Salvation Through Delusion C30

Chapter 30

 

[“Fifteen meters ahead, the room on your right.”]

 

Mo guided me toward the room that supposedly led to a secret passage. But of course, not just anyone could walk into a room hiding such an entrance.

 

Clack. Clack.

 

As expected, it was locked. And I didn’t have time to pick it—because that damn pervert was right behind me.

 

“Ruuuue~”

 

Ugh. Even while running for my life, I gagged in disgust. Damn it, was there really no way to shake off this deranged freak?

 

[“You could always stroke his groin.”]

 

“Shut up, Mo.”

 

[“I’m deeply sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance.”]

 

Was that sarcasm? I didn’t have the luxury to argue.

 

Desperate, I yanked open the door to the room beside me.

 

Please—please be open! By some miracle, it clicked.

 

The room was empty.

 

But my luck ended there.

 

I rushed to the window, pulling hard on the latch. It rattled uselessly. Locked tight.

 

Wait. Then that means—

 

Thud.

 

The sound of the door closing behind me froze my blood.

 

“Haa… Rue. Hurry and grab me—shake it like before.”

 

That voice. The most disgusting sound on earth. I turned stiffly toward him, joints creaking with dread.

 

Now that there were no witnesses, I let my expression twist into the pure disgust I felt. Of course, the pervert didn’t even flinch.

 

“Ohh, that face! Is that new? Been practicing? Haah, it’s thrilling.”

 

Fantastic. He’d leveled up in perversion. Makes sense—if he flinched at a glare, he wouldn’t be a super-pervert.

 

“Shut. Up.”

 

My voice dropped low and cold, and for the first time, he hesitated.

 

“What, surprised? Thought you liked it ‘thrilling’?”

 

“Rue, you’re… different.”

 

“I said, shut up.”

 

That did it—he definitely sensed something was off. Mo immediately flashed a warning.

 

[“Signs of suspicion detected. If you don’t act fast, your identity may be compromised.”]

 

Act fast? Please. I didn’t need “damage control.” I already knew exactly how to handle him.

 

Mo might know everything, but even she didn’t understand the full depths of degeneracy.

 

There were plenty of ways to dominate this kind of trash while keeping him satisfied. I stepped closer, voice sharp as a blade.

 

“Kneel.”

 

He froze for a second, startled—but quickly twisted it into excitement. A crooked smile spread across his face.

 

“Rue… are you—”

 

“Did I tell you to speak?”

 

The chill in my tone made him instantly drop to his knees, gazing up at me.

 

“On all fours. Like a dog.”

 

At that, delight sparked in his eyes. He quickly obeyed, crouching on hands and knees with enthusiasm.

 

“Yes, my Queen.”

 

Goosebumps broke out all over me. I clenched my fist tighter. Fine, let’s see how you like a beating from your “Queen.”

 

 

—

 

“Dr. Lantua.”

 

Even being called didn’t make her look up from the mountain of papers on her desk.

 

She had always been obsessed with work, but now she had a reason—a goal that consumed every moment. Not like before, when she’d been running alone toward a hopeless dream.

 

Now, she had an ally. Someone from the same homeland. Someone who shared her… taste.

 

Dr. Kim Lantua had never felt so energized. Nothing could distract her now—except one thing.

 

“Lord Rue, at the party…”

 

“What about Rue?!”

 

The moment her precious ally’s name left Solongo’s lips, she snapped her head up before he could even finish. Solongo was quietly pleased to see her finally caring about something beyond her research—but this time, the news wasn’t good.

 

“We’ve identified who Lord Rue saved at Count Fenouan’s party.”

 

“Really?”

 

“…”

 

When Solongo hesitated, her brow arched. He only ever paused like that when the news was shocking enough to warrant a preemptive health check.

 

Lantua instinctively downed a heart-stabilizing pill.

 

“Speak. Who did Rue save?”

 

“Zaraial Bronce.”

 

“Baron Zaraial’s omega son? The one who just debuted in society this year—ah, shit.”

 

She groaned, pressing her palm to her forehead. Because that name led straight to one more she hated even more.

 

“Wasn’t that brat escorted by that arrogant son of a— Duke Koon Tyroc?”

 

“Yes. Which makes it likely that Lord Rue and Duke Tyroc met there.”

 

“That’s good news, isn’t it? After all, thanks to Rue’s efforts, that bas— I mean, Tyroc—should feel indebted. Then why the face?”

 

Pressed by her gaze, Solongo reluctantly continued.

 

“Count Fenouan was arrested this morning. For distributing counterfeit wine at the party.”

 

“Ha! I knew that fool would cause trouble eventually. Wait—counterfeit wine? You mean, Non-Wine…”

 

Thud.

 

Her pen dropped from her hand.

 

“The ‘Non-Wine Party’… the one where the traitor was said to have aided Tyroc—could it be that one?”

 

Solongo nodded grimly.

 

“It appears so. The very party Lord Rue had been waiting for to expose the traitor.”

 

“Right. He’s been obsessed with it.”

 

“Yes, he’s been hounding me about it daily—asking if I’d found where it would be held.”

 

“He hounded me too.”

 

So he’d already been there. Dr. Kim exhaled heavily, and Solongo echoed her sigh.

 

“He was most worried the future would change—that the traitor might vanish into hiding.”

 

“It’s inevitable. The moment Rue came back to life, the future was bound to shift.”

 

“Indeed. And in doing so, he’s effectively taken the traitor’s place.”

 

Exactly. She tapped the desk lightly, thinking aloud.

 

“If that event was supposed to be what brought the traitor closer to Tyroc, then everything may already be off-script.”

 

“And if it ends up connecting Rue to Duke Tyroc instead… the engagement could change.”

 

“…”

 

They exchanged a silent, knowing look.

 

“Should we tell him?”

 

“Not yet. Make sure this doesn’t hit the papers. We’ll keep it quiet for now.”

 

If he found out, he’d probably scream about “Plan X” again and run for his life. Dr. Kim smirked faintly, imagining it.

 

“Still, I doubt this alone will tie them together.”

 

As if they’d meet again anytime soon. Rue was probably busy chatting with his old acquaintances right now—

 

 

—

 

“Rue, you insane bastard! How could you ever—ugh!”

 

Bang!

 

I slammed the door shut behind me, shuddering in disgust.

 

The pervert had grinned even while being beaten to a pulp, happy to count each blow.

 

I’d finally admitted defeat, knocked him unconscious, and escaped.

 

So this was what Rue used to enjoy? These absolute degenerates? Every single one of them looked possessed by lust demons.

 

“All those freaks should be fried in hellfire until they come to their senses—”

 

[Warning. Warning. Warning.]

 

Red light flared across my vision—the same system alert from my old world.

A threat warning. The kind that appeared when monsters were near.

 

I instantly clenched my fists, twisting my body toward the source. Where—where was it?

 

“Good instincts.”

 

The voice came from the wall beside me.

 

To me, that man was a monster.

 

Leaning casually against the marble, as if he’d been waiting for me to emerge, stood none other than—

 

Koon Tyroc.

 

I took an involuntary step back. Wait—wasn’t he supposed to not show up here unless monsters attacked?

 

Mo, is there a monster here?

 

[“No.”]

 

“Then why the hell did you trigger a warning?”

 

[“Koon Tyroc is the individual Adeye Rue fears most.”]

 

I already knew that, but hearing Mo confirm it through Rue’s memories didn’t make it any less irritating. Just how badly had that bastard tormented him?

 

I frowned, taking another step back. His golden eyes tracked the motion smoothly, glinting like they could see straight through me.

 

“You’ll be the first to burn.”

 

…What?

 

He must’ve heard me muttering earlier about burning all the perverts. Damn his sharp ears. I grimaced.

 

“There are worse perverts here than me—what are you even talking about?”

 

I started to raise my voice but caught myself. I couldn’t risk offending him—he was, unfortunately, humanity’s last hope. I forced my tone flat, stepping back again.

 

Those golden eyes never stopped following. A chill ran down my spine. As long as that gaze was on me, I knew escape was impossible.

 

“Of course, the greatest pervert of them all is you.”

 

I’d never felt such utter humiliation in my life. Recognition for perversion from him—that was rock bottom.

 

Mo, did Rue ever—grab his balls or something?

 

[“No, merely brushed his groin area. Physical contact was minimal.”]

 

So all that drama over a light brush? What, were his balls made of gold?

 

I wanted to say it out loud—but this man was our world’s only ticket to survival.

I bit my tongue, stepping back again—only to freeze.

 

He’d moved.

 

Koon Tyroc stepped forward, blocking my path entirely.

 

Damn it. He was huge—built like a fortress.

 

“Trying to run away?”

 

His lips curved into that slow, infuriating smile.