Salvation Through Delusion C143

Chapter 143

“So that’s why the Ma Guild is so large,” Duke Killu said with a smile. “To think talent like this has been supporting them. The Ma family must resent me for taking Hoiga away.”

Hoiga assumed it was flattery and simply turned his gaze aside. It was true—since coming here, he hadn’t been able to properly help his family. At Killu’s request, he’d been buried day and night in decoding Montaine’s ancient documents.

Those records must contain information about divine beasts. If Montaine obtains it, they’ll stand unmatched in Tuvine.

He had already sworn to give his full loyalty to Montaine. That meant this mission came first, though he occasionally worried about the Ma Guild without him. His brother’s letter had tried to reassure him:

It’s fine. You’ll be doing more important things. Don’t worry about us. We won’t run the guild into the ground just because you’re gone.

Still, Hoiga sighed quietly. He’d worried whether they’d made reckless contracts with the southern textile union—but chose to trust his family.

Suddenly Killu caught his hand and pulled him closer.

“But you’re mine now.”

“….”

“I’m amazed you managed to hide such brilliance.”

“Then surprise me in return,” Hoiga replied calmly. “Everyone needs to be in the right place at the right time.”

His voice lowered with emphasis.

“Priest Sidro must stay near the Adeye siblings exactly on schedule. And Duke Koon must be kept far away so Rue can leave.”

Killu lifted Hoiga’s hand and kissed the back of it.

“Of course. I promise everyone will be where they need to be when you want them there.”

A cruel smile flickered in his eyes.

“To think Tyroc let someone like you slip away—I question his intelligence.”

Hoiga’s expression hardened, but Killu deliberately pressed on.

“When Tyroc learns the truth, he’ll regret it bitterly. Adeye Rue does nothing but cling to her sister for help. Right now he’s probably exhausted trying to soothe her.”.

.

.

.

.

.

Why was he reacting like that? Was the bear divine beast telling the truth? Did he really need that power?

Instead of voicing the question, I studied Tyroc. Shock and confusion flashed across his face before freezing into something cold.

“Fine,” he said.

“Fine what?”

“I’ll teach her how to use Sarne’s divine beast power. I’ll accept it first.”

That easily? Even Black Bear stiffened, her grip tightening. But Tyroc added a condition.

“The divine beast answers one question.”

His gaze fixed exactly where the beast stood. As if hearing him, she slowly rose.

Creeeaaak…

Even now, she moved at that glacial pace. I focused on her arms. They angled downward—forming an S. Thirty seconds later, the second character. Thankfully it was short. When she finally sat back down, I still needed a moment to translate.

“Why?” Tyroc asked.

“She says… no.”

I braced for anger. Instead, he smiled thinly toward her.

“You’re refusing before hearing the question?”

He stared straight at her. The tension between them thickened.

“You said I need divine beast power,” Tyroc continued. “But isn’t it the opposite?”

Opposite? That meant she needed him. The beast didn’t respond—only stared with unsettling intensity. Even though I was the only one who could see it clearly, the meaning was obvious.

Tyroc was right.

Then I realized something—he hadn’t said Sarne’s divine beast.

Wait… another one?

“If you’re trying to use me for your friend,” Tyroc warned coldly, “give it up.”

The bear slowly stood. Her eyes gleamed with a manic focus. She radiated irritation—though even her anger was slow.

Seriously? If you’re mad, can’t you move faster?

“Nothing?” Tyroc asked after a long wait.

“Two characters done,” I said.

His jaw twitched. I stayed focused—last time I looked away, I got scolded. Finally, the message finished.

ㅋ ㅈㅅㅌㅇ(쿤 재수탱이-Koon jerk )

A bad feeling crawled up my spine.

[“Koon jerk.”]

Mo confirmed it.

“…Seriously.”

I sighed out loud before I could stop myself. Minutes of waiting for that?

“Did she just insult me?” Tyroc asked sharply.

I glared at the root of the problem.

“You’re picking fights with Sarne’s divine beast now too?”

He smirked. This was funny to him? The bear was a problem—but Tyroc, who defaulted to violence with divine beasts, was worse.

If this turned into childish bickering and I waited five minutes just to hear “Koon baldhead,” I might lose it.

“Apologize.”

Tyroc turned on me. I held my ground.

“Why?”

“Because you’re accusing a divine beast who barely said anything and twisting everything into an insult.”

Koon jerk wasn’t really a curse… just negative flavor text. Totally defensible.

“Apologize.”

“Yeah—apologize!” Black Bear shouted in booming support.

Great timing… except Tyroc’s eyes went colder.

“I’ll handle this—” I tried.

“Apologize to the divine beast!!!”

Was she trained in projection? Tyroc’s patience snapped.

“No.”

Conversation over.

The bear divine beast rose again. I expected another slow insult—but instead, her body floated upward.

Wait—she has wings?!

They fluttered, lifting her gently onto a huge rock. She sat down heavily and folded her stubby arms across her chest.

…Was she crossing her arms?

Her eyes locked onto mine. The instant I met her gaze, she whipped her head away—faster than I’d ever seen her move.

That speed alone shocked me. The meaning hit a moment later.

…She’s sulking.

I rubbed the back of my neck and shut my eyes.

Great. A pair of sulking children.