Salvation Through Delusion C65

Chapter 65

Zab thought, not for the first time that day, that nothing ever went right for him anymore.

Even after spending the entire night venting his fury on his slaves because of Tyroc, his anger refused to subside. He had even summoned Dorgo to confirm whether something was wrong with the Divine Beast, but the answer he received was the same as always—

Wait. Just a few more months, and you’ll gain great power.

He’d been hearing that same line since the end of last year. They kept calling it the Divine Beast’s “extended rest period,” but by now, he couldn’t help doubting it.

Could he really draw such immense power from the Divine Beast? Was it even something he could trust anymore?

But the real problem was that it was far too late to turn back. The moment he met Dorgo and sealed the Divine Beast, his fate had already been decided. He had granted every request Dorgo made—yet now the man dared to tell him to return to the lake and train again?

Just hearing that word made his skin crawl.

That cursed lake—he had first gone there as a child, dragged by his mother after his Divine power manifested. He still remembered how excited he had been on the way there, heart pounding with expectation.

But the excitement had lasted only until he arrived.

What followed was hell. Endless “training,” sleepless nights, pain beyond endurance. He still bore the scars of it. And now they wanted him to go back?

Between his humiliation at Tyroc’s hands and the mere mention of “training,” Zab hadn’t slept a wink that night.

And when morning came, things only got worse.

“…The Ewik estate collapsed?”

“Yes, sir.” The subordinate speaking looked uneasy as he continued. “While clearing the rubble, we searched for survivors—but we could not find Adeye Rue. However…” He hesitated. “This letter arrived from Adeye.”

Zab snatched the envelope, tore it open, and read with an increasingly sour expression.

To His Grace the Duke of Borhumi,

We send our regards and wish for Borhumi’s continued prosperity.

Concerning the kidnapping and disappearance of Adeye Rue from the Ewik estate, we request your cooperation as follows:

1. All available information regarding the primary suspect, Ottmar, the Borhumi Guard Captain.

2. Permission for Adeye’s investigation team to remain in Borhumi territory to conduct inquiries into Ottmar’s possible backers.

3. Authorization for Adeye’s search teams to freely investigate throughout all Borhumi lands as part of the continent-wide effort to locate Adeye Rue.

We are deeply concerned that the Borhumi Duke may be unjustly implicated due to Ottmar’s actions. However, should Your Grace take an active role in locating Adeye Rue and uncovering the true culprit, all the continent will bear witness to your innocence and commend your sense of justice.

“What… what kind of bullshit is this?!”

Zab crumpled the letter in his fist and shouted. A search? A background investigation? These insolent bastards! How dare they!

He was seething—but something else in the letter made his blood run cold.

Ottmar’s name.

Why was Ottmar even mentioned?

“Don’t tell me Ottmar was captured? Did she say something she shouldn’t have?”

“Captain Ottmar…” The subordinate’s tone grew heavier. “Her body was found beneath the rubble of the collapsed Ewik mansion.”

“Ott…mar? Ottmar is dead?”

Zab froze, disbelief draining all color from his face. His lifelong guard captain, the one who had stood by him since childhood—gone?

Impossible. Ottmar wasn’t just anyone. She was a Sword Expert, one of the strongest under his command. The idea that she had died crushed under debris was absurd.

For a long moment, Zab stood there in a daze. Then the implications hit him.

“Then how did Adeye even know she was behind the kidnapping?”

“They claim there was a survivor,” the subordinate said quietly. “Ewik’s spouse, Tori, made it out alive.”

“That fat bastard!”

Crash! Bang!

Zab erupted, sweeping everything off the nearby table. Furniture splintered under his fury as his men ducked for cover. The rampage went on for several minutes before he finally stopped, panting heavily, chest heaving.

“Keep this from spreading. Shut every mouth if you have to.”

The subordinate flinched. “Your Grace… I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

“What do you mean, not possible? Don’t tell me word’s already out before dawn?”

“That appears to be the case. Adeye sent official notices across the entire Tuvine continent last night, detailing Rue’s abduction and requesting cooperation.”

Zab stared blankly, lips parted in disbelief.

All this—for Adeye Rue?

—

I used to think I’d seen every kind of conflict there was. Leading a volunteer corps meant I’d dealt with all kinds of disputes—soldiers and civilians alike. But now, standing here watching these two, I realized all those fights had been civilized in comparison.

“At least those people had the decency to argue like adults,” I muttered under my breath.

“Are you telling me that creature you’re seeing—the one with the tails—is the Divine Beast?” Tyroc asked, his tone dripping with disgust. He had regained consciousness, the Divine power flowing through his veins visibly unsettling him.

“And why the hell would a Divine Beast give me power?”

Before I could answer, the tiny serpent coiled around my wrist flicked its tail rapidly, forming neat letters in the air:

[KOON BASTARD.]

Excuse me—what?

‘Mo, any other possible interpretations?’

[KOON BLOSSOM.]

…Yeah, definitely not that.

Trying to keep a straight face, I turned to Tyroc. “You were about to die, so I accepted help. But you’re saying this really is the Divine Beast’s power?”

He grimaced. “Unfortunately, yes.”

I glanced back at the dragon-like serpent on my arm. “But… why are you so small?”

“Are you saying the Divine Beast is right in front of you?”

“Yes, well… apparently so.”

I sighed. “Then maybe let’s not question it too much. Just use its power to hold out a little longer—”

“No.”

[ME NEITHER.]

They both snapped at once. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Children. Actual children.

“If you don’t, you’ll die here for nothing. Is that what you want? To have Koon’s name carved into Borhumi’s grave?”

Tyroc’s golden eyes flashed with fury. But he didn’t push me away. Instead, he ground out through clenched teeth, “Fine. But let go. That disgusting energy keeps flowing into me.”

“How do you feel?”

“…”

He looked away instead of answering. Clearly, not thrilled.

[KOON LOSER.]

“Oh, come on,” I muttered.

Tyroc’s gaze snapped toward me. “What did it just say?”

[KOON IDIOT.]

“…Nothing important. Also, mind your language when speaking to a Divine being.”

He blinked. “This isn’t Koon’s Divine power. The Koon family can only channel the strength of their contracted Beast. Anything else—” He stopped mid-sentence, fists tightening.

“Anything else feels filthy. My whole body rejects it.”

[KOON SLIMEBALL.]

Okay, what was going on here? The emotions Tyroc was showing were strong, sure—but the Beast’s words were hitting harder than his glare.

Tyroc frowned. “The Beast’s on your arm, right?”

“More like wrapped around it.”

When I described its small, coiled form, Tyroc actually let out a sharp laugh.

“A tiny snake the size of a forearm? How fitting for Borhumi’s Divine Beast.”

[KILL KOON.]

“No,” I hissed quickly, shooting the serpent a glare before turning to Tyroc. “You should really watch your mouth.”

“I won’t.”

[KOON BALDY.]

I swear, they were both impossible. One was a Duke descended from royal blood, the other a literal Divine being—and yet somehow they bickered like schoolkids.

“Since you’re arguing so energetically, I’m guessing you’re not in pain anymore?”

“…Guess so.”

“Then good. Bear with it a bit longer.”

I cut him off before he could retort and looked down at the serpent again. It was still flicking its tails, spelling out insults like it was typing on a keyboard.

[KOON MUTT. IDIOT. FOOL.]

Even a grade-schooler had better insults. For a second, I actually doubted whether this thing really was divine.

“Are you sure you’re a Divine Beast?”

[MM-HMM.]

…Fine. Maybe not a saint, but definitely divine.

[KOON FUCKER.]

“Hey! Language!” I snapped.

Tyroc’s voice cut in sharply. “What did it say about me?”