My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 19

In the Red Forest, there blooms a very special, no. quite peculiar flower.

This flower with delicate white petals layered upon each other has a tough nature despite its fragile appearance.

‘Well, tough is putting it nicely. It’s a flower with a nasty temperament.’

This flower had the peculiar trait of hating water.

To what extent, you ask?

‘Enough to spontaneously combust when it gets wet.’

When touched by water, the white petals would emit smoke and burn up, which defied all common sense.

‘Well, there are similar flowers in reality, so it’s not entirely impossible.’

The important thing was that this trait was perfect for pulling off a convincing scam.

I could make it look like the combustion phenomenon was caused by some special power.

That’s right. This was exactly why I had come all the way to this Red Forest.

But—

‘…What on earth is all this about.’

This clever giant cat had brought back something far more incredible.

“…Phantom Pendant.”

This wasn’t an ordinary pendant.

This pendant was an item that appeared in the game, an artifact used to curse someone.

‘Why is this appearing here…?’

The problem wasn’t simply that it was brought by mistake—this shouldn’t have been here in the first place.

‘By now, it should already be sealed by Yulia’s hands and buried deep within the temple.’

Why was the pendant used as a weapon by the main villain of Chapter 3 suddenly appearing out of nowhere now?

—Grung!

Meanwhile, Aigres, who had heard my muttering, puffed out his breath with a proud expression.

His look clearly said “I did well, didn’t I?” which left me even more speechless.

‘…It does have white petals, and it is incredibly precious.’

When I thought about it, he had perfectly fulfilled my requirements.

‘Could it be that because I kept emphasizing something precious, he brought what he considered the most precious thing?’

The more I thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Of course, regardless of the reason, I was already screwed.

‘Now it looks like I came all the way here to obtain this thing.’

Indeed, Azel’s gaze toward me had become even more serious than before. He must have recognized what this cursed object was.

On the other hand, Mary seemed unaware of what it was, which was at least fortunate.

‘Why is life so unpredictable, not even one step ahead.’

But even so, I couldn’t just pretend not to know and give it up. Its performance was too incredible to abandon.

This was the main villain’s item from Chapter 3, after all.

‘If used well, it could become an incredible weapon for self-defense. How could I give this up.’

Having it would obviously make me suspicious, but abandoning it felt maddeningly wasteful. It was truly a dilemma.

However, my contemplation didn’t last long.

‘Right. With no telling what might happen in the future, I should at least have one weapon to protect myself.’

As I discreetly pocketed the pendant, Azel’s gaze followed my movement.

“Let’s go.”

At my confident departure declaration, the group just casually followed behind me.

‘Azel… let’s just ignore him for now.’

Of course, this resolution wasn’t as easy as I had thought.

‘It’s burdensome.’

Azel’s gaze openly staring at me was truly maddeningly burdensome.

But just then.

“Where are you uncomfortable?”

Azel spoke to me for the first time.

“Huh, huh?!”

Even though it was a trivial question, my shoulders jumped up instantly.

“Why are you so startled?”

Instead of my sold conscience, the small citizen mindset within me screamed.

“If you’re uncomfortable, tell me.”

Azel and I were currently riding the same Aigres together, and the distance between us was excessively close.

Therefore, Azel’s lips were whispering right next to my ear, but surprisingly, my heart was pounding for a different reason now.

“N-no. I’m fine.”

“…I see.”

Perhaps feeling awkward due to my uncomfortable reaction, Azel closed his mouth.

While an uncomfortable silence enveloped us, I was the first to gather courage.

I had to somehow change the subject.

“Azel.”

“Speak.”

“Why did you come personally?”

“…Then why did you come to this forest?”

“I told you. I came to keep a promise.”

“Is the promise you mentioned related to that pendant?”

It was a landmine right away.

“…”

As I lost my words and fell silent, another question immediately flew my way.

“You said it was a misunderstanding earlier, right? Do you have any idea about these creatures’ reactions?”

This was equally explosive.

Every question flew toward me like a dagger and pierced through.

‘I should have just kept my mouth shut and gone quietly!’

Thanks to that, I immediately regretted it.

‘I’m really screwed. How on earth do I explain this.’

If I kept repeating lies to get through this moment, there would come a time when it would be difficult to handle. But I couldn’t just let this slide either.

But then Azel suddenly brought up something strange.

“…Is this also difficult to answer.”

His attitude seemed somewhat hesitant.

While I was inwardly tilting my head at this unexpected reaction, he said something even stranger.

“By any chance, are you still seeing things?”

Seeing things? What things…?

Just as I was startled, wondering if he was asking if I was crazy, something suddenly came to mind.

‘Wait. Could it be that by “seeing things,” he means that incident?’

The day I mistook Gaspata for a ghost and screamed.

That day, Azel thought I had been seeing things.

‘Is that really it?’

My expression immediately hardened.

‘This bastard, could it be that just because I pocketed one cursed item, he thinks this is his chance to corner me with questions?!’

It was a very plausible assumption.

But his next action was again unexpected.

Upon noticing my hardened expression, Azel changed his words once more.

“Just pretend you didn’t hear that. If your position is uncomfortable, tell me. I can get off and walk.”

“…Huh?”

And that was it.

He stubbornly stared straight ahead as if he had nothing more to say, which only left me flustered.

‘What? What just happened? What kind of development is this supposed to be?’

It’s not like he’s some moody middle schooler, yet his words had no beginning, middle, or end.

Living according to the flow of consciousness was supposed to be my thing alone, but Azel was suddenly threatening my position.

‘Is this really it? Is it really okay to just let this slide?’

Thanks to that, I was the only one left more confused.

‘…Fine, if he says he’s done, then what can I do.’

After intense deliberation, the conclusion I reached was simple.

Let’s just move on for now.

However, rather than just ignoring it, I chose to shift the focus instead.

‘Let’s just patch things up for now.’

With that resolution, I slowly opened my mouth.

*

Azel was regretting the words he had just spoken.

‘Why did I say such a thing.’

Rather than having any particular intention, it had been more of an impulsive action.

Having realized an unexpected truth, honestly speaking, it was difficult to control himself.

‘This is absolutely not a coincidence.’

Aigres should have originally been discovered in the Marquis Domain, not the Red Forest.

The same went for the illusion pendant.

That cursed object should have been sealed by the Holy Maiden’s hands and buried deep within the Temple.

But everything had changed.

‘There’s no way this could be coincidence.’

All those things that weren’t coincidence pointed to one meaning.

‘There exists a cycle that I don’t remember.’

The existence of a hidden cycle.

Without that, nothing made sense.

‘She must have shown it to me on purpose. Calling me out under the pretext of a promise, and presenting Aigres and the pendant as evidence.’

Since she couldn’t say it herself, she had shown it to him.

“I didn’t lie.”

That she hadn’t lied.

Thanks to that, his uncontrolled thoughts and jumping emotions kept urging him on.

‘What exactly do you want from me.’

However, there were things that couldn’t be explained if he dismissed all this proof as a silent protest.

Elpis’s uncomfortable expression kept bothering him.

It was strange how she looked pained, as if she hadn’t wanted to go this far.

‘Were you simply… just hoping that I would believe you.’

Because of that, it was difficult to stop his thoughts from constantly reaching out toward her.

But just then.

“Azel.”

Elpis’s voice was heard.

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