Salvation Through Delusion C64

“Where exactly do you see something?”

I lifted my finger and pointed straight ahead.

“There’s a serpent that looks like a dragon—five tails.”

“……”

“I’m perfectly sane. It’s not an illusion.”

“Sure.”

What’s with that skeptical tone?

Feeling slightly insulted, I turned to the dragon-like serpent.

“Do you have something to say to—me?”

I started politely but ended up talking casually. No way something this tiny could be a divine beast, right? Besides, didn’t they say the Borhumi’s divine beast was sealed away? Yet, there was no reply.

‘Mo, can you hear anything?’

[No.]

So it wasn’t talking to me? I thought this little thing was the one I owed a debt to, but maybe not. My mind was drowning in question marks when the serpent’s tails began to move—slowly, deliberately.

They stretched like rubber, then two of them twisted together, forming a shape.

It looked… like Hangul consonants? “ㅇㄴ”? What the hell? I muttered without thinking, half joking,

“Are you trying to say hi?”

The tails moved again.

“ㅇㅇ.”

Wait. What the hell—?

A chill crept down my spine. Surely it didn’t mean “응응”—the Korean shorthand for yeah yeah, right? That was ridiculous. I laughed under my breath. There’s no way. We’re in Tuvine. How would a serpent here know Korean abbreviations? Still… just in case, I tested it.

“My name’s Adeye Rue. If you understand me, show me.”

Four tails shifted at once.

“ㅇㄷㅇ ㄹ.”(ㅇㄷㅇ → 아데예 (Adeye) ㄹ → 루 (Rue))

Holy—!!!

I jumped to my feet with a loud slap against the floor, stumbling backward.

“What the—this makes no damn sense!”

I could feel Tyroc’s gaze on me, but I didn’t have the luxury to care. What was happening? Why was this thing spelling Korean consonants?! It’s not like it’s from Korea. Unless—oh god, is it a Korean serpent?!

“Y-you—where’s your home?”

“ㄱㅎ.”

…Goheung?! A Jeolla Province snake?! I nearly screamed again before Mo’s calm voice cut in.

[Based on prior interspecies communication, the likely interpretation is ‘고향’—home.]

Ah. Right. “Home.” That made more sense. The pebble spirit had gone on about that too. Still—how does it know Hangul consonants?

“What’s wrong?” Tyroc’s voice was hoarse.

I quickly pointed to the serpent. “It’s just that… it’s speaking—”

In consonants, for crying out loud. But I swallowed the rest before it slipped out. Tyroc frowned slightly.

“Speaking?”

I couldn’t waste time explaining the Korean alphabet to a duke. He was still visibly unwell.

“Nothing. It just… talks a little differently.”

Then I turned back to the serpent. “Can you help him?”

“ㅇㅇ.”

“How?”

“ㅅㅇ.”

What the hell does that mean?

‘Mo, give me three possible matches for that.’

[1. Hate

2. Swim

3. Shower]

Hate, probably. Though 2 and 3 felt half-assed. Mo was definitely phoning it in today. I bit down my annoyance and refocused.

“You don’t want to? Why?”

“ㅋ ㅅㅇ.”

Even before Mo interpreted, I got it.

[Suggested interpretation: Koon hate.]

Ignoring Mo’s helpful note, I glanced back. Tyroc’s eyes were shut tight, his breath heavy, his body trembling from the pain.

“You know he’s from House Koon?”

“ㅇㅇ.”

“How will you help him, then?”

“ㅅㅇ.”

So stubborn.

“You want something from me, right? Then help me first, and I’ll return the favor.”

“ㅇㅅ.”

No immediate clue. Mo filled the gap.

[1. Key

2. Umbrella

3. Pregnancy]

Key. Of course. You’re the creditor, after all. But seriously, Mo—pregnancy?

‘Mo, no more three options. Just give me the most likely one next time.’

[Understood.]

Funny how it only responds instantly when I’m mad.

Then—thud.

The sound of something collapsing behind me. I didn’t even need to look. Only one person could make that sound.

Tyroc had slid down the wall, his body limp.

“Your Grace!”

I grabbed his shoulder, but he only panted heavily, eyes still shut. Panic hit me like a wave. There was only one thing left I could do. I turned back to the serpent.

“I’ll repay whatever debt I owe. Just—tell me how to get out.”

[Free me.]

“You mean… you’re trapped?”

The small head nodded.

“How do I free you?”

[Call Dorgo.]

Dorgo? The old man beside Zab? But how am I supposed to call him? Even if I did, there’s no way I could sneak Tyroc out like this.

“No other way?”

[Abandon Koon.]

“No.”

[Koon hate.]

How much does this thing hate House Koon? It’s like listening to a sulking child. Then again, not long ago, I would’ve agreed with it.

“But I need him alive to repay you. He’s the only one who can deal with Dorgo if he comes. I’m powerless on my own.”

The serpent’s tails stilled. I pleaded, voice earnest.

“That’s not all. Whatever it is you want from me…”

[Home.]

Home. That word again. Just like the rock spirit, Diamond.

“You want to go home? Alright. But to find that, we need to get out first. And I can’t do it without him. Please—help him.”

Those deep blue eyes locked on me. I met their gaze head-on, pouring sincerity into my voice. The serpent slowly slithered forward until it hovered just before me, lifting its head. Then—tap, tap—it brushed against my arm.

When I instinctively held out my hand, it coiled around my wrist like a bracelet. I could see it vividly, but I couldn’t feel a thing. No weight, no warmth. It was eerie—and awe-inspiring. The things I do for Earth, honestly…

[Warning! Warning! Unauthorized access to neural data detected.]

Access? What?

My eyes widened. The serpent’s tails flicked again.

“ㅈㄱ?”

My heart lurched. That—it looked like “지구.” Earth.

“Earth?” I whispered.

“ㅇㅇ.”

No way. How could it—?

[The only method to block access is temporary physical shutdown. Risk of brain damage detected. Proceed?]

Mo’s voice was urgent, clinical. Something was in my head. I should have shut it down. But I didn’t.

Because of those eyes.

They were deep, endless blue—like the bottom of the ocean. Terrifying, but somehow… not threatening.

‘No.’

Heat shot up my arm, spreading to my head in a rush. Oh god. It’s really inside my mind, isn’t it? Trying to read my—

I see what you seek, child of Earth.

The voice—a woman’s, calm and aged—echoed directly in my skull. My whole body shuddered.

That voice… it was my grandmother’s. The one who raised me. The one I hadn’t heard in eleven years.

How—how could it possibly—?

In just a few seconds, it felt like this being had flipped through my entire life.

But there was no time for answers. The heat faded, and the serpent’s tails began to move again, spelling out new shapes.

Mo interpreted for me.

[I will help you.]

It would help me? Knowing why I came here? The warmth that flooded my chest felt foreign—grateful, and somehow painfully human.

“…Thank you.”

[One way to save Koon.]

“What is it?”

[Koon must accept my power.]

“How?”

[Your hand—connect.]

Connect?

I hesitated but then reached over and gripped Tyroc’s wrist. Warmth spread through me again—gentle at first, then building. Nothing else happened. Maybe it didn’t work—

“Haaah!”

Suddenly, Tyroc convulsed, his eyes flying open.

“Your Grace, are you—?”

“Damn it—what is this—ugh!”

He groaned and moved his arm instinctively. At the same time, the serpent’s tail flicked again.

[Don’t let go.]

I tightened my grip, struggling as he writhed, trying to break free. His next words made my stomach drop.

“Ugh—damn it—why is the power of a divine beast—!”

What? Divine beast?

I whipped my head toward the small serpent on my wrist.

You mean—you were a divine beast all along?!