. However, based on prior divine beast encounters… it may be bodily consonant representation. Possibly ‘ㅇㄴ’ for “hello,” and ‘ㅇㅇ’ for “yes.”]

…You’re kidding me. Arms to head = circle = ㅇ? And the sideways arm = ㄴ?

No. Impossible.

“My name is Adeye Rue. Can you say my name?”

The damn bear rose again in glacial slow motion. I waited.

Arms up—circle. Pause.

I noticed the arms curved outward, approximating a circle.

Don’t lose hope—

Then one arm extended horizontally, the other beneath it. ㄷ.

And back to circle.

Despair.

“Mo… any chance that’s not consonants?”

[High probability it is.]

Then its chubby paws formed shapes—ㄷ-like—held still.

[Likely ‘ㄹ’.]

…You’ve got to be kidding me.

Why was it spelling in consonants with its body? Did divine beasts study abroad in Korea?!

“Are you really a divine beast?”

Slow circle again.

AAAA—

“So if you’re making circles, could you just use your hands instead of your whole arms? It’d be less tiring…”

It finished its “ㅇㅇ” first, then looked at me.

“No, I’m saying you don’t have to strain—”

It extended both arms diagonally. Pause. Then up.

[Estimated: ‘싫어’ — “No.”]

I blanked. I’d forgotten my own question, mesmerized by the slow-motion performance. I’d suggested hand gestures, and it said no.

You stubborn bear!

“Why no—”

I bit the question back. Asking meant another slow demonstration.

This creature was fundamentally incompatible with a Korean temperament.

I pressed my hand to the back of my neck and shut my eyes.

My patience was dying.