My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 21
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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 21
Azel, who leaped several meters in a single stride, quickly caught up to the Aigres before his eyes at rapid speed.
“Ueok?!”
“Aaaaah!”
He immediately brushed off the father and son with a halfhearted gesture.
‘Crazy! As expected of the final boss!’
That unbelievable divine power naturally drew admiration from those who witnessed it.
“Linoa Marigold.”
“Yes.”
Once the father and son disappeared, Linoa Marigold jumped down from atop the Aigres on her own.
Landing on the ground in perfect form, she kicked off the floor without a moment’s hesitation. She was running toward me, who remained alone.
However, the timing was bad.
“Catch it!”
“Kill that ferocious beast!”
Just then, fierce shouts erupted from the opposing side.
The Aigres, having brushed off the bothersome humans, became excited by the sudden noise and charged forward.
That series of events was, unfortunately, enough to agitate the Aigres I was riding.
-Grrrrrrrr…!
“You, why are you acting like this…?”
“Lady Elpis! Jump down from there, quickly!”
“Wa, wait-!”
Before I could even complete the words “wait a moment,” my body was dragged forward.
“Wait a momeeeeeent!”
“Lady Elpis!”
My eyes met with Azel’s, who had belatedly discovered this side, but the deed was already done.
His round, handsome eyes clearly showed his panic.
“You-!”
At this moment, all I could do was wrap my entire body around the creature’s neck to avoid falling.
“Elpis!”
However, misfortune didn’t end there.
Unlike before, Azel reached out toward me with an urgent expression, but just then, restraining arrows flew from the opposite side.
Swish-!
“Azel!”
Thanks to that, Azel’s fingertips futilely brushed against my clothing.
It was because the Aigres had kicked off the air and leaped to avoid the arrows.
Swish! Thunk!
“Maintain formation!”
Whoosh- Thwack!
Thudududududu-!
“Move! The creature is approaching!”
-Krheooooong!
From that point on, it was a continuous series of incomprehensible roars.
The two beasts, smart enough to conduct a hunting drive, attacked the people with fierce momentum.
However, the result was surprising.
“…!”
The people who had calmly established their formation instead trapped us in an encirclement as if they had been waiting.
Though the two creatures threatened with their sharp teeth bared in fury, no one paid them any mind.
‘They were aiming for this from the beginning.’
Only then did I realize that they weren’t an ordinary mercenary group.
‘They came here with full intention.’
Their calm attitude proved that this encounter was no coincidence.
Then from now on, there was one important thing.
I needed to find out exactly who they had come targeting.
‘The Aigres? Or Azel? Which one is it?’
Judging by the formation of the encirclement, the weapons they carried, and the fact that I didn’t recognize any faces, they likely came targeting the Aigres.
It seemed we had gotten involved by chance, which was simply unfair for us.
Then a man who spotted me spoke up.
“Captain, what should we do about the person riding on top?”
“Ah, it doesn’t matter. Deal with them together.”
The response that came back was indifferent.
‘What, this crazy?’
The problem was that no one objected to that absurd decision.
-Gruk! Grrrrrruk!
-Krrrrrrng!
“We go all at once. Everyone focus!”
Facing another life-threatening crisis against my will, I honestly felt like I was about to cry.
Because I was so infuriated!
However, fortunately, a ray of salvation descended.
“Stop.”
Someone’s appearance changed the flow of the air.
“Who gave you permission to kill or not kill?”
Azel, who had descended from the air as if using magic, was already blocking my path.
It was the most magnificent entrance of my life.
‘Azeeeeel! I believed in youuuuu!’
As expected, our returner is the best!
I was about to cry out his name in emotion.
“A-!!”
No, I tried to.
“Azeeeeel! So you were there!”
If not for that sudden outburst that erupted from the opposite side.
“Ah! I had my suspicions, but it really was you, Azel Viotz! Do you know how much I’ve wanted to see you?”
The owner of that bright voice, which didn’t match the situation, was the very man who had ordered my disposal earlier.
The man was waving his arms enthusiastically with a face that looked thrilled to death.
I was naturally shocked.
‘Azel had a friend…?’
It was the most shocking moment of my life.
“How much I’ve-“
I was looking at Azel with surprised eyes when the man’s words immediately continued.
“wanted to kill you, you know.”
Then silence flowed.
“…?”
I froze briefly at the déjà vu, as if I had experienced this before.
“…Of all times.”
As if responding to this, Azel’s muttering brushed past my ears.
‘What is this. What kind of development is this.’
Clearly we were the real villains, but somehow every person who appeared seemed to be in a seriously abnormal state.
*
“I was wondering what crazy bastards were riding on the Aigres’ back, and it turns out it was you?”
Despite his bright tone, the man’s voice was filled with malice.
‘I’ve never seen a character like this before.’
Since I had no memory of him, he probably wasn’t a character who appeared in the game.
“You’re lucky. The lord here has been whining so much about catching some beast cubs that I came, and now I get to see such a welcome face!”
If he was the lord of this place, then he was a noble.
In a class-based society, what kind of bold person could refer to a noble like that?
In this case, there were two possibilities.
‘Either he’s a dangerous lunatic who can’t be controlled, or he’s such an important person that he can speak freely without any problems.’
Looking at his crazed eyes, he seemed like just an insane person, but his attire was excessively luxurious.
Moreover, considering the large number of lackeys he had with him, it was likely the latter.
While I was gauging the opponent’s identity, the man’s gaze turned toward me.
“More importantly, I thought you’d live alone forever, but you’re traveling with some poor young lady. Did you kidnap her from somewhere?”
However, one thing was certain: he was a bastard with an absolutely detestable way of speaking.
“Hey, miss. Do you know what kind of guy he is that you’re traveling with him?”
Along with his sarcastic words, his sword tip pointed at me and Azel in turn.
“I don’t know if you were forcibly captured or if you’re following him around bewitched by that pretty face of his, but you’d better get away from him right now.”
“What do you—”
“That bastard is a crazy murderer. He’s someone without emotions. He kills people without a care, acting like he’s some kind of god.”
The man poured out malicious words with gleaming eyes.
“A madman, a demon-like bastard! Trash that deserves divine punishment! Look at him even now! He doesn’t even blink an eye.”
Meanwhile, Azel only silently stared at his opponent.
“I’m warning you. If you’re sane, you’d better run away from that lunatic.”
“…”
Thanks to that, only I was put in a difficult position.
‘Damn, I can’t refute this?’
This was clearly my timing to argue back, but no matter how much I thought about it, his words weren’t wrong.
Knowing the mastermind’s spectacular track record, I had nothing to refute with.
But.
“…!”
Having discovered Azel staring straight at me, I had to do something.
‘Should I list Azel’s good points to match how much criticism that guy poured out…?’
However, there was a problem with this too.
‘…Azel’s good points, …good points, good points… hmm, what are there?’
I couldn’t think of any at all.
‘He’s handsome.’
Right, he’s handsome. That’s for certain.
But the problem was, that was all.
‘What kind of good point is one and only?’
If I shouted “But he’s handsome!” here, I’d obviously look like an idiot.
I wanted to avoid that at all costs.
So what should I do?
“How about it? Wouldn’t it be better to run away now, just like I said?”
I eventually gave up on listing Azel’s good points.
“I have no intention of running away.”
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re really following that guy of your own accord? Why?”
Meanwhile, the man found my answer absurd.
“Are you sane? You’re following around such a monster because you like him?”
I never said I was following him because I liked him, but that was quite a leap.
“A monster that everyone in the world hates?”
It felt bad to have a lunatic treat a perfectly normal me like a lunatic.
So I just answered honestly.
“I don’t hate him.”
“What?”
I don’t like him, but I don’t hate him either.
Even if he’s a crazy person who wants to destroy the world,
“I said I don’t hate him.”
Because I don’t dislike Azel Viotz.
Meanwhile, until the moment I finished speaking, Azel’s red eyes never left me.
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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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