My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 17

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 17

“Run, quickly!”

By the time I came to my senses at Linoa Marigold’s sharp command, she was already running far ahead.

-Kraaaaaarrrrr!!!

The beast’s fierce roar devoured the entire forest.

“Get up, boy.”

“What?! Are, are you really just going to leave?”

The boy’s face, asking if we would really abandon Linoa Marigold, was stained with unfamiliar terror and guilt.

Of course, we couldn’t flee leaving Linoa Marigold alone in this place.

However, trying to help with this pathetically weak body would be the most foolish thing to do.

‘At least I shouldn’t get in the way.’

So I had to use a different method.

“Th, there… I, I mean…!”

“Can you run?”

“I, I can run! B, but that lady…?”

As I supported the old man who couldn’t get up due to what seemed like a sprained ankle and asked the child, the boy’s face turned pale.

I looked at the child’s face and suddenly spoke unexpected words.

“You’re watching, aren’t you?”

“…What?”

I wasn’t talking to you, kid.

But since the situation was urgent, I couldn’t waste time with unnecessary words.

“You wouldn’t have sent Linoa Marigold alone. This place is fine, so please help Linoa Marigold.”

There must be another watcher here.

I didn’t know who Azel had sent, but they should at least be able to help Linoa Marigold.

I planned to send the boy and old man away in the meantime and then move again.

‘I’ll save Linoa Marigold even if I have to set this damn forest on fire.’

I had already considered even the worst option.

If Linoa Marigold could just hold out for a moment, if the watcher would follow my words, we could all return alive.

But then.

-Grrrrrowl.

Heaven was not on my side until the very end.

“…These cunning things.”

Another one appeared before us.

They were conducting a pack hunt.

*

Dariya sensed death in the woman’s frighteningly hardening expression.

-Grrr.

He could tell without looking.

Another beast had appeared.

The woman’s voice, spat out like grinding teeth, carried deep anger instead of the composure from before.

‘Ah, this is really the end.’

The person who had first saved Dariya was already far away, struggling against the earlier beast.

There was no way they could handle another one that suddenly appeared in such circumstances.

They were all dead.

‘…Father…’

At that moment, Dariya’s eyes caught sight of delicate fingertips supporting his dirt-covered father’s arm.

Dariya and his father lived in the smallest and most insignificant village within the barony. Even so, the young boy had often seen passing nobles and knights.

They fastidiously despised country bumpkins like Dariya and his father.

In fact, Hans the blacksmith had become crippled in one leg simply because he barely brushed against a noble while saving his daughter from being trampled by horse hooves.

However, this refined person before them not only supported his dirt-covered father but was risking their life to save them.

‘…Somehow I have to buy time.’

That fact gave Dariya courage.

‘I! At least I should step forward!’

It was the recklessness of a child who was only big in size.

‘If there is a god, please let at least the others live!’

With desperate prayer, youthful courage charged toward the beast.

“Uaaahhh!”

“Dariya-!”

The father, who belatedly realized his son’s intention, screamed in anguish, but nothing changed.

But just then.

Finally, a miracle happened.

No, as if by miracle, nothing happened at all.

Making his charging resolve meaningless, the beast didn’t even look at Dariya.

-Grrowl?

The beast began making strange sounds.

“Uh… huh?”

-Growl?

The beast looked at the woman and kept twitching its large nose.

-…Growl?

But somehow…

That behavior was subtle,

As if saying ‘Wait, what’s that?’

“…?”

Naturally, Dariya couldn’t help but be confused.

Around that time, the creature even tapped its nose and snout with its thick front paw, looking as if it was checking whether its nose was working properly.

-Growl, puff! Grrowl!

The creature shook its large head a couple of times with puffing sounds. The way it glanced at the woman as if checking during this was the most spectacular part.

‘Has that thing gone crazy?’

“Boy, come here.”

Just then, the woman behind called Dariya.

As Dariya hesitantly stepped back, she hid Dariya behind her and stepped forward.

Then something even more surprising happened.

-Pukeeng?

The beast’s eyes widened instantly.

He had never seen a beast make such an expression in all his life. The beast was looking at the woman in shock.

Naturally, an inexplicable silence fell among the group.

But that wasn’t the end.

-Krroong!

The creature, looking somewhat frightened, began backing away awkwardly like a young pup with its tail tucked.

“…?”

-Kreng! Hroong!

Not only that, it even lay down completely with its belly on the ground, glancing up furtively…

It was certain.

That was a posture of submission.

The bright yellow eyes were looking only at the woman.

“….”

Immediately, the entire group was enveloped in silence.

“…What the hell is this scene?”

Just then, someone’s low voice interjected between them.

Looking back, there stood a man holding another beast by the scruff of its neck.

The beast that had been fiercely pursuing the pink-haired woman just moments ago was now breathing heavily, its entire body covered in blood.

However, Dariya couldn’t even be surprised by that sight.

“…Huh…huh?”

Because he had already witnessed an even more shocking scene.

*

Meanwhile, Dariya wasn’t the only one surprised.

Linoa Marigold was truly at a loss for words for the first time in a long while at the unbelievable scene unfolding before her eyes.

‘What am I looking at right now?’

When she first discovered the Aigres in the Red Forest, she thought it was all over.

‘Unless Master comes, there’s no way to win.’

That’s what an Aigres was by nature.

The master of the mountain and king of beasts.

The most ferocious calamity.

It was a monster that could barely be subdued even if ten elite knights rushed at it together, so regardless of which watcher had followed, there was no possibility of victory.

Therefore, Linoa Marigold threw herself forward, trying to save at least Elpis somehow.

‘While I buy time, another watcher can take her to Master.’

It was an extremely rational judgment.

Even when the Aigres’ sharp claws tore through her left shoulder, Linoa Marigold still thought her judgment was correct.

But surprisingly,

“Duck.”

The next moment, the Aigres’ blood scattered through the air.

“…Master?”

-Krheooooong…!

Azel Viotz, her master, was right before her eyes.

“Why is Master here…!”

“She told me to save you first.”

Linoa Marigold realized the meaning of his words a beat too late.

Though she couldn’t understand why he was here, Elpis had sent Azel to save her.

“Why….”

Of course, it was an incomprehensible decision.

How could she prioritize her own life in a place where such dangerous beasts were rampaging?

However, there was no one here to resolve Linoa Marigold’s curiosity.

“Let’s go back.”

Meanwhile, everything ended in the blink of an eye.

-Krhung, grrrk.

The beast dripping blood and barely breathing was, as expected, no threat to Azel whatsoever.

“…Yes.”

So she returned to where Elpis was with her questions still unanswered.

Surprisingly, an even more shocking scene was waiting for Linoa Marigold there.

“…El…pis-nim?”

Next to Elpis, who stood there perfectly fine, a massive Aigres was rolling around like an affectionate house cat.

And that wasn’t even all of it.

-Krheooooong!

“Elpis-nim!”

The Aigres that had been docilely held in Azel’s hands suddenly rushed toward Elpis.

However, what the creature showed her wasn’t its sharp teeth.

-Krhung! Grrrung!

Its white belly rolling on the ground playfully naturally gave Linoa Marigold tremendous shock.

“I don’t know anything about this.”

Around that time, someone’s urgent excuse could be heard, but it didn’t even register in her ears.

“It’s not a place that needs protection, so don’t worry, Linoa Marigold.”

Because the earlier conversation was already flashing through Linoa Marigold’s mind.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you in danger.”

‘From the beginning, you never needed my protection or anything like that.’

It was truly the beginning of great chaos.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————