Salvation Through Delusion C25

Chapter 25

 

“His partner, Torida, won’t let her go so easily. Word is, he’s already taken control of most of the Ewik family’s assets.”

 

Dr. Kim snorted dismissively.

 

“That kind of small change? I could crush a man like that with one toe.”

 

Moved by her audacity, I lifted my bowl and drank the dongchimi soup in one go. The greasiness from the butter vanished instantly.

 

“Yes, yes. Use Baron Ewik’s skills to grow what you need, and recover quickly. That way, you won’t collapse every time Duke Koon says something mean.”

 

The moment Duke Koon’s name was mentioned, her spoon clattered down.

 

“Because everything that comes out of his mouth is absolute garbage.”

 

“You should still get used to it.”

 

She shut her eyes tightly, clearly trying to rein in her temper.

 

“The more I think about it, this plan feels impossible. Which is why I’ve come up with Plan B…”

 

“Absolutely not. Don’t even dream of pairing me with that man.”

 

Dr. Kim pressed her lips into a line and looked at me primly.

 

“Plan B doesn’t involve you sleeping with him. I’m saying you should at least get along. No matter how nice I am to that arrogant bastard, he’s not going to change his mind about us.”

 

“You bullied him for years, and now you think one act of kindness will fix that?”

 

“They say one gesture shows all ten intentions.”

 

“And they also say even the hardest tree falls after ten strikes.”

 

A proverb for a proverb. Dr. Kim’s face twisted like she was physically pained.

 

“Try Plan C, then.”

 

“Is that the one where I do end up underneath him?”

 

She shot me a sharp look.

 

“For the last time, that’s Plan X. Plan C is different.”

 

“Then what about the Silent Sword?” I asked quickly, changing the subject. “If we find it before Duke Koon does and present it to him as a gift, wouldn’t that earn his favor?”

 

Dr. Kim frowned immediately; she already knew what I was referring to.

 

“The Forest of Crimson Waves is the realm of non-human beings. You can’t just enter unless they permit it. And no one even knows where the entrance is.”

 

“No one’s ever been inside?”

 

“There are records—one spiritist supposedly managed to enter long ago. But that’s all.”

 

A spiritist, huh…

 

“Silian claimed she didn’t know anything, but she trembles too much when the subject comes up. She’s hiding something. Though getting her to talk might take a month.”

 

Yeah, considering how timid she was, even if she did know her family’s secret, she’d never tell easily.

 

“But you’ll find it eventually, right?”

 

“Well, if I throw enough money around… wait, why are you asking?”

 

Dr. Kim’s eyes narrowed sharply just as she lifted her spoon again.

 

“Because I can see non-human entities,” I replied calmly. “If I can communicate with them, maybe they’ll let me enter the Forest of Crimson Waves.”

 

“Don’t even think about it.”

 

Her tone was stern enough to make me blink.

 

“I can see and hear everything around us,” I continued. “Even that squid-looking thing peeking in through the window.”

 

Dr. Kim immediately turned her head toward the window.

 

“You can see that clearly?”

 

“More than clearly. And they talk a lot, too. Well… most of them.”

 

I thought of the one shaped like a mountain goat—quiet but watchful.

 

“Do you know what a divine beast looks like?” I asked.

 

“No,” she replied flatly, taking another elegant sip of soup.

 

“But according to temple records, there are rare devotees who can sense divine beasts. They describe them as massive beasts made of light—but the exact form of each beast is kept secret.”

 

“They keep everything secret, don’t they?”

 

“That’s the temple for you.” She waved her spoon dismissively, clearly bored of the topic.

 

“All that’s known is that each divine beast emits a different color of light.”

 

“What about the Montaine family’s color?”

 

“Red.”

 

I thought of the goat’s red eyes—but quickly shook off the idea. They said humans couldn’t see divine beasts, anyway.

 

“Still, I can see well. If I locate the entrance to the Forest of Crimson Waves and negotiate properly with the entities there, I might pull it off.”

 

“No. Seeing and hearing aren’t the same as understanding.”

 

Dr. Kim met my eyes, her tone suddenly grave.

 

“Non-human entities—spirits, fae, divine beasts—they don’t think like humans do. You could treat them kindly for years, and they’ll still only show loyalty to one person they happen to like. Even divine beasts are the same.

 

Their criteria for choosing someone is completely subjective—humans can’t comprehend it. That’s why we have a saying in Tuvine: Never demand a reward from a non-human being you’ve helped.”

 

“So… I shouldn’t expect anything in return?”

 

I’d been thinking of asking Venomie for information about the Forest of Crimson Waves as repayment for saving it. But Dr. Kim immediately shook her head.

 

“No. They decide what to give you themselves—that’s their law. If you demand something, they take it as greed, get angry, and curse you.”

 

“That sounds less like divine justice and more like a demon’s tantrum.”

 

“Humans aren’t blameless. Many families once thrived under the protection of spirits and fae, but greed drove them away—or wiped them out.”

 

I sighed. “So, as always, humans are the problem.”

 

“You’re a problem too.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Don’t you dare go near that forest,” she said firmly. “I won’t let you. I won’t send you anywhere dangerous. You’ll stay alive and safe here—that’s your role. To protect our world. Understood?”

 

I knew it came from genuine concern, so I nodded, smiling faintly.

 

“Fine, but at least protect my chastity. I’d rather die than be on the bottom.”

 

Her brow furrowed instantly.

 

“Even if Duke Koon happens to be absurdly good-looking?”

 

“You called him uglier than dog shit, remember?”

 

“…You drive a hard bargain.”

 

She groaned, rubbing her temples. I wasn’t budging, and she knew it.

 

Still, seeing how much she worried about her feud with Duke Koon, I couldn’t stay entirely silent.

 

“There’s no rush. Once I take care of the traitor, I’ll persuade Duke Koon afterward.”

 

“You don’t even know who the traitor is. It won’t be easy.”

 

“It will. I’ll attend the Non-Wine Party and watch each person carefully. If I don’t find them there, I’ll wait patiently until the next opportunity—then get rid of them.”

 

“‘Patiently,’ huh? You caused quite a scene on your last mission.”

 

“A scene?! I saved someone in danger!”

 

“I’m not talking about that. I mean when you got caught escaping and ended up fighting someone.”

 

I frowned sharply.

 

“If I’d actually won that fight, I wouldn’t be this bitter. You know who it was? The bastard who tried to kill me at the retreat! Damn it, why’d he have to show up right then? And I couldn’t even land a proper punch—I only managed to bite him!”

 

“You should’ve at least swept his legs out from under him,” she said dryly.

 

My face twisted. I was about to curse when she quickly looked away.

 

“Who the hell was it, anyway? You don’t even know his name?”

 

“I do now. Some ridiculous name… Tyroc or Tyer-something.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Tyer… something?”

 

“Tyroc.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“Ugly as hell, and the name matches,” I muttered.

 

“…Hey.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“That’s him.”

 

“What is?”

 

“Duke Koon.”

 

“…Who?”

 

“Tyroc.”

 

“…What?”

 

“He’s Duke Koon.”

 

I froze, staring at her like she’d just told me gravity stopped working.

 

“Are you joking right now?”

 

“What color were his eyes?”

 

“That disgusting golden yellow.”

 

Dr. Kim let out a long, weary sigh and pressed a hand to her forehead.

 

“Yeah. There’s only one person on the continent with eyes that color. Koon Tyroc.”

 

“The guy I attacked, cursed out, and bit?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

A long, painful silence fell between us—then, in perfect unison, we both cursed.

 

“Haah… f*ck.”

 

“Ahh… f*ck.”

 

I grabbed my head in both hands. Dr. Kim mirrored me, groaning like she was reliving a migraine.

 

That bastard was Duke Koon? That bastard?! Of all the people to have such an awful connection with—

 

He’d tried to kill me the moment we met, too.

 

Ah. Because I was Adeye.

 

It all made sense now—and made me even angrier.

 

Still, even if that was the reason… kicking someone at a monster like a soccer ball? Seriously?

 

And now I was supposed to ally with him? The dark clouds of despair rolled in, smothering every hope I had left.

 

Then I heard Dr. Kim mumble under her breath, like a prayer.

 

“No choice. We’ll move to Plan E.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“I have no idea.”

 

“…Fantastic.”