Salvation Through Delusion C88

Chapter 88

Naturally, Tyroc had also returned in a half-dead state. But the moment he regained the Swordmaster power he had lost, he recovered with astonishing speed. And within half a month, he was already capable of wielding aura again.

“There’s no news of Adeye Rue stepping outside the mansion, but according to the sources inside, he seems capable of moving on his own. Well, with all of Tuvine’s greatest healers gathered there, he’s probably already running laps. More than that, Adeye sent a letter of gratitude and yet another set of extravagant return gifts…”

“Send them back.”

“…Yes.”

Rick sighed in defeat, glancing up when Tyroc still did not move. Why is he like this? This was the news he’d waited for more desperately than anyone.

“My lord, we should go. Your friend is waiting.”

Tyroc’s eyes drifted toward the ancestral estate—the place shrouded in a white fog even under the harsh midday sun. Only by breaking the curse could that fog finally disappear. He stared at the mist that reminded him of his responsibility, then turned away.

And in the study, the friend waiting for him made a startling proposal:

“Take me as your bond-partner.”

They say the Adeye household can bring even the dead back to life; that seemed believable now, given that I, whose side had been torn open by a monster, was walking again in just half a month.

But without question, the true savior of my recovery was the pale bowl of soup steaming before me.

“Ahhhh—”

One sip of the hot broth straight from the bowl sent warmth rumbling from my core, dragging out a sigh of pure gratitude. Nothing restores the body like a rich bone stew.

It was already good, but I grabbed salt and chopped scallions to season it to perfection, then took another heaping spoonful. Watching me with the proudest expression in the world, naturally, was Dr. Kim.

“How is it?”

“Rich and wonderful. It would be perfect with a sprinkle of chili powder…”

The words slipped out before I could stop myself. Realizing my mistake, I shot her a nervous glance—but it was too late. Eyes squeezed shut, Dr. Kim was visibly forcing down her fury.

“This cursed land.”

“Well, at least they have scallions.”

“Yes… I told myself that during year one too.”

Her sympathetic expression practically screamed, This is your future—the future where I became a lunatic mountain-herb hunter scouring all of Tuvine for chili peppers. A shiver crawled down my spine, and I hurriedly asked:

“Has Baron Ewik shown any progress?”

“Not yet.”

Damn. I’d have to ask Maengdok later whether he had any poisonous plants that tasted spicy. Not that we’d understand each other. While I was forming ridiculous plans, Dr. Kim casually shared the news.

“Tomorrow, everyone will gather at the palace for something called the White-Branch Council.”

I nodded. Solongo had already briefed me yesterday. The contract-holder of the Borhumi sacred beast had died, and the monster rift had opened—all blamed on a vile dark magician. The Borhumi family had thoroughly concealed Zarayal’s stupidity to preserve their reputation and standing. That meant the fact that Tyroc was the one who eliminated the dark sorcerer remained hidden as well.

The other sacred-beast families, who did not want Kun House to gain prestige, were happy to play along.

But now they were calling even Kun—the family they’d treated like an outcast?

“That’s faster than I expected.”

“I agree. As urgent as it is to stop the monsters emerging at Borhumi, they’re too busy trying to check each other to send proper support for the hunt. Yet now they’re holding a council, of all things.”

“What are they checking?”

“Who gets to claim Borhumi. Rumors say the Borhumi sacred beast has disappeared.”

Of course, Dr. Kim knew the truth—I had told her everything. The Borhumi sacred beast had simply returned home; the contract with the family had ended. Calmly, she sipped her bellflower tea.

“The only remaining sacred-beast wielder is Montaine, and she has her eyes on Borhumi. Meanwhile, the greedy Sarné fear Montaine gaining too much influence, so they’re trying to rein her in.”

“But for now, Montaine looks like the victor.”

“Yes. To those who don’t know the truth.”

She set the cup down with a soft click and asked me:

“By the way, you’re supposed to choose the next wielder of the Borhumi sacred beast’s power, correct?”

“Yes, but there’s no one I can give it to.”

“Of course. Even if you wanted to, there are almost no humans who can accept a sacred beast’s power.”

She offered a metaphor.

“If you picture humans as vessels, it’s easier to grasp. Except for an extremely rare few, just coming into contact with a sacred beast’s power shatters the vessel entirely.”

That likely meant death. No wonder the sacred-beast families were revered. But the next part of her explanation caught on something inside my mind.

“Also, as far as I know, each sacred beast’s power can only be accepted by someone of that family’s bloodline. Their ‘vessels’ simply don’t match otherwise.”

“Then the easiest candidate is someone of Borhumi bloodline…”

I stopped mid-sentence as discomfort twisted in my thoughts. Wait—then what about Tyroc?

“But Tyroc handled the power perfectly.”

I trailed off in confusion. Dr. Kim nodded as if she had expected this.

“I found that bizarre too, but I don’t know every detail about sacred-beast powers. Maybe the power was weak at the time, so Tyroc could accept it.”

Ah. That made sense.

“That’s right. The Borhumi sacred beast was extremely weakened.”

“Yes. Otherwise, Tyroc would need an absurd ability—one that lets him accept the power of another sacred beast.”

Silence fell between us. Then, at the same moment, we both shook our heads.

“No way. Him?”

“No, if that brat was blessed like that, the world truly would be unfair.”

Once again, we united seamlessly in slandering Tyroc.

“Exactly. Like, why would all the talent be dumped into one person? He’d be like the protagonist of some overpowered webcomic.”

“Right. Even the Borhumi sacred beast probably knows Tyroc couldn’t accept its full strength.”

“….”

“What now?”

“…It told me it could give him its power.”

Another silence. Dr. Kim frowned and delivered her verdict.

“The sacred beast knows nothing.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Together, we blasphemed one of Tuvine’s divine beings just to knock Tyroc down a peg.

“And besides, he already refused.”

I scowled, remembering how he behaved at the lake while fighting Dorgo.

“He practically yanked his hand away like I was diseased and refused to listen.”

I reenacted it with a flourish, earning a sharp grimace from Dr. Kim.

“Seriously? The entire world would kill for that power and he just says no?”

“Exactly! He’s disgustingly prideful. And so, so stubborn.”

“And his temper is awful.”

“And he mocks people like it’s a sport.”

“And he smirks in the most punchable way.”

Right? That crooked smirk was truly peak infuriating. While I nodded, Dr. Kim steered us back to the topic.

“Anyway, everyone expects Montaine to make a major announcement tomorrow.”

“They wouldn’t dare declare themselves ruler outright.”

“Of course not. They’ll do it using someone else’s mouth.”

Naturally—being chosen always looked better.

“But the other sacred-beast families won’t just sit by.”

“That’s what bothers me. I feel like Montaine is hiding a card. But right now, the sacred-beast families aren’t our problem.”

Dr. Kim suddenly fixed me with a sharp look.

“There’s someone else who least wants Montaine on the throne.”

Absolutely. I’d been thinking the same thing.

“The traitor is probably panicking right now.”

He desperately wanted Tyroc to save Tuvine and ascend the throne.

“Which brings me to my point.”

“Yes?”

“There’s an unexpected name on tomorrow’s council attendance list.”

“Who?”

“The High Priest of Chegi.”

“…”

“You said you suspected her disciple, Ariona, didn’t you?”

I had. I pictured the young man with clear blue eyes and fell into thought.

“Why? Not him?”

“Solongo said Ariona didn’t fit the conditions. But now that I think about it… something feels off. I can’t specify why, but…”

I had the feeling I was missing something important.

“Don’t waste your strength worrying. You’ll know tomorrow.”

“…Wait. Can I go too?”

“Do you want to go?”

Of course! I’d already answered with my face before opening my mouth—but I froze. Dr. Kim’s eyes were fixed on mine, deep and serious.