Salvation Through Delusion C60

Chapter 60

Startled, I jerked my head back, but the giant rock creature didn’t seem fazed.

Instead, the long, leaf-like appendage atop its head waved at me — almost as if it wanted to shake hands.

With no other choice, I reached out, brushed the leaf gently, and quickly pulled my hand away.

Satisfied, the massive rock straightened its body and shouted to the others around us.

[The impotent human is here!!! It’s the impotent human I told you about!!! This human is pure — because he’s impotent!!!]

What an absolutely charming introduction.

If it weren’t several tons heavier than me, I’d carve “IDIOT ROCK” across its body with a chisel.

But my frustration had to wait — there was something far more urgent.

Behind me, Tyroc groaned lowly, gripping his sword with a trembling hand. His body swayed as if it might collapse at any moment.

I pressed my hand against his shoulder and looked at the rock spirit — Diamond.

“Help him. Please.”

[I can’t. Any human who entered without a key must be erased from this place.]

Wow. From hysterical exclamation marks to grim declarations — talk about tone whiplash.

“He can’t die,” I insisted desperately. “He absolutely can’t die.”

[Why?!!! Is he someone precious to you?!!!]

Without thinking, I nodded.

Tyroc’s entire body was shaking. The Swordmaster, this mountain of a man, was trembling like a feverish child.

[When humans say someone’s precious, they usually mean the person they— uh— connect their bodies with, right?!!! You know, when they— shake together!!!]

…Dear gods.

Did this perverted boulder really just—

Why did it have to describe it like that?

But I didn’t have the time to argue.

If Tyroc died here, so did my last hope of surviving.

“Yes, he’s precious to me,” I snapped. “He’s— whatever. He’s important. That’s all that matters.”

[But you’re impotent, aren’t you?!!! Ah, I get it now!!! You can’t use your front, but you must’ve accepted his! So you’re impotent in the front, but open in the back!!!]

…Unbelievable.

This rock needed an exorcism and a dictionary.

I clenched my fists, biting back the dozen curses clawing at my throat.

Arguing with it was pointless — and punching a boulder never ended well.

“Anyway,” I hissed, “he’s important to me. I need to take him out of here. Just tell me where the exit is.”

[The gate you came through is closed!!! You’re not thinking of leaving through another gate, are you?!!!!!!!!]

The sheer number of exclamation marks didn’t bode well.

Something about that sounded very, very bad.

“Well… if I can leave through another gate, I’d like to try—”

[Another gate!!! Did you all hear that?!!! The impotent human says he’s going through another gate!!!]

Wait, what? Was that… forbidden?

[Then you’ll need a key, won’t you?!!!]

A key?

“Do I need to get one from someone?”

[Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!]

Of course. Figures.

“Then give me one,” I demanded.

[No.]

Wow. Cold. Just— no hesitation. Not even a dramatic pause.

“Damn it…”

Tyroc let out another weak groan, his face twisting in pain. Sweat drenched his hairline, and his breathing grew ragged.

If this went on, the so-called savior of humanity would die right here, in a forest full of gossiping rocks.

“Can’t I just use another gate?” I asked frantically. “Do I really need the key?”

[You want the key?!!!]

I froze. That tone didn’t sound promising.

For the first time, the rock spirit wasn’t yelling just for show — it was serious.

Before I could answer, Tyroc’s body went limp and collapsed to the ground.

“Yes!” I shouted. “I want the key! Tell me how to get it!”

There was no reply.

Instead, the air in front of us shimmered like a mirage — and then, as if slicing through space itself, a new gate appeared.

Unlike the crimson glow of the previous portal, this one was pitch black, like the mouth of a cave.

I didn’t hesitate.

I hooked Tyroc’s arm over my shoulder and dragged him upright. He was trembling violently, but he still tried to move on his own.

“Just hold on a bit longer,” I muttered.

Together, we stepped into the darkness.

“Careful with the debris! Make sure the wounded are handled gently!”

Solongo’s commanding voice rang through the ruins of the Owic estate.

Mages were lifting fragments of walls and pillars with levitation spells, while others scoured the wreckage for survivors.

Torches and magic lights blazed everywhere — turning the night into something as bright as day.

“Where did she even find this many people at this hour…”

Haas gawked, jaw half-slack.

The once-pristine mansion now looked like a war zone — and Solongo, sleeves rolled up and dirt smudging her cheeks, led the charge herself.

“She’s desperate,” Enya murmured, nodding toward her. “Guess Adeye really does care about her brother.”

It was strange seeing Solongo like this — the ever-composed second-in-command of the Adeye family looking frantic and human for once.

If anyone had stumbled upon this scene, they might’ve thought the Adeye patriarch himself was trapped under the rubble.

Meanwhile, Haas and Enya — who should’ve been helping — were standing off to the side, monitoring the search with furrowed brows.

Haas was repeatedly drawing glowing sigils over his palm, muttering incantations.

“Still nothing?” Enya asked.

“Nothing,” Haas grunted. “I can’t locate the Duke.”

“Your spell tracks the jewel on his sword, right? What if he dropped it?”

“Impossible,” Haas said sharply. “He’d never let go of that sword. Do you know what kind of weapon that is?”

“Right… so why can’t you track him, then? Don’t tell me the gem broke?”

“That’s not possible either.”

He lowered his hand, staring at the fading light of the spell. “Unless something stronger than human power is interfering. Like… divine energy.”

“But there’s no divine clan here,” Enya pointed out.

The two shared a silent, uneasy look.

“One thing’s for sure,” Haas said at last. “He’s not under these ruins.”

“Well, of course,” Enya snorted. “Our lord isn’t the type to die quietly under a pile of rocks.”

“Exactly.”

Still, Haas couldn’t shake off his anxiety. He traced the sigil again and muttered,

“He’ll signal us soon enough. As long as he’s alive, he’ll—”

“Found a survivor!” someone shouted.

Both turned their heads immediately and rushed toward the voice.

Near a shattered pillar, a half-buried man was being pulled out from the rubble.

“Torida?”

Solongo’s voice dropped into a hiss. For a brief moment, disappointment flickered in her eyes.

Then she turned back to Haas.

“Are you certain?” she asked.

“About the Duke — he’s alive, isn’t he?”

Haas hesitated. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to believe it.

But all he could do was glance at the ruins, worry twisting his expression.

Where had their Duke vanished to?

Where… was this place?

The portal from the Crimson Tide Forest hadn’t led us to a cave after all.

It was dark, yes — but as my eyes adjusted, I realized we were inside some kind of underground structure.

Massive stone pillars reached toward a vaulted ceiling. Intricate carvings and ancient statues lined the walls.

A subterranean hall.

No — a grand underground temple.

Tyroc stumbled as soon as we arrived, nearly collapsing. I managed to ease him down against a wall.

Sweat soaked his hair; his breathing came ragged and shallow.

“Hold on a bit longer,” I murmured.

He opened one eye, and despite the pain twisting his face, his voice came out low and rough.

“Try saying that more gently.”

I blinked. “You want me to sound gentle right now?”

“I’m your precious person, remember?” he rasped. “The one you… let inside.”

“…You’re delirious,” I deadpanned. “You should slam your head into that wall behind you. Maybe it’ll fix whatever’s wrong.”

In Korean folklore and webnovels, the word “고자 (goja)” literally means impotent man or castrated male.

When Diamond calls Rue “the impotent human,” it’s not just an insult — it’s a chaotic mix of purity, mockery, and weird admiration 😭.

He’s basically saying, “You’re harmless and pure — because you can’t do it!”