Salvation Through Delusion C24

Chapter 24

 

“Do I need to know?”

 

Rick couldn’t answer that. After all, Tyroc was the type of man who never bothered with anything—or anyone—he didn’t deem worth his attention.

 

The Tyroc he knew had been admired by everyone since his academy days, yet he himself had always seemed detached, as if no one else around him existed.

 

“Still, the change is… remarkable. Anyone would think he’s become a completely different person.”

 

At that, Tyroc’s hand suddenly froze mid-motion.

 

“My Lord?”

 

“How’s the investigation on Adeye Rue?”

 

“There’s been talk even within House Adeye that he’s changed quite a bit. Apparently, he’s taken to exercising regularly. Just this morning, our informant reported seeing him running through his estate grounds right after sunrise—after being bedridden all day yesterday, no less.”

 

Rick shook his head slightly, still in disbelief as he continued.

 

“But unlike his usual self, he was gritting his teeth and swearing the whole time. No one’s sure what happened at Count Fenouan’s mansion to make him so furious…”

 

Tyroc’s hand stopped again.

 

“He got angry?”

 

The Duke’s voice was calm, but Rick could detect the subtle undercurrent of irritation within it.

 

He even gets angry when his enemies are angry? Rick thought, baffled, but nodded cautiously.

 

“Yes, apparently he was yelling curses when he thought no one was around. Seems like his head isn’t just filled with men anymore—he’s finally capable of other emotions. Who knows? He might even go after someone for revenge next time.”

 

Crack.

 

The pen in Tyroc’s grip snapped clean in half.

 

Rick jumped slightly, then glanced at his lord’s face. But Tyroc wasn’t angry—he was smiling. Coldly.

 

“Next time, I’ll pull his teeth out.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“Any signs that his power’s returned?”

 

“Oh, that. No, my lord.” Rick shook his head quickly.

 

“He’s been keeping to himself within the estate, so it’s hard to tell. But his fear of non-human beings is definitely unchanged. Even the mention of spirits used to make him shudder. If he’s seen one again recently, he wouldn’t be jogging around like nothing happened.”

 

“You never know. Maybe now he can look at anything and not flinch.”

 

Tyroc stared down at the documents for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Rick thought he seemed unusually tense today, his words sharper than usual.

 

“Still, there’s no way to confirm it,” Rick continued. “He hasn’t stepped outside the estate once.”

 

“Then drag him out.”

 

Tyroc signed the document with a rough stroke and smirked faintly.

 

“Throw out bait—something Adeye Rue won’t be able to resist.”

 

Bait. Rick immediately nodded, already thinking of several possibilities.

 

“Fortunately, it’s social season. There are a few events coming up he’d die to attend. Oh—and regarding your earlier order to investigate Borhumi Zab’s circle, his right-hand man, Ottmar, has disappeared.”

 

At the mention of that name, Tyroc’s golden eyes sharpened. Zab was the man he suspected of cursing the Koon family—the one responsible for their downfall.

 

“Zab’s found a lead on the entrance to the Crimson Wave Forest. The fact that he sent Ottmar himself means it’s probably accurate.”

 

“The Crimson Wave Forest? But that’s the realm of non-human entities. Only those chosen may enter.”

 

Rick trailed off, recalling a bit of lore.

 

“I read once that a spiritist managed to return alive from there, long ago. But even finding the entrance is nearly impossible…”

 

“It’s in the House of Ewik.”

 

“Yes, the entrance is in the… wait, what?!”

 

Rick’s eyes widened.

 

“How could you possibly know that? Ah—unless…”

 

He stopped himself, realization dawning. There was only one person who’d been providing crucial information lately. His assumption was confirmed when Tyroc turned his gaze toward the window, lost in thought.

 

The Silent Sword.

 

He didn’t intend to claim the Emperor’s relic for himself—but better that than let it fall into enemy hands.

 

Still, even Tyroc knew he didn’t yet have the power to crush his enemies. Not alone. If only he had a powerful ally… someone who knew the future.

 

“Maybe I should make them mine.”

 

Rick nearly choked on his breath.

 

Make them… his? That person?

 

“Honestly, I think they’d make a fine marriage candidate,” Rick offered tentatively, then quickly added in a lower tone, “If they truly possess the gift of foresight, they might even be the Savior.”

 

“Savior?”

 

Tyroc let out a low, amused laugh. The Savior. That absurd legend—the being said to have summoned the First Divine Beast to save the world.

 

But Rick pressed on earnestly.

 

“I know it sounds like something out of a fairy tale. But did you know? The Savior wasn’t just the one who called the Divine Beast—they also possessed the power of prophecy.”

 

“Rick, I can predict your future too, you know. Does that make me a Savior?”

 

“My… future, my lord?”

 

“Yes. You’ll spend all night working without a wink of sleep.”

 

“…Understood. I’ll keep quiet.”

 

“Then stop talking and report on Baron Ewik.”

 

Right, that. Rick straightened his posture and spoke briskly.

 

“It’s almost certain something’s wrong with the Ewik family. Baron Ewik’s partner, Torida, has been showing up at nearly every party and gathering lately—as if searching for someone.”

 

He didn’t say more, but Tyroc was quick to understand the implication.

 

“So, Baron Ewik might be missing.”

 

“Yes. Possibly even fled.”

 

A soft chuckle escaped Tyroc’s lips.

 

“With her temperament? Not likely. Unless someone’s gone to great lengths to hide her.”

 

“If that’s true…” Rick’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Then whoever’s hiding Baron Ewik must be the bravest fool alive.”

 

 

—

 

“Well done. You did very well,” Dr. Kim said as we dined together that evening.

 

For someone who’d collapsed in rage after Duke Koon’s insult, he looked remarkably refreshed. Probably because he’d heard about my recent “heroic act.”

 

“But the person Bilge assaulted doesn’t know it was me who saved them.”

 

“The victim? Oh, right—the one you stopped Bilge from assaulting. No, I meant Silian.”

 

I looked up from my bowl of cold radish soup. Silian—that was Baron Ewik’s name.

 

“Is Baron Ewik close with Duke Koon’s house?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

“Then what does this have to do with us?”

 

“Everything.”

 

Clack. I slammed my spoon down onto the table.

 

Was he kidding me?

 

But Dr. Kim continued brightly, completely unfazed by my irritation.

 

“Silian’s known for cultivating poisonous plants, but she also has knowledge of rare species we’ve never seen before. After a brief chat, I already see potential results.”

 

I chewed on a piece of steak and asked dryly, “Planning to grow something new?”

 

“Yes. Chili peppers.”

 

“…What?”

 

My fork froze midair, impaled through a slice of pale pickle.

 

“Why can’t you grow chili peppers?”

 

“Because they don’t exist.”

 

“…”

 

“There are no chili peppers in Tuvine. Which means we can’t make proper kimchi—”

 

Clang!

 

The fork slipped from my hand and clattered loudly against the plate, screaming in my stead. I shot to my feet.

 

“There are no chili peppers?!”

 

“Nope.”

 

“That’s impossible!”

 

“It’s true.”

 

“What kind of cursed land is this?!”

 

Dr. Kim nodded gravely.

 

“Exactly. Cursed. There’s no other explanation.”

 

His eyes glistened faintly, perhaps from the weight of a decade spent living without spice.

 

“There are spicy flavors here, sure—but they lack depth, aroma, that clean kick. And the color! The color’s all wrong. You know, right? Spiciness has to be red. Red! Ugh.”

 

He sighed and took a sip of his cold soup to calm himself.

 

“But I haven’t given up yet. Meeting Silian is fate—a chance from the heavens. I’ll work with her—gently, of course—to develop the perfect pepper.”

 

Dr. Kim spoke her name like she was an old friend.

 

But given how timid and skittish Silian was, friendship seemed… wildly optimistic.

 

“I met her before coming here,” I said. “She knew exactly how she ended up in that state.”

 

‘Torida… my partner Torida gave me an herbal tonic to help my body… but for me, it was poison… Still, Torida meant well. He must have. He did it for me… for me…’

 

Her murmuring had been so faint I’d needed Mo’s assistance to interpret it.

 

“Even after what her partner did, she defended them.”

 

“She probably doesn’t want to believe it,” Dr. Kim said flatly. “It’s hard to accept that the person you love tried to poison you.”

 

He set down his spoon and smiled faintly.

 

“But it doesn’t matter. Now that I’m involved, I won’t let anyone harm her again.”