Salvation Through Delusion C18

Chapter 18

Without Mo’s assistance, I could only rely on the moonlight streaming through the open terrace doors.

It poured into the room, soft and silver, revealing just enough for me to make out the obstacles inside. I studied the layout carefully—one wrong step, and a single sound could ruin everything.

Thankfully, the thick carpet muffled my footsteps, and I had the Fenouan estate’s blueprints from Dr. Kim.

“Start with the second floor. The ones who think too highly of themselves always hold their private conversations there.”

Following her advice, I crept up to the second floor, slipping silently through the narrow secret passageways. At each door, I stopped and pressed my ear against the wood, listening for voices.

There were sounds, faint but discernible. Unfortunately, most of them were not talking.

“Ah~ deeper, yes, just like that~”

“Ugh, how’s that? I’m amazing, right?”

“Mmm! So good! Way better than my husband!”

An affair.

I swallowed back a curse. Of course it had to be this kind of party. Moving on, I peeked through another crack, only to find that the adjacent rooms weren’t much better. Every one of them seemed dedicated to illicit meetings.

Don’t tell me the betrayer was in one of these rooms, having a grand time right now—

“Borhumi Zab obtained information about the Sword of Serenity.”

The Sword of Serenity? The emperor’s legendary blade? My eyes widened.

I didn’t need to search anymore—the voice was close.

I pressed my ear tightly against the wall, straining to catch the conversation. A faint reply came, but I couldn’t make out the words.

Damn it. Why couldn’t I hear?

Just as my patience thinned, the first voice spoke again, answering what must have been a question about the source.

“The information seems reliable. Zab’s right-hand man, Ottmar, is already on the move.”

After a short pause, the voice continued.

“The Sword of Serenity lies within the Forest of Crimson Tides. The entrance should be around—”

I leaned closer, desperate to hear more—

But something interrupted me.

No, someone.

An intrusive, nerve-prickling presence suddenly appeared in the air beside me.

Duke Koon hadn’t wanted to come to this party at all.

He’d rather have spent the evening slaying another monster and harvesting its black magic stone than wasting time in this den of fools.

The only reason he’d shown up was a letter from a certain friend.

“If you don’t come tonight, you’ll regret it.”

Had anyone else said those words, he would’ve ignored them.

But this friend was different—his words had a way of coming true. More than once, in fact.

Even so, Duke Koon had never asked where the man got his information, nor had he ever tried to profit from it. He had rebuilt his fallen house through his own power and would continue to do so without depending on anyone.

Still, tonight’s warning had been too pointed to dismiss.

“I was surprised,” his friend said, smiling a little too brightly. “Didn’t expect you to escort the young lord of Baron Zarayal’s house. You should’ve seen everyone’s faces when you walked in.”

Though his voice was light, his trembling hands betrayed his nerves. His gaze wouldn’t meet Koon’s.

Koon knew why. Reactions like this were common.

People always trembled before him—whether out of love, admiration, or awe. None of it mattered.

“I only needed an excuse to attend.”

“Sure, but you don’t just escort anyone. Zarayal’s family was one of the few that stayed loyal when everyone else turned their backs on you. Oh, and I heard the baron who was supposed to escort the young lord broke his leg? Is he doing all right?”

The concern sounded polite, but Koon didn’t bother to respond. He just smiled faintly.

The friend flinched, lowering his gaze.

“S-sorry. You hate personal questions.”

Koon studied him quietly. Was this really the same man?

They’d attended the same academy, yet never spoken once back then.

The person standing before him now was nothing like the polished, aloof figure remembered by society.

No one in the world would have guessed that this man carried a hidden gift—one that bordered on prophecy.

“I heard monsters have been appearing often in the Munkun Valley lately,” the friend went on, eager to keep him talking. “The Sarne family’s been keeping it quiet. They’re working hard to handle it themselves, forbidding outsiders from entering.”

The mention of one of the Four Divine Beast Houses made Koon glance up, if only briefly.

He said nothing, so the friend hurried to add more.

“They believe their divine beast still resides there.”

At that, Koon’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. Divine beasts—always the same delusion.

The Sarne family hadn’t been chosen by a divine beast for three generations, yet they still clung to hope, desperate to reclaim that power.

Compared to them, the Koon family, which had long given up after their beast’s disappearance a decade ago, seemed almost rational.

“I’ve been deciphering their old manuscripts,” the friend continued eagerly. “I’m convinced the Munkun Valley is significant.”

“They sent you their manuscripts?”

The question was calm, but the friend blushed faintly, mistaking curiosity for personal interest.

“Not directly. No one knows I’m skilled in deciphering ancient texts.”

Neither did I, Koon thought drily.

That meant the Sarne family had no idea their priceless records were being shared.

He disliked receiving unwanted information, but he didn’t stop the man from speaking.

After all, the Sarne family had helped destroy his house once. Let them ruin themselves now.

“If I find anything concrete about the divine beasts, I’ll tell you first,” the friend offered.

“Why?”

The man hesitated, flustered by the blunt question. Then he smiled shyly.

“Because I owe you. And… I’m grateful.”

Ah, that. He was referring to the day Koon had saved his life from a monster.

Gratitude was fine—but the emotion in his eyes was far deeper than simple thanks.

“I’ve already been repaid,” Koon said coldly.

“No. Not nearly enough.”

“I don’t want any more.”

His gaze sharpened. “Your feelings are… bothersome.”

The rejection hit like a blade. The man’s blue eyes trembled, waves rippling through them.

And yet—his voice didn’t waver.

“So… you don’t hate me, then?”

Oh?

Koon almost smiled. He hadn’t expected defiance.

His friend’s boldness was almost amusing.

“I mean, you don’t hate me, right?” the man asked again, his voice trembling.

“I suppose not. Not yet.”

“Then give me a chance. At least let me be useful. You can use me and throw me away afterward. I have two things you’ll want to hear.”

“Something I’ll regret not hearing?”

The friend nodded quickly, quoting his own letter.

“Just like you showed up here unexpectedly, there might be another unexpected guest tonight.”

“Who?”

“Montaine Bilge.”

At the name, Duke Koon’s eyes darkened.

Bilge—the notorious libertine of the social world, known for preying on fresh, innocent debutants.

And tonight, Koon had escorted just such a young man.

Damn it. The Zarayal heir will be in danger.

Koon moved to leave, but the friend reached out again.

“There’s a second piece of news.”

“Later.”

“Borhumi Zab obtained information about the Sword of Serenity.”

That made him stop. The name of an enemy—and one worth killing. His expression sharpened.

“Zab’s right-hand man Ottmar is already moving,” the friend added.

“Where?”

Even as he asked, Koon calculated what price this information might cost him. But the man answered without hesitation.

“The Sword of Serenity lies in the Forest of Crimson Tides. The entrance should be—”

He stopped.

Koon had raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze swept the surroundings, cold and lethal.

“There’s a rat nearby.”

Whish—

Wind surged through the dark, narrow corridor, blowing my hair into my face.

For a second, I froze. There shouldn’t be wind in a sealed passage. Unless—

Unless something not quite human was floating there.

I tried to ignore it and pressed my ear back to the wall. The information beyond was too important to lose.

But the wind only grew stronger.

It pressed against my body, shoving me backward. I stumbled several steps until I slammed into the secret door I’d entered through.

Then—silence.

Damn it!

I glared into the empty air, and there it was: a faint, translucent figure hovering before me.

And its shape looked suspiciously like… the back of a Bichon’s head.